Chapter 299: Awakening 1
After arriving at the Huayan's hangar, Tolle temporarily cuffed Canard.
Then he had the maintenance Haros controlled by Nami examine the Hyperion Gundam, and before long they had completely copied the new light-wave defense system.
Although the Hyperion Gundam was still a prototype with insufficient energy output, that didn't matter to Tolle — after all, his own mobile suits and warships never lacked power.
The new light-wave defense system was indeed much better than the older version Tolle had previously collected.
It felt almost like a beam saber, carrying a certain degree of offensive capability.
Especially against slower physical projectiles — they were destroyed the moment they touched the surface of the light-wave barrier.
So it could not only defend against beam attacks, but its defense against physical ammunition had also become much stronger.
Tolle was very satisfied with this outcome. After the copying was done, he unlocked Canard's handcuffs and brought him before the Hyperion Gundam, saying, "Alright, my robbery is complete. You can go."
Canard stared at him, baffled, and asked in confusion, "You're just letting me go? And you're giving the Hyperion Gundam back to me?
Didn't you rob it? Don't you need to keep it?"
Tolle replied without concern, "You talk too much. Am I supposed to keep it for the holidays? No need. Take it.
I've already copied all the data from this Hyperion Gundam — why would I need the machine itself?
And I'm not about to keep you around just to babysit you, you freeloader."
"Tch!" Called a freeloader, Canard turned his head away proudly, refusing to respond.
Tolle felt Canard looked exactly like a husky — aside from his toy, nothing else mattered to him.
So he deliberately praised the Hyperion Gundam to see how he would react: "It really is a decent machine. Too bad its power supply can't keep up."
Canard agreed and nodded, then said with some unwillingness, "Yeah, the energy output really isn't enough. Otherwise I wouldn't have lost that badly.
If… if it had enough power, I could boost the light-wave barrier to a much higher level.
Then your junk beam cannon definitely wouldn't be able to break through it."
Tolle shrugged and said, "Maybe. But too bad — you can't make that happen right now. If you manage it next time, I'll gladly accept your challenge anytime."
"Tch, I'll make it happen, just watch. When the time comes, I'll beat you so badly your mom won't recognize you."
"Sure. Let me send you off then." Tolle clapped his hands, and the Wing Zero Snow White Prelude extended its hand automatically.
It picked up both Canard and the Hyperion Gundam, and Tolle attached some neo DG cells to Canard, ready for him to lead the way to the new Artemis Umbrella base.
After flying them far away from the Huayan, the Snow White Prelude released its grip and returned to the ship.
Meanwhile, Athrun had been brought back from Orb by Creuset to a ZAFT base in Africa.
Nicol also arrived safely at one of the PLANT colonies. In disguise, he visited his parents first.
Watching his grieving father and tearful mother from afar, Nicol couldn't help shedding silent tears.
But for their safety, he did not reveal himself before leaving.
Later, he found a place near the Clyne residence to stay, quietly waiting for the story to unfold and preparing to protect Lacus.
During this time, still in disguise, Nicol found a chance to get close to his parents again, but he didn't have the courage to tell them who he was…
At the same time, the neo DG cells in Kira's body informed Tolle that Kira had regained consciousness.
Tolle sighed — Kira truly deserved the title of strongest Coordinator. Not only had he survived such a massive explosion, but despite those severe injuries, he had woken up after only a few days. His physique was no joke — he had absolutely reached the early stage of a first-generation super-soldier.
The moment Kira awoke, he looked around. Seeing the unfamiliar surroundings and realizing he was lying on a bed outdoors, he never imagined he would wake up in such a place.
He turned to Lacus beside him and asked, "This… where is this…?"
Lacus gazed at him gently and asked, "Um… do you still remember me?"
Kira looked at Lacus, then at the red Haro bouncing around and chirping "Haro, Haro" nonstop.
"You're… Miss Lacus… of course I remember you."
"Kira, you don't have to be so formal. Just call me Lacus." Seeing that Kira was fully conscious, Lacus felt relieved that her mentor Malchio's efforts had paid off, and she smiled. "But I'm really happy that you still remember me."
At that moment, Malchio slowly approached and asked Lacus, "Has Kira awakened?"
"Yes, Mentor Malchio, he's awake now."
"Being placed out here like this… he wasn't frightened?" Malchio continued speaking in tandem with Lacus, then turned to Kira and said, "Forgive us, Kira. Lady Lacus insisted on placing your bed in this location."
"Rather than keeping him in a room, letting Kira rest in such a beautiful natural setting would help him feel more at ease, don't you think?" Lacus clapped her hands gently, her expression innocent and dreamy as she smiled.
Then she looked at Kira with her large, shimmering eyes, hinting that he should agree. "Isn't that right, Kira?"
But Kira, a complete steel-hearted straight man, ignored the hint entirely. Instead, he just felt even more confused.
Moments ago he'd still been fighting Athrun desperately — then he blacked out, and now he found himself beside his fiancée Lacus.
He was completely bewildered and asked weakly, "What… happened to me? Why am I… here…?"
"That day, the children I care for found you collapsed in front of my prayer room.
And you were badly injured, like you were about to die, so I brought you here to treat you."