A/N: I want to dedicate this chapter to all my readers out there. Even though there's no review in, I know that there are still readers out there that are still reading this story. So I want to thank all of you. Hope you will like it.
Summary: Please read the top description.
Main Paring: Dearka X Miriallia.
Disclaimers: I do not own Gundam Seed or Seed Destiny.
Chapter 8
It has been a week since Dearka last saw Athrun at his office in the Morgenroete and today is the blond man's first day working in the training facilities. Athrun, currently his supervisor slashes Admiral, was kind enough to pick him up for work and explain to him what his supposed duty on his job. Dearka's head was throbbing since the beginning he took off from Miriallia's apartment to Morgenroete training facilities. Athrun had tried to get him to go to the infirmary for some painkillers but his attempts were futile.
Since it's his first day, he did not want to cause any trouble for his friend.
"You sure you don't need any painkillers to stop the pain?" Athrun tried once more. "The infirmary is not that far from here you know".
"You are such a nag Athrun", Dearka said and gave him an irritated look. The pain has subsided since he enters the Training academy. "I'm fine now and I'm ready for the work. Now, can we move on?"
His navy blue hair friend gave up and sighs. Dearka saw a lot of different mobile suits along the way as they both continue towards the hangers where the training mobile suits are currently being kept.
"Remember the route of coming and going cause this is where you will be working from now on", Athrun said. They stop right in front of huge rolling doors. He took out Dearka's ID card from his file and gave it to him. "Here is your ID card. Without it, you can never enter this room".
Dearka was puzzled as he took his card. "Why do we need an ID card to enter? Isn't this room a training room?"
"You will see why in a moment", he said. Athrun took his ID card slide his it through the detector and the door opens.
Dearka was amazed when he saw the supposed hanger turned out to be a huge rounded arena with weaponries attached to the metal-coated wall. There were lasers, mini missiles and machine guns as their weaponry for training the rookies in their maneuvering skills. The arena was also very spacious but too spacious in Dearka's point of view.
"This is a training arena for the cadets to train in their Mobile suits maneuvering skills", Athrun said. Dearka closely follows behind him as they walk into the spacious arena. "Only trusted mechanics that both Kira and I chose are allowed in here".
Dearka nodded and asked, "Where is Kira by the way?"
Athrun look at him with a puzzled look and asked, "Didn't Kira informed you that he will be escorting Lacus to the World Conference Meeting?" Dearka shook his head as his answer. "Well now you know. Shall we move on then?"
As he steps into the arena he could feel the space in it. It has to be the most spacious arena he had seen in his life. But something seems to be missing in this arena. If this is the training arena then where are the mobile suits? "Em… Athrun, if this is the mobile suit training room then where are the mobile suits?" Dearka asked.
Athrun smiled and took out his walkie-talkie from his belt. "Bring in the latest unit that needs to be tuned in for the afternoon training class, at least five of them", he said. "We have a pilot that can test them out before our session begins".
"Roget that!" said the voice from the other side of the walkie-talkie.
"A test pilot?" Dearka asked and Athrun looks at him. He was shocked when Athrun point at him. "Me?"
The rolling door from the other side of the arena opens and in come the M-1 Astray along with ten or so mechanics. The first five mechanics came forwards and gave Athrun the report of each mobile suit. Athrun gave Dearka the permission to have a closer look while he is going through the reports with the mechanics.
The blond hair coordinator took this chance and approached the M-1 Astray and he was amazed at them but he felt a sort of familiarity about them. He took a step closer towards one of the Astray and touches it. That's when he began seeing some flashback images.
There was a bunch of green mobile suits and mechanics in light green uniform floating around the hanger of some a familiar ship. The image shifted and he began to see from the inside of the cockpit and a green hair teen popped up from the outside of the cockpit. The image changes again and this time he's seeing Yzak rammed Athrun towards the locker in a ship's changing room while Athrun was in tears. The image change once again and this time he was standing out from a cockpit of a mobile suit with both of his hand up and a huge white and grey ship with long legs are coming towards him.
What are all these images? MY past or-
"…rka…Dearka? Dearka!" Dearka broke from his chain of thoughts when he heard a familiar voice called him. He turns and saw a puzzled Athrun was looking at him. "Are you feeling alright? Do you need to go to the infirmary for a checkup?"
"I'm fine Ath…" Dearka stop when he felt a throbbing pain from his head.
"Dearka!?" the navy blue hair admiral exclaimed as he ran towards his friend's side. "How are you feeling Dearka?"
Dearka look up with a grin and said, "Athrun, calm down! I'm fine now, just a slight headache that's all"
Athrun sigh in relief and punch his arm slightly. "You better be. I don't want to hear Yzak's complaining again", he said. "Are you sure you are alright to work today?"
"You are nagging again Admiral Zala", he said as he emphasizes his last words. "So which baby should I start first?" he asked looking at the Astray.
Athrun sighs in defeat once again. He ordered the mechanics to bring the ascender towards the first unit where Dearka is going to test the programming. The mechanics explains to him the things he needs to check upon. Dearka nodded and enter the first unit to begin his work of the morning. Athrun had also given him a walkie-talkie so that they could exchange information while Dearka is running through the program.
For the whole morning, Dearka had been moving from unit to unit and checking on each unit's programming and level locks. Each unit has their own level since each will be pilot by different levels of rookie pilots. The mechanics was feeding him information about the unit's pilot while he was doing the programming inside the cockpit and both of them, with Athrun's approval, will decide which level of lock he will be unlocking. The morning time flies as Dearka moved towards the last unit for the morning.
"The EPS and SPC are at their top level" Dearka asked through his walkie-talkie. "Do this one's level 4 lock needs to be unlocked Athrun? Athrun?" Dearka look at his walkie-talkie and speak towards it again but there was no reply at all. He tried hammering the device with his hand but the device was not working as well. "ATHRUN!" he shouted towards his device.
"Dearka, come out for a minute", Athrun shouted from the outside.
Dearka sighs and place the keyboard back upright before he walked out of the cockpit. But as he does so, he seems to remember doing something similar in his past. Before he knows it, he was seeing some flashback images again.
"Dearka, what are you doing there in the mobile suit's cockpit?" someone shouted from the outside.
Dearka unstrapped himself and popped his head out from the cockpit and saw blond hair senior down by the ascender. "Yo …! I'm doing some twitching for my customize GINN. I want them to be in a tip top shape when I'm out there fighting those Naturals", he said with a grin. "What are you-"
"YOU IDIOT!" his senior shouted before Dearka could finish his question. "Have you not read the pilot handbook when you join the Vesalius? The twitching and customizing is the mechanic's job. Don't go and steal their jobs to pass your time idiot. You get down here right this instance Ensign Elsman".
"Ha-Hai!" Dearka answered and quickly descended from the cockpit and saluted to his senior. "I'm very sorry for my misbehavior sir! I'm the one at fault".
"As long as you understand then it's fine", his blond hair senior said and smile. "But you did violated the rules so as for punishment, go and practice on your mobile suit maneuver simulation".
"I understand. Thank you for going easy on me sir. I'll be on my way then", Dearka said. After another salute, he left the ship's hanger.
A throbbing pain from his head has brought Dearka back to reality. The blond hair man rubbed his aching head a bit and saw that Athrun was calling him to come down. Dearka gave him the okay sign before he steps onto the ascender and lowered it.
"Do you want to grab something to eat before we continue your second shift for the day Dearka?" Athrun asked.
Dearka came forwards to Athrun and shook his head. "I'm not that hungry yet", he said. "In fact, I did like to have a try at the mobile suit stimulation capsule".
"Um … sure! But are you sure your body is up for that?" Athrun asked.
Dearka saw the worried look on his friend's face and could sort of guess what he's thinking. "Give it up if you thinking of asking me to go the Infirmary Athrun", he said. "I'm fine other then having a full stomach without eating my lunch, I guess I'm pretty fit to try on that capsule. Besides, you did say before that by testing that capsule the chances is higher for me to recover my lost memories".
"I guess that's true", Athrun said. "Then, could you just give me a minute while I hand over my shift?" Dearka nodded and waited patiently for his navy blue hair friend patiently. When Athrun was done he went back to Dearka side. "Ready to go?"
"After you Admiral Zala", Dearka bowed. Athrun lightly punched his arm as they both walked out of the arena.
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Athrun was getting ready from the mobile suit stimulation capsule's control room while Dearka got himself ready for his test run. Athrun look through the glass window and saw that one of the staff is fitting his blond hair friend with a headset and telling him how to start his stimulation programs. Dearka nodded as the staff instructed him what to do.
Athrun smiled and went back to his duty in selecting the proper training stimulation for his friend.
"CPS power online Power level all green", his operator said.
"SPS online. Stimulation ready to go sir", another operator said as he looks at the navy blue hair admiral.
Athrun nodded and look at Dearka who is now sitting in one of the Stimulation capsule. He picked up the microphone and asked, "Are you ready for this stimulation Dearka?" Dearka nodded and gave him a thumb up. "Alright, set the stimulation to level 3, space field."
"Space Field sir?" the operator asked. "Is that really alright for the pilot?"
"I'm sure he will be alright", Athrun said confidently. "He is, after all a trained ZAFT soldier and although he had lost his memories, his body might still remember it".
The first operator sighs and starts to set the stimulation in Dearka's capsule. "Stimulation level set, CPC online, area chosen and clear of debris. Stimulation ready to go sir."
"All right, start the stimulation for capsule 3", Athrun ordered.
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Dearka was strapped and ready for his stimulation training. He was feeling excited and nervous at the same time. He also felt a nostalgic feeling when he was holding on the handles. Dearka somewhat felt that he had done this kind of training before but he could not remember when and where. As he tried to recall from his past memories his head began to throb in pain. He shakes the pain away and focus on his training at hand.
"Are you ready for this stimulation Dearka?" he heard Athrun's voice from his headset. I'm all set for this man, he thought. He looks at the screen above his head and gave a thumb up.
Dearka placed his hand back on the control handles and got himself ready for his first stimulation mission. After a few minutes, the semi-dark cockpit lit up and the screen displays an outer space scene.
Dearka look at screen with an 'awe' expression. This is so cool man. It feels like I'm really in outer space right now, he thought excitedly as he looks at the screens.
Just as he was about to press on some of the buttons, the middle screen popped out a message informing him about his mission.
'Protect the mother ship (Nazca class destroyer),
from being destroyed by the enemies' mobile suits.
Library: Strike Daggers and Wing Daggers (Enemies), ZAKU and GINN (Allies)'
Strike Daggers and Wing Daggers? Those names seem familiar and also the ZAKU and the GINN. Where have I heard it before? Dearka thought.
But before he could come up with any conclusions, his enemies began their attack formation. Dearka had managed to avoid a missile coming for him and destroyed a few from harming the mother ship. He had also destroyed three Daggers in the process.
I might as well finish up with this mission before thinking about my past. He thought and went on a full offence. Better get this over with rather than getting killed. Let's get a rolled on baby.
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Athrun was surprised to see how well his friend is performing with his first mission on the newly improved level three missions. He smiled seeing that Dearka acted like he used to before he lost his memories and he was also enjoying himself as well.
"Dearka is really doing well for a first timer", one of the operator said.
"That's not all. This new mission had been improved by the Vice-Admiral, Kira Yamato himself", the second operator said, and this time it catches Athrun's ear. "Not many of the rookies could pass this mission on their first try, except Dearka thought".
Athrun smiled when he heard the operator compliments. "That's enough of chatting boys. Remember, we are still on duty here", he said. The operators look at him and smiled. The navy blue hair admiral look at capsule 3's result and said, "Change the mission to level five once the stimulation is finished".
"Roger that sir!" said the first operator.
"Should I record his results and lists it among the trainee that pass this mission sir?" asked the second operator.
Athrun nodded as his answer. Just as he was about to give his second order, his mobile vibrates in his coat pocket. "You boys look after this here while I pick up this call", he said and step out of the control room.
"The Admiral sure is a busy man", the first operator said.
The second operator nodded and said, "Mining the Princess's daily protection, second Admiral, next to Admiral Kisaka, to the country's military affairs, a trainer of the Morgenroete Training Academies and also the future candidate to our princess".
"Except the candidate part though. Admiral Zala has to get the approval from the Senates before he could ask the hand of marriage from our princess", the first operator said. "That's not all; he even went through hell when he met the car crashed accident a few months ago".
"Yeah! It's a good thing that Admiral Zala survived that crashed", the second signed. "I guess it's just the Senates that didn't seems happy when they heard that he survived the crashed".
"Poor Admiral Zala. Even after he had pledge his loyalty to our country, the Senates still wish to test him before they would approved their marriage", the first one said. "Even after the princess and Admiral Zala had received Lacus-sama's and Kira-sama's blessing".
When the second one was about to say something, he noticed that the pilot in Capsule 3 had already finished his first mission. "Let's continue our gossips when we are off duty", he said, and began to input the data for the pilot's next mission.
"You got a point there. I don't want to have another head on lecture from Ms. Erica", the first one said, as he too began to input the data. "Admiral Zala had instructed us to tune it into level five, done that".
"What about the setting of the stimulation mission? We have three setting in fro this mission – the land, space and the special by Admiral Zala and Vice-Admiral Yamato. Which one should we go for?" the second asked.
After some thought and consideration, the first operator had finally come up with a choice and input that setting into the stimulation training. The second gave his partner a shocking look when he saw what setting he had inputted.
"Don't worry. I'm sure Dearka could handle this stimulation", the first operator said. "Besides, he is a former ace pilot in the ZAFT".
"I hope you are right my friend", the second said. He gave Dearka the 'OK' sign through the main monitor and Dearka reply with a thumbs up to show that he's ready for his next mission. "Stimulation Mission Level 5, begin".
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Although Dearka had forgotten how to operate the machine, but his body and reflexes has remembered everything clearly. So the whole stimulation was a hell's journey because he can only rely on his body's memories. Dearka was panting and sweating heavily when he had finished his first mission.
Did I really go through something like that in the past? He thought in his seat. Man, I guess I really am an ace pilot if I really did go through those situations in the past. Those were really a life and death situation there.
Dearka saw the 'OK' sign from the operators in the control room, telling him that the second mission is ready to go. He gave them thumbs up saying that he could start any minutes from now. The blond man thought that he could at least rest for five minutes but he was wrong. As soon as he the operator's face was gone, the middle screen popped out a message informing him about his mission.
Oh man, at least give me some time to catch my breath, he cursed.
'Sunk the enemies' Legged Ships,
while defending the mother ship from being sunk.
Library: Strike Daggers and Wing Daggers (Enemies), ZAKU and GINN (Allies)'
Enemies' Legged Ships? Legged Ships, where have I heard that before, it sounds awfully familiar, he thought.
Suddenly, an image of a white ship with grey legs, a white mobile suit with grey outlines and mounted on a red and black air pack popped up in his head. There were also adults in white soldier uniforms; two female teenagers in pink soldier uniform and three guys' teenagers were in blue soldier uniform as well. Athrun was also there but he was wearing the orange uniform instead of his red ZAFT uniform.
Dearka was shocked to see those images. He wanted to try to remember more about those images and his past but his thought was interrupted when the enemy's mobile suits attack him. He avoided their attacks but soon found out that he was trapped in one of their formations. Dearka looks around for an escaped route but he could not find it. Instead, the mobile suits began to fire at him. Relying on his reflexes, Dearka managed to escaped and avoid their shots but he could not shoot down any of enemy's mobile suits. At his last resort, Dearka had to make a run for it before he was shot down.
Shit, what did I get myself into this time? I should have focus on my mission rather than thinking of my past, he thought, regretting his earlier moves. I know that these were only stimulation so I won't die from this even I was shot down. But why do I feel that I can't be shot down?
Dearka had avoided a shot from one of his chasers. He tried to shoot one of them but they avoided the shot easily. So he went for a fake and tries to divert their attention to give him time to escape. His tactic works and his chasers' attentions were diverted to another.
Yes! At least this tactic works. I better take this chance to escape and re-group with a new for…
A strange white mobile suit with grey outline, the same one that Dearka just saw in his head, was standing right on his path and aiming it's beam cannon at him. Dearka quickly switch his route and avoided the shots. That was close call but was not close enough. Although the strange mobile suits had missed his shots, it is now right behind Dearka's back.
I'm really in hot water now. I have to shake that thing off if I want to pass this level, he thought.
Dearka tried his 'divert and run' tactic but it was useless. The strange mobile suits did not take the bait but shot it down. While shooting down one of the missiles, the white mobile suit had managed to land a shot on Dearka's suit.
Shit, the balancer had been shot and damaged. This is going to be a hard battle, the blond pilot thought, and tried his best to stabilize his suits.
Suddenly, he began to see lots images from his past that he had forgotten came flashing and flooding into his head. He began to feel a hard throb in his head as he tried to re-compose those images but at the same time, he had to shake the white mobile suit from his back. As he managed to re-composed and regroup those incoming images but more new ones began to flood in and his head began to throb badly.
Dearka did not know what happen next when suddenly everything went black.
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Meanwhile, a few minutes ago, Athrun had received a call from Kisaka and he left the control room to pick up his call. It was a matter concerning on Cagalli's safety for the day. The navy blue hair admiral had totally forgotten about her meetings today and had really lost track of time trying to settle Dearka in for his first day of work.
"I'm so sorry for the short notice Kisaka but thank you for filling the spot for me", Athrun said to the phone. "Yes, Yes. I understand. I'll pick her up after her last meeting for the day. Could you inform her that I will be coming home for dinner tonight as well?"
"Sure but she going to make a fuss about you forgetting about her time table though", Kisaka said through the other line.
"Well, if that going to sooth her anger, then I'm willing to take that price", Athrun chuckled and so did Kisaka. "Well, I guess that will be all for now. I'll call again if…"
"Admiral! Admiral Zala!" Athrun could not finish his call when he heard one of the operators call him. "Admiral, something happens to Dearka…"
Athrun dropped his cell when he heard what the operator told him. "Dearka!"
== Continue in Chapter 9 ==
A/N: I'm sorry for the late update and I hope you like this chapter. If you have any comments about this and the previous chapter, please review in and tell me about it. I also welcome ideas so I could make this story better. Hope you like this story so far and hope to see you in the next chapter.