[ Ah... that's a loaded question, isn't it? Lacus is quiet for a moment, looking down at where her hands meet in her lap. It's not a pleasant story to share, but then, neither is what they just saw nor what Xiao may have experienced in the past. ]

My father raised me to believe in his moral code, to help him share his views of peace and coexistence with the world. Eventually, there came a point where doing so meant making myself a target for the government at the time.

My father paid the price for it in blood.

[ She's never seen the body and maybe that was for the best. Bullets upon bullets, shooting him through. She's seen the blood in the room, at least. She's been able to imagine. ]

So was I supposed to lament the decisions I made? Was I supposed to cower in fear now that something precious had been taken, betraying all that he had shared with me? I think there would be no greater betrayal of his sacrifice than to regret.

Of course I feel guilty about a great many things. There is blood on my hands, and responsibility I need to shoulder. But I made each of those decisions in the full belief that they would lead to a brighter future. If doing so is a mistake, then how are we ever supposed to move forward?