Like any normal day at ZAFT headquarters, everything seems to be running normal. Except Shin who was currently in the firing range room, practicing his aim. Even though he was hitting all his targets on the mark, but something didn't feel right to him or it was still bothering him.
"This really sucks, my aim is fine. But damn something doesn't feel right." whispered an annoyed Shin.
Having enough, Shin cleaned out his weapon and placed it in his locker. He walked out of the firing range room and down the hall. Along the walk, he meet and greeted a few of his fellow friends and high ranking officers. Shin had stop when he saw that commander Yamato was standing in front of the fossilized unknown specimen.
"Commander Yamato, what are you doing just looking at that ancient fossil." asked a curious Shin.
Kira turned his head to Shin. "You don't have to be formal with me and plus it's weird. And to answer your question, I was just standing here thinking."
"What were you thinking about and does it have to do anything with the fossil." asked Shin.
"To honestly tell you, I'm not sure myself, since I felt different from a week ago. After I have read the letter my parents have left for me. I feel that my beliefs are stronger than ever. All the hard choices I have made were not the easiest ones but they were the correct ones through my eyes. And Lacus believes that too, as I believe in hers." replied Kira.
"Kira, what do you think about me and my choices, since we have fought on the battlefield already." asked Shin with hesitation in his voice.
Kira smiled. "I honestly don't know much about you. I do know is that we are on the same side for the same cause. I did happen to read over your file. It stuck with surprise since your homeland was Orb. It also mentioned that you were at the battle of Onogoro."
Shin had a sad expression on his face. "Yeah I was there back then with my family when the battle was intensifying every second. Everything was happening so fast. My little sister Mayu had dropped her phone and wanted to get it back. My parents wouldn't let her, so I did myself. But I never expected a fallen machine to come and killed everyone I love. Even though I was blind in rage, I could still see that the Freedom and Justice, couldn't do much and every part of the island was getting destroy."
Kira went into a sadden expression himself. "Back then I didn't want to have anything to do with the war. But during the event of Heliopolis, I wanted to protect my friends. That was my sole reason for getting into a mobile suit. But I also had to battle my old Athrun in a battle to the death, but good thing neither of us died. After I had receive the Freedom, I was still a naive pilot, and didn't have the skills to take on the world. But I did the best I could. At the battle of Onogoro, only Athrun, Dearcka, Mu, and I were the only real experienced fighters to defend the island. Athrun and I had our hands full with the Raider, Calamity, and Forbidden. They were tough with the strength we had back then and wasn't able to help everyone else with the massive assault."
"Are you telling me that Orb with their own superior technology wasn't able to defend themselves." asked a disbelief Shin.
"Sure Orb might have the technology but it clear when it came to fighting experience. Also through the beliefs of the late lord Uzami, Orb never engage in any real battle for them to have trained mobile suit pilots. So only the four of us and the Archangle was the only real defense against the forces of Atlantic Federation at the time." said Kira.
"I had no idea and here I am for most of the last four years in blind rage thinking that I was right. Listening to the chairman and fighting battle like it will solve everything and shedding blood on my hands." said Shin with disgusted look on his face for himself.
Kira took a hand and placed it on Shin's shoulder and nodded no. "Don't blame yourself for any of it, most people would follow a leader's word without question when it sounds righteous. I will say that even though it took a long time. Athrun was able to break through your rage and made you see what was really happening and what you were going to destroy. It's a great relief and I am sure that your little sister and parent would be very proud of you right now."
"Thank you Kira. I shouldn't even thought about destroying a home where I was born in or a home where my own family enjoyed." said Shin with a few tears running down his eyes.
"Shin, the world is complicated and far beyond the understanding of a single mind. In fact you don't have to understand the world. You have to understand yourself first and what you want. And if you can't reach that point, that is where your love one comes in and your friends." said Kira.
"You know Kira, you're starting sound more wise beyond your age." said a smirking Shin.
Slightly blush. "Maybe it just because Lacus is rubbing her knowledge off on me." said Kira.
"Are you sure it's just knowledge that she is rubbing." asked a sly Shin.
"Alright get your mind out of the gutter already. I have to admit this is nice. We went from a serious conversation to light hearted teasing from you. It's good to see that you don't have that unwanted anger in your eyes of yours." said Kira.
"I will admit that this is nice. To be able to hear a normal conversation without the sound of guns, ships, and mobile suits. But I was curious about a few things when we had our battles." said Shin.
"There actually nothing to be curious about honestly. In every battle that I have fought so far, I will not shed the blood of anyone, even if they are an enemy unless I know I must have to on the battlefield. In your case Shin, I hear from Athrun that you were just an anger person and only acting as a good soldier. I had no reason to take your one life away. But you sure didn't make it easy for me to disable your machine." said Kira sighing.
"Since we are working side by side now. I will take every opportunity I can to learn from you and other who you deem to know what is going on." said Shin.
Kira giggling. "You should take this opportunity to also trust yourself since you're not blinded by rage anymore. You might surprise at your own judgement of situations at the heat of the moment. Just know that everything is not absolute and just keep an open mind."
Shin smiling. "I will take your word for it."
"Did the conversation help get rid of your self-doubt and help you gain some confidence." asked Kira.
"It did and I will try to become more mature." answered Shin.
"That's good. I also wanted to say even though you're only two years younger than me. Remember that you're still sixteen and there is still a lot of time in your life for fun and not just being a soldier every day." said Kira pleased with what he is hearing from Shin.
Shin couldn't believe what he was hearing. His commander was telling him that being a soldier isn't everything. He wanted him to also enjoy the good things in life while trying to find answers to problem that may or may not exist. Shin now knows his life wouldn't filled with lies or being deceive by people for their own ego. Shin for the first time can actually trust people without seeing if they had a fake expression on their face or not.
"Shin you look like you're thinking pretty hard in your dazed." said Kira.
"Just more enlightenment coming to me. So since half of my question have been answer, the other half, why were you standing here staring at the fossil." said Shin.
"I was just think that this unknown creature lived a really long time ago. The ancestor of this creature did not have wings to fly like the one you see on this fossil. I'm not sure how it happen but they were able to evolve into a wing creature. This wing creature is also from far away distance in space or who knows where. There is more life in our universe then just us human." said Kira.
"How come you use the word human and not separate the difference between the two." asked a curious Shin.
"Because everyone on earth and the Plants are human. Both need land, water, and air to survive. But anyways, I think if I am correct, the reason why coordinator came to be about is from this very fossil. It's scary to know that we can't defend ourselves if we ever meet one or any other kind of extraterrestrial life form. And also for humans to live in space with our strengthen body since earth environment is not as harsh as space. There's probably a lot more I can think so but I will just stop here." said Kira.
Suddenly Lacus had walked to the two and surprised Kira with a hug from behind. "Lacus you know I can walking from down the hall since your walking make a lot of noise." said Kira laughing.
Lacus puff out her cheeks. "Kira you're mean. You never let me surprise you here at headquarter."
"Well the shoe you're wearing and walking on metal floor does make a distinctive sound." Said a giggling Kira.
"Hello Chairwoman Clyne." Said Shin with a salute.
"Shin you don't have to be formal with me. Aren't we all friends here?" said Lacus with a bright smile.
Shin's nervous with his response. "Sorry but I am still new to things since my world have been turned upside down in more ways than one."
Lacus can only giggle at the once anger soldier with such a soft and light heart now. "Kira I came to get you, it's done."
"Wonderful, Shin follow us." said Kira waving his hand to Shin.
Shin didn't question anything and just follow Kira and Lacus. Shin knew where they were going since it lead to the mobile suit holding area. Kira saluted at the soldiers and signaling them to open the doors. The three walked into the room and the doors behind them closed. A few seconds later, the lights had turned on. Shin was in awe as he sees a machine that seem to look like Destiny.
"Shin, this is your new machine, the Impulse Destiny. I had the engineering team modified your original machine after I had analyzed all your combat data. And to give you a quick rundown, the heavy pulse cannon turned into two hip cannons but same power output. Completely removed the anti-ship sword, for the newly created beam daggers, you will be able to attack and defend faster. That's pretty much you need to know about the machine." said Kira.
Shin still in shock to see that he was given a new machine. Shin said nothing but just nodded his head in agreement.
"Shin, one last thing, I hope this time you know how to optimize your OS with the machine. All the data I have seen, tells me your previous machines always wasted a lot of unnecessary energy consumption." said Kira.
Shin blinking in embarrassment. "Ha…ha, yeah I just hit the power button and did what I was told before without thinking."
Kira face palmed himself. "I thought so since all of our previous machines were power by nuclear fission reactors. Alright since I have taken care of all the business I needed for today. Going home and relaxing sounds awesome. Don't you agree Lacus?"
"Indeed it does, I don't want to be stuck in the boring office anymore for the day." replied a happy Lacus.
"Bye Shin, see you in the morning." Said Kira.
"Bye Shin, and get over your formality habits." said Lacus as both wave goodbye to Shin.
"See you guys tomorrow. And Kira have a good rub tonight." said a smirking Shin and laughing.
Lacus only blush at the line she just heard. "Shin! I'm going to kick your ass in the morning in the training room." said Kira feeling like was an open book, easy to read now.
The two walked out hand in hand, leaving Shin staring at his machine and seeing new hopes in his life.