Chapter 8

Within the confines of a private villa, a man in a resplendent yellow suit presides over a multitude of monitors. His distinguished presence is marked by his silver hair and piercing blue eyes. A feline companion reclines in his lap, luxuriating in his gentle strokes. The monitors showcase Ultraman's battle in Armory One, his intervention at Junius Seven, and Chairman Durandal's media interview about the new giant.

"Chairman, is there any more information about this giant?"

"No, all information about the giant has been revealed. We don't know anything else about him."

"What do you think about him stopping Junius Seven."

"I am very grateful to him. He has prevented a major disaster after all."

"Do we know its name?"

"I don't know his name, but a friend of mine has given him a name that is quite fitting. The giant's name is Ultraman."

The interview progressed as the man in the yellow suit adjusted the screen to display images of various high-ranking individuals on Earth.

"So what should we do now, Lord Djibril."

"This is quite a conundrum. The plan was to use the Junius Seven incident to make people hate the Coordinators, but this Ultraman is an eyesore."

"They say he is an alien. This is preposterous; the Coordinators are already a problem, and now an alien has appeared."

"I agree, even if we present evidence from Phantom Pain that Coordinators planned Junius Seven. The people won't care since they haven't suffered."

"So what should we do next, Djibril?"

"We wait for another opportunity and find ways to deal with that giant."

"I guess that is all we can do. For the preservation of our blue and pure world."

"For the preservation of our blue and pure world." said Djibril, raising a glass of wine.

…

The Minerva arrived at Orb Union's Onogoro Island to safely deliver Cagali and Athrun. Additionally, the Minerva was in need of repairs, and Cagali was responsible for covering the costs. Haru experienced a mix of emotions being in this place. It used to be his home, holding cherished memories with his parents, but it was also where he tragically lost them. He could see Shinn having a displeased look on his face.

"You alright, Shinn?"

"Yeah, I'm alright."

"Brings back a lot of memories, huh? Good and bad."

Shinn stays silent, and Haru can tell he agrees.

"You still have your sister's cellphone, right? They created a cenotaph on the island. Why don't we go there to pay respects? It might help you move forward."

"How can you say that so easily. Did your parents mean so little to you."

"No, I treasure them very much. I'm not telling you to forget them, Shinn, but you need to move forward instead of living full of hate and anger. I'm sure your family would also think so."

"...I'll think about it…"

Shinn walks away and holes up in his room. Haru can only shrug his shoulders. "I guess that is some progress."

The Minerva pulls into Orb, and from the window, Haru spots the Captain, Deputy Captain, Cagali, and Athrun disembarking. They're greeted by Orb officials who congratulate Cagali on a safe return. Haru can't help but notice a guy with a ponytail and purple hair who seems kind of sketchy. He goes in for a hug with Cagali, and even from a distance, it's clear she's not feeling it. He's being way too pushy, and his face looks like it's asking for a punch.

"How long do you think we will be staying here?" said Luna.

"Maybe a week? The Minerva is pretty beaten up." replied Vino.

"Eh~ I'm going to get bored~"

"Nee-chan, don't complain. The Minerva needs its repairs after all we have been through."

"I know, Meyrin. It is just there is nothing much to do but train."

"Why don't we turn on the TV? I'm sure the news is talking about Junius Seven." said Yolan

Upon switching on the TV, they were immediately drawn to the news coverage featuring Ultraman. The news station was airing gripping footage of Ultraman bravely battling Chandlar and heroically putting a halt to Junius Seven.

"Huwe~ Ultraman is getting popular." said Luna.

"Well, it's expected. His actions could not be ignored, and it is hard to cover him up." said Rey.

"For a big guy, he can really disappear. He just flew away, but none of our sensors managed to find him. How do you think he is hiding."

"Maybe he has camouflage technology?" said Vino.

"I don't think so, from what I have seen. His body is made of light, and he can manipulate plasma."

"Light? How is a being made of light?"

"I don't know. Unless we can get hold of him, we won't know how his body functions."

The media is currently featuring a lot of coverage on Ultraman, with numerous individuals being interviewed to gather their perspectives on the iconic figure.

{I think he is amazing! I saw his fight against that giant monster, and I thought I was going to die! But luckily, he appeared and beat it!}

{The military couldn't defeat the monster, and they were beaten very badly. Then Ultraman came in and saved the day!}

{I don't like him! He is not human, right? What if he starts attacking us!? He destroyed Junius Seven by himself. What if that attack is directed at the PLANTS}

{He is so cool! When Mama was carrying me. I saw him fighting. I want to be like him when I grow up!}

The public opinion about Ultraman was a bit of a mixed bag. Some folks saw him as a hero, while others were wary of him because, well, he's an alien. Haru felt pretty embarrassed about all the attention his Ultraman persona was getting. He hadn't quite realized the level of scrutiny he'd face after transforming. Luckily, nobody had uncovered his true identity yet. It's pretty mind-boggling for people to wrap their heads around the idea that Ultraman could also take on a human form.

"What's wrong, Haru? Your face is red."

"No, it's nothing. It is just hot in here."

…

In Orb in the Orb Ministers Residence, Cagali is meeting with her ministers. "So, what do you want to discuss?"

"It is about the giant. The alliance has been asking for information about him."

"About Ultraman? Why? Why are they asking for information about him?"

"They are thinking he might become a threat."

"A threat!? He has saved Earth! He has done nothing but help us. Why are you suddenly treating him as an enemy!"

"Cagali, he is not a human, but an alien. We don't know what he is and how many of its kind are out there. It warrants a bit of caution." said Yuna.

Yuna Roma Seiran serves as the Chief Representative of Orb. He has unique purple hair and striking blue eyes. While some find him enigmatic, others may feel that he could benefit from refining his leadership style to be more collaborative and inclusive. It's worth noting that he inherited his position due to his family background.

"What!? How could you say that."

"Cagali, this Ultraman possesses unimaginable power. He destroyed the entire Junius Seven in just one attack. If it is aimed at us, we don't have anything to retaliate." said Unato.

Unato Ema Seiran is currently serving as the Prime Minister of Orb. He is recognized as the father of Yuna and is known for his ambitious pursuits.

Cagali did not want to treat Ultraman as an enemy. She has met him and sees his only contained kindness. She believes he won't harm them. "No, I won't treat him as an enemy. Besides, I don't have information about him. So the alliance won't find anything. That is final! This meeting is over!"

Cagali's departure left the ministers feeling exasperated. They've had numerous encounters with her before, but her stubbornness on this issue left them feeling powerless. Unato and Yuna, in particular, were deeply disappointed. They had hoped to sway Cagali, but her level of determination caught them off guard.

"Father, what should we do."

"There is nothing we can do for now. I also believe she is telling the truth, so we won't get any information about the giant from her."

"What about the Minerva?"

"As much as it is unpleasant for a ZAFT ship to be on our dock. We can't send them away recklessly. Once their ship is fixed, send them away."

"Okay."

…

The Minerva is currently undergoing repairs at Orb's bustling docks. A dedicated team of workers is putting in every effort to restore the Minerva to its former glory. Meanwhile, Captain Talia is meticulously supervising the repair operation to ensure that everything is proceeding according to plan.

"Yes, I suppose. We should be fine if we leave the ship's hull to Morgenroete. But you should handle all the interior repairs yourselves."

"Yes, ma'am."

"They've offered us whatever material and machinery we want, so focus on doing a good job."

"But are you really sure about this, Captain? I can understand our need to replenish here, but personally, I think we should wait with the repairs until we get to Carpentaria." said Arthur.

"I understand what you're getting at. Shall I put on record that you made that suggestion?"

"No, that's fine."

Talia and Arthur were engrossed in a serious discussion about the repairs needed for the Minerva when suddenly, a woman with oil-stained overalls and a bold, friendly demeanor interrupted them. Her shoulder-length brown hair and captivating brown eyes exuded a mature feminine beauty that would catch anyone's attention.

"But you need to prioritize the ship's safety over the need for secrecy. Unless ships—especially battleships—are in top form at all times, it's that much more burdensome for the commander, isn't it?"

Arthur couldn't help but be captivated by her beauty, and Talia had to give his ear a 'gentle' tug to bring him back to the present moment.

"Who are you?" asked Talia.

"Pardon me. I'm Maria Bernes of Shipbuilding Division B. I'm in charge of the work being done on your ship."

She held her hand out for a handshake, and Talia shook her hand.

"I'm Captain Talia Gladys. Nice to meet you."

They quickly felt a strong connection and realized they had a lot in common.

"I heard that the Minerva hasn't officially launched yet. But it appears to already have a lot of history to it."

"Yes. Unfortunately. I never expected anything close to what we went through… But such is fate. What happened has happened. It's true of everything. You really can't tell what awaits you in the future. I feel even more strongly about it now."

"I agree."

"I'm thankful for Orb lending us a hand. Considering it's supposed to be a neutral nation."

"Well, you may be right about that. But it's as you just said. We don't know what awaits us in the future. So right now, we can only do what we believe to be right at this moment. If we learn later that it was a mistake. We'll cry and pout about it for a bit and then think about what needs to be done next."

"Yes, I guess so."

They kept on chatting about everyday things, and before they knew it, they had become fast friends.

***

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