A Person Still Needs a Conscience

"I am Cagalli Yula Athha, Representative Chief of the Orb Union of Sovereign States."

Cagalli wore a resolute expression on the television screen.

Everyone aboard the Archangel stood silently in the lounge, listening.

First, she had to state her resolve. What came afterward would depend on the circumstances.

No matter what one wished to do or accomplish, resolve should come first.

Humanity should decide what it wanted to do and set a goal before seeking out "power."

Not decide what to accomplish simply because it possessed power.

Watching Cagalli on the television, Athrun felt as though they had reunited after a long separation.

After being sent to the infirmary for the second time, Cagalli had not come to visit him again.

This war had cost Orb many cabinet members. In the days ahead, Cagalli would likely be running herself ragged with state affairs, perhaps without even enough time to sleep.

He could understand that—but honestly, he still felt a trace of loneliness.

With those thoughts in mind, Athrun lay quietly on his hospital bed, watching the girl reflected on the screen mounted on the wall.

Since she had no familiar friends here, Miriallia sat nearby and looked after Athrun.

It had to be said that Miriallia was very pleased with this scene.

Meanwhile, in the open space outside Orb's press conference venue, a crimson-painted MS slowly descended.

"Lacus."

Just as they were about to climb the steps, Noer suddenly stopped.

"What is it?"

Standing on the steps, Lacus turned to look at Noer, who should have been accompanying her inside.

"You once said that when you wanted to do something but discovered you were powerless to do it, it was an indescribable kind of despair."

As he murmured, Noer turned and tilted his head up toward the starry sky.

"Noer?"