Chapter 17: SEED – Return Again
Late October, UC 0079 — Tolle Koenig finally returned as scheduled. The only regret was that he wouldn't be able to see the end of the One Year War.
The moment the time travel ended, Tolle Koenig's vision went black, and he found himself back in the Archangel's restroom.
The system's prompt rang out: "Host, you have completed your second time travel and earned one random lottery draw. Use it now?"
"Use it immediately."
"Congratulations, Host. You have obtained: Kamen Rider Zero-One Grand Gift Pack.
Contents:
Satellite Zea, Humagear robot, Kamen Rider Zero-One Driver, full set of Progrise Keys, Progrise Key Writing System — along with complete manufacturing blueprints and data for all the above items."
Tolle Koenig blurted out in excitement, "Holy crap!"
Then he quickly clamped his hand over his mouth, doing his best not to make any more noise.
He carefully checked through the details of the Kamen Rider Zero-One Grand Gift Pack.
Satellite Zea manufacturing blueprint data, Humagear robot manufacturing blueprint data…
Kamen Rider Progrise Keys included:
Insect types (Jumping Hopper, Shining Hopper, Metal Cluster Hopper…)
Animal types (Tiger, Elephant, Dolphin…)
Extinct animal types (Dinosaur, Saber-Toothed Tiger, Dodo…)
Legendary Rider types (Decade, Ryuki, Oma Zi-O…) and more.
Humagear Progrise Keys included:
Support-type character data: Izu, Yua, Juster…
Combat-type character data: Thouser, Horobi, Jin, Raiden…
Progrise Key Writing System: allows the consciousness of a human or creature before death to be written into a Progrise Key, enabling them to be reborn as a Humagear.
After reading the introduction, Tolle Koenig felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head.
Sure, these were all incredible — they even included the Oma Zi-O Progrise Key —
But every single one required time and resources to build. Not a single thing was ready-made.
"This is killing me — nothing here is ready to use, everything's got to be built from scratch. What kind of joke is this?
Besides, with our current technology, building these things is nearly impossible.
System, can I swap for a different prize?"
"Host, once a lottery draw is used, it cannot be refunded."
"Ugh, fine. Nothing I can do about it.
Nami, back up this data first, and store it in your database."
"Yes, Master… Backing up data… Storage space insufficient… Requesting expansion.
Master, the data size is too large to back up in full. Please expand storage capacity."
Tolle Koenig cursed in pure, unfiltered national style.
After venting for a few minutes, he said to Nami,
"Nami, back up the Satellite Zea manufacturing blueprint first.
Then assimilate the RX-78 Gundam Unit 1 and Unit 3 for conversion into Satellite Zea.
Make sure to keep Unit 3's armor intact. Is this plan feasible?"
"Master, Satellite Zea blueprint backup complete.
Calculations show the satellite's size exceeds storage capacity — it cannot be stored in full.
Additionally, two mobile suits are insufficient to manufacture Satellite Zea. More materials required."
Tolle Koenig almost blew a gasket on the spot, nearly writing his own ending then and there.
Holding his forehead, he continued,
"Nami, then just manufacture the satellite's core storage and computation section. Treat it as your main body and data backup unit.
Use the Gundam's reactor as its power source. Is this feasible?"
"Master, this plan is feasible. Proceed immediately?"
Finally, it worked. Tolle nodded in agreement.
Nami began assimilating the two Gundams, starting work on the Satellite Zea's core section — estimated completion time: one week.
Tolle Koenig left the restroom and went to the Archangel's mess hall.
Before long, Kira Yamato arrived with Flay Allster in tow.
The moment Flay Allster saw Sai Argyle, she ran straight over and threw herself into his arms, crying.
Kira, meanwhile, had the look of a wagging dog — smug and self-satisfied.
Murrue Ramius was in discussion with Mu La Flaga and Natarle Badgiruel.
To evade pursuit by Rau Le Creuset's team, they had decided to head to the Artemis military base for refuge.
The Archangel's crew began registering the group Kira had brought back.
In the lounge, Sai Argyle asked,
"Where is this ship going? The course just changed. Are the ZAFT forces still pursuing us?"
Tolle Koenig, arms crossed, answered from the side,
"They're chasing this ship and that MS, right? Probably still after us, yeah."
Flay Allster, alarmed, cried out,
"What? Then isn't this place even more dangerous? No way!"
Hearing her, Kira Yamato felt a wave of dejection, as if he'd done something wrong.
Miriallia Haw couldn't stand it anymore and sniped at Flay,
"So what, you think a broken-down lifeboat is safer?"
Flay had no answer. She leaned against Sai Argyle and muttered helplessly,
"Of course not. That's not what I meant."
Sai comforted her, saying,
"The evacuation order is for all of Earth. We'll be fine."
Just then, Mu La Flaga came looking for Kira Yamato.
"Sergeant Murdoch is pissed. We're short-handed — you'll have to maintain your own mobile suit."
Kira was startled. "My mobile suit? Wait — you mean…"
Mu cut him off. "That's the decision for now. Honestly, you're the only one who can pilot it, so there's no other option."
Kira shouted in frustration,
"It's only because I was forced that I agreed to pilot it a second time! I'm not a soldier!"
Mu shook his head and tried to calm him.
"A battle will happen sooner or later. When it does, are you going to keep saying that while you wait to die?"
Kira had no comeback. Mu pressed on.
"Right now, only the two of us can protect this ship."
Still unwilling, Kira tried to argue, but Mu kept soothing him.
"You've got power — so use as much of it as you can. There's no time to waste — get moving."
Leaning closer, he added,
"If you've got time to brood, you've got time to actually do something."
While Kira was still mulling it over, Sai Argyle suddenly cut in.
"Uh… so, where exactly is this ship headed?"
Mu answered, "The Eurasian military base."
Then added, "Of course… that's if we can make it there."
With that, Mu walked off.
After some inner struggle, Kira ran out of the lounge, heading for the Archangel's hangar to service his Strike Gundam.