PHASE-10: Trials and Tribulations


The Gilgamesh's current distance is a bit far away from the Earth's orbit, and thus it will take approximately 24 (or 48, if anything) hours to land on Earth. This leaves Team Paradox to take shelter in the ship for a while.

The rest of the team take their time observing the other mobile suits used by the Mars Resistance crew along with other Gun Vehicles. In the hangar, Kiryu and Trent are working on with one of the new Gun Vehicles, this time being based on an excavator. Little what the rest of the team know about Trent, is that he is a die-hard otaku of mecha anime, that even includes Gundam in general. In his quarters, he's been keeping so many Gunpla collections of various mobile suits from different universes, including the ones of the Cosmic Era. And it's also revealed that he was the one who invented the Mobile Suit Cards and the Card Replication System for the Paradox, Mach, and Sentinel. Something that Ian used to evolve Rio's Gundam Astray into the Izayoi. Even for a young teen prodigy, Trent has a very expanded hobby of Gunpla collection.

As for the Gun Vehicles, Trent took a different approach by taking inspiration from Japanese superhero television shows. He even credited a Super Sentai show called GoGo Sentai Boukenger for how the Sentinel Gundam is based on a mecha called DaiBouken. Even though that the Mach and Sentinel were mobile suits stolen from the JUNO army, it was Trent who modified the suits to invoke the power of the MS cards. He was the one who gave Dr. Paradox additional blueprints for the Paradox Gundam.

While Kiryu and Trent are busy working with the Gun Vehicles, Ian and Rio spent an entire hour playing a game of chess as they engage in a battle of chessmasters. Being the clever silver fox that he is, Ian was able to best the Tokino family heiress in just 10 moves in merely 3 minutes. However, Rio played it cool until she makes sure her opponent falls into her trap. She didn't even need to rely on her queen chess piece and waited for the time to make short work of Ian until she managed to take out his queen chess piece.

"Fuck, I almost had you!", Ian lamented after losing his queen, rook, and bishop pieces; leaving him a few pawns, knights, and the king left.

"You shouldn't be blustering when you're trying to play this kind of game, boy!", Rio laughed. "Now, let me show you how a true chess player puts you in your place!"

The battle of wits intensified, until Ian is left with just few number of pawns and his king pieces. Rio only had less pawns remaining, with her knight, bishop, queen, and king pieces are intact.

"I just can't win against this bitch.", Ian conceded. "Okay, I give up."

"Ahahahaha! See that? I have never lost in this kind of board game ever since I started playing it.", Rio proudly let out her victory laugh. "Your skills are formidable Ian, but it can be overshadowed by your own bluster and shortsightedness."

"The fuck are you talking about?"

Trevor added, while he was observing the game, "She says that you're too full of yourself, Ian."

"Oh, come on man. That was a fluke! I wasn't prepared to take her on this board game."

"And considering how the two of you guys fight that ROBEAST earlier, I might be thinking there's something going on between the two of you.", Trevor further teased a chemistry between Ian and Rio.

"What? Fuck off!"

"There's no way I'd be having a relationship with this little mutt. I'd rather put him on a leash to keep his unruly behavior in line!"

Humorously, both Ian and Rio had to look away from each other... and had to keep their distance from one another.


Meanwhile, Akiza is in her quarters shared with Flay. As Flay is taking a shower, Akiza is left pondering of what to do in the next 24 to 48 hours of the voyage in the Gilgamesh. While on the desk looking into news circulating around the internet, she undergoes in another soliloquy of the uncertainties ahead along with surrounding events.

"Since we ended up here in out space in the Gilgamesh, the estimated time to arrive on Earth is about between 24 to 48 hours. I'm not certain if how early we can return to Earth as we have to undergo atmospheric entry. The fact we have to stay here is like watching paint to dry. But, not that I don't mind. Now that I had to once again rewrite the past because of an attacking ROBEAST, Flay is finally at peace with herself, putting her past behind for good. But, those who witnessed the whole ordeal will most likely remember what happened back there, that includes her friends working in the Archangel. The moment we return to Earth, we have to prepare ourselves with more threats on Orb's doorstep - Blue Cosmos, the JUNO army, and the inevitability of another war."

While browsing on the internet, Akiza reads the news of the PLANT's newest political transition and the rise of its new supreme council chairman, Gilbert Durandal.

"The PLANT Supreme Council undergoes a new transition of leadership following Eileen Canaver's departure after the signing of the Junius Treaty. Based on the recent standings of the election, renowned genetic researcher Gilbert Durandal wins by a landslide of 15.3 million votes. Aside from his skills in the ways of genetic science, Chairman-elect Durandal is a gifted orator and an experienced politician, being able to passionately impart his beliefs to his followers in his reformation of the PLANT Supreme Council."

Akiza continued speaking her thoughts, "This Durandal guy knows how to put a show to his base. Kinda like a cult of personality among influential political leaders.", then she had her takeaway regarding the Junius Treaty. "The PLANTs and the Atlantic Federation should have thought through of the Junius Treaty, considering the presence of Blue Cosmos around the world, especially that some are hiding in Orb. The lack of mentioning of Blue Cosmos and other anti-Coordinator extremism elements turned out to be its Achilles' heel. Also, Rio mentioned that the Seirans, one of the noble families in Orb, are secretly sympathizers to Blue Cosmos. The real kicker? Unato Ema Seiran is Orb's sitting prime minister. And I have a feeling that so long as the Seirans have more higher position of authority in Orb's government, they will most likely kick Coordinators out of Orb."

As soon as she finished reading the news, she then decided to take a shower. Once inside the bathroom, she finds Flay putting on a face pack.

Akiza doesn't seem surprised at all, reacting only with sardonic remarks, "Is it just me or am I seeing a ghost..."

To which Flay replies, "Geez, Aki. You always say mean things."

"Whatever. To think you'd be bringing all of that hair and skin care products with you while we're time travelling.", Akiza replied dryly.

"I missed using them. It's been a while ever since the end of the war I've been conscious of my looks."

"You may have changed for the better, but old habits die hard."

After putting on her bath robe and her G-Phone ringing, the butterfly medallion starts flying around Flay in the same way Birdy does when she has been taking care of it in Kira's absence. As Flay answered her phone, it is a call from Miriallia.

"Hey, Flay. It's been a while.", Miri spoke. "Sai told me that you just enlisted in Orb's military along with Akiza."

"Oh. It's you, Miri. Yeah, it's been a while. I've been soul searching lately. And yeah, I ended up with Aki and her time traveling friends."

"Time travel? That reminds me...", Miriallia happens to have recalled what happened during the second divergence at Jachin Due. "Was that mysterious Gundam that saved your escape shuttle from the future?"

"Yeah. It's from the future. Not to mention there was another me that was inside the mobile suit.", Flay continued. "Anyway. Miri, what was it like if the world were to be wiped out by some AI and an army of killer robots?"

"What's that?"

"That's basically the future Aki and her friends are from. Their world is already destroyed, robots began to dominate all of mankind and turn humans into cyborgs. I know it sounds exaggerated or just some made-up fake news, but what Aki told me is the truth as she had her firsthand experience."

"No way... I hope you're doing okay, Flay.", Miriallia continued, as she and Flay spoke in good terms despite everything she has done in the past. Miri wishing Flay good luck shows that Flay still has her old friends to talk to when needed the most. "Have you talked to Kira?"

"Not yet... Until now. I'd better be off not getting close to him. After all, I have caused too much pain and trauma to both him and Sai. I wished for him to be happy with Lacus.", Flay once again continued. "It's for the best that he deserved Lacus more than me. And I found someone who finally helped me put the past behind me. Aki told me that "Don't let your past mistakes determine your future. Whatever happens from here on out, you need to move on and keep going, no matter how many times you fall." That's why I ended up enlisting in Orb's military and become a member of Team Paradox to atone for my sins, so no one should end up going down the wrong path I once took."

"Glad to hear that, Flay. It's a miracle that you barely survived the war."

"But, Aki also said that there's a chance another war might happen.", Flay then warns Miriallia the likelihood that the PLANTs and the Alliance will engage in another war. "I've overheard from Rio, the head of the Tokino family, that the Junius Treaty that was signed after the war, it wasn't enough to stave off Blue Cosmos' presence on Earth. And there are some of them are hiding in Orb, so Team Paradox was founded to combat them."

"Yeah, Sai and Kuzzey have been buzzing with me on social media.", Miri continued. "Sai seems happy with his new job, and so is Kuzzey. In case you didn't know, he had to leave the Archangel when it returned to Orb after JOSH-A."

"So, what are you up to this time?"

"As usual. I've been doing great as a freelance photographer and journalist. Are you sure about staying with Team Paradox, Flay?"

"Like what I said. This is my only way of atoning for my mistakes. Even if I want to follow Kira's example if I have to. I have nothing to fear because I have my teammates to rely on. Aki and her friends from the future, especially... If Kira will go to the extra mile protecting everyone, then Aki and I will do the same to open a door for everyone who long for a bright and better future. It was thanks to her, she gave me a future to look forward to."

"I see... Best of luck, Flay. Can't wait to see you once your return back to Earth."

"You too, Miri. I can't wait to have a reunion with you and Sai one day."

Afterwards, Flay's call ended. Akiza then emerges from the shower in her bath robes.

"I assume your old friends managed to contact you?", the psychic Coordinator said.

"It's Miri, it's through social media she's able to call me.", Flay replied.

"I'm glad that you are still able to keep in touch with them."

"They are still my friends, after all. I can't forget them despite everything I've done in the past. The fact that Sai and Miri saw the whole thing when we traveled back into the past helps that they recognize you."

"Well, that's how time travel works. Especially now that you've narrowly escaped death twice is essentially now a stable time loop. It just shows how complicated the nature of the space-time continuum is. And the slightest change can dramatically affect the future, hence the term "butterfly effect" exists for a reason.", Akiza shrugged her shoulders.

"Is there any simple ways to explain that, Aki?", Flay raised her eyebrow.

"No, there isn't. Time travel is really that complicated. Make a wrong move, and space-time distortions are going to become a danger to the reality as we know it."

Flay's visit into the past was just her first experience of how the time travelers from C.E. 150 being able to escape from the future and into the past. Akiza, as far as she is concerned, plays the time travel game in a more careful, yet precised manner. She mentioned previously that she has wait for the year JUNO was first created rather than immediately go into the exact era. And the fact that JUNO is sending its soldiers to track down would-be time travelers to preserve its existence.

And Flay somehow found out the hard way about the time she tried to shoot her past self in Heliopolis, realizing just how stupid it really was.

"I understand now, Aki. Time travel can be a tricky and there are consequences to possible changes into history.", Flay spoke her thoughts. "The time I nearly tried to shoot my past self in Heliopolis, I realized that was as very stupid mistake on my part."

"Don't do that again.", Akiza chided, only this time in-between the lines of a motherly-sisterly manner. "Losing you might be the worst thing will happen to me, Flay... if I had not knocked some senses out of you. But, that's all behind us now. At the very least you know how time travel works for now."

"Aki...", Flay lowered her head, but Akiza gave her an affectionate pat to the hair.

"Well, we only have approximately 24 to 48 hours before returning to Earth as the Gilgamesh will have to go through atmospheric entry.", Akiza continued. "And besides, everybody's tired after having to fight ROBEASTs on two separate timelines. Kiryu and Trent have been working on a new Gun Vehicle. Ian and Rio might be already taking a rest on their quarters."

"Yeah. Everyone's exhausted. And we only have a day or two to return to Earth.", Flay replied before thinking about spending time together with Akiza. "At least we still have enough time to kill by spending time together."

"Hmph. I thought you never asked.", Akiza then floats and approaches Flay while in the zero-gravity of space. As Akiza embraced her partner, Flay looked at the former while blushing.

"Aki..."

"It's just the two of us. Be grateful that you once again barely escaped death and survived the war for the second time."

"You don't have to tell me twice, Aki. But still, I'm thankful to have met you nevertheless."

Afterwards, Aki gently undressed herself and then Flay followed after. Aki bumped her breasts against Flay's, the latter blushed even more. The feeling that both redheads having recently fought a ROBEAST during their time travel to Jachin Due, at the cost of changing the past for the second time took a toll on them. The stress of the ordeal only heightened Akiza's libido, wanting to unwind while stranded in the fabric of space for the next two days.

"Flay... I ask you that call the shots this time."

"You can't be serious, Aki. Why me?"

"I insist."

That said, Flay removed the hair roller-like accessory on top of Akiza's hair, and her bangs covering her face. Flay wanted to see what Akiza's real face looked like without that limiter. She then quickly looked at her partner from top to bottom, even for a Coordinator, Akiza has a very attractive face and a gorgeous body under that battle-hardened, rough-around-the-edges veteran pilot. She briefly groped on Akiza's breast.

"I didn't know you're this pretty, Aki. It's not I'm jealous or anything...", Flay awkwardly said. "I don't know why you prefer women over men."

"Actually, my first love was a woman. Her name was Mayumi Celestina. She used to be one of our comrade in arms, until she was captured and turned into a ROBEAST. And having to kill her to end her suffering was the toughest decision in my life..."

Having to bring up one of the lowest points of her life is part why Akiza preferred having romantic relationships with women over men. And considering what happened to Flay in the original timeline, Akiza ended up experiencing the same failure as Kira did. Knowing that Akiza took responsibility over undoing Flay's death twice, she made a solemn vow to love her and protect her with every fiber of her being.

Realizing that Akiza even lost someone important to her, Flay comes to understand that they ended up together after a past relationship. Flay has a rather messy relationship with Kira, being too co-dependent with each others' guilt, and Kira being pushed past beyond his limits while putting the lives of his friends first before his own. And Flay knew because of her fear and trauma, she had no one to turn to while Kira was busy fighting. Now that Kira is content in living together with Lacus, Flay was given another chance to rediscover love, and which is why fate had brought to her a woman from the future.

"Aki... I'm sorry that you had to go through like that."

"Maybe that's because fate can be cruel at times... We all lose people we care about in different circumstances, but we have to keep on moving onward while their memories live on in our hearts."

"But, the fact that fate also led me to you... It's a blessing in disguise. I don't want to depend on others to protect me, now that I have found a purpose in life and the courage to protect myself and everyone around me. You gave me a future, Aki. And I don't want that to take it for granted. My heart has finally found a place in you. Aki... I want to be with you, always..."

"Flay..."

Flay didn't waste time to kiss her older partner's lips, and then on her neck, making Akiza to give in to her desires. While she's at it, Flay then went on Akiza's back as she thoroughly massaged her breasts.

"It feels... so good... Don't stop... I feel so naughty... But, it can't be helped. I enjoy every moment of it!"

Akiza's breathing and moaning are so loud, it can be heard outside of the quarters as Kiryu, Ian, and Rio set to return to their respective quarters. Only Rio and Ian can hear the faint cries from Akiza and Flay's quarters.

"Better not disturb those two.", said Rio, getting the gist of what's going on.

"No shit. Those two reds really enjoy fucking their brains out.", Ian added.

"Probably it's because Akiza and Flay are being closer to one another.", Kiryu concluded. "And besides, it's been a tiring day for all of us."

"Yeah. Perhaps we should be the ones should be unwinding in our quarters.", said Rio.

"Well, time to call it a day. I'll smell your asses later!", Ian then went on to proceed on his quarters.

Before Kiryu and Rio can go into theirs, the latter asked him what his experience in the future was like, as in how long he was in the future.

"I want to ask you something...", said Rio. "How long you have been on Earth before it was annihilated?"

"Almost 76 years from now.", Kiryu answered.

"And the fact you did not physically aged might explain why you are actually a Carbon Human.", Rio continued, all while having heard of the name Shinn Asuka before. "This Shinn Asuka person... Are you somehow related to him?"

"No. Librarian Works created me with that boy's DNA. Carbon Humans are unlike your average clones that have defective telomeres and accelerated aging. However, in my case, my body doesn't age physically for a reason and my appearance remains the same even in the next 70 years into the future."

"I heard about the name of the boy whose family was killed during the war. Because had no relatives here in Orb, he ended up being shipped into the PLANTs."

"...where he ended up becoming a ZAFT pilot."

Even for someone with a domineering and self-absorbed personality, Rio has a hidden heart of gold; being mindful of someone's pain and suffering, and knowing that Kiryu himself had his own fair share of pain and trauma. However, Kiryu decided to keep himself isolated from everyone for a while.

As Kiryu returned to his quarters and opened a can of beer, he began drinking all of his sorrows. Kiryu then flashed back to the time while drinking at the ship's bar, he had contemplated suicide, despite the Mars Resistance Team having rescued him back in the Minami Lunar Base.

"Don't tell me 'yer going to end it all because that we already lost? Have some sense of dignity, fella? Even if 'yer at your lowest point, it's never too late to learn from your mistakes.", Kiryu recalls Victor's words of encouragement during the time Kiryu attempted to shoot himself in what would be his last drink.

Kiryu replied during that time, "No... Don't give me hope."

As Kiryu ended his flashback, he continued drinking until he then picks up another can. Kiryu has been spending his time drinking alcoholic beverages to cope with his PTSD. The fact that he had contemplated suicide at the time, he felt he can't face Akiza and Ian despite having barely escaped into the past to finally catch up with his two foster children. Even with the rest of Team Paradox, Kiryu is much more emotionally fragile than everyone thought, considering that he had to bear the brunt of 70+ years of pain and trauma while fighting the JUNO army.

To Kiryu, was being alive really worth it? Had he faced a warrior's death with dignity? As he almost died while giving Akiza enough time to escape into the past. While Akiza and Ian have become mature enough, Kiryu could barely process his feelings despite being a more mature and serious leader even for a parental figure to both Akiza and Ian.

While in his drunken stupor, Kiryu can only mumble this familiar mantra: "In this world... even in the far reaches of space... there are five precious things people must keep... A promise... love... a family... bonds... and the future..."

Both Akiza and Ian are no stranger to Kiryu's alcoholism and seeing him getting wasted, which leads to him getting into trouble, often in hilarious ways possible.

Meanwhile, Flay pins Akiza straight to the bed, where she proceeded to suck her partner's breast while massaging the other.

As far as sexual activities go between the two ladies, there's always a weak spot in their bodies. In Akiza's case, it's her breasts. She lets Flay play on her breasts, going as far as to suck on them like a butterfly sucking the nectar out of a flower, literally and figuratively. As both ladies have a black rose and a butterfly tattoo on their backs, respectively.

While Akiza felt the intense stimulation coursing into her body while her breasts are being fondled and sucked, she tried to contain her moaning and by covering her mouth and look away from her partner. Even though Flay already saw what Akiza really is like whenever she makes lewd faces.

"Flay... Don't stop... sucking the nectar... out of my boobs... and on my lips!", Akiza moaned, barely being able to finish her sentence while Flay takes hold of her hands while slurping onto her partner's boobs.

Afterwards, Flay's hands head for Akiza's crotch as she carefully touches at the very bottom.

"You're really enjoying this, Aki. Am I right? The more you keep making those faces every time you are being touched at your very weakest part. You look so cute and perverted making those faces, Aki. Tee-hee!"

"Enough talk.", Akiza then proceeds to lock lips with her partner, while allowing to be touched at the very bottom part of her body. The more and the longer they kissed, they are both turned on.

As soon as Akiza gets up, it's her turn to touch and explore around Flay's body. She didn't have to go rough on her partner. The Black Rose Witch of Jachin Due remained nevertheless a dominant type, keeping up with the fact that she is much older than Flay. After gently breaking away from their kiss, both of their tongues salivate by their passionate exchange.

The two nevertheless enjoy laughing, teasing, and playing at each other all while exploring the others' bodies. Flay is nevertheless happy and content with Akiza being her partner and confidant. Meeting her changed her life and the fact that she barely survived the war was the real turning point of her life.

Flay was thankful to her that she managed to find a second chance to make amends with her old friends. And she is ready for what lies ahead, with a promise to herself that she will never run away anymore.

"Aki... I'm so happy.", said Flay, now she is this time lying on the bed and Akiza being the one on top of her with their eyes glancing at one another. "It feels so right we had to think about sex after that adventure we've gone through."

"You got that right.", Akiza smiled. "Even more so that you've been spared from death, twice. And the way you piloted the Paradox, and the way you confronted your inner demons, is worth rewarding and satisfying."

"Aki... From here on out, I don't want to depend on anyone protecting me. I finally know what its like to find that courage to protect myself since the moment I met you. I'd be more willing to risk my own life for you and for the rest of the team; like Kira would for everyone in the Archangel. I'm grateful that you gave me the strength to put my past behind me.", Flay then brought her hand to stroke Akiza's face. "Aki... I want you. All of you. Tonight. I want every bond between us we can have. We are alive, together, and in love... I love you, Aki. I want to be yours."

"I love you too, Flay... I will never let you go... always."

The two ladies indulge in more passionate kisses, and it's Akiza's turn to play around her partner's breasts. Unlike Akiza, who doesn't have a problem of letting out her naughty nature while having sex, Flay could barely look at her, not wanting to feel embarrassed as she tried to contain her moaning by closing her mouth with both hands. At the same time, Akiza then also reached her hand at her partner's crotch as she gently rubbed the lips of it before inserting her fingers into Flay's insides.

"Ah, look at the way you are making those faces...", Akiza gleefully takes pleasure at seeing Flay about to be pushed to her limit as her eyes rolled upward and her tongue protruding.

"Aki... Don't go overboard!", Flay managed to hold on before she jerked and arched her head upward and let out a cry as she somehow came after Akiza pushed her fingers back and forth into her insides. "Are you nuts? I almost lost myself...", Flay panted and could barely move.

Akiza licked her fingers coated with Flay's "love juice". Much to Flay's chagrin, and her older partner once again making lewd facial expressions don't help either.

"I don't know what's insane... Screwing each others' brains out or Aki making those perverted faces..."

"You and I are no different, Flay. And the way you act so naughty is also cute."

Despite having gotten an orgasm, Flay is hardly tired, still having a gas left on the tank. She wanted more. She wanted every part of Akiza to explore. As always, she wanted to devour her partner's breasts even more as Akiza's breasts are her erogenous points.

"My, aren't you persistent.", Akiza smirked as she looked at Flay sucking at her breasts.

The two redheads continue making love as Flay continued to feed onto her partner's bust before exchanging more passionate kisses with Akiza as the scene fades to black.

An hour later, the two are now exhausted after an intense moment. Flay rested her head on Akiza's chest, the two being able to sleep peacefully without any worries.


PLANT Colony Aprilius One

Elsewhere in Aprilius One, the mainland PLANT colony, a white-haired ZAFT soldier emerges out from a military court. Yzak Joule, the name of the soldier, was acquitted following a court trial along with fellow soldiers he fought alongside the Le Creuset Team.

The defendants were forced to be kept in a low profile while the media are trying to get anything from them.

Despite having pleaded guilty for the accidental killing of a civilian shuttle where he mistook it for fleeing soldiers, the newly-elected PLANT Supreme Council chairman Gilbert Durandal came to Yzak and the other soldiers' defense. Through the chairman's speech, he debated to the tirbunal that the soldiers' mistakes during the war is because they are fighting a war that its not beyond their control.

Even with Durandal's defense saved Yzak and the other soldiers in trial from the likelihood of a death penalty, Yzak felt that he and Dearka should have died a long time ago.

While off duty and eating at a fancy restaurant, Dearka tries to snap Yzak out of his funk.

"Hey, Earth to Yzak!", Dearka waves his hands on Yzak's face while the latter is spacing out.

Only for Yzak to freak out, "Dearka, what the hell?!"

"Geez, Yzak. You need to lighten up for once.", sighed Dearka. "If that was about the time you shot that civilian shuttle, that's already in the past."

"That's not the point, asshole!", Yzak spoke in denial. "The fact that my mother being loyal to ex-Chairman Zala and me being lynched all because of it."

Yzak reveals that he, being the son of councilwoman Ezalia Joule and a loyalist to Patrick Zala's cause, find himself being ostracized by people who expressed their disgust over Patrick Zala's genocidal mania, especially with the use of GENESIS. And anyone related to the Zala government are sure to be stigmatized in the worst possible way. All are coming from Chairman Durandal's followers, who ironically, being the only person who came to Yzak and the other war criminals' defense, has a cult of personality among the PLANTs.

To put it bluntly, when his mother committed the same sin as Patrick Zala, Yzak gets lynched for it merely because he's the son of a PLANT councilwoman who willingly played along with the chairman's bigotry.

"I just can't realize how fucked up this is.", Dearka got the gist of Yzak's thoughts. "The entire GENESIS fiasco really blew up in the Supreme Council's face. But the idea of wiping out all life on Earth is too much. Not to mention, the entire military is under suspicion for committing war crimes."

"And here we are now, even after we all got acquitted. We still get treated like crap. Even my own FUCKING mother received DEATH THREATS from other Coordinators!", said Yzak. "Even with Durandal saving our asses, we should have stayed dead a long time ago."

"Man, do I really need to remind you that our mistakes should not determine our future?", Dearka then brings up the time witnessing the pilot of the Paradox saying these familiar words to Flay when she is rescued from the crossfire. "Remember that woman pilot from the future just told that Flay person?"

Since both Dearka and Yzak already saw the Paradox and the pilot's identity being a woman during the Jachin Due offensive, they likewise saw another Flay Allster, who looks rather worn out, physically and emotionally. It seems that the older and future Flay seems to be rather different than the one who still had her EA uniform at the time.

"Whatever happens from here on out, you have to move forward, never look back. Don't let the mistakes of your past determine your future and let people judge you for what you've done wrong."

"Now that you've mentioned it...", Yzak lowered his head, and somehow remembered what that woman said, along with her name being Akiza. "I remember that same girl that Commander Le Creuset kept prisoner while we were in Alaska. An intel told me that her father, Vice Minister George Allster of the Atlantic Federation, had secret ties to Blue Cosmos."

"No shit.", Dearka shrugged. "That girl scared the shit out of me when she tried to clip me until Miriallia saved my ass, while my hands being tied behind my back at the time."

Both Dearka and Yzak recall their encounters with Flay, Dearka still remembers the time about to be shot while his hands tied behind his back had not Miriallia intervened. And Yzak being the one who objects to Le Creuset's act of hospitality and kindness he provided to Flay while she was under ZAFT custody.

The fact that they were aware that Flay survived the war, the question surrounding Flay's future self is probably that the fact that having met Akiza, who comes from almost 70 years into the future, remains a mystery to them.

Dearka continued, "I mean, who knows. The fact that she barely made it out alive, makes us wonder what is she [Flay] up to now..."

"That girl really made me want to throw up. But, considering what transpired back in Jachin Due hits different. She's just merely a scared girl who just got thrown into the chaos with nothing or no one else to turn to. Until that other Flay from the future came to her along with that pilot of that mysterious mobile suit."

Yzak has nothing but disdain towards Flay not because she's a Natural, but, someone shouldn't be on the battlefield. But, seeing the Flay from the future saw that Flay still has a second chance to live...

But as far as his current predicament is concerned, Yzak decided to take the words that came out of Akiza's mouth back in Jachin Due. If he does not want to repeat his past mistakes, then he shouldn't let it dictate his future. Regardless how post-war life wasn't so kind to him, moving forward is what he must do.

"If I ever meet that woman pilot again, I'd be telling her that I'm grateful that I still have a future to look forward to.", Yzak has something in mind regarding Akiza. "It's no wonder that the PLANTs have called her the Black Rose Witch of Jachin Due."

Only for Dearka to tease him if he has a crush on either Akiza or Flay. "Seriously man, are you in love?"

"Shut the fuck up!"


Meanwhile on Earth...

While walking around the beach with Lacus, Kira looked on into the skies recalling how Flay survived the war, and how the Flay from the future piloting the Paradox Gundam. Kira could barely figure out that someone tampered with the past that led to Flay being saved from death. And the fact that the Paradox is a mobile suit from the future capable of time travel, it makes perfect sense that it was the Paradox Gundam that saved Flay from her impending doom.

Kira began speaking his thoughts, "That mobile suit from the future saved Flay... I didn't know how a mobile suit capable of time travel do actually exist. Had Flay died, I could not forgive myself for failing to protect her. But, the fact that pilot of that mobile suit called the Paradox was a woman and an older Flay from the future..."

Lacus then asked, "Kira?"

"I'm fine."

"Don't lie to me. You don't have to."

"No, it's just...", Kira couldn't deny what were on his mind after that. "No, it's just Flay. And the fact that someone from the future saved her from death."

"I see. She was the one with red hair and the bad temper when I first met you at Junius 7, right?", Lacus asked, bringing up the first time she met Flay while in the Archangel.

"Yeah. She was rather scared than bad tempered.", Kira qualified as Lacus studied him. "In fact, there was another Flay who co-piloted that mysterious mobile suit, assuming to be an older Flay from the future."

Lacus remembers talking to Flay about Akiza, and she finally spills it for him.

"That woman who piloted that mysterious mobile suit is Akiza Izinski. Flay told me. And that mobile suit is called the Paradox Gundam."

"Paradox?", Kira quickly got the meaning of the word. "If that Gundam is from the future, so Flay's death was undone through a time paradox. So, Akiza saved Flay by changing the past."

Little what Kira knew that Flay's death was already undone twice. And what happened in Jachin Due with the Triceratops ROBEAST essentially became a stable time loop.

Neither Kira nor Lacus have no idea what Akiza's true intentions are, apart from the fact that she is basically a Gundam pilot from the future.

Lacus continued, "I understand what you're saying, Kira. But, the important thing is that she's safe. And the fact that she choose to set you free was probably tough for both of you. And Flay herself is now happy to have someone else.", reassuring Kira that Flay having found her true happiness with Akiza. At the same time that Future Flay reminded Kira that no matter what lies in his dark past, that should not let it determine his future. That is because Akiza taught Flay that in the first place.

The fact that the Flay from the future was a far cry than her younger self suggests that Flay had already changed for the better in the present, now that she was given another chance to live.

"Whatever happens afterwards from here on out, don't let your failures define who you are... Keep moving forward and never look back!"

Kira recalled Future Flay's words, something that the younger, past Flay could barely say it to him. The same can be said that Lacus comforted Kira after learning the revelation of his dark origins. Even if he still considered himself as mankind's sin made manifest as what Le Creuset taunted him, it still doesn't deter his beliefs that the world is still worth protecting.

"Lacus... I finally got the gist of it now. We all lose people we care about in different ways, but the only thing we can do is keep going no matter how the world can be cruel to us. I finally understand why Flay has changed."

"Kira..."

"If another war were to break out again... I'd be ready to put my own life on the line for the sake of my friends. We don't know what will the future waiting for us, but when the time comes, I'm ready."

"You don't have to do it alone this time, Kira. I'll be right here with you, even if we have to be apart from each other."


Author's Note:

- Much like her inspiration from Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's, Akiza is referred to as the Black Rose Witch of Jachin Due by the PLANTs and Blue Cosmos, on the latter case is probably out of fear of her presence.

- The fact that Patrick Zala's actions towards the end of SEED did have an impact on Akiza's lineage as Athrun's descendant that made her an outcast, Yzak is not safe from being lynched by Durandal's followers even though the man himself defended him during his trial and his mother Ezalia getting death threats from other Coordinators aside from Durandal's cult-like followers because Ezalia herself played along with Chairman Zala's attempted genocide of Naturals on Earth through the use of GENESIS.