Gundam: Changing the World Even with a Mass-Produced Unit

Chapter 188 – The Link Between Two People

Shards from the exploded combat claw still managed to pierce into Dijeh's backpack.

Fortunately, it didn't trigger a secondary explosion—only disabled Dijeh's mobility system.

"Get out of the unit, now!"

Amuro didn't even need Eli to say it. He had already opened the hatch and leapt into space on his own.

He turned for a brief glance at the mobile suit that had accompanied him for some time. A tinge of sentiment flickered within him.

"This feeling... gentle? Sensitive?"

Floating in the void, Amuro stabilized himself so Eli could retrieve him.

Eli gently maneuvered his suit to secure Amuro safely.

Then, he opened his own cockpit hatch and peeked outside.

That earlier attack hadn't come from any unit under his command.

However, the telltale sakura-pink beam confirmed the identity of the Federation unit behind it.

He locked eyes with Amuro, confirming they were both unharmed. Then, both turned their gaze toward the wreckage of Neue Ziel plummeting toward the colony's outer wall. It collided violently, blowing open a hole in the structure.

Just then, a flash glinted at the edge of the colony's solar panel array.

"Hm? Chris?"

Amuro tilted his head slightly, as if uncertain about what he had just sensed.

Christina? Why would she be here?

Eli didn't doubt Amuro's Newtype perception—but Chris wasn't supposed to be here. She should've been back on Earth with Rita.

Rita…

A faint birdsong seemed to echo through the vacuum of space.

From the direction of the sun, a mobile suit approached slowly, carrying two large apparatuses on its back. Eli instantly recognized who had come to their rescue.

"Is that... a Gundam?"

Unlike Eli, who was more focused on the pilot's identity, Amuro immediately noticed the machine's signature V-shaped antenna.

Eli didn't respond. Instead, he returned to his cockpit.

"Rita, is that you?"

"Mm-hmm! Big Brother Eli, I'm here to help you!"

Eli carried Amuro and gently drifted toward the approaching Gundam.

Soon, Amuro could clearly see the unit's design.

"NT-1?"

"Nope, it's NT-X!"

A girl's voice rang in Amuro's ears—so directly that for a moment, he couldn't tell whether it came through the comms or straight into his mind.

"This is NT-X. It's the Gundam Chris-nee brought for you!"

The NT-X remained relatively stationary alongside the GP04. Its cockpit opened, revealing a petite girl inside.

Backlit by the sun, Amuro couldn't make out her face beneath the helmet.

"Rita? Why are you in a Gundam… Are you okay?"

"I'm fine! Didn't Dr. Lenora say so? There's nothing wrong with me. If I can help you and Chris-nee, I don't mind at all."

As she spoke, Rita leaned out of her cockpit. She even pushed off gently with her feet from the hatch edge, drifting toward the GP04's cockpit.

Seeing this, Eli quickly reached out, grasped her hand, and tried to help her land on the open hatch platform.

But suddenly, a faint tug came from Rita's side—and her small frame fell into Eli's arms.

In his embrace, wearing a piloting suit tailored to her small figure, Rita's presence stirred in Eli a mix of tenderness and sorrow.

Such a small girl, willing to overcome her fears and pilot a Gundam she disliked—just to come to his aid.

But now wasn't the time to dwell on that.

"Where's Chris?"

"She's right behind us. I came ahead—just for Mr. Amuro."

Rita raised her head from Eli's arms, then turned to face Amuro, who was still in the GP04's grasp.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Amuro. I'm Rita, Christina's daughter."

"Huh?"

Still a bit dazed, Amuro—who had just been locked in a moment of shared emotion—snapped to attention at that.

Startled, he jerked back so hard that his feet lifted off GP04's palm.

That's when Amuro finally got a good look at Rita's face. Blonde bangs over her forehead—completely unlike the fiery red hair of the Christina he remembered.

But within his Newtype perception, Amuro could sense with unsettling clarity that this girl wasn't lying.

A cold sweat began to bead on his brow.

"Rita! How many times have I told you—call me 'Big Sis'!"

While Amuro was still stunned, focusing entirely on the girl in front of him, a familiar voice suddenly crackled through the comms—jolting him even more.

A shadow passed, blocking the sunlight.

Amuro looked up and saw a small cargo ship.

Or rather—his gaze zoomed in, eventually settling on the ship's cockpit, where a woman with a headset was calling out.

He felt a wet sensation near the corner of his eyes.

He quickly blinked, pulling his gaze away before she could notice.

Eli, who had been watching everything quietly, smiled wryly.

He gave instructions for his subordinates to wait until Cima's fleet had fully withdrawn before beginning pursuit. Then, he looked up at the reunion taking place in this critical moment.

"Amuro!"

After lightly scolding Rita for her cheekiness, Christina—unlike the slightly awkward Amuro—called out directly to the young man.

Or perhaps he should now be called a young adult.

Compared to how she remembered him, Amuro's face had matured, the lines sharper and more defined.

"It's been a long time, Amuro."

"Ah… long time no see, Miss Chris...tina."

Amuro instinctively started to say "Chris," the nickname he used to call her. But midway through, he corrected himself, thinking a more mature tone was more appropriate.

"You little…"

Christina's voice immediately took on a tone of annoyance at the formality.

He was doing this on purpose—how annoying.

"I'll deal with you later. For now, get on the NT-X!"

"Eh? Chris…"

The moment Christina barked that order, Amuro immediately dropped the mature act he had been trying to maintain.

"Hmph."

Christina snorted.

"This NT-X has a control system based on your personal specs. It may not be perfectly up to date with who you are now... but it's still a Gundam developed for you. If it's you, there's no problem, right?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Amuro straightened up in space like a soldier responding to a superior.

"…We'll talk when you get back. Just make sure you come back."

Christina bit her lip slightly as she said this to him.

As Amuro floated into the cockpit and sealed the hatch, Eli looked down at the girl in his arms.

Rita was sticking her tongue out at Amuro.

Bonk bonk

Eli lightly tapped Rita's helmet.

"Go back to Chris. We're heading to the battlefield now."

He placed Rita into GP04's palm and sent her drifting toward the now-docked cargo ship.

"Take Rita away from here. She wouldn't like what's to come—life being lost."

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