The Battle Resumes 2

Athrun did not answer her question. His voice was urgent, filled with an unquestionable command. "Listen, Jiliang! That machine—Freedom Gundam—must not fall into the hands of the Earth Alliance, no matter what! This is my final warning!"

Deep down, he knew perfectly well that trying to persuade her was most likely futile.

After everything they had been through, the Jiliang before him was no longer the little girl who had followed behind him and obeyed all his arrangements.

Even so, he could not stop himself from speaking. Perhaps this was the last lingering fantasy in his heart, one final futile struggle.

"Come with me! Return to ZAFT! Canard too! If you come back with me now, I can find a way to make the Chairman overlook your betrayal!"

Athrun's voice carried over the open channel and reached Canard as well. "I guarantee it in the name of Zala!"

Inside Freedom Gundam's cockpit, Jiliang bit her lower lip tightly. She looked at the pinkish-purple machine, her heart filled with tangled emotions.

Go back? Return to ZAFT, which regarded her as an enemy and wanted to destroy Orb without even distinguishing right from wrong?

"Athrun..." she murmured softly, her voice full of pain and helplessness.

On the other side, Canard merely snorted contemptuously, not even interested in answering.

He was fully focused on using the Zaku's shield to block Raider Gundam's continuous fire while returning shots with his Beam Rifle. He did not take Athrun's "guarantee" seriously at all.

To him, factions and accountability were nowhere near as important as this exhilarating battle before him—a battle that could help his sister.

Justice Gundam and Freedom Gundam faced each other across the chaotic battlefield, separated by a deadly web of beams and artillery fire.

Within the brief, precious opening Canard's Zaku had created