Editing KSGU:Volume 8 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 12===

Marida, still unconscious, was like a sleeping beauty in a fairy tale as she was nearly fully serene. Perhaps it was because her blue eyes that absorbed much hardship showed her tenderness. ''What will she see the next time she opens her eyes?'' This notion flashed through Zinnerman’s mind, and once he concluded it would be better for her not to wake up now, he clenched his fist. ''It’ll be best if she doesn’t know anything. If she can continue to sleep on like this, it’ll be—''
 
There were no signs of anyone else in the intensive care room, and Doctor Hasan, who was originally in the linked infirmary, went by Zinnerman and left, saying that he wanted to get some documents. There were cameras on the ceiling, but why would Hasan be relaxed enough for him to let down his guard? There were many things that could be used as weapons here, and if he stole an operating scalpel, what would the doctor do next?
 
The cardiograph let out a regular electronic beep that resonated together with his heartbeat, and he felt the pressure deep within him rising. ''What is this? What am I doing? What sort of person am I, alone in an ICU on a Federation ship?''
 
''“You can hit me. You have the right as you raised me in place of my parents.”''
 
He recalled Mineva’s voice in the midst of the silence. Once they were retrieved by the “Nahel Argama”, she said this while both parties were in a standoff, viewing each other as enemies. She admitted that she was the one who started everything, and turned to face every single, unable to hide the doubt within them, and called for both forces to stand on a common battlefront.
 
''“Everyone on the “Nahel Argama”, comrades of the “Garencieres”, we may be enemies, but at the same time, we’re being hunted by our own armies because we’re too close to the “Laplace Box”. It’s said that the “Laplace Box” has the power to topple to world—to some, it’s a threat to them, a symbol of fear; to others, it’s a power to break the sealed deadlock. But no matter what it is, the “Box” is merely an item. Every point’s point of the ‘world’ is different, and with that comes the various meanings of this “Box” that turns us against each other. The world where the Federation ruled everything, the ideal world of Zeon Deikun…our world was divided because we had different backgrounds. However, while I, we are members of society, we are individual humans. Each of us should have our own ability to feel the world, and not let our past history or someone decide it for us. Our birthplaces will not change, but how we live will give us the power to change ourselves. I want to use my hands to witness the true identity of the “Laplace Box” personally. Perhaps the truth hidden within it will negate the conflict between the Federation and Zeon, and open a new world for both sides; perhaps that may be toxic to all of humanity…but I want to confirm this. Thus, if there is a need, I’m prepared to abandon the world that made me what I am today…I’ll abandon Neo Zeon.”''
 
Soldiers never had much imagination, and they did not have any feeing as to what the world would become of; if anyone asked them of their own opinions, they would be troubled, but the last line toppled all understanding everyone had.
 
''Abandon Neo Zeon''—this line from Mineva, and Zinnerman’s decision to provide the “Garencieres” as bait, decided the fate of the Garencieres team. They were not imprisoned, and could move freely within the ship ‘without division between Federation and Neo Zeon’. This was the result of the abnormal power shown by the “Unicorn Gundam”, and also the words Mineva said to add on to it.
 
She was originally a smart girl, but assuming the identity of Audrey Burne for more than a month had made her grow up greatly. As he looked back on Mineva, who he had been taking care of before “Axis” was taken down, and watched for grow for 10 years, he was delighted that she was able to assume the knack as a leader. He knew that there was nothing to rely on with regards to the current Neo Zeon, and there was no place for him left as he had disobeyed orders, but that was a different issue from whether he was to work together with the Federation. No matter whether anyone wanted to cross the line, the Federation was the Federation, and Zeon was Zeon. The past could not be changed, and the present had not been changed; the reality shown in those eyes did not change at all.
 
As a Zeon soldier, he was riding on a Federation ship, breathing the same air as the same people who killed Fee and Maree, eating the same food as them; this was all he could understand, and the same went for Flaste and company. ''The Princess and Banagher don’t understand. We’re soldiers; we’re guerilla forces that are like pirates. We don’t have any imagination, and we don’t have the brains to associate ourselves with such noble ideals.''
 
''The world divided by others, the world I feel—but no matter where I am, it has nothing to do with me. My world had already ended from the moment Fee and Maree were killed…''
 
Suddenly, he sensed a stare. The curtain of a partition shook slightly, and something poked out from through the gap. Once he realized that it was pocket bottle of whiskey, he stopped himself from backtracking, and frowned. The gap between the curtains was pulled aside, and the man lying on the neighboring bed showed his bald head, and the familiar eyes were grinning back at him.
 
“I said that I’ll give you a toast if I survived, right?”
 
Gael smiled as he shook the pocket bottle in his head. Zinnerman had heard that he was undergoing treatment in the ship, but it was the first time they met face to face. Zinnerman scanned through his face that looked a lot skinner and the bandages under the pajamas, “Where did you get that from?” he asked as he received the bottle. Gael however merely chuckled and did not answer. His presence felt stronger while on the brink of death, and that was the bold smile of the man doing secret work for the Vist Foundation.
 
“I have to thank you for Banagher Links.”
 
Gael said as he held the wound on his abdomen and got up. Zinnerman glanced sideways and looked up at his face.
 
“He’s the son of what I consider my savior. If anything goes wrong, I won’t have any face to show when I head down to the netherworld.”
 
News of Banagher’s heritage had reached Zinnerman’s ears through Otto’s mouth. Though Zinnerman was not exactly feeling betrayed, he was certainly shocked to some extent the moment he heard of it. As he recalled this feeling, “I never thought that he had the Vist blood in him…” he murmured. He turned his back towards Gael, who was giving him a probing look, and continued to look at the sleeping Marida. ''He’s of a different breed too—he started from a different point, and his future won’t be on the same side as me, that’s all…''
 
“I never did anything worthy of being thanked for. We’re the ones who were saved.”
 
“But he respects you like a father. It’s because of your recognition that he can get onto the “Nahel Argama” in this state.”
 
Upon hearing Gael’s baritone voice, the pressure in Zinnerman’s heart got worse. ''A father—are you kidding me?'' He clenched the pocket bottle in his hands as he looked at Marida again, unable to pretend to act calm anymore. “It certainly is an amazing.” Gael however did not seem to notice anything amiss as he continued,
 
“It’s true that he has the charisma his father has, but that’s not all. There’s something that entered his heart, shaking up whatever’s within hinm…”
 
“He’s just a kid. That’s why he can barge into other people’s hearts without any concerns and talk whatever he wants.”
 
“Maybe, but maybe he instinctively knew that it’s better for him to reveal everything within him than to bear everything stubborn. We adults need to shed off our false appearances…”
 
Gael’s wry presence shook Zinnerman as the latter turned his back on the former. If he were to shed off his pretense, he would be unable to hold back his urge to yell out, and took a deep sigh. “I’m like this now.” Gael’s voice continued from behind.
 
“I want to help him, but I have limits too. I hope that you can watch over him in my stead. For the sake of this situation—”
 
“Don’t overestimate me.”
 
The pressure forced Zinnerman to his limit, and he released it in a forced voice. After exchanging looks with a silent Gael, he immediately looked away, looking for a means of escape from the silent Marida.
 
“…This doesn’t suit me. I’m really not a trustworthy person.”
 
He lowered his head and looked at pocket bottle he no longer felt like drinking from, and eked out this line, ostensibly trying to convince himself. Gael did not speak up, and the infirmary was so silent one may hear a pin drop. The sound of the cardiograph continued to echo, making a regular beep of the heart that was like a countdown timer.