Summary: This is a story Lyle's journey to forgive Setsuna. His thoughts, Setsuna's thoughts, and hopefully both coming to terms with each other as well as God. My first attempt at a non-romance fic. Reviews greatly appreciated.
Assumption: Lyle is an Irish Protestant. I also assume that, Setsuna during his childhood, never actually read the Koran or knew anything about Islam beyond what Ali Al Saachez taught.
Forgiveness
With one last blast of its great cannon, the green Gundam known as Cherubim shot down the last terrorist mobile suit down. As the burning GN-X III floated away, Lyle Dylandy could actually hear the dying screams of its pilot as it was engulfed in flames and finally exploded. He didn't just hear the pain though, for a moment, he could actually feel the searing heat on his own skin before the pilot's life was extinguished by it.
Inwardly, Lyle shivered. Almost seems like a prelude to hell that that damn terrorist is heading to. Ah, who am I kidding, it looks like the hell we are ALL headed to as long as the world continues to be filled with conflict that requires our intervention. Damn Setsuna.
He knew why he was feeling those odd connections with those he killed. The reason for it was currently bathing the surrounding area with shower of concentrated GN particles. Lyle looked up and saw the object of his pain: the Double 0 Gundam piloted by Setsuna F Seiei, with its twin drive system.
A communications screen popped up showing Setsuna's face."Mission complete. Renegade A-Laws cell destroyed. Lets retreat back to Ptoleimaios." The Krugis Gundam Meister, as usual, had an expressionless face but even then, Lyle still felt connected to him. Till now, it never ceased to surprise him that contrary to his physical demeanor, the former child terrorist actually did feel remorse for his victims after the battle was over, a total contrast to his pre-battle disposition, which was simply a methodical, if honourable soldier carrying out the mission plans drawn by Sumerieagi.
The reason for the connection between the two, or rather the entire battlefield they had just fought, was the unique Twin Drive System of the Double 0 Gundam, which saturated its surroundings with a greater concentration of GN particles. On its own, there was not much effect on the battlefield besides a stabilisation of Gundam 00s propulsion system and an increased boost to its speed and manoeuvrability.
But once its Trans-Am mode was engaged, it became an entirely different story. For lack of a better situation, the resulting saturation of the area with pure GN particles created a telepathic link to everyone in its wake. Not to mention a 300 per cent boost to Double 0s already considerable speed and maneuverability plus some out-of-this-galaxy abilities which not even Ian Vashti and his wife could understand.
In any case, Setsuna would normally not use the system except in dire circumstances, but the renegade A-Laws asteroid base Tieria had discovered and conveyed to the Ptoleimaios crew from Veda, turned up to have more than just a few GN X IIIs and Aheads protecting it. Apparently there were quite a few black box projects in that base, including four Gundam-like mobile suits with Trans-Am like systems. Only Dynames and the Double O had been sent to neutralise the base and so they had been forced to use their Trans-Am fields to level the playing field. Fortunately despite the advance weaponry and advantage of numbers, they were no match for Setsuna's and Lyle's fighting experience as well as superior war machines. In addition, the side effects of the Gundam 00 twin drive system caught the renegade A-Laws completely by surprise. Most of them simply did not know what to make out of the fact they were connected to each other and promptly began to understand each others motives and emotions compelling them to support such a corrupt organisation.
This connection also included the two Gundam Meisters as well. In an unprecedented move, Setsuna and Lyle were actually able to talk about a third of the twenty GN X IIIs and Aheads to stand down and, for lack of a better word, repent. Through their shared experience the renegade A-Laws also saw Celestial Being's point of view. Sadly though, the other two thirds, including the Gundam-types, were thoroughly wrapped up in their own petty hatreds and turned on their compatriots, prompting the two Gundam Meisters to go all out on the remaining. In the end, miraculously all the repented A-Laws were saved, and promptly laid their arms aside. Setsuna then conveyed a message to Ptolemaios. The crew there would then send a message to the Federation forces informing them of the base and take the remaining A-Laws into custody.
Lyle actually prayed that the soldiers who had stood down would get a new lease on life. He recalled sharing his experience with one of the Ahead pilots, a fellow Irishman like himself named Michael O'Donnell. Most of his family had been murdered during the onslaughts of the Gundam Thrones years ago, while his wife was still in a coma back on Earth. His burning hatred made him a prime target for A-Laws recruitment and his superiors seem to do all they could to stoke the fire of his hatred, blinding him to the suffering his work was causing. By sharing his own experience regarding Ali Al Saachez, Anew Returner and Setsuna, Michael finally realised that he was not the only one suffering, and that there was a different path he could have taken. With this realisation in mind, he had broken down and started crying, begging forgiveness from his wife and God for all of his sins.
God, Lyle thought to himself. It had been a long time since he had given thought to the supposed creator of Earth and by extension, the universe. Not since his boarding school days in the cold city of London. Anew had once asked him about his faith, but in his opinion, he was somewhat aligned with Setsuna: there was no God, and it was up to men to decide their own fates. And yet, the thought of Hell plagued Lyle every time he felt the death of an enemy whenever Gundam 00s Twn Drive System was activated with Trans-Am. He already had a reason to dislike Setsuna due to killing Anew to save him, but that Trans-Am effect was also beginning to wear down his psyche.
"Lockon, Lockon, Setsuna calling, Setsuna calling," he finally registered his Haro partner's persistent calling. Lyle looked to his left screen and saw the concerned face of Setsuna looking at him.
"Lockon, are you……….."
"Mission complete. Lets return to Ptoleimaios," Lyle quickly cut him off, then started driving Cherubim. As they travelled back to the rendezvous point, Lyle mentally berated himself. He could understand and forgive a complete stranger like Michael O'Donnell but he still hadn't quite buried the hatchet with Setsuna F Seiei, whom he intentions, feelings and even ideology he understood better than anyone. This could not go on forever he knew. Setsuna was a comrade and whether he liked it or not, a friend not to mention the de-facto leader of Celestial Being. It would be hypocritical not to forgive Setsuna even after understanding him.
Lyle sighed and reached into a compartment next to the Haro dock. Out of it, he pulled out a very worn looking book.
"Lockon is alright? Lockon is alright?" his Haro partner queried.
He gave a small smile and patted the orange Haro. "I'm alright Haro. I just need some quiet time. Do me a favour and pilot back to Ptolemaios the rest of the way will ya?"
"No problem, no problem."
He looked at the book for a long time and wondered why he had put it in Cherubim the moment he was assigned to it. He chuckled. 'Seems like I can't avoid my Irish ancestry, always needing some lucky object to be around for important matters. Just wish it could have brought me more luck with Anew….' And with that thought, a fresh wave of painful memories resurfaced.
He forced it down and almost instinctively, flipped his fingers through the book to a particular page. He then began reading aloud.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds into Christ Jesus.
To be continued….
Excerpt is from Philippians 4:4-7, New International Version of the Bible. I have my own issues with God and several people in my life I'm having a hard time forgiving, and was advised to meditate on this verse. My personal experiences aside, I wish to write about Lyle's feelings about Setsuna after the series end, as I doubt he has fully resolved his feelings yet. After all, if he is truly like his brother Neil Dylandy, vengeance and anger is a curse which runs deep and won't be easily extinguished. So I would like to write a story of how Lyle conquered it. Hopefully it'll intersect with my real world experience.
This is my first fic which isn't a romance. Reviews (or flames) are greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading and God bless you for the upcoming week.