Chapter 42: SEED – Persuasion to Surrender (Part 2)
"Nami, help me edit together the scenes of ZAFT's second firing of Genesis and the Earth Alliance launching a massive nuclear strike on the P.L.A.N.T. colonies.
And make sure to briefly include the Archangel, the Eternal, the Freedom Gundam, and the Justice Gundam intercepting the nukes.
Once that's done, send it straight into Nicol Amalfi's mind."
"As you command, Master. The video-editing master is on it immediately."
Tolle Koenig felt that the atmosphere he had worked so hard to build was completely ruined by her.
Very quickly, Nami finished editing the scenes of ZAFT's second Genesis firing, the Earth Alliance's massive nuclear strike on the P.L.A.N.T. colonies, and the Freedom and Justice Gundams using their Meteor units to intercept the nukes. She then transmitted the footage directly into Nicol Amalfi's mind.
He closed his eyes, taking in the overwhelming imagery, his inner fear lingering long after.
After watching the scenes, Nicol Amalfi leaned back in his pilot seat, thought for a moment, and said,
"Tolle, where did those memory images come from?
Those events should've happened after we died, right? So why do you have memories of them?
Can you explain this to me? Or is all of this just fake memories you've made up?"
Tolle Koenig was stunned into silence by the question.
[Damn it, smart people really are harder to fool… Looks like I'll have to up the stakes, hit him with the hard stuff. Otherwise, I might have to kill Nicol Amalfi outright.]
"Heh… You think this is the first time we've talked? The truth is, this isn't our first meeting like this.
Haven't you wondered how I know things like your birthday and other details?
This is actually our second conversation—which means we've both died three times already.
The first time we spoke, you didn't believe a word I said. I had no choice but to watch you die while I faked my own death to escape.
After that, Kira Yamato and Athrun Zala didn't hold any deep grudge over our deaths.
You've seen it yourself—they still fought side by side in the end.
Our deaths were completely meaningless—just a waste.
They never really valued our friendship; what mattered most to them was their own friendship with each other.
Later, I died again in the Battle of Jachin Due—right there at ZAFT's Genesis."
Tolle deliberately paused here and secretly had Nami prepare two more sets of edited Gundam SEED footage: one showing events from his own third-person point of view, and another depicting the Blue Cosmos enhanced-human research facility from SEED Destiny, as well as the Earth Alliance's "Requiem" attack destroying P.L.A.N.T. colonies.
"The second time we talked, I showed you my memories just like this.
Back then, you reacted just like now—skeptical at first, but in the end you believed me.
We even joined forces to rescue Siegel Clyne. Unfortunately, Siegel was a complete disappointment.
He handed the fruits of victory over to the Earth Alliance, and then Blue Cosmos used a long-range superweapon to destroy several P.L.A.N.T. colonies.
Here—let me show you this footage."
The horrifying imagery from SEED Destiny—scenes of the enhanced-human facility and the Requiem attack obliterating the colonies—was quickly completed and transmitted straight into Nicol Amalfi's mind.
Nicol's face went pale with shock at Tolle's words.
"That's… impossible. Blue Cosmos could be that cruel?"
"Exactly. And it was because you all wiped out the Earth Alliance's only decent force—the Eighth Fleet under Admiral Duane Halberton—that Blue Cosmos had a clear path.
After that, Siegel Clyne threw away his victory, constantly making concessions.
He even destroyed ZAFT's own weapons, leaving P.L.A.N.T. completely defenseless.
Blue Cosmos began producing enhanced humans to fight Coordinators, and they never stopped building new weapons.
So when war broke out again in C.E. 74—just two years after this one—it was even more brutal.
Orb and the Archangel once again acted as a third force trying to save the world, but… that time, I died at the hands of Blue Cosmos' enhanced humans."
Tolle pretended to shed a sorrowful tear and continued,
"And I have a feeling—third time's the charm—this might be our very last chance. If we die this time, it's all over.
That's why I need your help. Siegel Clyne must die. This time, we can't save him.
If we do, the next war will take an even greater toll on innocent civilians.
After all, Lacus Clyne—after losing her father—was the one who truly united everyone to protect peace the first time around.
We have to protect her at all costs.
But you can't directly help Lacus—if you do, your family will be killed.
Remember, last time we saved Siegel, but Patrick Zala killed your parents in revenge."
At the mention of his parents being murdered, Nicol exploded in anger.
"W-what?! My mom and dad—killed?!"
Inside, Tolle smirked. Finally got past his guard.
By now, Nami had also finished preparing the altered, condensed version of the story that Tolle had described—adjusting it from SEED to SEED Destiny.
"Nicol, I'll send you all my memories in a moment. Watch them carefully.
Then, when the time comes, let me 'capture' you—just pretend to faint.
I'll hand you over to Admiral Duane Halberton of the Earth Alliance's Atlantic Federation Eighth Fleet. He'll use you as leverage to force Rau Le Creuset's forces to retreat.
That way, we'll save the Eighth Fleet and Admiral Halberton, and then we can unite with Lacus Clyne and Orb to maintain world peace."
Completely taken in by Tolle's lies, Nicol received the altered memory feed into his brain.
He didn't even need to pretend to faint—the sheer flood of memories knocked him out cold.
Looking at the unconscious Nicol Amalfi, Tolle felt extremely pleased with himself. If you weren't so stubborn, I wouldn't have had to pull this on you.
Then Tolle, piloting his damaged Blitz Ginn, locked onto the Blitz Gundam.
With the Moebius booster firing at full power, he sped straight toward the Archangel's hangar.
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