Phase-10: Separate ways

"That's right! All forces cease to attack! Haven't you heard the broadcast?" Ades insisted.

"Using a rescued civilian as a hostage... fighting alongside those cowards, is that your justice, Kira, Seren?!" Athrun raged. The two took the blow without complaints or excuses as they felt no less than he did. And both were greatly affected. They felt as if they had been first stabbed in the back and in the front immediately after. No, beyond that, they were also at fault... "I will save her... definitely!" And the Aegis also returned to the Vesalius.

In the Archangel, the ensign loosened her collar a bit. As the one leading the 'negotiations' she had been very tense. One mistake and everything could have been over. But it had ended well...

"Although we were able to avoid immediate danger, it doesn't change our situation one bit..." The captain trailed off.

"We can regroup during that time." Badgiruel justified herself. "I believe that to be the most important thing right now."

"Yes, I'm aware of that." Ramius turned to her. Despite her words, she did not sound or look very happy.

Lieutenant La Flaga told the mechanics to hurry with the repairs and supplies. After all it was not as if the fighting was completely over. The Strike and the Blast parked. The Blast notably was twice more damaged than it usually was.

"I know, but man, is this ship cursed or something?" Murdoch complained.

"That's Le Creuset, that curse, right?" Mu replied knowingly, sipping his drink. That man had been plaguing this ship like some god of misfortune ever since Heliopolis. They were joined by Kira and Seren. The boy started yelling. Just what was that about?! "There's nothing to explain. You heard for yourself. That's how it is." La Flaga replied curtly and floated away.

"Taking a girl as a hostage and threatening them... do the Earth Forces typically run from enemies like this?!" Kira burst out, disgusted, as he floated after him. The lieutenant glared at him, making him recoil for a second.

"The reason we had to resort to such shameful actions is because we're weak, right? Neither of us has the right to criticize the captain or the vice-captain." Mu twisted the knife. The boy averted his eyes and gritted his teeth. There was nothing he could say.

"Lieutenant La Flaga, was there really no other way?" Seren insisted. She wanted to sound calm but the edge in her voice, as slight as it was, was more than enough to betray her real feelings.

"You should know that better than anyone." The officer replied. The girl hit the wall with the side of her fist. The recoil made her float in the opposite direction. There was nothing she could say either. She agreed it was despicable but also understood there was no other choice... and blamed herself for her powerlessness.

The men in the Vesalius were also quite troubled. Even if they followed the Archangel, they couldn't do anything with Miss Lacus onboard. And the Legged ship's next move was certainly to join with the moon fleet. Did they really have no choice but to let them take Lacus to the fleet? Le Creuset asked for the location of the Gamow. How long until they could rendezvous? Seven hours... by this time, the Legged Ship would have joined the fleet... this was complicated...

Flay woke up. She slowly opened her cloudy eyes before she remembered the ship exploding. She screamed and bolted in a sitting position, holding her head, her eyes wide in horror. Sai rushed to her. She turned to him and asked about her papa. He froze. She insisted. He averted his eyes. She clutched his shirt and looked up with tear-filled eyes.

"Where's papa's ship? What happened to it?!" She repeated desperately. He said her name again and again to make her listen but she wouldn't. He slightly stepped back. But she was still holding onto his chest, and her legs unable to support her, they simply fell on the floor. It was then Milly opened the door, drinks in her arms. She dropped them.

The two Coordinators were walking in the hallway, dressed in their uniform again, when they heard Flay crying and screaming after her father. They looked at each other and ran to her room. The door was blocked by a gourd. They opened it fully. Milly was staring sadly, compassionately. Flay was down on her knees, crying her heart out in her fiancé's chest. Sai was sitting down and embracing her comfortingly.

"Lie... that's a lie... THAT'S A LIE!" She shrieked in anguish. Miriallia whispered Kira's and Seren's name when she noticed them.

"Flay..." The boy muttered, abashed.

"Liars!" Flay turned to them hatefully. Kira recoiled obviously shocked and distraught. "You said it was gonna be alright! You said "It'll be okay since we're going too."!" And before her tears of grief and hatred and the truth of her words, the operator of the Strike averted himself again. Unable to see or care about the agony on the two pilots' faces, she continued. "Why didn't you protect papa's ship?! Why didn't you kill them all?!"

"Flay!" Miriallia reprimanded her. "Kira and Seren too fought desperately..."

"Because you two are Coordinators too... you weren't fighting seriously, were you?!" She spat venomously. Loathing, spite, grief were distorting her pretty features more terribly than any scar ever could. And their sheer intensity pierced the Coordinators' hearts like a bullet. Their eyes widened. They had literally felt something break within them. If back then when she had first lashed against Lacus, their hearts had just cracked, now they had completely broken apart. Seren was feeling her legs trembling, wobbling, threatening to give way, she tried to breathe but something was constricting her throat. Suddenly, she walked forth, grabbed the wailing girl by the front of her clothes, raised her and pinned her against the wall. Her feet did not even touch the ground.

Flay struggled fruitlessly and fearfully. While Seren normally would have never been able to display such strength, this had been more than she could endure while keeping quiet. While she normally would have never reacted so violently, the limit of her fortitude had been overcome. The attack on Heliopolis, having to fight, having to kill, having Athrun on the other side, having all that pressure forced onto them, having to always act calm and strong, risking her life constantly like it was natural, seeing people die, seeing and causing such suffering on both sides, her inability to protect everyone, Kira's anguish, what Lacus had told her before she went to fight, and then clinging to her humanity, unable to become a full soldier, a half-heartedness that caused Lacus and Flay to go through such experiences... After so many stabs, from others and from herself, this one... had been one too many. The pilot of the Blast slapped her hard once, back, and forth again with her left hand. Her friends rushed to rebuke her and try to make her let go but were unable to make her budge. And then they stopped and stepped back, stunned, when they saw her hazel eyes shining and rippling like liquid gold.

"Has our little princess woken up yet?"

"What are-?!"

"That's right, we are Coordinators. And my mother was killed by the Blue Cosmos. We were just walking in the street when people shot us, and my mother protected me with her body. She took 27 shots, 27! Why? Just because her parents had decided to give her more chances of survival than a human born naturally. That isn't a matter of superior abilities, right? That's just a proof of love. She loved my father who's a Natural, she loved me and I loved her just like you loved your father. Would you be able to risk your own life to protect others? Do you care enough about others for that? Because they hated war they decided to live in Orb. That's why I hate war too and I have Natural friends like Milly and Tolle and Coordinator friends like Kira. And you say we weren't fighting seriously?! Then you should have exploded time ago along with this ship! If you're so frustrated why don't you make yourself useful like Tolle, Milly and Sai instead of spending all your time crying, hiding under your pillow, or pampering yourself?! Or at least quit bitching around and being in people's way all the time! Tell me, have you ever thought about our feelings every time we go out and put our lives on the line? Of course not since you're too selfish and self-centered... but then don't talk like you know! You don't even try to see or to think... Kira and I are not heartless war machines! We're humans too! But you're too much of a damn coward to try to understand us! Do you really think you're the only one who's scared and suffering? Naturals and Coordinators, everyone is suffering! But you couldn't care less about that, do you?! We don't want to fight, we don't want to kill, but we still do it... this hopeless feeling of decaying and wasting away inexorably each time we do it... just what do you know of us?! So before you go shooting your mouth off, think a little more about others! This is war! I hate it as much as you do but this is war! Even children know that are never any guarantees... that's why we all want it to end... You're not in your doll house anymore. This is reality. Face it!" She had cried out, and released her resentment, her rage, her sorrow, but that didn't stop her from feeling guilty, powerless, shameful, frustrated, angry at herself for having vented on her even if she partly deserved it. But still, the tears wouldn't fall.

They all stood there, frozen. In all those years, it was the first time that they had ever seen Seren snap like this. She might act a bit cold and harsh at times, but because she always acted to strong in front of them, because she always appeared so calm and rational, accepting their situation so easily, and yet always so warm and friendly with them, like she hadn't really changed... they had taken everything for granted, and they had forgotten. She was a Coordinator, but she was like them. She definitely wasn't the type to cry easily, complain or make excuses for herself... well, she might not have cried but they had seen, without a doubt, the tears in her eyes... so for her to snap like this...

Seren ran away, followed by Kira. Despite all appearances, they had REALLY done the best they could given their opponents. She climbed onto the elevator, holding the railing with her left hand while her right hand was tightly clutching her left arm, her beautiful face and heart wrenched in distress. Kira climbed with her, gazing at her disconsolate profile that reflected his.

"Using a rescued civilian as a hostage... fighting alongside those cowards, is that your justice, Kira, Seren?!" Athrun's enraged and disappointed voice was still replaying in their minds, painfully vivid... and echoing their own feelings... as well as Mu La Flaga's bitterly truthful comment... "The reason we had to resort to such shameful actions is because we're weak, right?" And Flay's spitefully vicious lash out... "Because you two are Coordinators too... you weren't fighting seriously, were you?!" The boy slowly and gently wrapped his arms around the girl who leant back against him and hugged him back.

They passed like ghosts in the hallways, their heads down, not even noticing Kuzzey. They stopped at the windows looking over the back of the ship. Now that they were finally away from their friends, and could no longer hurt them by letting themselves be seen like this, they finally let go. Their embrace tightened as they clung for dear life. Kira cried and howled in anguish. But Seren was tightly shutting her eyes, still refusing to let the tears fall. Back then, she had snapped, but now she had to be strong, for Kira... Suddenly, they heard a kind and sweet voice ask them what was wrong. It was Lacus Clyne. She was smiling softly. The two let go of each other. She straightened her tilted form. And Seren slightly turned away and stepped a little behind Kira. She couldn't face her.

Dressed in a bathrobe, Le Creuset was drying his hair when he received a communication. A man's voice informed him that there was a message from Chairman Zala of the National Defense Committee and asked whether he should forward it. The Commander declined as he would take it from the bridge.

"My, my... such a big fuss over one little girl's life." He sighed, taking a few capsules of medicine with water... and sounding quite unappreciative of the value of life. He looked at his open hand, turned it, and clenched his fist.

Lacus noticed the tears in Kira's eyes and reached out her hand to wipe them but he recoiled and dried them with his sleeve before asking her what she was doing here. The girl had been taking a stroll when she had heard a loud voice. The boy blushed and reminded her she shouldn't be walking like this on her own without permission. She could be accused of being a spy.

"Oh? But Pink-chan here loves taking walks. Or, in fact, if a door's locked he will always open it and go out." The idol looked up pensively, her hand cupping her cheek.

"Anyway, let's go back. Come." He offered her his hand. But instead of taking it she playfully flew a little further away.

"The fighting has ended I see."

"Yes, well, thanks to you." Kira replied weakly, looking away. Both he and Seren were recalling just how it was thanks to her that the fighting had stopped and their chests tightened again.

"Yet you have very sad expressions."

"Well, the truth is we... we really don't want to fight. We are Coordinators too. And Athrun was a very close friend of ours..."

"Athrun?"

"Athrun Zala... that he is the pilot of that mobile suit, the Aegis..." The boy spoke with obvious pain, the same pain that could be seen on Seren's face. And having overheard them, hidden the hallway, Kuzzey's eyes widened in surprise. He left just a second later, careful not to be seen.

"Is that so?" Smiling kindly, Lacus floated towards Kira who took her hands in his. "But you, Seren and Athrun are very good people. That is a truly sad thing." She looked down.

"Do you know Athrun?!"

"Athrun Zala is the person I will very eventually marry." The pink-haired girl smiled again. Yamato was shocked. He turned to the pilot of the Blast, surely she was as... shocked... as... him... No, he couldn't see her expression very well, but she didn't seem surprised at all. She already knew about it? That downcast figure, the way she was clutching her left arm with her right hand... "I actually told Seren the same things earlier. You haven't mentioned it?" The songstress wondered innocently. Suddenly, Kira remembered his childhood friend's appearance right before the battle when she had gone out of Lacus' room...

"Ah, no, well, we didn't really have time for that..." He excused her.

"Oh, that's right." The idol remembered. "He's a kind person but very quiet." She caught Haro who was passing by. "And he gave me this Haro. When I told him I really liked it, he made one after another!" It was easy for Kira and Seren to imagine their childhood friend making these robots, and his awkward expression when giving them to her, and the few dozens of haros that must be hopping about in her house.

"Is that so. Athrun hasn't changed one bit. He made my Torii too, as well as Seren's Chacha. But..."

"It would be nice if the three of you no longer had to fight each other." Lacus voiced the feeling in their hearts.

"Well, I do understand how Flay feels. But that was too mean!" Milly gave her opinion. Although she also agreed that Seren had been really overly harsh too. She didn't have to slap Flay! She, Tolle, and Sai were sitting in the cafeteria discussing the most recent incident when they were joined by Kuzzey.

""Because you two are Coordinators too, you weren't fighting seriously, were you?" huh?" Sai quoted his fiancée.

"That's not true at all! Kira and Seren are fighting the best they can all the time!" Tolle denied vehemently. His girlfriend agreed.

"No, don't get me wrong. It's not like I'm doubting them. When you're on the bridge you understand firsthand just how hard it is to fight a mobile suit even if you don't want to." Sai corrected himself. But Kuzzey wondered if it was really so. They asked what was with him.

"That mobile suit that was taken, the Aegis... I hear the one piloting it is an old friend of Kira and Seren." He revealed. The others gasped. "I overheard them talking with that other Coordinator girl a moment ago... that they were really close friends." And they all thought about what Seren had said... the feelings they had when going out into battle, the feeling of killing someone, how both Coordinators and Naturals were scared and suffering... Somehow, they had forgotten, and received a grim reminder...

Almost everyone was sleeping. But not the two mobile suits pilots. They were still in their uniforms, sitting on their beds in deep in their somber thoughts, their knees to their chests. Their robot pets chittered on their shoulders, concerned, and went on their hands.

"Athrun Zala is the person I will eventually marry."

And both had taken their decision.

They unwittingly met before the 'prisoner's' room. When they opened the door, she was sleeping. Haro woke her up with the noise he was making. They told him to keep quiet. Lacus was surprised to see Kira-sama and Seren-sama here and asked them what was wrong. They told her not to say anything and come with them, very quietly. She changed and followed them. When they saw Sai in the hallway, Kira hid her and stood before to hide her more from their view. Miriallia came out of a room too as it was soon time for their shift. They noticed Kira being strange, Seren at his side. And from behind them, Lacus suddenly popped up... with Haro hopping and chattering as usual. Sai and Milly were incredulous. The singer smiled innocently, Kira looked very troubled to say the least and Seren was standing firm. The Naturals asked them what they were doing and what they were planning to do with that girl. They couldn't be...?!

"Please let us go without asking anything. We don't want you to get involved!" Kira requested.

"You didn't see anything. You didn't hear anything." His childhood friend concurred. "We just can't stand this situation."

"Well, keeping a girl hostage is something the bad guys would do. I'll help." Sai scratched the back of his head, smiling. And Milly agreed with him. Seren tried to protest but they wouldn't listen.

They went to the changing room and took out a cosmonaut suit for her to wear over what she was currently wearing. But with that long puffy dress under her short slightly fitter dress... Well, she instantly understood and started pulling down her long dress... right before Kira's eyes! Seren turned the guy so he'd face the other side and helped Lacus into the suit. Then the pilots changed too. They left the room and joined with Sai and Miriallia who had been on the look out outside. Sai recoiled before Lacus' bulging 'stomach' (where the dress had been stuffed).

"Ah, no... it's just that suddenly... "how many months has it been?"... or something?" He justified himself sheepishly. But as a stupid question called for a stupid answer... Seren judged it should somewhere within the last three months. Kira and Milly sighed. Geez... they knew she was given to irony and that her mouth had a strong tendency to shoot off before her brain when she'd hear idiotic remarks. But she didn't have to get along with it now!

At the hangar, they made sure no one was looking and went to the Strike first. Kira got on the pilot's seat and Lacus sat on his lap. Then Seren went to the Blast. Lacus thanked the two Naturals for their help.

"Don't mention it."

"I hope we can meet again."

"I'm not sure about that. Kira, Seren, you'll come back, right? You'll definitely come back, right?" They heard desperation in Sai's voice.

"Definitely. I promise." The two Coordinators smiled. Seren also did a salute before going into her machine and starting it. But Murdoch and other mechanics had noticed them and weren't very happy about what they were doing.

"Definitely! It's a promise!" Sai insisted as he and Miriallia floated away. X105 walked forward, x216 right behind it. Its pilot warned everyone to stay back since he was opening the hatch. "Make sure you do, Kira, Seren! I trust you!"

The alert sounded in the bridge. The captain asked what it was about. The hatch opened and the catapult unfolded.

"Strike, Blast! What are you doing, Kira Yamato, Seren Ashford?!" Natarle demanded.

"The kids are taking the girl out! It's too late! The air lock's already been opened!" La Flaga informed her from the hangar.

"What?!" The strict ensign could barely believe such insubordination. Their stupid and selfish behavior was endangering the whole ship! Everyone on the bridge gasped in sheer surprise. The Strike was equipped with the Aile Striker and the Blast with the Nova Blast Off. Kira told Lacus to hold on as they were leaving. And Haro replied 'you too'. They launched.

The Vesalius instantly confirmed two mobile suits launches from the legged ship. The alert was ringing through the whole ship and all mobile suits pilots were ordered to prepare for immediate takeoff. Athrun boarded the Aegis.

"This is the mobile suit Strike of the Earth Alliance Forces' Archangel." Kira introduced himself.

"And the mobile suit Blast of the same."

"We are bringing Lacus Clyne to you! In return, I demand that the Nazca-class halt! We will hand her over on the condition that we are met by the pilot of the Aegis alone! Should this condition be breached, I cannot guarantee her safety!" Kira warned ZAFT. Mu La Flaga got into his Moebius Zero and prepared to sortie. Then, by setting the communication so only the ones in the Strike could hear, Seren also gave her childhood friend a warning...

"Kira, even if we can trust Athrun, I don't think we should blindly trust his commander. They're definitely going to attack as soon as they'll have Lacus back so please be prepared."

"What?! No!"

"We're naïve children doing things for our own convenience! Adults don't care about our circumstances! They only obey the rules of war. The fact is that we're putting the Archangel at risk and they're all perfectly aware of that. You don't have to believe me. Just be prepared in case."

At first, Captain Ades suspected a trap from the Ashitsuki. Athrun contacted him and his Commander and pleaded to be allowed to go but the captain still doubted the enemy's intentions. He even doubted Lacus' presence in the mobile suit. Athrun insisted. The possibility that this could be a plot to assassinate him had not even crossed his mind. He was not aware of how much he still trusted Kira and Seren. All eyes turned to the commander. His usual strange smile appeared on his lips.

"All right. I authorize it."

"Thank you very much." The boy smiled sincerely and ended the connection.

"Are you sure about this? And there are TWO enemy mobile suits..." Ades questioned.

"This can definitely be seen as a chance. If you look attentively at the Blast's position and movements, you'll notice that it is carefully observing both us and the legged ship. It seems that the enemy's pilots are also very young. Stop the ship and prepare my CGUE for takeoff, Ades." And Rau left the bridge. While he could readily admit their skills and discernment, their hopeless naivety was quite damning... The Aegis launched.

"Captain! They've done that on their own without authorization! We should attack!" Natarle pressed her hesitating superior.

"If we did that, the Blast would attack us this time!" La Flaga argued. The ensign recoiled. "Perhaps." Mu winked. But that was probable. Seren was one who always did what needed to be done (however reluctantly), which was why things went usually fine... but she was also known as being strongly self-willed and refractory, notably on certain occasions. And should those aspects of her combine... should they do anything that would make her see them as enemies... and so Badgiruel had no choice but to fold for now. Ramius had a small smile on her lips, grateful at how her fellow lieutenant was protecting these three children in his own way...

"The Nazca-class has cut its engines! Braking jets!" Romero Pal announced. In the CIC, Jackie Tonomura notified the bridge of the approaching Aegis. The bright red gundam stopped before the Strike that aimed its rifle at it.

"Athrun... Zala?" Kira asked, very tense.

"That's right."

"Open your cockpit!" Yamato commanded. Athrun obeyed. The Strike's pilot also opened his cockpit. The ZAFT soldier looked at the Blast. The cockpit opened and Seren stepped forward a little as proof that she meant no harm even though her rifle was directed the Archangel and her Schwert Gewehr Lanze was directed at the Vesalius. She would simply stop anyone who would interfere. But more than anything, she wanted to see Athrun again, from up close, one last time, and not just the Aegis. Kira asked Lacus to speak since her face could not be seen. They had to let him know it was really her. The songstress greeted Athrun and waved at him, and so did Haro in its own way. The pilot of the Aegis smiled and confirmed. "Then take her with you!"

The red suit unfastened his belt and stood at the edge of the latch, holding onto the superior half. Kira gently pushed the girl away towards her fiancé. The two Earth Alliance pilots watched with a very sad smile as she floated over to that man. She caught his hand and he brought her over to him. And Athrun had the same reaction as Sai when he saw her swollen belly.

"Thank you for everything Kira, Seren, and you, Athrun." Lacus smiled at everyone in turn. Her fiancé bowed slightly.

"Kira, Seren, you come too!" Athrun suddenly burst out. "There's no reason for you to remain with the Earth Forces!" He had saved Lacus, he had got her back. And Kira and Seren had saved her. Now if only he could get them back too...

"I don't want to fight you either..." Kira replied after an initial shock. Tolle, Miriallia, Sai, Kuzzey... gathered in the cafeteria, their heads down in anxiety... Milly and Tolle worriedly gazing at him... And the fear and hope in Sai's and Milly's eyes when he had boarded the Strike to return Lacus... "But aboard that ship are people I want to protect... there are my friends!" He yelled out in distress, ready to cry. Athrun gritted his teeth, his green eyes narrowed in intense suffering.

"Seren!" He cried in desperation. At least... at least her!

"Sorry... as long as you guys insist on sinking the Archangel and the Strike... in order to protect them, to protect my friends... I will have no choice but to fight!" And although he couldn't really see her face, he could clearly tell... her voice, her form, filled to the brim with sorrow and agony. She knew and Kira knew that he was doing his very best to protect them because he cared so much about them. But Kira and Seren had other people they cared about, and they were the only ones who could protect them. Athrun felt his chest tighten again; he felt his heart cracking and the blood seeping through. He hung his head.

"Then it can't be helped." He raised himself again. "The next time we battle, I will shoot you!" He declared with strength and sorrow.

"The same goes for me!" Kira replied with the same grief and determination. Seren kept quiet and returned inside the Blast. She fastened her belt and closed her cockpit like Kira had done. After they backed a little, the Strike lowered its rifle, soon followed by Seren. Athrun and Lacus kept watching as the gap grew and grew.

"The enemy mobile suits are moving away!" The captain of the Vesalius shouted.

"Start the engines, Ades!" Le Creuset ordered. The CGUE was launched. The Archangel's CIC detected it. Natarle gasped. Romero stated that the Vesalius' engines had also started. It was just as La Flaga had thought. And just as Seren had thought and told Kira.

"Commander!?" Athrun exclaimed, shocked.

"Athrun! Return to the Vesalius with Lacus-jou!" Rau instructed.

"Lieutenant La Flaga!" Kira was just as stunned.

"Did you really think they'd just sit back and watch?!" The lieutenant yelled. Both Athrun and Kira made a frustrated sound... at the adults who could not understand them, and at themselves for being so trustful and unsuspecting of the adults, almost to the point of gullibility. Seren stopped and aimed at the oncoming CGUE, waiting for it to come as close as possible. This time... definitely... The white mobile suit passed the red one. Fear was written all over Athrun's handsome face. He obviously wanted nothing more than to stop him. And without even looking at her fiancé, Lacus leant forward. He tried to tell her to be careful since she could hurt herself but his mind was only half to it as preoccupied as he was by Kira and Seren... and she seemed so firm and unwavering... She pushed a button.

"Commander Rau Le Creuset! Please stop! Are you trying to turn this location into a battlefield despite my presence here as the representative of the memorial delegation?" The daughter of the Chairman of the PLANTs' Supreme Council demanded. The calm regality and the hint of fierceness in her voice were very different from her usual tone and yet, one could not help but feel that she was doubtlessly Lacus Clyne. The Commander swore innerly... that little girl... what was she saying at a time like this?! "I will not allow it! Please stop all offensive actions at once! Do you not hear me?" She commanded. Rau cursed the troublesome young lady in a low voice.

"Roger that, Lacus Clyne!" And the CGUE turned about and flew over to the Vesalius. Athrun looked at Lacus in great surprise and relief. She smiled sweetly.

Seren had lowered her weapon and turned around.

"I don't know what just happened, but we're returning too. We don't wanna stir up a hornet's nest." La Flaga told the two kids. They agreed in a small downhearted voice. And the three flew back to the Archangel. "That was one unbelievable princess." The man commented suddenly after a pause. Tears had gathered at the corner of the Coordinators' eyes. Before their complete silence, he started the visual communication and asked them what the matter was.

"No. It's nothing." They said. And they hung their heads. They closed their eyes and the tears fell down.

In the Archangel, Flay had woken up in the darkness and sat up on her bed. Her stormy eyes reflected cold, dark and grim resolution.

"I won't let things remain like this."

We dreamt of having our wishes granted and hung our heads without having them granted. We understood the meaning of life, the meaning of partings, the meaning of loss, and the meaning of sacrifice. Overcome by emotions, people screamed and cried. They must be exhausted by those released feelings. We're not such adults as to be able to bear the burdens. Are we unable to protect?