Editing KSGU:Volume 8 Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 8===

In the ship that was devoid of people, the sounds of engines were the only things that could be heard. It had been approximately 2 hours after the occupation, but even the air felt foreign.
 
Of course, the Captain’s room in a corner of the gravity block was no exception. In this place that was filled with cold and silent air, Banagher, Mineva, Angelo and the red profile of Frontal were present. They were led here by the Garencieres team, and Frontal chose a place where they could talk quietly, the waiting room leading to the Captain’s room. The 4 cups of coffee were still giving off hot air, but nobody touched them. The positions of the captors and the captives were of no relation to the quartet present, and a short moment of silence descended upon them as their bodies sank in the gravity as time passed.
 
It had been a long time since he once met Daguza face to face. The bland instant coffee aroma spread around the room, replacing the fragrance of the red tea Otto prided himself in the last time Banagher took a drink from it. He let his body sink into the sofa and looked at the back of Frontal, who did not sit as he merely looked at the landscape painting, still giving off a presence that was not of a human. Perhaps the chilling atmosphere in this ship was a result of this man’s arrival.
 
“What Lieutenant Angelo said is the truth. We’re taking the crew of this entire ship as hostages.”
 
Frontal seemed to have detected Banagher’s stare as he did not move while saying. Did Angelo tell him of this, or that he sensed that Angelo mentioned this before? Banagher was unable to tell as he wordlessly looked back.
 
“But it’s not my intention to use hostages as shields to force you. You do have talent.”
 
He turned around abruptly, and the stare from the mask remained unmoved. The anti-glare filter reflected a strong dazzling light, and Banagher, who was sitting on the sofa, tensed up.
 
“It’s a talent we need. No matter what path you take after that, it’ll be a waste to see a world dominated by the Federation bury such talent.”
 
The hand with the white glove on it reached for the mask and took it off. The lush blond hair let out a flowing sound that overlapped with Mineva’s breath, and Angelo, who took a step forward, let out a faltering breath. Banagher exerted strength into his abdomen as he looked at the face which had its mask removed.
 
“Will you assist me, Banagher Links? You have more worth than what you imagine yourself to be of.”
 
The blue exposed eyes had an expression that was reading into other people’s hearts as it looked right back at him. ''He’s not talking about ‘us’, but ‘me’,'' this explanation caused Banagher to feel an unexpected weight, and he looked down at his clenched fists. He glanced at the glaring Angelo, and then looked at the overly handsome face in front of him, “…Why did you kill Mr Gibney?” he eked out these wods.
 
“Your ability alone can restrict his actions even if you don’t kill him.”
 
“You should be able to understand, right?”
 
The poker face was just like how it was with the mask on, and it was impossible to see what sort of expression Frontal was giving. “Make an example of others, am I correct?” Banagher immediately answered, “That’s right.” Frontal looked down at the former and showed a thin smile.
 
“This is the talent I said of you, to see through others like this.”
 
“This is the talent of a killer, not a Newtype ability under Zeon Deikun’s definition.”
 
Banagher forgot the pressure surrounding him for a short moment. “Who do you think you’re talking to, kid…!” Angelo growled and reached his arm out before Frontal could reply, and grabbed Banagher by the collar.
 
“What the Captain is saying is the responsibility that comes with the ability. What do you think will happen if that mechanic’s still alive? There’ll be more of the same things happening, and more sacrifices will be made. Those who have the ability to see the future have the duty and responsibility to deal with such things coldly.”
 
Even in low gravity, the arm strength to raise Banagher’s weight with one arm was not to be underestimated. The expression was filled with personal emotions, a stark contrast to the words that were just said, and Banagher felt a suffocating fear.
 
“You’re just running away from this responsibility, a fool who haven’t realized it at all.”
 
“I know that…! But so what about those people who think that they can see the future? They’re just like the dictators of the past or Char who threw an asteroid down onto Earth, it’s just a contest of who kills more here, right? My father who wanted to hand the “Laplace Box” to Newtypes…Cardeas Vist may be of the same kind as them!”
 
The strength disappeared from Angelo’s hand, “Father…?” and a surprised voice came out from his mouth. Banagher shook his hand off, stood up while staggering, and turned his stare at Frontal, who did not twitch his eyebrows in the slightest. “So if there’s really such a power, I have to be careful. I can’t just fall into despair myself; I need to find a way for everyone to coexist together—”
 
The door suddenly opened, causing Banagher to swallow the latter half of his words.
 
Zinnerman opened the door, stopped for a moment as everyone looked at him, and stepped into the room. He did not look at anyone, and his bearded face gave off a familiar odor; Banagher stood at where he was as he turned his face away. He had been concerned about something all this while, but the moment Zinnerman appeared, he was unable to say anything. There was a voice bellowing in him, telling him that it was useless of him to say this. The word despair felt so clear in him, and he felt the knees that were supporting him in his resistance against Frontal lose strength.
 
''Did Char, Father, threw the asteroid down to Earth and wanted to open the “Box”, the source of this conflict because they felt endless despair?'' He was shocked by this thought flashing through his mind, and was unable to find anything to argue back as he slumped into the sofa. With his back facing Mineva diagonally, ZInnerman looked at a corner of the room with all emotions gone from his eyes; Banagher again clenched his fists.
 
“…Anyway, I have no intention of helping Neo Zeon. If there’s a responsibility, it’s mine since I’m entrusted with the “Box”.”
 
“But we can say that since you say so, the hostages will lose their lives. What will you say about that?”
 
Frontal turned the old scar on his forehead as he answered. Banagher lowered his head.
 
“Your self-righteousness will kill many people. The outcome here will mean that you’re doing no different from Char and your father, right?”
 
The steady voice felt like a silk rope that was slightly choking his body and mind. If there were a devil in this world, perhaps this would be the voice he uses to mutter. Banagher was shocked by the blue eyes that were terrifyingly silent, and bit his lips as he could not argue back. “That’s enough of your act here, Captain Frontal.” However, an interrupting voice caused him to gasp.
 
“You want to ask me, right? Where the “Box” is.”
 
Mineva got up from her single-seat sofa and stared at Frontal’s face as she said this. The face that had been out of Banagher’s consciousness up till this point caused his sweaty fists to cringe as it forced itself inside his sights.
 
“Just ask honestly. It’s an indulgent act to try and actually make that boy speak for himself.”
 
She waved her arm, ostensibly not wanting the other man to argue back, and moved her knees and cape. The sweet aroma that floated by felt just like the one Banagher had a whiff of when their lips were close together in the cockpit. “I know where the final location of the “Box” is.” He blinked as Mineva said that, and though he knew, his heart jolted.
 
“I was in the “Unicorn” cockpit too, so I witnessed it personally.”
 
“About that…if you were willing to tell us, you could have avoided all unnecessary sacrifices, right?”
 
Angelo stood about as he spaced out, but Frontal ignored him as he let out a surprised voice. Mineva saw Zinnerman move his eyes, and looked back at Frontal, “But I have a condition.” And said with a cold voice.
 
“What do you want to do with the “Laplace Box” once you get it? I want to hear your opinion on this.”
 
“Say it here, is it?”
 
“Right. Before you continue however, I don’t want to hear any rotten saying like reviving Zeon. The man who built relationships with the Zeon government and launched operations before the return of self-autonomy isn’t that simple.”
 
Once she finished saying this, Mineva showed a glint of straightforwardness in her eyes, a cruelty that made her different from her identity as Audrey. Banagher heard the throbbing in his chest and looked at Frontal. The face that was looking back at Mineva showed a human-like moment of hesitation on his face, “Alright.” He answered, turned to Mineva, but…
 
“However.”
 
Mineva immediately stopped him, passed by the front of the red uniform, and walked towards the communication panel on the wall. She proceeded to operate it and pressed the phone button at the bottom. “The conversation here will be leaked out to the ship.” She said as she turned to Frontal,
 
“Please say your real motive, Captain. If you really have conviction, how about you let the Republic soldiers hear it out?”
 
“This will also reach the ears of the Federation soldiers, and their freedom in the future will be heavily restricted as a result, you know?”
 
“They’re prisoners either way. If you really have such a belief in your values, Captain, someone may be willing to help you.”
 
It seemed that a sharp exchange of words was under way. Frontal saw that Mineva kept her poker face, and lowered his face. Banagher saw him, with both Angelo and Zinnerman looking, focus his blue eyes in space, and started saying while ostensibly not looking at this place,
 
“The Space Migrant Independence Plan up till this point is determined by the Federation’s willingness to grant self-governance. Without looking at the example of the One Year War, we can be certain that the Federation will definitely not agree with this. Then, there’s no need to wait for their approval. It is my opinion that we ignore them.”