After ending his communication with Patrick Zala, the Defense Committee member and ZAFT chairman, Le Creuset laughed to himself for a few inexplicable moments. Then he put his mask back on, pressed the call button on his side of the desk, and issued an order in a voice that had returned to its usual calm.
"Have Red-Coat Athrun Zala come to my office."
After the Vesalius's crew relayed the message, Athrun Zala's voice soon came from outside the door.
"Reporting in! Athrun Zala, here as ordered!"
"Come in!"
"Yes, sir."
The electric door opened, and Athrun Zala, dressed in red, strode into the room and saluted Captain Le Creuset.
Le Creuset returned the salute from his seat, then relaxed his tone.
"Take a seat, Athrun."
Before Athrun could sit down at the desk, Le Creuset steered the conversation in an even more casual direction.
"You don't have to be so tense. I just spoke with your father, Chairman Zala. I asked you here because I need your help with something."
"Oh? What is it?"
When Le Creuset mentioned his father, Athrun only grew more nervous. He had just taken his seat, but he hurried to ask.
"Regarding the 'Heliopolis Collapse' incident, we'll have to appear before the Supreme Council for a hearing after we return to Plant. We'll also discuss the Earth Alliance's and Celestial Being's mobile suits.
You've fought both sides, Athrun. If possible, I'd like you to attend the hearing with me."
Athrun had no objection to Captain Le Creuset's "reasonable" request. The Supreme Council was hardly a den of vipers to him; in a way, it almost felt like going home.
"If you think it's necessary, Captain Le Creuset, I have no problem with that..."
"That's wonderful.
"By the way, what do you think of Celestial Being's leader calling himself a 'Newtype'? And what about the Strike's pilot? Both sides seemed to handle their mobile suits with the kind of fluidity you'd expect from Coordinators."
Faced with Le Creuset's probing questions, the honest Athrun hesitated briefly before deciding to tell the truth.
"Kira Yamato—the Strike Gundam's pilot—is a Coordinator. We were friends when we went to kindergarten on Copernicus. He was such a kindhearted, indecisive guy. I don't know how he ended up piloting the Strike.
"As for the Purple Beetle's pilot, honestly, I don't think he was lying.
"And when I fought him, I felt an odd sense of pressure. Under that pressure, there was even a moment when I felt like someone else was piloting the Aegis Gundam—another me."
The unexpected information helped Le Creuset understand the reason behind some of Athrun's strange behavior earlier. But before discussing it, he wanted to first address the practical matter: Athrun joining him at the Supreme Council hearing.
"So you felt it too, Athrun. It seems I wasn't imagining it after all.
"But at the Supreme Council, unless the council members ask, could you avoid bringing it up yourself?
"Chairman Zala feels the same way. Judging from the outcome of our battles, we ZAFT have fallen behind in mobile suits. If their pilots are Naturals—or the Earth Alliance has a mass-production mobile suit operating system that Naturals can use—that would give us more reason to push for the development of our own new mobile suits."
Since Captain Le Creuset only wanted him to refrain from mentioning it unless asked, and had invoked his father's name, Athrun—who was also an honest, indecisive person—hesitated briefly before agreeing.
"Understood, Captain Le Creuset."
"Thank you. You've been a great help."
After settling the matter of the Supreme Council hearing, and before fanning the flames—or, to put it more positively, before making sure his subordinates could fight effectively without being affected by outside factors—Le Creuset brought up a topic the "common people" were sure to enjoy, to ease the mood.
"By the way, I heard you and Miss Lacus are engaged.
"But you've been training with ZAFT since last year, Athrun. Now that you're going back, you'll finally have a chance to take her on a date, won't you?"
Athrun found it a little odd that Captain Le Creuset had suddenly brought up the subject. Celestial Being had also said some unkind things about him, but Le Creuset had always looked after Athrun. In some ways, he was even closer to him than his own father, so Athrun didn't resist or avoid the topic.
"Yes, we did make that arrangement. I was planning to visit the Clyne Family during my leave."
"Then you'll have to prepare properly. What kind of person do you think Miss Lacus is, Athrun?"
Le Creuset's keen interest made Athrun blush a little.
"Lacus is innocent, kind, and a little airheaded. Oh, and she's very beautiful, of course."
"Oh, I see. That's why we ZAFT have to fight so hard to protect them.
"We absolutely can't let the Earth Alliance get its hands on the G-Series mobile suits, or this war will become even harder to end."
Having smoothly changed the subject, Le Creuset began explaining the plans for the future.
"Chairman Zala feels the same way. So, although I'm sorry to ask this of you, we need you and those captured machines if we're going to stand against Long Legs or Celestial Being.
"Once we return home, complete repairs, and replenish our forces, our Creuset Team will head out to intercept them as soon as we get the latest intelligence on Long Legs or Celestial Being. We can't let the Earth Alliance have its own mobile suits.
"Still, since the Strike Gundam's pilot is your old friend, perhaps you shouldn't take part in the next operation, Athrun. Keeping one Gundam back home as a research specimen wouldn't be a bad idea either."
Le Creuset's approach was nothing new, but it clearly worked on Athrun.
"No, Captain Le Creuset. I'm going to take part in the operation too.
"Long Legs and Celestial Being are both formidable enemies. How could I make everyone on the Creuset Team take on the risk just because of my personal feelings?"
Facing the Athrun who had taken the bait, Le Creuset spoke with genuine concern.
"But fighting Celestial Being is one thing. What will you do about your old friend on Long Legs?"
"That guy must have been deceived by the Naturals. If we meet again on the battlefield, I'm sure I can find a way to convince him."
Le Creuset naturally said nothing about the flaw in Athrun's reasoning. He simply continued with his "innocent" questions.
"But what if he still refuses? And Miguel has already died because of him."
"Then I'll kill him with my own hands. I won't hesitate again!"
Having achieved all his aims, Le Creuset didn't deliberately bring up anything else. After discussing a few more military matters, he let Athrun leave.
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