Hello everyone. :) If you click this open then I appreciate the time you took in opening the story. I hope you all like this.

I don't if this know if this idea has been done before but I guess it's worth a try. The idea came from the Ali vs Lockon fight of Gundam 00 S1 and from rewatching it, came to me like what if Lockon didn't let his anger consume him and somehow had a moment or second to think. A brief moment of clarity that somehow let him examine things and had not died. :)

So, lemme know what you guys think about it. Like it, hate it? Write your criticism in the reviews if you want to. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam 00 or the Gundam Franchise. The right belongs to its rightful owner Sunrise.

2/10/25: I decided to edit and maybe revise this to the best of my abilities and see how far I've grown in writing. I am still writing the later chapters.


Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Altered Fate


Summary: Lockon Stratos in his duel with terrorist leader Ali Al-Saachez had a brief and slight moment of clarity in the midst of his revenge. Would it change the fate of Celestial Being? What would be the outcome of the small change one man has and its effect on the operation of UN Forces against the Paramilitary Organization Celestial Being?


"That's the Throne," he growled. His fingers twitched on the controls threatening to shoot without aim. "Then that must be Ali Al-Saachez!" screamed Lockon chasing madly after the terrorist leader. Grabbing the GN Rifle, he shot at the fake Gundam. But, a flame within him rose, roaring and howling wild as a storm when each shot missed with the other weaving through the asteroids expertly nimble as a Flag.

Die! His heart screamed with every press of the trigger.

"All because I can't use my good eye!?"

Ah! Dammit!Of all times! The coward! He raged breathing through his mouth while his enemy went to hide behind a large asteroid like the coward that he was. The seconds given to him made him hold his shot as he breathed deeply before turning again to his military training. The instilled discipline that earned him the top marksman of their class and his battalion. Calm and objective. He had more self-control than this! He was Lockon Stratos of Celestial Being! Before that, he was Neil Dylandy! Top sniper given the privilege to change the world! He cannot lose himself in his anger, he can't.

Not with everything on the line, he thought of his family whose cold flesh couldn't smile anymore. Whose last memory was a fire of malice born from this man.

The roaring inferno in his chest now coursing through his veins turned cold. The same cold touch of death that flowed in him during that fateful day. But instead of fear, a cold vengeance about to be done for all those who died.

Ali Al-Saachez from his knowledge was a very skilled pilot able to outmaneuver them in inferior suits. So, with each breath did he pushed his anger down as he retreated behind another asteroid with sensors on high alert. Moments later, his labor bore fruit when the man came out of the hiding place gunning towards him by bringing the brunt of his strength with its remote weapons followed by its giant sword. Sparks clashed in the dark when his energy sword met the giant blade, deflecting the strike that ended many lives in one swing with the force of a hurricane that sent him flying back to an asteroid.

His vision became a doubling blur for a second before he regained his senses. Neil strafed to the side avoiding the GN Fang's tiny yet dangerous strikes only to push himself away from the rock when the sword crashed sending flying debris.

"Ali Al-Saachez!" He spat the name at the same level as the devil himself as he contacted the man. "You're with the KPSA aren't you?!"

If the devil himself had a form, surely it would be this man. This... monster.

The man scoffed.

How dare he put it lightly. The organization that killed and destroyed so many lives!

"The Krugis punk told you about me, huh?" The Throne swung the sword again, but this time, it caught him and pushed him back as their weapons sparked from the contact.

How dare this man remain calm and not drown in his guilt. Not die from the blood spilled by his very acts. Neil's heart longed, no, more than that, burned for vengeance. His very chest smashed with every breath as the hammer of justice. Justice for his sister, mother, and father. Even his brother whom he destroyed his life! Beyond that, for the people that died that day. He won't rest until his very opponent burns in hell! If he had to take him there personally, then with God as his witness he will do it to deliver the long-awaited justice this man deserved and quiet the raging souls of the afflicted!

Pushing the pedal, his Gundam's thrusters flared. Pushing back Throne Zwei and grabbing a GN Pistol. The other unit reversed blocking his shots with its large sword. "You're the bastard who ordered the bombing in Ireland! Why?"

Why? They didn't do anything. They didn't do anything!

"What bombing?" The man howled in laughter swinging the sword wildly. The fucker had the gall to laugh it off! "I bomb people all the time. I did it because I'm a mercenary. Besides," His rage burst inside his chest as the cage it was in exploded melting the metal cage that imprisoned it! This man was no human, a monster in human form. Any man who finds delight in blood like this person was beyond human and saving. No god would want to save it. No trial for its innocence for its nature simply beyond any civility from anyone. "It was obvious the Middle East would react violently when the EU built their Orbital elevator!"

"You involved innocent people!"

Father, Mother, Amy. The people in the mall just living for their families. What did they have to do with anything? What?!

"You're the same as me!" Neil rushed forward and swung his sword only to meet the large weapon once more in a violent clash. He aimed the pistol but a kick to the arm threw his aim off and hit nothing.

This man grated in his being, scraping against his soul. How can this maniac say that they are the same as him!? Celestial Being fought for peace. They desired peace! Setsuna, Allelujah, Sumeragi, everyone. All of them had been changed by the songs of war. The child soldier, the super soldier, the mourning lover, the orphaned kid. They all had tales of woe that made them let people bleed for peace if they had to. For no peace was achievable without causing a storm.

They were not a mercenary group that caused chaos for the sake of it. Far from it. They represented the change necessary for the future.

"You're just a terrorist who says he's trying to eradicate war." The man used the free hand to aim the rifle but it was his turn to kick it to the side, sending his shot elsewhere. He pushed back the Throne unit unleashing a barrage of beams upon it hoping to shoot the madman down with his righteous anger. How easily the Throne evaded his attacks fanned the flames as he shot some more.

"I'll take full blame for what I've done…" Lockon gripped the control tightly recalling the people he killed for the sake of peace. The pilots, foot soldiers, and most importantly the fathers and mothers in the military were taken with their every intervention. He would repent after he had made the world even a little better than it was yesterday. All for his family. For Lyle. They may have a strained relationship with his twin but he was doing this for him too so that Lyle would find peace.

"After I've defeated you!" shouted Neil unleashing missiles followed by quick shots from his pair of beam handguns.

Not just only to sate his vendetta for this monster in human form but to stop him once and for all.

Neil cursed the man's existence to the deepest pits of hell and it was only added by his missing and hitting only asteroids. He would not escape today! Breathing to calm himself, Lockon's anger once again caged when he stopped his attacks.

"I'll never forgive you," he growled loud enough for the man to hear as he turned left and around another rock. This gave him a reprieve and get himself together. He could not match the man in his arena and he knew it more than well now. Much more so when he overpowered Setsuna many times in an AEU prototype. Loathsome as it is to admit, the man may kill him before that. Still, he would strive to kill that man before death took him, the sniper promised to himself.

The Celestial Being pilot immediately opened fire upon his exit behind his cover and raised the shield in time to be pushed back by the man making him grit his teeth in frustration. "Hit. Hit. Hit. Hit." Haro cried even as he maneuvered through the crimson GN particles.

"You are a personification of everything that gives birth to fighting!" When the Throne Zwei rushed towards him still firing nonstop with each shot hitting and shaking the cockpit forcing him to switch to beam sabers, pushing against the momentum of the Throne before him as they then danced around before one another. Lockon this time attacked first and swung his close-range weapon, needlessly choking the controls when his strike was blocked once more by the large GN sword. Sparks lit up as their strikes met, energy sword against the deftly wielded sword.

"Keep crying!"

Lockon one-handed the melee weapon and drew the second one, smiting the monster that caused his life hell.

"You and I are two of a kind!"

Two of a kind!? Saachez wished they were! He had a purpose. They had a mission. The monster before him had none!

"I'm nothing like you!" screamed Lockon swinging the beam sabers crossly cutting down the humongous weapon into pieces. Bringing down his weapon to the now weaponless Mobile suit which ran like the coward he was.

"Enemy approaching! Enemy approaching!" Haro reported. E-Sensors beeped at the unit coming on his 5 o'clock. A lone damaged MS they fought earlier. His anger shifted from the terrorist on death's door about to be cut down to the fast-approaching daredevil. Firing all his missiles left and pistol in hand, it exploded but still dashed forward. "Don't get in my way!"

No one will get in his way! Justice will be served.

Lockon didn't care he was using so much energy at shooting it down. He had to kill the annoyance quickly before Saachez took advantage of the opportunity. Thus he attacked without rest even when the missile hit and even as the smoke of destruction concealed it from him. No quarters received, no quarters given. Nothing would get in his way of destroying the menace of Ali Al-Saachez!

When the sensors were silenced, quickly he turned his concentration to his primary target when it shot first. His shield took the brunt of the attack as they fired back and forth with the cockpit shaking continually. It can't continue like this. Not if he can help it.

One shot, one chance.

He pressed the button that bathed his cockpit in near red. "Trans-Am!"

Lockon remained firm when the speed pushed him back further into the pilot seat with his hands shaking on the controls as he sped up three times as fast. Satisfaction rose in his chest together with the smug grin on his lips with the sure thought of man's ensured death. Everything blurred, faster than any Flag or Enact could reach, he zoomed past, left and right shooting at the accursed man but his eyes widened with the accuracy as he rolled, and raised his shield in defense while some shots went past. He cursed his blinded right eye for every slight miscalculation that cost him a shot and hit the rocks instead as warned by his partner.

"I'll make sure this is your last fight! Ali Al-Saachez!" The burning fire in him lit brighter in determination as he passed through and closed in to cut the stolen unit. The man defended himself as best as he could, but Lockon pounded him hard just as he did with the people he bombed. Cutting its feet and arms he circled it swiftly as he knew the Dynames was a blur. He gritted his teeth when he achieved only scratches. The reflexes of the monster were unlike any other. Circling the opposing unit, the Zwei then released its remote weapons. He rolled around the first shot and went past it quickly downing said weapon and flew above Saachez shooting down the damn weapons.

"Missed one! Missed one!" Lockon maneuvered around an asteroid and aimed for the Throne he smirked vindictively when he passed it cutting its left knee and turned to shoot only to gape at the sight of Fangs.

"Shit!" he buckled in his seat as the attack pushed him backward knocking his unit out of balance and seeing red as the monitor shone and blinked a bleeding red on the right side of the diagram.

Damn it! Arms and legs are busted. How can he hit me even in Trans-Am?

"Ha! Ha! Ha! You can't see your right side, do you!? You thought that fancy moves will save you? Think again, Gundam Meister." The mercenary dashed to him releasing two more fangs heading from both sides with great velocity.

Switching to his rifle, he prepared himself.

You will die by my hands you scum. He thought easing on his breathing a little to feel the battle more, he turned poised to shoot, piercing one before turning to the remaining one.

"Impact! Impact!" The warning made him swivel around and face the brunt of the attack with his remaining left shoulder shield as he shook from the impact. "Shield damaged! Shield damaged! Fang disabled. Fang disabled."

With a quick press of a button, he released his only defensive weapon and held only his handy GN Rifle then shot down the dashing madman who rolled and maneuvered deftly. Curses after curses came from his thoughts dodging the red GN particle beams which grazed him with their accuracy. Responding in kind, he furiously shot back only to miss on a wide margin.

Lockon hid behind one of the many rocks to get his bearings straight again for a second and went out again only to smirk as Saachez turned his back on him. "Die."

Eyes went wide when the man evaded with minute movements and turned to retaliate with lightning-fast reflex, his one-second aim that glowed ominously took his shoulder armor. He fired once more but the shot did not graze him when it moved out of the way and returned fire prompting Lockon to sidestepped when it exploded to where he was.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Found you!" As the Throne Zwei approached he threw his rifle in exchange for a saber just to block the incoming swing of Saachez's own red saber.

Their swords sparked in contact, both pushing each other. His justice against Saachez's will to survive. "Trans-Am finished. Trans-Am finished." What satisfaction he had turned to anger, not at his enemy, no, at his own inadequacy that Saachez didn't die even when he had Trans-Am! Only managing to separate a leg. How could such a talent exist in a horrible person?

How. Why.

He kicked the damn thing away and stabbed it only for the man to leap from his close attack bringing the menacing red weapon down on his remaining arm. Time slowed for him as the man denied his incoming death.

It's impossible. It's...

The brunet would not leave the world with his unfinished promise! Every second ticked by, the beam saber closed the gap and his heart stopped. Anger turned cold as ice in the face of death as he sucked in the air.

"Ali Al-Saachez!" A young voice whose emotions lay open with a scream like never before was heard tearing through his death like the heat source that closed in. It rang across the communications and deflected the strike as the man withheld his downward execution.

"Krugis brat! How nice of you to join us," was their enemy's excited reply in exuberance and ecstasy as Saachez flew back arms open in open invitation. "This is it! This is a duel of life and death! Isn't exciting, eh Gundam Meisters? Gundam versus Gundam. How exciting!" he said getting away from Setsuna's parry, out of range from the blades that followed.

There they were now, two of them highly trained pilots against a lone mercenary. One of which stood before him, shielding him and him eyeing Ali Al-Saachez with boiling deep-rooted anger that burned anyone who touched it.

"Lockon, are you okay?" inquired his young friend in their private channel.

No, he finally admitted with his broken pride. In his state of shaking hands and pooling sweat inside his pilot suit did he realized his foolishness that he bit off more than he could chew. That Ali-Al Saachez was the worst enemy he had as a specialist. Every maneuver he could think of he had tried but the man was more skilled than he expected. A cut above them in many ways, begrudgingly Lockon admitted. But even with all this, if his grip could tighten more he would have smashed the controls, this fact would not deter him from ending Ali Al-Saachez once and for all. By any means necessary!

"Lockon angry. Lockon angry."

If the former KPSA thought of anything in the statement he didn't comment and spoke again, "Maneuver A-8." Was what he said.

Neither did he say anything and sprung into action following the Exia which confronted the mercenary with swift blade strokes distracting the orange Throne as he then moved to stab his partner's back only for Setsuna to sidestep the last minute and his thrust headed towards the invulnerable chest of his hated enemy. Saachez moved back and kicked away his offense and his Exia swung the blade down beside him only to be locked in the same situation as he did. This did not stop them. Their strikes went on, each coordinated strike more precise than the one before. Yet, even with their teamwork, this left him gnashing his teeth in silence as the man pressed them back with an upward kick and accurate beam shot.

Their retreat gave the man a reprieve.

Lockon retreated further letting Setsuna handle him was handling them both easily and he hated this fact. Setsuna whipped out a GN dagger stabbing to pierce motion only for him to slip as Zwei boosted back, but he shot to keep his target moving away from his friend but his heart stopped when Saachez with only one weapon closed in much to his, and Setsuna's shock as he defended against Ali Al-Saachez's savage swings. "Damage. Damage."

"I know!" he said clicking his tongue. "Setsuna! B-6."

Lockon dashed forward, beam saber in hand, firing his pistol the man evaded, not one shot hitting even as Setsuna took advantage of his opening.

"Is this all Celestial Being has to offer!?" Saachez howled in excitement. "No wonder Celestial Being is finished!" said the man kicking him away but Exia's foot caught it as he then ducked when the other pilot's saber passed above the head making Saachez block it and Neil thrust left bringing down his weapon.

He smirked when one of its sabers moved to defend but he rotated attempting to cut its back from the lower right waist across its back to its rear left shoulder. He grunted in pain when once again he was kicked away. By the amputated leg.

"Missiles approaching! Missiles approaching!"

"Setsuna!" a grunt was his younger friend's reply before they made a mad dash away from the barrage of GN missiles that exploded within the area and blanketing it completely. The GN Arms swooped in and fired secondary beams as it exploded some more. They waited with bated breath for the stolen Throne that he barely moved in time with Haro's warning as a red beam came out of the smoke. He moved only to grit his teeth as he impacted harshly on the right leg, the alarms blared with the legs glowing red on critical.

And lo, from the shadows came out the Throne Zwei still holding on but barely hanging with its head cut off, right leg now mangled too and the other limbs slightly better than the battered leg but only a little. Lasse didn't wait for Saachez and fired again cutting it in half with a beam.

"B—," the terrorist struggled but Gundam then exploded in a vicious red hue of GN Particles.

"You guys okay?" Lasse asked.

Lockon couldn't reply as he sat frozen in place. His heart squeezed his inside tighter as his vision blurred for the first time in years, droplets of water obscuring everything in front of him. He didn't know what to feel because right now his chest went cold, the ice running in his veins as a myriad of emotions came over him. Warm Happiness. Bright Satisfaction. Cold Sadness. Burning Anger. All of it at the same time. He, or rather they did it. An enlightening feeling soon washed over him and lightened in ways he never knew. The heavy pressure on his chest faded, his chest now breathing the warm air once more for the first time in years as he cried and let loose his mourning heart.

What now? I've done my promise. Amy, I hope you know what I did for you. Rest in peace knowing your big brother has avenged your soul. Mom, Dad, I did it.

He didn't care what they were saying right now. The man basked in his own stormy paradise. For the first time in many years, Neil Dylandy, the man, a brother, and a son who lost it all engulfed with his hatred, bottled-up emotions were released as tears floated freely in his cockpit.

"I… did… it," he whispered.

"—ack later. Let's go back to Ptolemy." It was automatic for him to set the Gundam on autopilot to follow his brother-in-arms.

Nothing but his victory came to his mind. Softshaky breaths and wavering lips half-open as he leaned back.

Even as he left the cockpit, the feathered lightness he had not in years remained. His soul floated in peace when he left the cockpit of his unit and was greeted by his family. Feldt immediately latched onto him upon exiting the Dynames, hands around him in a hug that left him wide-eyed. "Don't ever do that again, Lockon." The young woman shook, and he could see tears float away from them. "We were worried. You could have asked us for help."

He could never have. Not when it was his personal mission. All of it had nothing to do with Celestial Being. This was his thoughts as he soothed the crying girl by rubbing his hand up and down her back. He had to, for the peace of his soul.

"Lockon, reckless. Lockon, reckless."

He laughed heartily and out of his usual self at that statement while his heart was still pumping from adrenaline. He was prepared to die. He was ready to end Saachez if it meant sacrificing his own for the many the monster killed. His and Setsuna's past. Lyle's and many unnamed others. He murmured sorry but he felt guilt build-up for not regretting every second of what he'd done. He would do it all over again, much to his shame.

Tiera's disapproving gaze met his own making the two have their staring contest. "Don't do that again. We are already at a disadvantage. We don't need another Gundam down," the purple-haired pilot stated with his look turning to a glare. "Did you have a death wish!? What do you think would happen if we lost you!" His fists curled and shook looking at him and only him as anger radiated from the man. "You would have sacrificed yourself for nothing. The UN would outnumber us more." Virtue's pilot turned and left passing their tactical forecaster briskly with a brief excuse.

He had no words to say. All of those hit his core for it was not his intention to leave early but he was prepared.

"Thank God you're alive," said Sumeragi giving him a shaky smile. "You didn't follow the plan." In her eyes, Neil could see the glistening tears starting to form, but the woman did not cry and only shook her head in great relief.

A smile was his offer in return but deep inside Lockon winced internally. He was foolish, he knew it so for letting his emotions control him and much more so for preparing to die and leave the others behind but he needed it. More than him, they needed it for their peace. For his new little family, he had made in the turbulence of life.

"Ah!" Ian exclaimed in frustration scruffing his hair. "Look at the mess Dynames is in now! It'll take a while to prepare the Nadleeh, Kyrios, and now this!" Ian's said in an outburst but his expression softened seconds later with a smile of relief. "But at least you returned."

"Ian, can you repair all the Gundams in under six hours?" their commander said to which the man simply harrumphed in annoyance.

"You're asking for the impossible," replied their chief engineer arms crossed. "I'll see what I can do but it's gonna be an all-nighter! All right, get to it, everyone!"

The Haro's light up in excitement flapping its wings as it did so. "Get to it. Get to it," the robots chorused.

Lockon's body cried in pain sore all over and his eyes itched so the pilot walked silently towards his quarters, beyond all that, his spirit felt empty and hollow with his purpose fulfilled.

Sumeragi clearing her throat made him stop. "Feldt, why don't you escort Lockon to Dr. Morino for further therapy of his right eye."

Said woman happily nodded and grabbed his arm dragging him along. He protested but Fedt had him in a tight grip that he couldn't help but smile.


Sumeragi Lee Noriega in the privacy of her quarters released her worries after the harassing anxiety she felt upon Lockon Stratos's take off. What was the man thinking going after the ship even equipped with GN Arms D! Look at the state the Gundam had returning! He was lucky to be alive after that! The data she'd seen from the Dynames had Lockon on the tight spot fighting the stolen Throne. On her observation, she was sure that Ali Al-Saachez was better than Lockon and it was pure luck that he survived the deadly duel with Setsuna's timely arrival.

She didn't know what'd she do if one of them died, the woman thought curling into a fetal position to stop her emotions from controlling her. A stark reminder of her past. She promised herself not to mess up anymore! In the darkness of her room, she could see Emilio all over again. From his smile to his gentle touch when he would reassure her with soothing words.

No! She doesn't think she can stand that. That was why she became a tactical forecaster, to prevent any more deaths, and yet on her watch another one nearly happened!

Steeling herself, the former AEU commander closed the footage and analyzed the enemy's formation with their current units. They stood no chance of getting out of the cage the enemy commander had set them up in. The whole Lagrange was surrounded, and the enemy commander knew that she knew this, she had no doubt.

Lockon did a good job of destroying two carriers and Tiera and Allelujah did fine in holding the enemy MS back despite the damage they received in the end. It was a Pyrrhic victory for them, but this gave them a chance. They were on their last legs, she knew with Nadleeh now needed outside of its purpose, Kyrios was under repair. Dynames needs extensive repairs and Ian as of now working nonstop on repairing the Gundams. That left them with Exia and GN Armor as their only wild card left in their defense.

Still, she had to look at the positives, those fake GN powered MS numbers were greatly reduced by the attack. With the threat of Throne Zwei now gone, there was hope. Not hope, a chance. A chance I'll take for us to live.

No death would happen on her watch, she would make sure of it.


Hours after his rest and imprisonment in the medbay, Lockon Stratos woke up with his dominant eye itching the need to scratch badly growing with every second but discipline held his hand. "Lockon, Lockon." Haro greeted him jovially.

Removing the eyepatch, the little bundle of ball that was Haro jumped in a blur, nothing he could handle. His eyesight mixed creating a strange effect on his little round friend. It was better than before and he had worse injuries before.

"Haro, how long was I out," he asked the little thing since their good doctor was not there to greet him. Probably taking his only chance of resting since they weren't out of the woods yet. They would face hell before they saw the end of the tunnel.

"Six hours, six hours!"Six hours. Was his robot partner kidding? Why haven't they woken him in case Operation Fallen Angel commences again? "Dynames fixed! Dynames fixed!" chirped his little buddy happily.

Deciding to check it for himself, he went towards the container of his Gundam and whistled appreciatively.

The old man managed to make it battle-ready. At this point, the Gundam Meister wasn't surprised that Ian worked miracles once again given their tough timetable despite the repairs only being partial. His Gundam lacked the armor in some areas particularly the glaring on the left shoulder, right kneecap, and foot. The sniper thought he probably damaged some of the parts by continuously crashing on the asteroids. The mechanical joints could be seen where the fang hit him. The left shoulder had been removed and the small left shoulder shield had been removed making it more vulnerable.

Well, he didn't really put his expectations that high, and expecting his Gundam to be fully repaired was folly because his unit took extensive damage from that monster.

The silence of the Ptolemy unnerved him more than usual. Usually, the calm soothed him, but not like this. Their organization was being threatened to the end. His and their very existence were threatened by people who didn't understand their mission. He, they, Celestial Being wouldn't surrender. Even if they did, which he knew would not, Neil Dylandy would fight for what's right while he lived, this he realized as he took a deep breath.

Finished as his goal may be, still, Lockon still knew his friends wouldn't stop there. They still had a long way to go to achieving their believed mission. He couldn't stop now too. With his primary goal gone, he was lost. But for Lyle, he promised taking a deep breath, he would still go a mile.

Even with the animosity between them, he couldn't hate his younger twin. He knew what Lyle felt being under his shadows. His younger sibling may deny it, but he knew that their family's death still ate him as he did. The difference between them was that he turned it into his goal. To become his drive. Lyle hid it well behind the layer of nonchalance and desire to move on. He could now though, after a foolish and nearly stupid rush to death, he lived once more. Free of hate and to live his life to his want.

"Lockon Stratos," the youngest Meister greeted from his spot of observing his Gundam. "What now?

Silence reigned between them as Lockon stared at his reflection. Setsuna understood him and vice-versa, that much he knew. It was in that brief moment of anger when the revelation of Setsuna's KPSA affiliation became known to all Gundam Meister. His hatred, his reason for joining Celestial Being also being thrown into the open. His hatred of terrorists drove him.

While he didn't know everything about the young man, Neil had enough knowledge to know that his past was harsher than his with Saachez and KPSA in the picture. Soran Ibrahim was repenting for his actions by making a better future. It was the only way he could. In that vein, they were the same with him joining the military to prevent it from happening to anyone.

"I'm not sure," gazing at Setsuna on the reflection he said. "But I know I'll stay with you guys."

That's a promise. He would stay at their side and would never leave them alone until the final phase. For Lyle, for Setsuna, for peace, and for the blood spilled.

If Setsuna ever thought of him badly, he didn't express it in any way but instead remained neutrally impassive and moved beside him.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

He waited for the young man to clarify his question but he had a feeling he knew what he was asking.

"Why would you leave?"

Why would you leave us? Me? Was his friend's silent message. Neil knew Setsuna acting as impassive as ever, was happy, and attached to the little family that they had onboard the Ptolemaios.

He knew so, call it his brotherly intuition.

For a moment a lump formed in his throat before he swallowed it creating a heavy feeling in his chest.

Setsuna knows, was his internal musing concluded. He hoped the others didn't notice it, but they knew each other's temperament for him to pretend otherwise. He recalled his fight to the bitter end. Guilt rained in his conscience threefold now and the first thing he felt was Feldt's concern and love for him. Setsuna's silent love for his brothers and sisters. These kids, people, he felt bad for planning to leave them in sorrow and tears. Dammit, what was wrong with him?

He chuckled a little to at least alleviate the tension between them. "I never planned to."

Lies, he said to himself. But if that lie can make Setsuna happy then so be it.

He didn't doubt that Setsuna himself didn't believe that particular lie. The youngest pilot was more perceptive and intelligent than a normal teen. Still, despite obviously lying the man wasn't called out on his obvious bullshit, which he can only thank Setsuna profusely in their morose atmosphere.


Edited: 02/19/22