"This kind of attack…"
As the flagship of the underwater ZAFT fleet for this operation, after seeing the full situation, the captain of this submarine slammed the wall hard. "Damn it! Were we outsmarted by Naturals?"
In the dimly lit environment, a strange smile appeared at the corner of Rau Le Creuset's mouth. However, Rau's tone remained unchanged.
"Now is not the time for self-pity. Immediately recover the remnants, reorganize the forces, and prepare for the next battle. The Naturals won't just give up!"
Rau patted the shoulder of the captain. "Has Blitz been recovered?"
"Blitz has been fully recovered and is consolidating the remaining forces," the communications officer reported.
At this moment, the battered Blitz had already been hung in the submarine's hangar.
"…So pitiful, to be beaten like this."
Watching Nicol being carried out of the cockpit by the ship's medics, already unconscious, the maintenance crew wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads.
"…Good. Speed it up."
After saying this, Rau did not make another sound.
He felt an indescribable satisfaction with this increasingly intense war. If he spoke any more, he feared he might accidentally laugh aloud.
"A little more intense… a little more intense."
Rau quietly stepped back two paces, slightly distancing himself from the soldiers.
"It would be best if they all go to hell with me."
-----------------------------------
On a small island covered with exposed rocks,
Kira's blue-and-white mobile suit, Roz's Narrative Gundam, and a GINN that Kira had pulled back from the shock of the energy wave were all stopped on the island.
Nearby, Mu, having found a flat spot, also landed on the island using his expert piloting skills.
Beside them, the battered Archangel was undergoing emergency fire suppression and repairs.
"Are you okay? Wake up!"
Kira, wearing a red ZAFT pilot suit, laid a ZAFT pilot on the ground and slightly unzipped him so he could breathe easily.
"You… are the pilot of that mobile suit…"
The pilot used all his strength to ask his final question.
"Mm… yes, I am the pilot."
Seeing the life in front of him fading, Kira's expression grew sad.
"Why… did you save me?"
The GINN pilot, using his last strength, looked at the half-kneeling Narrative Gundam and at Roz, who had just fallen from the cockpit into the Narrative Gundam's hands.
"So beautiful… that light…"
With that, as if witnessing the final view of his life, he closed his eyes in satisfaction and took his last breath.
"…Damn it!"
Kira remained silent for a long moment, then slammed his fist into the rock beside him, the piercing pain shooting through his hand.
Mu, watching the pilot die, sighed and dropped his helmet in exhaustion.
He couldn't help but question himself—was the organization he had served truly as righteous as they claimed?
Roz, who had just fallen into the Narrative Gundam's hands, removed his helmet and breathed deeply, trying to dispel the pain and dizziness in his head.
Earlier, he had endured the violent energy wave until the Archangel reached a safe distance, only then retracting the floating cannons and shield.
Perhaps due to continuous battle, Roz, who should have passed out midway, had endured until now. With deep breaths and cold packs recently prepared by Haro, he finally felt a bit better.
Climbing down the slanted legs of the Narrative Gundam, Roz finally saw Mu's serious expression.
"What's wrong? Reflecting on life right after barely surviving?"
Roz staggered over to Mu and patted his shoulder.
"Shouldn't normal people be happy they're still alive?"
"I'm just… confused about why I fight," Mu said, shaking his head. He then turned to this long-unseen boy, giving a small, relieved sigh after scrutinizing him.
"You, when you left Orb, facing such massive MAs in combat, we were all worried sick."
"Whoa… thanks for that," Roz said, scratching his head and laughing. "You all know me—I don't die that easily. Just a shame about the Jesta being destroyed."
"Besides, you all know why I fight—I'm going to crush all of Blue Cosmos."
"Speaking of the Jesta… you've got a new suit now."
Mu looked at Roz's Narrative Gundam and frowned.
"The armor is fragile… and the frame's exposed? It's a prototype?"
"Rush job, had to pick this one," Roz replied, looking up at the Narrative Gundam.
"Looks good, right?"
Hearing Roz boast as if showing off a toy, Mu studied the Narrative Gundam carefully.
"Although the armor looks fragile, like a half-finished product, it's beautiful. A style I've never seen before."
Mu organized his words and gave his evaluation.
"What's her name?"
"Narrative. RX-9, Narrative Gundam."
Roz looked into the Narrative Gundam's eyes.
For a moment, he felt as if the Narrative Gundam nodded at him, and after a slight head tilt, there was no other change.
Hearing the name, Mu patted Roz on the shoulder.
"Narrative… nice name. Didn't expect you to have a bit of a romantic streak in naming,"
"And GUNDAM—it's the same designation as that kid Kira uses."
-----------------------------------
Mu and Roz began talking, while the Archangel's crew, after shaking off the post-disaster shock, also landed on the small island.
"Roz!"
Suddenly, Murrue's voice came from right beside Roz.
Roz had just registered it when a figure leapt at him, embracing him tightly.
"Ah?"
Still a little dazed, Roz didn't immediately react. By the time he regained his senses, his body was already falling toward the ground.
Fortunately, his pilot reflexes saved him. He reached his hands backward, first contacting the rocks behind him. His core muscles tensed, slowing his fall and allowing him to rest safely against the rock.
"Uh… looks like our Captain Murrue has a lot to say to you, Roz."
Seeing Roz land safely, Mu, who had been startled and was about to support him, shook his head with a smile.
"Now, I'll leave you to the captain. She must have many things to tell you, and I have plenty of questions for Kira anyway."
With that, Mu wisely stepped away, giving Roz and Murrue some space.
The Archangel crew also discreetly went to Kira. Clearly, everyone knew Murrue's feelings for Roz, and given today's serious events, it wasn't something a normal person would think to interrupt her while she vented her emotions.
"Ro… Roz?"
Feeling Roz's body tense, along with the lingering sense of weightlessness and deceleration from earlier, Murrue's mind went blank for a moment.
"Sorry… are you okay? I'll get up right now."
With a slightly flustered tone, Murrue was about to stand, but Roz turned and hugged her back.
A bit dazed, Murrue ended up sitting in Roz's embrace.
"Right upon meeting, you just leap in for a hug? That's not like you, Murrue."
Roz shook his slightly dizzy head to ease the spinning sensation. "I'm just a little woozy right now, otherwise I could have caught you for sure."
"Woozy?… Should we get the ship's doctor…"
Hearing Roz, Murrue was about to call for the ship's medic.
But in the next moment, the arm Murrue was about to raise was gently pressed down by Roz.
"I'm fine, really. Let the busy ship doctor rest for a bit."
Roz gave Murrue a familiar, reassuring smile.
"Besides… with you by my side, I already feel a lot better."
"…Smooth talker."
Murrue buried her face in Roz's shoulder, a little choked up. The fear from surviving the disaster, the joy of seeing someone she cared about again, her vulnerability—all mixed with confusion and lingering grievances—flooded out from her heart in that instant.
"I don't remember you being this kind of person before."
"Because I speak the truth."
Roz reached out and stroked Murrue's head, soothing her emotions.
"My words are clumsy. I'm used to speaking honestly, that's all."
But fists are agile and strong, able to make a talkative person cry. For some reason, Roz's scattered thoughts latched onto that idea.
"Roz… I…"
Murrue raised her head. In front of the crew, she was usually unbreakably strong, but now tears escaped her eyes.
"It's okay… it's okay. There's still plenty of time. I can listen to you slowly."
Roz, though curious about why Murrue was like this, continued along with her topic.
Suddenly, Haro, who had jumped onto the rock behind Roz at some unknown point, leapt again, finding the right angle and bumped into the back of Roz's head.
Caught off guard, Roz's head tilted forward, and their lips met.
Murrue, who had been on the verge of an emotional outburst, froze, instinctively trying to pull away.
"Hold me tighter, Roz!"
At that moment, Haro's playful voice reached Roz's ears. His mind in a haze, he instinctively wrapped his arms around Murrue.
As if unable to pull away—or perhaps because she wanted to—Murrue, instead of distancing herself, pressed closer, wrapping her uncertain hands around Roz's head, responding with force, pouring out her emotions.
The atmosphere between them became intimate.
-----------------------------------
Meanwhile, Kira, dressed in his red ZAFT pilot suit, walked over to the Archangel's crew.
Seeing this "resurrected" boy in front of them, many people couldn't help but ask things like, "I didn't expect you to still be alive… you're really not a ghost, right?"
Escaping a deadly trap, witnessing comrades who should have died survive, and piloting a powerful mobile suit to save everyone—these two emotions collided, making everyone feel as if they were dreaming.
"Mm… I'm real. Of course, I'm still alive."
Kira nodded to his comrades and scanned the scene. "By the way, where are Captain Murrue and Mr. Roz?"
"That's a matter for the adults. You'll understand later, Kira."
Mu draped an arm around Kira's shoulder, like a pair of close buddies.
"Maybe give them a little time and space, alright?"
Seeing the crew nearby with smiles that clearly said they knew something but wouldn't say a word—like watching a couple fall in love—Kira, still a naive rookie in matters of the heart, could only nod dumbly.
.................