The wind of Heliopolis always carried the metallic chill unique to a space colony, sweeping across the dome of the academy belonging to Morgenroete and scattering the lingering echo of the class-dismissal bell at the end of the street. Mei Hock packed his textbooks into his desk, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against a micro data storage drive hidden in the inner layer of his pencil case-that was the embryonic "trophy" of his exploration into Morgenroete's secret factory during his spare time over the past week. Murrue's figure flashed through his mind, carrying a few shades of a mature woman's gentleness and detachment; ever since the G Project entered its critical phase, this future captain had grown increasingly busy, only managing to carve out a single night a week to see him, and the softness outside of her military uniform and the lingering affection when they were together had become the most precious seasoning in this secret bond. Yet Mei knew very well that this warmth could not become a hindrance; his goal had never changed, and Heliopolis's secrets, along with Morgenroete's trump cards, were all important bargaining chips for him to return to PLANT and control the situation.
A week ago, after scouting the perimeter defenses and core production line of the Earth Forces' G Project factory, Mei had not stopped moving. Relying on the precise perception of his ACCORD ability and his familiarity with the Space Colony's terrain, he had discovered a secret workshop covered by layers of camouflage deep within an abandoned industrial zone three kilometers away from the G Project factory. Unlike the large-scale layout of the G Project factory, this workshop was smaller in scale yet far more heavily defended; the perimeter not only featured roving security patrols, but was also equipped with low-frequency infrared monitors and sonic alarm devices, capable of even capturing the faint energy fluctuations when a mobile suit started up. Relying on a Coordinator's agile physique and his ACCORD predictive ability, Mei had repeatedly lurked in the abandoned pipelines surrounding the workshop, and through the cracks in the ventilation grates, he had vaguely seen a few mobile suits currently being assembled—their lines were sharp, the armor paint tended toward Orb's signature silver-white and crimson, and the shoulder armor bore the simplified pattern of Orb's national emblem. They were definitely not standard unit models of the Earth Alliance Forces, nor were they the Gundam series from the G Project.
Orb's private mobile suits... Mei made his judgment in his heart at the time. As a neutral nation, Orb outwardly did not participate in the disputes between the Earth Alliance and PLANT, yet behind the scenes it had always been secretly developing MS technology, and Morgenroete, as Orb's core technological hub, inevitably shouldered this covert mission. The performance, armament configurations, and even the technical parameters of the energy cores of these mobile suits would all be highly valuable intelligence, crucial whether handed over to PLANT or used as a bargaining chip for negotiations with the East Asia faction. From that moment on, Mei had formulated a detailed infiltration plan, waiting for an opportune moment to penetrate deep into the workshop and copy the data.
Today was the best opportunity. After the last class of the afternoon in the academy, most students and faculty members would leave within an hour, and Morgenroete's secret factory shared partial logistical passages with the academy. Taking advantage of the lull in personnel movement, patrol intensity would drop to its minimum, and the infrared monitors would experience a brief sensitivity fluctuation due to the temperature drop in the evening-this was a loophole Mei had observed for three days to catch. He intentionally stayed behind in the classroom, pretending to tidy his notes while his gaze occasionally swept past the window, watching the sunset's afterglow gradually blanket the corridors until the footsteps and voices inside the teaching building completely faded away, leaving only the faint, flickering glow of emergency lights in the hallway, before he slowly stood up.
Mei swiftly changed into the black stealth suit he had long hidden in his locker, tied up his hair, and applied simple anti-glare paint to his face to minimize reflections to the utmost limit. He retrieved a set of miniature equipment from his backpack: a palm-sized electromagnetic jammer capable of shielding electronic monitoring devices within a fifty-meter radius for ten minutes; a specialized alloy crowbar capable of easily prying open metal door locks with lower security ratings; and a portable data copying device bound to his own brain quantum waves, compatible with Morgenroete's encryption system-this was equipment he had obtained beforehand through East Asia faction channels, prepared specifically for this infiltration. Finally, he checked the anesthetic needles and sedatives hidden at his waist, which were not meant for attacks, but rather as self-protection measures for sudden situations; although decisive in his actions, he was unwilling to harm the innocent without cause.
The back door of the teaching building was already locked, but Mei chose not to force a breakthrough. Instead, he followed the drainage pipes along the edge of the wall, nimbly climbing up to the logistics passage entrance on the second floor. The door lock here was an old-fashioned mechanical one; he inserted the alloy crowbar into the keyhole and applied slight pressure with his fingertips, relying on his ACCORD precise control over force. With a soft "click," the lock sprang open on cue, without producing any excess noise the entire way. Upon entering the logistics passage, he immediately activated the electromagnetic jammer; the indicator light on the control panel lit up with a faint green glow, and the surrounding surveillance cameras and infrared sensors instantly plunged into paralysis. Mei lowered his posture, his footsteps treading as lightly as a ghost, moving swiftly along the shadows inside the passage. The buzzing sound of the ventilation fans operating inside happened to mask the sound of his footsteps.
Crossing from the logistics passage to the secret factory required traversing an abandoned warehouse district. A massive amount of mechanical parts and discarded steel materials were piled up inside the warehouse, forming natural cover. Relying on his ACCORD perception ability, Mei pre-emptively predicted the patrol routes of two security guards and, taking advantage of the gap while they turned to converse, bolted out from the shadows like a leopard, hiding behind a pile of steel without daring to take a full breath. The two security guards held stun batons, chatting in lazy tones and complaining about the evening patrol mission, completely unaware that a black figure was lurking in the shadows not far behind them. Once the guards walked far away, Mei slowly stood up and continued forward. Along the way, he encountered a mobile patrol robot, quickly sidestepping to hide behind a warehouse pillar. When the robot drew close, he abruptly reached out and used a specialized device to temporarily paralyze its cameras and sensors. The robot instantly lost its direction and spun around in place, while Mei seized the opportunity to sprint quickly across the warehouse area, arriving at the perimeter of the secret factory.
The factory's main gate was a heavy alloy door equipped with an electronic password lock and a fingerprint recognition system, which ordinary cracking methods fundamentally could not open. Mei had long since figured out that the password lock's backend connected to Morgenroete's internal network, and he could temporarily access that network through the temporary privileges he had acquired while scouting the G Project factory earlier. He took out the portable data copying device, connected it to the backup interface of the password lock, and his fingertips operated rapidly across the screen as code rolled like flowing water; his ACCORD ability greatly enhanced his thinking speed, and in a mere two minutes, he cracked the encryption program of the password lock while temporarily bypassing the fingerprint recognition system. The alloy door slowly parted to both sides with a deep roar, and Mei slipped inside swiftly, turning around to shut the door while simultaneously turning off the electromagnetic jammer-prolonged signal-blocking would trigger Morgenroete's security alarms, and he had to complete the data copy within ten minutes before retreating.
The interior of the factory was pitch dark, save for the searchlights above a few assembly tables illuminating the outlines of the mobile suits. Three uncompleted MS stood quietly on the assembly platforms, their armor not yet fully pieced together, revealing the complex internal wiring and energy conduits. Orb's national emblem on the shoulder was clearly visible, while the head sensors had yet to be installed, making them look somewhat ferocious. Mei had no time to carefully observe the exterior of the units; he strode up to the control terminal beside the assembly platform and connected the portable data copying device. The terminal screen lit up, prompting an encryption warning. Mei initiated the cracking program once again; this time the encryption level was higher, taking a full three minutes to successfully breach the system and begin copying the MS design blueprints, performance parameters, armament configurations, and technical data of the energy cores.
The copy progress bar advanced slowly while Mei's nerves remained tightly wound, his ACCORD ability fully activated to perceive every trace of movement inside the factory. Just as the progress bar reached 80%, he suddenly sensed faint footsteps and the sound of electronic equipment booting up coming from the factory's perimeter—the Security Personnel patrol squad had returned early and seemed to have discovered the surveillance anomaly. A tight knot formed in Mei's chest as he accelerated the copying speed, simultaneously reaching out to grip the anesthetic needle at his waist, steeling himself for sudden trouble. Fortunately, before the patrol squad reached the factory gates, the progress bar finally hit 100%. Mei swiftly pulled out the data copying device, tucked it close to his body, and then turned and bolted toward the ventilation duct entrance at the rear of the factory—this was an evacuation route he had planned in advance; the ventilation duct connected to the academy's teaching building, allowing him to rapidly return to the classroom and disguise himself as someone who had just finished a normal school day.
The interior of the ventilation duct was narrow, dim, and choked with dust and cobwebs. Mei curled his body, relying on a Coordinator's flexibility to crawl forward rapidly. The space inside the duct was confined, and the slightest carelessness would produce noise; he deliberately slowed his pace, regulated his breath, and ensured every crawl landed precisely on the load-bearing points of the duct to avoid causing vibrations. Along the way, he encountered a duct junction, confirmed the direction leading to the teaching building's classroom through his ACCORD perception, and pressed onward. After crawling for about five minutes, he finally reached the ventilation duct exit situated above the classroom. He gently pushed open the grille of the vent and cautiously observed the interior of the classroom-it was completely empty, and the sunset's afterglow spilled across the desks through the windows, everything just as it had been when he left.
Mei slowly drilled out of the ventilation duct, his footsteps landing lightly without making the slightest sound. He quickly stripped off the stealth suit, changed into his school uniform, stuffed the stealth suit and miniature gear into his backpack, straightened his hair and the hem of his clothes, wiped the anti-glare paint from his face, and disguised himself as someone who had just finished organizing notes and was getting ready to head home. Just as he picked up his backpack and prepared to step out of the classroom, the classroom door was suddenly pushed open, and a slender figure walked in, her face revealing an expression of utter astonishment the moment she caught sight of Mei.
It was Flay Allster.
Flay was holding an exquisite gift box in her hand, evidently having just returned to school from home-after arriving home earlier, she had remembered that the birthday gift her fiancé gave her had been left behind in her desk and had specifically turned back to retrieve it. She never imagined that anyone else would still be in the classroom at this hour, let alone that it would be Mei Hock. A trace of doubt flashed across Flay's eyes, which immediately reverted to her usual haughtiness as she raised an eyebrow and said, "Mei Hock? Why are you still here? School finished so long ago."
Mei's heart tightened abruptly, his brain operating at top speed. Having just emerged from the ventilation duct, he likely still carried dust and the peculiar odor of the pipes on his body, and if Flay looked closely, it wouldn't be difficult to notice signs that the vent grille had been tampered with. More importantly, once the data copying device tucked against his body was discovered by Flay or reported by her, all his previous efforts would be completely wasted, and he might even be arrested by the Earth Alliance Forces, rendering him forever unable to return to PLANT.
Flay seemed to sense that something was amiss with Mei, her gaze sweeping over his body before lingering for a split second on the ventilation duct behind him, a playful smirk curving the corner of her lips. "You couldn't possibly... be up to something unspeakable in the classroom, could you?" Her tone carried a hint of banter, yet also harbored a trace of vigilance-Flay's father was a diplomat, and having grown up in a complex environment since childhood, her mind was far more subtle than she appeared on the surface; Mei's panic and abnormal behavior aroused her suspicions.
At this point, there was no retreat. Mei knew that Flay's personality was arrogant, willful, and extremely concerned with her reputation; if he failed to completely get a grip on her, she would inevitably report him. He had originally not wanted to harm the innocent, much less lay a hand on Flay, but in order to safeguard his secret and successfully return to PLANT, he had no choice. Suppressing the trace of hesitation in his heart, Mei's gaze instantly turned cold, shedding its usual gentleness and replacing it with a heart-palpitating ruthlessness.
Flay was startled by his sudden transformation, involuntarily taking a step backward as a hint of panic laced her tone: "Y-You, what do you want?"
Mei did not speak; his figure flashed as he rushed swiftly toward Flay. Before she could react, he raised a hand to clamp over her mouth while his other hand gently thrust an anesthetic needle into her neck. Flay's eyes widened instantly, struggling and attempting to resist, only to find the strength in her entire body rapidly draining away. Her consciousness grew gradually hazy, and she ultimately collapsed softly into Mei's arms, losing all perception. Catching her soft body, a trace of guilt flashed through Mei's heart, but it was quickly displaced by firmness-a commander must not harbor excessive mercy, nor can grand undertakings be built on sentimentality; to establish oneself in this turbulent era and protect those he cared about, one had to learn to harden their heart.
He carried Flay to a chair in the classroom, carefully inspecting her to confirm she was merely anesthetized and unharmed, before packing his backpack. Then, picking up the gift box Flay had left on her desk and holding her in his arms, he slipped quietly out of the classroom and departed via the back door of the teaching building. By this time, the sky had grown completely dark; streetlights illuminated the thoroughfares of Heliopolis, and pedestrians were scarce as Mei carried Flay and strode toward his apartment-that was the safest place, and the place where he could temporarily keep Flay under control.
Upon returning to the apartment, Mei laid Flay upon the bed in the bedroom, tucked the blanket over her, and walked out to the living room to light a cigarette. Amidst the curling smoke, his gaze grew complex-on one side was a shred of self-blame for his actions, and on the other was the steadfast resolve to protect his secret. He knew the anesthetic's effects would only last a few hours; once Flay woke up, she would inevitably launch a frantic counterattack, and he had to prepare in advance to thoroughly take control of her.
Approximately three hours later, Flay slowly opened her eyes. With a splitting headache and a slight lingering sting at the back of her neck, she looked around in bewilderment, discovering herself in an unfamiliar room that was neither her own dormitory nor the school classroom. Memories in her mind gradually fell back into place: she recalled seeing Mei upon returning to school after classes ended, recalled his chilling gaze, and recalled that anesthetic needle piercing her neck. Flay bolted upright in an instant, her eyes filled with fear and fury as she threw off the blanket and attempted to scramble out of bed to escape, only to find the door locked from the outside.
"You're awake." Mei's voice drifted in from the doorway. Holding a glass of water, he walked slowly inside with a completely expressionless face, his tone as flat as if he were discussing something utterly trivial.
Catching sight of him, Flay's emotions erupted instantly. Pointing a finger at his nose, her voice turned shrill: "Mei Hock! You bastard! How dare you kidnap me! I'm going to call the police! I'm going to tell my father! I'll make you pay for this!"
Mei walked over to the bed, set the water glass down on the nightstand, and looked down at her from above, his gaze still chillingly cold and his tone laced with a hint of mockery: "Call the police? Tell your father? Do you think they'd believe you? Think about it: an unmarried young girl staying behind alone at school after hours, then being 'kidnapped' here by me-if word gets out, what will people say about you? Will they say I kidnapped you, or will they say you actively seduced me, only to regret it afterward and try to frame me?"
Flay's entire body stiffened, the fury on her face gradually replaced by terror. She knew Mei spoke the truth; her father was a diplomat who valued his reputation above all else, and once this matter spread, regardless of what the truth was, it would be her reputation that suffered, potentially even impacting her father's political career. Furthermore, her fiancé was an aristocratic member of the Atlantic Federation with a proud temperament-if he discovered she had spent time alone in a room with another man, he would undoubtedly fly into a rage and even call off the engagement.
Yet Flay was unwilling to resign herself to this. Forcing a facade of composure, her eyes carried a hint of threat: "Don't you dare try to threaten me! I don't care! If you don't let me go right now, I'll definitely find a way to report you! I know you must have done something unspeakable at the school; you kidnapped me just to cover up your secret!"
Watching her put on a front of stubborn strength, Mei sneered inwardly. He had long anticipated that Flay would react this way; to completely bring her to heel, he had to shatter her wishful thinking and make her fear him from the bottom of her heart. Mei turned around, retrieved a syringe containing a transparent liquid from his pocket, and placed a miniature video camera onto the nightstand before pressing the recording button.
"It seems you still haven't recognized reality." Mei's tone grew increasingly frigid. Walking over to the bed, he pressed down on the struggling Flay and raised the syringe right before her eyes. "Inside this is a special drug; once injected, your body will turn completely powerless, leaving you entirely at my mercy without leaving any trace behind. I don't want to hurt you, but if you insist on forcing my hand, I won't mind making you completely lose the ability to resist."
Staring at that syringe, Flay's eyes filled with dread as her body trembled involuntarily. She could sense that Mei was entirely serious-he genuinely dared to lay a hand on her. "D-Don't come closer! What do you want?"
"It's very simple." Mei's voice drew close to her ear, carrying a trace of icy breath like a demon's whisper. "Obey me obediently, don't report me, and don't let a single soul know about what happened between us, and I won't hurt you or let this affair affect your reputation and engagement. Otherwise, not only will I record what we're about to do next, but I'll also send the video to your fiancé, your classmates, and your father's superior, so everyone can see just how the daughter of an Atlantic Federation diplomat seduced me."
Flay's psychological defenses collapsed entirely. She feared losing her reputation, feared losing her engagement, feared disappointing her father, and feared even more that Mei might genuinely commit more outrageous acts against her. Looking into Mei's chilling eyes, she knew she had no choice and could only compromise. Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes, carrying grievance and terror as she nodded softly, her voice choking: "I-I'll listen to you... Please don't hurt me, and don't send the video out..."
Watching her yield, the guilt in Mei's heart surfaced once more, though he quickly suppressed it. He released his grip on Flay, yet did not put away the syringe and camera, his tone remaining severe: "Remember what you said. As long as you obediently follow orders, I won't make things difficult for you. But if you dare try any tricks, bear the consequences yourself."
That night, Mei used the drug to coerce Flay and took her, keeping the camera running the entire time to record everything. He deliberately masked himself in a ruthless, unfeeling facade without a shred of gentleness, every movement carrying a domineering sense of control as though he were treating a possession of his own. As for Flay, she could only curl up at the head of the bed and weep silently, her eyes brimming with despair and terror. She had never imagined she would encounter such a fate, nor had she ever imagined she would be manipulated so thoroughly by a seemingly gentle youth.
The next morning at dawn, when Flay woke up, Mei was no longer in the bedroom. Her entire body ached, exhausted in both body and mind, and the moment she thought of the previous night's events, tears welled up and spilled over once again. At that moment, Mei walked in carrying breakfast, placed it on the nightstand, and spoke in a flat tone: "Get up and eat. After you're done, come with me to school."
Flay did not move, staring hollowly at the ceiling with a hoarse voice: "What more do you want? I've already done as you said."
Mei walked over to the side of the bed, leaned down to look at her, and injected an unquestionable dominance into his voice: "Starting today, you're moving in here. You'll stay at my place every day, and outwardly we'll claim we're tutoring together-your father is a diplomat stationed away from Heliopolis year-round, and I accepted a commission from the embassy to look after your daily life; that's entirely reasonable. Every weekend you may return to your dorm to change clothes, but you must return promptly on Monday without being late or lingering without permission."
"No!" Flay jerked her head up, a trace of defiance in her eyes. "I don't want to stay by your side every day, and I don't want to see you anymore!"
Mei's gaze turned frosty in an instant. Reaching out, he pinched her chin-the pressure was light, yet sufficient to cause her pain-while a strong oppressive weight filled his voice: "You don't have a choice in the matter. I'm going to monitor you every day to ensure you don't run your mouth or report me. If you dare refuse, I'll send that video out right now and ruin your reputation completely."
Flay's body stiffened instantly. The pain shooting from her chin intertwined with the terror in her heart, forcing her to compromise once more. Staring into Mei's freezing eyes and knowing she possessed no room for resistance, she could only nod slightly as fresh tears slipped down.
From that day onward, Flay began a life monitored by Mei. Every morning, she and Mei went to school together, and during breaks, Mei would always remain not far from her side, casting the occasional cold, sharp glance laden with an intense sense of control that left her skin crawling and kept her in a constant state of fear. She dared not speak a single extra word to her classmates, dared not mention her kidnapping, and dared not tell anyone about the secret relationship between her and Mei. Whenever someone asked why she was always with Mei, she could only parrot the lines Mei had taught her: that she was studying with Mei, who had been commissioned by the embassy to look after her daily life.
When night fell, she would return to the apartment with Mei. He would have her cook dinner and clean the house as if she were a maid, only to forcefully possess her when the dead of night arrived. Flay lived every day trapped between terror and despair; she hated Mei for kidnapping her, hated him for coercing her, and hated him for destroying everything she had. Yet gradually, she discovered that although Mei monitored her daily and possessed her every night, he committed no other excessively cruel acts-he did not beat or scold her, nor did he force her to do things against her will (aside from obeying his arrangements), and he would even buy medicine and boil porridge for her when she fell ill, quietly help her out of trouble when she was bullied by classmates, and silently stay by her side when her spirits flagged, even if his tone remained cold.
This mode of interaction imperceptibly brought about a subtle shift in Flay's mindset. She began to grow accustomed to Mei's surveillance, accustomed to his dominance, and accustomed to spending every day by his side. At times, she even found herself thinking that this feeling of being controlled was not entirely unacceptable-hidden within Mei's dominance was an inexplicable sense of security, and though ruthless, he had never truly harmed her life nor actually sent out the video. She knew this train of thought was twisted and absurd, yet she could not control herself. She began to actively cater to Mei's demands, willingly cooking and cleaning for him, and when he possessed her, instead of resisting blindly, she would reveal a trace of imperceptible submission.
Mei observed Flay's changes, yet gave them little mind. To him, Flay was merely a chess piece that needed to be controlled, a tool used to cover up his secret. The reason he hadn't treated Flay too harshly stemmed on one hand from a lingering shred of baseline kindness, and on the other hand from a desire to better control her-overly harsh treatment would only breed a rebellious psychology in Flay, which was ultimately counterproductive to keeping his secret secure. His occasional gentleness was nothing more than a method of control, prompting Flay to cultivate a thread of reliance amidst her fear, thereby rendering her even more obedient to his arrangements.
While navigating between Flay, Mei had not forgotten Murrue. Every week, Murrue carved out a single night to visit Mei's apartment and see him. Stripped of her military uniform, Murrue lost a touch of military sharpness, replaced by the gentleness and allure of a mature woman. When the two were together, there were few sweet words; instead, there was a mutual solace of body and mind-Murrue spent year after year in the military under immense pressure, and Mei's company and gentleness allowed her to temporarily drop her defenses and obtain a moment of peace. Meanwhile, Mei could also feel a trace of warmth from Murrue, relieving the fatigue and suppression born from managing Flay and scouting intelligence.
Their relationship resembled more of a mutual-need bond, yet through living together, a thread of imperceptible deep affection began to sprout. Mei was well aware that Murrue was a military officer who could be dispatched to the battlefield at any moment, and a single war could separate them entirely. Yet the innate dominance in his bones refused to allow his woman to be tainted by others-even if it was a relationship of mutual need, Murrue was still his person, and he permitted no one to harm her, nor would he allow another man to appear by her side.
As a soldier, Murrue possessed meticulous insight and formidable observational skills. After spending a period of time together, she quickly discovered traces of another woman inside Mei's apartment: on the bathroom vanity sat an extra set of female skincare products, several pieces of women's clothing hung in the wardrobe, and even the air occasionally retained a lingering hint of female perfume. Murrue knew clearly in her heart that Mei had another woman by his side. Yet she did not question him, did not object, and did not display the slightest trace of dissatisfaction. She was a soldier who had long since seen through life and death, understanding that in this chaotic era there was no such thing as eternal warmth, and that holding a moment of companionship was already enough. Since she could not provide Mei with a stable life and might die on the battlefield at any moment, rather than questioning him, she preferred to cherish every single moment they spent together. Moreover, she could sense that Mei possessed an intense possessiveness toward her, a possessiveness that caused a strange, involuntary tremor in her heart.
During this period, Mei had not forgotten Kira Yamato either. He would occasionally seek Kira out for chats and guide him-as a Natural-born Coordinator, Kira had always suffered from inferiority and confusion regarding his identity. Utilizing his ACCORD telepathic resonance ability, Mei quietly influenced Kira's emotions, alleviating his sense of inferiority and confusion while simultaneously conveying recognition and trust, incrementally increasing Kira's favorability toward him. He knew Kira was a pivotal figure in the upcoming war, and winning him over played a crucial role in his future plans.
Beyond this, Mei did not halt his external communications. He transmitted the data of the Orb private mobile suits he had acquired by infiltrating Morgenroete's secret factory to the East Asia faction via encrypted channels. The East Asian side responded swiftly, expressing high appreciation for the intelligence he secured and promising substantial rewards later while providing an evacuation route. Afterward, Mei contacted Heine Westenfluss, informing him that he had obtained sufficient intelligence and requesting Heine to come to Heliopolis to extract him back to PLANT. Following consultations, the two settled upon an extraction date: January 1, Cosmic Era 70, New Year's Day, in the secret sector on the outskirts of Heliopolis. He would depart through East Asia's covert route, at which point Heine would pilot a Ginn to rendezvous with him.
Once the evacuation date was locked down, Mei grew even more cautious. While continuing to dance between Flay and Murrue, he organized all the intelligence he had gathered, including G Project related data, the technical parameters of Orb's private mobile suits, and the defense layout of Heliopolis. He knew his time was running short; he had to make all preparations before evacuation to ensure he could successfully return to PLANT without leaving any hidden troubles behind.
Days ticked by, and in the blink of an eye, late December arrived. The streets of Heliopolis were permeated with a New Year's festive atmosphere as lanterns were hung in every household and crowds packed the thoroughfares to celebrate the holiday. Yet this bustling ambiance failed to affect Mei, Flay, or Murrue in the slightest. Mei knew these were his final days in Heliopolis, as well as his final days spent alongside Flay and Murrue.
On the eve of his evacuation, Mei did not contact Murrue, choosing instead to stay at the apartment and accompany Flay. That night, Mei displayed unusual dominance, yet it was laced with an imperceptible gentleness. He no longer treated Flay with a threatening tone nor deliberately disguised his ruthlessness, instead revealing a sliver of genuine emotion-exhaustion and guilt. Flay seemed to sense his abnormality; she neither resisted nor wept, simply accompanying him quietly while actively catering to everything he desired. That night, both of them were exceptionally wild, as if trying to vent all the fear, grievance, and fatigue accumulated over this period. Between them, romantic love was absent, yet there existed a complex bond-a bond woven from control and submission, injury and injury intertwined.
The following morning before dawn, Mei slowly rose from bed. Flay was still fast asleep, her brows slightly furrowed with a trace of fatigue on her face, and her long eyelashes still beaded with dry teardrops. Watching her sleeping form, the guilt in his heart grew all the more intense. He drew a USB drive from his pocket and placed it on the nightstand-inside were the videos recorded that night along with a recorded message for Flay. He chose not to wake her, pressing a cold kiss lightly to her forehead before turning and walking out of the bedroom.
In the message, Mei told Flay that the video would not be sent to anyone and would be sealed away forever; the next time they met, he would grant her a single condition, no matter what it might be, as long as it was within his power to fulfill as compensation for this period. He did not tell Flay that he was leaving Heliopolis to return to PLANT-he wished neither to witness Flay's reaction nor to burden himself with an extra thread of attachment.
Leaving the apartment, Mei did not head directly to the extraction point, but instead went to Murrue's quarters first. Murrue's residence within the military dormitory zone was quiet and tidy. Without knocking or contacting Murrue, Mei simply slipped a letter he had already written into her mailbox. The letter lacked lengthy pleasantries, simply informing Murrue that he was temporarily leaving Heliopolis to accomplish an important task; he told her not to worry, not to search for him, and certainly not to seek out other men, promising that once he finished handling everything, he would definitely return for her. His tone still retained the inherent dominance of his bones, yet it also harbored an imperceptible gentleness and lingering attachment-though his relationship with Murrue had begun as mutual need, the time spent together had long since caused him to nurture an extraordinary sentiment for this mature, resilient woman.
After dropping off the letter, Mei did not linger, turning to stride out of the military dormitory zone toward the outer port of Heliopolis. By then, the sky was gradually brightening, and the first rays of New Year's sunlight pierced the Space Colony's dome to spill across the streets, illuminating his forward steps. His backpack carried all his intelligence and equipment; his body bore the complex bonds tying him to Flay and Murrue; and his heart harbored his plans for the future and his unwavering resolve.
Arriving at the secret passage entrance, Mei lit a green flare in accordance with the signal agreed upon with Heine. The flare traced a bright arc across the pitch-black cosmos, instantly illuminating the surrounding area. Before long, a Ginn appeared bearing the ZAFT insignia, and it was indeed Heine who had come to extract him.
The hatch opened, and Heine, dressed in a ZAFT uniform, stepped down briskly. Catching sight of Mei, a gratified smile broke across his face: "Mei, you've finally arrived. Is everything going smoothly?"
"Smoothly." Mei nodded, his tone flat as a trace of relief surfaced in his eyes: "All the intelligence has been organized, and no hidden traces were left behind."
"That's good." Heine nodded. "Get on board quickly; we need to leave this place as soon as possible to avoid detection by the Earth Alliance Forces."
Without looking back, Mei turned and boarded the Ginn. The hatch slowly closed and rapidly returned to the mother ship, shutting out everything about Heliopolis. Gazing out the window, the outline of Heliopolis gradually shrank until it vanished from his field of vision entirely. He knew he could finally return to PLANT and open a new chapter of his journey.
The Silver Wing initiated its engines, slowly pulling away from the port, adjusting its course, and speeding toward the direction of PLANT. In the pitch-black cosmos, the vessel's engines emitted a deep roar, dragging a blue wake behind them as they sailed toward the distant stars. Standing on the bridge with a resolute gaze, Mei knew that once he returned to PLANT, what awaited him would be an even more complex situation and a more brutal war, yet he felt no fear. He gripped sufficient bargaining chips in his hands, harbored firm conviction in his heart, and carried those lingering ties he could not let go of-compensation for Flay, a promise to Murrue, the wooing of Kira, and the future of PLANT.
The wind of Heliopolis could no longer brush against his skin; Flay's fear and reliance, along with Murrue's gentleness and attachment, would all become a secret memory buried deep within his heart. And his story would continue to write its new chapters upon the soil of PLANT.
Before you continue