Post by Chris on Jan 21, 2010 14:36:19 GMT -5
November 9th, UC 0072
Ariel...
The hangar bay of the ship had been emptied of all mobile suits and cargo, replaced with an abundance of flowers and seating. The walls hung with cloth and ribbons as the Schuzstaffel dressed in their ceremonial uniforms, and Crew members in their Sunday's best, filed in to remember those lost to the rogue attack on their fleet only days prior. Gihren's guards who had lost their family members in the attack lined the stage, the steel caskets behind them ready to be cast out into the void of space.
An eerie light reflected off the top of the caskets as friends and family stood at their side, mourning their loved ones and placing flowers atop the metal boxes. A haunting piano melody echoed through out the hangar bay, slowly coming to an end as the last of the seats began to fill up.
Mothers could be seen comforting their children as they tried to explain that their father was not coming back while widows sought comfort in close friends, and the Schuzstaffel members did their best to not let their resolve falter. Xavier was not having such an easy time maintaining his military discipline as he fought back the tears, his eyes seemingly stared a hole through one of the smaller caskets covered by a teal sash, adorned with pink and white orchids; it would be the last time he'd 'see' her. His fist clinched around the silver pendant that he had wrapped around his wrist as the ceremony began...
A priest approached the podium and cleared his throat to signal that he was about to proceed with the wake. A hush fell across the room as he began to read a passage from the bible. "We gather here today to remember..."
Xavier heard none of it as he closed his eyes and the noise in the background was drowned with his own thoughts. Memories drowned him as images of his daughter replayed in his mind like a movie; tears welled up, slowly fighting their way out, cascading slowly down his cheek.
Her first steps, she was such a big girl...
The smile on her face and the cake smeared all over her face on her first birthday...
First time she said Daddy, or Dada rather, how proud he was that day...
That fateful day where they lost her mother... his wife... her cries of anguish as they left Earth...
She was so strong for him... she was but four...
Every time he was having a bad day, she'd smile, and make everything better...
Now it was all gone...
He had lost her...
...Why?
The Schuzstaffel officer opened his eyes, now red from fighting a losing battle against the tears, and he let his gaze fall across the crowd. The people had bowed their heads in prayer as music began to fill the bay once again. Xavier couldn't help but feel broken, like prayer was a pointless gesture, he had nothing left...
I'm sorry Anastasia, I couldn't protect her...
Ariel...
Princess...
Daddy failed you...
Xavier couldn't hold it in anymore and tears began to fall unabated from his eyes as the caskets were carried to the air lock and set to be launched to their final resting place; the emptiness of space. The ship shuddered repeatedly as its AA guns fired a 21 gun salute as the caskets were shot out into space...
Baby Girl...
He shut his eyes as Ariel's teal draped coffin was thrust out into the void. At that moment, something snapped - Xavier was no longer the father he was, he was a broken man, who had nothing...

