Chapter 22: Hurt
Manfred is kneeling on the floor with a blank stare, observing the horizon through the hole in the wall. Julieta realizes that something is wrong with Manfred. Julieta touches Manfred's shoulder, and he doesn't respond. Julieta squats down and sees Manfred catatonic.
Julieta: This is bad
Julieta snaps her fingers to bring Manfred out of his state. Manfred ignores the sounds of Julieta's snaps.
Julieta: Manfred, are you there?
Julieta grabs her intercom and a soldier responds
Soldier: Ma'am, is everything okay?
Julieta: Yes, I need to know the status of the blockade.
Soldier: Two Mobile Suits managed to escape the blockade.
Julieta: Describe the appearance of the Mobile Suits.
Soldier: It was a black Reginlaze and a yellow Hexa.
Julieta: Shit
Julieta throws the intercom and tries to talk to Manfred. She squats down in front of Manfred again and observes Manfred's eyes. Julieta decides to speak to him:
Julieta: Manfred we have to go now. Till Makarov escaped.
Manfred lowers his head, doesn't answer and looks at his hands. Julieta, seeing that Manfred doesn't respond, decides to grab Manfred's arm, she lifts him up. Manfred just lets himself be carried away by Julieta. Julieta decides to leave the apartment, Manfred is dragged. Julieta walks down the hallway, forcing Manfred to walk. The hallway is full of debris, alarms are heard, and the lights flicker. Julieta reaches the elevator and presses a button. The elevator eventually arrives, Julieta and Manfred enter. Manfred just watches the elevator door looking at his reflection and says
Manfred: What have I become?
Julieta: What are you saying?
Manfred: What have I become?
Julieta: ...
The elevator reaches the ground floor, Julieta exits the elevator. Manfred stays behind. Julieta realizes that Manfred stayed in the elevator and goes back for him. Julieta pulls Manfred's arm and takes him to the Gjallarhorn jeep that was waiting for them. Julieta gets into the driver's seat, starts the car and leaves for the Gjallarhorn base. While Julieta drives the jeep, she tries to talk to Manfred.
Julieta: You did a very good job fighting against the black Reginlaze.
Manfred: I didn't do a good job, I killed civilians. Tell me, what have I become?
Julieta: You became a soldier with principles and soon you will become a hero.
Manfred: What the fuck are you saying, if I had principles that child and his mother would still be alive.
Julieta: They are collateral damage.
Manfred: Why do you say it so coldly. It's as if you don't care about the lives of the innocent.
Julieta is left without an answer and decides to remain silent for the rest of the way. Once they arrive at the base, Manfred gets out of the car. And he goes to his barracks. On the way Sephora greets him. Manfred just looks at her and keeps walking. Upon reaching his bed, he just lies down on his bed and looks at the ceiling.
A young Manfred is in the same alley where he tried to rob that man who bought hot dogs for him and Dukovak. When that man approaches them with a woman.
Man: Look honey, these are the kids I told you about.
Woman: I see, how old are you boys?
Manfred: I am 10 years old, Dukovak is 6.
Man: Tell me boys, why aren't you in an orphanage?
Manfred: We escaped, they sold the children. I didn't want to be separated from Dukovak.
Woman: Tetsuo, they are troubled children.
Tetsuo: Don't worry Akira, they have good hearts. I assure you that they will not cause you any problems.
Akira: I hope so Tetsuo.
Tetsuo: Boys, do you want to see your new home?
Manfred: What are you talking about Mr. Horikoshi
Tetsuo: I'd rather you call us dad and mom from now on.
Dukovak: Thank you very much, Mr. Horikoshi.
Haruna is lying on a sheet on the floor. Till Makarov's camp is very improvised. Some pirates approach Haruna and offer her a glass of water. Haruna uses her arm to knock over the glass of water.
Pirate: What's wrong with you, did you go crazy?
Haruna looks at the spilled glass and just says
Haruna: Saburo...
Haruna is in a Gjallarhorn laboratory and she is tied to a stretcher. The scientists inject a syringe into her back. Haruna screams and begs them to let her go. The scientists ignore her pleas and proceed with the operation. Later, Haruna is locked in a cell totally disabled. Cecil walks by while talking to the scientists. Cecil sees Haruna lying on the floor, and decides to go get some food. Cecil enters Haruna's cell, Cecil brings with him a tray of food. Haruna, upon seeing Cecil, begins to cry, Cecil decides to leave the food tray in front of Haruna. Haruna is motionless looking at the food. Cecil, seeing that Haruna cannot move, decides to approach her. He leans her against a wall, and begins to feed her with a spoon. Haruna decides to open her mouth and starts eating. Haruna eats and relaxes. When Cecil finishes eating, he gets up and decides to leave. Haruna plucks up courage and asks him:
Haruna: Why did you help me and bring me some food?
Cecil: Because you reminded me of someone who was very important in my life.
Cecil is smoking cigarettes in his office and takes out a photo he had in his wallet. Said photo is of Haruna. Cecil looks at the photo of Haruna. Cecil is
in Haruna's cell squatting down talking to her and sees how she has wounds on her legs and hands. Cecil asks her about the wounds.
Cecil: Those are new wounds. What did they do to you?
Haruna: The scientists experimented to see if I could still feel my limbs.
Cecil: Did you feel pain?
Haruna: Only in my right arm.
Cecil: I see. I'm going to get you out of here as soon as possible. Do you want something specific to eat?
Haruna: I don't know what to eat, nobody asked me that.
Cecil: How about a hamburger?
Haruna: Sounds good to me. Although I don't know how I'm going to eat it.
Cecil: I'm going to help you.
Haruna: Why do you care about me?
Cecil: You remind me of someone I knew a long time ago.
Cecil continues to look at the photo of Haruna in his office, when someone knocks on Cecil's door. Julieta enters Cecil's office. Cecil just puts his wallet away. Julieta says:
Julieta: Till Makarov escaped. Do you have any idea how we can look for him?
Cecil: Satellite photos could be an option, but knowing the Gjallarhorn bureaucracy, it would take hours to have them in our possession.
Julieta: What do you suggest we do?
Cecil: Let's take aerial photos, go to the airfield and request photos of the jungles surrounding Harare.
Julieta: I'll do that. But first I have to go see Manfred. I need him to be in his Mobile Suit, to start the search as soon as possible.
Julieta goes to the barracks where Manfred is. He is lying on his bed looking at the ceiling with an expressionless look. Julieta approaches Manfred. And she speaks to him
Julieta: Manfred I need you to be in your Mobile Suit.
Manfred ignores Julieta's words and lies on his side so as not to see Julieta.
Julieta: Manfred, are you listening to me?
Manfred: What do you want me to pilot Solomon for? The last time I did it, civilians died.
Julieta: Manfred there is nothing you can do about that.
Manfred: Now you understand me.
Julieta: But you can still stop Till Makarov.
Manfred: You only care about saving your own skin, looking good with your superiors.
Julieta is left speechless and leaves. Upon leaving the barracks, Julieta meets Illmari and Sephora. And she asks them:
Julieta: Did you talk to Manfred after the mission?
Sephora: No. Did something happen to him?
Julieta: No, but he's very downcast.
Illmari: What do you mean?
Julieta: He doesn't want to talk.
Illmari: Since when is he like this?
Julieta: Shortly after we entered an apartment in the building.
Illmari: What did he see?
Julieta: Corpses of civilians tha were completely destroyed byt the guns fire.
Illmari: I see, we're going to try to talk to him.
Julieta: Thank you girls.
Julieta gets into a jeep and goes to the Harare airfield. There she talks to the commander and requests reconnaissance flights.
Commander: I am delighted to help you but what exactly are we looking for?
Julieta: A camp with Mobile Suits.
Commander: Understood.
The commander gathers his pilots and tells them:
Commander: Okay gentlemen, today we have an urgent mission. We must find a camp with Mobile Suits.
Pilot: Understood.
Commander: I need you to fly around the jungles surrounding Harare. Four of you are going to go out in different directions.
The pilots go to their jets and the cockpits of these close. The jets take off in four directions.
Julieta: Do you think that's enough?
Commander: It's more than enough, in less than two hours we will find the camp.
The planes are flying over the jungles of Harare. Meanwhile Illmari and Sephora go to see Manfred. He is still lying on his bed, Illmari and Sephora find him and talk to him:
Sephora: Manfred what happened in the Millennium Tower?
Manfred doesn't answer
Illmari: Julieta told us that you saw something, we want to know what happened.
Manfred: Julieta only cares that I pilot the Gundam.
Sephora: That's not true.
Manfred doesn't answer, Sephora and Illmari get closer to Manfred and decide to hug him.
Illmari: You don't have to tell us everything now. Just let us help you.
Manfred: I don't deserve you.
Sephora: Of course you do, you have a good heart.
Manfred begins to shed tears. Manfred tries to hide his face, but they stop him.
Sephora: You don't have to hide.
Manfred: ... Leave me alone, I don't deserve you.
Sephora and Illmari hug him tighter and ask him:
Illmari: What did you do so that you don't deserve us?
Manfred: I killed civilians.
Illmari and Sephora look at each other so that Illmari asks him
Illmari: What do you mean? I didn't hear shots in the tower.
Manfred: When I entered one of the apartments I saw the corpses of a mother and her son, completely destroyed. The other Mobile Suits and I shot at
the tower.
Illmari: I see.
Manfred: If I hadn't been there, none of that would have happened, I was the first to shoot.
Sephora and Illmari just console Manfred. Meanwhile, Julieta is at the airfield waiting for a response from one of the pilots. An hour and a half passed since the planes took off. The pilots are flying over the jungles when one of them finds Till Makarov's makeshift base.
Pilot: Bingo
The pilot begins to take photos of the camp and sends them to headquarters. The commander looks for Julieta and informs her that they have already found the camp.
Julieta: Please send those photos to the Harare headquarters.
After that Julieta gets into the jeep and goes to headquarters. The journey is quick and upon arrival, she goes to Cecil's office. Cecil is pensive when Julieta opens Cecil's door.
Cecil: You could have knocked on the door.
Julieta: It's urgent, we found the whereabouts of Till Makarov.
Cecil: I'm going to put together a team right away.
Julieta: Is Manfred in the hangar?
Cecil: The corporation's barracks are next to the hangar.
Julieta goes to see the Gundam Solomon only to find the cockpit empty. Julieta asks where Manfred is. A mechanic from the corporation answers that he is in his bed. Julieta goes to Manfred's bed, there she sees Illmari and Sephora next to Manfred. Julieta says:
Julieta: Manfred why aren't you in the Gundam's cockpit?
Sephora: Manfred can't pilot in the state he's in.
Julieta: We need to catch or eliminate Makarov. For that I need Solomon.
Illmari: If you insist so much, I will pilot Solomon.
Julieta: Very well.
Illmari: Manfred, everything will be fine. I'm going to come back.
Illmari gets up from the bed and goes to the hangar, she gets on a scaffold and connects Solomon's cable. The technicians decide to initialize Solomon. Illmari's nose begins to bleed and suddenly she lets out a scream of pain. The Gundam technicians turn off the system. Illmari wipes her nose and just says:
Illmari: Try again, I'm going to try to make this thing work.
Technician: That would you.
Illmari: Turn the system on again.
The technicians turn the Gundam back on. Illmari bleeds and screams again.
Manfred, upon hearing Illmari's screams of agony, decides to get up. Sephora asks him:
Sephora: Where are you going?
Manfred: To pilot Solomon, I can't let Illmari get hurt because of me.
Manfred climbs onto the scaffold and pulls Illmari out of the cockpit.
Illmari: What are you doing?
Manfred: I'm not going to let you get hurt.
Illmari smiles and says:
Illmari: That's why you deserve us.
Manfred: ...
Manfred gets into Solomon's cockpit, starts the system and says to Julieta
Manfred: Julieta, let's finish this once and for all.
The Gundam exits the hangar. Cecil gets into a Mobile Worker. Look at the photo of Haruna and say:
Cecil: Haruna, I'm going to get you out of this.
A team of Mobile Suits and Mobile Workers form up and head towards Till Makarov's camp. Haruna is lying down looking at the ground. And
remember Cecil's kindness. Cecil enters Haruna's cell with a paper bag. Cecil approaches Haruna and takes out a hamburger from the bag.
Cecil: I don't understand why you like hamburgers so much. You could ask me for other things.
Haruna uses her right hand to eat, and says:
Haruna: They are delicious.
Haruna devours her hamburger and suddenly gunshots are heard in the scientific facility. Cecil pulls out his gun and cocks it. He holsters it and carries
Haruna on his back
Haruna: What are you doing?
Cecil: I'm taking the opportunity to give you a decent life.
Cecil opens Haruna's cell, some scientists try to stop him, but Cecil pulls out his gun and shoots them. After that they continue down a corridor, a squad of Gjallarhorn special forces goes from office to office killing any witness who crosses their path. Cecil takes cover behind a wall and reloads his gun. And wait for the soldiers not to find him. Luckily for Cecil, the lab's electrical power goes out so they turn off. Cecil ambushes the soldiers. Shooting one of them in the back of the neck, then picking up a rifle and continuing to eliminate them. After clearing the hallway Cecil goes back to get Haruna, dresses Haruna in one of the uniforms. And continue on his way. A soldier asks him:
Soldier:Commander Botta, what are you doing?
Cecil: Taking out an injured person.
Soldier: We have already eliminated all the personnel. Only you remain.
Cecil draws his gun, points it and asks
Cecil: Who ordered my death?
Soldier: McGillis Fareed.
Cecil: Why are you betraying Gjallarhorn?
After that Cecil shoots him in the head and goes up the stairs to get out of the facility.
Cecil decides to take a jeep to escape from the facility. Cecil goes to a poor motel and places Haruna on the bed. Cecil turns on the television where Rustal communicates the crimes committed by McGillis. The days go by in that motel, Cecil arrives with a pizza and feeds Haruna. He turns on the television again and to his surprise Rustal announces the victory of the Arianrhod fleet.
Cecil is in the Mobile Worker listening to Julieta's instructions, and hears the following phrase:
"There may not be surviving pirates after the mission."
Upon hearing the phrase, he takes out the photo of Haruna and looks at it. He remembers what the weeks after the escape from the laboratory were like.
Cecil decides to wait a few weeks and goes to a meeting of high command where he testifies how McGillis ordered the death of the members of a laboratory where they experimented on humans. Upon leaving, Cecil sees a young man throwing his medals into the trash. Cecil approaches the boy.
Cecil: What are you doing?
man: Getting rid of awards I shouldn't have received.
Cecil: What do you mean?
man: Tekkadan, they were just kids fighting. And I killed them.
Cecil: What's your name?
man: I'm Saburo.
Cecil: Saburo, do you want to amend your mistakes?
Saburo: What do you mean?
Cecil: There is a girl who would be considered human debris, she can't fend for herself. She will need your help. I will no longer be able to take care of her.
Saburo: How will that help me?
Cecil: It's a way to start over, apparently you no longer want to be part of Gjallarhorn.
Saburo: Where am I going to find her?
Cecil: We will meet in an alley in the slums of Johannesburg. In a week. I'm going to call you to give you more details.
Saburo: I hope you call me.
After a week Cecil is carrying Haruna.
Cecil: I think it's best that you forget I exist.
Haruna: What are you talking about Cecil?
Cecil: I want you to live a beautiful life.
Cecil leaves Haruna in an alley. Haruna starts crying and begs him not to abandon her. Cecil meets Saburo and says:
Cecil: The girl is in that alley, promise me that she will live a beautiful life.
Saburo: I promise you.
A pirate approaches Haruna and asks her if she wants something to eat, she says
Haruna: I want a hamburger.
Haruna looks at a jungle tree and sees how the birds fly. She just says
Haruna: Cecil, Saburo, why did you abandon me?
Haruna is crying inconsolably in the alley. When Saburo enters
Saburo: Hello I'm Saburo, what's your name?
Haruna: I'm Haruna.
Saburo: Why are you crying?
Haruna: Someone I trusted decided to abandon me.
Saburo: Tell me, can you move?
Haruna: I can only move my right arm.
Saburo: I see, tell me Haruna. Do you want to live with me?
Haruna: Sure, but in exchange for what?
Saburo: I want you to help me fulfill a wish I have.
Saburo carries Haruna on his back and leaves the alley. After a few hours the team of Mobile Suits approaches the camp. The pirates realize that several Mobile Suits are approaching the camp so they decide to get into the few Mobile Suits they have. A pirate picks up Haruna and puts her in the cockpit of his Mobile Suit. The eye of Haruna's Mobile Suit lights up and she goes out to fight. The black Reginlaze begins to attack the Gjallarhorn Reginlaze. Until she sees Manfred's Gundam.
Manfred realizes that Haruna is in an uncontrollable fury so he decides to take her away from the battlefield. He decides to go deep into the jungle, Haruna decides to follow Manfred. Cecil notices this so he follows both Mobile Suits. Once they were far enough away, Manfred sheaths the Zweihander and pulls out his machetes. Haruna pulls out her maces and says:
Haruna: Because of you Saburo is dead.
Manfred: It may be, but he made his choice.
The fight begins, Haruna decides to deal the first blow. Manfred blocks the mace and counterattacks with one of his machetes. Haruna, seeing this, blocks Manfred's attack. Soon a frenzied fight breaks out, where both attack and defend simultaneously. Cecil, for his part, observes the combat. After much brawling Manfred hits the left arm of Haruna's Mobile Suit, the arm falls to the ground, but Haruna doesn't give up. And she manages to hit Solomon's leg damaging one of Manfred's thrusters and disabling the right leg. Manfred's Mobile Suit almost stumbles, but manages to stand up. Manfred decides to take a more defensive approach. Blocking Haruna's attacks. Suddenly the eye of Haruna's Mobile Suit begins to glow red. And she attacks with greater speed.
Manfred finds it more of an effort to block Haruna's attacks. A message appears on Solomon's monitor asking if he wants to turn off the limiters, Manfred says yes. After this Solomon's eyes begin to glow. And it moves at the same speed as Haruna's Mobile Suit. At the most inopportune moment for Haruna, Manfred destroys the right arm of her Mobile Suit, after this he drops his machete, kicks the black Reginlaze and tears off the hatch of Haruna's cockpit. There he sees a Haruna bleeding from one of her eyes, Manfred is ready to deal the final blow. Cecil gets out of his Mobile Worker and runs towards Haruna's Mobile Suit. Cecil yells at Manfred and says
Cecil: Manfred, please stop. Keep your promise.
Manfred: Cecil what are you doing, Haruna is a danger.
Cecil: Leave this to me.
Cecil climbs Haruna's Mobile Suit and disconnects her before it's too late.
Haruna: Cecil?
Cecil: Haruna, I came to get you out of here.
Manfred exits his cockpit and asks Cecil
Manfred: Cecil, are you sure you will save Haruna?
Cecil: Yes.
Manfred: You know Gjallarhorn will look for you for this.
Cecil: I know and I'm ready for it.
Manfred turns off his communicator and says:
Manfred: You can go, but Julieta will ask me questions.
Cecil pulls out his gun and shoots him in the abdomen.
Cecil: I know.
Manfred: Son of a bitch, why did you shoot me?
Cecil: So they don't ask you questions. Thank you Manfred.
Manfred leans back in his cockpit and yells at him:
Manfred: Why do you care so much about this girl?
Cecil: Because she reminds me of the family I lost.
Cecil puts Haruna in his Mobile Worker and leaves the scene. Manfred turns on his communicator.
Manfred: Cecil escaped with the pilot of the black Reginlaze, I'm wounded. Repeat I'm wounded.
Julieta: Manfred! Are you okay, what happened?
Manfred: Cecil shot me. That's what happened, I'm losing blood.
Julieta: I'm going to send a team, try to stop the wound with some bandages.
Manfred takes out some bandages and puts pressure on his wound. Some helicopters arrive to help Manfred and take him to the Harare base.
Meanwhile Richtoffen faces Till Makarov's Mobile Suit. Richtoffen plays with Makarov. Makarov for his part tries to defend himself against Richtoffen's attacks with two axes. Richtoffen cuts off one of Makarov's arms, then cuts off one of his legs. Makarov's Mobile Suit falls to the ground. Richtoffen tears off the cockpit cover of Makarov's Mobile Suit. He gets out of his cockpit and puts his foot on Makarov.
Richtoffen: Scum like you don't deserve to walk in this world, thanks to you a good man died today.
Makarov: It's a nice way to refer to a mercenary.
Richtoffen: Who gave you the Mobile Suits?
Makarov: Gjallarhorn.
Richtoffen draws his gun, and points it at him.
Richtoffen: Don't lie to me again, who gave you the Mobile Suits and in exchange for what?
Makarov: It was Gjallarhorn, in exchange for human debris for the African Union.
Richtoffen: I can't let you live.
Makarov: I know, make it quick.
Richtoffen shoots him in the face and the blood splatters his face.
Richtoffen grabs his communicator and informs Julieta that Makarov is dead. She informs Richtoffen that Manfred is in the barracks hospital. Richtoffen says
Richtoffen: Manfred I hope you recover.
A couple of days go by. Richtoffen, Illmari and Sephora visit Manfred. The latter is in a bed.
Illmari: How are you?
Manfred: I'm fine.
Sephora: The doctors gave me the bullet that hit you, I have to admit it, Cecil has good aim, the doctors say that in a few days they will discharge you.
Richtoffen: How did Cecil escape with Haruna?
Manfred: I already told you, I got out of my cockpit to see if Haruna was still alive. Cecil got out of a Mobile Worker and shot me.
Richtoffen: I'm going to get the doctors out.
Richtoffen gets everyone out of Manfred's room, closes the door and approaches him.
Richtoffen: Julieta told me what happened in the Millennium Tower. Be honest Manfred.
Manfred: Honest?
Richtoffen whispers to him:
Richtoffen: Why did you let Haruna escape?
Manfred whispers to him
Manfred: I wanted to fulfill Saburo's wish, and try to redeem my sins.
Richtoffen smiles and says
Richtoffen: You never cease to amaze me, tell me. Did you manage to redeem yourself?
Manfred downcast replied
Manfred: No.