what? misfortune?

You are NOT annoying if you send asks to me. You are NOT bothering me if you IM me. You are NOT bugging me or irritating in any way shape or form.

You can send me as many memes as you want, you don’t bother me. You’re not annoying or a bother.

Sunrise at Lake Tasman, South Island, New Zealand.

“It’s in your eyes,” Sayla said. Her usual gentle tone had been replaced by a much sterner one. But, as quickly as it had come out, it was gone again- the blonde was back to ‘normal’. “Garma, you know you can talk to me. Don’t bottle it up. Internalizing your pain just makes it worse.” 

He couldn’t respectfully decline. Not if she had asked. To Garma, there was no sense in avoiding it, not to Miss Mass, and especially not to her truthful words.

There’s a moment before the question processes itself. A voice that Char hadn’t heard since the One Year War, stopping him dead in his tracks as memories of the face associated with the voice flashed in his mind. Memories of a close friend, that had been killed solely because of his birth. As Char turned around, he’d find himself staring straight at a dead ringer for that person…No, not even that. The way he spoke, addressing him so familiarly…

There was no mistaking it. This man was, without a doubt…The friend Char had betrayed all of those years ago. Garma…Char could feel himself get anxious as he tried to find the words to say, but he could only manage a meager response, and not likely one that the other was hoping for.

“Char…“

For a moment, words elude Garma. All these years of escaping his truth, and now Char, the man who betrayed him for being born a Zabi, thinks his life is valuable? 

 It was as if the past fourteen years lifted their burden from his shoulders, and he was a young man of twenty again, determined and renewed. 

You mean more to me than you know, my friend, he wanted to say. But the words caught in his throat, and he remembered their current dilemma. War took all precedence.

He nods. “I’m ready.”

That alone was all Char needed to hear. With a nod of his own, the Red Comet’s resolve was steeled for whatever the outcome of their decision would be…All he could do was hope that Neo Zeon’s benefactors, as well as the captains of the Musaka fleet, would at least be receptive of both Garma’s plan and the reasoning behind his sudden decision to call off the Axis drop.

Finally though, Nanai returned to the two with a nod as she confirmed that Char had a transmission set up. The moment of truth had arrived…And, as he moved forward and noted that he did, indeed, have the floor, Char motioned for Garma to come forward and join him.

“Soldiers of Neo Zeon, I beg your apologies for this sudden transmission. And, I likewise beg the pardons of those benefactors of our force that have heeded my request for an audience so suddenly. I have two things I wish to discuss, both of which are of dire import. First, I have a piece of good news to share. The “late” Garma Zabi is not so “late” as we believed. I am pleased to announce that Garma stands here with me, as I speak, and that he will be joining our forces as a Mobile Suit pilot henceforth. I ask that you welcome him with open arms, everybody.

Second, it seems time may be shorter than we believed. After speaking with Garma, I’ve come to the conclusion and realization that my speech at Sweetwater may have goaded the Federation into acting well before we’d anticipated. In fact, they may well be preparing to launch an attack as we speak…So, I’m afraid we must postpone the plan to drop Axis. While my feelings on this have not changed, and we will not be abandoning the plan entirely, Garma has suggested that he may have a better alternative. As his friend, I want to ask all of you to lend him your ears as he takes the floor, and to keep your minds open.

Additionally, I want all Mobile Suit teams to be on standby, and all Musaka-class cruisers to be on high alert for any sign of confirmed Federation aggression. If they launch an attack, we will defend ourselves, but we cannot afford a drawn-out battle. If it comes to it, we will retreat to another sector to the time being while we discuss Garma’s suggestion.”

As Char finished his speech, he moved to the side and motioned for Garma to move forward with a nod and a smile. Now, the floor belonged to his friend…And with it, the chance for a brighter future. All Char could do now was hope that Garma could win over his supporters and benefactors. As unfortunate as it was, all Char could say was…

Garma cleared his throat.

"To begin, honorable soldiers, I offer my most humble gratitude for the opportunity to address you, for what I am about to suggest may raise more than a few concerns..."

His hands trembled, and he steadied himself, a lock of hair around one finger.

My suggestion is as follows. We abandon the plan to drop Axis. I repeat, we call off the plan to drop Axis in its entirety. I want no re-negotiations on this. The people of Earth have suffered enough. To force their compliance by mass extermination would risk the lives of uncountable innocents, not to mention the environs that nurtured our ancestors to bring us here. We would stoop to a level unforeseen since the old Zeon, and all the destruction committed in their name. I say no more. The time for this destruction is over. War begets more war, and to risk such blood on our hands is a risk I, with all my unfailing trust in Char, can no longer stand behind."

He gasped for air, wiping a tear from his eyes. These words he had planned to speak for so long finally poured from him in an unprecedented torrent, and it was all he could do to contain himself throughout.