Snippet #2510076

Aiko took a little bit to regain her posture, at least mostly. The poor girl was still red in the face from what Harry said. She then grabbed Seph by the wrist and said, "Let's go before Harry drives me nuts." She walked out of the room while holding Seph by the wrist the whole time. "Sorry for the sudden grab. I just figured I'd talk to you without Harry barging in. Being in that sibling-like bond we have, we do tend to get on each other's nerves, sometimes, for the heck of it. The problem is, he knows exactly how to embarrass me and can go too far with that, on occasion. Good thing it never goes public, he at least has enough sense to keep it out of the press. He's like a boy, really, despite what the media portrays him as. Long story short, he does not like it when he has to put up an act for the news, so his boyish attitude is what he clings to as a way to cope with all the stress. So, yeah, I sometimes have to be big sister with him. He'll mature more, with time. I don't plan on speeding it along."

Letting go and looking strait into Seph's eyes, she changed the topic. "More importantly, there is another reason Chief Representative Harrison wants us to assist the Neo ZAFT Forces and Neo Vagan. There have been numerous reports from Neo ZAFT that the Blue Cosmos Remnant and Anti-Natural League have been building up alliances for when or if either of them eliminates Neo ZAFT and takes over the Neo PLANT colonies. They are hell-bent on destroying anyone they deem a threat to themselves and all other people they consider worth protecting. For the Blue Cosmos Remnant, anyone whose genes are altered or is descended from such is scum to be destroyed, or used to such an end before disposing of them. For the Anti-Natural League, all naturals are the cause of their misery. And, yes, despite being an X-Rounder, you would be considered a Natural, as far as anyone knows."

Her gaze soften to where she actually felt sad. "They are a daily reminder of how Bloody Valentine Wars and the way they started still linger in the hearts of both Natural and Coordinator. It is depressing for me to know that Patrick Zala was responsible for nearly destroying the Earth all mankind comes from in his anger, even though Athrun helped stop him." Aiko turned her head sideways. "At Neo Vagan, the Eden League are starting up a crusade where they desire to eliminate anyone they consider unworthy of reviving the possibility of the Eden Project, as well as anyone in their way. They also carry a deep hatred for the Earth Federation of the Advanced Generation and anyone descended from it in the times of Flit, Asemu, and Kio Asuno. If they have their way, you will be dead along with at least half the Mars Sphere population. History has shown that a tiny group can still work up the technology to be a major threat. I don't want history to repeat itself. And... I don't want to lose you, Seph."

---

Noa smiled softly before saying, "You know of Border Colony Eternal, right? That was where we held our first fight Gundam battle against each other in the arena. There is a tea shop next to the arena called Celestial Brew, a spoof on the name of an organization that sought to end all war through armed intervention, Celestial Being. Not only do they have old photos and recordings of Celestial Being's battles that were provided courtesy of the Moonrace back at the Earth Sphere, they make excellent tea of different kinds. Oh, and I'll bring Isamu along, too, since he needs a break from all that hard work he puts into training himself! See you there!"

Border Colony Eternal, named after the ship that took on both ZAFT and the Earth Alliance in the First Bloody Valentine War, is the colony between the Neo PLANTs and Neo Vagan, as well as shared by them. Each Border Colony is controlled by multiple countries as a hub for trade, diplomacy, and, not surprisingly, the Mars Sphere Gundam Fight. The Border Colonies are where the first phase of the Gundam Fight mostly takes place, since the arenas inside are controlled environments where bystanders or spectators were less likely to be killed or injured by accident.

At Celestial Brew, Noa and Isamu already sat at a table waiting for Joe and Kia to come. Once they arrived, Noa waved shyly, 2while Isamu caught sight of Kia before blushing speechless. Noa did the talking. "Hello, Mr. Blue, and to you, too, Miss Galette!"