Kira heard Setsuna's proclamation, but ignored it. For all they had their differences, the other pilot seemed to have a plan, or at least a goal - and with the Leviathans and Shrikes surrounding them, it might be the only shot they had. So the Strike Freedom followed the 00 Raiser, DRAGOONs and cannons blazing in a rapid-fire protective screen.
And then there was a rush of strange green light, and everything turned white.
Kira felt the strange sense that he was... floating, somehow, and not in the usual sense of weightlessness. The endless starfield around him was muted and fuzzy, and if he looked down he couldn't see his body - as if he'd suddenly become a mere consciousness in space, apart from his physical self.
Then he heard voices. No, not voices; thoughts: Setsuna's harsh monotone, Yzak's angry barks, Rtas' low rumble, Trudy's sharp commands. They all blended together in one massive symphony of conscious thought, and yet he could hear all of them perfectly - and catch glimpses of memories, of places and events.
Some of them were his own.
~
"Aren't you a Coordinator? Why are you protecting the Naturals? Why are you fighting your own kind?!"
"This isn't a game, it's war. You can choose to protect people and kill, or get killed yourself." A choice. He didn't want to kill people. But then a black mobile suit rushed him from the side, he ducked, and struck in return. That had been Athrun's friend, and he hadn't known him, and he hadn't meant to kill him, but he had. Swords crossed, and blades flashed. A friend dove out of the thundering sky to help him, and died for his loyalty. Athrun hadn't ever known Tolle, and he wouldn't have wanted to kill him, but he had. Two best friends fought to the death.
"The desire to change things isn't enough. You need the strength, too." She trusted that strength to him, and with this it was different. With the Freedom, he didn't have to kill anymore. Yet even with that strength, he still couldn't save everyone.
Was mercy really weakness? Trying to not kill had nearly gotten him killed, but that was his shield. All killing brought was hate, but could he avoid it against this foe?
Could any of them avoid it?
All he could do was to protect the lives of others wherever he could.
ITP: MIND SCREW (and NAKED... IN... SPACE....!)
And then there was a rush of strange green light, and everything turned white.
Kira felt the strange sense that he was... floating, somehow, and not in the usual sense of weightlessness. The endless starfield around him was muted and fuzzy, and if he looked down he couldn't see his body - as if he'd suddenly become a mere consciousness in space, apart from his physical self.
Then he heard voices. No, not voices; thoughts: Setsuna's harsh monotone, Yzak's angry barks, Rtas' low rumble, Trudy's sharp commands. They all blended together in one massive symphony of conscious thought, and yet he could hear all of them perfectly - and catch glimpses of memories, of places and events.
Some of them were his own.
~
"Aren't you a Coordinator? Why are you protecting the Naturals? Why are you fighting your own kind?!"
"This isn't a game, it's war. You can choose to protect people and kill, or get killed yourself." A choice. He didn't want to kill people. But then a black mobile suit rushed him from the side, he ducked, and struck in return. That had been Athrun's friend, and he hadn't known him, and he hadn't meant to kill him, but he had. Swords crossed, and blades flashed. A friend dove out of the thundering sky to help him, and died for his loyalty. Athrun hadn't ever known Tolle, and he wouldn't have wanted to kill him, but he had. Two best friends fought to the death.
"The desire to change things isn't enough. You need the strength, too." She trusted that strength to him, and with this it was different. With the Freedom, he didn't have to kill anymore. Yet even with that strength, he still couldn't save everyone.
Was mercy really weakness? Trying to not kill had nearly gotten him killed, but that was his shield. All killing brought was hate, but could he avoid it against this foe?
Could any of them avoid it?
All he could do was to protect the lives of others wherever he could.