Chapter Text
Chapter I.
Alexander Gabriel is an Atheist, ironically however, when he looked up the meaning of his surname, it meant "Man of God".
He grew up in a Christian family. Not really devoted enough to go to Mass every Sunday, but enough to have some higher power to believe in. On the contrary, Alexander believes not in a higher power, not in some omnipotent being that rules the cosmos, instead he believes in the rules of science, of physics.
When others see the apple and remember the Garden of Eden and the Forbidden Fruit, He saw Newton, his works on Gravity. Something that exists without the need for faith.
So when he went to the reception of his friend's wedding after two whole hours of the ceremony in church, he got a breath of fresh, familiar air. Not that he didn't respect other's beliefs, he just disliked the concept of hoping on the bible, on Jesus, on God, when the whole world was embroiled in wars, when children are starving, when mother earth is suffering.
“-ay there Gabe?”
“Hey.” His friend waves his hand in front of him “You okay there Gabe?”
The voice snapping him away from the piece of paper he's been reading since the start of reception, He looks up and sees his friend sitting in the chair beside him.
"Hmm? Yeah, yeah just re-reading my speech"
He folds up the paper, then unfolds it again, a reflex he says to himself (more so a habit) when preparing for speeches or public speaking
His friend looks at the newlywed, talking with some of their friends and family. "Weren't you two together?"
Alexander puts down the piece of paper, focusing his full attention on the question. “Who?”
“The groom.” His friend replies sarcastically “Christ, the bride of course, who else?”
He breaths out an exhausted sigh through his nose
"That's the fourth time anyone has asked me that question tonight" Alexander replies.
"The answer's yes, we were together for a bit in High School, and yes I've gotten over her."
His friend looks at him and crosses his arms together, almost looking like he doesn’t believe him "I guess the rumors were true then!"
Alexander stands up, smoothing out the wrinkles of his simple black jacket before buttoning it up "Not a rumor, I just don't like to publish it in my life's newspaper."
He adjusts his cufflinks and looks toward the front, where the emcee was already making her way to the microphone.
"Wish me luck" he says, as he makes his way to the podium, weaving through tables, glances from people who recognized him at an earlier time of his life.
"Our next speaker has been a close and loyal friend of the Bride for over ten years, Ladies and Gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to Alexander Gabriel"
Gentle applause echoed through the hall
Alexander climbs up the small stage, a piece of paper in his left hand. Feeling the eyes of dozens, no- hundreds of people as he approached the podium.
For a brief moment, he looks at the script he wrote and has been reading and re-reading for the better part of 30 minutes.
As the applause slowly dies down, he reads a part of the speech again in his mind. Ah screw it, might as well go impromptu
He folds the paper, and puts it into his coat pocket.
"Good Evening everyone, my name's Alexander Gabriel, I've known the bride for more than 10 years now, but you already know that because the emcee just said it"
His comment at the end gathers a few laughs here and there. Well that worked
"What most of you do not know however, Anya and I were together in High School. Yes I've gotten over her, if I didn't I wouldn't be speaking in front."
Some exchanged knowing looks, some that knew the story already chuckled at his statement.
"Looking back, we were two awkward teenagers who thought they had life figured out. Spoiler alert: we definitely did not."
"Our.. relationship ended more than a decade ago, not because we hated each other, but because we realized we were better at being friends than being together at each and every step of our lives."
He looks toward Anya, her eyes already reflecting the tears she’s holding.
"I've watched the person Anya became today, still the same kind soul I met in high school, still endlessly supportive of her friends and family, still making everyone around her feel loved."
"But she is way, waay more stubborn now, when she knows she's right of course." Gabe glances at the crowd who was laughing at his remark.
He looks at the groom. "I'll be blaming that part on you."
"I'll admit.."
He scratched the back of his neck with a grin.
"I'll admit, I inspected you."
"Sorry, part of the job description"
The groom exchanges a glance at him and laughs.
"But after getting to know you, you don't just love her. You respect her, you challenge her, you make her laugh."
His voice softens.
"And when she's with you, from the look of her face, I know she's at peace."
"I went on my own journey, one that took me in a way different direction than you two. I went abroad, learned, and worked. Cultivated a new beginning for myself"
His thoughts drifted to the memory, living in your home country for more than 2 decades, then getting on a plane to a place you’ve only seen in photographs.
"And now, you two will make a lifelong journey, start a new beginning."
"So, here's to friendships that survive the beaten path."
"To love that grows stronger with every challenge."
"To new beginnings."
He smiles as he hears someone’s aunt sniffling in the background
"To Anya, and Daniel. Congratulations"
The room erupts in applause.
He sees Anya wipe a stray tear from her eye, Daniel's arm wrapping around hers. Alexander’s eyes met her for just a moment, but he knew it meant thank you.
"Not bad Gabe, almost made me shed a tear." His friend says at him, his smile now replaced by his usual stoic expression
He loosens his tie slightly.
"Really? I thought I said a bunch of BS." He replies as he takes a seat.
A waiter appears behind them, serving iced tea, the glass clinking as it was placed in front of them.
"Thank you" his friend says to the waiter, giving him a small smile.
"Didn't think it was, it was pretty go-, think you have some company behind you." He points at the people behind him
Alexander turns around, and sees three people dressed in black suits, Security? he thinks to himself.
"Can i help you?" he says.
One of them steps closer, a briefcase in his hand.
"Mr. Alexander Gabriel?" the man in the suit asks him.
Alexander notices the Japanese flag on his lapel.
"Yes? Did i do something wrong?" Gabe asks as he stares at the 3 men
"Mr. Gabriel, I'm Hiroshi Takeda.”
Cool, so a random Japanese person approaches me in the middle of a wedding.
“I'm a representative of JAXA, we need you to come with us."
JAXA? The hell are they doing here?
"You can see I'm in the middle of my friend's wedding right?"
Takeda checks his watch.
"Yes, I apologize for the disturbance but this matter cannot wait."
"What matter?" His eyes narrow, questioning the man
"Mr. Gabriel, have you heard of the Petrova Line?"
"Yeah? Your Amaterasu probe detected it around a year ago."
"And the Arclight samples splashed down like what- three weeks ago?"
"22 days ago to be exact." Takeda replies.
"I don't see what I've got to do with it?"
The man reached into his briefcase to pull out same papers, Gabe looks around and realizes that dinner was finally being served and realizes he is starving
The waiter places a plate onto his table, and he thinks to himself; damn that looks like a tasty porkchop
"Mr. Gabriel, did you write this?" Disrupting his craving for the food in front of him (damn it)
The man hands him a thick folder, which he quickly realizes that its a copy of a study he did for NASA years ago
"Where the hell did you get this?" He says half surprised.
Interplanetary Vehicles and Long Term Crew Habitability he reads the title of his study again.
"Yeah I did write it, did it get approved? I submitted this around 8 years ago, when I was still in SICSA."
The JAXA representative repeats what he said earlier. "We need you to come with us."
"Why?" He asks, still not knowing what their purpose is.
"Now? Can't it wait?"
"Mr. Gabriel, we have a helicopter waiting to take you to Clark Airbase."
A helicopter? Why the hell am i suddenly the most important person here?
"But I'm in the middle of the wedding, I can't just go and lea-."
"Its either you come or you don't." Takeda says.
He takes another look at the dinner being served. Perfect timing, just when i was starving.
Well, shit.