Chapter 390: Breaking Through the Encirclement 2
"Reduce speed and push forward. Ram open a path." Lacus nodded, agreeing with Tolle's plan.
"Understood, Miss Lacus."
The Eternal gradually slowed down, then ignored all obstruction and rammed straight toward the GINNs that were surrounding it.
Seeing the Eternal charge in without hesitation, the ZAFT GINN pilots could only keep firing while desperately evading, forced to open up a passage.
At the same time, Kira arrived, piloting the Freedom Gundam. While accelerating at high speed, he used his beam rifle to intercept and shoot down incoming missiles.
"Kira!" Upon seeing the Freedom Gundam, Athrun shouted instinctively.
Tolle immediately had the comms officer switch to the Freedom Gundam's channel.
"Kira, ignore the missiles. They can't damage this ship.
Focus on taking out those ZAFT GINNs instead. Be careful not to hit the cockpits. Also, there are two MS attacking them that look a bit different—they're friendly."
"Huh? Is that you, Tolle?"
"That's right. I'll explain everything after the battle."
"Alright… are you sure this is really okay?" Kira watched missiles slam into the Eternal's outer surface without any effect at all. He replied in astonishment, "Okay, understood."
Kira pushed the control stick forward and charged straight into the enemy formation. Once he entered effective range, he immediately activated the multi-lock system.
He deployed the plasma convergent beam cannons on the wings, the railguns at the waist, raised the beam rifle in his right hand, and activated the head-mounted vulcans. All weapons locked onto the GINN formation and unleashed a full-map barrage.
In an instant, five beams of three different colors, along with streams of machine-gun fire, tore through the enemy ranks, disabling every GINN and rendering them immobile.
Shortly after, the late-arriving Regenerate, Testament, and Providence Gundams finally reached the battlefield.
Just as Kira raised his beam rifle to attack again, Tolle immediately stopped him.
"Kira, those three are friendly too. Don't worry. There's no danger anymore. Follow the guidance and board this ship—we're heading back together."
"Got it, Tolle."
The Eternal shut down the Klein Field and activated the docking guidance lights as well as the hangar doors.
Following the guidance, Kira piloted the Freedom Gundam into the Eternal's hangar. Regenerate, Testament, Providence, Judgment, and the GINN Modified followed, five MS entering together.
Tolle couldn't help but feel relieved—good thing the hangar had been expanded earlier, or there would've been no way to fit all six mobile suits.
Immediately afterward, the Eternal's thrusters flared at full power, rapidly leaving the area and continuing its high-speed flight toward the L4 space region.
Kira was then led by a crew member up to the bridge.
Standing beside Tolle, Lacus smiled and said, "Thank you, Kira, for coming to our rescue at such a critical moment."
"No need to thank me, Miss Lacus." Kira then turned to Tolle with a puzzled expression. "Tolle, didn't you say you were going to the Orbital Elevator to get a new MS? How did you end up at P.L.A.N.T.?"
Tolle felt that, sooner or later, the ugly truth had to meet the in-laws—he couldn't keep hiding things from Kira forever. Otherwise, it would affect their friendship. Besides, he'd already used this same rebirth excuse on several other people.
So he spread his hands helplessly and explained, "Kira, have you ever read those novels where someone dies and then is reborn back to before they died?"
Kira nodded. "I've read a bit. But what does that have to do with you being at P.L.A.N.T.?"
"If you've read them, then it's easier to explain." Tolle continued seriously. "Actually… on that day, when I was piloting the Skygrasper, I really should have been killed by Athrun."
Tolle deliberately glanced at Athrun, then continued while watching his guilty expression.
"But when I woke up again, I found myself back several months before Heliopolis was destroyed."
Tolle then demonstrated the neo DG cells from his storage space. Seeing Kira's shocked expression, he continued,
"Maybe it was because of this parallel-world technology—nanomachines—that I was given a second chance.
…
And in order to steer this world's future toward peace, I tried my best to keep everything looking the same, letting you grow step by step just like before.
So… the trip to the Orbital Elevator was just a pretext. The real purpose was to protect Lacus and make sure she could reunite with us safely.
I only told you all this now—are you angry with me, Kira?"
After listening to Tolle's long explanation, Kira looked even more confused. Athrun also moved closer, listening intently.
Kira looked at Tolle with concern and asked, "Tolle… are you sick or something? Using novel plots to fool me—this all sounds way too absurd. It doesn't feel real at all."
Three sweat drops appeared on Tolle's forehead. He'd been completely called out—this really was a fabrication. But there was no way he could admit it now, or all his previous lies would collapse.
"Well… it's normal if you can't accept it." Tolle then had Nami activate a 3D holographic projection, showing an edited version of the original SEED storyline.
…
When the projection reached the scene of the Eighth Fleet, Tolle pretended to look dejected and said,
"This is what was supposed to happen. Even after being reborn, I tried my best to save people… but I still didn't have the strength to save everyone."
Kira stared at the projection—at the shuttle carrying civilian refugees being shot down by the Duel Gundam, and at the annihilated Eighth Fleet.
Recalling the battles they'd already fought, things were clearly much better than before. At least the civilians had survived, and the Eighth Fleet had been preserved.
He said to Tolle reassuringly, "You've already done very well. A lot of people were saved because of you."
"Thanks, Kira." Tolle once again activated his tear ducts, tears streaming down dramatically.
Beside him, Lacus's maternal instincts kicked in again as she pulled Tolle's head into her chest, gently comforting him.
As the projection continued, it reached the scene where the original Tolle was killed by the Aegis Gundam—and then abruptly stopped.
Tolle pointed at Nicol beside him and seamlessly launched into his next round of half-truths and misdirection.
"Kira, this is Nicol Amalfi, the Blitz Gundam's pilot. I used nanomachines in advance to control the Blitz Gundam and save him, so he's fine now—just like me."
Kira nodded to Nicol and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Nicol. I almost killed you before."
Nicol glanced at Tolle, then replied awkwardly to Kira, "I'm fine, really. I was saved. I'm completely okay—don't worry about it."