Stepping over blood flowing down the trapezoidal steps, thick with the scent of iron.
The masked Nicol was shrouded in an ominous aura of murderous intent, followed by a group of cold-faced subordinates with expressionless poker faces.
They were clearly eager to seize Lacus and take her back for thorough interrogation.
Especially for a woman of Lacus's status and beauty, she held an indescribable allure for these members of special departments operating in the shadows.
"Nicol?"
As gunshots rang out, Athrun instinctively shielded Lacus.
But once he positioned himself in front of her, Athrun suddenly felt somewhat awkward.
Mainly because the Lacus behind him was no longer the beloved diva of the PLANT satellite cluster.
She was now a wanted fugitive, bearing the severe accusation of treason.
"I think there might be some misunderstanding here?"
Yet having already stepped forward, Athrun obviously couldn't just retreat.
So he attempted to defuse the tension while trying to understand what exactly was happening.
Such as Lacus's claim that she had given the Freedom Gundam to Kira.
"Athrun, step aside."
Nicol looked at Athrun and shook his head.
"I don't blame you for withholding information. After all, she is what they call a Mediator."
"Naturally skilled at beguiling hearts, especially someone like you who has been living closely with her."
"Mediator?"
Upon hearing this, both Athrun and Lacus were taken aback.
Weren't they Coordinators?
What was a Mediator? And this talk of beguiling hearts?
Why would Nicol say such things, and what was his basis for saying them?
"I don't understand what you mean?"
Lacus immediately stepped forward, her tone cool yet persuasive.
"The current state of the world is not right. The war between PLANT and the Earth Sphere cannot continue endlessly."
"The 210,000 fallen comrades at Junius Seven, and the countless others who have died in the Earth Sphere."
"Faced with such numbers of sacrifices, must we continue fighting?"
"Must we proceed until we've killed everyone on the opposing side, tearing this world apart through the hostility of two peoples?"
"My companions and I merely wish to end this meaningless war."
"When people are trapped in a vortex of hatred, unable to free themselves, someone must step forward first to try and calm everyone down."
"I believe that through open-hearted mutual understanding, we can achieve mutual reconciliation."
"A path to peace will always emerge!"
"Who understands what you're saying?"
"Just like you asked me earlier - what is the meaning of battle?"
"Who understands these things? Who can make the world understand?"
"When the enemy opens fire, isn't it natural for us to retaliate?"
"Since the war has already begun, there's no meaning without achieving final victory!"
"If peace negotiations are to serve as the ceasefire to war, then Lacus, what do you take those soldiers for?"
Enraged by Lacus's words, Nicol gestured with his gun, sweeping it over the corpses beneath the chairs.
"And aren't you making the same choice yourself? Otherwise, why prepare so many ambushers?"
"Who are these ambushers targeting? Me? Or Athrun?"
"You keep preaching about choosing dialogue, but when it comes down to it, haven't you also resorted to force?"
The atmosphere instantly grew tense after these words.
Especially for Athrun, who stood shielding Lacus—he hadn't considered this perspective before.
But his close friend Nicol's words gave him pause.
That's right. Today, it was Nicol who stormed in with his men.
If Nicol hadn't brought his people, then who were the operatives Lacus had ambushed in advance targeting?
Could it have been me, if my negotiations with Lacus had broken down?
"When weapons are in the hands of the just, they are tools to safeguard world peace."
"But once weapons fall into the hands of villains, they become instruments of slaughter."
"I am willing to engage in equal dialogue with everyone, but that doesn't mean I will abandon my right to protect myself."
Nicol's accusations held no threat for Lacus.
Her response was reasoned and justified, leaving no room for criticism.
It also aligned with contemporary logic, particularly in Western thinking.
"Right, when you carry weapons, it's self-defense, but when I carry them, it's endangering others."
Nicol shrugged under Athrun's gaze. Just as even Athrun assumed Nicol would continue arguing with Lacus—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Several gunshots rang out. The gun in Athrun's hand was unexpectedly shot away by Nicol.
"Nicol, what are you doing?"
Athrun never imagined his close friend would fire at him!
"Athrun, I'll explain later!"
In a swift motion, Nicol dashed onto the stage, bypassing Athrun—who was clutching his hand—and charged straight toward Lacus.
At the signal of the gunshots, the agents behind Nicol surged forward.
Just as Nicol was about to seize Lacus, another volley of gunfire erupted.
Had it not been for Nicol's sharp instincts, he might have been riddled with bullets.
From behind the stage, led by Martin—the adjutant of Desert Tiger Balthfeld, also masked to conceal his identity—a group emerged.
They had been covertly observing the events in the theater all along. When Nicol suddenly made his move, they intervened immediately.
After all, Lacus was a woman who always kept cards up her sleeve, a true exemplar of holding back a trump card!
In an instant, gunfire erupted wildly, bullets flying everywhere within the small theater.
Before Nicol's forces stationed outside could storm in, the two sides reached a temporary stalemate.
However, as time passed, Nicol undeniably had a seemingly endless supply of manpower. As more and more reinforcements arrived, the scales of victory tipped unmistakably in his favor.
Lacus's side was well aware of this. Without prolonging the fight, Martin immediately prepared to escort Lacus to safety.
At heart, Martin couldn't comprehend why Lacus would take such a risk to approach Athrun.
After all, Athrun bore the surname Zala—he was the son of that Patrick!
"This way, please!"
But at this point, Martin couldn't possibly blame Lacus either.
He ushered the pink-haired princess beside him toward the theater's secret passage.
"Athrun, block Lacus! Don't forget you're a Zala!"
Seeing Lacus about to escape, Nicol shouted toward Athrun who was not far from her.
"Athrun?"
Turning her head abruptly, Lacus fixed her flowing gaze on her former fiancé.
"Do you think the world as it is now is right?"
Once again posing this question to Athrun, just as Lacus had anticipated, he showed signs of wavering.
Seizing this slight hesitation, Martin had already guided Lacus around to the rear.
By the time Athrun snapped back to reality, he had lost the best opportunity to obstruct their retreat.
"Lacus." Clenching his fist, Athrun's expression was exceptionally complex.
Especially when Nicol came to his side, he looked utterly defeated, like a rooster that had lost a fight.
Hanging his head, he didn't know how to face his friend.
"Bastard."
Frustrated by Athrun's lack of resolve, Nicol stepped in front of him, grabbing him by the collar and seeing his friend's lifeless demeanor.
"Do you know what your last name is? Zala!"
"It's precisely because countless Coordinator comrades believe in Zala, believe in the first Zala who chose armed resistance against Naturals."
"That we, we in ZAFT, and countless others have fought against the Naturals until now!"
"I'm sorry."
What else could he say? His mind in turmoil, Athrun spoke softly.
"You." Taking a deep breath, Nicol suppressed his emotions.
Seeing that Lacus and the others had long disappeared, he pinned his hopes on another person.
Hopefully, their arrangements would prove effective.
As for their side, Nicol sighed once more.
"Come with me. I'll show you the truth behind this world."
With that, Nicol turned and led the way outward.
Watching his friend's retreating figure, Athrun hesitated for a moment before following.
"Where are we going?"
Chasing after Nicol's back, Athrun called out from a distance.
"Mendel, where it all began."
From the remnants Captain Creuset had left him, Nicol had learned some truths about this world.
Having visited Mendel, he understood facts that shouldn't have been revealed at this time.
Afterward, he went to meet Captain Creuset's best friend during his lifetime—Durandal!
Now, Nicol would also take Athrun to see the truth!
"Mendel?" Athrun was puzzled but didn't press further.
Meanwhile, Lacus and her group hurried through the secret passages within the theater.
When they finally reached the end of the passage, just as they thought they were about to make a clean escape—
"Miss Lacus Clyne, we've been waiting for you."
A group of people emerged from their hiding spots, guns raised, their numbers substantial as they approached Lacus.
"Who are you?"
Widening her beautiful eyes, Lacus showed no trace of fear, confronting the newcomers directly.
"We are..."
The attempt to capture Lacus ultimately came to nothing, and in any case, Athrun was unaware of the subsequent events.
"So this is the truth?"
Of course, he had no time to dwell on Lacus's affairs now.
After returning from Mendel, Athrun sat in Durandal's home, his head bowed in disbelief.
He had learned of Kira's origins, and discovered Captain Creuset's background.
Although the Mediator Nicol hadn't explained everything.
Yet Athrun viscerally understood just how profound humanity's inherent malice could become.
And how many sacrifices lay behind the birth of every single Coordinator.
That Coordinators represented humanity's dream!
"Can the Destiny Plan truly change this world?"
He lifted his head, asking as if seeking salvation.