Peace lasted for exactly 47 days after the Voltaire launched into space again.
The raiding of Armory One and the discovery of ZAFT's newest "Second Stage" mobile suits invoked consternation and anger as a challenge to the peace. However, such minor incidents were soon forgotten in the shadow of a global tragedy that happened soon after.
Operation "Break The World": the Junius 7 drop incident.
The Joule team had been one of the first to be dispatched to the remains of the colony, in an attempt to stop the terrorists from dropping the massive structure onto Earth. But they were already too late; the incendiaries had already altered its orbit, and even ZAFT's most advanced technologies could not fight against Earth's gravity. Despite every attempt to destroy Junius 7 before it fell on Earth, the chunks that reached the surface were still large enough to kill millions and drive even more out of their homes.
The fragile order was starting to crack, and the world was about to step into another era of chaos.
Yzak saluted the Chairman bitterly as he walked into the bridge of the Voltaire.
Dullindal had been aboard the Minerva for some unknown reason Yzak could not even begin to fathom. Along with Chief Representative Athha of Orb and Athrun Zala. When the Minerva decided to follow Junius 7 down to Earth, Yzak was messaged that Dullindal would be arriving to the Voltaire shortly; the Chairman obviously could not stay with the Minerva when there was a chaotic disaster to deal with.
The Chairman smiled when he saw Yzak.
"Yzak, it has been a while. How have you been?"
Yzak felt his brow twitch involuntarily.
"With all due respect, sir, this is no time for small talk. We have opened connections with the ZAFT headquarters and the Council, and they are waiting for you."
"Of course. Thank you, Yzak."
He saluted once more before leaving the bridge completely to the Chairman. As much as he owed Dullindal his life and the seat on the Temporary Council, it irked him that Dullindal allowed himself to smile after everything that had just happened. It was inappropriate. An insult. Almost as if Dullindal wasn't taking the situation seriously.
Moreover, it oddly reminded him of Creuset and his hidden smile under his mask.
xoxox
Yzak stormed though the hallways of the Voltaire, straight to the back deck. It had been a while since he needed an escape from reality, from his emotions.
The door opened, and two pairs of concerned purple eyes turned around to meet his. He threw himself on the nearest chair and slammed his fist on the table.
"God damnit!"
The two did not so much as flinch. They simply sat there, bodies completely limp, trying to make sense of the situation at hand which really, made no sense whatsoever.
It had only been two years. Two years since the Bloody Valentine War that caused a deep distrust between Naturals and Coordinators, the war that claimed millions upon millions of live, the war that forever distorted reality for everyone who had been involved.
Two years.
Yzak dug his hands into his hair. They were shaking. His entire body was shaking.
He had thought he did everything in his power to make the situation better. He did not regret the decisions he made in the final phases of the last war, or his work as part of the Temporary Council. But as he watched peace crumble into dust right in front of him, he could not help but think that maybe, there was something else he could have done.
"You know, it might not end up in war after all."
Dearka broke the thick, heavy silence between them. Shiho glared at him.
"Try telling that to the Naturals after they lost their friends and families."
"I'm just saying."
"I know. And you're wrong."
Dearka sighed.
"Where is Lacus Clyne when we need her, huh?"
It was Yzak's turn to glare. Lacus Clyne, Athrun Zala and Kira Yamato all went underground shortly after the conclusion of the war; they were probably trying to regain some peace and harmony in their lives. As much as Yzak understood that, he was still frustrated with the fact that the most charismatic leaders –the very ones who had advocated for peace, no less- simply disappeared without lending a hand to the chaos that happened after a war.
When they were needed the most.
Time and time again in the Council, Yzak was reminded of how much could have been accomplished if only they were involved. Just their names could have easily facilitated half the peace treaties that took the Council close to a year to draft. But they were gone, and ordinary people like himself were left to deal with the aftermath.
"Well obviously, she's not around. If they didn't bother at the end of the last war, they won't start now."
The blonde sighed.
"You know, they aren't bad people…"
"I know, Dearka."
"They all needed a break."
"Because no one else lost anything in the war?"
Dearka looked down. Yzak gritted his teeth.
"Look, it doesn't matter either way. We just have to do what we can do."
The blonde threw him a doubtful glance. What they could do. They were only normal people, after all, and there was only so much a plain individual could really accomplish. Not all of them were destined for the same greatness as the likes of Lacus Clyne.
But Yzak knew that there were indeed things that they, as humble individuals, could still accomplish.
"It's the same drill as the last war. We protect the PLANTS and we keep the team alive. Simple as that."
He looked at Shiho, who returned him the faintest hint of a smile. He never would have thought that her simple presence would give him such… strength, he supposed. He had never been so grateful for the fact that another person existed. This was not going to be the last war, when the loss of his teammates nearly drowned him in bitterness and loathing.
He wasn't going to be alone this time.
Yzak looked back at Dearka, who looked slightly confused. He sneered inwardly; Dearka deserved to be lost. This was probably going to be the only payback Yzak would get for Dearka's desertion anyway, and the blonde should have been thankful that he wasn't going through extreme measures to make his life hell.
"Which reminds me, Dearka. If for some reason the Archangel decides to become involved again…"
The blonde flinched a little and closed his eyes. Yzak knew that he was bracing himself for some hysterical shouting. He didn't blame the blonde, knowing himself. He could not help but sigh.
"Before you do anything stupid, tell me."
Dearka opened his eyes hesitantly, and for a moment Yzak felt like he had suddenly become a father to a child his own age. Dearka's eyes were so full of disbelief that he thought they would pop out any moment.
"What?"
"If you ever decide to desert from ZAFT and go join them again, tell me first."
"Uh…well Yzak. I'm not sure you fully understand the fact that I'm not suicidal."
Yzak simply scoffed.
"I'm not going to bite your head off. You're nineteen years old; whatever you do is your fucking choice, Dearka. I'm sure you can handle yourself without me having to babysit you 24/7. I would just appreciate it if you informed me of your decision first, instead of going MIA on me for three months with no warning whatso-fucking-ever."
Dearka blinked with a blank expression, looking like a complete idiot in Yzak's opinion. Shiho also looked appalled, although she looked more reproachful than shocked.
"I am going to pretend like I never heard you say that."
She told Yzak darkly, and he gave a wry smile in return. He essentially had just given Dearka permission to desert, which, if the higher-ups ever found out, would have landed him in another court-martial. Not that that was really a possibility; Shiho and Dearka were two of the very few people whom Yzak actually trusted.
Their exchange broke the blonde out of his trance. He smiled faintly and looked away, with just the slightest hint of sadness in his eyes.
"Um... Thanks, I suppose. But I won't. Not this time anyway."
Yzak frowned. It was unlike Dearka to seem so convinced about the future; he had always been a tad too happy-go-lucky for Yzak's liking, dealing with things only as they came by. Besides, the reason why Dearka defected during the war was because he no longer believed in fighting under an organized bureaucracy, which ZAFT still was.
He wondered if there was a reason why Dearka couldn't return to the Archangel.
Happy New Years to all corners of the world!
Here is yet another chapter... And GSD now officially begins.
Anyhow, before I seriously offend any die-hard Kira/Lacus/Athrun/Cagalli fans out there... I definitely do not hate these characters by any means. All the bitterness is 100% Yzak and not me. When I really thought about the canon plot, I just thought it would be inevitable that Yzak would be a tad bit frustrated with them.
This chapter actually came out a lot wordier than I would've liked, but well.
As always, thank you to all of my readers, and especially to my reviewers! Making my day, everyday :)