Chapter 189: The Lonely One 1
On Earth, Duke Dermail of the Romefeller Foundation, ignoring Treize Khushrenada's objections, stubbornly decided to make the Mobile Doll (MD) System OZ's primary weapon. Thus, humanity formally entered the era of unmanned warfare.
Pushed aside, Treize could only watch helplessly as OZ changed around him. It was a complete betrayal of his original dream, and he felt a deep sense of loneliness and helplessness.
While he was lost in thought, his communicator signaled an incoming transmission. When he opened it, he saw a woman on the monitor — her face looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't immediately place her.
Lady Une broke the silence first. "Lord Treize, it's been a long time. I am Lady Une."
Treize—no, Treize—stared at her, startled by how drastically she had changed. Even the Lady Une he knew best now felt almost like a stranger.
After a moment of awkward silence, he forced himself to respond.
"Lady Une? You've changed so much I hardly recognize you. What is it you wish to discuss with me at a time like this?"
"Lord Treize, I thought you would be coming to the space colonies together with Chief Engineer Tubarov."
At the mention of Tubarov's name, Treize's expression darkened. He asked sternly,
"So that's why you called me, Lady Une? Tell me—what do you plan to do with the MDs?"
Lady Une, unaware of Treize's current situation or his inner thoughts, answered matter-of-factly,
"Lord Treize, I intend to use the Mobile Dolls as soldiers that won't cause you pain."
Treize gave a bitter, self-mocking laugh. "Soldiers that won't cause me pain?"
"Lord Treize, you're far too cunning. You were meant to stand at the pinnacle of this world, and yet you've let it remain in such chaos—turning a blind eye to it.
I came to space to help you realize your ideals, and I've already prepared that future for you."
Treize shook his head. "A world without war is impossible. Let the strong rule this world—that is enough. People even find comfort in being ruled by the strong."
He closed his eyes wearily. "Endless war is part of human nature. Human history is a history of conflict, unchanged from ancient times to this very day."
Lady Une suddenly grew emotional. "But that only causes needless bloodshed and tears! You love all humanity, Lord Treize. You have the heart of a god—someone who can truly bring peace to both Earth and the colonies."
"Lady Une," Treize said quietly, "that's just the future you imagine for me."
He felt her ideals were far too naïve and didn't wish to argue further; he was already mentally exhausted.
Still, Lady Une pressed on. "But isn't that your dream as well, my lord? Your ideal?"
"My ideal?" Treize rose from his chair and walked to the window, gazing at the moon.
"That was nothing more than a mortal's fantasy. History is built one day at a time—I've no interest in my personal future."
"Even if you've decided to leave this world behind," she said softly, "I believe your true future lies out here, in space."
"Lady Une," Treize replied, "I'm not as forceful as you think. Zechs and the Gundam pilots—they're the ones forging a new future.
The wheel of time will turn again. There's no need for us to rush.
To this world, people like us are not indispensable.
Perhaps, as our leader foresaw, I'll end up nothing more than a moth drawn to the flame.
So, Lady Une… come back. Be the Lady Une I once cherished."
At his words, the subdued military persona within Lady Une began to stir again. The dominant saintly persona fell silent as the two sides of her mind clashed violently.
Her expression twisted in pain. She quietly shut off the communicator and, exhausted, slumped over her desk.
In the main control room, Tolle—who had been secretly observing—turned to Noin and asked, "Noin, are you sure this is okay? It doesn't look like those two personalities are merging at all."
"Don't worry, Master," Noin replied with a faint smile. "Before she leaves this world, the Lady Une who departs will be whole again. There's no need to worry."
Tolle frowned, feeling uneasy. Something about it didn't sit right with him, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was. For now, he let Noin continue tending to (or rather, manipulating) Lady Une.
"But Noin, keep an eye on Treize's movements. Notify me immediately if anything happens."
"As you command, Master."
Before long, Saint-mode Lady Une came to the control room. She looked at Tolle reclining in his chair and asked,
"Lord Tolle, do you really think Lord Treize will do what you said earlier?"
Tolle looked up at her and sighed. "Yes. It's very likely."
That wasn't the answer Lady Une wanted to hear. Anxious, she asked again,
"But wasn't Lord Treize always so confident? Why would he make such a choice? If he truly stood at the top of the world, would he still act this way?"
Tolle shook his head slowly. "There's an old saying—'In the world of power and politics, no one is truly free.' That describes Treize perfectly."
Lady Une repeated in confusion, "No one is truly free?"
"That's right," Tolle explained. "Treize doesn't represent only himself. He must answer to his family, to OZ, to the Romefeller Foundation, to Duke Dermail, and so on.
He dreams of a peaceful, stable world—one without weapons or war. But do you think the Romefeller Foundation, a weapons manufacturer, would ever agree to that? Would the people pulling their strings allow it?
Of course not. Look at the current MD System—they're forcing every colony under their control to produce them.
Anyone who dares to oppose the manufacturing of weapons on the colonies is immediately eliminated, their property seized. The recently destroyed Winner family is the best example."