Mikazuki sat on Barbatos's leg, eating the cookies Kira had given him. After all, he'd traveled quite a distance and was starving. Dates alone weren't enough to fill him up.
Kira and Murrue stood below, looking up at Mikazuki and saying, "Mikazuki, didn't you say you were looking for your brother? Were you lying to me?"
"Ah, sorry, I lied."
"Hmm, he just admitted it so directly, not even bothering to make an excuse?"
"Huh? Am I supposed to make an excuse?" Mikazuki asked with a blank expression that made everyone nearly fall over.
Murrue cleared her throat, also craning her neck to speak. "Mikazuki-kun, I'd like to ask, why did you save me?"
Mikazuki paused, remembering what Orga had just told him about not exposing his existence. So he gave a reason Orga had helped him concoct. "Because I wanted to see the difference between the Earth Alliance Forces' Gundam and my Barbatos."
"Barbatos? Is that your mobile suit's name?"
"Mhm, that's right."
Mikazuki swallowed the last bite of cookie, then jumped down, coming to stand in front of Strike.
"It turned grey..."
Just then, Orga's voice came through the earpiece. "Is that what they call Phase Shift Armor? An armor that, once activated, resists physical weapon attacks."
Mikazuki frowned slightly. "Physical weapons?"
"Exactly. Barbatos's weapons might be useless against these mobile suits. This is truly... If this PS armor were on our side, it would be almost invincible among MS."
"It doesn't matter... No matter who the enemy is, I'll destroy anyone who stands in my way. Just smash them up."
Orga chuckled. "True, you are Tekkadan's devil, so PS armor and such are completely irrelevant to you."
Mikazuki simply smiled without a word. That smile of his, from when he was muttering to himself, had been fully observed by Murrue. From the shape of his mouth, it seemed he was talking to someone. Could he have accomplices?
Mikazuki noticed her gaze, turned, and faced her. "What are you going to do next? Your comrades seem to be dead."
"Uh..." Murrue's beautiful, mature face showed a hint of sadness when Mikazuki brought that up, but she quickly composed herself.
Taking a deep breath, she knew it was a bit risky, but there was no other choice. And she inexplicably felt a sense of trust in the young man before her, even though she didn't understand him.
"I need your help. The Gundam is out of energy now. I hope you can help me replace Strike Gundam's battery pack. The battery pack is with..."
"Can't do it..."
"Eh? Can't do it? Why?"
Murrue thought she had misheard. Mikazuki's answer was "no," a refusal! She had asked Mikazuki to pilot Strike, mentally preparing for it to be stolen, only to be refused. At this moment, Murrue's emotions were like a rollercoaster, wave after wave.
Mikazuki scratched his head nonchalantly. "Because I don't know how to pilot it."
"You don't know how? Are you kidding me?" Murrue felt this boy had been messing with her from start to finish. She almost wanted to pull out her gun. You pilot your own mobile suit so skillfully, and now I'm begging you to pilot the Gundam, and you refuse, opening your eyes and lying that you don't know how? Who are you trying to fool?
"I'm not kidding. I truly don't know how to pilot your side's MS." There was no hint of joking in Mikazuki's eyes. Murrue was once again drawn in by his gaze.
"Really?"
"Really. Barbatos's controls are different from your Gundam's. It's equipped with an Ahab Reactor and the Alaya-Vijnana System, which is why I can pilot it." Mikazuki felt a bit thirsty. He bypassed Murrue, picked up the water bottle she had been drinking from, and helped himself.
Seeing Mikazuki drink from her bottle, Murrue's face suddenly flushed slightly, but she quickly composed herself, frowning faintly as she spoke.
"Alaya-Vijnana System, Ahab Reactor? What are those?"
Mikazuki naturally didn't know. He casually tossed the water bottle aside and walked to Barbatos, touching its cold metal body. "I can't explain it clearly. In short, I can't pilot your mobile suit. It's that simple."
Murrue found it difficult when Mikazuki seemed unwilling to explain. "Then... what should we do...?"
As she pondered, Mikazuki spoke. "Kira... Kira Yamato can help you."
Mikazuki's reminder made Murrue look back at Kira, who was gathered with his companions, discussing. She recalled her earlier conversation with the young men. Being able to freely pilot Strike, whose OS was clearly incomplete, could only mean one thing: the young man named Kira Yamato was a Newtype.
"He can help you."
"But..." Murrue looked troubled. After all, he was a Newtype. If...
Mikazuki raised an eyebrow, crossing his hands into his pockets and saying faintly, "Kira isn't what you think. He's a good person. Besides, this is the only way now, isn't it? Or do you want to end it here?"
Murrue sighed. Mikazuki was right. Only Kira could help her save Strike now. It seemed like getting his help was the only option. Otherwise, if ZAFT attacked again, it would truly be over.
"Then, Mikazuki-kun, can I ask you to help with surveillance?"
"Yes." Mikazuki agreed without a second thought. After all, Orga had already given him instructions.
Murrue breathed a sigh of relief. Having a combat force like Mikazuki protecting them here made her feel somewhat relieved.
"Thank you very much. What kind of reward would you like later?"
Mikazuki thought for a moment. He didn't particularly want anything, so he casually said, "Just give me food."
Murrue's expression slumped. She looked at Mikazuki, somewhat baffled. "Huh? Food?"
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