Whoa. It has been so long. I'm sorry for keeping everyone in suspense after I promised a quick update! Hopefully this longer one will keep you entertained! I'm afraid updates will still be sporadic with life events, but I'll try as hard as I can to get it out soon.

I was so surprised at all the reviews I got for the previous chapter! As a general note, I love all of your ideas and will definitely try to incorporate them into future chapters. Keep a look out! To answer each of the reviews here:

Guest4: The reason why he calls himself Char Deikun in that chapter is because that's the name he took during Char's Counterattack in the movie, I believe. It served to be a combination of his roots as Zeon's heir (the Deikun part) as well as his most well-known identity (Char). I am definitely with you on finding more classic Gundam stories! I might be expanding outside of this fic a little in the future, too, so we'll see what happens. :)

Iron Warrior: I find it really interesting how there are so many interpretations to this single event in 0093, from the movie to the novels and all other possible theories out there. I personally was relieved when I found out Kamille didn't make the final cut for the movie, but I was always curious to see how it might turn out. Seeing something like that in canon would be too cruel for him, though.

Guest: Thank you so much! Hopefully there will be more stories in the future with canon characters!

KamilleSu: I left and came back again, my apologies. I can't spoil the other two parts of the story, but the ending won't be too sad! Also, it's amazing to think that the Halloween chapter would inspire something like that. I feel touched! And it's my pleasure to mention reviewers at the beginning; you all are all a big help.

The second part of the entire CCA-mini arc is in process, but a combination of ZZ Gundam and the new Super Robot Taisen game inspired me to write this AU one-shot. It's basically a Super Robot Taisen what-if scenario concerning the two Zeta pilots meeting again in CCA-ish era. It's a little more Kamille and not a lot of Fa, but I felt it fit anyway. Reviews are always greatly appreciated, and I hope you enjoy!

6. Stars

"Lieutenant, the ensign has arrived."

Kamille looked up from his computer screen, currently entailing the details of the next operation. Aya Fujika stood rigidly in front of the door with her cheeks oddly flushed red. Strange. She wasn't usually this flustered by anything, especially him. But maybe it was too early to say that. Six months on a ship didn't give you much info, contrary to the image of "camaraderie" that the Federation always wanted to portray within the ranks. And Officer Fujika had only been his assistant for a few weeks.

Putting those questions aside, he nodded and stood up. The new uniform felt stiff against his skin, and he remembered bitterly that he'd sworn never to put one of them on ever again. Still, it wasn't as unbearable as he'd imagined; it was essentially a nice jacket, nothing more (or so he forced himself to believe).

"Alright then, Officer. You can bring him in."

After perking up slightly, she exited the room, but not before tripping over the door frame. Seriously, what was wrong with her today? In fact, it was just like Fa would act back when they were younger. Except that was a different story…

His hand reached out to the already-worn picture frame on his desk. You're too old-fashioned, Kamille. Who in the world uses these anymore? Fa'd teased him on the day of their third anniversary, slipping the dark cedar frame into his hands. The wood was now bleached and faded, its former rough texture weathered under constant touch. Several people had already inquired about the old antique, but he could never really explain to them why he carried it around with him. The frame was his last tie to his family, to peace in a way.

"L-lieutenant…"

The nervous cough trickled across the room as the door slid open. Aya was back, but was hidden behind Kamille's guest.

"Thanks for the tour of the ship, Aya-chan! Is it me, or have the Feddies actually started funding their crews now?"

"A-ah, well, I wouldn't know that, Ensign A- I mean… I haven't been here for too-"

Kamille simply raised his eyebrows. "A tour, Officer?"

Rapid hand-shaking denial ensued. "I'm sorry, I accidentally lost my way and had to go around the lower decks before I realized my mistake. It wasn't on purpose, Lieutenant!"

"Ah, no worries about it! It was fun, nothing bad happened. Why should someone yell at you for something like that?"

"I-I…"

He fought the urge to roll his eyes. Even after seven years, his guest was still the same. It was now painfully obvious what was wrong with the officer: she was lovestruck. Infatuated with the dashing new ensign who'd transferred onto the Ra Cailium.

"Thank you, Officer Fujika. You may now leave. You can be acquainted with… ah… the ensign at a later time." It took another quick nod and stumble before she was completely out of the room.

At last, there was silence. He just didn't know what to say, standing rigidly in the middle of the room. After seven years of hell, the two of them had come back full circle. They volunteered themselves for war. He'd been surprised when the pilot's name had appeared on the transfer database. Last he'd heard from him, he was disgusted with the ways of the Federation and quickly aligned himself with the Jupiter Energy Fleet. Nevertheless, there he was, also in a tight blue Federation jacket.

"Say, Kamille-san. I don't think Aya-chan knows I'm married."

Well. That was an interesting start. A slight smile quivered on his lips.

"It would help if you acted like it, Judau."

"What, become as socially withdrawn as you? Nah, I think I'll pass. After all," Judau's grin grew until the tips reached his cheeks, and "I still gotta make a living around here. Who knows, Aya-chan might be up for some mass purchases of helium now."

In that moment, the 14-year-old Shangri-La teenager of years past shone within those cheerful and sly eyes, and Kamille too felt more at ease. "Still making profits?" A hand unconsciously brushed through his hair as the other one stretched out towards him. "Good to see you're doing alright."

The hand he received was firm, serving as a reminder that while much of Judau's personality had stayed the same over the years, he'd physically matured as well. Seven years ago Kamille easily was taller than him by several centimeters, but while growth had stopped for him there, it had given Judau a solid twenty or so. His face was sharper, the slight roundness of youth giving away to a contoured face and focused green eyes. The hand in question was still calloused in the familiar places (he'd obviously still been working with metal lately) along with bruises that colored his wrists a dark red. Those were definitely mobile suit injuries, probably from some unsteady flights. But if they hadn't changed color yet…

"You need to heat these regularly. Maybe even have them drained," he said, slowly turning Judau's wrists upward. The man in question cocked an eyebrow before he followed Kamille's line of sight.

"What, these? Come on, Kamille-san, you've had a couple've bruises before, haven't you? It's nothing that bad-"

"While I usually would say the same, you're going to be piloting, Judau. These hematomas will interfere with the controls."

"Hema-what?"

Kamille sighed. "It doesn't matter. The important thing is that these are unhealed bruises that might end up getting you killed one day. Do you remember how you got these? Were they at the same time? Was it a hard collision or-"

"Um… I don't remember? And what's with all the questions?"

The lieutenant's left hand tapped impatiently on Judau's arm. "I'm a doctor, you know. Trying to see if you need emergency medical attention."

Judau raised his arm incredulously. "This? Kamille-san, this won't kill me. Even I know that."

He conveniently ignored him. "If the hematomas on your wrists are this big, there might be a subdural one as well… Any headaches? Seizures? You seem to be talking fine."

"Subdural…?"

In the end he couldn't take it. "Bleeding in the head," he gritted through his teeth. Patience. He needed patience. He was a doctor, he was certified, he could do this.

Kamille watched with a blank stare as Judau nonchalantly reached toward the back of his head and patted it. "Nope. No blood here," he said, cheerfully showing the open palm.

Honestly, he had all the reasons to slap him.

Years of conditioning had him slap himself instead.

From the open slits between his fingers he could see Judau shaking, trying to stop his laughter by clutching his mouth. "Oh, so you think this is funny, don't you?" Curling his fist seemed completely natural once again, after so many years. Only then did he realize that something had changed in Judau. The joy in his eyes seemed more real, as if it was a look of honest relief.

"I'm just glad you're not frowning anymore," he said, rubbing his neck somewhat bashfully, "That was a pretty bad way to do that, but I guess I'm still good at making people angry, you know? That hasn't changed in the last few years."

"I… was frowning…?" Kamille was suddenly self-conscious about the scowl slowly vanishing from his face. It felt stiff, foreign. Like he wasn't using enough energy in keeping his expression.

Judau nodded. "Ever since I came in. And Aya-chan didn't seemed to be fazed by that. You kinda smiled at the beginning, but I didn't know you'd be so worried about everything! Although I guess it makes sense, since you're a doctor and all..."

"There's not much to smile about anymore, is there?" The whisper was barely audible, yet it stopped the young man's train of thought. The once-prominent scowl was completely gone underneath years of quiet sorrow: a mask built to protect others, but mostly himself. Emotion was useless, even beyond his job. And yet it was bitterly ironic, for he was emotional, he was a Newtype. Concealing it was the only way he could function.

Judau shuffled over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "There's always something, Kamille-san. Come on, let's sit down for a bit."

He allowed himself to be dragged over to the coffee table and be adjusted into what was apparently "the best resting position" by his fellow officer. It was just like the old days, with his arms dangling limply at his side, eyes glazed and emotionless. Except this time, he was sentient. And honestly, he couldn't tell the difference anymore.

"There we go!" Brimming with satisfaction, Judau clapped his hands on a job well done and plopped down alongside him. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it?"

"I fail to see what that had to do with any of it," he retorted quietly, glancing down at the carpet floor.

"Oh, but it does, Kamille-san! It has to do with everything!" Grinning, Judau leaned against the sofa, giving no explanation for his cryptic words. It made Kamille feel a little better that Judau still had a part of his carefree and positive self, but he couldn't grasp anything beyond that. The boy from Shangri-La always had his own way of approaching and dealing with things. He was different from Amuro, who, while suffering, always had a tired visage and fingers that would shake at any moment. And of course, vastly different from his own younger self, who only lashed out at all the wrong things. Judau Ashta was unique in that he always went along with a smile on his face, even though his thoughts spoke otherwise. This was true when he'd first felt him back on Shangri La, and even when he'd been sent on a plane away from Dublin. That tooth-filled laugh and energetic persona hid a young boy who'd been forced to grow up, a boy who'd known how to grieve too early.

"I… still don't understand." And maybe he simply couldn't? Was it already beyond his subdued mind, clouded through the years? "The fact that we're in this very ship… doesn't that prove to you that we'll never change anything? That we'll be stuck fighting until we die? And every time, there's going to be people who'll never come back. Killed by the stupidest things. Humanity never changes, Judau. And it never will." He realized his voice was getting too loud, that the officers behind the wall would probably hear the renowned pilot of the Gryps Conflict break down. With an audible noise, he clamped his mouth shut.

Judau Ashta himself had also become more subdued over the years, and Kamille was greeted with a silent pondering rather than the expected loud denial. With a twinge of disappointment he lowered his head, preferring the black leather of the couch over the blue carpet.

"You know, I think you're lying."

The single phrase came out of nowhere, and Kamille couldn't help but feel a flash of annoyance. "Excuse me?" He snapped, hackles subconsciously raised.

Wide-open eyes blinked at him rapidly. "Oh, no no! That's not what I meant! I just think you're lying to yourself without knowing… please don't strangle me."

"Well then," he huffed, stiff arms crossing across his uniform, "Would you mind elaborating?"

"Of course. Your actions… don't match up with what you're saying... Wait, let me try this again."

"Roux told me you were getting more respectable in your conversations."

"Eh… that's because we're married now. She likes me better. But that's not the point here! Kamille-san, you have to stop thinking big for a moment."

"Sure, the lieutenant of the Londo Bell should start prioritizing himself over everything else. Why don't I go leave my squadron on the battlefield right now?" he snapped, although internally he knew he was just being stubborn. A small part of him already could grasp at what Judau was trying to explain. But it seemed too easy. Too naive. And all of his naivete had vanished years before.

"No, no… maybe… Aha!"

Suddenly, the ensign reached forward from the sofa. Before Kamille could comprehend what was happening, the picture frame was already in Judau's nimble hands. The three figures forever imprinted in his memory appeared once again in his line of sight.

"He's beautiful, Kamille-san. You're lucky to have him." Judau's voice was now considerably lower, and yet it resonated deeper with Kamille. There was nothing but pure happiness in that voice, a gentle fondness as he brushed his fingers against the old wood. And that was one feeling Kamille himself could reciprocate. His anger drained immediately.

"He takes after his mom a lot," he replied, instinctively feeling warmer, "Loud and fussy just like her. He won't let anyone but us carry him."

"Sounds more like you than Fa, Kamille-san."

"I… I guess so." Normally, he'd have spit back a half-angry, half-resigned insult at anything like that. But it was strangely endearing to think about it. His own son, taking after him? Maybe he'd like playing with metal parts in the future, or was that going too far? Would he end up taking after his… more risky behaviors in the past?

Judau smiled next to him. "You finally agree with me for once, then?"

"Stop making it sound like it's something big," he grumbled in response, but his eyes didn't leave the photo frame. His son wasn't even a year old, yet here he was, away from him and his wife. He'd mulled it over for the past few nights, wondering why he ever decided to come back. And yet after all those sleepless hours, he hadn't found an answer.

"What's his name?" Judau, once again indifferent to his inner thoughts, asked, squinting an eyebrow at the photo.

"Shinya. Shinya Bidan. Although, I bet he doesn't even know it yet… all he does is laugh whenever I say anything. I can't ever tell if he's actually listening or not… Fa swears by it though."

"Does it bother you?"

Kamille widened his eyes at the question. "Of course not! I love his laugh the best. All I have to do is cough before he starts giggling. And his entire body starts trembling too… I don't understand why…" He shook his head.

"Well then, Kamille-san. I think that settles it. You have someone to smile for, to fight for. I mean, of course there's Fa-san too… You know, I probably should've gone with that first."

The full realization didn't hit him until a second later, when the picture in the frame and Judau's brilliant smile started making sense.

The ensign leaned back onto his shoulders. "Isn't that what we're fighting for? So that the people we care about don't have to worry about this? We can't change humanity as a whole, of course. And that shouldn't be the only reason to fight. Because, well… that's impossible! Even with all this Newtype stuff, we're still just people in the end. We fight because we have something to protect. Something personal. And it seems to me like keeping little Shinya's laugh is definitely something worth fighting for."

For the first time in years, Kamille sensed a strong pressure coming off of someone. He hadn't been in contact with Newtypes for ages, so the rush of energy was sudden, almost breath-taking. And yet, it wasn't the brutal deluge of emotions that he'd felt during his time as a pilot. There was nothing but warmth. A strong, stable warmth that served to remind of an ever hopeful future, of a dream shared by all, but individually. Judau's answer was simplistic, almost basic, but he'd neglected that concise answer for all of this time. Even while it was staring at him in the face every day.

"I understand" were the only words that left his lips. But for Kamille, it was like his previously clouded mind had been cleansed.

"I knew you already did, Kamille-san." The picture frame was passed to Kamille as quickly as it'd been picked up, along with a quick nonchalant laugh. "It's funny though. I'm giving people advice about things I've been struggling with for the past seven years."

Kamille joined in on the laughter, and pointed out how people were better at giving directions than following them. After all, this message was the one he'd yelled to the world when he was 17. Yet here he was, struggling with its meaning as an adult.

"I guess," Judau replied, scratching his head bashfully. "I was so lost back then. After Haman died, I just didn't know what to do. Nothing seemed to change, and everyone ended up dying instead. The Federation sure didn't help."

"So you decided to pilot for the Jupiter Fleet?"

"Yup. I think I finally found myself after all those flights. Lots of interesting things happened. But most of all, I think it helped me understand who I am personally."

Kamille looked back behind him, his window gleaming with the light of a thousand stars. "I guess that's all we can do as humans, right?"

Judau followed his gaze and stared out of the window in awe, the bright shine dancing on his green pupils. "For now. Who knows though? There are so many possibilities out there, Kamille-san. And I can't wait to see all of them."

As the Ra Cailium sailed through the stars, the two pilots looked on at the never-ending galaxies around them, each light signifying a new place to see, a new experience to felt. They may be at war now, but hope was around every corner. And for a split-second in time, Kamille sensed the entire universe pulsate in all of its infinite possibilities.

"Me too, Judau. Me too."