Chapter 356: Kira and Athrun
Athrun, hearing Kira firmly refuse his proposal and afraid of becoming enemies with Kira again, nervously interrupted him. "Kira, no matter what, Orb can't avoid war anymore, and it's already become an enemy of the Earth Alliance. Then wouldn't it be better to choose ZAFT…?"
When Athrun mentioned joining ZAFT again, Kira shook his head and cut him off. Changing the subject, he said with a heavy expression, "But… I killed your friend. Even though I didn't know him, I didn't mean to kill him.
"But you also almost killed Tolle, the pilot of that Skygrasper fighter. At the time, I really thought you had killed him."
Looking at Athrun's shocked face, Kira continued, "The one who was with me at the Dawn Society back then. I think you must not have wanted to kill him at the time, so he ended up being okay, right?"
Athrun stared at Kira in shock. Only now did he recall that Skygrasper that had been destroyed by his shield—and that even though it was wrecked like that, the pilot hadn't died.
Athrun said with some guilt, "I… I once had thoughts of wanting to kill you."
"Don't worry about it. I was the same back then," Kira said to comfort him. Then, looking up at the ceiling of the Dawn Society factory, he continued, "If only this world had no war. If only we could always stay in a world like that.
"But even if it was to protect others, I've already pulled the trigger.
"And… the war in this world is still expanding. If this keeps up, P.L.A.N.T. and the Earth Alliance really will… perish together, both sides destroyed.
"So I have to fight for the sake of the future. Maybe by then, we'll end up fighting each other again."
"Kira…" Athrun stared at him in shock, never expecting him to say something like that.
Just then, Tolle walked over and said to Athrun, "Athrun, long time no see."
Athrun turned pale when he saw Tolle, not expecting that the person he had almost killed was standing right in front of him. "Long time no see… Tolle."
But Tolle had no intention of letting him off that easily and added, "Come on, no need to be so heavy. Look, I'm fine, aren't I? I was lucky back then and didn't die, and I was rescued by Orb's people."
That only made Athrun look even more miserable as he apologized, "I'm sorry."
"All right, don't be so sad." Tolle was quite satisfied with Athrun's expression, but he still wanted to needle him, so he continued, "Let me tell you some good news. Actually… Nicol Amalfi isn't dead either. He was rescued together with me by the Sahaku family and taken up to the Pillar of Heaven."
"That's impossible. I clearly saw Blitz's cockpit get—" Athrun jumped to his feet in shock, then slumped back down as if all his strength had drained away. "Nicol… is he really okay?"
"Yeah. He should have returned to ZAFT long ago, even earlier than you. Didn't you get any message from him?"
Athrun shook his head. "I didn't get any news from him."
"Oh, I see. Maybe you missed it. But before he left, he said he was going to Miss Lacus Clyne's place or something. When you go back, you can ask Miss Lacus—maybe she'll have news about Nicol."
Tolle's words were another perfect backstab, hitting exactly where it hurt the most. Athrun lowered his head and said, "Thank you… I understand.
"Then what were Kira and I… fighting each other so desperately for…?"
Kira, deeply moved as well, comforted Athrun. "Athrun, don't be too sad.
"War is like this. It keeps escalating and spreading through one misunderstanding after another. That's why I hope this war can end as soon as possible.
"Maybe then, everyone will be able to sit together and talk properly again."
Encouraged by Kira's words, Athrun regained a bit of his spirit. "Kira, I also hope this war can end soon…"
"All right, that's enough, Athrun. I have to go back to work. We don't know when the Earth Alliance's attacks will start again."
As soon as Kira finished speaking and stood up to leave, Athrun grabbed him, wanting to stay with him a bit longer, and found an excuse to ask one last question. "Kira, let me ask you one last thing. The Freedom Gundam has an anti–neutron jammer canceller installed. About that data, did you…?"
Kira answered calmly, "If anyone here tries to scheme against the Freedom Gundam and use it for their own purposes, I'll be the first to take them out."
After saying that, Kira quietly left. Athrun could only slump back down, dejectedly clutching his hair.
Tolle, who had run out of reasons to keep backstabbing Athrun, was also about to leave when he saw Dearka nearby.
He immediately put on a mischievous grin and called out, "Dearka, you're here too? You didn't leave on the evacuation ship to go to Katalia?"
Dearka could only brace himself and step forward to greet them. "Hahaha, Tolle, Athrun, hi.
"Well, I missed the evacuation ship, and I really couldn't bear to watch Orb get attacked by the Earth Alliance.
"Then I found my Buster Gundam on the way, so I decided on my own to stay and help defend Orb."
Hearing Dearka's words, Athrun suddenly felt energized. He made a decision in his heart: he could also do the same and stay to protect Orb on his own initiative.
After all, the Earth Alliance was also ZAFT's enemy. If he stayed behind in a personal capacity to help Orb, it should be fine, right? That way, he could keep being with Kira.
After chatting for a while, Tolle also left, beginning to install the PX System and the Intelligent Auxiliary System on the existing M1 Astray Gundams and other mobile suits.
He also started repairing the Blue Forbidden, the Aerial Raider, the Windam Dagger, and the Sword Calamity.
Besides replacing them with enhanced energy battery packs, he also gave these machines various upgrades.
The Blue Forbidden received energy-deflection armor, the Aerial Raider gained a mouth-mounted energy cannon, the Windam Dagger was fitted with TP armor, and the Sword Calamity gained shoulder-mounted armor-piercing rounds.
While upgrading the M1 Astrays, he also discovered Orb's ace pilot, the muscular man known as the "Fist God," Barry Ho—the pilot of the blue M1A Astray Space Type.
———
M1A Astray Gundam
C+-class machine
Terrain Adaptability: Sea-Land-Air-Space A
Fixed Weapons: Head Vulcan cannons ×2; Beam sabers ×2; Sniper beam rifle ×1; Shield ×1.
Special Equipment: Enhanced energy battery pack; PX System; Intelligent Auxiliary System.
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