In the passing days, the only people I saw were those who brought my food. Many of the trays returned untouched. Even on the third day there was still not even a word from the 'outside world'. I didn't even know what the ship's destination was or when we would arrive there. I just waited. I awaited my fate. I knew the consequences of my previous actions. I escaped once but I accepted that death might see me soon yet.

After stepping out of the shower, I turned towards the fogged up mirror. Wiping away the condensation I stared intently at myself. My chocolate brown eyes looked back at me, challenging me. Cautiously, I brought my hand up to my brow. Instead of letting my bangs sit straight across just above my eyebrows, I swept them to the side. Aviya. Stepping away, I tousled my bangs and flattened them to let them sit straight across again.

I am not ready for this. I paused for a moment. But will I ever be ready?

I combed my hair and immediately put it into a long braid. Slipping into my clothes, I flopped onto my bed, staring at that same sterile ceiling. All the hours ahead of me only contained waiting. Waiting for what? I was unsure.

Finally, that evening I had a visitor.

"How are you doing?" He walked in, glancing over at my untouched tray with concern.

"I've been better." I tried to manage a small smile.

Nicol took a seat across from me in an armchair. He studied my face carefully. "I am sorry I haven't been able to visit. Commander Le Creuset has kept us busy."

"That is fine." I glanced away from his intent gaze. "Nicol, where is this ship heading?"

"The PLANTs. We should be arriving in three days."

I nodded my head in understanding. "I assume Le Creuset has updated you on my situation with ZAFT."

They probably all knew that Le Creuset was at the head of operation, that he was my team leader. They probably also knew that I was a soldier-in-training who defected.

"Yes, he has filled in a few gaps. He said since we were directly involved, and needed to be informed of the situation, we were allowed to know some but Array, would I be able to ask you a few questions?"

I didn't even care he called me by my alias. I found comfort in that name. It was the name that let me escape my problems. Once again, I nodded my head.

"So your name is Aviya Daye and your brother is — was, Ethan Daye. The same Ethan Daye who was known for being one of the first pilots of the GINN prototype."

I gestured in agreement.

"What I don't understand though is —- Commander Le Creuset said you were part of an experimental operation with your brother. I never even knew Ethan Daye had a sister."

"There was a reason it was called an experimental operation. It was highly-classified information."

I couldn't tell him that I was actually below the voluntary enlistment age for ZAFT when the operation began and technically, what ZAFT was doing was illegal.

It was Nicol's turn to be silent. I could tell he wanted to know more but didn't want to press further.

I sighed a little. "I can probably tell you a few details about it. Early on, ZAFT recognized that my brother was the perfect soldier – and subject for an experiment. He was daring, talented, sharp, resilient and most importantly, complaint. ZAFT wanted two subjects for testing a mobile suit prototype. To make the mobile suit function it was a team effort, they needed to work together." I looked over at Nicol.

This time, he nodded his head in understanding.

"The first problem they realized very quickly was finding someone who understood my brother. They tried putting him with many partners, but there was no success. They just didn't understand how my brother thought –– how he worked. They realized that the two subjects needed to have a strong bond with one another, one that could not be artificially created between two strangers in a lab. It was then that they discovered my brother conveniently had a younger sister."

"So they approached you. What did you say?"

"I said yes, of course. I would do anything for him. Before I knew it, I was running trials with my brother. Now long after, I was enrolled in the Academy. I was being pushed to finish as soon as possible in the Academy, so I would have more time to run trials and test runs."

What I didn't tell him was the countless times I was hooked up to machines, or of how I was pushed to my mental and physical breaking point. I couldn't disclose that there was no record of me in the ZAFT database, I was a black project. ZAFT was training me in espionage. What they didn't know was that I would turn on them.

"The operation failed though so ––."

"What happened?" I interjected, "While I was still in the Academy, war had been declared between the Earth Alliance and ZAFT. Just days after the war began, My brother was sent on patrol with five other pilots into one of the further sectors. The patrol was caught in an ambush," I paused for a moment, "there were no survivors." I looked away from him, trying to keep my composure.

"I think that is enough questions for now."

"Yes, I think so." I murmured while quickly brushing away a tear. "I have a question for you though, Nicol."

"Sure, what is it?"

"Why am I here?" I looked intently at his eyes. It was a question with many answers.

It was his turn to look away. "I don't know if I am the person to be answering that."