Rau orders Ades to have the Vesalius withdraw from the battle. Athrun asks Kira if it’s his idea of justice to fight with cowards who would use innocent civilians as hostages. He vows he will rescue Lacus and then flies away. Murrue doesn’t think that what Natarle did helped much, but Natarle says it will give them time to escape and rethink their strategy. Rau sees that they won’t be able to make a move until they rendezvous with the Gamow. Kira returns to the Archangel, and repairs immediately begin on the Strike Gundam and Moebius Zero. Kira asks Mu if using civilians as hostages and running away is what the Alliance does. Mu tells him that it’s not their place to question what Murrue and Natarle do precisely because they’re running away and have no choice. Flay wakes up and starts screaming, demanding to know where her father is. Miriallia comes in with water bottles and drops them when she sees Flay crying in Sai’s arms. The water bottles keep the sliding door open, and Kira walks in. Flay yells at Kira and asks him why he didn’t save her father. She accuses him of not fighting seriously because he was fighting other Coordinators. Kira runs away and passes Kuzzey in the hall as he goes to the rear observation window. He cries out alone and is surprised when Lacus and Haro show up. On the Vesalius, Rau gets out of the shower and takes some pills. He is told by Ades that he has a call from Patrick, and he doesn’t see why they have to go through so much trouble over one girl. Kira tells Lacus that she needs to stay in her room or people will think she’s a spy. She says that she only went out because Haro likes going out on walks. Kira tells her that he doesn’t want to fight because he’s a Coordinator and Athrun is his friend. Lacus says that Athrun is a good person, and Kira is shocked to hear that she will be marrying Athrun. Kuzzey overhears them and then leaves. Lacus tells Kira that Athrun built Haro, and Kira tells her that Athrun also built Birdy. In the cafeteria, Sai, Miriallia and Tolle discuss how Flay went too far in what she said. Sai says he knows how hard Kira is fighting, and Kuzzey says he wonders if that’s true. He tells everyone what he overheard about Athrun being Kira’s friend as well as the pilot of the Aegis Gundam.
At night, Kira sits in his bed with Birdy and realizes that the situation isn’t right. He creeps through the ship’s corridors to Lacus’ room and asks her to quietly come with him. Sai and Miriallia see them in the hallway and ask what they’re doing. Kira asks that they stay out of his way and not get involved. Sai says that only a villain would kidnap a girl, so he agrees to help Kira. Kira takes Lacus to a room to put on a normal suit, and he is embarrassed when she takes her dress off in front of him. They then go over to the Strike Gundam in the hangar, and Lacus tells Sai and Miriallia that she hopes to meet them again someday, but Sai doesn’t think that will be possible. Murdoch comes into the hangar and asks them what they’re doing. Sai asks Kira if he’s coming back, and Kira promises that he definitely will. Kira activates the Aile Strike Gundam and launches before anyone can do anything. Rau orders a battle alert, and Kira hails the Vesalius and states that he’s handing over Lacus. His conditions are that the Vesalius must not move and that only Athrun can come out. Ades doesn’t think it’s a good idea for Athrun to go, but Rau approves it and orders Ades to prepare the CGUE for combat. Natarle wants to shoot at Kira for acting on his own, and Mu tells her if they do that, Kira will fire at them. Athrun launches in the Aegis Gundam and meets Kira in space. Kira points his beam rifle at the Aegis Gundam and tells Athrun to get out of his cockpit. He then asks Lacus to speak so that Athrun knows it’s her. Lacus goes over to Athrun, and Athrun asks Kira to come with him. Athrun asks what reason he has to stay with the Alliance, and Kira says he wants to protect his friends. Athrun says that next time he will attack Kira, and Kira says the same. As Athrun is about to leave, Rau launches in his CGUE, followed by Mu in his Moebius Zero. Lacus orders Rau to stop, and he reluctantly obeys and returns to the Vesalius. Mu doesn’t know what happened, and he and Kira return to the Archangel. In her room, Flay says to herself that she won’t let things end this way.
Following the battle from the last episode, not much happens here. In her madness and grief, Flay says some very harsh things to Kira, but that’s to be expected given what happens. Kira also finds out about Lacus’ connection to Athrun, and all his friends find out about him and Athrun. This will probably cause problems in the future. I have to wonder about people like Sai, because despite the fact that he’s still Kira’s friend he asks him if he’s coming back to the ship. As a friend, he should know better, but he seems to be giving into the doubts raised by what Flay said. It was also surprising to see Lacus act seriously, since she is usually an incredibly naïve and bubbly girl. Also, just what is with Natarle? How incredibly dumb does one have to be to say “shoot at Kira?” It’s really smart to shoot down the guy who’s protecting your ship.
Director:
Mitsuo Fukuda
Writer(s):
Chiaki Morosawa
Hiroyuki Yoshino
Hiroshi Ohnogi
Shigeru Morita
Akinori Endo
Yuuichi Nomura
Akemi Omode
Mechanical Designer(s):
Kunio Okawara
Kimitoshi Yamane
Junichi Akutsu
Character Designer:
Hisashi Hirai
Musical Composer:
Toshihiko Sahashi
Format:
50 episodes (original); 48 episodes (HD); 1 short; 3 compilation movies
Airdates (Original):
Japan 10.05.2002 – 09.27.2003
U.S. 04.17.2004 – 04.15.2005
Airdates (HD Remaster):
Japan 01.xx.2012 – 11.xx.2012
Video Release (SE):
Japan 08.27.2004 – 10.22.2004
U.S. 07.11.2005 – 11.22.2005
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