Crossing Orb: Newtype Commander

Chapter 122 Return Voyage II

Late at night, in the medical bay of the Archangel.

Mu La Vragja lay on the hospital bed, his left arm in a cast, several cuts from shards on his face. But his eyes remained bright, and his signature smile still lingered on his lips. He looked at Kira sitting beside the bed, and in Kira's amber eyes was a kind of weariness that pained him—not physical weariness, but an unspeakable heaviness deep within his soul.

Kira, how's your hand?

"The dressing has been changed," Kira said calmly. "The doctor said I'll recover after another week of rest."

"That's good." Mu leaned back on the pillow, staring at the ceiling. "Kira, when you charged in today, I was thinking, 'This kid is really fearless. He dared to face the Aegis and Duel all by himself.'"

Kira lowered his head, staring at his hands. "Mr. Mu, you are the one who should be charging in. The Sky King is no match for a mobile suit, so why did you still charge in?"

Mu was silent for a moment. "Because you were there. Because you faced two enemies alone. Because I am an adult, and you are a child. Adults should not let children face danger alone."

Kira's fingers tightened slightly. "Mr. Mu, you're not an adult, you're an idiot."

Mu laughed. The laughter echoed in the medical pod, carrying a reassuring warmth. "Perhaps. But even idiots have their stubborn streaks. Like, not letting Kira carry everything alone."

Kira's eyes reddened. He didn't cry, but sat quietly, letting Mu's laughter echo in his ears. Outside the window, the lights of Orb City flickered in the night, and the cables of the rail elevator shimmered silver in the moonlight. In this peaceful land, among those lights, someone was waiting for him: Thor, Miria, Sai, and the children sleeping peacefully in the refugee camp.

"Mr. Mu, what do you want to do after the war is over?"

Mu thought for a moment. "I want to go to the beach. Not the beach of a battlefield, but the beach of peace. Watching the waves, drinking beer, and not thinking about anything. What about you?"

Kira thought for a moment. "I want to go to school. To catch up on the lessons I've missed, to attend classes with my friends, to eat together, to chat together. To do ordinary things."

"Just something ordinary," Mu repeated, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Sounds good."

The following morning, in the reception room of the Dawn Society.

Char sat on the sofa, a cup of tea in his hand. Across from him, Athrun Zala, dressed in civilian clothes provided by Orb, had an IV drip in his left arm and held a teacup in his right hand but didn't drink. Their eyes met in the air, and they remained silent for a long time.

"Athrun Zala," Char broke the silence, his voice calm, "Do you know why I saved you?"

Aslan stared into his eyes, those deep red eyes holding a light that made it impossible for him to look away—not scrutiny, not judgment, but "gazing".

"have no idea."

"Because you still have a choice." Char put down his teacup, leaning forward slightly. "Kira, he believes that one day you will find another path, not to fight for hatred, not to fight for orders, but to fight for peace. I believe that too."

Aslan's fingers tightened slightly. "Why? You don't understand me at all."

"I understand," Char's voice was calm. "I know your mother Renoia Sara's story, and I know your time at ZAFT."

"I understand your upbringing and the hesitations you faced on the battlefield. Because I hesitated too. In Heliopolis, in Artemis, in the Junius VII wreckage area, with every kill, I asked myself, 'Is there any other way?' The answer was no, but the very act of asking that question prevented me from becoming a mindless killing machine."

Aslan's lips trembled. "Commander-in-Chief Askha, how many people have you killed?"

Char was silent for a moment. "I don't know. There are too many. But I remember each and every one of them. Not their faces, but the fear, pain, and despair they felt in the moment before they died. These emotions will remain in my memory forever, reminding me that I can't go on like this."

Aslan lowered his head, staring at the teacup in his hand. In the reflection of the tea in the cup, he saw his own face—a face that showed weariness, confusion, and a barely perceptible longing to believe in something.

"Commander-in-Chief Askha, do you really think peace will come?"

Char looked at him, the sunlight streaming through the window reflected in his deep red eyes. "I don't know. But if even belief is lost, there will never be peace. Believing that peace will come, and then striving for it—that's all I can do."

Aslan stared at him for a long time, then slowly nodded. "I want to see Nicole. To see with my own eyes that he's still alive."

"Okay." Char stood up and walked towards the door. "The Archangel's medical bay is waiting for you. Kira is there too."

He wants to see you.

Athrun's fingers paused slightly. Kira, the boy who told him "I'll wait for you" on the deserted island in the Red Sea. They were going to meet again, not on the battlefield, not in a state of hostility, but in a peaceful, safe place where there was no need for fighting.

"it is good."

9:00 AM, Archangel medical module.

Nicole Amalfi sat on the hospital bed, chewing a rice ball. He had a bandage on his left forehead and some abrasions on his left arm, but seemed to be in good spirits. He nearly dropped the rice ball when he saw Aslan enter the medical pod.

"Athrun!" Nicole's eyes shone brighter with joy. "Are you alright?"

Aslan walked to the bedside and looked at the young face. There was no fear, no resentment, only a joy born of surviving a near-death experience. He wanted to say something, but his throat felt blocked, and he couldn't utter a sound. He simply reached out and gently patted Nicole's shoulder.

"I'm glad you're alright."

Nicole smiled. The smile looked especially warm against her bandaged face. "Athlan, you're injured. Your hand..."

'

"It's just a minor injury," Aslan said hoarsely. "Nicole, I'm sorry. It's because of me."

"It's not Aslan's fault," Nicole shook her head. "I was too reckless. The Phantom Particle System was consuming energy faster than expected; I should have retreated sooner. It's not your fault."

Aslan stared at him for a long time, then slowly nodded. "Thank you, Nicole."

Kira stood at the doorway of the medical pod, watching Athrun and Nicole's conversation. His hands were still bandaged, but his heartbeat was steady. He wanted to go in, to say "You've come" to Athrun, but his legs felt nailed to the floor, unable to move.

"Kira." A voice came from behind.

He turned around and saw Lux Clyne standing in the hallway, holding the green Hello in her arms. Her eyes shimmered with a violet light in the red glow of the emergency lights, and a gentle smile played on her lips.

"Miss Lux."

"Aren't you going to see him?"

Kira was silent for a moment. "I don't know what to say."

"Then let's say Aslan," Lux said softly. "Sometimes, the simplest word is the best word."

Kira stared at her for a long time, then nodded. He turned and walked into the medical pod. Athlan was standing in Nicole's presence.

He stood by the hospital bed, his back to him. Hearing footsteps, Aslan turned around. The two boys' eyes met in the air, and they remained silent for a long time.

"Athrun," Kira said softly.

"Kira," Athrun's voice was equally soft.

They looked at each other, then smiled simultaneously. It wasn't a happy smile, but a smile born of immense suffering...

A smile that can finally be "temporarily put aside".

Nicole looked at them; the rice ball in his hand was completely cold, but he didn't care. A slight smile played on his lips, and a warm feeling welled up inside him—even though the war was still ongoing, even though they were still soldiers on opposing sides, at least for this moment, on this ship, in this medical bay, they were friends.

"Kira," Athrun broke the silence, "I still have a lot to say to you. But not now. Right now, I want to see someone."

"Who?"

"Commander-in-Chief Asha. He said, 'Come find me when you've thought it through.' I've thought it through. At least I've thought it through."

Kira looked at him, her amber eyes gleaming with understanding. "Go. He's waiting for you at Dawn."

Aslan nodded, turned, and walked out of the medical pod. Kira watched his retreating figure, a complex emotion welling up within him—not relief, not anticipation, but something more intricate and profound: hope.

That afternoon, in the office of the Dawn Society.

Aslan sat opposite Char, without a teacup in his hand, simply sitting quietly. His gaze was fixed on the silver-white elevator cable outside the window, the sunlight reflecting in his deep red eyes.

"Commander-in-Chief Askha," his voice was calm, "I have one more question."

"explain."

"If one day the war between PLANT and the Union ends, what will Orb do?"

Char looked at him, a glint of light flashing in his deep crimson eyes. "Continue on your own path. Humanity knows no race, evolution knows no path, the future knows no factions." This wasn't a wartime propaganda slogan; it was Orb's future. After the war, we will continue to rebuild this nation, making it a model of human coexistence. To prove that peace is possible.

Aslan stared at him for a long time, then slowly nodded. "I understand."

"Understand what?"

"I understand why Kira believes you."

Char's lips curled into a slight smile. "And you? Do you believe me?"

Aslan was silent for a moment. "I don't know yet. But I want to try to believe. Because if even belief is lacking..."

If that's the case, I'll lose the motivation to continue living.

Xia looked at him, his deep red eyes filled with a complex emotion—not sympathy, not pity, but "understanding".

"Then continue to believe. Even if one day you find that peace is still far away, even if one day you find that war is still going on, do not give up your belief. Because belief itself is hope."

After resupplying in Orb, the Archangel continued its voyage towards Alaska.

The Strike Gundam accompanied the ship, while Kira Yamato, due to injuries, handed over the piloting role to Mu.

Aslan Zala and Nicole Amalfi were placed in a medical facility in Orb. Their injuries were healing, and their hearts were slowly mending. No one knew which path they would choose in the future, but at least—they knew there was another path they could take.