genessia | [Video]

[The feed switches on to show Athrun standing in what appears to be some kind of apartment room. He's at home, broadcasting this from his living room.]

Excuse me. A new subarchway has opened in Nova City, and I thought it might be worth calling attention to, since it's from my home world.

The subarchway leads to an island called Onogoro. It's part of the Orb Union, my home nation. It's run jointly by the Orb military and Morgenroete, Inc., a manufacturer. And, as you might expect of such a place, security is, well...tight. Very tight.

Civilians should be able to get basic clearance to visit, as Morgenroete offers public tours of its facilities on a set schedule. However, if you want to see more, you'll have to come to me directly. I'm a member of Orb's military and I have some clout with Morgenroete. I can make no promises, but I'm certain I can at least get them to listen to what you have to say or offer.

That's all.

[He ends the broadcast, then sends two more messages.]

[Private -- to Satsuki and David]

[The message he sends to these two is a simple text message. However, it's accompanied by a photo. The photo shows a giant robot (though the photo shows its surfaces as all being gray rather than of shades of white, red, or purple) in some kind of advanced military hangar. Athrun had made sure to stand in front of it to further accentuate its size. It appears to be close to twenty meters tall.

The photo is accompanied by two words:]

It's here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Terra doesn't want to ask what Bloody Valentine was. The name itself sends a shiver down her spine.]

SO you are an engineer here?

[She asks calmly. She's trying her best to understand but a strange new feeling in bubbling within her chest.]

No. I'm a pilot, as well as a commanding officer. The machine I pilot is similar to those.

[Athrun points up to the sky, where a flight of machines is flying overhead. Suddenly, they begin to undergo a midair transformation. When the transformations are complete, they look totally different.]

[Terra watches curiously as the machine changes.]

I piloted Teck too.

[Though it is magicteck.]

Wait, what?

[Athrun whirls around to look at her, surprise evident on his face. She may have used a word he doesn't recognize, but context clues him in.]

When you say "teck," you mean...a mobile suit? Just like that?!

Magitek. I just... 'tek' seems like a better way to explain it.

[She tries to think of a way to explain it.]

They are machines... I don't know how they are built. They were used by the Empire in the war, they harnessed magic but used technology.

[Terra's able to use them better than most but she hasn't seen one here.]

Magic and technology?

[Athrun is almost stunned. That goes against everything he's ever learned about magic (both here and in works of fiction) and technology.

However, he also sees an opportunity. Technology is something he understands on a master's level.]

If such a thing truly is possible, I'd love the opportunity to see it.

[Athrun motions to the mobile suits in the sky.]

Anyway, these here are called mobile suits. There's no magic involved -- simply application of physics. They're the primary machine of combat in our world, having replaced the tank in ground combat and the airplane in aerial combat.

The models you see in the sky right now are MVF-M11C Murasames. They're one of the few models capable of transformation. There's a flight mode that grants it atmospheric flight and greater speed, and the standard mode, which is how they mostly fight in combat.

Magitek... [Terra says softly.] Is also used for fighting. I didn't enjoy piloting one because people always got hurt. It not only worked like a machine but because there was magic in it and I'm half magic... well... you could say I was better at destruction.

[Her voice trails off softly and she looks down towards the ground nervously.]

It's not something... I talk about.

[Terra's memories were enough to bring about nightmares.]

[Athrun's gaze softens. Though the details are different, he knows the feeling pretty well.]

...I'm sorry.

[He reaches out to place a reassuring hand on Terra's shoulder.]

To tell the truth, I hate war myself. I enlisted because I felt I could make a difference. In the end, I was right...but it doesn't stop the feeling I get in my stomach whenever I have to kill an enemy pilot.

[Terra blinks at the hand on her shoulder and then looks over at Athrun. She tries to smile though it's only the slightest upturn of her lips.]

There is no need to be sorry but thank you.

[She fidgets feeling a little awkward.]

It's my fault for latching onto the subject in the first place. Here, walk with me.

[Athrun leads Terra over to another side of the roof. This one looks out over the way they came in, and affords a wonderful view of the sea. Additionally, off in the distance, there's a thing that looks like a rail bridge, except it suddenly starts rising up until it runs perfectly vertical before coming to a stop. However, that's so far away it's hard to see with the naked eye.]

What do you think of this view?

[Terra follows him looking over at the view while a light smile pulls at her lips.]

It's beautiful.

[She's more relaxed now that they've changed the subject.]

Yeah. Sometimes I enjoy living in an island nation. We didn't get views like this up in the PLANTs. At least, not this vast.

[Some of them had lakes built into them, but you just can't beat the real thing sometimes.]

[Terra nods her head with a smile.]

I've never seen anything like this before.

[It isn't true but she's never been able to just stop and look at the setting. She looks over at Athrun with a warm smile.]

Thank you for showing me.

[Even if it was a little awkward.]

Of course. I'm glad you enjoy it.

[Athrun stares out at the mass driver, looking a bit wistful, before turning his back to the view.]

This is about all I've got clearance to show for now, so just let me know when you're ready to head back.

[In the meantime, he simply watches Terra as she looks out over the sea, and at one point, gives him a smile.

He can't help but notice that the scenery brings out her beauty.]

[Terra's gaze lingers on the scene a few long moments before turning back to Athrun.]

We can go. Thank you for showing me.

It's been my pleasure. Let's head home, then.

[He leads the way back to the roof entrance, then back home.]

[Video]

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