The events afterwards passed by indistinctly. The naval captain tried repeatedly to talk to me, though I couldn't say anything in return; as if something was lodged in my throat. Eventually, he brought me aboard his ship and sat me down in the medical wing.
"What is your name son?" He asked gently.
"Shinn," I managed to mumble.
"Well, I'm just glad at least you survived."
The image
of my family's mangled bodies flashed before me again as I cried in
agony once more.
-
The next morning, the captain entered the medical wing again and sat by my side.
"Are you feeling better now?" He asked tentatively.
I mumbled something inaudibly.
Sighing sympathetically, he asked "Do you have anybody to take you in?"
"No," I whispered. My sister's scream before her death rang in my ears.
Taking off his hat, he said, "It must be very hard for you…but what is important is what you do with your life. I believe you are a coordinator. Orb is no longer a safe place for a coordinator…that's why I think it is best for you to leave this place."
He got up to leave.
"I will make arrangements for your trip to Plant."
Giving me a pained smile, he left. The hospital wing was silent once again. Looking around, I realised that I was grasping something tightly.
It was Mayu's phone.
"I couldn't pry it out of your hand because you were holding onto it so tightly," a nurse said as she entered the room, "it must be very important to you."
Softly, I replied a simple "yes".
It was hurting too much for me to say anything more.
-A week later-
I was on a transport shuttle heading towards a PLANT. It was Captain Todoka's handiwork, arranging it so that I settle in Plant and start a new life. Tears escaped my eyes as Orb became smaller and smaller as I gaze out the window.
Getting off the shuttle, I saw families being reunited, husbands with their wives, children with their families. These people stood out to me, and I was extremely jealous of them. I looked away, into the bright sunny weather of the place. For a month, I wandered around the city, doing the odd job, trying to earn a living; a consequence of choosing not to live in a foster home. It was difficult for a 13 year old to live by himself in such a big city. On one particular day, my journey took me to the gates of a military academy. Images of my family returned to me as I witnessed mobile suits in action. That day, I just sat there, looking at the various mobile suits, groups of students learning to fight, familiarising themselves with these 16 metre tall weapons… weapons which took my family away.
As I got up from the ground, ready to leave, a student collided into me. I instinctively grabbed onto the barbed wire fence to stop myself from falling. Blood started to fill the cavities which the barbs formed in my palm. As I looked up, a voice apologised frantically.
"Oh no! Oh no! Sorry, I'm very sorry!"
It was the girl with red hair.
"It's okay, it's nothing," I replied unconvincingly.
"You should get that checked out," she said, "come, follow me!"
Without another word, she grabbed my arm and dragged me into the military academy.
"The wounds on your hand must hurt, I'm truly sorry!"
Giving me a smile, she said "So you're here to check out the academy as well? Considering joining ZAFT?"
"Well, umm…"
Without waiting for me to answer, she continued "I'm joining as well. I think my parents are touring the classrooms now. They should allow me to join after the teacher gives them a talk"
We stopped outside the infirmary, at the end of the corridor.
"Well, I'll see you around. I hope you get better and I'm again very sorry. I got to go find my parents, see you!" She ran back down the corridor.
Sliding open the door, a gruff voice greeted me, "a casualty already? I thought the war has ended!"
The doctor grasped my arm tightly and proceeded to put disinfectant on the holes in my hand which the barbed wire created.
Thanking him quickly, I half ran out the infirmary. I've been in medical wings too many times.
As I walked along the corridor leading away from the infirmary, I noticed several classes, including one room which appears to be holding a parent/teacher information session. The girl from before was in there, with what looks like her sister and her parents. I stood outside and listened to what the teacher had to say.
"Clothes, accommodation, meals etcetera will be provided by ZAFT as basic necessities of our soldiers. Your son or daughter can choose from several courses and…"
I was seriously considering joining the academy.
BOOM!
My thoughts about academy life were rudely interrupted as the windows around me shattered. I was hurled onto the ground by the force of the explosion.
Dodging the flying shards of glass, I saw several soldiers donning a different uniform rappelling in. The soldier then proceeded to fire into the classroom, "For a clean and blue world!" Some students' bodies exploded in mists of blood while running, some just stood there, helpless, as if waiting for their turn in the firing line. The gunman aimed his gun at a girl…a girl with red hair…the girl from before. The vivid image of the bodies of my family suddenly flashed in the back of my mind.
"No," I whispered out loud, "I can not let this happen."
Without thinking, I sprinted for the soldier. He saw me, turned his rifle on me. He smiled and pulled the trigger.
Fortunately, I was quicker.
Side stepping the shot, I pushed the gun barrel away and ducked underneath his arm. Now with his back exposed to me, I took out his pistol and fired it. The soldier's chest exploded outwards, revealing the disgusting contents.
Immediately after, I turned my gun towards the other soldier and pulled the trigger. The bullet pierced his skull and exited via the temple, leaving only half of his head intact. Assault rifles of different tone commenced firing, turning around, I saw academy teachers firing on these EAF, fighting back.
Ten minutes later, the last surviving EA soldier was gunned down.
The entire academy was shaken up after this incident. I visited the redhead girl in the infirmary with her family and little sister. I found out that her name was Lunamaria and her sister was Meyrin. Her parents thanked me feverishly after hearing about my short act of 'bravery'. However, the parents then turned to their daughters and said that they cannot join ZAFT, having now encountering a near death experience. But she only replied that they don't need to be afraid because she had me to watch her back.
I returned to where I shot the two soldiers. There were still bodies of students everywhere. Conversely, there were children being reunited with their families. For the first time since my family's death, I was not jealous of them having their families. I realised that, with this power, I have a chance in protecting people…I could save people from experiencing what I've been through.
It was then when I decided to join ZAFT.
