"Athrun?"
While others were solely focused on the Strike Gundam and how to eliminate this detestable Allied Forces Gundam in the coming battle, Nicol was observing his friend Athrun's expression.
Thus, when Athrun saw the Strike Gundam attacking their mothership, the fleeting change in his expression didn't escape Nicol's notice.
"Athrun's expression is so complicated."
The perceptive Nicol didn't voice his observation, nor did he question Athrun directly in front of the others. He resolved to speak with Athrun privately after the battle.
"Dearka, let me go! I'm going to shoot down that damned Strike Gundam!"
Yzak, seeing their mothership still intact and having checked his mobile suit during their journey, now felt confident again. Though his machine was severely damaged, as long as he could still control his weapons, he believed he could take down that little thief!
"Huh?" Dearka's face twitched as he stared at Yzak as if looking at an idiot.
"Dearka, take them back first."
However, Athrun couldn't possibly allow Yzak to engage with his beloved Kira. For once, he adopted a firm stance.
"Both Yzak and Nicol's mobile suits are heavily damaged and need immediate repairs on the mothership. I alone am enough here. Don't forget, Commander Creuset is still fighting Wang Hu alone! If we can resolve this quickly, we might even have time to support the commander and locate that new Allied Forces battleship."
His explanation was flawless, leaving Dearka no reason to doubt. Completely ignoring Yzak's persistent shouting, Dearka escorted the two damaged Gundams back toward the mothership.
"Athrun, you will come back, right?"
Just as they were about to part, Nicol, with his distinctive green-hued hair, suddenly blurted out this seemingly random question.
"Huh?" Athrun was startled, unsure why his friend would say such a thing at this moment.
"Come back, Athrun. We'll be waiting for you on the mothership."
Without further explanation, Nicol added this remark before shutting off the communication system.
"Nicol?" Athrun murmured to himself. Had Nicol noticed something?
Athrun knew his observant, usually quiet comrade was actually a formidable warrior in his own right.
"Kira."
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Athrun piloted the Aegis Gundam forward. Nicol's matter could wait—the priority now was dealing with Kira!
"Athrun?"
Kira had noticed the arrival of the Aegis Gundam and the other Gundams. He was prepared for direct combat, though Wang Hu's orders had been clear: if enemy Gundams returned to reinforce their position, Kira was to retreat immediately, regardless of whether he had sunk the ZAFT mothership.
Yet when Kira saw that two of the four returning Gundams were severely damaged, he hesitated.
Wanting to defy Wang Hu's arrangements for once.
After all, although the enemy mothership was damaged, it was far from sinking.
And the teetering enemy mothership seemed to be beckoning to Kira.
Giving him the feeling that just one more shot—just one!—would be enough to sink the enemy!
But while that was what he thought, that moment of hesitation did arise. However, when Kira caught sight of Athrun's figure, he regretted it again!
If I sink that battleship here, what will happen to Athrun? Will he die here?
Because of this thought, Kira kept the Strike Gundam hovering in place, foolishly waiting for Athrun to arrive.
Even when the Aegis Gundam had already reached his side, he still hadn't made any real reaction.
"Kira!"
Just like Kira in the Strike Gundam opposite him, Athrun had mentally prepared himself to fight his best friend. But when he actually stood before him, seeing Kira frozen in place as if he wouldn't resist even if Athrun struck him down—Athrun's heart in the Aegis melted.
Sending a directed communication, Athrun reignited his fantasy of bringing Kira back.
"Come back with me, Kira," Athrun tenderly extended the invitation.
If the two weren't in space but face to face, Athrun would definitely have reached out his hand, then without waiting for Kira's answer, pulled him into a tight embrace—never to let go again.
Absolutely, absolutely never letting go!
"Athrun..."
As if possessed, Kira accepted the communication, gazing at Athrun's face—the face he had longed for day and night—through the Gundam's screen.
Choked up, Kira found himself wavering in the face of Athrun's invitation. This was Athrun, after all—his best friend Athrun!
Could he really refuse him?
Kira didn't know what he truly felt in his heart. He was in such agony, torn between reality and friendship.
The young man was trapped in a torment of conflicting emotions.
"Kira, didn't we promise to meet again on PLANT?"
Seeing Kira hesitate, Athrun felt a surge of hope and immediately decided to persuade him further. In that instant, he transformed into the male lead of some peninsula idol drama, attempting to sway Kira with words.
"Do you know, I've been waiting for you on PLANT all this time—always waiting!"
"I..." Kira opened his mouth but stopped, his heart twisting further as he looked into Athrun's eyes.
"Kira, come to ZAFT. I'm sure there must be some unavoidable reason you're piloting the Strike Gundam now."
"But please believe us. Once you come to PLANT, to ZAFT, we'll protect you. Nothing will ever hurt you again."
Unaware of the full circumstances, Athrun continued offering whatever justifications he could think of to absolve his friend. In his view, the gentle-natured Kira must have been forced—otherwise, why would he be piloting the Strike Gundam?
Little did Athrun know that mentioning ZAFT only reminded Kira of the collapse of Heliopolis, of Tolle and the others on the Archangel.
And most importantly—of his elder brother Wang Hu!
"Why... why!"
Kira lowered his head, a low growl escaping his throat.
Then, sharply raising his head, Kira unleashed a stern accusation.
"Orb is a neutral nation! Why attack a neutral nation's satellite? Heliopolis is collapsing!"
"So many people died, so many innocent lives lost!"
"Kira?" Athrun was stunned by the question, unsure how to respond.
It was true - Orb was neutral, and ZAFT shouldn't have attacked.
But Athrun's eyes fell upon the Strike Gundam's form, then to the unerased Allied Forces insignia still visible in his cockpit.
Facing Kira's accusation, he grasped at straws for justification.
"Orb was manufacturing weapons for the Allied Forces! What kind of neutrality is that?"
"So you attacked Heliopolis? Destroyed it completely?"
Kira's eyes widened in disbelief. He never expected such an explanation.
If you wanted to seize the Allied Forces' weapons, you could have waited until their battleships left the satellite before attacking!
Judging by the Gundam's operating system he'd seen, to put it bluntly,
No Natural except Brother Wang Hu could possibly pilot it.
Attacking outside the satellite would have spared all those innocent civilians!
Thinking aloud, Kira rapidly fired off another question.
"This..." Athrun faltered. Kira was right.
He was absolutely right! Athrun had never considered this before.
Why did they have to attack inside the satellite?
"Athrun!" Kira's anger grew as he watched his speechless friend.
Kira felt Athrun had changed!
At that moment!
Two streaks of light approached in the distance - unmistakably Creuset's CGUE and Wang Hu's Moebius Zero!
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