Outside a military-controlled hospital in Orb, several military squads were constantly patrolling.
"So, Roz… is he really okay?"
Cagalli Yula Athha stood before a doctor, asking.
"Although he appears seriously injured on the surface, Mr. Roz Links hasn't actually sustained any harm. He's just undergoing a physical checkup, and should be discharged by tomorrow."
The doctor, wearing a white coat, shook his head.
"As for the other ZAFT pilot, the situation is more severe. He has multiple soft tissue contusions and a mild concussion."
As a doctor working at this hospital, he often received confidential treatment tasks and didn't pry into unrelated matters. After all, the less he knew, the safer he was.
"In any case, that's all the information I have, Miss Cagalli."
The doctor tore off a sticky note and wrote a number on it.
"This is Mr. Roz's room number. You can speak with him directly."
-----------------------------------
Perhaps because he destroyed the large MA and prevented it from landing on Orb's main island, Roz's situation seemed much more relaxed compared to Yzak, who was heavily guarded.
At that moment, Roz was leisurely leaning on his hospital bed, fiddling with something on a tablet.
The large Haro had a data cable in its mouth, connected to the offline tablet, seemingly reading something, its teal eyes blinking.
Christina, meanwhile, sat at the bedside, meticulously peeling an apple with a fruit knife, the peel curling neatly into the trash without a single bit of fruit attached.
Finally, Roz stopped his actions and let out a long sigh.
"The Narrative (NT) Gundam… are we really going to use this mobile suit?"
As Roz paused, the large Haro quickly completed uploading the schematic on the tablet and then destroyed the files in it.
"Too many places are unarmored—it's practically an unfinished half-finished product."
"Exactly—a half-finished product, meant for emergency use."
With the data cable retracted, Roz put down the tablet and found a comfortable position on the bed.
"The production schedule was too short. There's no time for a fully completed model, so we'll use this one for now."
"After all… a half-finished mobile suit fits perfectly with our ragged lives, doesn't it?"
"…Understood. I've now retrieved parts of the production line and am adding the relevant components and weapons to the queue."
The large Haro understood Roz's decision and began adjusting the "shipyard" production line.
"However, the suit's mental frame still requires you to return to the shipyard for adjustment."
"You know, those mental frame modules must be installed. We can't skip them."
"Of course. After fighting alongside me for so long, how could I leave her behind?"
Roz calculated the shipyard's production efficiency and suddenly jumped from the bed.
"Nope. Today, I'm being discharged and heading straight to the shipyard. Without my mobile suit, I have no sense of security."
Lack of security was one reason, but more so it was the excitement of soon having his very first Gundam.
After all, it's a Gundam—driving a Gundam! Which pilot could resist that allure?
Besides, when training in the cockpit with the Jegan, Roz had already been beaten using a simulated upgraded Amuro Nu Gundam data. He had long wanted to try piloting a Gundam himself.
But before Roz could climb down from the bed, Christina, who had been quietly peeling the apple, suddenly pressed him back onto the bed.
"Huh?"
Before Roz could react, a freshly peeled apple was placed in front of him.
Though Christina's expression remained calm, Roz felt a volcanic eruption about to happen.
"You must finish eating before leaving."
Christina's tone was resolute, as if Roz couldn't leave without eating the apple.
"Okay… okay, I'll eat it."
Roz wasted no time and took a bite of the apple.
No kidding—no one understood Christina's artificial body strength better than Roz. Didn't you see how the steel bed frame deformed under her grip?!
"…Again and again."
Christina's voice trembled strangely. "Every time, I can only watch you go into battle, praying futilely in a safe place, watching you return battered."
"I can't continue to wait and pray so uselessly. Roz, tell me… when will I be able to help you more?"
Roz could only fall into silence at Christina's question.
Roz knew very well that his battles would become increasingly dangerous, while the core elements of his plan were progressing very slowly.
Whether it was Christina, or Marvin and the others at the shipyard, everyone was anxious, but they could only watch the plan advance little by little according to schedule—there was no way to accelerate it.
At the current moment, it was clear that Christina was showing signs of a cyber-psychotic episode. Though she had no aggressive intentions toward Roz, his words needed to be chosen carefully.
"Christina…"
Roz remained silent, reached out, and held her face, making her look directly into his eyes.
"…Everyone has their own battlefield."
After thinking carefully, Roz finally spoke.
"My battlefield is over there. It won't stop approaching us just because I pause for a moment."
"Before it reaches and tears you apart, I will go and destroy it… And for me, you also have the power to help me, Christina."
Feeling Christina gradually regain composure from her previous heightened state, Roz finally allowed his mind to relax.
"The day when you can use all your strength isn't far off. I promise."
Watching Christina return to a calm state, Roz breathed a sigh of relief.
Although it wasn't visible outwardly, Roz was internally cursing Blue Cosmos using the harsh internet slang of the 21st century.
Just as the room fell silent, leaving only the sound of Roz eating an apple, the hospital door was knocked on.
"May I come in, Mr. Roz Links?"
A calm male voice politely asked.
Roz also heard Cagalli's faint voice outside the door.
"…Please come in."
After Christina tidied herself slightly, Roz finished the last bite of the apple and tossed it in the trash.
The door opened, and a slightly noisy sound from outside entered the room.
A middle-aged man with a beard, wearing a suit, stepped in.
Following him were a surprised Cagalli and another man carrying a briefcase.
"Nice to meet you. I am Orb's current Prime Minister, Uzumi Nara Athha."
The bearded man in the suit nodded to Roz.
"As for my daughter, Cagalli Yula Athha, I'm sure you already know her. Thank you for taking care of her on the way back to Orb from the North African desert."
"…Her destination just happened to coincide with mine. I was merely helping along the way."
Roz sat up straight, his expression calm.
"After all, a friend on the same ship—I couldn't just ignore her."
"Now, this time, it can't just be a simple favor, can it?"
Uzumi gestured to a secretary nearby. The secretary nodded and began searching through the briefcase.
"Regarding this giant MA attack and the assassination attempt on Atlantic Federation Officer George Allster, you could have stayed silent, yet you fully disclosed everything to Cagalli."
"I've observed your activities in Orb. You seem to spend funds on your own plans."
Uzumi took what the secretary handed him, confirmed it, and nodded.
"The funds Officer George provided were surely far below the cost of the MS you destroyed."
With that, Uzumi naturally handed Roz a bank card.
"This is why I came to see you. Besides thanking you for protecting Orb, I'm giving you your reward."
Before coming, Uzumi had consulted Erica Simmons about Roz's mobile suit to provide a proper estimate.
Although Erica didn't know the cost of the Jesta, she estimated a number based on its combat performance.
Orb was as generous as ever, or perhaps Uzumi himself was wealthy. Accepting Erica's assessment, Uzumi increased the amount by thirty percent and designated it as Roz's reward.
"I assume you don't care about vanity, so let's be practical."
Watching Roz take the bank card, Uzumi nodded in satisfaction.
"Orb isn't ungrateful. Whoever helps Orb, Orb will help in return."
"Additionally, if you need assistance, you can contact my secretary directly."
Uzumi had no concern that Roz would ask for too much. From analyzing Roz's activities in Orb and the accounts from Cagalli and Ledonir, Uzumi understood Roz's character.
He knew what he should do, what he should take, what he shouldn't touch, and what he shouldn't say.
"…Speaking of help, there is indeed a small request now."
Roz scratched his head and stated his request.
"Could you arrange a space shuttle for me? I'm going to space tomorrow."
"Eh? Leaving already?"
Cagalli was clearly surprised at Roz's urgency to leave Orb.
Uzumi immediately understood Roz's intention. Roz's account records had been printed and placed in Uzumi's office; he had purchased many things from Lowe Guele, yet there was no corresponding docking record in Heliopolis.
"At 9 a.m. tomorrow, a space shuttle will be waiting for you at the mass accelerator."
For Uzumi, anything solvable with money was easy. He promptly arranged a shuttle.
"…You guys are really extravagant."
Although Roz had lived in Orb for some time, this was the first moment he truly felt Orb's wealth.
"Compared to the potential urban destruction and military expenses from a giant MA landing on the main island, the reward money and a space shuttle are just a drop in the bucket."
...................