Chapter 13

(P.O.V.) Reinhard

C.E. 70, April 18

Orb Union, Yalafath Island, Capital City Olofat, Athha Estate, Uzumi's Office.

"So, you just told him to travel and figure things out on his own?" Uzumi raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on his face, his tone a mix of disbelief and concern. I had just finished explaining everything that happened after Neil woke up, and he was struggling to grasp my reasoning.

"Yup," I replied, crossing my arms and leaning back slightly in my chair. I tried to appear relaxed, even though the weight of the situation pressed heavily on my shoulders. "What? You didn't think I should lock him in that hospital room until he decides something, did you?" I had come to see Uzumi in person, realizing I hadn't yet informed him that Neil was awake. Two exhausting weeks had gone by since I last saw him, and truthfully, I was drained from the relentless grind of working on the Fafnir.

"No, I didn't mean to confine him," Uzumi said, his voice thick with genuine concern. "What worries me more is his mental state. I would have preferred if he at least knew what was happening in the world before being set free." His frustration hung in the air, revealing just how much he cared. Now I understood why he was worried; he should've made that clear from the start.

"Don't worry. Remember the yellow Haro I gave to Cagalli?" I asked, attempting to reassure him. Uzumi nodded, but his skepticism didn't wane. "Well, there were originally two Haros—a white one and an orange one. The white one was beyond repair, but I salvaged parts to fix up the orange one for Neil. I uploaded all the info he'll need to adapt to this new reality—seriously, don't stress." I flashed him a reassuring smile, hoping to ease his concerns.

While he still appeared skeptical, a flicker of relief tugged at the corners of his lips. "While we're on the topic, can I ask why you gave that Haro to Cagalli? Not that I'm not grateful; I'm just confused. She seems a bit old for toys." he said, amusement dancing in his tone, though it felt slightly dismissive.

"Haro is not a toy." I snapped back, surprising myself with the intensity of my response. "I gave it to her so she'd have assistance if she needs to pilot a mobile suit." The surprise etched on Uzumi's face showed he hadn't considered that angle. I softened my tone a bit, hoping to ease the tension. "Come on, don't act shocked. We both know she'll end up piloting one sooner or later. The best thing we can do is get her prepared."

Lost in my thoughts, I remembered how I had used the remaining parts from the white Haro to modify and create a new yellow model, which helps a pilot process battle data in real time while managing the mobile suit's capabilities. "And besides, if she ever decides to run away from Orb for some godforsaken reason, the Haro I gave her has a tracker that works even from outer space." I added, letting a playful grin escape my lips to lighten the mood.

Uzumi leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, fingers entwined as he contemplated my words. "I see. Thanks for thinking ahead. But let me tell you, she's been acting more rebellious lately after finding out some members of the government have been suggesting that Orb should take a side in the war." he said, the seriousness of his expression cutting through the levity. The weight of the situation was clear on his face. "Fortunately, they're a minority with little political power."

The idea of politicians wanting to jump into the conflict sent a chill down my spine. "So some bastards want to pick a side just to make a profit?" My voice dripped with disdain, anger simmering beneath the surface. "Are you sure this won't turn into a real problem?" I asked, my tone cooling like ice. If necessary, I'd ensure they ended up in a cozy retirement home, where no one would ever hear from them again.

Uzumi must have sensed my unease; he shook his head firmly. "Yes, I'm sure they won't be a problem. While they did suggest breaking our neutrality, they've quickly become undesirable. Before long, some dirt about them will surface, and they'll be forced to back down." His calm confidence eased my growing tension, making it seem pointless for me to push further.

"Now can you explain why I received a requisition form from Koto mentioning you needed 150 tons of titanium for research purposes when you just requested 60 tons?" Uzumi probed, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes as he alluded to Koto's irritation.

"Long answer or short answer?" I asked, gauging his patience. I could sense he was getting impatient for me to get to the point.

"I want to rebuild the Ptolemaios to serve as a support ship for the Gundams. I've redesigned the original schematics and corrected my earlier mistakes." I stated, but a familiar wave of frustration rolled over me, prompting me to shake it off. "Besides, my team needs to maintain complete deniability. No one should know that the ship belongs to Orb except for you and the upper command of the defense force. Therefore, I need to build the Ptolemaios as a unique vessel with both battle and stealth capabilities."

Uzumi took a moment to mull over my words before he signed off on the requisition form. "You make valid points, but if you ever need such a large amount of resources in the future, please contact me ahead of time. I'd rather not have to deal with Koto's complaints about you. And out of personal curiosity, what was that previous 60 tons for?" he asked, genuine curiosity evident in his tone.

"Oh, that? Well, some time ago, I decided to build a second Gundam focusing on long- to medium-range combat to cover the Fafnir's main weakness in that area." I explained, pride swelling within me as I thought about the future of my designs.

"And I'm assuming Neil will be the pilot for this new Gundam." he remarked, raising an eyebrow.

"I hope so. If not, it'll be a pain in the ass to train someone else to pilot it. Neil's already a seasoned pilot." A flicker of worry coursed through me as I contemplated whether Neil might accept my offer. If he rejected it, there'd be nothing I could do but carry on. I wouldn't force him into a war he felt no connection to.

Remembering something I had almost forgotten, I asked, "Oh, right. Is it possible for me to go to Heliopolis? I want to check out the G-Project in person."

Uzumi looked surprised by my sudden interest. "Why the sudden eagerness for the G-Project? I thought you received a copy of the reports from the Morgenröte employees assigned to the project."

"Yes, I have, but there's a specific piece of technology they haven't reported on due to the Atlantic Federation keeping it secret." I explained, annoyance creeping into my tone at their inability to uncover that crucial information.

"Phase Shift Armor." Uzumi stated, his tone turning serious. "You want to head to Heliopolis to learn about the creation process for Phase Shift Armor? But even the Morgenröte employees weren't able to acquire the construction method…" His voice trailed off, showing his skepticism.

"Yes, despite the Morgenröte employees assigned to the G-Project starting to build five mobile suit prototypes for Orb in secret, they haven't been able to obtain the Phase Shift technology. Those mobile suits are being constructed without it because the Federation has the process locked down." My frustration was palpable. "While I doubt I'll get the chance to learn the process directly from the Atlantic Federation scientists, I might gain some insight by seeing everything in person."

Uzumi fell silent for a moment, contemplating my request. "Okay, I'll talk to Koto and have him inform the employees at Heliopolis that you're temporarily transferring there under the pretense of working on the OS."

That sounded like a solid plan, especially since the Atlantic Federation had yet to create a functioning OS. All I had to do was lay the groundwork for a workable OS and let them finish it off.

After finalizing the details, we agreed I'd go after hearing back from Neil. Until then, I decided to focus on the bit control system I'd been trying to refine.

(P.O.V.) Neil Dylandy

C.E. April 23

Orb Union, Capital City Olofat

It had been a while since I left the hospital, and I'd been traveling around Orb, researching the differences between this timeline and my original one.

Leaning against my car, I watched people bustle about their day, my thoughts drifting back to the day I lost my family. My only remaining family member was my brother. What began as a normal day turned into a nightmare when a group bombed the plaza, killing my parents and sister—countless innocent lives lost in the chaos. It was a miracle that my brother and I survived.

After the bombing, I developed a seething hatred for terrorists and eventually enlisted in the army for a brief period before getting booted out for insubordination. But I didn't regret that decision. Eventually, I was approached by a member of Celestial Being and was recruited to become a Gundam Meister.

"Any country, organization, or corporation that promotes war will be a target for armed intervention." I whispered to myself, quoting old man Aeolia. That was the core reason I joined Celestial Being. But I couldn't help but wonder about Reinhard's motivations for becoming a part of this.

My gaze was suddenly drawn to a family of four: both parents, a boy around thirteen, and a little girl just going about their day. For a moment, their picture overlapped with memories of my family, making my heart ache as I gripped my hands tightly. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of those painful thoughts. "Stop thinking about the dead; they're long gone." I murmured to myself.

Out of nowhere, Haro jumped from the car window and began bouncing around, eventually making his way toward the boy, who picked him up. Watching this unfold, I facepalmed, exasperated. Haro always seemed to find trouble. I figured the kid noticed my annoyed expression because, thinking Haro was mine, he approached me while still holding the little guy.

"Excuse me, sir, but does this belong to you?" he asked. For some reason, he reminded me of Setsuna. While both of them couldn't be more different, they both had this unique aura about them—how strange.

"Yes, he does. Sorry for any trouble he caused; Haro can be a handful." I replied, reclaiming Haro from the boy.

"Lockon mean!" Haro exclaimed, and I sighed, wishing I had told him to call me Neil in public, but he always preferred my codename.

"Lockon?" I heard the boy ask, confusion etched on his face.

"Sorry about that; Haro has a habit of calling me by a nickname a friend gave me." I quickly spun a story to explain my codename. "My name is Neil Dylandy, by the way."

The kid blushed in embarrassment, probably just realizing he hadn't introduced himself. "I'm sorry! My name is Shinn Asuka." he said, his voice tinged with embarrassment.

"SHINN!" I suddenly heard a woman yell his name, and I turned to see his mother signaling for him to come back.

I smiled gently. "Looks like your mother is worried about you. You should probably head back." I suggested, noticing how he shivered when she called out. He nodded and began walking over to her. "Thanks again, Shinn." I called after him. He paused, turning to me with a bright smile and a nod before dashing off to his mother, who looked relieved.

As I watched them, more memories of my family rushed back. I shook my head and decided to take a walk to clear my mind. After wandering for a while, I found a park and sat down on a bench, letting Haro roll around and play as I tried to shake off the heavy thoughts still weighing on me.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed an elderly man walking with a cane. I soon realized he was blind, yet moved as if he could see. He had the presence of a wise old man, and a sense of serenity emanated from him. It was strange, but whenever I tried to focus on that feeling, a slight headache would flare to life.

Eventually, the headache subsided, and I noticed the man heading toward the bench. "Greetings, may I take a seat?" he asked in a calm voice.

"Of course. Please make yourself comfortable." I replied, almost gesturing for him to sit before remembering he might be blind.

"Thank you. It seems my age is catching up to me." he said, letting out a deep breath as he settled onto the bench.

We sat quietly in silence, my mind preoccupied with countless thoughts, until I suddenly heard him speak. "It seems something is troubling you, my friend. Would you like to talk about it?"

Honestly, I would. But how would I explain my situation? I rubbed my chin, trying to formulate a believable version of my story. "Yes, I would. Currently, I'm at a crossroads, and I don't know what choice I should make."

The old man nodded, as if he understood. "I see. In times like this, I've found it's better to start from the beginning."

The beginning, huh? "It all started when my parents and sister were killed in a terrorist attack, alongside several other people. My younger twin brother and I were among the few survivors. While my brother managed to move on, I could not." I gripped my knee, anger boiling inside me, even after all these years. "After the incident, I developed a deep hatred for terrorists, leading me to join the army, where I excelled in marksmanship. But during my first deployment, I refused orders from my superiors, and that got me kicked out. But I don't regret that decision." That was the honest truth—who would order someone to fire on a civilian population just because they suspected one among them was a terrorist? If I had taken the shot, how would that make me any different from them?

"Eventually, I bounced around from job to job until I was approached by a member of an organization I won't name. We talked, and when I learned about the organization's goal, I joined, believing that if the organization succeeded, it would be extremely beneficial to humanity." I mean, a world without war—how could that not be beneficial? "Along the way, I met my fellow comrades, one in particular whom I had come to consider a surrogate younger brother. While I still sent money to my twin to support him, I hadn't spoken to him in years, believing it was for the best. Even when my family was alive, we didn't get along well; he developed an inferiority complex from always being compared to me." I somewhat blamed myself for not talking to Lyle and not helping him stop comparing himself to me.

"Fast forward a couple of years, and we began implementing the organization's plan to help humanity. However, along the way, we faced battle after hard-fought battle until we were betrayed by a member of our organization."

"After the betrayal, it felt like we were fighting against the entire world, which eventually led to me being injured. I had been told it would take three weeks to get back into fighting shape, but I couldn't let my comrades fight alone. So, against my entire team's advice, I deployed and confronted him!" I said, anger rising within me, surprising even myself. "I had been informed by one of our enemies that my teammate—the one I considered my surrogate younger brother—had been part of the group responsible for the attack that killed my parents and sister. I confronted him, and after hearing his explanation, I forgave him. But when I learned that the true mastermind was working for our enemies, I made a personal decision to kill him. This led to our eventual showdown, where I lost. I should have been more careful, but I let my anger cloud my judgment and fought against him, even though my dominant eye was injured and essentially forced me to fight at a disadvantage. Even in such a severely injured state, I was determined to eliminate that monster from the world. During our fight, I managed to severely injure him but couldn't finish the job." The thought of Ali Al-Saachez possibly still being alive ignited the fury within me.

"When I finally woke up, I found myself in a hospital and discovered that the organization had been defeated and my comrades lost. An old member of the organization explained how I had been rescued and how it was impossible for me to return to them. He then offered me a choice and told me to travel before giving him an answer, an answer I still don't have."

The old man hummed in contemplation. "Before answering, allow me to ask you a few questions. First, I assume you were forced to give up your previous life after joining the organization. Second, did you begin to lose sight of who you were after joining? And thirdly, did this comrade offer you the choice to fight again?"

Hearing his questions, I was taken aback by how accurately he had assessed my situation. "Yes, to all three." I replied.

The old man fell silent for a while. "I see. I believe I understand why he asked you to travel before giving him your answer. Based on your story, I can deduce that you aren't a citizen of Orb and have no direct connection to the ongoing war. While I assume that the man who gave you the offer is in some way connected to Orb's military, I also believe he has gone through something similar to you."

Wait, Reinhard went through something similar? Did he lose his family in a terrorist attack?

"And because of that, I think he wants you to rediscover your former self before you accept his offer. He also likely doesn't want to force you to fight." the old man continued. "While I can only speculate, it seems he's preparing for a time when Orb might be dragged into this dreadful war." A sigh escaped him, revealing his disdain for the world's current state. "But if you seek a solid answer, you must uncover your reason for fighting."

My reason for fighting had always centered on the eradication of war, much like all the Gundam Meisters. But I also fought to eliminate terrorists, hoping to prevent anyone from experiencing what I had.

"Try to picture how you would feel if you saw all the people in this park perish because an enemy nation decided to invade." the old man prompted.

The thought ignited a surge of anger within me, not only at the idea of a nation slaughtering civilians but also at the audacity of invading a neutral land. I suddenly realized something important: I had grown attached to this nation, one that would only engage in conflict to defend its people and sovereignty. "I see, so that's why Reinhard wanted me to travel. That guy is pretty sneaky." I chuckled. "Thank you for your advice…" I trailed off since I hadn't caught his name.

"Reverend Malchio," he said with a smile. "But you don't need to thank me; all I did was offer some simple advice."

"No, Reverend Malchio, you've been incredibly helpful. Please allow me to introduce myself—my name is Neil Dylandy." I offered him a genuine smile.

Eventually, I left the park with Haro and took out my phone, dialing the only number saved in it. "Took you long enough! I was starting to worry that something had happened to you." Reinhard's voice came through the phone, laced with playful concern.

"It took longer than I expected to make my decision." I admitted as I slid into my car. "I accept."

"Well then, Neil Dylandy, welcome to the team. I sent you the location of our current base." Reinhard said before cutting off the call.