Miriallia didn't know exactly what she would say but she had to see if they were okay. The lights in her cell had been closed so she wouldn't see them when they'd come and get her. She knew that even if she had the strength to fight her way through, she wouldn't do it. Dearka had changed so she wouldn't dare make a wrong move. She felt a body behind her. He tied her hands up but didn't blindfold her this time. She knew what it meant: she wasn't getting out of here or if she did, it would only be the body. This was maybe the last time she'd see the people she care more about. The wall in front of her opened giving way to a fully lit hallway. They weren't in the tunnels anymore. They must have moved when she felt asleep. Then it'd be harder for Cagalli to escape. Miri thought she must find another way. She was after all their only chance of survival. Still walking straight ahead, she realized that the hallway wasn't lit due to lights but to the sunlight coming through wide windows. She looked out them and saw a beautiful wide garden, which seemed to be held on a balcony. She couldn't believe it: she could see the sea from inside. She had never seen anything like this in Orb. She was so dazzled by the breathtaking scenery that she didn't realized they had reached a dead end. One of the soldiers moved ahead of her and said his name looking upfront.

The wall opened. She saw nothing. It was pitch black. The other soldier pushed her inside and told her to wait patiently. Officer Elsman would be joining her in a few minutes. She didn't even get the chance to ask him if she could meet the prisoners. He was gone and she was left alone. Again. The lights blinded her eyes the minute the wall-door closed. When she opened them back, she realized this room was very different from she had been kept locked up. She wasn't in a cell anymore. There was a desk with a library on one side of the room. The other side had a chimney with few sofas. She headed towards the desk and saw it was Dearka's. There was a picture of his parents and him before the very first war. He was still so young and a few months after that, he had met Miri. She opened the drawers to see if she couldn't find a knife or a map of anything that could be useful.

She saw something in the second drawer: it was a book. Hers actually. When she came back to Orb after the war, she wanted to become a photographer and somehow, she ended up working for a well-known artist. He wanted to promote her amazing after war pictures especially after finding she was working for the Archangel when it was all happening. He then organized a few interviews and, months later she had a book published. Looking at it now, she could remember about how she had discovered his existence. She used to call Dearka every night to just talk about nothing and he had shoved the book into the screen. She thought it was a joke and when she saw how happy and excited he was, she knew he was just as surprised as her. Eventually, she lost her fame and became a nobody. People would throw away her book and only a few kept it just like Dearka. But something was off: when she dumped him, she remembered she had accidently taken the book with her and realizing it only at Orb terminal, she had dropped it in the waste. Then how could he still have it? She heard a click from behind. She turned around looking for where it was coming form. She saw the doors open on the other side and someone was pushed inside.

"Let me go you asshole! I hope for you that I never find you or I'd crush your nuts so hard that no junior you would ever see the light, said a blonde haired woman in a very harsh manner.

- Cags? Is that you? , she asked rushing towards her best friend.

- Miri? Oh my god, I thought I'd never see you again when Sai told me —

- Why?, Miri asked pushing away her best friend from the hug she'd just gave her.

- Why what? You hug me, push me away and ask ME why?

- Why did you go to see Sai?

- Tolle called me. He said you guys argued and he was thinking if I could give you a present from him. So as it was on my way, I stopped by the laboratory and then everything went wrong. Now that I think of it, I'm pretty sure Kisaka is biting Sai's brain by now. He must be mad and oh god, I hope he didn't tell Athrun about this—

- Gurl, you have no idea what you are into, don't you? I found out that you went missing on the news myself AND I was locked up so I'm guessing your hubby must be aware of it already. Though, I'm scared of asking but a citizen was also missing… is he with you?

- Miri, you know I wouldn't have let him alone. So he stood by my side and ended up coming with me. At first, I asked the kidnappers to take me only as a hostage but he insisted and said he had to be with me since I'd be joining you so on the moment I couldn't argue and —

- Cags it's okay. Don't worry about it. I just hope he is fine. And now we have to get you out of here. I'm guessing since they've put together in this room, it means there's no way out and most likely we are being listened. So I might as well tell you everything I found out here…

- If you are suggesting that only I will get out of her alive, I better kill you now don't you think?

- Ha ha Cags, no seriously I feel like I'll end up in a trap or something so just in case, hear me out okay?

- Whatever".

The two women sat on the floor waiting for any further action on the enemy and in the meanwhile, Miriallia told Cagalli the whole story revealing the mastermind behind this kidnapping.

"YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS? JOULE'S PET IS BEHIND THIS? I'M—

- HEY! Don't call him a …

- Oh come on! Don't tell you are still defending that bastard?

- I. AM. NOT. I just don't think you should call a human someone's pet. And also whenever you bring Joule in the subject, you turn as red as Zaft's uniform…

- Yeah yeah … So what now? He's got him and I'm pretty sure by now he must be back and joined his fellow comrades still listening to us.

- Cags, don't tempt him. I told you he isn't the same so —"

But her best friend as usual never listened. She didn't have time stopping Cagalli's actions. She just saw the blond girl standing and prancing through the room yelling:

"DEARKA ELSMAN, BRING YOUR SCARED ASS IN FRONT OF MY FACE. YOU COWARD. YOU TRAITOR. IF I DIE, ATLEAST SHOW ME YOUR CURSED FACE SO I CAN SEE WHAT MY HUSBAND WILL SMASH WITH HIS BARE HANDS WHEN HE SEES WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. YOU—"

The doors opened. Cagalli stopped yelling. Elsman has appeared with a killer look on his face. He started walking towards Cagalli not even paying attention to his ex-lover. Miriallia stood up as fast as she could, running to her friend's side, willing to do anything to protect her from her man she once loved.

"You called Representative Attha.

- Ye..Yes I did, Elsman. How—

- What can I do to make you at ease so you'd stop destroying my men's eardrums?

- Wh-WHAT? How can you address me like—

- Mr. Elsman, release the representative please. If you need any information, I'll—

- You'll help Miss Haww?

- …

- As I thought. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll deal with the representative myself. Miss Haww, know your place.

- I—

- Miri, he is right. Don't meddle; this is political matter now so you can't make any wrong moves.

- But—

- So Representative, why don't you tell me what is your next move?

- I'll have your head on a silver platter.

- Oh I am sorry. That won't be happening now, will it? On the other hand, I can give you something else on that silver platter of yours.

- Which is?

- This boy's head".

Dearka gave way to a soldier bringing someone in the room. It was the citizen who was kidnapped with Cagalli. The boy was muted by a cloth attached around his head. His eyes showed how scared he was. His hands were both tied. He had dirt all over his clothes. Blood stains here and there on this shirt. From the look of it, he fought a lot to get out of wherever he was. A fighter just like his parents, thought Cagalli. The representative turned to look at her friend to reassure her nothing was going to happen to the boy, but by the drained color faced Miri had, Cagalli knew she couldn't stop her friend anymore.

"DEARKA! DON'T!, Miriallia yelled at the man she once loved tears pouring down her face.

- Oh Miss Haw, why the sudden emotions? You once aimed a knife at as stranger and that is exactly like it. Oh is it because he is still a kid? Don't you worry; he won't have to see what is going to happen to this beautiful earth of his.

- Dearka, please I am begging you. Don't hurt him. Take me instead. He is just a boy. He is only five or so.

- You seem to care about this boy for you to want to take his place.

- O-Of course we would, Elsman. He is a boy and if you want, take us both but leave him out of this. Miri won't die alone here.

- Wow, even the representative is willing to take your place, boy. But I wonder what will be your choice: the blond or the brunette? You choose. Untie him will you Soldier. And you two Hemn and Jeks [He designed two other soldiers], mute those two women for me. They are distracting the boy.

- YES SIR!, they all replied back.

- So, boy, choose. Your life is either one of them.

- Sir, I am sorry. I can't choose between my mommy and my aunty. They are both very precious to me. I would ask you let us all go back home —

- Wait! They are your family?

- Yesh sir. Mom, Aunty and everyone else are my family so would you please let us go?

- Alright… this is getting interesting. I will a deal with you boy, okay?

- Hum… okay?

- You tell me who is your mother and I let you go.

- …

- Boy?

- Hum, you see sir, I got into a fight with mommy when I last saw her, so until she says " For Haumea's sake, I hate fighting with you", I can't call myself her son…

- Aaaah man! I hate complications! But I know those two women won't ever tell me the truth so I can't just kill you either. Fine. Let them talk. But any wrong moves, you are all dead. Boy, your turn?

- Hum, mom, I am sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you saying I wished you never were my mom. I know I said you are never there but I was wrong, I missed you a lot. And I don't want you disappear… I-I love you mommy so please forgive me, said the poor little boy in tears. He rubbed the tears away but they kept pouring.

Cagalli and Miriallia looked at each other and smiled. That kid knew how to get his mom. He did it every time. But today, it felt real and she wished they were somewhere safer, but they can't do anything about it so she rushed towards him and pulled him to her chest with her still tied hands and said:

"For Haumea's sake, I hate fighting with you my little heartbreaker. I missed you and I love you even more.

- No, it can't be…

- Oh yes it is. She is the mom", said Cagalli at the astonished face of Dearka.