Chapter 39: SEED – Before the Rendezvous
On the bridge of the Archangel, Murrue Ramius gazed out at the expanse of space and sighed.
"About thirty minutes left until we reach the rendezvous point… Finally, the day has come."
Beside her, Natarle Badgiruel said,
"All hands, increase alert levels. Keep a close watch on the fleet—there may be enemies targeting us."
…
After completing a stage of fine-tuning work, Tolle Koenig and Kira Yamato walked together into the Archangel's mess hall.
Kuzzey Buskirk and Sai Argyle had been chatting, but upon seeing the two enter, they immediately fell silent.
Not long after, Flay Allster appeared at the mess hall's doorway.
Sai stood up excitedly and called out to her, but Flay ignored him completely.
Her eyes were fixed solely on Kira, staring at him without pause.
Tolle noticed her gaze and understood—this was the beginning of Flay's desire for revenge against Coordinators.
Sigh… what a pain. But this is Kira's problem. I'll just watch from the sidelines.
Sai walked up to her and asked,
"Flay, are you feeling better now? Maybe you should rest a little longer."
"I'm fine."
Without even looking at Sai, Flay walked straight toward Kira.
Lowering her head, she said to him,
"Kira… about last time… I'm really sorry.
At that moment, I… lost control of myself and said some very, very hurtful things.
I truly am sorry."
Then, with tears welling in her eyes, she spoke in a sorrowful tone,
"Kira, you've been fighting so hard to protect us, and I…"
Seeing Flay looking so pitiful, Kira's heart softened once again. He hurried to say,
"Flay, it's all in the past now. Those things don't matter—you don't need to worry about them. Back then…"
Flay cut in emotionally,
"Actually, I've always known—you've been fighting for us. But I…"
"Thank you, Flay. It's my fault I couldn't protect your father."
Flay lowered her head darkly.
"I really hate war. I wish it could end soon."
Standing nearby, Tolle silently added the rest of the sentence in his mind: Probably more like 'I wish all Coordinators would just die.'
At that moment, on the Archangel's bridge, the radar operator reported,
"Radar waves are being jammed. Neutron interference is increasing."
Everyone on the bridge tensed immediately. Murrue called out,
"All hands, Level One battle stations!"
Another radar operator reported,
"Bearing 103, orange alpha—Z.A.F.T. Laurasia-class battleship detected."
"Confirmed heat signatures from mobile suits: Blitz, Buster, Duel—three Gundams."
Natarle spoke in frustration.
"Those guys… we were so close to the rendezvous."
Moments later, the shipwide battle alert blared.
"All hands, Level One battle stations. Repeat: all hands, Level One battle stations…"
Tolle and Kira immediately headed for the hangar, while everyone else rushed back to their posts.
Then, a young girl's voice echoed from the corridor.
"Another battle… there's going to be another battle…"
Tolle turned and saw it was the same pitiful little girl who had once given Kira a paper flower.
She was about to bump into Kira and possibly fall, so Tolle instinctively pulled Kira's shoulder.
Sure enough, the girl nearly collided with him, but then froze when she noticed someone suddenly appear in her way.
She still failed to keep her balance and pitched forward.
Without thinking, Tolle quickened his steps and caught her.
While doing so, he discreetly implanted neo DG cells into her, hoping it might save her if the ship exploded.
Smiling gently, he said, "Little one, are you alri—"
Before he could finish, Flay rushed over, grabbed the girl, and said,
"Kira has urgent duties right now. Even though there's another battle coming, it's okay—he'll fight to protect us."
"Really?"
"Yes, he'll defeat all the bad guys."
Inwardly, Tolle thought, (No… she can't be saved. Kira's about to awaken, after all—the fruit is about to ripen.
The DG cells I planted in him will finally yield the 'awakening' ability.
I can't give that up just to save her. Besides, they were doomed from the start, so this isn't exactly letting someone die.)
Just then, Sai urged from up ahead, "Kira, Tolle!"
Tolle and Kira resumed running toward their posts.
Am I being too much of a saint? Wanting to save everyone?
He wrestled with the thought—This is war. Strengthening myself and staying alive should come first.
Suddenly, he remembered how, at work, he had spent years fooling around—he wasn't some pure-hearted Bai Xiaochun anymore.
So why do I suddenly have this bleeding-heart mentality? He immediately asked his system,
"System, is it possible that Tolle Koenig's soul still hasn't dispersed, and it's affecting my personality?"
"Yes, Host. A portion of Tolle Koenig's soul remains, carrying certain obsessions.
Only by helping him through his inevitable death will these obsessions vanish, and his influence on your behavior will disappear."
"I see… no wonder I still have fragments of his memories, and why I'm so hung up on Miriallia—and don't even feel like starting a harem anymore.
So he hasn't fully faded yet. Well, whatever. As long as the story follows its course, we'll be landing on Earth soon.
A few months later, Kira will face Athrun, and then Tolle's soul can finally find peace."
"Nami, transfer the DG cells I put in the little girl to Flay Allster.
I've always wanted to see what Lacus would do about her feelings for Kira if Flay survived.
Maybe I'll even get a chance to swoop in, hahahaha."
"As you command, Master. Where your heart leads, my sword shall point."
Tolle covered his face in exasperation—What on earth has Nami been watching to suddenly change her tone like that? Totally caught me off guard.
Meanwhile, Flay, still standing there, wore a sinister, crafty smile.
"Yes… kill all the Coordinators for me."
She then gripped her hand tightly.
The little girl cried out in pain, wrenched free, and ran away in fear.
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