"Perhaps we just want to prove something..."
Athrun asked, "Prove? Prove what?"
Mikazuki looked at the Barbatos and spoke calmly. "That we existed, that we fought... the proof that Tekkadan lived."
"The proof that you lived..."
Hearing those words, everyone fell into deep thought, reflecting on the weight behind Mikazuki's statement. Athrun's expression betrayed his internal struggle.
"Then... I... what am I fighting for?"
Mikazuki took a date from his pocket and tossed it into his mouth. "Lacus told me about you. Your mother was one of the victims who died at Junius Seven."
Athrun lowered his head, his face hidden in shadow, but the revelation left Kira and the others stunned.
Kira realized it then... So that was why Athrun had joined the military. His heart grew heavy.
Several members of the Archangel crew instinctively clutched their Earth Alliance uniforms. They were now filled with doubt regarding the methods and ideology of the Earth Alliance. The tragedy the Earth Alliance had inflicted upon Junius Seven was far too horrific; it was no wonder the Coordinators were filled with such resentment toward Naturals.
"I..." Kira spoke up at that moment. "I have to keep fighting. It might sound arrogant, but... I want to bring this war to an end."
"Kira..."
"If this war continues like this, whether it's P.L.A.N.T. or Earth... everything will be destroyed. So, I will fight. And we... we will keep fighting too, won't we?"
Kira raised his head, looking at Athrun with eyes full of helplessness. Athrun froze as Lacus's words surfaced in his mindKira might truly become his enemy again.
"Is it over? Then I'm going to sleep."
With that, Mikazuki jumped down from the crate and walked toward his Barbatos. Athrun stood up and called out urgently.
"Wait, one last question."
Mikazuki paused and turned to face Athrun. Athrun's voice was deep as he asked, "The Freedom is equipped with a Neutron Jammer Canceller... You haven't revealed that data to anyone else, have you?"
This question wasn't just for Mikazuki; it was directed at Kira as well. Kira looked toward Mikazuki.
Mikazuki replied with an indifferent gaze. "Don't worry. Lacus gave the Freedom to me, and I will protect it. If anyone tries to mess with that jammer thing, I'll just kill them. Kira, you're no exception."
"Urgh..."
A chill ran through Kira's heart. He knew Mikazuki wasn't joking.
"Yes. Once the war is over, I will definitely return the Freedom to you in perfect condition. I will never give its data to anyone."
"Good."
Mikazuki was about to leave when he remembered something and looked back at Athrun. "Right, I have a question for you, too."
"What is it?"
Mikazuki looked up at the Justice. "Since that machine is named Justice... then, what exactly is your justice?"
Athrun stood dazed, his expression blank at Mikazuki's question. "My... justice?"
Mikazuki glanced at Athrun one last time before turning away. He knew Athrun wouldn't be able to answer that anytime soon.
"What a pain..."
Shaking his head, Mikazuki climbed into the Barbatos and closed the cockpit. "Orga, I'm taking a nap. Call me if something happens."
"Got it."
Mikazuki draped his coat over himself like a blanket. Since the Barbatos had been the first to finish maintenance, he fell into a deep sleep without interruption. He was mentally exhausted.
Murrue left the factory hangar and returned to her office on the Archangel. She opened her computer and patched through a communication line to the Sassari.
"Mr. Orga, are you there?"
"Oh, Captain Murrue. What's up?"
"You spoke with Mikazuki back at the beach, right?"
"Yeah, we talked about a few things."
"Could you tell me what you discussed? I was just standing there listening to Mikazuki talk to himself. I couldn't make heads or tails of it. I really want to know what Mikazuki meant when he said, 'They used that.' What exactly is 'that'?"
Murrue had been curious ever since she heard those words, but she had held back her questions until now. The feeling of not knowing was driving her crazy.
Orga exhaled a heavy breath, his voice turning somber. "Dainsleif. A weapon strictly forbidden by Gjallarhorn. If the taboo weapon on your side is the nuclear bomb, then the Dainsleif is the equivalent."
Murrue's pupils constricted violently. "Is it that dangerous?"
"Yes. Three hundred years ago, when the Mobile Armor rampage nearly destroyed the world, it was the weapon created alongside the 72 Gundams to end the Calamity War. Because its power was so immense, Gjallarhorn labeled it a forbidden weapon and sealed it away after the war ended. But..."
Orga paused, his voice dripping with venom. "Those bastards broke their own rules. They used Dainsleifs to frame Tekkadan's brother organization, the Turbines. After that, they used them as their primary offensive weapons to slaughter many of our comrades...
The revolution we sparked with McGillis ended in a crushing defeat because of those things..."
Orga took a moment to steady himself before continuing. "Mikazuki said the last thing he remembers before coming here was his machine being pierced by a Dainsleif. He kept fighting, fighting, fighting...
until he lost consciousness. Even though he's vague about the details, being pierced by a Dainsleif means he must have been gravely injured. Even so, he kept on fighting. Heh, he really is a fool."
Orga showed a smile filled with extreme bitterness. He knew Mikazuki too well; he knew that was exactly the kind of thing Mikazuki would do.
Murrue couldn't help but clench her fists. "Yeah... quite a fool..."
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