Summary: Please read the top description.
Main Paring: Dearka X Miriallia.
Disclaimers: I do not own Gundam Seed or Seed Destiny.
Chapter 15
The last two months has really been hectic since Dearka was reunited with his friends and Miriallia. Accidents begin occurring around the same time as well and that means he has more works in his hand than ever. The first was the Fable Ultramarine incense placed in Miriallia's room while she was still recuperating.
If Dearka was not around at that moment, Miriallia might not survive that ordeal, Athrun thought, as he sips his coffee while looking through some documents.
The culprit seems to have gone to into hiding after that until a more serious case happen. This case has blown us off the course when someone set up a bomb under Miriallia's car. The bomb's firepower was enough to kill the driver at the instance when it was ignited.
Out of sheer luck, Miria was able to escape with minor injuries at the price of her car and her draft of her work. Athrun open the second drawer on his left and took out the file with the pictures of Miriallia's destroyed car, or what's left of it. The bomb's design was a simple design that even an elementary student is able to put together. That makes it hard to trace back the source, not to mention its firepower must not be taken lightly as well.
She was forced to stay in the hospital for a few days to have a proper check up on her injuries even though it was still minor injuries. The culprit went on a hiding once again until on the day of her hospital discharged. A terrorist attack occurs at the café that both Dearka and Miriallia were dining in.
Not to mention it happen two hours after he went to pick her up from the hospital. Athrun clasped his hand together and rest his chin on them, deep in thoughts. He diverted his look towards the document about Pedro Roussier. The young Coordinator opens the file and briefly read through it.
"Pedro Roussier, born in the year of C.E. XX. Blood type: B negative. Family and relatives: Unknown. Accepted as an Orb Citizen after the second war and began taking odd jobs. His jobs never lasted more than three months. The latest job listing was in Co and Ed Enterprise as a delivery boy", Athrun was about to stop when something really strange catches his eyes. "But a month later, he was promoted as a permanent office worker, working under Kristy Hong".
Athrun noted that point as he reads through the file once more. "There is something strange about this Pedro Roussier".
The knock on his office door broke through his chain on thoughts. "This is First Lieutenant Stagfield, sir", Ian asked from the other side of the door. "May I come in?"
"You may enter lieutenant", Athrun replied.
Ian walked into with some documents in his hand. He closes the door behind him and approached towards his superior. He saluted before continuing with his business. "I have some documents here that need your attention admi- Athrun", Ian quickly corrected himself when he saw Athrun's look. He sighs and continues, "Give me a break Athrun. We are still in working hours here. How can you expect me to change my tone all of a sudden?"
"Was I giving you the look again Ian?" Athrun said and give him a cheeky smile. "I apologize".
Ian was really annoyed by Athrun's attitude. "I swear I'm going to leave you one of these days Athrun Zala", he swore.
"Now that's the Ian Stagfield I know of", Athrun said. Ian breathes out in defeat. "And what is it that you have brought for me today Ian?"
"Here are the reviews on the fresh new batch of cadets, the request of the captains on the freshly graduated cadets and the exchange students from the ZAFT Military Academy. All these needs your attention and I have done all I can to lessen your burden", Ian reported as he placed the files on Athrun's desk. He noticed that Athrun was reading something. "What are you reading there Athrun?"
Athrun look at him then look back at his file. "Oh! It's just the report on Miriallia's destroyed car and also a light research on a guy name Pedro Roussier".
Ian look surprised for a moment. "A Roussier? But that is impossible", he said.
"What is?" Athrun asked.
"The Roussier died out a decade ago when the whole family of Lucifer Pedro Roussier was killed in a terrorist attack", Ian said. "This guy could not be a Roussier".
"Are you sure about this Ian?" Athrun asked surprised. Ian nodded. If that is the case, then who is this Pedro Roussier guys? "Could you do me a little favor Ian? I need you to do a detailed research about Pedro Roussier? Follow him if you must, I want to know all about this guy and what is his current position in the Co and Ed Enterprise".
Beep! Beep!
Athrun's desk phone rang before Ian could reply his question. Both of them look at the phone as Athrun press on the answer button. "What is it?" he asked.
"Admiral Zala sir, Commander Yamato from the ZAFT and two of his companions are waiting for you at the conference room sir", his secretary said from the other side of the line. "They request a meeting with you".
"Inform them I'll be there in a minute", Athrun reply. He turns off the phone without waiting for his secretary's reply. He looks at Ian and asked, "So, can I count on you for this mission First Lieutenant Stagfield?"
Ian smiles and saluted. "You can count on me Admiral Zala", he said.
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"No way!" Kira exclaimed right at the moment Athrun walked into the Conference Room. "You know I could put charged on you guys right this moment".
Athrun look at his childhood friend with a confused look then back at Lowe Gear when he took his seat across Kira. He then notices a black suitcase next to Liam's seat. He too was holding onto a specific file in his hand when he sat down.
"I know you wouldn't because you love us and we are still your number one allies outside of ZAFT and ORB", Lowe said with a sly smile. "What do you think about it Zala?"
Liam and Kira turned to look at the blue hair admiral.
Athrun gave them a confused look and sat next to Kira. "I do wish to voice out my opinion about whatever you fellows are talking about but we have a pressing matter on our hand at the moment". He place down the files that he was holding and continue, "But I do wish to hear this so-called matter after our meeting".
"We can talk about it over a drink at a local bar later tonight", Lowe said before Liam could say anything. "It is your treat Zala".
"You are taking things overboard Lowe", Liam said.
"Sure, as long as I'm the one decided the bar we're going to?" Athrun said.
Liam was shocked to hear the young admiral would agree.
Lowe smiled and said, "You got yourself a deal Zala".
Liam sighed in defeat after hearing their conversation. "Fine, do whatever you like. But I doubt the Professor is going to like this", he said. He took his black suitcase up and took out a think file from inside the suitcase. "Here's all the detailed we could gather about the Fable Ultramarine". The he place some picture on the table. "And here are the supporting pictures".
Kira and Athrun each took half of the file and read it through. They exchange with each other once they finished their own and continue reading.
"It's just like you have assumed", Liam said, and speared the pictures out. "Some secret organization has managed to revive the Ultramarine flower and is widely replanting it in these secluded areas", he point out eh highlighted photos.
Athrun and Kira look at the photos and were shocked when they see the highlighted areas in the map.
"This areas are mostly out of the Military eyes", Kira pointed out.
"Most importantly these areas were marked as danger zone after the war," Athrun stated the obvious. "No one is allowed to enter these areas without the local authorities' permission".
"We do not know how they managed to gain access to these areas but we have inside intelligent that they have gotten the paper works sorted out before using these lands", Liam said, pointing out the copies of the paper. "And most of them were approved by the Earth Alliance's committee".
Athrun looked surprised but looks at the calmly. "Are you suggesting that the Earth Alliance is behind this?"
"We are not suggesting anything here, just pointing out", the black hair coordinator explained. "What we have here are copies of the documents and not the original".
"These papers are the best proof that they did", Athrun said furiously as he threw the copies onto the table.
"Calm down Athrun", Liam said. "Like I have explained, these are just copies. We do not know if they have already gotten rid of the original. So we can't be hasty when we are assuming these things".
Kira nodded. "And these are not enough to proof that they did it Athrun", he said, trying to calm his friend down. "They could just say that they stole a committee's insignia and forge these papers to protect themselves".
Athrun looks at Kira furiously and said, "Calm down? You want me to calm down when my friends were being targeted? Dearka and Miriallia is our friend, our comrades, where we fight together in battles. How do you expect me to calm down in this sort of situation Kira?"
"You have to or another war will break out from this mess and innocence people will be the ones paying the highest price because of this", Kira said. Athrun looked at Kira who gave him a serious and sad look. "All of us here have experienced firsthand what war brings, especially you and I Athrun. We have lost our family members and our friends because of them".
Athrun understood what his brunette friend meant. He took a deep breath and calms down. "You are right", he said. "Wars will only create more hatred in these peaceful times. Not to mention they will have their hand tied up because of it".
Kira smiled and nodded.
"Ahem!" Both admiral and commander look at Lowe suddenly. "Let's try not to bring the misses into this meeting shall we?" he said, with one eyes close and smirked.
Liam smacked the back of Lowe's head when he saw he was suppressing his laughter. "Yes! We are trying to hide this from the girls for their own good, aren't we?" Lowe pouted as he glared at him. "Anyway, we will try our best to scout for more information about these matters. Is there any changes or anything at all with Dearka's condition?"
Athrun smiled and answered, "Dearka is having a speedy recovery. He almost recovered all his lost memories".
"Does that mean he remembered what happen before his incident?" Lowe asked.
Athrun shook his head. "No! It seems that he still have not recovered that part of his memories yet", he said. "He still needs time".
Lowe sighed disappointedly. "I see. It's a good thing seeing that he is recovering. Did anything happen after we were gone?"
Athrun gave Kira a worried look before he puts down the file that he was holding on since he sat down. He opened the file and explained to them what happened for the past two months since they left the Orb Union. Lowe and Liam were shocked but they listen carefully and calmly until Athrun finished his explanation. Lowe picks up the file and views it through with Liam.
Athrun has either of them would screamed about this but they did not until they heard about the terrorist attack.
"Terrorist attack?" Liam asked worriedly. "Are they hurt or injured anywhere?"
"One of the terrorist managed to shot Dearka on his leg but it was only a cut", Athrun explained. "Although he need some stitches but there's nothing serious about the wound".
Liam breathes out in relief. "I see", he said. Then he looks at Lowe who seems to be concentrating on the file. "Is there something that caught your attention Lowe?"
Lowe showed Liam what he was reading. "Doesn't this part seem familiar to you Liam, the bomb that destroyed Miriallia's car", he asked. "It's quite similar to the little gift that Kisato brought with her".
Liam took the file and read through the content. He was stunned about his friend's discovery. "This is not just similar Lowe. The content, bomb's construction and the size are the same".
"The same content to what?" Athrun asked.
"Let's just say, someone sent us a generous gift in order to get rid of us", Lowe explained. He felt angry just thinking about that booming incident.
"Someone has found out that we are looking up on them", Liam place two maps on the table. He point at the on the then left, "These were the breeding areas that we have found before our bombing incident", he point on the map on the right, "and these are the ones remaining after. Nothing remains that these were once plantation areas".
Both Athrun and Kira were shocked to see the decreasing numbers.
"Almost a quarter of the flower's breeding nursery has disappeared", Kira pointed out. "How did they manage to get rid of them so quickly in such a short time?"
"We don't know how but we did managed to find this in one of their hideouts", Lowe said, giving them a half burnt photo. "They are aiming to get those people's head and we can assume that they are desperate after what happened in the past weeks".
Athrun took the photo from Lowe. He and Kira were shocked when he saw the 'X' marks on both Dearka's and Miriallia's head in the photo.
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Dearka just came back from the hospital from his daily wound cleaning. He and Miriallia just came out from the elevator and the brunette was worried on how he is walking without his crutches.
"Are you sure you are really alright without your crutches Dearka?" Miriallia was holding the blond man's crutches as she walks along side him.
Dearka smiled as he adjusts the grocery bag on his shoulder. "I'm really fine Ms. Miriallia. This is just a little scratch and I can walk just fine without the crutches". He proof to her when he did a jump with his injured leg. "See? My leg is just fine"
Miriallia was shocked by his act and quickly stops him from further damaging his wound. "Please do not do that again. Your wound is still healing".
Dearka shield himself from her attack as he make a run to their apartment door. "Alright, alright! I got what you mean Ms. Miriallia. Now will you do the pleasure of opening the door since my hands is," he raised both of his hand that was currently carrying the groceries, "currently full at the moment?"
"It would be my pleasure Mr. Elsman", Miriallia joked. She blushed slightly when shove her hand into Dearka's left jacket's pocket to fish out her apartment's keys.
Dearka felt a strange heat rising from his face when he felt Miriallia's hand in his jacket's pocket. Why did I suddenly… Before Dearka could finish his thought, the image of the brunette from his past memories began to surface. But her face was unrecognizable because the image is still blurry from what he remembers.
The brunette quickly turns to open the door, hiding her face from being noticed by her blond friend. "You really need to do something about what you put in your pocket Dearka".
Miriallia broke through his chain of thoughts when he dropped the bags of groceries and hug Miriallia as he rests his chin on her shoulder. Miriallia was surprised by his action and flinched upon feeling his heat on her back.
"De-Dearka, did you-"
Dearka comes back to his sense and quickly left go of his hand and put them up in the air. "I-I-I'm so so-so-sorry Ms. Miriallia. I-I di-di-didn't know what co-co-come over me wh-when-" The blond man was gapping at each of his words when he tried to explain his action.
Miriallia look back at the door with a little disappointment. She breathes out heavily and laughed when she saw how Dearka was behaving.
Dearka was still gapping but he stopped when he hear Miriallia laughed. He bowed his head and apologized, "I'm really sorry Ms. Miriallia".
Miriallia stopped her laughter and placed her hand on his hip as she had an angry expression on her face. "Do you know what you did just now was sexual harassment Dearka? I could kick you out from here because of what you did just now".
"Eh! Ah! Bu-But", Dearka frigid awhile and finally calm down as he looked up and said, "I understand. But please give me some time to-". He stops when he heard Miriallia's laughter. "Um… Ms. Miriallia, did you just? I mean I was duped!"
"Well, that's for me to know and for you to find out", she reply with a laugh. Miriallia opens the door and went in.
Dearka picked up the groceries and follow after the brunette. "I couldn't believe that I was duped by a Natural", he quickly corrected himself when he saw Miriallia's glare. "What I mean was you are the first one that actually managed to pull it off".
"Did I just hear it right?" Dearka flinch when he heard a familiar voice from the door.
He slowly turns around and come face to face with the female he dislikes the most. "Professor? What are you doing here? What are the Junk Guild doing here, in Orb?"
The black hair Professor ignores Dearka's questions and marched right up to him with a serious look. Dearka backed away until his back was touching the kitchen counter. Dearke was trapped and the Professor was just inches away from him. "Professor, pl-please. You don't want to do this, right?" he asked.
Again, she ignores his question and took a few steps closer. Now they are only centimeters away from each other and Dearka could smell the Professor's scent, which he hates the most. "Now answer my question Dearka Elsman". Dearka gulped when he heard her cold voice. "Did I just hear what I just heard? Answer me or else".
"HEEEEEELLLLPPPP!" Dearka screamed.
"Excuse me! Um! Ex-"
"Leave them be Miriallia. When the Professor has that look on her face, nothing can stop her until she tormented someone". Miriallia turns around and smiled when she saw the familiar blond standing by the door. "Hiya! It's been awhile"
Miriallia ran up and gave the female a big hug. "Kisato! It's been so long".
The girls gave each other a warm and welcoming hug as their greeting and were already chatting away. They could have stay in their own world for a longer time if they did hear Dearka's desperate cry for help. The girls look at Dearka direction and were shocked to see that Dearka was nearly half-dead as the Professor was grabbing on his shoulder.
The girls quickly separate both Dearka and the Professor before she kills him. Miriallia guided her guests to the living room while Dearka, who was recovering from his incident with the Professor, took the groceries into the kitchen and offered to make tea for them.
The blond man did a little prayer for his successful escape. "I hope I won't have to go through that again", he said.
A few minutes later, he brought a tray of teas to the living room and sets them in front of Kisato and the Professor. He then sat down next to Miriallia on the couch.
"Thank you Dearka for serving the tea", Miriallia thanked him.
"You don't have to be so polite with him Miri", the Professor said. "I hope this guy hasn't been giving you any trouble since he's staying with you. But if he does, the best way is to whacked him hard", the Professor do so by kicking his injured leg under the table. Dearka nearly scream his lungs out again upon the pain but he held it up with just a tear escaping his eyes. "Like this".
"What do you think you are doing you brutal, sadist", he said.
The Professor gave him a dark glare and attacks him again, this time with pointy end of her heels.
"Gah! It's bleeding, it's bleeding! Are you trying to kill me?!" he asked, trying his best to stop the blood.
"You have a problem with that, worm?" The Professor gave him a colder glare.
Dearka sweats a little. "No, not at all. Please do as you like", he said it in a submitting tone.
"I think that's about enough Professor", Kisato said. She looks at Dearka with a smile. "We heard from Miri that you have recovered most of your memories, isn't it Dearka?"
Dearka was stunned but never surprised because he knows that it was coming all along. "Yes, but not all of them". Both Kisato and the Professor looked confused. "There is still something missing, someone very precious but I just could not recall her at all. No matter how hard I try".
Both Kisato and the Professor exchanged a few worried look.
"Could you have been sub-consciously trying to forget about her?" all three of them look at the Professor. "Well, there are some cases where the patient had tried to remember what they sub-consciously wanted to forget. But of course, the patient will have a weird feeling, like something was not right, when they try to remember those past. Do you think you are like them?"
Dearka tried to recall the feeling when he was trying to remember that person. He shook his head as his answer. "I don't think I belong in that category Professor".
"Are you certain about this Dearka?" The Professor asked.
"Affirmative!" Dearka said confidently. Then he looks at both his hand and continues, "I have this longing feeling of wanting to see her and hear her voice whenever I thought of her. Although it hurts me because I could not recall her but I was never desperate".
"I see", was all the Professor say.
The atmosphere in the room has suddenly turned depressed with everyone's smile turned to a frown. Everyone was deep in their thoughts, especially Dearka since he wanted so much to remember who the female was.
BAM
Everyone was surprised at the sudden sound and they turned to look at Kisato who has just slammed her hand on the coffee table. "Shouldn't have done that". Kisato raised her hand as she shakes it to cool it down. "Come on everyone, let's turned those frown upside down. We have a big event ahead of us isn't it?" Kisato was smiling brightly when she said it.
Both Miriallia and Dearka were still in shocked at her previous action but they were also confused.
Kisato placed her hand on her mouth as she acted to be shocked when she saw their confused look. "Did I have the date wrong? Isn't Miri's photo exhibition coming soon?" she asked.
Both of them, particularly Miriallia, were surprised when they heard Kisato mention the event.
"You mean you are coming to my event?" Miriallia asked. Kisato nodded. "For real? The whole of the Junk Guild?"
"Yes we are Miriallia. All of us are going to your photo exhibition", Kisato said with a big smile on her face.
The girls stood up from their seats and hug each other, again, as they sequels in delight.
"I couldn't believe it; you guys are really coming to the exhibition. I really couldn't believe it", Miriallia smiled.
"Well believe it girl", Kisato sequel again. They stop when they heard a ringing sound. "Just a moment", she said as she took out her mobile and answers it. "Hello, Lowe? Are you guys done with your meeting already? Yah! Yah! Yah! Ok! See you in thirty minutes then". Kisato shut her cell and said, "You two better go change cause we are going out to dinner, Junk Guild style".
"Has Lowe finally chooses the restaurant he wanted?" the Professor asked.
"Yes! He and Liam are coming over to pick us up", she said to the professor, then she turned back to face Miriallia. "This is our gift to you celebrating yet another successful exhibition. Now come on, hurry up, the both of you! Lowe is going to be here in thirty minutes". Kisato hushed the both of them out of the room with an angry look. "Try to go casual alright?"
Both of them nodded before disappearing into their room.
As Dearka shut his door to his room, he felt a strange and bad feeling about the upcoming events. His instinct told him something bad is going to happen soon but didn't know what. Also the blurry image of the female kept on hanging at the back of his head. There is also the case about the Pedro guy.
"The wheel is turning but to which direction?" he asked himself.
Knock knock
"Are you done Dearka? Lowe and Liam are already waiting for us down by the porch", Miriallia said from the other side of the door.
"Just a minute more Ms. Miriallia". The blond man put on his mother's lucky charm around his neck and took his jacket from the corner of his bed. Dearka went to open the door and met face to face with the brunette. Dearka smile as he raised his arm, gentleman style. "Shall we get going then Ms. Haw?"
Miriallia accept his arm with a giggle. "Certainly, Mr. Elsman".
Dearka was the last one out of the door hence he's the one to lock the door. All four of them met up with Lowe and Liam and they set out for their dinner together, Junk Guild style.
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"Are you sure this plan is going to work? We were ordered to only hide them not destroyed them", first man in mask complained.
"Don't worry too much. This will only create a diversion to the local cops and allow us to hide the rest of the field", the second masked man replied as he fidgets with the wires in an abandon warehouse. "We might end up loosing some of the plantation but it's better than losing all of it. We better pray that we will get away after we are done with it. Here, hold onto this". The second man passes the end of the wire to his friend.
The first man took the wire. "I guess you are right. I just hope what Mr. Castle is doing is the right choice. I certainly don't want to get on the boss's bad side though. Who know what she might do to us if we fail this".
He then gave the wire back.
"We well never know until the end result brother". The second man tightens the last screw and gave it some smack to secure their work. "There, done. Now, let's get out of here before anyone finds us".
The first man nodded. They quickly packed up and left the warehouse as soon as they can. But little did they know that their move has been closely monitored by a shadow figure lurking in the dark. "Culprit is moving out of zone A. Team C follows the lead and secures them. Force them out as much information as possible. I'm going in", he said to his earpiece.
"Roger that. Be careful in there Steven?" the person on the other line said.
"My skills have not rusted yet. You better take care or yourself first Thomas, be careful. Don't let the suspect get the best of you", Steven said before turning off his earpiece.
Lieutenant Steven moves stealthily into the warehouse and quickly went to check on the things that the two men before him were tingling on. He was shocked at what he discovered. He took out his mini camera from under his coat and quickly took a few shots of the things.
"The commander will definitely not going to like this", he said before dismantling the timer-bomb before leaving the warehouse.
== Continue in chapter 16 ==
A/N: I hope you enjoy this chapter.