 |
Proponent Of War I never loved Leia Barton. The entire situation is quite simple � once you think about it enough. Dekim�s ploy was rather transparent; I have no doubt it was intentionally so. Being sixteen and a veritable fool was no excuse for my careless actions that April of A.C. 188, as I soon realized. However, my conscience caught up with me far too late. Dekim was gone, apparently living under a pseudo name after he was reported dead in the skirmish at the base. Leia and my daughter were with him; that was all I knew for quite a few years. Over time, I learned Leia had died of an illness, and that my child�s given name was Mariemaia. After finding them, Dekim informed me in no uncertain terms that I was forbidden to see or contact her in any way. I remember I told Lady Une about Mariemaia only a few months after we met. Already, we were in love with each other, and I did not wish to keep secrets from her. Not even a secret none save Dekim and Milliardo knew; possibly Noin as well, as there was little she and my old friend kept from each other either. In truth, I expected my beloved Lady to accuse me of foolishness and derelict, or worse, be jealous. There was little I would not do to save her pain if at all possible. To my surprise, she was more concerned with Mariemaia�s welfare than anything. She knew better than I what could happen to an unsheltered child during a time of political and military instability. Soon thereafter, my Lady�s�dare I say �split� personality manifested. She was competent and worked hard. There could be no complaint of her, but her subordinates did just that. The abrupt changes in her demeanor and even dress frightened some of her younger officers. But she never frightened me. Not once was I afraid of her sudden changing, or how it seemed she was two different people. I loved them both, and blamed myself for her problem. My attention was shifted very quickly after that time. The Alliance and Eve Wars occurred a mere two years after I took control of OZ, following General Catalonia�s death and about a year of discord. Even when OZ and Specials themselves were relatively stabilized, the Alliance and Romefeller were also causing problems. They were beyond my control, and or those for which it was in theirs, it was not in their interest to stop the organizations troubles�and I was under their control. Following that, of course, was my own death. I was a powerless entity after that, watching my daughter finally appear from Colony X18999. My old friend, now firmly settled in his identity as Zechs Merquise and with his mind no longer warped by the Epyon�s Zero system, returned. I saw the events unfold, and how Lady Une reacted. She was confused at first, and under pressure from just about everyone. She came to a quick conclusion, and effectively saved my Mariemaia as well as young Foreign Minister Darlian. Lady Une eventually adopted the misguided child � it took little time for her to love Mariemaia as her own, rather than as mine. Mariemaia, as well, learned to love Une as her true mother, rather than as her father�s lover of old. I seem them now enjoying Christmas together; it was no doubt the first in far too many years that was peaceful for them, and many others in the Earth Sphere � and now, I suppose, the Mars Base as well. They�re operating on a sub-skeleton crew; Lucrezia Noin and Zechs Merquise are still there. Everyone�s living peacefully now, because of the dedicated work of so many people, most notably the Gundam Pilots, Preventers, Foreign Minister Darlian, and most definitely not excepting the influential public as well. So it would appear truce peace came only after my death and the essential neutralization of my line � if so, was I a proponent, willing or no, of the wars? Yes. Was Mariemaia? Most definitely not. But the Bartons and Khushrenadas are in effect dead now. Peace will remain. |
|