"Welcome back, Rita." Yang Hui smiled as he stroked Rita Bernal's hair. It hadn't been cared for in a long time and felt coarse, but he could still transfer the warmth of his palm to her skin.
"Mmm... yes, I'm back, Colonel," Rita Bernal replied shyly, her head lowered. She closed her eyes slightly, enjoying the gentle touch. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt such warmth; the memory was very faint.
"So, Rita, you've given yourself new hope and possibilities. Do you still remember what you wanted to do?" Yang Hui asked.
"I remember. I want... I want to become a little bird."
"Then let's go."
"Huh?" Rita Bernal stared blankly at the hand before her, then looked up at Yang Hui. She didn't understand what he meant; after all, a person couldn't become a bird.
"Come with me."
"Mmm... okay."
Although she didn't know where Yang Hui was taking her, she trusted him. Mustering her courage, she placed her hand in his palm and followed him out of the room, stepping out of the cage that had imprisoned her with brand-new hope and possibilities.
"Colonel." Travis Kirkland and the others standing guard at the door watched as Yang Hui led Rita Bernal out. Rita Bernal's eyes had regained their spirit; she was no longer a walking corpse. A great weight lifted from their hearts.
Although none of them knew why Yang Hui had specifically requested Rita Bernal, some members of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division had families and children of their own. Seeing a little girl the same age as their own sons and daughters reduced to a zombie-like state was deeply distressing.
Even those without families or children felt the same. Children were a treasure to the world. What kind of disaster could have befallen her to turn her into this?
The good thing was that although Rita Bernal's consciousness had been in a special space, her body, under subconscious control, still possessed basic survival instincts. Skills like eating and sleeping were preserved, so her body wasn't too weak.
"Say hello, Rita. They've been taking care of you all this time."
"Th... thank you..." Rita Bernal lowered her head shyly. She had once been a lively and cheerful little girl, but after experiencing disaster and tragedy, she had hidden in that special space for too long. She hadn't interacted normally with people and had even grown to fear the outside world, so she had become very introverted.
"Heh heh, it's good that you're better now." The group of "uncles" and "aunts" all smiled dotingly. Rita Bernal was very cute.
"I will now issue an order," Yang Hui said to everyone before him.
"Sir!" came the unified reply.
Upon hearing the word "order," everyone's smiles vanished. They snapped to attention, waiting for the command, revealing their hardened military side.
It was a subconscious action. The group secretly glanced at Rita Bernal, afraid that this iron-blooded aura might frighten the introverted girl. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw she wasn't scared.
Rita Bernal was indeed not frightened. Instead, she felt a sense of security. As a Newtype, she could feel the warmth and kindness they were radiating toward her.
"From this moment on, Rita is the little sister of everyone in the Twelfth Independent Division. Remember to inform every single person!"
"Sir!" came the unified reply.
"Colonel... um... I'm old enough to be her uncle," South Burning asked cautiously. He was among the oldest members of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division, nearly two full zodiac cycles older than Rita Bernal. To be her brother instead of her uncle... wasn't that a bit like an old man robbing the cradle?
Not just South Burning, but also Travis Kirkland and others whose own children were around Rita Bernal's age had the same awkward expression.
"Hmm? You want to be in my uncle's generation?" Yang Hui's eyes narrowed, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
"No, sir!" came the unified reply.
The few who wanted to be uncles and aunts shook their heads so fast they became a blur.
"Then you're her older brothers and sisters."
"Sir!" came the unified reply.
Out of fear, their response was several decibels louder.
Pfft~
An untimely sound suddenly broke the tense atmosphere. Normally, if someone couldn't hold back their laughter at a time like this, the consequences would be dire, but...
Everyone's gaze fell on Rita Bernal, and they all smiled faintly. Although she was a "sister" who had been forced upon them less than a minute ago, her laugh was truly adorable.
"Alright, Margareta, take Rita to get something to eat, take a bath, and get dressed up. Then bring her to the hangar. Banagher, have Amuro come find me."
"Sir!" came the reply from two people.
"The rest of you, go inform everyone else. Remember, every single person must be notified. Tonight, we're holding a welcome party for Rita!"
"Sir!" came the unified reply.
Margareta took Rita Bernal's small hand from Yang Hui and led her toward her own room. She had been in charge of caring for Rita Bernal during this time, so it was most appropriate to entrust her with this task.
Rita Bernal wasn't afraid. She could feel the kindness from others, which made her feel warm and safe.
In an instant, a bombshell dropped on the entire Twelfth Independent Technical Division, exploding among those who were training, working, or idle.
"What? The little sister of all of us?"
"Who is it? Miss Sayla?"
"How could it be Miss Sayla? It must be someone else."
"The Colonel has another sister?"
"I don't know."
"Her name is Rita Bernal?"
"That's the name. I heard from Major Kakuland that it's the little girl General Revil sent over."
"That little girl? Isn't she..."
"I heard the Colonel cured her."
"That's great!"
"Yeah, and the best part is... I finally have a little sister!"
"Haha, me too! I have a younger brother, but I've always wanted a little sister."
"Same here, hahaha."
"But I'm old enough to be her uncle!"
"...You want to be the Colonel's uncle?"
"...I'm not! I didn't! Don't talk nonsense!"
"By the way, Ensign Banagher just called Amuro over. I wonder what for."
"Let's go check it out together?"
"Let's go!"
A large group of people rushed toward the hangar, where they saw this "sister" they had yet to meet.
Seeing the crowd swarming in, with all eyes focused on her, Rita Bernal was frightened and hid behind Margareta, peeking out with only half her head at her new "brothers and sisters."
"So cute!" came the unified thought.
In an instant, a group of grown men fell for Rita Bernal's delicate, doll-like face. As for the women, if Yang Hui hadn't been present, they probably would have already pounced on Rita Bernal to hug and nuzzle her.
However, what puzzled them was why Rita Bernal was wearing a pilot suit.
"Colonel... huh?" Amuro, who had also changed into his pilot suit, walked out, but he was startled to see so many people suddenly gathered in the hangar.
"Colonel, what's this...?" Jung asked.
"Rita wants to be a little bird. I'm having Amuro take her to fulfill her wish," Yang Hui said.
Amuro's Mobile Suit was fitted with Ground Specialized Equipment. Yang Hui had Amuro place Rita Bernal on its palm to experience the feeling of flying. After all, the Astray Gundam was about 18 meters tall, and its palm was high enough to simulate the swift sensation of a bird's flight.
As for installing the Aerial Combat Pack and taking Rita Bernal into the real sky... without GN Particles and a GN Drive, it was best to forget it.
For the Astray Gundam to safely let Rita Bernal stand on its palm and feel like she was flying, there was only one possible outcome: it would stall and fall.
"Colonel! Let me do it! Amuro is still young and not steady enough..."
"Get lost! I'll do it! Your piloting skills are worse than mine!"
"Colonel, what about me? I'm better than Amuro, right?"
"All you men, get out of the way! You're all so clumsy, what if you hurt Rita? Colonel, let me do it. I'm a woman, I'm more delicate..."
"Since when is a tomboy considered a woman?"
"What did you say!?"
"Are you looking down on us!?"
"Duel!"
...
The competition for the privilege of taking Rita Bernal flying had turned into a war between the sexes. Yang Hui shook his head with a wry smile. These damn fools, couldn't they see that Rita Bernal was on the verge of tears?
"Silence!"
A sharp shout instantly quieted the noisy argument.
"What are you all shouting about? You've scared Rita to tears!"
"Uh... sorry," came the unified reply.
"Alright, Amuro, get in the suit."
"Sir!"
Amuro had been wanting to escape for a while. He couldn't stand another moment under the murderous, envious, and hateful gazes of his comrades.
"Amuro, you brat, if you dare let Rita get hurt! You'd better be ready to die!"
As he was fleeing, someone's threat sparked a chorus of agreement from everyone else, scaring Amuro so much he nearly tripped and ran even faster.
Meanwhile, Yang Hui approached Rita Bernal, knelt down, and said to her, "In a moment, Amuro will take you to experience what it's like for a little bird to fly. Don't be afraid, he won't let you get hurt."
"Okay, I understand, Colonel..."
"Just call me 'brother'." Yang Hui stroked Rita Bernal's head and gently gestured to everyone around them. "The same goes for them. They are all your older brothers and sisters."
"Brothers and sisters?" Rita Bernal tilted her head, looked around, and a sunny smile appeared on her face. "Okay."
"Heh heh, Rita, I'm your brother Fort!"
"Get out of the way! I'm brother Russ..."
"I'm brother Jung."
"Kajima Yuu."
"Brother Kowloon is right here!"
"I'm Christina Mackenzie, call me sister Chris!"
...
"You creepy uncles and aunts! Military police, come and arrest these people!" Yang Hui cursed good-naturedly.
"Hahahaha..."
Amidst the cheerful laughter, Rita Bernal's smiles became more frequent. Her shyness receded, replaced by sunshine.
Just then, Amuro arrived in his Mobile Suit. It bent down and extended its hand to the ground, allowing Rita Bernal to climb on.
"Come on up, Rita."
"Mmm..." Rita Bernal looked around and saw everyone watching her with encouraging eyes and smiles. She smiled sweetly. "Okay!"
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