"So this is Clasp Formation…"
While Kira was crying her heart out, preliminary repairs on the four machines on this side had already been completed.
The Aegis Gundam had barely regained mobility. The Astray Red Frame's frame was still intact, but it could only be dismantled for parts.
Still, as long as the propulsion system worked, there was no problem.
A Clasp Formation was, simply put, four machines holding hands.
Their control systems were then synchronized and managed together.
The principle was actually similar to clustering rocket engines.
Of course, the main purpose here was not to save energy. It was to bring the Astray Red Frame and the Aegis Gundam along with them.
Neither machine could operate independently, but this method allowed them to fly together as a group.
The method carried considerable risk, however. Four linked machines presented a much larger target and were more likely to be struck by debris.
At the moment, Cagalli and Athrun were both inside the Gundam Astray Gold Frame.
The Gundam Astray Gold Frame's cockpit hatch had been pried open by Inori, so it could no longer maintain an airtight seal. Athrun therefore still had to keep his helmet on alongside Cagalli.
"We will now fly for twenty-four hours to leave the Debris Belt. The Fyu-Neru will restore the airtight seal of the Aegis Gundam's cockpit during the flight. Once we leave this region, Athrun-san, you may depart. I will send the rescue bill to ZAFT."
Inori's voice came through the communications system.
"Just send the bill directly to me."
Athrun could already imagine what would happen if Yzak and the others saw that invoice.
"Negative. This is official business between organizations, so it must go through official channels."
I am an AI. I have no emotions. I cannot bend the rules for you!
"Hahaha."
Cagalli burst out laughing.
"We are departing."
As the thrusters ignited, the four hand-holding Gundams began to move.
"That's amazing…"
The four Gundams accelerated rapidly. Cagalli could not tell what was special about it, but Athrun had already voiced his admiration.
"What's so impressive?" Cagalli asked like a curious child.
"One person is controlling the propulsion systems of four Mobile Suits while also avoiding debris. Even I couldn't do something like that," Athrun said.
"So there are things Coordinators can't do too." Over the past few days, Cagalli had discovered that Athrun was exceptionally capable and good with his hands. Even when she tried to help, there was almost nothing she could actually do.
If anything, Cagalli tended to get in the way and reduce Athrun's efficiency.
"Coordinators aren't superhuman either," Athrun said. "But Inori-san is a Coordinator too, right? She's a Coordinator, yet she's doing work that looks more like a mercenary's."
"Negative." Inori's voice came over the channel.
Ah.
He had forgotten the comms were still open.
Had Cagalli's carelessness rubbed off on him?
Since the channel was open anyway, he might as well ask directly. "Inori-san, why haven't you considered coming to PLANT? I can say with confidence that if you were willing to immigrate, PLANT would not only compensate you for your losses, but would also provide additional remuneration."
"An enemy Songstress" and "our Songstress" were completely different things.
A Songstress who belonged to your own side could hardly be compared with someone else's.
Athrun believed that if Inori came to PLANT, she could easily become as popular as Lacus.
"Negative. That has no meaning."
"Nani?!"
The words sounded almost like mockery.
"If a Coordinator comes to PLANT, that's only natural!"
Athrun said.
"Negative. PLANT has a population of sixty million. There are five hundred million Coordinators worldwide. PLANT cannot represent the majority of Coordinators," Inori continued.
"But Coordinators all over the world support us. We're fighting for Coordinators! Are you saying you would rather fight for Naturals… for the Earth Alliance?!" Athrun said.
[Athrun glanced at Cagalli and immediately changed his wording]
[Look at Cagalli's eyes]
[Cagalli: Go on. I dare you to finish that sentence]
[Athrun: I chickened out, I chickened out]
[I'm dying]
"Emphasizing Coordinator identity is equally meaningless. PLANT's current propaganda requires Coordinators to serve it and expend their lives for it, so the existence of Coordinators is emphasized. In reality, however, that emphasis has no practical significance."
"How could it not?!" Athrun became agitated.
"For example, if PLANT were someday able to rule the entire world, would PLANT continue emphasizing the superiority of Coordinators?"
"Of course!"
"Think again."
"Of course… it wouldn't."
Athrun had blurted out his first answer.
But a moment later, he realized the issue was more complicated than that.
"Huh? Athrun, what do you mean?" Cagalli had been watching the argument from the side, but she had not quite followed the point.
"For the sake of social stability, if PLANT truly controlled the whole world… PLANT would probably do everything possible to downplay the distinction between Coordinators and everyone else," Athrun said gravely.
At present, PLANT was a relatively small and "disadvantaged" group.
But if PLANT truly ruled the world, continually emphasizing Coordinator identity would instead intensify conflict. That would be unacceptable.
Once Athrun considered the issue from a ruler's perspective, he could see how that might happen.
"But that's only a hypothetical. In the reality we live in, Coordinators are clearly a disadvantaged group right now. If we can't even unite among ourselves, we'll never defeat our enemies!" Athrun said.
"Then who is the enemy?"
"The Earth Alliance!"
Athrun kept feeling as though he and Inori were not even speaking on the same wavelength.
But there was not much else to do in the endless reaches of space.
"Then why is the Earth Alliance hostile to PLANT?" Inori continued.
"Because Naturals hate Coordinators, of course. But we're innocent," Athrun said. "Those people even did what they did at Junius Seven…"
"…Then why do Naturals hate Coordinators?" Inori continued asking in that same mechanical, emotionless voice.
"Jealousy. Coordinators possess abilities Naturals don't have, so… they're jealous of us," Athrun said.
"Do you mean that if they could become Coordinators as well, they would stop opposing PLANT?" Inori asked.
"That…"
That was difficult to say.
"Then why does PLANT not make genetic modification universally accessible? If PLANT offered free genetic modification to Naturals, do you believe opposition would still exist?"
"Of course it would. Besides jealousy, there are ignorant people who reject Coordinators because of religion, ideology, and things like that…"
Athrun's voice had grown much weaker because he was gradually beginning to notice several problems.
"PLANT's technology could be used to enhance the human body and provide gene therapy and modification to adults. They would not become equal to natural-born Coordinators, but Naturals could still receive a certain degree of enhancement… Would PLANT make such technology openly available?"
"There's no such technology!" Athrun did not believe anything like that existed.
"There is. And the Atlantic Federation has it as well."
"Huh…?"
Athrun felt as though Inori were spouting nonsense. Yet somehow, he also felt that she was not.
"Athrun-san, you need to think more. Use your own brain and think for yourself…"