Last Impression
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Episode 28: Kira and Kenji
Legend
Word denotes character thought
Word denotes setting, time
-Word- denotes sound effect
"Word" denotes flashback speech
-Word- denotes flashback sound effect
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Timeline: C.E. 71, March 28; +1300 hours
Location: Earth --- Orb Union; City Area
After going with their separate ways temporarily to gather more info on the whereabouts of the Archangel, the ZAFT Zala-Shinonome team decided to rendezvous and discuss what they've found so far.
For Athrun and Nicol, they took notice on the peaceful environment of the city as they proceeded to rendezvous with the others.
"It's weird how peaceful the city is, despite the battle five days ago," the Blitz pilot commented to his comrade with a contented smile on his face.
"Yeah… this place seems peaceful as the PLANTS. Maybe even more," the Aegis pilot added, glancing around his surroundings and observing civilians strolling on with their daily lives.
After several minutes of casual strolling, Athrun and Nicol then met up with the rest of the Zala-Shinonome team in the city main square, as their agreed rendezvous.
"So, you two found any new info?" Dearka asked.
Nicol shook his head in reply, "Nope… we found no leads. What about you and Yzak?"
The silver-haired Duel pilot pocketed his hands in his engineer pants with an annoyed look on his face, before answering Nicol.
"…Nothing. We couldn't find any info regarding the legged ship."
Barry folded his arms with a doubtful look on his face.
"You know, I wonder if the legged ship is even in Orb. Maybe it really was driven off by the Orb army?"
Eiji shook his head in disagreement, folding his arms in the same manner while his reply garnered everyone's attention.
"No. It has to be in Orb. We need conclusive evidence either way if it is or isn't here. Without it, we can't seem to proceed on with the mission."
Lisa raised a left eyebrow at the Spawn pilot, with the tone of her voice sounding doubt.
"Are you even sure about that, Eiji? It's like finding a needle in a haystack!"
Eiji wryly grinned at her in his contemplating position.
"Lisa, I'm sure of it, or otherwise this whole thing would actually be a wild goose chase in the first place. Listen, I'm not about to make everyone in this group an ass, so you can trust me on this one."
Feeling peeved by the remark, Lisa mustered enough willpower to not show her displeasure in public, opting for a silent acceptance. As if sensing her displeasure, Ryu placed his right hand on her left shoulder from behind to calm her down, while whispering something coherent to her left ear.
"Lisa, I know you're not starting to get along with Eiji because of his methods, but it's something you have to learn to adapt. We can safely trust him to take the next decisive course of action in locating the legged ship. Why did Captain Aster actually assigned him to lead our squad in the first place?"
Sighing resignedly deep down, Lisa nodded to her squad mate, patting his right hand over with hers affectionately.
"Thank you, Ryu," she quietly mouthed.
Athrun couldn't help but notice mixed reactions from the rest of the group as he stared at Eiji worriedly.
It can't be helped that everyone's feeling edgy by Eiji's methods for this recon mission on the legged ship, but it's safe to assume him taking charge and deciding the next course of action for the rest of the group.
Sensing some uncertainty from the rest of the group, Eiji softened his serious demeanor with little anxiety brewing in him.
"…I'm sorry if my previous remark offended any of you, but you all have to see the paramount importance of this recon mission on the legged ship. We've come this far to catch it and we're not about to let it escape from our grasp again, just like back up in space! It's clearly perceived as a threat to ZAFT," he apologized.
Nicol and Miho nodded in agreement, with the former voicing out his support for the Spawn pilot.
"Don't worry, Eiji, we feel the same way as you are. All of us are with you 100 percent!"
Dearka and Barry grinned together at Eiji, giving him a right thumbs-up. Yzak simply sighed annoyingly, then smirking at the rest of his squad mates. Ryu and Lisa gave a contented look at the Spawn pilot.
Athrun glanced back and forth at the rest of group, then piping in an important question.
"Well, shall we all get a move on?"
"That's the next thing I was about to speak out, but thanks for beating me to it, Athrun. Alright, people, follow me!" Eiji stated, motioning the rest of the ZAFT Zala-Shinonome team to follow after him. As the team continued their recon on the Archangel, Yzak couldn't help but add a comment as he glanced around the city surroundings.
"Orb is sure a strange place."
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Timeline: C.E. 71, March 28; +1400 hours
Location: Earth --- Orb Union; Onogoro Military Base
As the Archangel underwent extensive repairs in the dry dock area, inside one of its hallways, Murrue gathered round the Heliopolis teens (minus Kira and Fllay) for an important announcement.
"I'd like to inform you all that you'll be able to briefly visit your parents, although I have to remind you once again that you're still not able to leave the ship," the Archangel Captain announced with a gladden smile, eliciting happy, joyous reactions from the Heliopolis teens.
"Really, that's great! I've been worried sick about my folks," Tolle said relieved, while hugging his girlfriend close to his side.
"I miss my parents a lot, Tolle," Miriallia stated with a smile.
"Whew… I'm relieved to hear that," Sai spoke, adjusting his yellow-tinted specs.
"We can at least get to see our parents before we leave, guys," Kuzzey reminded, sharing the small jubilation his friends were holding.
Waiting awhile for the small celebration to pipe down, Murrue coughed lightly, getting the teens' attention, before continuing on with another reminder.
"Anyways, you can see your parents in the base's waiting area inside. You're permitted to leave at once. Don't forget your duties onboard the ship, though I doubt you need to be reminded of that."
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Inside his personal office, Lord Uzumi sat alone behind his desk, examining two personal files on Kira Yamato and Kenji Hyne displayed on his PC's monitor. His eyes narrowed warily at the extensive background info on the two Gundam pilots of the Archangel. His right hand moved the mouse, manipulating it to zoom in closely on the Gundam pilots' faces.
He couldn't help but furrow his eyebrows in slight anticipation at the sight of Kenji's face particularly.
Lord Kenji Hyne… how on earth did he and his uncle Peter Hyne get mixed up in the Archangel's affairs? And also to see Kira Yamato in the ship as well… this has to be fate…
It was then he felt a twang of foreboding creep him and disappearing suddenly. Placing his left hand over his beating heart, he then looked up at his office's ceiling.
I have a bad feeling about this…
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In the MS factory area, Cagalli paced about, looking around at the parked M1 Astrays undergoing daily maintenance by several Orb technicians, before her eyes fell at the last two MS in the room --- the Strike and the Seraph. Upon seeing them, her mind suddenly thought about Kira and Kenji, and she set forth to look for them, expecting them to be inside their MS's cockpit, working their check-ups as always. After nearing the Strike and gazing upwards at its opened cockpit, she noticed an Orb technician typing instead of Kira. But after doing a double-take, she realized it was actually Kira. Looking next at the Seraph's opened cockpit, she spotted another Orb technician typing as well, and on closer look, saw to be Kenji docked in a same engineer uniform as Kira.
Kira and Kenji's train of thought were suddenly broken by a shout from Cagalli below, prompting them to temporarily cease typing in their MS's keyboard interface and stick their heads out looking down at Cagalli with little surprise on their faces.
"Hey, what are you doing there?" Kira talked loudly for Cagalli to hear amidst the repair racket in the room.
"Why are you both in those uniforms?" the Orb princess asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"Oh this, well, we were told not to wear our military uniforms, that's why. You know, you're a weird princess for hanging out in a MS factory," Kenji commented with a grin.
Cagalli's face turned annoyed.
"Hey, I don't like being called a princess! It doesn't suit me," she retorted.
Motioning Kira to follow his lead, Kenji got down to the ground using the cockpit wench. Both he and Kira gathered near Cagalli while the former sported a knowing look on his face as he gazed at her.
"I now understand why you were at Morgenroete in Heliopolis," the Strike pilot stated.
Kenji was slightly surprised hearing the remark, while he glanced at Kira then to Cagalli.
"Oh? You were actually there during the Heliopolis incident?"
Cagalli looked down at the floor crest-fallen, while she played with her hands behind her back like one caught in a wrongful act.
"I couldn't get any answer from Lord Uzumi, I mean, my father, about those rumored five MS, so I went straight to Heliopolis by myself to see them if they were true. Though those GAT series of Gundams was supposedly developed without my father's consent, he hasn't personally confessed it to me."
Folding his arms, Kenji raised a right eyebrow at Cagalli, then remembering her involvement with the Desert Dawn.
"What about those guerillas, the Desert Dawn, you were involved with? What were you doing there?" he asked.
"Oh… well I joined them because my father said I haven't seen enough of the world," Cagalli looked up at Kenji.
"Do you want to fight as well?" Kira piped in, looking uncertain at the Orb princess.
"I just want to help end the war that's all," she then looked away from him.
Kenji's eyes shimmered with reminiscence of his initial involvement with the present war.
"I don't think the war can end even if we fight," he stated in finality.
Kira and Cagalli glanced back at him, trying to understand well his statement's meaning.
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In the base's waiting area, the Heliopolis teens (minus Kira and Fllay) were overjoyed to see their parents waiting for them and looking alive and well. The families exchanged heartfelt hugs and kisses while striking up anxious conversations with their children regarding their involvement with the Archangel.
"Mom, dad…! It's great to see you both!" Sai exclaimed, hugging his parents.
"Oh son, we were so worried about you, not hearing from you for so long after Heliopolis was destroyed," Mrs. Argyle said with a gladden smile. Mr. Argyle simply placed his left hand contentedly on his son's right shoulder, keeping eye-to-eye with his eye.
"It's great seeing you on your two feet, Kuzzey! Come here and give your old man a rewarded hug!" Mr. Buskirk beamed, forcibly engulfing his hand in a bear-hug.
"Ack… I can't breathe…" Kuzzey noted as he tried returning the hug. Mrs. Buskirk pleaded her husband to give her room to hug their son.
"You sure kept us worrying to death about you, son! What on earth happened to you while we were separated in Heliopolis?" Mr. Koenig started interrogating his son, ruffling his hair affectionately, while his wife giggled lightly at the sight.
"Thank goodness you're alright, Miriallia!" Mrs. Haww spoke gladden, hugging her daughter as she returned the favor. Mr. Haww joined in the hug as well.
"Me too, mom, I'm glad to see you and dad alright."
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Back in the Archangel, activity was at a low still for several of its crew onboard. In the ship's laundry room, Fllay was folding laundry humming a happy tune, before moving to distribute the folded laundry to its rightful owners.
In the Hynes' quarters, Kenji and Kira were seated behind the former's small desk, typing on a borrowed laptop that contained an incomplete version of the M1 Astray OS. The two Gundam pilots chatted amicably, exchanging ideas or suggestions, as they worked on completing the M1 Astray OS.
"Hmm… the schematics of this OS seem similar to either the Strike or the Seraph," Kira started.
"Well, yes, but the OS we reconfigured in our MS now seems different than this one. I never thought Professor Kato would lack some programming skill, especially when he came up with this incomplete OS," Kenji commented, pointing out to the laptop's thin-layered monitor displaying the M1 Astray OS.
After several minutes of typing and modifications, progress was still slow in the completion of the M1 Astray OS. Tapping his right fingers on his small desk in contemplation, Kenji then remembered an important task he committed himself to do once back in Orb.
Oh yes… that… I better drag Uncle Peter with me on this one.
"Kira, I'll be back for a while, I just remembered to do another important task. Meanwhile, you keep working on the OS. By the time I get back I should be able to help you finish it," he said to Kira, who gave a puzzled look by his sudden action.
"Hmm… well, ok, but you better hurry back after you're done with your important stuff. I don't know if I can finish making this OS by myself."
Kenji patted Kira's left shoulder with his right hand, adding a smile.
"-Chuckle- Have faith in your abilities, my friend."
With that said, he exited his quarters, leaving Kira alone to resume work on the M1 Astray OS.
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Several minutes later, the Hynes' quarters were hailed, breaking Kira's train of thought on his assigned work. He glanced up to find the visitor to be the Atlantic Federation Vice-Minister, who was surprised seeing him alone.
"Oh, Kira…? What are you doing here alone? I was hoping to find Peter, I mean, Professor Hyne here."
Kira shook his head in reply, "Sorry, sir, he's not here. I'm not sure where he went though. If you're looking for Kenji, well, he also left, had something important to do."
"Great… ahem… well, I'll leave you be to whatever you're doing. I'm sorry to disturb you, young man," George apologized, taking a second or two to look from the corner of his left eye at the laptop showing the M1 Astray OS, before exiting the room.
Is he working on an OS of the M1 Astray? I was hoping it'd be Kenji working on the OS of the Seraph. Blast… this will be hard to garner the Seraph's data, without blowing my cover. Maybe Peter can help, he thought, forming his next course of action before leaving the Hynes' quarters.
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Back in Lord Uzumi's personal office, his door was knocked loudly twice, prompting him to answer it. Upon opening it, he beckoned two visitors to step inside the room and take their seats in front of his desk. Walking back to his seat, he looked to find his visitors plainly dressed --- the first one a man sporting long, brown hair with brown eyes and docked in a business suit (minus the tie); while the second one a woman sporting curly, long purple hair with amethyst eyes and dressed in a white blouse and skirt. The two individuals seem around their mid 30s.
"We agreed that we'd never meet again, Lord Uzumi," the woman spoke with a frown.
Lord Uzumi sadly shook his head in reply, "It couldn't be avoided. The children have met by accident."
"Are you sure they've met, Lord Uzumi?" the man inquired, huddling his seat close to the woman and wrapping his left arm around her affectionately.
"Yes. But… what's even more surprising is that…" Lord Uzumi suddenly trailed off his statement when his door was knocked loudly twice, prompting him to answer it.
"Yes, you may enter!" he beckoned the incoming visitor.
The door opened by his beckon, revealing Peter Hyne having a resigned look on his face and getting everyone's attention.
"Professor Hyne, I believe you've got my note? Why, what's with the long face?" Lord Uzumi asked concernedly, troubled on seeing his new visitor's expression on his face.
Peter was hesitant to reply before stepping inside and allowing a second person to walk in the room. Shocked gasps and widened eyes resulted from the man and the woman as the second person revealed to be Kenji Hyne.
Lord Uzumi furrowed his eyebrows alarmingly, trying to come up for a best explanation in this delicate situation. Before he could speak out one that came into his mind, Kenji suddenly outstretched his left palm at him, motioning the Orb leader to remain silent. Closing the door behind him, Kenji then glanced around everyone with uneasiness and anxiety before his eyes settled on his uncle.
"I believe I have the right to hear this, uncle. Who shall begin then?" he inquired.
Lord Uzumi, the man, and the woman looked back at Kenji then to Peter in dread. The older Hyne could do nothing than swallow a heavy secret about to be revealed.
Via… forgive me for my foolishness, he sadly thought.
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Back in Kira's quarters in the Archangel, he received another visitor interrupting his work on the M1 Astray OS upon hearing his door opened, allowing the visitor in.
Now who is it this time? I can't seem to get any peace in here.
Deciding to keep his eyes on the borrowed laptop showing the progress in making the M1 Astray OS, Kira resumed his work typing on the laptop.
"Kira…?" a feminine voice piped in, belonging to the visitor.
Taking a second to glance back at the visitor, Kira saw his girlfriend standing before him carrying a basket of folded laundry.
"Fllay…? What are you doing here? What's the laundry you're carrying?"
"Oh this… well, it's our folded and ironed laundry, silly. I just thought I carry them back to our room," Fllay then glanced at the borrowed laptop, setting down the basket of folded laundry, "So, what are you doing right now?"
"Well, I'm working on an OS for the M1 Astray, Orb's new MS. Kenji and I were supposed to work on it together, but he went out to do something important. He'll be back later to help me finish this," Kira turned his attention at the laptop, resuming his typing.
Placing her hands behind her back, Fllay bowed slightly at her boyfriend with a knowing look.
"Kira… why didn't you go meet your parents? I heard from Captain Ramius that she allowed Sai and the others to meet theirs."
The Strike pilot shook his head in reply as he resumed his work, "I can't go meet my parents, because I have to finish this M1 Astray OS before the Archangel leaves Orb."
"Well… alright. At least let me give you a massage," Fllay pouted, then walking behind her boyfriend and starting to massage his shoulders. The moment her hands touched his shoulders, she could feel them to be tense. Kira was about to protest for her interruption, but slowly relaxed under her massage, feeling at ease slowly by her touch. He sighed relieved, patting her left hand over with his right hand in appreciation.
"Thanks, Fllay. I actually kind of needed that."
"-Giggle- You silly… I want to at least help you out in any way I can. Now go on with your work, I'll keep on massaging you until you're relaxed," Fllay smiled with a small blush.
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In the base's waiting area, the Heliopolis teens bade goodbyes to their parents, after their time to spend with them was up.
"Goodbye, father, mother. I'll try to be home when I can," Sai spoke to his parents, adjusting his yellow-tinted specs before hugging his parents together.
"Mom, dad… well, it's time for me to go," Tolle spoke to his parents, hugging them one last time.
"I've to attend to my duties now. I love you, mom, dad…" Miriallia said teary-eyed to her parents, giving them a last hug.
"Well, mom, dad, I've got to go now… ack…!" Kuzzey exclaimed as he was engulfed in a bear-hug by his father. His mother wiped off her tears of sadness with her handkerchief, upon seeing her son off.
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In Lord Uzumi's personal office, tension rose in the air for the people in the room. Being the first to regain composure, Lord Uzumi motioned the man, the woman, and the Hynes to take their seats, which they hesitantly obliged. After everyone was settled down, the Orb leader glanced heartedly at Kenji, noting his appearance.
"Kenji Hyne… my, you've grown. I still can't believe you're also the same person regarded as nobility here in Orb," he started.
"Thank you for the compliments, Lord Uzumi. But I believe, that my uncle here has something important he wants to talk to me in front of you and your other guests here, isn't that so?" Kenji quipped, while narrowly eyeing his uncle seated next him.
Seeing there was no way out of the awkward situation he was on, Peter unbuttoned his polo shirt's collar, allowing some air to cool his body. He glanced around at everyone before sighing resignedly.
"Very well… Kenji… I had hoped that you'd never learn about this until you were older, but I guess you forced my hand."
The older Hyne then stood up from his seat, placing his hands behind his back as he walked towards the window and looking outside. He glanced back at his nephew with earnest.
"Kenji… you know I'm your uncle and your only living relative. But your real parents… they passed away 15 years ago --- the year C.E. 56 to be exact. At the time when they died, I was the last person to see them off."
"Peter… please, no…" the woman pleaded for the older Hyne to cease his confession. It was a useless attempt, for Peter sadly glanced back at her before resuming on.
"Your father was the late renowned researcher, Ulen Hibiki. He was entrusted with a highly controversial project that could be the pinnacle in the next stage of evolution for Coordinators. It was…"
"…The 'Ultimate Coordinator' project… that was what I spotted in your palm-top hacking device I fiddled with at one time," Kenji finished his uncle's statement, feeling shock creeping through him despite partly anticipating the obvious answer. The earnest stare he was directing at his uncle slowly softened.
Peter merely smirked at his nephew in a failed attempt at humor.
"I never knew you figured it out one way or the other. -Sigh- I guess the inquisitive trait in you was from your father after all. Your mother, Via Hibiki, objected to the project upon realizing it, but her pleas fell on your father's deaf ears. Even I was taken aback by this sudden realization in the true nature of the project, for I had unknowingly contributed to its successful development."
"For God's sake, Peter, he doesn't need to hear this!" the man suddenly exclaimed from his seat, clutching at his seat's armrests tensed. Upon seeing Lord Uzumi's outstretched right hand directed at him, he was appalled by his reaction.
"Lord Uzumi…! But… why?"
"…Like I said previously, it couldn't be avoided, especially when the children have already met through circumstances. Though, it's a surprise that young Kenji Hyne here would be the person to pry the answers regarding him and his siblings' out from us. Let Professor Hyne continue, for his nephew here has a right to know."
Upon hearing the remark, the man and the woman were speechless before nodding resignedly at Lord Uzumi, who took it as a cue to motion Peter to resume. He cleared his throat before resuming his talk, but Kenji suddenly piped in an important question needed to be answered. He braced himself for the revelation with furrowed eyebrows and an earnest demeanor.
"Uncle… what exactly is the 'Ultimate Coordinator' project?"
Peter sighed inwardly with lingering regret, but mustered enough willpower to answer his nephew's question.
"…It is the final goal of genetic engineers who created Coordinators. Although Coordinators are mentally and physically superior to ordinary humans, their embryonic development is still affected by the environment of the mother's body. At present, Coordinators are sterile, meaning they're not capable to reproduce, unlike Naturals. To eliminate this variable, Ulen Hibiki developed an artificial womb designed to produce biologically perfect children. The result would be the Ultimate Coordinator, whose every attribute could be scientifically controlled. Of the countless embryos which Ulen used as test subjects for this artificial womb, his sons Kira and Kenji… were the only known survivors."
Kenji's eyes suddenly widen as realization finally him like a wrecking ball crushing a wall. As he felt the big shock from the remark affecting him, he forced himself to slowly stand up from his seat and stare at his uncle with an agape mouth.
"…No… you mean… Kira is my brother? And… other countless siblings were sacrificed just to create… me and him? It can't be…"
Seeing the shocked reaction of his nephew was more than Peter could bear watching, as he looked away from him ashamed and silent. The woman could no longer bottle up her mixed emotions upon seeing Kenji's reaction, and broke down in uncontrollable tears. The man quickly embraced her, letting his chest for her to cry on, while he sadly stared at Kenji. Lord Uzumi maintained a passive look outside as he rested his hands on his office desk, but deep down he felt pity and remorse for the Seraph pilot standing before him.
Trying his best to contain his shock, Kenji looked down to his hands, which were trembling slowly, while he felt his legs giving in to a heavy weight he couldn't see. He felt himself slump down on his knees.
The 'Ultimate Coordinator'… but then, that means… Kira and I are…?
Seeing it'd be best for his nephew to realize the entire truth, Peter forced himself to stare back at his slumped form and hesitantly resuming on his important revelation.
"You and Kira are the only known successful 'Ultimate Coordinators'. Many of your other siblings were sacrificed just to create you both successfully. You two were originally born in the L4 Mendel Colony, which I hear, is still intact today, despite some major damage which I caused."
Kenji hesitantly looked up at his uncle with an inquisitive face.
"You caused damage to that place? But… how?"
Peter rubbed the temples of his forehead with his right hand, trying to ease a dull throb from delving deep in his memory to recall another important event.
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Flashback
Timeline: C.E. 56, January 1; +1800 hours
Location: Lagrange point 4, Mendel Colony
23-year old research scientist Peter Hyne knocked twice on the door leading to Ulen Hibiki's office.
"Enter please," a feminine voice beckoned inside.
Peter raised a right eyebrow in wonder and opened the door, allowing himself in and closing the door behind. He found a woman garbed in lab coat attire as him, standing to the side with two pictures in her hand. Her head whipped around slowly, facing him. Her long, orange hair swayed about with her movements, her yellow eyes shimmering with pain and sadness.
"Peter… I'm glad you received my call," she started.
"What happened? Is something the matter?"
The woman walked slowly towards him, handing him the pictures. Peter glanced at them, noticing one to be a picture of her holding two babies tucked underneath her arms. Upon closer inspection, they were a boy and a girl --- the boy having brown hair and amethyst eyes, and the girl having blonde hair and golden-brown eyes. Peter looked up at the woman in astonishment.
"Twins…? Via, that's wonderful!"
The woman, Via Hibiki, smiled at his remark.
"Take a look at the second picture, Peter."
Peter did as instructed, observing the second picture showing a baby boy held in an incubator with life-support. The male scientist's eyes widen with surprise, and he let out a shocked gasp.
"What's this? Another baby…? But, when…?"
"He was born a year before the previous two, whom I named Kira and Cagalli. His name is Kenji."
"Splendid! So that makes 3 children! But, what's with the sad disposition?"
"…Kenji… was the first baby born from an artificial womb."
The statement stunned Peter, prompting him to drop the pictures floating down to the ground.
"No… it can't be…"
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In the colony's docking bay, the doors leading there closed after Peter Hyne and Via Hibiki hurriedly entered in, with the female research scientist safely holding two bundles of baby twins --- a boy and a girl --- wrapped around in small blankets. The twins were amazingly asleep, devious of the chaotic situation they were on at present.
While on the other hand, Peter was holding a bundle of a baby boy sleeping peacefully under his right arm. Running up to the keypad lock posted on the side, he furiously keyed the door lock with his free arm, sealing the doors from within.
"Via, run for that shuttle near you!" Peter exclaimed to the said woman.
The two research scientists were on a mad dash to a shuttle parked in the colony's docking bay, running from their pursuers sent by Ulen.
"But, Peter…! What about you?" Via exclaimed helplessly, after she was steps away from an unmanned shuttle parked close to her.
Gunfire was heard from outside the doors, along with gruff voices.
"They've locked the doors! Open fire!"
-BA-DA-DA-DA-DA- -BA-DA-DA-DA-DA-
"Damn it…! It's reinforced steel! Bring in the heavy weapons!"
-BAM- -BAM- -BAM-
Peter stared alarmingly at the steel doors, which were suddenly bulged out from within, indicating armed soldiers trying to break it down open. He glanced back at Via Hibiki.
"Forget me…! I'll take care of Kenji! You escape with Kira and Cagalli!"
"But…!"
"NOW…! GO…!"
Giving one last worried glance at him, Via Hibiki climbed in the parked shuttle, activating its controls. As her shuttle whirled into life and slowly pulled away from its parking space, Peter searched around the docking bay for another shuttle. His eyes then caught one parked in a far corner.
I have to hurry!
Fishing out a small-sized device from his right lab coat pocket with his free hand, he pressed two blue buttons provided, with a countdown display etched on the device as well.
00:60
He laid the device a few inches away from the banged-up steel doors, and picked up his pace, hurrying to the remaining parked shuttle. He took a quick glance along the way at the other shuttle driven by Via Hibiki which finally made it out of the launching bay.
Good… she finally made it out.
Finally climbing inside his shuttle and locking its hatch after him, he seated himself in the pilot's seat, strapping the baby bundle to the co-pilot seat with a seat belt. He flipped open the switches, starting the shuttle's ignition, which gave a hum sound of activity.
00:40
He looked at the tiny baby bundle, smiling little at the sleeping baby.
Hang on tight, Kenji, this is going to be a wild ride.
Peter's shuttle then pulled away from its parking space. At the same time, the steel doors were suddenly blown open with a big explosion.
-BOOM-
Several armed soldiers quickly stormed in the room with assault rifles in hand. Among them, a male research scientist pushed his way out, and spotted Peter's shuttle, pointing at it with his right forefinger. His blue eyes mirrored anger and frustration at the shuttle's departure, while his free hand clutched at his short, blonde hair in anxiety and panic.
"Damn you Peter! You and my wife have the nerve to make off with my success projects!"
Ulen Hibiki looked around at the armed soldiers, exasperated at seeing them standing by his side and waiting for his orders.
"What are you all standing for? Stop the shuttle! Open fire at it!"
"But sir… we can't! One of your projects is on aboard!"
"You moron, use your brain! Seal off the docking bay gates!"
At his cue, some of the armed soldiers quickly fled to the docking bay control room, leaving several of their comrades to guard Ulen.
00:20
Peter glanced back at the pursuers, and floored the shuttle's speed to the max.
Sorry, Ulen… but I won't let you have your way with this baby's life!
Ulen's ears then caught a beeping sound below, prompting him and the remainder of the armed soldiers looking down at the device Peter had lain before. His eyes widen in shock and realization at the countdown display.
00:00
"AH……!" the scientist let out a shriek of horror, flailing his arms to shield himself from the inevitable. The armed soldiers started to back away from it, sharing the same feeling.
But it was too late.
-KA-BOOM-
The explosion took everyone in the docking bay out instantly.
Within another few seconds, multiple explosions erupted from well-placed areas in the colony, where Peter had attached C4 explosives, just before the planned escape attempt with Via Hibiki and her newborn children out of the colony. The explosions' impact rocked the colony interior.
Just in time, Peter's shuttle barely shot out of the docking bay, with its doors closing after it, and the resulting explosion catching up from behind, destroying them. As the shuttle jettisoned far away from the exploding colony, Peter stared back at it with a heavy heart, his face turning regretful.
I'm sorry it had to come to this, Ulen. But your wife can't bear the overwhelming subjugation of Kenji and Kira… the Ultimate Coordinators.
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Timeline: C.E. 56, January 10; +0000 hours
Location: Lagrange point 3, Heliopolis
10 days after their escape attempt from the Mendel Colony, Peter Hyne and Via Hibiki sought shelter in the resource satellite, Heliopolis, bringing with them the female Hibiki's three children.
Having secured a temporary apartment in the residential area, Peter ushered in the female Hibiki and her children, closing and locking the front door after them. Inside, the apartment was moderately furnished, having a joint living/dining room, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, and 1 bedroom with a balcony.
"Let me take your coat, you must be tired from the trip. Please, sit down," Peter beckoned, taking the female Hibiki's lab coat and hanging it on a coat racket mounted on the front door from inside. He had also placed down her babies in a small crib he found in the bedroom after her entrance.
As Via sat down on the living room sofa, a wave of nausea swept in her, knocking her faint, but not before being caught in time by Peter, who was instantly alarmed by her condition. He gently laid her down on the sofa, propping her legs on it.
"Via…! Are you feeling well? What's the matter?"
The female Hibiki opened her eyes slightly, smiling weakly at him. She shakily reached for his hands, grasping them over with hers. Peter knelt down, facing her at her level.
"Peter… I… didn't tell you this… but… I'm dying."
"…No… why…?"
Via coughed little, trying to catch her breath. Peter checked her pulse, placing his right forefinger and middle finger on her neck and wrists. His eyes widen with alarm as he noticed her skin turning slowly into a pale blue. He checked the temperature on her forehead with the back of his right hand. It was slowly cold.
"Your skin… it's turning in pale blue! And your temperature… it's dropping slowly! What's happening to you?"
"Peter… I've contracted a disease during my pregnancy… when I first had Kenji before Kira and Cagalli. It's incurable… I'm afraid."
Peter gritted his teeth in despair, clasping tightly her hands with his while staring at her calm, peaceful face as she struggled to continue talking.
"I have only a few years to live… after I gave birth to Kira and Cagalli, my condition turned for the worse. Ulen… he tried to find a cure for my condition… but alas, he gave up in defeat, deciding to continue ahead… with his maddening project."
"But… how can this be? You're a Coordinator! You should be vastly immune to any form of known disease!"
"-Giggle- You should know better to be content with the facts in hand. I guess… when I had my pregnancy… I felt changed… I didn't know if it's for better or worse. I should have been more careful."
"Via…"
The said female Coordinator looked at the mourning research scientist with pleading eyes.
"Peter, promise me one thing… I only ask that you take care of my children. They deserve a better future."
"…I promise… they'll be well taken care of by me."
"Good… do you regret all of this, brother?"
Peter's eyes shimmered, blinking with small tears trailing down his cheeks. He shook his head with a poignant smile.
"No, I don't… my little sister."
At the mention of that address to her, Via Hibiki weakly smiled.
"…Brother… I'm glad to hear that."
With her last breath, her arms fell limp, while her hands were still held on by Peter's. Her eyes slowly closed her last trace of sight of Peter, who struggled to control his tears coming out as he watched his remaining family slowly passing on.
"Via…!"
Peter's head lowered, with his hair covering his darkened face as he stifled sobs and tears.
End Flashback
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"Your mother was a kind, loving soul… it was unfortunate she had to move on because of her unexpected disease during her pregnancy," Peter concluded, wiping off a sorrowful tear from his right eye with the back of his left hand.
"Mom… oh… I wanted to see you for such a long time… -Hic- -Hic- I guess I was too late… -Hic-" Kenji shakily spoke, fighting hard to choke back at his sudden tears from a bottled-up feeling of sadness, sorrow, and longing.
Seeing his nephew needed moral support, Peter hurriedly walked up to him, embracing him while letting him cry on his white polo shirt.
"-Hic- -Hic- Ugh…" Kenji spat out.
"I'm sorry… I shouldn't be telling you any more of this than you can bear," Peter cooed, patting his nephew's back to try ease his emotional pain.
The man embraced the woman close, letting her cry out her last sobs on his polo shirt while looking away from the teary Hynes. Lord Uzumi calmly wiped off a sad tear from his right eye with his right forefinger, touched by the sight.
After a minute or so of crying, Kenji managed to regain composure temporarily, before gently pushing his uncle away from him and slowly getting up to his feet.
"Kenji…"
"Uncle… I'm strong enough to take the news… please, tell me more."
The Seraph pilot's remark caught everyone's attention in the room. Slowly getting up to his feet, Peter cleared his throat once more before glancing at the man and the woman particularly.
"Kenji… those people over there… they're Kira's foster parents, Haruma and Caridad Yamato. I'm an old acquaintance of theirs."
The said people regained their composure from the emotional turmoil happening previously, standing up from their seats as Kenji approached them with a sincere bow.
"I'm honored to meet you both."
The Yamatos were taken aback by the gesture. Haruma gently set Kenji facing him in his level, while Caridad went up to the Seraph pilot for a heartfelt hug, which he thankfully obliged. As they broke up their hug, they couldn't help but gladly smile to each other.
"Thank you for the kind gesture, Kenji. -Sigh- My, you resemble Kira partly, since he's your younger brother -Giggle-," Caridad commented.
"I strangely felt a connection to Kira when I first met him onboard the Archangel, though I couldn't explain it until I got my answer now," Kenji said, rubbing behind his head with his right hand in slight embarrassment.
Seeing that the atmosphere in the room turned out slowly well, Lord Uzumi couldn't help but share in the short happiness of family bonding. As he stared at Kenji, he was reminded of Cagalli for a short time.
Cagalli… now I can be at ease, knowing well you have two brothers looking out for you. I guess it wasn't a bad idea that Professor Hyne and his nephew came here onboard the Archangel through circumstance.
"Kenji, there's also one more thing you should know," Peter stated, getting everyone's attention, "You remember meeting Cagalli, Lord Uzumi's daughter, right?"
The Seraph pilot glanced back at his uncle with an affirmative nod.
"Sure… but why mention her?" he asked.
"I believe, I can speak for you here, Professor Hyne," Lord Uzumi intruded, getting everyone's attention at him next, "Kenji, Cagalli is somewhat a free-spirited young girl with a rebellious nature. Maybe she got that trait from her older brother as well."
Kenji did a double-take at the remark.
"Huh…? What are you implying?"
"-Chuckle- Cagalli is also your younger sister. You, Kira, and she were the only known children of Ulen and Via Hibiki, who I might also add, is sister to your uncle here," Lord Uzumi slightly smiled at the Seraph pilot's reaction.
"! So you adopted me as a Hyne then? Wow… I guess my surname is my middle initial then," Kenji commented, awed by another stunning news delivered to him as he glanced back at his uncle, who embarrassingly waved off the revelation with the back of his right hand.
"Yes, she's my sister. When I first adopted you as my son, I had you attain my surname instead of your original, so as to avoid suspicion. I must note at that time, you and your siblings were perceived as a threat to Blue Cosmos, a radical-extremist group of Naturals. When I was left with you and your siblings after your mother died, I had decided to adopt you as my son, then handing over Kira to the Yamatos and Cagalli to Lord Uzumi. That way, you three would be safe as you grew up," Peter explained.
"Oh… if I was adopted by you, how come I relate you as my uncle?" Kenji wondered.
"-Chuckle- What could I say, when you were such a child you used to ask me a LOT of questions. Aye, aye… I decided to have you see me as your uncle rather than your adopted dad by the time you were in early teens, so as to clear up confusion," Peter replied, shrugging his shoulders with a gladden smile.
"What we didn't perceive is that you three unknowingly met by chance. My husband and I were stunned and feared that you all might realize your true family bond sooner or later," Caridad stated, while her husband held her by the shoulders from behind.
"Yes… so that's why I had decided to call the Yamatos and Professor Hyne in order to resolve this issue. But now that you surprisingly barged in and broke our original agreement in never telling you and your siblings about your family connection, I'm at loss at what to do. I await your opinion on this matter, Kenji Hyne," Lord Uzumi spoke, standing up from his seat.
Feeling everyone's gazes directed at him and expecting his reply, Kenji looked around them and looked down at the floor, coming up with his reply. He then glanced back up at everyone in the room.
"…This seems so heavy for me take it, but… I won't tell this to Kira and Cagalli, unless if it's dire needed."
The Yamatos bowed at Kenji with relieved faces.
"Thank you, Kenji. We don't want to cause any inconvenience to Kira, so that's why we didn't visit him. We… rather want to keep up appearances, to spare him the trouble."
A bit perturbed by their remark, Kenji couldn't help but frown inwardly at them, before turning to Lord Uzumi and bowing apologetically to him.
"I can understand your reasons. Lord Uzumi, please accept my apology for my sudden intrusion in a private and delicate matter. I believe my anxiety and resolve got the better of me."
Lord Uzumi shook his head in disagreement, then turning attention to the Hynes.
"Nonsense… I believe you had the utmost right to do so. Ahem… now that we all managed to clear this important matter up, Professor Hyne, Kenji, what do you two plan on doing now?"
Kenji widened his eyes in realization, after a thought of Kira popped in his mind. He glanced around everyone in the room, bowing them one by one.
"…I must take my leave, Lord Uzumi, I have to return and assist Kira in finishing the M1 Astray OS. Everyone, thanks for your time."
With that said, the Seraph pilot nervously made his exit, closing Lord Uzumi's office door behind him. Taking a deep breath or two to calm down, he resumed his way back to the Archangel, where Kira was awaiting him.
The Yamatos smiled at Kenji's retreating form, before turning to Peter.
"He's grown up fast since we last saw him," Caridad commented heartedly.
"-Chuckle- Yes, he is," Peter replied, feeling a paternal pride for raising his nephew like his own son.
"We'll take our leave as well, Lord Uzumi. Please excuse us," Caridad spoke, motioning her husband to follow her bowing to Lord Uzumi, who nodded in reply.
"Are you sure you don't want to visit Kira?" the Orb leader inquired, sitting back down on his seat.
"I don't think he doesn't want us to visit him now," Haruma replied, shaking his head in disagreement.
"Hmm… I see. Well, take care, then," Lord Uzumi bade fare-well to the Yamatos, who then made their exit. He turned to Peter after the Yamatos' departure, "Well, Professor Hyne, do you have other issues you would like to discuss with me?"
Peter casually shrugged his shoulders with a wry smile.
"Can I interest you over a cup of tea?"
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Back in Morgenroete Inc.'s test area, an M1 Astray piloted by Asagi underwent another basic test run, first by checking up on its movements. Inside the said MS's cockpit, Asagi tried jerking forward the control sticks while playing with the thrusters. The result was the M1 Astray breaking into a sudden sprint before stopping to a halt.
"Wow…! Now I can move the Astray easily than before!" she commented to the test area control room, where she was being monitored. Inside the room, Erica and Aile exchanged wry grins, seemingly satisfied by the latest development concerning the M1 Astray's performance. Both prominent Orb engineers turned around facing Kira and Kenji, with Mwu and Cagalli watching aside them.
"Good work, you two. Thanks to this new OS you managed to finish within hours, the M1 Astrays seem at least to be on par with the Strike and the Seraph," Erica started.
Kira pursed his lips in doubt.
"Hmm… I don't see those MS to be on the same level as the Strike and the Seraph, but nevertheless, at least they're more functional," he commented.
"Well, you're right on that part, lad. What do you think about this, Kenji?" Aile asked the Seraph pilot, who was deep in thought since the start of the conversation. Noticing everyone's stares at him, he broke his train of thought and put on a startled face.
"Uh… yes, I agree with Kira. I don't think we can boost the M1 Astray's performance any further, so from here on out it's your field, Professor Kato," Kenji replied.
"Wow… could I pilot a mobile suit like that?" Mwu spoke, impressed by the M1 Astray's test run he was currently watching.
"Sure, why not? I could let you pilot one, if we have one available for you, Lieutenant La Flaga," Erica replied with a knowing smile.
Taking a last look at the running M1 Astray, Kira's expression turned subtle as the thought of his parents popped in his mind. Shaking the thought off from his mind, he turned around and exited the control room, catching Mwu's attention and prompting him to go after the Strike pilot, leaving the room as well.
Looking from the corner of his left eye at Kira's retreating form, Kenji next turned his attention at the M1 Astray one last time. Satisfied by the results the new M1 Astray OS brought before him, he turned to Erica and Aile, getting their attention.
"Please excuse me, for I have to run a diagnostic check-up on the Seraph."
"Sure… go ahead," Erica permitted, before immersing herself and Aile in a serious talk regarding the M1 Astray's latest improvement.
As Kenji turned around to exit the control room, his attention was suddenly called by Aile.
"Yes, Professor Kato?"
"Kenji, there's something important I'd like to discuss with you. After you're done finishing checking up on the Seraph, please come to my office right away. I'll be cooped up there after this," Aile stated, placing his hands behind his back.
"Sure."
With that said, Kenji nodded to Aile, who returned the favor, before exiting the control room.
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"Hey? Why the displeased look on your face, kid…?" Mwu asked, finally catching up to Kira and laying his left hand on his shoulder from behind, prompting him to glance back at him.
"I'm not displeased, lieutenant," Kira denied, shaking his head in reply.
"Oh… is it because of your parents? Why didn't you go visit them? I heard your other friends from Heliopolis visited their parents as well," Mwu tried to cheer him up. The two persons soon arrived in the MS factory area, going upwards to the catwalks and to the Strike's opened cockpit, where Kira hopped in and started activating the Strike's OS. Murdoch's face suddenly popped in view, startling him and Mwu, who then realized the reason of his sudden appearance.
"Hey kid, we'll prepare testing the Launcher Strike's "Agni" cannon. Understand?" the head mechanic of the Archangel asked, writing up repair notes on a small paper pad he was carrying.
"Sure thing, Mr. Murdoch," Kira answered with a nod as he continued typing on the Strike's keyboard interface. As Murdoch moved out of the way, Kira noticed Mwu's presence, then realizing his last question asked to him.
"If I meet my parents, I'd ask something I don't want to ask: why they made me a Coordinator."
Mwu pursed his lips, pondering on the remark. Suddenly, Kira's pet robotic bird Torii flew in view, landing on its creator's left shoulder.
"Oh hey, Torii," the Strike pilot said, noticing his pet robotic bird.
"Birdie…? Birdie…!" Torii exclaimed, before suddenly flying off and away.
"Huh… hey…! Torii get back here!" Kira exclaimed, ceasing his typing and exiting the Strike's cockpit to chase after his pet robotic bird while pushing Mwu aside unintentionally.
"He can be a weird one, I say," Mwu commented, scratching his head with his right hand and watching Kira's hurried retreating form.
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Outside Morgenroete, the ZAFT Zala-Shinonome team drove in two borrowed 4x4 military issued jeeps separately as they continued their recon mission on the Archangel. Motioning Ryu to drive by the Zala team's jeep (for he was the one driving the Shinonome team's jeep), Eiji got the Zala team's attention with a wave of his right hand, then motioning both his and Athrun's team to stop at a desolate road intersection branching the military base's west area.
"Athrun, you take your team to go round this west area! I'll take my team to drive by the opposite area. We shall tackle this huge area effectively if we split our teams up into two!" he suggested.
"Mmm… ok, that's sounds like a good idea, Eiji. We'll rendezvous back at this spot!" Athrun replied, rubbing his chin with his right hand.
With that agreed, the ZAFT Zala-Shinonome team spilt up, driving their jeeps to their assigned area.
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As the ZAFT Zala team drove by the west area of the military base, all they could see was a fortified fence delving far as their eyes could see.
"Ugh… how the hell do we sneak in? This base looks fortified," Nicol wondered.
"Che… Nicol is right. Does anyone have a better idea?" Yzak asked around his team.
"Maybe the Crusader Squad has got better luck than us, eh, Athrun?" Dearka quipped with a wry grin, glancing at his team leader sitting next him on the front passenger seat as he drove his team's jeep.
"That's speaking too soon, Dearka," Athrun replied. His eyes then caught sight of a familiar small object flying towards him. Upon closer look, he saw it to be Torii as it landed on his opened hands cradling it, "What the… Torii! Where did you come from? Dearka, stop the jeep!"
At Athrun's sudden command, Dearka instantly slammed on the brakes, staggering the jeep in a sudden halt and shaking its passengers up.
-SCREECH-
"Oof…! Hey, what's the big deal?" Nicol wondered.
"Ouch! Damn it, Dearka, why'd you stop suddenly?" Yzak cursed annoyingly, rubbing the sore spot of his lower back where it collided against the railing of the jeep just then.
"Hey, don't blame me! Our leader here just told me so… huh? What's he doing now?" Dearka wondered, as he, Nicol, and Yzak watched their team leader walking up to the nearby fence and talking with someone from behind it.
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For the ZAFT Shinonome team, they drove by the east area of the military base, and seeing a fortified fence stretching far as their eyes could see.
"I see, fence, fence, fence, and more fence. Whee," Barry monotonously grumbled.
"For such an important military facility, it goes without saying," Miho commented, sharing her teammate's feeling.
"I can't spot any opening on this long stretch of fence we're driving by now," Lisa added.
"There has to be one we could find. What do you think, Eiji?" Ryu asked, glancing at his team leader seated on the front passenger seat with folded arms and continuously scanning the long stretch of fortified fence they were driving by.
"Che… I don't think we'll ever find one at this rate. Maybe we should…" Eiji suddenly trailed off his statement as he noticed a familiar figure leaning against the fence and staring up at the sky. His eyes widened in realization as he could make out a spiked-up, brown hair and an Orb engineer uniform worn, "It can't be… Ryu, stop the jeep now!"
-SCREECH-
The ZAFT Shinonome team lurched in their seats as their jeep suddenly screeched to a halt.
"Hey, what gives?" Barry chided, rubbing the sore spot of his head with his left hand where he bumped heads with Lisa, who also did the same thing.
"Ouch… Ryu, I didn't know you had it in you to be a reckless driver," Lisa commented with a smirk.
"Why the sudden stop, captain…?" Miho inquired.
"Whoa… my apologies, everyone, Eiji suddenly told me to stop and… what he's doing over there?" Ryu wondered, looking at his team leader approaching someone from behind the fence. The rest of the team joined him in the sightseeing, feeling intrigued by the latest development.
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Kira's eyes widened alarmingly as he saw Athrun disguised in an Orb engineer uniform, walking up to the fence standing between the two best friends. He noticed Torii cradled in Athrun's hands.
"Torii… there you are!" Kira exclaimed.
Athrun opened his hands, prompting the said pet robotic bird to fly off and back into its rightful owner's hands. After watching the Strike pilot receive Torii, he looked up eye-to-eye with him. Mixed emotions coursed throughout both the Aegis and the Strike pilots' minds after meeting each other suddenly.
"I believe that belongs to you," Athrun finally spoke, then turning around to head back to his teammates waiting for him nearby.
"Torii was a special present… from a special friend," Kira loudly stated, stopping Athrun in his tracks and prompting him to glance back in realization of the meaning in his remark.
Just then, an auto-car driven by Erica and with Cagalli in it drove by in view from the base interior, parking nearby Kira. Noticing Cagalli, Athrun decided to leave, heading back to his teammates and getting back into their jeep.
"Drive on, Dearka," he motioned the Buster pilot to resume course. As their jeep left the scene, Yzak couldn't help but glance narrowly at Kira.
There's something about him I can't quite put my finger on, but he seems familiar…
"Who was that you were talking to?" Cagalli asked Kira as they watched the ZAFT Zala team speed off the scene.
Looking at Athrun's disappearing form with shimmering eyes, Kira slowly shook his head in reply.
"Just someone passing by," he stated quietly.
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Meanwhile Kenji was taking a 10-minute break outside in the east area of the base, feeling stuffy from having worked a long time inside the Seraph's cockpit. Taking this time to contemplate, he remembered Aile's request to him moments ago.
I wonder what Professor Kato wants to discuss with me about…
Leaning against the fortified fence, he folded his arms, glancing up at the late afternoon sky. His mind loomed on the heavy revelation of his birth origins.
The 'Ultimate Coordinator'… what are Kira and I, lab rats? Argh… Ulen Hibiki… why did you plan our existence this way, father?
Shaking his head to clear up the thought, his survival instincts kicked in, alerting him of a presence approaching from behind. He slowly turned around to find his best friend with a solemn look on his face as they were eye-to-eye with each other, with the fence standing between them.
"Eiji…" the Seraph pilot quietly spoke.
"Kenji… we meet in person once again," the Spawn pilot stated. Seeing his best friend alive and in person brought about mixed feelings in him, and it harbored between a question of motives and a question of eliminating your enemies.
"I'm convinced that you managed to fare well from our previous battle. So, you decided to sneak in and locate the Archangel, huh?" Kenji wryly grinned, recalling his past experiences of his teamwork with him during their days at the Grimaldi Front.
Eiji wryly grinned back, running his right hand through his long, silver hair in one smooth motion, "Well, you seem to be in better spirits than I had hoped for."
Kenji decided to turn serious.
"Did you come by only for a short visit?"
Sensing his best friend was in no friendly mood, Eiji turned serious as well, shaking his head in reply.
"No… actually, I was surprised to see you here."
"More so to find you here as well…"
"…Kenji, why do you fight for the Earth forces? You know very well that it wasn't suited to you when you joined alongside me in ZAFT."
"I'm afraid circumstances have… forced me to fight for the very enemy I swore to fight when I was in ZAFT. But, even I couldn't be content in ZAFT… the prejudices there are the same as the EA, so that's why I decided to resign in my accord."
"Your answers sound logical and meant true as always. Please reconsider joining ZAFT. We… no… I need you to fight alongside me, like old times."
Kenji sadly shook his head in reply, looking away from his best friend.
"I'm sorry… but my answer is still no. I have an obligation to protect the Archangel and its crew, until it safely reaches the EA central HQ."
Eiji gritted his teeth at the remark, clenching his left hand in a shaky fist. After taking a second or two mastering his temper, he hesitantly looked back up at his best friend in the eye and with a heavy heart.
"…Luna… would cry if she saw us fighting each other. It's a shame."
"Yes… a real shame indeed… but it can't be helped. We both pledge to our duties and obligations to the end."
"Damn it, Kenji… that's why I consider you a traitor!"
Kenji felt his heart growing heavy at the sight of his best friend's angered, frustrated face directed at him. Seeing no response from him, Eiji then slammed his right hand on the fortified fence.
"-Hic- You're making this hard on me… then so be it. I'm prepared to fight you to my last breath, and do my utmost in seeing the legged ship fall!"
Kenji's eyes narrowed warily.
"Then I'll defend the Archangel with my life, even if I have to take down a former comrade to do so!"
Unable to bear looking at his best friend in the eye any longer, Eiji abruptly turned around.
"I'll look out for you in the battlefield, next time."
He then left, heading back to rejoin his team and hop back in their jeep. Seeing his angered mood, the Crusader Squad declined to comment, and remained quiet in their seats.
"Ryu… drive, please."
Starting the jeep's ignition, Ryu whirled the vehicle into life, speeding the ZAFT Shinonome team away from Kenji's sight. After passing by another long stretch of the fortified fence, Eiji couldn't help but blink out a tear from his left eye, which didn't go unnoticed by Ryu, who glanced at him from the corner of his right eye, then focusing back on driving.
Watching the jeep's disappearing form with shimmering eyes, Kenji couldn't help but stifle a tear out from his right eye and wiping it off with the back of his right hand. His left hand then reached out for the small crucifix necklace worn in his shirt, clutching it.
"Luna… I'm sorry," he said regretfully to himself.