With Orb standard time reaching morning, the colony satellite once again activated its simulated sunlight.
Compared to the previous burning yet slightly itchy sensation, now all that could be felt was a familiar yet somewhat strange gentle breeze.
Subconsciously opening her eyes, what the girl saw was a dark red, blurry scene.
"Mayu? You're awake?!"
Shinn's voice came from a blurred figure, and warmth touched her hand from his right palm.
"…Brother?"
Mayu's expression was somewhat terrified. "My vision… it's dark red… so blurry…" Her voice sounded no different from before, but at this moment, neither sibling paid attention to that.
"Mr. Roz, what's going on?"
Through the dark red filter, Shinn's blurry figure seemed to turn to another figure and asked.
"Don't worry, let me check…"
Another blurred figure approached Mayu's side. Then Mayu felt a metallic contact on the right side of her neck, as if a foreign object had been embedded.
After that, under the dark red view, a stream of numbers and letters passed before her eyes. At the bottom of her vision appeared a clear progress bar.
"Looks like just the parameters were off… now it's fine."
A voice came from her ear. As the metallic object was removed, the figure stretched out a hand before her.
"Three, two, one."
Accompanied by the figure's countdown, a snapping sound came from in front.
"Snap…"
The progress bar reached the end, her blurry vision began to focus, the dark red filter shut off, and the world's true colors appeared. Shinn's worried face came into her view.
"Vision test, what number is this?"
A strange voice sounded in her ear. A figure in a white coat extended three long fingers in front of her, shaking them continuously.
"…Three?"
"Good, your vision is fine."
Roz waved his hand and patted Shinn's shoulder, calming his overly excited emotions.
"Mayu… right? Any strange feelings?"
"Strange feelings…"
Mayu instinctively touched her hands and found that her limbs and skin had returned to their normal appearance, seemingly unchanged.
However, the strange sensation of something being inside her body made her uncomfortable.
"Feels… like something is in my body… it's a bit odd, but no pain…"
"Looks like your rejection response is lighter than I expected."
Roz, wearing a white coat, nodded, seemingly satisfied with Mayu's condition. "The prosthetics I installed are implante types. Normally, Coordinators would have severe rejection reactions. Unexpectedly, yours is quite mild."
After speaking, Roz took an inhalation-type medication from the bedside table and handed it to Mayu.
"This is for your recovery. Twice a day. Shinn, you know how to prepare this medicine, right?"
Roz handed the medicine to Mayu and turned to the restless Shinn. "I'm not a professional doctor and don't have time for consultations. You need to learn to prepare it yourself."
"Yes, I've already learned to prepare both types."
Shinn originally knew nothing about medicine preparation, but after Roz's demonstration, he memorized every operation for the rejection treatment and inhibitor. Over the past few days, he kept practicing in the assigned room so his body could remember how to make the two medicines.
Since these were medicines Mayu would take for life, Shinn took it very seriously.
"How… do I use this?"
Mayu looked at the medicine in her hands, confused.
"Place the nozzle at your mouth, press the canister with your thumb, and inhale the misted medicine."
Roz demonstrated empty-handed.
"At first it will feel strange, but after a few tries, it gets better."
"Hiss… cough cough cough…"
Apparently she pressed too hard; the mist released quickly into her mouth, making her cough.
"Too much force just now, right?"
Roz pointed to Mayu's arm. "Your body hasn't fully adapted to these implanted prosthetics yet, so the operation may be awkward. That's normal. As treatment continues, your control will feel no different from your natural limbs."
"In short… your only special abilities are color-changing artificial hair, voice-changing artificial throat, and prosthetic eyes that can magnify images like a telescope."
Roz waved and pocketed the tablet used to adjust Mayu's data.
"The rest—limbs, replaced organs, etc.—are nothing special besides being slightly more practical than before."
"I've sent all precautions to Shinn. I won't disturb your family celebration, I'll leave first."
Looking at the two embracing and celebrating their new life, Roz expressionlessly walked to the corridor and leaned against the wall.
Honestly, seeing Shinn and Mayu endure such a major change yet maintain strong familial bonds made Roz reflect on his past.
In his blurred memories, his family relationship with his parents seemed… harmonious?
Ha, why think about that now? As if he could resurrect there. Even if that world hadn't exploded, following his last memory, he'd still be dead.
His "hometown" had no Newtypes. Resurrection there could cause disaster.
No matter what… he'd focus on living his own life first.
Suppressing his suddenly stirred memories, Roz straightened up, preparing to leave the hospital.
"Ouch ouch ouch… Mayu, your strength is huge!"
Shinn screamed loudly, making Roz peek through the doorway.
Mayu, like a frightened rabbit, released Shinn and stared at her own arms in confusion.
"…One more thing, Shinn."
Roz seemed to remember something and said, "Don't ever make your sister angry again."
"Wh-why?!"
Shinn rubbed his waist, easing the pain from almost being broken.
"Even though your sister's prosthetics are civilian versions, they're actually a weakened version of the military model."
Roz looked seriously at a confused Shinn.
"Even weakened, with the weapons removed, your sister can still punch you from the bed all the way into the hospital corridor."
"In short, that's all I have to say."
-----------------------------------
"So… Roz, you installed a weakened prosthetic on that little girl… Are you sure it won't cause the technology to leak?"
On the video call, Christina, her crimson hair still bright, wearing her white lab coat, stood in the "shipyard" laboratory, seemingly studying something.
"Even if Mayu were captured, at most they'd know the neural connection layout, but I doubt they'd even try to dismantle it."
Roz smirked at the topic. "Look at the stuff I did on the Archangel before—who knows how to take that apart? Who'd dare to?"
"Besides, it's just a little harder than usual. It's nothing compared to the prosthetics you guys have."
"Alright, if you're clear on that… fine, next topic."
Christina nodded and switched to another topic.
"I've already seen the data of you piloting the Narrative Gundam, and your logs."
"In short, you need a weapon powerful enough, like a beam magnum."
Sighing, Christina continued, "From the designs so far, only the Unicorn can handle the recoil of a beam magnum. The Narrative Gundam's frame can't withstand that force."
"And the modifications you just sent… the changes to the energy and propulsion systems are… radical."
Looking at the files Roz had just sent—the designs and descriptions—Christina also began doubting whether it could even be mounted.
"In short… because of these changes, the Unicorn's construction schedule will be delayed a bit."
Christina shook her head. "I've been following the battleship's status. There's no time to design high-powered weapons right now. Maybe just use a rocket launcher for now?"
"…Alright, I understand."
Faced with Christina's explanation, Roz could only scratch his head and accept her suggestion.
Thinking carefully, hadn't his actions just now been like those high-ranking jerks at the Blue Cosmos lab, constantly asking for new design changes in the middle of construction?
"Well, if there's nothing else… goodbye?"
Seeing Christina's gaze sharpen in the video feed, Roz instinctively prepared to end the call.
"…Business is done, but what follows is my personal matter."
Christina's tone carried a hint of firmness.
"Uh… what is it?"
Roz had a feeling this next question wasn't going to be good.
"Comfortable?"
"…Huh?"
The abrupt question left Roz stunned.
"I mean: with that woman… comfortable?"
Christina said it calmly, without flinching.
"…How am I supposed to answer that?"
For some reason, Roz had the sense that if he answered this question, the world might just end.
"Alright then…"
Although she didn't know why, Christina seemed to read Roz's hesitation from his expression and decided not to press further.
"But next time we meet, I won't let you off."
Christina, like a lion ready to hunt, had fixed her target.
"Wait… I remember when I saw your files, you were seventeen…"
"How many years has passed? I'm already eighteen."
"But according to the calendar, shouldn't you be nineteen…"
"Eighteen years and fourteen months."
Miss Christina was fully prepared for her hunt.
As for why Big Haro didn't stir things up?
Today, Big Haro was also enjoying some well-deserved goofing off.
-----------------------------------
"How's the recent investigation going? Are they still building those things?"
At the lunar base, in Halbarton's office.
Looking at the data on the offline tablet, Halbarton rubbed his forehead.
Although he held the title of "strategist," Halbarton was most familiar with fighting ZAFT on the frontlines. Now, having to battle ZAFT while also investigating Blue Cosmos in the Atlantic Federation had left him temporarily at a loss.
Things were a bit better now—at least he had a plan—but unfortunately, he had also grown a lot of white hair.
"Yes, they're still constructing those facilities… it seems to be a beam weapon aimed at Earth."
Although Halbarton's aide didn't fully understand weapon design, he could still recognize some important components.
"The Requiem Project… what exactly are those Blue Cosmos, mixed in with Kingdom of Foundation, trying to do?"
Halbarton sighed, deleted all the data on the tablet, and habitually ran several useless data wipes.
"Although it seems those Blue Cosmos have quieted down a bit… there's one thing you need to know."
The aide opened his mouth and delivered the information.
"Regarding that gentleman's new mobile suit… the Atlantic Federation has given it the codename White Devil and has issued orders to capture the White Devil."
Although no names were mentioned, both Halbarton and his aide knew exactly who "that gentleman" referred to.
After all, Halbarton had seen the aurora at the scene firsthand.
"General Halbarton, look—"
"Hmph… the battlefield changes in an instant. No one can say for certain."
Halbarton snorted, showing some contempt for colleagues who had been thoroughly infiltrated by Blue Cosmos.
"That mobile suit is so powerful, and the Eighth Fleet is basically rookies. It's no wonder our defense lines were breached."
Halbarton wasn't the type to betray someone who helped him. He had invited Roz to take on Blue Cosmos—trying to backstab Roz would be unthinkable.
"But if that's the case… we'll gradually be marginalized…"
"Marginalization is exactly the effect I want."
Halbarton looked at his aide, serious. "We've always stood in the light. Every action of ours has been observed and analyzed."
"This time, to counter these guys, we have to leave the light and fight in the shadows."
He picked up his cup and took a sip of water.
"Of course, if we can let the light shine on those bastards, all the better."
Compared to before, since the Eighth Fleet refused to accept the "SB" components, they were already somewhat marginalized within the Atlantic Federation.
If they could be completely marginalized this time, Halbarton could maneuver against these anti-human forces.
"By the way, has that person replied yet?"
As if remembering something, Halbarton looked up and asked.
"They're supposed to come in a few days… but the exact time is uncertain."
-----------------------------------
Earth, inside a Blue Cosmos enhanced human research facility.
Clotho, now in civilian clothes, sat on a chair, staring silently at the communicator showing the battle records of the Narrative Gundam filmed by the Earth Federation fleet.
"Shani… Orga…"
Recalling the names of his fallen friends, Clotho clenched his teeth.
After a while, feeling a dry throat, he instinctively reached out and turned off the communicator. Staring at his trembling hands, he gritted his teeth and pulled a flat flask from his jacket pocket.
His shaking hands twisted open the cap, and he bit the opening and poured a swig of strong liquor into his mouth.
The burning sensation from mouth to throat, combined with the effect of the alcohol, calmed his hands.
There was no other way. As a first-generation enhanced human considered a "waste," his medication had been discontinued, and now he could only rely on alcohol to stay alert.
Meanwhile, Blue Cosmos had adopted a new approach with good results.
"Come in."
The researcher in a white lab coat looked at the slumped "first-generation enhanced human" in front of him with a hint of disgust.
But to continue the experiment, they had no choice but to "seek help" from this fallen figure.
"These three are second-generation enhanced humans."
Smelling the alcohol on him, the researcher instinctively raised a hand to cover his nose. "…Anyway, you are now their acting squad leader. You're responsible for their training and commanding them in combat!"
…Lucky for them, the second-generation ones… just needed sleep for adjustment, and didn't even require medication…
Looking at the three enhanced humans sleeping in their respective pods, each in a different posture, Clotho expressionlessly took another swig of liquor.
If only they had gone this technical route from the start…
"Understood…"
Slightly despondent, Clotho drank from the flask once more.
Not far away in the observation room, Muruta calmly watched the laboratory.
"…Even if it's a waste, let it contribute its last bit of value."
Frowning at Clotho, Muruta's expression was grim.
.................