Editing KSGU:Volume 7 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 5===

The sound of water dripping was itching Banagher’s eardrums in a regular rhythm. He looked away from the arm slightly and stared over at where the sound came from. There was the sound of new water droplets dripping from the tap at the basin, located in a corner of the officer room that was transformed into a detention room, and there was a unique echo that rang through this dim room.

''“Audrey Burne…just view her as this for now. Mineva Zabi isn’t here. What you see is a woman with hidden depths, so everything depends on how you want to deal with her.”''

The sound of the water droplets dripping resonated with Alberto’s voice. Banagher lost the strength and will to close off the tap as he put his arm on his face as he laid down to rest.

''“It’s the same for the woman you call Marida. We can grant her the freedom, provided if ou play along or not. I won’t force you any longer. You better think for yourself regarding what is the best thing to do.”''

Banagher thought about it before. Also, he told them that the new coordinates were pointing to space. However, the details would have to wait until Audrey was released. If they want to know the exact coordinates, they would have to return Audrey to Neo Zeon—he knew very well that this was a lopsided deal against his favor. It had been two days since Alberto said these words, and though Banagher had been threatened a few times afterwards, they had not contacted him for the last 12 hours or so. He was wondering if they were preparing to enter space, but in fact, the ship was already moving. The sunset-lit ocean surface could be seen moving from right to left on the communication panel, which captured the video feed from the external camera.

Banagher once saw something resembling a desert landscape through the gaps between the clouds the previous day. That was possibly the African continent. On that African land, he once went near the border of left and death with Zinnerman, and met Loni. ''What’s Loni doing now?'' Banagher thought blankly. He felt that he heard Loni’s voice when he was facing against the mobile armor. Her last thoughts entered his heart, telling him to fire at the source of the grudge—

The chilling sweat permeated out, causing his body that was resting on the bed to go cold. He did not want to think about it any further. Even if he spent his effort thinking about it, he would be unable to do anything at all. No matter where this ship was going, he would be brought to space sooner or later. With Audrey being held as a hostage, he would be forced to lead the way for those searching for the “Box”. He did not believe that he could remain silent forever, and he had a premonition that if he were to meet Audrey the next time, he would probably reveal everything—even if she did not wish for it, despite this being a betrayal to the wills of the many people residing in him and the thought demanding him ‘to do what he felt he had to do’.

Amongst the thought processes within him, the one that he could not differentiate as either himself or others…was the outsider called Marida Cruz. Her poker face appeared in his mind together with the black “Unicorn”, causing him to exert more strength on the arm resting on his eyes. Her cold eyes when she blocked his path looked like a completely different person’s. He could not sense the feeling of loss within her, only a thorough hollow feeling. Cyber-Newtype? Readjustments? He did not understand. He did not want to admit that humans could be reformed like this. Humans do change, but that was different; that way of changing humans was different; that was definitely something that was not to be done to someone else.

''Perhaps the human’s will is to this extent. In the future, where I know that people I get involved with can betray me and abandon everything, will I being reformed gradually? How do I determine the differences between change and reform? Is there a point in differentiating them? Humans’ wills are just something that can be transplanted or shed off by other people’s hands. What is the meaning of using this kind of thing to differentiate between good and evil…?''

The sound of the door being unlocked rang, and his thoughts that were going nowhere were interrupted. ''Is it an interrogation again?'' Banagher moved his slow moving head as he got up from the bed. Upon seeing the face of the man standing at the door, he made a small gasp.

Standing over there was a man in Federation officer uniform. He was probably around 40 years old…or maybe a tad younger. His black eyes, similar to his hair color had a glint in them, making him look relatively young. He had a mature look, but his clear eyes had the determination of a youth.

“I want to talk with you. May I?”

His back was straightened like a soldier, but there was a tinge of gentleness that could be heard from his voice. Banagher hardly had a proper talk with the crew on the ship after he was detained here, and he nodded as he got off the bed immediately without looking away. The man glanced outside to chase off the Foundation’s guards, walked into the room, closed the door, and spoke.

“I’m Bright Noa, the captain of this ship.”

The man reached his hand out as he looked around the room that was lit only with the spotlight for nighttime use. Banagher understood that the other man was worrying if there were any surveillance cameras, and gave a look with his eyes, telling the other man not to worry as he too reached his hand out. The man who called himself Bright showed a smile as his sturdy hands clasped Banagher’s hand firmly.

“I’ll be ashamed to admit that I still have to worry about being eavesdropped on in my own ship.”

Bright sat down on the bed as he glanced at the communication panel. The light grey clouds filled the 10-inch monitor, probably because the ship had just risen in height. “I increased the speed of the ship slightly. We’ll reach Sydney Bay in the afternoon tomorrow.” Bright explained, but Banagher did not know what to make of these words as he merely looked at the side of the other man’s face.

“We’ll stop at a place called Torrington Base, and the role of the “Ra Cailum” will end there. You’ll most probably end up going to space with those Foundation people.”

“I’m not going to space on this ship?”

“Our relationship with the Foundation isn’t good. They won’t let us search for the treasure with them.”

Bright shrugged as he said simply. His relaxed attitude would make one suspect if this was a trap to lower Banagher’s guard, but the latter did not feel this deliberate action from the other man’s bitter smile. Also, there certainly was a relaxing atmosphere inside the room. Banagher exhaled a little and sat on the chair.

“Before this, there’s something I want to ask you. You’ve been working with Neo Zeon after arriving on Earth, and yet you came out on your own during the Dakar incident and fought that mobile armor with Ensign Riddhe. Why is that?”

“Why…because I felt I had to stop it.”

“Did you escape from that disguised trading ship “Garencieres”?”

“It’s not right to say that I actually escaped from it. I felt that they deliberately sent me out. Even the captain of the “Garencieres” can’t accept that kind of operation.”

Banagher expressed his doubts in the form of words simply as he probed his face that still had the bruise from the punch. He heard that there was no news of the “Garencieres” after Dakar. ''If he knows that Audrey and Marida are here, Zinnerman will—'' Banagher suddenly had this thought and felt that it was useless to think deeper into this as he shook off that fierce-looking bearded face from his mouth. Bright gave an observing look silently, breathed out from his nose, “That’s right. It certainly seems that the “Garencieres” actions point to this.” he said as he clasped his hands.

“That means that you weren’t treated like a prisoner there, and you had the freedom to act on whatever you thought, right?”

“That’s…right. I didn’t feel that they were enemies like what the Federation said.”

“Why’s that?”

“I’m not a soldier…so I’m not used to determining who’s my friend or enemy. The atmosphere on that ship gave me the feeling that there’s no need for that. I didn’t feel the atmosphere of the “Sleeves” I felt in “Palau”, at least…I could feel enemy intent back instantly. I think it’s because of this that I could stay on the “Garencieres”.”

“In other words, they made you feel that you could talk with them?”

“Yes.” Banahger answered as he felt that Bright was trying to get information on something as he turned his surprised look on the other man. After a short pause, Bright looked like he made some sort of decision as he got up. “I understand. Thank you.” He said as he gave an unfettered smile.

“You’re so young, but your observation and expressive skills are rather impressive. I suppose your parents taught you very well.”

Banagher knew that this was merely a social formality, but these words still felt heavy to him, who was once described as ‘a Cyber-Newtype created by Cardeas. Once he saw Banagher lower his head, Bright seemed to realize that he touched on something he should not have mentioned, “Sorry for talking too much here”, he quipped, and walked past the boy. Banagher watched the other man head straight for the door, “Please wait!”, and hurriedly got up from the chair.

“If you’re the captain, can you let me meet Audrey…Princess Mineva?”

“Unfortunately, my power alone can’t help you. In reality, I had to put in quite the effort just to get to talk to you.”

The face of the man who answered apologetically without asking for the reason caused Banagher’s heart to ache. “Is that so…” the boy slumped back onto the bed again.

Those pair of emerald eyes suddenly appeared in his eyes in “Industrial 7”. Once he tried to sort out his past experiences, Banagher felt an inexplicable sense of unfamiliarity with her again. He wanted to meet her; he wanted to see those eyes looking at him again in a place where he hoped no one could disturb them. The origin that sent him to this moment, those eyes may probably allow him to swallow the change and reform within him, and revert him to his initial emotional state—Banagher clasped his hands together and looked over at the dim floor. “Don’t give up.” However, Bright said.

“Your eyes have strength, a look of determination that can turn difficulty into nutrients, just like the generation of pilots who used to pilot “Gundams”. As long as you don’t give up, the opportunity will definitely come.”

This was not a reasoning based on perspective alone as Bright’s voice sounded like he had experience with this. Banagher looked back at the contemplating face, immediately looked down, “No…I don’t have that power.” he eked out this voice as he murmured.

“Everything was just out of coincidence. I got onto the “Unicorn”, I ended up waiting here…all because of coincidence. If it were someone with the power, he’ll definitely handle it better. He’ll be active enough to lose himself and help others, while I…”

''I can’t even save myself, let alone Audrey or Marida. If you’re trying to say that I’m a Cyber-Newtype, this would be too much of a joke.'' Banagher bit his lips hard as he resisted the urge to let his emotions explode and closed his eyes. After a short moment of silence, Bright’s hand was placed upon his shoulder lightly, “The “Gundam” pilots in the past were all like this too.” This calm and steady voice caused Banagher’s eardrums to resonate.

“It was already difficult for them to live as the situations continued to change drastically…whether or not they exist, the overall situation would not change. Ultimately, an individual being does not have the power to save the world.”

The self-loathing expression could be seen in Bright’s eyes as he narrowed them unhappily. He did not look at Banagher, who lifted his face to look back, and suppressed some sort of emotion as he turned towards the door.

“However, some people were saved because of their existence. Even if their names aren’t widely famous, there are some incidents that will remain in the world, and this is the truth. Individually, we are helpless, but individual wills united together can also drag the world from the dark abyss. I suppose the symbolism of the “Gundam” is definitely about that kind of power. When the world’s conflicts reach its climax, they will appear from somewhere and link people together, whether they are ally or foe…the basis of that will always be the power of humanity. This is the power of the will, to face the still world while still trying to use their hearts to interact with people. Don’t be crushed by the situation. If you’re a “Gundam” pilot too…a Newtype, you should summon your courage and force back the thoughts of despair.”

Bright looked back and showed an earnest look for a fleeting moment, and before Banagher could ask back, he immediately walked off and opened the door. Banagher watched the back disappear through the door without looking back and vanished on the other side of the door; and looked down at his hands lit by the reflected light of the monitor.

Those were weak hands that could not do anything. No matter what kind of people the past generations of “Gundam” pilots were, they were definitely no different. They definitely faced these kinds of situations when they used their powerless hands to touch others, to support others, to kill others occasionally, and kept the one and only thing that could make the decisions for them—the heart. No matter what kind of cruel reality they witnessed, they could continue on by saying, “Even so”.

Banagher clenched his hands, warmed by a heat sensation, and looked at the monitor of the communication panel. He saw the white patch of clouds that expanded beyond the horizon, and nothing more. The white cloud vapors covered everywhere, and he could not tell where they were…but that would not continue forever. If he kept on running, he would be able to escape sooner or later. ''I can’t give up, I have to look at the situation clearly''—Banagher made this decision. ''That’s because, the chance to break through will definitely fall onto me.''

''Even if it’s merely an amicable feeling, even if it’s knowledge others tell me that cause me to feel this way, the heat sensation from these hands is definitely from within me.''  Banagher felt that it was okay to leave it like this for now as he stared at the white space outside. The mist that flashed by and disappeared paused, and he saw the orange sunlight overlap upon the clouds.