Chapter five

When Miriallia woke up in the infirmary, she was alone. She looked around for the medical personnel but could find no one. She waited a full five minutes and got tired of sitting there with nothing to do, so, she got up and left the infirmary. Her arm still hurt a little and her head was sore but she didn't mind. She felt like going to see Dearka this morning and that's where she was going to go.

When she arrived at his quarters, he wasn't there. He must be with Yzak...She made her way to the Commander's office. On her way there, she did not encounter many people, and she wondered where they all were. Once she had arrived at the office, she knocked but no one was there. Where are they? , she wondered. Well, only one possible place left. The bridge.

What she saw once on the bridge she did not want to believe. The crew were monitoring a fight. The fight she should be part of right now. Damnit! He didn't tell me! She watched a while. There were five new mobile suit, including two merged ones like yesterday, and Dearka, Athrun and Yzak were having a hard time.

Miriallia had enough. She ran to the hangar only to find her suit in the same state as it had been yesterday. It can still fly and I can still fight. I'm sorry Dearka, but I'm going. She suited up, boarded and told a crew member to open the hatch.

"I'm sorry lieutenant. My orders are to keep you here until the fighting is over."

"Damn you! Open it"

"I'm sorry" and he cut the transmission. Too bad, she had already blasted the hatch and left for the battlefield.

"Alright. I'm low on energy, have no weapons except the laser sword. I'll be fine." I'm sorry Dearka, but I have to do this.

Dearka was still fighting his suits when his sensors picked up a new mobile suit entering the battlefield. It was Hope.

"Dearka, why the hell didn't you tell me?" She demanded.

"Dammit Miriallia, go back! This is not the time. You can't fight!"

"Sure I can, just watch me!"

It was those few seconds of distraction that the enemy needed to attack Buster, sending it flying, many parts missing. The enemy suits had also noticed Miriallia' suit, but decided to make nothing of it, seeing how damaged it already was.

"Dearka!" Both Yzak and Miriallia shouted.

Fortunately, he was alright. His suit had an arm and half a leg missing but he was fine. However the two merged suits were still going at Dearka, and so was the Cosmos' ship. Dammit where's Yzak? Dearka though, trying to concentrate.

"Dearka you ok? I'm on my way. There are only the ship and those few suits left." Yzak replied.

"Understood!"

Miriallia was still in the battlefield, closing in on Dearka's location. She attacked a suit and destroyed it. The second turned from the Buster and went for her. He didn't even have time to touch Miriallia's suit, he had already blown up, of course, Dearka's doing. The Cosmos' ship turned around and retreated as Yzak came to Miriallia and Dearka's location. Athrun went after the ship but it was too quick ad had to return to the other's location.

"What the hell was that all about?" Yzak demanded. "What happened? You! What are you doing here?"

"I was just about to ask you the same thing Miriallia..." Dearka said.

"Dammit what is it with you two? I can fight and I won't let you stop me!" She was angry but Yzak was furious.

"Stupid woman! Did you see what you did? You almost got Dearka killed! What were you thinking?"

"Yzak calm down" It was Athrun. "She only wanted to help. Besides, everyone's fine and she destroyed 2 suits. Let her be." This did not satisfy him one bit but he figured he should shut up; otherwise, it would only make things worse. He and Athrun headed back to the ship.

"Miriallia..."

"What you too?... I guess I never should have bothered then..." Miriallia was shaking and crying. How could Dearka not understand she was doing this for him, to save him? Didn't he care?

"Miriallia... thanks." Dearka replied.

"...Dearka?"

"I'm not mad at you... I just...look I... I'm sorry I didn't tell you about today. I felt bad enough that you got hurt during the last battle and didn't want you to get hurt again. I care too much about you... I wanted to protect you..." He tried to explain but he didn't really know how to explain why he did it.

"Thanks Dearka..."

"Miriallia... I..." he started but was interrupted by his sensors picking up an energy signature coming their way fast. It was a beam from the Cosmos' ship targeted at Dearka. It all seemed to go in slow motion; Miriallia pushed aside Dearka's suit and took the blast head on. There was a huge explosion and after the smoke cleared up, there was nothing but big pieces of scrap left of what was once Miriallia's suit.

"No...this can't be! MIRIALLIA!" Dearka was crying for the love of his life the enemy had just taken away from him... without thinking, he headed for the Cosmos' ship, to destroy it and avenge her. His eyes were now glazed with the pale, practically white shade of lavender. He was out of control.

Yzak and Athrun who were monitoring what had happened went back in their suits and headed with Dearka toward the enemies.

"Dearka stop!" Yzak demanded.

"NO! They... they killed her! THEY'RE GOING DOWN!"

"Dearka!"

He had already engaged the enemy and one by one, the mobile suits and armours were destroyed until only the ship remained. Without hesitation, he was about to shoot and destroy the Cosmos' ship when he received a transmission.

"Dearka... stop!" it was her voice... but how could that be? He suit had exploded right in front of him. No, she was gone... this was all in his head.

"Please Dearka wait!" again it was her.

"Arg!" and he shot the ship, destroying it. It was the last remaining ship of the organization. It was all over...

"Dearka" Athrun said.

"... what?" Dearka was crying hard.

"Dearka, that transmission... was it...?"

"No ...it couldn't have been... they... they killed her... it was a trick. Has to be..." The battle was over but right now, Dearka felt as if his life was over. He had lost her... he never had the chance to tell her he loved her. It's all my fault. I should've protected her... Miriallia...

"Dearka come on. Lets go back." said Yzak.

They all headed back to their ship. In the hangar, there were pieces of what was left of Hope. Dearka could not bear to look at them. He headed for his quarters, crying. On the way there, he passed by the infirmary and a nurse stopped him.

"Sir, there's someone here who'd like to see you." she said.

"Not now..."

"It's urgent. Please!"

"...Fine." Whoever this was, it better be urgent. He was not in the mood right now to...

His thoughts were interrupted as he saw who was lying in the bed. It was Miriallia. She was alive. But how? He was now very confused.

"How...?"

"Hey... good to see you too..."she replied, smiling weakly.

"Miriallia, I thought... no... this has to be a dream... the suit blew up! I saw it!"

"Dearka look at me... I'm really here... the suit... it was hit but the cockpit was left intact... more or less. After you left with Yzak and Athrun, I ...contacted the ship and they picked me up."

"So the transmission, it was you!"

"Heh... yeah..." she was so weak, she had difficulty keeping her eyes open and fainted.

"Miriallia!"

"It's okay," the doctor said, "she only fainted. She needs her rest. She'll be fine in a few days."

At least, she's alive...

A week passed and Miriallia was now up and about. She went over to Dearka's quarters to surprise him. She was still weak but hated staying in the hospital bed. She knocked on the door and Dearka said "come in". When she entered, Dearka looked at her and had tears in his eyes.

"Oh Miriallia. I was so worried.. Are you okay? Do you want to sit down?"

She giggled. "I'm okay Dearka, don't worry. I'm just still tired, that's all."

There was silence for a moment then Dearka went over to her and held her in his arms. "Don't you ever scare me like that again."

"I won't... I promise" She felt his warmth and it was overwhelming. She had never felt such... love coming from a man... not even from Tolle. Dearka looked into her eyes. "Miriallia, I... I love you." and he kissed her, not even waiting for her response to his revelation. After this very passionate kiss, she looked at him. "I love you too Dearka"

FIN