I am reposting this chapter. I just was not happy with certain parts of the chapter.

Its sad when the world suffers, but happens to those left behind?

Chapter 2- Torn hearts

Flashback

"I'm sorry sir. But we have no report on either name. If they were in the location you state I highly doubt…"

"I don't care what you think! I'm looking for Representative Cagalli Yula Athha and her best friend, Ensign Miriallia Haw. So please keep searching and call me when you know something."

"Yes Sir."

End

"That was a week ago. Has time really gone that slow?" Athrun thought to himself, staring at the picture on top of his file covered desk. In a navy blue frame a picture of Athrun stood with his arm around Cagalli. They had both just come home from a Political dinner, and Cagalli wanted to walk along the beach. So both, her in her $50,000 dress and he in his tux, had gone down to the beach at midnight and somewhere amongst it all they managed to take a picture.

It was now his favorite picture.

'Hey Athrun. How's it going?' Kira said. He took the seat across from Athrun and behind him Lacus, Dearka and Yzak along with Shiho, were standing around behind him.

'See for yourself.' Athrun said, picking up the TV remote off his desk. He turned on the wide screen TV that was hanging on his wall and turned up the volume.

"Well it's about nine o'clock in the morning here in the States and still as we speak, people are posting new pictures onto the already jam packed Missing Persons Boards." Behind her a woman was hold a printed picture in her hand, while wiping away tears with her free hand.

"Excuse me miss, I'm Tatiana." The woman looked up and offered a light smile.

"Mornin'." She greeted, squinting slightly against the bright light radiating from the sun through the clouds.

"I noticed you were about to place a picture on the board. May I ask who you're missing?"

"My grandchildren and my great grandchild were all living in ORB. And I haven't heard from them since last Monday." The woman showed the picture towards Tatiana and the camera showed the picture. A young woman holding a baby in her arms, while a red headed man had his arm wrapped around her waist.

"How old is your great grandchild?"

"She would be 4 weeks next Tuesday."

"Oh my god." Tatiana whispered, her lip quivering slightly. The woman turned away and stuck the picture on the board and bowed her head and closed her eyes, beginning to pray.

"Well, we'll leave her be." Tatiana moved away from the woman quietly and pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket.

"Earlier today I was handed a list of Political figures missing or confirmed dead by Government today. Ahh President Amir Rozani of the Scandinavian House of Representatives along with Scandinavia's leader, Prince Runyon Moscovitz have been confirmed dead as of earlier this morning by Admiral Takeshi of the 8th Space Division. Russia and Spain are both yet to confirm and death but are missing both Ambassador Dimitri Kafka, Russia's Ruler and Princess Maria Francisco Juan of Spain. We all send our sincere condolences to all those families who have either lost a family member or are missing a family member and haven't heard anything yet . I'll bring you with more names during the day." She shoved the paper back into her pocket and faced the camera again.

"In other news…" Athrun then shut off the TV and started rocking back in his chair.

'Everything's still just chaos. Rescue centres are full of survivors from surrounding countries or those countries destroyed that have no where to go. Those traveling or living in unharmed countries want answers and are trying to get in contact with family and friends missing. The death toll is jumping hundreds per hour as people confirm the deaths.' Athrun said, taking a sip of coffee from his mug then sat it back down on his desk.

'Is there any reports on what caused this?' Dearka asked, leaning against the edge of the desk top.

'No ones exactly sure. But it seems possible a high source radiation beam was fired three times consecutively. But you look at the precise damage...' He pulled out a small red file from his desk draw and chucked it onto the desk. Kira reached over and grasped the file. He opened it and inside were several photos. 'Its too...'

'Its too clean a pattern for radiation.' Dearka comment looking over Kira's shoulder.

'Those photos were taken from an Atlantic Federation satellite two days after the afttack. ZAFT received them in an email only yesterday.'

'Oh god.' Athrun dug around through his files then he found a folded up map. He unfolded it and laid it out in front of him and with a pencil marked out the areas thought to be affected.

'Half the Eurasian Territory was lost. The Oceania Union was almost completely wiped along with East Asia.' As Athrun started pointing out places on the map, everyone in the room grew more and more anxious.

'Some 10% of the African Community and South African Union have been lost.'

'What about Orb? Or Scandinavia? And the Equatorial Union?' Dearka asked, peering over Kira's shoulder.

'Gone.' Athrun replied, shrugging his shoulders in disbelief.

'What?'

'Their all gone. Completely, 100% wiped out and exterminated.' Athrun said, his voice cracking with each word. Everyone just remained silent, the same thought running through their minds.

'You know what this means don't you?'

Shiho, not being as well informed as the others shook her head.

'The world is now divided into two camps. Atlantic Federation; with what's left of their Eurasian, South African and their South American territories, and ZAFT, which now only has the African Communities left. As of today there is no Neutral Territory left on Earth.'

"Is that really so bad? Like what roles did they play?"

'Small as they were they gave some breaking points amongst the binds. They left places where anyone was welcome and anyone could reside. With those places gone, coordinators can only enter ZAFT's territory, and Naturals can only enter Atlantic Federation Territory. Its going to bring chaos to a terrible situation.'

'Oh.' Was all Shiho could think to say.

Ring Ring

'Hello Athrun Zala speaking.' Athrun answered, putting the phone on speaker.

"Hello Athrun. It's Erica Simmons.

'Oh. Hi. Uhh what can I do for you?' Everyone's attention was suddenly on this speaker of the phone, no body daring to make any movements.

"I'm…this Saturday I've organized a memorial service."

'A memorial service?' Athrun murmured, hating the sinking feeling happening in his chest. He looked up into Kira's eyes, who wasn't paying attention to him.

"I'm sorry Athrun. I wish It didn't have to be this way ."

'Do what?' Erica's sigh came through the phone and for a moment all was silent then…

"A service will be held Saturday 29th at 9am Copernicus City at the Chapel to commemorate the lives of those lost.."

'I'm sorry Miss. Simmons, but what were you wishing not to do?'

"Just come. The victims would like that very much." And with that the call was ended.

'I guess we're going.'

'It would be rude not to. Besides I'd like that very much. To pay my respects to those who died.' Lacus said, look over at Kira with a smile.

'Come one. I need to do something's before tomorrow.' Shiho said. She and everyone else started heading for the door. Including Athrun.

'Hey Dearka, how you holding up?' Athrun asked, putting a hand on Dearka's shoulder, slowing them both down behind everyone.

'I'm holding it together. Or at least I think I am.'

'Yeah well you were a mess. I haven't seen you drink like that for a while.'

'It's hard you know. I can't get through to her and…I can't stop thinking that…'

'It's ok man. We'll find out more information and everything will be fine.'

'I keep waiting. I answer the phone and I wish that her voice or Cagalli's voice was on the other end, telling me their safe and ok.' Athrun came to his side and placed a comforting arm around Dearka's shoulders.

'We need to be strong. If they were both dead, we'd feel it. I can feel Cagalli is alive somewhere.'

Dearka looked up at him and smiled lightly.

'That's a nice way to look at it.'

Saturday 29th 9:00am

When they finally arrived to the chapel, cars lined the street along the front and all along the road for as far as the eye could see.

'Big turn out.'

'Athrun, Kira. Glad you could make it.' Erica greeted them just as they entered the chapel, coming up from the left hand side.

'Erica, you remember Lacus, Yzak, Meyrin and Dearka right?'

'Yes. A pleasure to see you all again. If you'll just follow me, the service can begin soon.' The group followed the older woman out into a packed arena, people filling every seat, bench and standing place they could find.

'It is with deep sorrow that I welcome you all here to this event. I'm Pope Arnold Francis of the Catholic Church here in Copernicus.' A round of applause erupted through out the arena and he bowed his head slightly, not meeting anyone's gaze. He coughed slightly and when the clapping died down he looked back up at the crowd.

'As we all have heard, on Monday morning, at around 3am, a travesty occurred to our neighbors on Earth. I'd like to take this time to observe 3 minutes of silence, honor the victims and after such time I will call people to the stage to honor with personal tributes.'

After the three minutes silence the pope stepped forward back to the podium and cleared his throat.

'Now I have here with me today Eileen Canaver along with some political figures from the Atlantic Federation and Orb. I welcome them to the stage to offer their own words and sentiments.'

For an hour and a half every sat in their seats, reeling in the names and stories of loved ones lost from family and friends, each story bringing tears and new sets of emotions to Naturals and coordinators alike. Dearka, Kira, Athrun and Yzak were about to walk out for some fresh air, but stopped when they saw Erica stand up from her seat and walk up to the podium.

'Good morning friends, family and guests and thank you for coming here today. I'm Erica Simmons, Senior Engineer of Morgenroete and Chief Designer of Military Forces from Orb. I'm here on behalf of the Orb Government; representing family's affected by the destruction of Orb. I would like to express my deepest condolences, to the families who have lost so much. The search for bodies is ongoing and I hope that at least one family will be able to properly bury their loved ones.'

'I myself have lost several people; my son Ryuta, along with my mother and my husband, also Prime minister of the Orb Union, Unato Ema Seiran, also perished, along with several heads of Orb.'

'Oh no way; Ryuta died.' Lacus said behind her hand.

'But the one tragedy hitting the people of Orb hardest, for not only have we lost our homeland, we also lost our princess and our savior, Cagalli Yula Athha.' Silence sounded through out the crowd and everyone stopped moving, waiting for someone to say they were kidding.

'She perished along side her best friend, Miriallia Haw, at the Museum of History and Science, along with seventy other students from the local college feeder school.' Erica's voice started to falter, as tears started streaming down her face.

On the screen behind Erica a picture of both Cagalli and Miriallia together smiling brightly and hugging each other appeared. Both were in their military uniforms and standing in a mobile suit hanger.

'Both accomplished war veterans from both wars, the two survived with the courage and determination that spread through out those around them. After the second war, the two became students and started studying science and English.' A second picture appeared, this time the two girls sitting on the steps of the university. Cagalli in black pants and a short sleeved red shirt and Miriallia in a pair of denim shorts and a leather jacket. They were sitting on a step and had an arm around the others shoulder, still smiling and giggling.

'Both girls died at the tender age of 19. They leave behind their legacy, never giving up in the face of danger, always being there to lend a hand and never being afraid to bend a few rules. They will be leaving behind a brother, friends and loved ones, and I know they will all be in our thoughts and our prayers. Thank you for your time.' Erica smiled lightly as applause sounded through out the arena as she stepped away from the podium and walked back off stage.

As the next speaker moved to the podium, Erica moved back along the edge of the crowd towards the exit but was stopped by Kira and the others.

'It can't be true.'

'I'm sorry Kira. I wish it weren't.'

'There has to be a way; some way that they both slipped through the cracks.'

'I've been trying to tell myself that since it happened. But it's always the same. They're gone.' Without a word the group turned and exited the chapel.

'I'm so sorry Kira.' Erica whispered feeling bad for the man who only just got his sister back only to loose her. She turned her gaze to the sky, hoping Mir and Cagalli were watching over their friends.

Outside

When Athrun and Dearka reached the car, Athrun collapsed against the hood, his face sullen and defeated. Like his heart had just been torn out. But Dearka's face was emotionless, and he was silent until he snapped and rammed his clenched fist into the side of the car.

'Dammit!'

The End

Sneak Peak at Chapter 3

'Beep.'

'Beep.'

'He's stable. Up the dosages of penicillin on both and be prepared to resuscitate. We don't know what could happen.'

'Doctor, maybe we should wait a little while longer. We still don't know how much damage has really been done, to any of them.'

'They've been in a coma for over a month. We have to try.' The doctor standing next to the IV stand said, adjusting the flow of the IV bag.

Review and you can read the rest of that!

Please leave a review telling me what you think.

Chapter three is coming in a few weeks time. So keep an eye out for that. ^_^

xoxo Cagallirocks