After spending two days replacing and maintaining some of the armor and thruster internals of the two Gundams, He Kui returned to the radar room.
Under normal circumstances, if his Haro wasn't near the Archangel, it wouldn't be detected.
With that thought, the screen before He Kui showed people solemnly observing a few coffins.
It appeared to be a funeral.
He Kui rotated Haro's head 360 degrees.
In the back stood officers in Earth Alliance uniforms, likely from the Archangel.
However, he didn't see the red-haired Flay; perhaps she left with her father or something else happened.
Turning his attention to Cagalli, who was holding his Haro, He Kui saw the girl's serious expression.
She wasn't crying, just solemn.
The other members of the Desert Dawn were in a similar state.
The death of comrades might have become a regular occurrence for them.
But after the recent defeat, no one could speak of a counterattack.
The solemn funeral didn't last long.
Along with Cagalli, He Kui was carried into one of their tents.
Inside, a few people were sitting or standing.
He Kui knew this was likely a high-level meeting between the Archangel and the Desert Dawn.
Sure enough, after Cagalli entered, the leader of the Desert Dawn nodded to the woman leading the Alliance and spoke.
"Thank you for your assistance earlier."
"It was our duty. What are your plans now?"
The woman, exuding feminine charm and a commanding presence, was undoubtedly the captain.
"First, we'll go to the city for supplies."
"The city? Isn't that the Desert Tiger's territory?"
Hearing the location made several others frown.
"It is, but the control there isn't strict, and we have legitimate identities."
In a populous city, it's impossible to control all entrances and exits of Tassil with just a handful of Coordinators.
If they had that many people, Blue Cosmos would have vanished from the city.
The decision on who would go to Tassil was quickly made.
Cagalli and Kira, seeking a break, along with Kisaka and the Desert Dawn leader for arms negotiations, and one Baku Lulu.
Just a few people.
Would they turn the tide on the battlefield?
Looking at the dejected young man not far from Cagalli, He Kui pondered.
If everything followed the storyline, Kira would end up at the Desert Tiger's mansion.
Taking advantage of this, He Kui might forcibly detain the two.
After all, he was nearly on par with the Desert Tiger.
But whether events would align with the plot was uncertain.
Moreover, Kira's friends were still on the Archangel, and Kira might fight to the death.
Considering the previous conflict, Kira had killed several Coordinators.
Even knowing the plot, there were too many unknowns now; more observation was needed to determine the next move.
While thinking, Cagalli carried He Kui back to her tent.
Cagalli removed her jacket, leaving only a deep red tank top. Though not as endowed as the captain, her smooth, sun-kissed skin was captivating.
"Do you think we should give up?"
"."
The previous battle showed that the Desert Dawn's resistance was more reckless than strategic, not much better than futile. Without Orb's support and the Desert Tiger temporarily targeting Blue Cosmos, they would have been wiped out.
But advising them wouldn't help, and it wasn't his place to persuade them. Even if he offered terms, no one would care.
Personal strength was key, as seen with Kira in the plot, navigating the Alliance, Orb, and ZAFT with ease.
If He Kui were to give advice, it'd simply be to keep trying.
Seeing there were no other insights, he turned off the radar used for contact and returned to the hangar housing Duel and Buster.
"You're still here."
He Kui remarked at the familiar duo.
"Director He, just checking the system."
After a few days together, the three had become familiar.
"Still not adjusted."
The two machines shared the same frame, but their weight and subtle balance differences were distinct.
He wasn't Kira and didn't have that much time.
"By the way, where are your captain and Athrun? Haven't seen them."
He Kui asked curiously.
"They returned home after the low-orbit battle. Bet Athrun went to see his fiancée again."
Dearka replied nonchalantly.
Though casual, it reflected their relationship.
"Perfect, let's strike while the iron's hot!"
Yzak snorted.
Dearka chuckled and patted He Kui's shoulder.
"And you, Director He? When are you leaving?"
"In a few days."
Once the Tassil situation concluded, whether the Archangel escaped or surrendered, it was time to return to space.
There were many unfinished matters up there.
"Hope it goes well for you."
It seemed Cruzer wouldn't be coming down anytime soon.
Relieved, He Kui entered the cockpit of the Buster.
There was still plenty of code to complete.
Two days later, He Kui woke up early.
Sulei was still drowsy in bed.
"Why so early again!"
Sulei pouted.
With her Coordinator physique, Sulei recovered quickly.
They had just shared a tender moment last night.
"Going to the radar room."
"The radar room again."
Hearing He Kui, Sulei sat up with interest.
In just her underwear, she looked petite and delicate, without scars, making He Kui feel a bit guilty.
"What are you looking at~?"
Having just experienced such intimacy, Sulei was still shy, using the blanket to cover her body.
"Wondering why you're not growing. We've tried hard; maybe I should help tonight?"
Compared to the captain's abundance, Sulei seemed even more modest.
"He Kui, you're such a pervert!"
He Kui's subtle hint wasn't lost on Sulei, making her already blushing face even more radiant.
Annoyed and embarrassed, she tossed a pillow at He Kui.
Seeing his successful distraction, He Kui caught the pillow, placed it back, and left the room with a smile.
After conducting some experiments and sending everyone off, He Kui connected to Haro at just the right time.
Upon opening his eyes, he saw the countless lights of Tassil, a city he had only guarded once.
And controlling the cumbersome Haro...
Realizing he was carrying a weight not meant for his body, He Kui felt exasperated.
This wasn't a cargo robot; why was he carrying goods?
Did Cagalli know how much his internal parts were worth?
Probably not.
"Why are you moving suddenly? Stay still."
Cagalli gently petted Haro's cold exterior.
Compared to two days ago, Cagalli had regained her usual vigor.
"But Kira, can't you dismantle these little rounds?"
"No, whoever made them designed a simple yet effective self-destruct mechanism. If triggered, they'd definitely explode, but their owner might not be dead."
"Not dead?"
"Yes, logically, if such a robotic pet detected its owner's death, it would self-destruct, unless—"
"Unless what?"
Cagalli asked anxiously.
"Unless it wasn't nearby when its owner died, so it didn't detect any signals, hence not triggering the self-destruct."
"Speaking of which, the little round just said its owner disappeared..."
As they chatted while shopping, Haro's actual owner, He Kui, gained new respect for the ultimate Coordinator's abilities.
Even without dismantling Haro, Kira guessed the self-destruct mechanism with
high accuracy.
Even with an A-level in Information Engineering, He Kui was at a clear disadvantage against Kira.
Not to mention mobile suit operation.
The pressure felt like the basket atop Haro, growing heavier.
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