Disclaimer: I don't own Nadesico or any of the characters appearing in the television anime series or manga. This fanfiction is meant purely to entertain. So please don't sue me, I'm not worth it. I openly admit that I don't own Nadesico, and I'm not trying to pass this off as a completely original story. Also, I don't own Golden Boy or Transformers, but I do use a few lines from both and a lot of mecha from Transformers, but I do own the characters Finn Saotome, Yumi Yoshino, Sanoske/Sakura Hashima, Mr. Noda, Mrs. Noda, and I think that's about it. If you want pictures of the mecha, don't hesitate to e-mail me at soundwave100@hotmail.com Thanks!
-by CdnShockwave
Act 1Arrival
"Gai! For you! This one's for you buddy!" Akito screamed as he thrust full speed ahead towards the possessed Aestivalis. "Gekigan Flaaaare!" he cried. A brilliant flash of light was followed by a tremendous explosion, and a triumphant Akito Tenkawa. The Aestivalis pilots returned to the Nadesico, paying little attention to the small flash of light and black streak flying out of the ruined colony.
:::A few days later:::
Yurika covered her mouth as she let out a big yawn.
"This really is boring," she muttered to herself.
"Enemy attack incoming," Ruri said dully.
"What? Where!? Scramble the fighters!" Yurika ordered, leaping up from her seat.
"Unnecessary." Ruri explained to the slightly ditzy captain. "The distortion field is operating in automatic mode. Since the Jovial lizards haven't mounted a serious attack against the Nadesico since the L2 colony, it would appear that they are merely probing the strengths and capacities of this ship. This will probably continue until we enter Mars space, where they will enjoy overwhelming numerical superiority. Does that concur with our analysis, Captain?"
"You certainly are perceptive for just a kid," Yurika said, taken aback slightly by the young science officer's observations.
"I'm twelve not a kid," Ruri said in her usual emotionless voice. "You're blocking my view. Would you please return to your seat, Captain?"
"Yeah sure." Yurika replied in a board voice. "I guess I won't have much to do until we get to Mars either," she was cut off suddenly by a vid window, with a slightly stressed looking Mr. Prospector in the centre of it.
"Captain, what are you doing on the bridge? We can't begin the ceremony without you so please hurry!" he said.
"Oh gosh! That's right! I forgot!" Yurika got up from her seat and ran off the bridge.
"And make sure you're properly dressed!" Mr. Prospector called after her.
"Right!" Yurika called back.
"Idiots." Ruri said to no one in particular.
The next few days were filled with the sounds of drumming, chanting, and praying as the Captain Yurika Misumaru fulfilled her duties to those who had perished. They're strategic situation also stayed the same, with small blast waves from Jovian craft bouncing this way and that off the Nadesico's distortion field.
"Ahh…its finally over," Yurika moaned with her face against her control panel.
"Potential enemy craft approaching from 30 degrees to stern at a speed of 25.65 kilometers per second," Ruri informed her.
"What?" Yurika cried, jumping out of her seat. "Bring it up on the main screen! All pilots to alert status, immediately!"
"Displaying object on screen," Ruri said as a vid window popped up. However, there was not much to look at.
"Ruri, I ordered the unidentified craft be brought up on screen. Where is it?" Yurika asked puzzled.
"Apparently the space craft has been painted in such a manner to avoid visual detection. However, there are clues to its whereabouts due to slight colour variation," Ruri explained.
"What do you mean?" asked the Captain.
"You will notice that the area containing the space craft stands out when closely examined. There are no stars present in this area. Further more, there are small sections where the colour changes from black to grey and purple," Ruri said, highlighting noticeable colour variations on the unidentified object. "Displaying heat and radar signatures," Another vid window appeared, divided into two sections. One was a thermal imaging scan showing the heat output and a rough outline of the ship. The other section showed the ship's sonic signature.
"Ruri, why is the radar screen not picking it up?" Yurika asked.
"Apparently whoever designed this ship intended it to be invisible to radar, as well as partially invisible to heat sensing instruments," replied Ruri. Just then, the visual image showed ship in more detail as bands of light running along the exterior of the ship lit up.
"It looks like one of those old stealth bombers they used to use. But what would such a ship be doing out here?" asked a puzzled Yurika. "Ruri, slow the ship down. Megumi, I want all Aestivalis deployed but they are under strict orders not to fire unless fired upon. We don't know what this thing is yet, or whether its friendly or not," the Aestivalis launched and approached the mystery ship, which had slowed down, but still slowly gaining on the Nadesico. When the Aestivalis were within a few hundred meters of the ship, it slowed even more, approaching the giant mechas at a cautious speed.
"Captain, I'm receiving a transmission from the unidentified craft, patching it through now," Megumi said. But the message was garbled and full of static. It was impossible to see who, or what, was trying to contact them let alone understand what they were saying. "It's too garbled, it doesn't know the proper frequency," after a few minutes of gibberish on the screen, the lights on the ship began to flicker on and off.
"Is that…?" asked Ryoko. "That looks like mores code. But they haven't used that for well over a hundred years! Whatever this thing is, its way behind the times,"
"Ruri, can you tell that it's saying?" asked the Captain.
"Yes Ma'am. It's hard to make out but I believe it is saying "Friend. No shoot. Come aboard?" replied Ruri. Whoever was using the code was very rusty, even Ruri had a tough time deciphering it.
"Can you send a message back to him via the identification lights on one of the Aestivalis?"
"Yes Ma'am."
"Good. Tell it in as simply as possible that the Aestivalis will escort it into the hangar. We will not shoot,"
"Isn't it dangerous to have something like that come inside the ship?" asked a worried Megumi. "What if its some new weapon the Jovians are using?"
"Which is why we are going to seal the hangar off with Uribatake's distortion-block thingy, whatever he calls it. Apparently it can create a distortion field within one section of the ship…or at least that's what it's supposed to do. With his inventions you never can tell." answered Yurika. "Do you really think I'd let a potential enemy inside the ship without taking precautions?"
Ruri sent the message to come aboard through the identification light on Akito's Aestivalis. The ship replied with 'affirmative' and followed the Aesties into the hangar. The Aesties stood around the ship when it landed with their large robotic hands ready to pull out their rifles and fire on the ship if need be. A fully armored security team was also on standby. The ship looked remarkably similar to an old B2 stealth bomber. It was painted primarily black, with metallic grey under the wings and a dark purple on two strange appendages under the fuselage at the rear of the craft. There was also an odd, cylinder shaped attachment at the rear, near the primary engines. It had two sides, one end appeared to be a giant boost thruster, and the other end had six holes around the edge, which everyone assumed to be a gattling gun of some sort. However, it did not appear to be just one craft. While the cockpit was clearly visable with its mirrored windows, there was another mirrored window in the middle of the ship's back.
"It would appear that we are not dealing with a single ship," said Ruri. "There seems to be a smaller ship attached to the middle of the primary craft,"
However, before Ruri could continue with her explanation a small hatch under the cockpit opened and a ladder extended down towards the floor. There was a loud hissing noise as cold, pressurized air was released from inside, creating a mist effect around the ship. The security team aimed their machine guns at the ladder, expecting some new type of Jovian weapon.
"What gives? Some flashy special effects and a shiny bucket of bolts. I say we chuck this thing back to wherever it came from," said an annoyed Ryoko from her Aesti cockpit. "I mean…" She was cut off by the quiet sound of footsteps coming down the ladder. It was difficult to tell exactly what was emerging from the ship due to the mist, which seemed to cling to the air surrounding the ship. When the mysterious figure reached the bottom, it slowly walked forward towards the security team, and behind them stood Yurika and Jun. The figure emerged from the mist. It was obviously humanoid, but with the advanced robotic technology possessed by the Jovials, Yurika couldn't know for certain. The figure moved its arms to its metallic head and unclipped a facet. It then pulled the headpiece off.
"Uh…hi?" called the figure, who was a young man, looking about the age of 23. He was tall, approximately 6 foot 2 with sandy brown hair and dark brown eyes. He was also not bad looking, if you were to see what most of the female crew were thinking at that particular moment. The suit he was wearing was not a standard issue pilot's suit. Instead it was a complete metal exosuit. There was a strange insignia engraved on the right arm of the suit that looked as though it had been scratched out. The crowd surrounding the mysterious visitor all stared at him. "I come in peace," he said mockingly at the security team, and let out a small laugh. At this reaction, a laser target appeared on the figure's forehead. "Uh oh,"
"Men, stand down. Ruri, take us off of security alert," Yurika ordered and walked up to the young man. "I am Yurika Misumaru, Captain of the Nadesico. I ask that you state your name, rank, and your commanding organization, please," the man stood up straight.
"I am like a wanderer, seeking the elusive mayfly known as love. I am Valentinez Alkalinella Xifax Sicidabohertz Gumbigobilla Blue Stradivariia AndrT Charton HaymossIv anoviccie Baldeus George doitzel Kaiser the Third. Don't hesitate to call,"
"Huh?" there was a collective sound of confusion.
"Just what are you babbling about?" Yurika demanded.
"Hmm. I see…well, since you ask so nicely…I am Lieutenant first class Finn Saotome of Nergal Special Forces Division, reporting, Captain," he saluted the Captain, although it was hard to tell if he was a serious soldier or another idiot come to join the ship of fools. Everyone, predictably, turned their attention to their Nergal officer, Prospector. He pushed his glasses up with his middle finger, cleared his throat, and stepped forward.
"Nergal Special Forces Division you say?" he said sounding slightly unsure of what he had just heard. "I thought they had been abolished after that incident with the…" He stopped short, remembering that that information was classified.
"Yes, we were. Or at least that is what the report said. 'Due to the instability of the Jovian technology on human test subjects all further experiments will be frozen immediately and permanently.' I believe was the exact wording of it. However, as you are well aware, Nergal does not always operate as the reports say. I think the fact that the Nadesico is even here on its way to Mars is proof enough of that. We continued work in a place that I could tell you all, but then would have to kill you, and I really don't want to do that." replied Finn. He seemed harmless enough.
"And just what is your reason for being here?" asked the Yurika.
"To put it simply, I'm here as another pilot to aid you in fighting the Jovians. The last orders I received were to be ready on alert status incase of Jovian attack." Finn replied, although his voice sounded so…Vash the Stampede-ish it was difficult to tell.
"I see. I wish to learn more about why you're here. Please come with us to the bridge and you can explain in greater detail. Ryoko, I want you and all the other pilots to be there as well," Yurika asked, or rather ordered, and they made their way up to the bridge.
"Very educational," Finn noted as he followed Yurika and the others down the corridors.
When they arrived, the crew took their respected places. Finn stood in the middle of the large room, still in his robotic suit and holding his helmet against his side.
"Now then, explain yourself."
"As you know I am part of the Nergal Special Forces Division stationed at undisclosed location. The ship, or rather ships, you saw me arrive in are known as the TF, or Transformable Fighters." Finn explained.
"Ships? You mean that your ship is more than one space craft?" Yurika asked.
"Exactly. The main shell is known as Artillery Combat Frame or ACF. In the middle back another; smaller, yet more maneuverable ship is stored. When needed it simply detaches itself from the ACF. I am the test pilot for the prototype unit you just saw." replied Finn. "Pretty cool, don't you think?"
"And just what exactly are you doing here? If you're a test pilot, shouldn't you be out…test piloting?" inquired Yurika.
"Well, seeing how the research team who build the TFs is now a collection of vapors floating around space, I guess my orders were to assist you on you're way to Mars." said Finn.
"But how are you supposed to fight in that flying Frisbee? I thought only Aestevalis type units were effective against Jovian weapons?" asked Ryoko, who seemed to dislike the latest addition to the crew.
"You'll find out. It possesses certain abilities you might find surprising," replied Finn coolly. "For example!" he hit a button in his wrist and a vidwindow popped up. "It comes fully loaded, a plutonium nuclear reactor, heated leather seats, air conditioning, IFS and manual control options, and Kevlar restraints! The new robots are sleek sexy import with turbo handling. Test drive the latest model…"
"Enough. Mr. Prospector, what are you thoughts on this?" asked Yurika.
"Well, Captain. I see no reason why we shouldn't accept his help. Even though his division was supposed to have ceased to exist, I believe we would be of great assistance when we reach Mars. It could save us on repairs and…" He began madly working on his calculator. "Yes, I believe it would be of great economic and strategic importance to keep Lt. Saotome on board this ship as a member of the crew."
"Its settled then. Lt. Saotome, as the Captain of the Nadesico I welcome you aboard." The Captain said. "My darling Akito will show you to a spare room. You are all dismissed."
"I'm so happy!" Finn mock-wept an little waterfalls fell from his eyes.
Akito and Finn walked off the bridge. As soon as the door closed Finn questioned Akito on a certain subject.
"'My darling Akito'?" Finn asked, snickering. "What's that about?"
"I er…well…" Akito stammered. "She's a nut!"
"I see, one of those relationships,"
"What? No, there's no way I'm interested in that female nutcase!"
"Very educational," Finn said, producing a small notebook from inside his suit and scribbling something in it. "Come on man, I saw the way she looked at you. Don't deny it, young Akito. So, how far have you gone exactly? I'd imagine with her you'd have already done the…"
"Gah! Stop that! I haven't done that with her. As a matter of fact I haven't…" Akito stopped short.
"Haven't what?" Finn asked, already knowing the answer. "Oohh, not wise in the ways of the woman, are we?" He patted Akito on the back. "Don't worry my little virgin friend, you'll give in eventually. The Captain isn't a bad catch, you two make a lovely couple."
On the bridge, Megumi sneezed.
"Sorry, I must be catching a cold," she apologized.
By this time Akito looked like a boiled lobster. Some maintenance crew nearby were whispering and laughing in Akito's direction.
"Gee, I wonder what they're laughing about." Finn poked fun at poor Akito for a while longer. After a few minutes of silence, he asked. "Hey, what's up the cook's uniform? I thought you were a pilot,"
"I'm not a pilot! I'm just a freakin cook!" Akito cried.
"Wow, calm down there, buddy," Finn said. "So when why were you out in the aestivalis, my jittery friend?"
"Its all because of this," Akito showed Finn his IFS implant on his hand. "I don't want to pilot, but everyone expects if of me. I only joined the Nadesico as a cook! Speaking of uniforms…what's with the metal suit?"
"Oh yeah. Its part of my control interface for the TFs. Its kind of an enhanced IFS implant only it connects throughout your entire body instead of just through your hand. It allows for faster reaction time," Finn explained. His metal feet making slight clunking noises as they walked.
"Ok, here we are," Akito stopped at a room with no nameplate. "It's right next to Uribatake's room, so if you hear any strange noises, like…lets say explosions, don't worry about it,"
"I see. This is so educational," he scribbled down in his notebook. "Well, thanks young Akito. I'll see you around then," he shook Akito's hand and disappeared into the room. It was exactly the same as Akito's. Some standard issue Nergal cloths were in the closet, things like t-shirts, sweatpants. Finn removed his metal suit, which was surprisingly light and very easy to get into and out of. Underneath he was wearing a Nergal pilot's uniform, which was normally red, but this one was black. "I guess I might as well unpack," he said to himself. Only realizing he had left the small case containing a few spare uniforms in the ACF. 'I'll get them later, he thought. In the meantime, I need to get some sleep,'
Screwing it up
Finn was awaked by a loud explosion, followed by a loud scream.
"Hark! I here the sound of a woman screaming!" he bolted out of his bunk and ran for the door. It came from Uribatake's room. A small whisp of smoke was coming from under the door. Finn tried to open it, but it had been jammed shut. He took a few steps back and ran his shoulder into the door, causing it to give a little, but enough to slid the door open. Inside it was difficult to see, the air was thick with smoke. He found Seiya laying on the floor dazed. His hair was singed and his face was slightly burnt.
"Hey, wake up. You all right?" Finn poking the man.
"Meatballs and horseradish for all!" Replied Seiya, obviously left a little loopy after the explosion.
"What happened in here?!" coughed Ryoko. She had been nearby and heard the explosion.
"I wanna ride the pony again Momma," Seiya cried.
"Oookaay…" Ryoko looked confused.
"Its all right. I think he's going to be ok."
"More tea Mr. Bunny? Why I'd love some," Seiya said, still swirly eyed.
"Quiet you,"
"Your majesty, tis a pleasure to meet you!" Seiya said, starting to get on Finn's nerves.
"Snap out of it man!" Finn yelled and slapped him across the face. Seiya groaned.
"Oow. What hit me?" he groaned.
"You tell us." Ryoko said.
"Hello there, I'm Lethal Lilly! Version 2.0!" Something said off in the corner. Finn went over to find out what. He came back with a robot head.
"Just what in the name of my great-aunt's tomato soup is this thing?" Finn demanded.
"Its well…a little project I've been working on," replied Seiya, grabbing the head away from Finn. "Sort of an android…security officer," Finn spied the rest of the body.
"Strangely feminine," he said quietly.
"Er…I…" Seiya stammered.
"Don't worry about it, just make sure that thing is wearing something the next time I see it,"
"Speaking of cloths," Ryoko sounded slightly irritated. "Don't you think you'd better put some on?" Finn stood motionless, realizing that he was clad only in his boxer shorts.
'Awwwwww shiiiiiiiiiiiiit,' Finn thought.
"You make me sick," she said and stormed out of the room.
"Huh? Hey wait!" Finn called out, but he was stopped by Seiya.
"Forget about it, kid. There's one girl you don't have a snowball's chance with,"
"I see…" Finn replied.
"Don't you think you'd better get dressed?" Seiya said, before turning back to his android.
"Oh yeah…" Finn bolted out of Seiya's room and into his. "That was educational," he said to himself, pulling out a small notebook. 'Some women are scary,' he wrote, and then began to get dressed.
After retrieving what remaining cloths he had from the ACF, Finn spent most of the day going over technical specifications and design manuals of the TFs with Seiya.
"This is one complex baby you have here." Seiya commented. "Look at that thruster! Look at that cannon! I think I'm in love!"
"You're starting to scare me," Finn answered, a sweatdrop on the back of his head.
"So what exactly is the point of having two ships built into one frame?"
"Well, its similar to the Aestivalis having different frames. For example, a space frame, land frame, and what have you. The ACF is, kind of like the mother ship. Its functions are a stealth recon, heavy bomber, and long distance transport. The other frame is the high maneuverable attack frame, or MAF. It's more of a multipurpose fighter." Finn climbed into the ACF cockpit, punched in a few commands, and the MAF detached itself from the ACF. It was much smaller, and had fewer weapons on it. However, it did look fast and stealthy. "Now, you might want to check out this before I let you touch this baby." He called, tossing palmpad down to Seiya, who immediately began to scan through the data. Finn jumped down from the cockpit.
"Ohhh baby! You mean what we have here in front of us isn't all?!" Seiya sounded aroused by the specs he saw on the screen. "Those Jovians won't know what hit them. Look at that joint construction, the reaction time, the weaponry!"
"Are you sure you're alright there?" asked Finn. 'This guy's got issues. Hmm…certainly a very educating experience,' he thought. "Anyway, I'll leave you to drool over that. I'm going to get something to eat. See ya,"
Finn walked out of the hangar and began wandering down the halls in search of the ship's galley. As he approached one corner he heard an odd sound. It sounded like a dozen grocery carts being rolled around the ship. 'Its probably nothing, it might mean I'm close to the kitchen.' Finn thought. He rounded the corner and heard a voice.
"Get out of the way! We've got funeral stuff coming through so everyone get out of the way!" A voice screamed.
"Tenkawa? That you?" Finn said to himself. He turned to look behind him just in time to see a large cart on wheels full of food slam right into him. The sounds of dishes breaking, food hitting the floor, and other miscellaneous kitchen items flying everywhere could be heard in every room in the hallway. Finn lay sprawled out, semi-conscious on the floor, a cracked rice bowl on his head and a whole fish sticking out of his mouth with broth dribbling down his chin. Akito looked much the same, except he was conscious.
"Ow. Hey, are you all right?" Akito pulled himself up off the floor, only to slip on a broken bottle of olive oil. "Finn, in that you?" he asked when he noticed the corpse of someone at the front of the pileup.
"Gurgle," was the only sound Finn made.
"Idiots," Ruri muttered to herself.
Finn made it back to his quarters after having slipped and slid most of the way there due to the olive oil all over his shoes. 'I can't get the taste of fish out of my mouth,' He complained to himself. After closing the door he took out his little notebook. "That was educational," he said to himself. 'Today's lesson, Always get out of the way of incoming traffic. Look both ways before crossing the street,' he wrote. The first day had been…eventful. So far Finn had been chewed out by Miss Howme, the kitchen staff, and Ryoko, had a team full of marines almost blew his head clean of its shoulders, had twelve different dishes smashed into him, ruined hours of hard work by the kitchen staff, and not too many people aboard the Nadesico seemed to trust him.
"I've had worse though," Finn chuckled to himself, remembering the 'good ol days' when he first joined Nergal. He undressed and climbed into his bunk, which was attached to the wall of the dim room. Finn felt more comfortable in the dark, and lay with his hands behind his head staring at the ceiling. On a battleship, you don't expect a kind of first class cabin with free foot massagers and hot tubes. The room was small, with a bunk bolted to the wall along the door, a closet opposite the door, and a small chair with a lamp that illuminated a small table. The soft whir of the fan blowing cool, recycled air into his room was comforting and he soon dozed off into sleep.
Remember the past, face the future
A baby boy, not even a year old, woke up in the middle of the night. He cried until his mother came in to sooth him back to sleep.
"There there. Its all right. Mother's here, son," she whispered in his ear, and soon the boy was fast asleep in the comforting blankets of his crib, surrounded by stuffed bears and other animals. The room was warm and smelled of baby. The stench of a newborn my nauseate some, but to his mother the smell fit the room. She looked at him from the door and smiled to herself before she turned out the light and walked down the hall to her room.
The next thing the boy heard was a loud shuddering. It felt as though the entire house had been lifted off its foundation and then thrown back down. The room grew bright and dark at the same time. Under the door the boy could see a glowing light. It appeared to dance playfully. The light spread slowly under the door, engulfing the room in its brilliance. The baby giggled and laughed as the light licked the edges of his crib. Then, the light turned from a dancing friend into a monstrous demon. It rose up in the form of a red dragon. The baby cried out, tears running down his terrified face. The roar of the dragon made everything shake. Breathing became difficult. The baby struggled but could do nothing to protect itself. He was swallowed up by the black smoke from the dragon's breath and drifted into the black plumb that had engulfed him.
"Get him an oxygen mask, stat!" a voice cried.
"He's loosing blood fast," another voice said.
"Keep pressure on it, we've got to stop that bleeding," someone answered.
"He's pulse is fading. I'm not getting anything,"
"Clear!"
The boy felt at peace. Light was surrounding him. Nothing seemed frightening, his mother and father were there. Mother, father.
"Still nothing,"
"Again, clear!" someone was rousing him from his peaceful rest. "Again!" the boy cried out. His mother and father were washed away in a flood of bright florescent lights.
"I've got a pulse,"
"From your report, it sounds as though there were no survivors," a man behind a desk said.
"Actually sir, there was one. A boy, about age 1, was found in the rubble," answered a woman
"Was he damaged?" the man asked.
"He was found under a collapsed wall. A piece of the steel support column that had been melted by the fire cut open his chest around his side and his back," she replied.
"Is he suitable?" Tte man pressed, not pleased with the indirect answer to his question.
"He has no permanent damage. I believe he will be suitable as a test subject. I would not recommend him to be a permanent officer however. His scans show irregular brain activity, probably due to smoke inhalation and the fact that it took three hours, a bulldozer, and fifty rescuer workers to dig him out. I'll see to it that he's put into proper 'care' immediately," the woman said, and walked out of the room. The only clue of who these people were was a circular blue insignia on the door.
"So lad, ready to go?" An elderly man asked. He received no response. "Come on now, don't be shy. These people will take good care of you," he turned to a businesswoman standing before them. Don't mind him ma'am, he doesn't talk much,"
"I've read reports that he hasn't said anything in five years," a cold voice replied. It was the voice of the woman in the office. "But he's all we have at the moment; he will suffice until our permanent officer arrives. We don't want anything, unforeseen so happen to him. Come with me…what is his name?"
"We've called him Finny. They never found out what his real name was. I hear he was too young to be in any DNA database records," the elderly man replied. "Go on Finny, be a good lad now."
The boy, known as Finny stepped forward, an emotionless expression on his face. The woman took his hand.
"Lets go Finn. Time to get to work. Thank you Mr. Saotome," she led him quickly away from the man, who watched the boy he considered to be his son walk out of his life, forever.
"Connecting nuclear pulse engines to main power grid,"
"All functions green. Beginning test,"
"Roger," Said a boy, about twelve.
"So he's speaking now," said the man from behind the desk. He sat in a large black shadow and only his hands were clearly visible.
"That's right. Not much, Mr. Akasuki, but its enough," said the woman. "Begin test,
"Connecting IFS interface"
"Ma'am! There's an unusual amount of brain activity. The IFS implant is malfunctioning,
"Engines overloading. Melt down in two minutes,
"Cut off the main power feed and sever all connections. Shut every system down, the woman ordered.
"But ma'am, that will kill him!"
"Just do it! Now!" she ordered. The main connection was severed. The boy's eyes faded for a moment, before he fell silent, and sat limp in his seat.
"Well, I hope you're happy. We've lost our science officer," Mr. Akasuki said. "Now what will you do. The ship needs a science officer."
"Do not worry. He was only our test subject. Ruri won't be ready for examination for another couple of years,"
Over the intercom there was the sound of coughing. "Could it be?" On the other side of the safety glass, they saw the boy crawl away from the terminal before collapsing on the floor. "Get a med-team down here right away,"
"Its no good." A med officer said grimly. "His IFS implant was altered in the accident. It's behaving abnormally,"
"What do you mean?" inquired a man in a lab coat.
"Well, its spread. As you know the nanomachines self replicate until there are enough of them for the IFS to operate. But his nanomachines have over than tripled in volume. They've spread throughout his entire body,"
"Really. Let me see the data,"
"Yes sir. Its right here,"
The man in the lab coat looked at the computer screen. Slowly, a smile crept onto his face.
"This gives me an idea," was all he said before leaving the room, leaving a his notes by the computer. The med officer glanced at them, the only thing written down was the name 'Project Starlight'.
"Finn! Its time get ready, the Nadesico should be arriving soon." An officer called to Finn, who was sitting on the catwalk of the hangar holding a screwdriver in one hand, and his suit in the other. He dug the screw driver has hard into the right shoulder as he could, and carved out an X over the Nergal logo. "Finn, that's an order!"
"Yes sir," he groaned, tossing the screwdriver onto the floor of the catwalk and throwing his suit over his arm. "I'm coming,"
"You're mission is to aid the Nadesico on their way to Mars. You are to act on these orders until you I give you new ones, by me, and me alone. Or" The man laughed. "when the war is over,"
"Yes sir," Finn replied. Over the years of training he had regained his sense of humour, and other emotions lost to him during his early years. It was amazing that a caged animal taught to mercilessly kill anyone who stood in its way could be this particular young man.
"I remember the first day you came to me, boy. You looked so serious. If it weren't for the fact that you were breathing I'd have said you were dead. Looks like we straightened you out," the officer said.
"Yes sir," Finn replied in a low voice. looking around the hangar that had pretty much been home to him for the past eleven years, and climbed into his metal suit.
"And don't get the pilots on the Nadesico pissed," the officer laughed again. "I hear that Ryoko Subaru is one tough bitch,"
"Sir! We're detecting gravitron waves charging just outside sector VVF-4," a voice boomed over the intercom. The officer sprinted away from Finn, shouting orders. He made it into the control room just as the space station L2 shuddered. The walls and ceilings all collapsed. Finn heard the screams and he stood beside his ship. He made a move towards the control room, but stopped short as debris rained down on him. He was partially buried under bits of steel, wiring, and rock from the asteroid the colony had been carved into. Finn closed his eyes as debris continued to rain down on him.
'Mom, Dad,' he thought. Maybe he would finally get to meet his parents. Finn waited for a few minutes. The debris stopped falling around him. Finn opened his eyes and his face went pale. Fire was spreading throughout the hangar. 'Again…not again!' his mind screamed and he frantically tore at the debris around his body, desperately trying to get away from the fire. The flames were coming closer. Finn saw the wings of a dragon rise out of the fire, and continued to dig himself out. The dragon flew closer at him, flames spewing out of its nostrils. Finn cried out as the fire engulfed him. He could feel his skin bubbling off his bones and the searing pain as the molten hot fragments of the colony rained down on him. 'It's the same!' It's the same!' his mind screamed.
"NO!" Finn bolted up off his bunk clutching his chest. He was drenched in a cold sweat. "That dream…again." he layback and stared at the ceiling. It was the same. The fire. The destruction. But it had been different. He had escaped somehow. The only thing he remembered was waking up aboard the ACF. The colony was still in view, but the Nadesico was only a faint blip on his scanner screens.
His breathing slowly returned to normal, but his chest, right side, and back were aching. He glanced at the clock in the dim light. 3:47 AM it read. Turning on a light, Finn walked into his bathroom. He stared at the long, jagged scar running across his body. He didn't remember how he got that, or what relationship it had with the fire. All he knew about it was that it had something to do with fire. 'A cold shower is that I need,' he thought. The cold water running down his body felt soothing. He stared at the drain, watching the water run off his bare feet and down the drain. After his shower he got dressed in his usual black pilot's uniform. His suit caught his eye, in particular the X he carved into the Nergal logo. 'I'd never intended to make it this far. I never intended to become a weapon,'
The plan Finn had made in his mind was to kill everyone involved with the TF programme, including himself. 'I never wanted to become a weapon,'
As he exited his room, he realized for the first time since he woke that it was still several hours before anyone else would be awake. This filled Finn with a sense of freedom. He could explore the ship without anyone asking him question, such as who was he, and what was he looking for. After wandering around aimlessly for an hour, Finn stumbled upon the observation room. When he walked into the room, it felt like he had just stepped outside onto a grassy hill, with low rolling hills for as far as the eye could see in the early morning hours, the sun's light just beginning to creep onto the horizon. Finn knew that the room was actually no bigger than any other room, but he felt a sense of peace wash over him being 'outside'. In the centre of the room he spied a person. Upon further investigation he found a certain green haired pilot still in uniform.
"Hey, you awake?" Finn asked, gently touching her shoulder.
"Mmm?" Ryoko stirred. "What is it? I'm trying to sleep,"
"What are you doing here? I'd have thought you'd be in your quarters," Asked and answered Finn.
"Ugh. Izumi was talking in her sleep. Something about a fiancé. Hikaru was whistling that annoying Gekigengar theme,"
"Ahh, I see. I've got an extra bunk in my room if you want…" offered Finn.
"Oh no you don't. How dare you try and take a girl to your room to sleep with you! You disgust me Saotome," Ryoko was now on the attack.
"I...er…didn't mean it like that!" Finn defended himself. "I would never try something so underhanded, sneaky, and downright devious. Can't you accept a hand from anyone?" Ryoko buried her head in her arms.
"Go away. I'll just sleep here," she said.
"Look, I know I'm new around here but I can't let you sleep 'outside' like this. Come on, let's go," he knelt down and took her hand.
"You let go of me you jerk!" Ryoko wheeled around and slammed her fist right into the side of Finn's face. Finn stumbled back a few feet and fell over on his back.
"You got a wicket right arm. Yow," he half complimented, half complained, then winced in pain.
After a few minutes of laying on his back, he got up and looked at her. "You sure you won't accept any help?"
"Very sure. Leave me alone," Ryoko replied sleepily. Finn heaved a sigh.
"All right then. I'll leave you alone. See ya later," he said and left.
Ryoko woke the later than morning. She pulled her blanket tighter around her and buried her face in her pillow.
"Oog. What time is it?" she managed to say, and looked at her watch. It read 6:34 AM. "That damn Saotom," she said, rolling over and staring up at the sky. Then something hit her. She brought neither a blanket nor a pillow. Her face softened into a slight smile. "That damn Saotome," she said to herself again, this time in a slightly friendlier tone of voice. She got up and gathered the blanket and pillow to return to Finn. However, as she left the observation deck, a voice called out to her.
"Have a nice sleep?" he asked, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His cheek was a little swollen, a bruise forming. Ryoko returned to her usual, aggressive attitude.
"Fine," She said and shoved her bundle into his chest. "I believe these are yours," she then walked away, but no without letting herself smile. "Thanks," she called back.
"Anytime," Fine replied, more to himself than Ryoko. He took out his notebook. "That was educational," he said, scribbling some notes down.
First lightLater that day, while Finn was wandering around the ship, he saw the Captain and Akito rush out of the meditation room. 'This looks educational,' he thought, and followed behind them up to the bridge.
"Just what is going on here?" Yurika asked.
"What I don't understand is why you would tell us about the free funerals but you wouldn't tell us about this. Its deceptive and unethical!" Seiya seemed to be the ringleader of this circus.
"But doesn't it say in the contract that…"
"Oh give me a break! Who in this day in age takes time to read the entire contract!." Seiya was yelling, and looking as though he was about to have a coronary.
"Well, it is rather small type," Yurika said, trying to make out the tiny words printed on the piece of paper.
"Read the smallest one, at the very bottom," Ryoko said simply.
" 'While Nergal will not permit fraternization between fellow employees," Yurika read. "in order to maintain public morality. Any physical intimacy beyond holding hands will be prohibited.' What is this?"
"That's why we're upset," Ryoko stated simply.
"Hey, let me see that," Finn stepped forward and took the contract from the Captain's hands. " 'any physical intimacy beyond holding hands will be prohibited.' What kind of term is that!? Are you freakin nuts?"
"I'm afraid we can't allow that sort of behavior. Sexual relationships aren't allowed here. The ship just isn't equipped for it. The Nadesico is not a preschool, and we don't offer daycare either," Mr. Prospector stated coolly. "Remember, you did sign a contract that is legally binding,"
"Shut up! We're unsigning it," Seiya remarked as half the crew on the bridge aimed their side arms at Mr. Prospector. Finn sweatdropped.
"Don't you think you're going a little overboard here?" Finn asked no one in particular.
"Quiet you, I'm trying to make a very profound statement here! So sit down and shut up," Seiya said over his shoulder.
"Yes sir!" Finn said mockingly with a goofy salute and sat down by Ruri.
"Idiots," they both said in unison.
"The young maidens beckon unto me, I see their want in gaze," Seiya began.
"And
other men," Hikaru added in.
"Just drop that sugar in my arms
and the passion starts to blaze,"
"If he gets any we'll all be amazed," Hikaru added in again.
"That we will." Finn said to himself. 'Man, look at the vein in that guy's forehead. Fire in the hole! KABLOOM!' he thought. The corners of Ruri's mouth tilted upwards for a fraction of a second. Just then, the Nadesico was shuddered.
"Ruri, are the fields still up?" Yurika demanded.
"Yes Captain. But we're in trouble. That blast wave wasn't a probe. They're preparing to attack," the little science officer reported.
"Listen everyone, I'm well aware of your frustrations with your contracts but now is not the time to be discussing it! Unless we can pull together, unless we can function as a team and win, people are going to get killed. And more killing means more funerals and I will never, never let that happen again! I would rather do weddings!" Yurika ranted. "Launch the Aestivalis," Finn started to run off with the other pilots, but was stopped by the Yutrika. "I'm afraid I can't let you go out there Lt. Saotome. We don't know what the full capabilities of your TFs or whatever they're called yet,"
"But…"
"That's an order,"
"That's…gah… fine," the slightly disgruntled pilot said and took a seat by Minato. 'Wow, look at that chest,' he thought to himself. 'My earlier estimation of 34 inches was off, she's a 35 C cup!'
The comlinks from the Aestivalis were fed right into the bridge.
"I hate this war, and all the senseless death and madness it brings. But still, to live, we must fight! Gaaaaaahh!!!!" they heard Akito's voice.
"Hey, Ruri," Finn called quietly in the calm before the storm. "Did you sign a contract?"
"No, I didn't," she replied.
"Me neither," the pilot smirked.
"Come on Akito!" Yurika cheered as Akito smashed through a grasshopper. "You see Lt. Saotome. We don't know if your ship is capable of…hey, where'd he go?" She looked over just as the doors to the bridge closed. "Stop him!"
"Oh I don't think we have anything to worry about, Captain. That young man has obviously been well trained, and I suspect that he will hold his own quite well out there," Mr. Prospector stated confidently.
"Oh…" Yurika moaned. "But he'll steal the spotlight away from my darling Akito," Meanwhile in the hangar, Finn suited up and jumped into the MAF frame, brought the engines online, and detached it from the ACF.
"Uribakake, lower the distortion field and let me at em!" Finn's robotic helmet face appeared in front of Seiya in a vidwindow.
"I don't know. There's been no word from the Captain…"
"Just do it, man!" Finn more ordered than replied.
"Fine fine. Jeez. There. You're all clear, kid," S
Some controls were hit and the hangar doors opened.
"Finally. Here we go!" Finn cranked up the thrusters and bulleted out into space.
"Uribakae. Do not allow Lt. Saotome to launch! That's an order!" Yurika's voice cried out over the comlink.
"Too late Captain, you just missed him," replied a confused Seiya.
"Why don't you want him out there?"
"He'll…oh never mind," she replied.
The small dots of light that were exploding grasshoppers turned into giant fireballs as Finn approached. "Locked on," he said to himself as he targeted a grasshopper. The green target turned red, Finn hit the fire mechanism and twin streams of brilliant yellow energy erupted from the two cannons mounted on the side of MAF. Within the wave of energy, small bursts of light could be seen as grasshopper units exploded.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Ryoko's voice bellowed as a vid window popped up in front of him.
"Lending a hand," replied Finn from behind his helmet.
"Agh. Fine, take the left flank. You have three coming in 30 degrees to port," Ryoko said, giving in.
"I see them. Shit, five more behind me," Finn said as he flipped his ship upward and into some complicated evasive maneuvers at breakneck speed.
"Izumi, get flyboy's ass out of the fire," ordered Ryoko.
"No, its ok. I got them," Finn said, giving the attack computer instructions through his IFS. Still at a speed well over mach five, the parts of Finn's ship began to shift and move. The underside of the ship flipped out and the engines became two massive leg units. The cockpit and the front of the ship flipped and came down to form a chest, while the arms folded out of the rear of the ship. Two dark metallic eyes in the head came to life and the robot flipped around, facing its enemies while maintaining heading and speed. Two long, curved blades flipped out under the wrists of the robot, as it made a sudden leap forward. Finn sliced through three of the grasshoppers in a single strike.
"Wow," Hikaru's face popped up. "That was, like, totally awesome!"
"Lets keep our heads. Or we'll be dead," Izumi's face appeared.
Finn zipped around, taking out grasshoppers, until a large wave of a gravity blast cannon came from out of nowhere.
"Gah! I hate inertia I hate it!" Akito struggled to maintain control of his Aestivalias as giant Jovian battle cruiser came into view. Bugging out of combat, Ryoko and her squad came in and made an attack run, but were deflected away like mosquitoes off a screen door.
"Damnit, we can't get through that shield," the leader of the trio said. Akito burst through them, but had no luck either. Finn flew over to help.
"Akito. Take out your distortion blade! Try hitting it at different angles till you find one that works," he sent a private message into Akito's Aesti.
"Huh?" Akito's confused face appeared.
"Just do it," Finn hissed.
"But I need a running start! I can't build up speed that fast,"
"Crimany, I gotta do everything?" Finn floated around behind Akito's aesti and literally kicked his ass, sending him flying towards the Jovian ship/
"Here goes." Akito replied as he cranked up his thrusters and made for the Jovian ship, blade in hand. "GAAAAAAAHHH!!!"
"Anyone ever tell you to scream too much in battle, man?" Finn's voice was blocked out by Akito's battle cry.
"Tenkawa, that's crazy!" Ryoko yelled at the pilot/cook.
"No its not. Its just a matter of picking the right angle," Akito replied, skimming the outer edges of the Jovian distortion field. When he found a kink in the enemy's field, he slashed at it and drove his fist deep into the hull. Flames began spurting out from the ship as it exploded.
"80% of enemy units vaporized," Ruri informed the bridge crew. "However, a small number of Jovian vessels still pose a danger to the Nadesico,"
"Send the Aestivalis in to take them out," ordered Yurika.
"Negative. The Jovian forces are outside of the Nadesico's maximum energy transfer range," the pintsized science officer replied.
"I'm on it," Finn's voice piped up.
"That's nuts. You can't take them all on at once!" Ryoko yelled at him. "Wait for the Nadesico to catch up!"
"They'll have reinforced their lines by then. I'm taking them out now," Finn called back as he flew past them. The MAF made a beeline for the Jovians. Whatever missiles or gravity blasts that came too close were easily deflected off the distortion field.
"It would appear that Lt. Saotome's frame is too fast for the Jovian combat computers to target him," Ruri explained.
"That's fine, but how does he intend to take them all out?" Ryoko asked.
"You're blocking my view you know." Finn said, irritated by all the vidwindows popping up in front of him. "Just relax, enjoy the view." he made a 90 degree turn upwards and was soon right above the Jovian force, just out of range of their cannons.
"So what are you going to do from there?" Ryoko asked in an 'I told you so' manner.
"This," The two giant cannons on the robots legs, (the same ones attached to the side in jet mode) detached. "Locking on," He targeted the chulip at the centre of the growing fleet. Around the tips of the two cannons, a large yellow light appeared, and began to grow in size. The body of the MAF sparked as the joints tried to control the massive build up of energy. Inside the cockpit malfunction alerts clouded Finn's view. He turned off all warning systems, with exception to the gage that showed how far he was away from meltdown. 50% the arm joints sparked. 65% the hands began to turn soft under the heat. 70% The entire frame shook heavily, and barely stayed together under the immense strain. "That's it," Finn choked. The frame's fingers pulled the trigger and a massive wave of yellow/blue energy streamed into the Jovian forces. The Chulip vaporized first, and as the beam expanded more and more ships began to melt and were ripped to shreds by the massive explosion of destruction. Soon there was nothing left of the fleet except for a few scraps of metal that had been tough enough to weather the storm without completely vaporizing. Finn fought to maintain control of the massive discharge of energy he had unleashed. Bolts were exploding off the frame, the hands were ready to melt any second. Then, just as quickly as the beam had been unleashed it died. The MAF floated in space motionless.
"Lt. Saotome, do you copy?" Megumi's voice said over the comlink. "Repeat. Lt. Saotome, are you there? Captain, I'm getting nothing but static,"
"Ryoko, retrieve the MAF and bring it aboard the Nadesico," Yurika ordered.
"Roger that, Captain," Ryoko was already on her way. "Idiot," she said to herself. When she reached the frame it was so hot that it was nearly glowing. Her aestivalis unit grabbed hold of the MAFF under the arms and towed it back towards the Nadesico.
"What the hell happened to my baby!" Seiya cried when he saw Finn's frame being dragged into the hangar. The red aestivalis put the MAF down on its back. "Captain, what happened to this thing?"
"We don't know. Get the pilot out of there, now!" Yurika ordered and the maintenance crew began working on the cockpit. Drill bits broke and laser cutters didn't even scratch the surface of the mammoth robot.
"Its no good captain. It must have been fused shut from all the heat. What the hell is this thing made of anyway?!" Seiya said.
"Megumi try contacting inside the MAF again," Yurika ordered.
"Roger. Lt. Saotome, please come in. If you are hearing this transmission please respond. Lt. Saotome!" Megumi cried.
"Damnit Saotome, get out of that thing now!" Ryoko screamed at him, kicking the MAF. Silent minutes passed in what seemed like hours.
"Well…since you ask so nicely," came a staticy voice. The cockpit opened and a shaken Finn Saotome climbed out, steam rising from his metal body. "Whoa…I feel…" he fell onto his face dazed.
Meanwhile on the bridge, the crew were preparing for atmospheric entry.
"What are those things?" Megumi asked, looking at the sparkling clouds.
"Those are nanomachine collectives," Hori stated simply.
"Nano?" Megumi asked confused.
"Machines. Small, self-replicating robots. The Martian colonists seeded the clouds with nanomachines to give the planet an atmosphere similar to Earth's," explained Ruri..
"How about some gravity control here!!!" Akito shouted at no one in particular. The three female pilots hanging onto him as he clung to his aesti, gravity trying to pull him down to the hangar floor that lay far below.
"I don't get it. Why does he always get all the chicks?" Seiya asked.
"You tell me!" Finn said as fell past Seiya from his cockpit. He smashed into a pile of tools on the floor. "My pancreas," he groaned.
The gravity blast cannon fired a shot down towards the planet vaporizing any remaining Jovian attack forces.
Truth "Shuttle
1, lifting off," Reported Ryoko as they took off, Hikaru, Izumi, Hori,
Prospector, and Finn tagging along. They landed at the Nergal Research Facility
half an hour later. "So what was Nergal doing out here?"
"Discovering the Nadesico,"
Prospector replied as they walked through the massive, empty entrance.
"Huh?" the three aestivalis pilots asked. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"This is where it began, in this place. Would you like to see?" They nodded and followed him towards an elevator.
"You coming Saotome?" Hikaru called
"You guys go ahead. I've got some stuff to check out," Finn replied, and walked towards the east wing of the building. The power was still working and the lights overhead flickered on and off. 'That's good.' Finn thought. 'I won't have to use this,' he tossed a flashlight into the air and caught it. The section of the building he was walking through consisted mainly of offices and empty laboratories. Stumbling upon one with a sign on the door saying "Main Database Server Room" Finn smashed the locked door down with a good swift kick and walked inside. Most of the computers were still running. However, there was only one monitor that appeared to be undamaged. Finn hit the on switch, but nothing happened. "Come on you," he gave the monitor a solid whap on the side and it suddenly sprang to life. "I've got work to do,"
Meanwhile, hundreds of feet underground, Prospector and the others arrived at their destination
"Well this is it. It's been thirty years since our research teams discovered this. That's how long it took for use to decipher its secrets," he explained.
"But I don't understand. Where did this thing come from?" asked Hikaru.
"Yeah, just who left this thing laying around out here?" Ryoko added.
"We don't know for sure," Prospector began.
"But we think they originated here on Mars," Hori finished.
"So what you're saying is…"
"That it was some kind of ancient alien species that made this a long time ago and left it here as proof of their existence!" Hikaru piped up.
"Well actually…" Hori began.
"And then when the Mars colonists landed here they found the Martians here and there was a great battle and the colonists won. The aliens then fled from Mars. That must be who the Jovian lizards are. They're the decedents…"
"You can stop now, ya know," Ryoko said, irritated.
"And that's why they're here. To reclaim Mars and take Earth while they're at it and force us all into slavery in their subterranean spice mines! This'll make a great story for my next comic book!" Hikaru babbled on. "Ow! Hey, what was that for?" Hikaru rubbed her head where Ryoko had slapped her.
"For crying out loud, will you just shut up for once?"
"Oh just once, just this once," Izumi played on her ukulele.
"Great, now you have her over there at it." Ryoko pulled at her hair. "Will the insanity ever stop!?!?" she screamed. Prospector and Hori sweatdropped. "Look, we got what we came for. Lets grab robo boy and get the heck out of here,"
"Actually," Prospector said seriously. "We haven't got what we came for yet. There's still data in this building's computers that Nergal wants,"
"Just what kind of data?" asked Hori, seeming surprised by Prospector's comment.
"Data, beam me up," Izumi snorted.
"Um…yes. Well, the head branch wouldn't tell me what it is. But we have to recover it, that's section 232 paragraph 4 subsection B of your contracts," Prospector said, wandering over to a computer terminal. "Now lets see," he began to type, but stopped after a few seconds. "This is impossible!"
"What is?" they all asked in unison.
"The computer, its been wiped clean. There's nothing left. Oh this is very bad news. If the enemy were to get hold of that information, who knows what might happen?!" he looked like a deer staring at the headlights of an oncoming truck.
"What's bad news?" came a voice out of the darkness surrounding the ancient phase transition engine. Ryoko drew her gun.
"Oh, its only you. You gave me quite a start. Its nothing you should be concerned about, but the head office will certainly want some answers," Prospect began going any little mistake he had made over the course of this career, worrying about demotions and layoffs. "Oh I'll be reduced to coffee boy for this," he whined.
"Don't worry," Finn said cheerfully.
"You mean you know what we're looking for and where to find it?" Prospector looked hopeful.
"No. Nergal already has plenty of coffee boys. But I did hear that there's an opening for scrubbing toilets with a toothbrush," Prospector paled. Ryoko chucked a piece of debris at Finn's head…and connected. Solidly.
"You're not helping you know!" she fumed.
"Ryoko, go too your happy place." Hikaru said.
"My happy place is here. This is my happy place. But if it is, why am I so unhappy?" Izumi started laughing. Multiple sweatdrops followed. Finn got up, a mini bandage over part of his skull.
"So what you're saying is 'go away, we don't want to be saved', is that it?" the Admiral asked, sounding somewhat irritated.
"That's exactly what we're saying," a blonde haired woman replied.
"Please reconsider ma'am. The Nadesico has beaten the lizards in every single exchange of hostilities thus far. You'll be quite safe," Hori said, after having just walked into the room with the others.
"Hey, what's going on?" Finn asked, but on seeing everyone glare in his direction he decided it best to sit down and shut up. The debate continued to heat up. That is until…
"Captain, enemy forces incoming. 12 battle ships, 30 smaller warships. The enemy continues to reinforce its lines from a chulip approximately 36 kilometres to port." Ruri informed them.
"Arm the gravity blast cannon," Yurika ordered.
"Gravity blast energy charging," Ruri said.
"Fire!" a massive blast of energy exploded from the Nadesico's cannon. "Huh?!" They all gasped as they saw that not one of the Jovian vessels had even been scratched.
"Their shields can't be invulnerable, go to continuous fire," Hori said in his usual way.
"Right, rearm the gravity blast cannon," Yurika ordered.
"We can't. We can't divert enough energy from the PT engines to maintain continuous fire," Minato reported.
"Raise the distortion field then!"
"You can't!" the blonde haired woman started.
"Captain, if you raise the distortion field all of the survivors down there will be crushed to death. Akito and I told them we were here to save them. How can you betray them like this? They're all going to die!" Megumi pleaded.
"Minato, take us up and raise the fields,"
"We can't. It will be twenty minutes before we can divert enough power for sufficient thrust," replied Minato. Yurika looked at Akito, who stared straight back at her. She searched his eyes for an answer, any answer that would get them out of there. But there was no answer to be had.
"I think this decision maybe too much for the Captain to handle," Prospector sounded worried.
"Saotome. Use you're energy cannons against them like you did before," Yurika desperately pleaded, searching for some way out.
"Um…well…" Finn scratched the back of his head. "You see, the thing about is that I kind of overloaded them last time. So they can't be fired again until the system cools down a little. I'd probably explode if I tried it right now,"
An eerie silence engulfed the bridge of the mighty Nadesico.
"Ruri. Raise the distortion field," Yurika ordered, practically choking on her own words.
"Aye Captain," Ruri said grimly. The air around the Nadesico shimmered as the distortion field was raised. The ground beneath the ship collapsed and gravity blasts from the Jovian ships rained down on the ship.
"Maintain field integrity," Yurika choked again.
"Captain, distortion field weakening under enemy fire. Collapse is imminent," Ruri said. All eyes were on the Captain.
"Launch all Aestivalis units, lay down a retreat pattern to cover the Nadesico," she looked at Akito, and he looked back, then nodded slightly and ran off the bridge with the rest of the pilots to the hangar.
"Tenkawa, you're in an artillery frame, Hikaru, Izumi, you're in air frames," Ryoko shouted as she jumped into her Aesti's heavy artillery frame. "What are you standing around for?" she demanded when she saw Finn standing on the catwalk.
"Awaiting orders, ma'am," he gave one of his goofy and mocking salutes.
"Just do whatever and stay out of our way,"
Finn ran to his ACF unit and the Nadesico shuddered violently, causing him to fall and skid across the floor. 'No time to suit up. I'll have to risk it,' he thought as he started the mammoth machine.
"Aestivalis launching now!" Ryoko declared as they were catapulted out of the hangar. Akito and Ryoko, in heavy artillery frames, took their places on the ground, firing at enemy craft while slowly retreated backwards with the Nadesico. Hikaru and Izumi floated overhead, machine guns blazing. Finn appeared a minute later in the ACF frame. He flew straight up, past the Jovian ships and circled. The ACF then made a dive right for the ground. Finn activated the gattling cannon and set targets on three Jovian heavy battle cruisers. As soon as the target on his headsup display turned red he pulled the trigger, unleashing a furious spray of melting hot plasma bolts. The first few bolts bounced harmlessly off the enemy's distortion fields, but the they began to fail on the onslaught. Finn kept firing until the ship crashed to the ground in a brilliant fireball. He then took the opportunity to observe the situation his comrades were in. Ryoko was holding her own, Hikaru and Akito both looked like they were in a little trouble. Izumi was on a killing spree.
"Hikaru, one on your left. Tenkawa, three above you." Finn shouted over the comlink. However, during this moment where he left himself vulnerable, two Jovian cruisers capitalized on his mistake. They fired their gravity blast cannons, and scored two direct hits. The first one was absorbed by the ACF's distortion field. However, the second blast went clean through and blasted apart a piece of the wing. "Oh shit," Finn hit some controls and switched from manual control to his IFS. The wings folded back and two great legs emerged from the undercarriage. The exhaust vents on the flying wing turned into two arms, and a head appeared on top and the giant gattling cannon sat on the right shoulder of the metallic mammoth. "Eat this!" he cried as he unleashed a sea of bolts from his cannon as he made a slow decent down to the surface. He fired continuously until he landed almost right on top of Akito.
"Hey, watch it!"
"Sorry, but look what I'm dealing with!" Finn called back and motioned above them. The Jovians were gaining ground.
"All right everyone listen up. Akito and I are going to make a run on the chulip and stop them from reinforcing their lines. Hikaru and Izumi, you neutralize all units that move to intercept us. Finn!" she looked over at Finn, sending thousands of brilliant blue bolts of plasma at the surrounding Jovians and sweatdropped. "Just keep doing what you're doing. Lets do it!" Akito and Ryoko made a beeline right for the chulip, with Hikaru and Izumi overhead taking out anything that looked like it was making a move against them. 'Just a little further,' Ryoko thought. A loud explosion beside her threw her off balance, and her frame fell to one side.
"Ryoko!" Akito called out and started to turn around.
"Just keep moving, I'll be fine. Take out that damn chulip!" Ryoko screamed at him. Another explosion rocked the heavy artillery frame as Jovian spider units advanced on her. She tried to get up but the fall had damaged her left leg unit. She was stuck. The spiders formed a semi circle around her. 'Oh crap,' she thought, trying to bring around the main gun, but it was jammed under her legs. 'This is it and nothing I can do about it,' she closed her eyes and waited, but heard nothing, except for the sounds of the battle around her.
"What the hell are you doing?" Finn called. His ACF was only a fifty metres or so away. "Can you move?"
"My leg unit's busted up. I'm stuck," she called back sounding somewhat surprised by Finn's sudden tactical advancement.
He fired a few more rounds and ran toward her. Then he transformed the ACF into a flying wing again. However, it did not stop there. Two giant tank treads emerged from the leg units, which were folded against the underside of the ship. The wings folded back and the gattling cannon came to rest under the front of the machine.
"Get in," he said as two blinking lights appeared at the rear. "Its meant for the MAF but I think you can fit,"
The compartment was small, defiantly designed for a sleek jet fighter. However, it was just large enough for the heavy artillery frame to squeeze in. "You cover the rear, your guns still work, right?"
"They work. Tenkawa, got the chulip yet?" Ryoko asked.
"Almost there! 3…2…1… firing all weapons! Come on. GAHHH!!!!!" Aktio screamed over the open comchannel.
"Man, that's annoying. Does he always do that?" Finn asked quietly.
After a few seconds of punishment from Akito's artillery frame, the chulip blew apart, sending pieces of itself in every direction. "Alright!"
"No time to celebrate, Tenkawa. Come on everyone, double back to the Nadesico!" Ryoko ordered.
"Roger!" all the other pilots replied. Finn drove his tank/jet monstrosity back towards the Nadesico while Ryoko covered him from the MAF's compartment.
"All Aestevalis pilots. That's enough. Return to the Nadesico," Megumi's vid window popped up in everyone's cockpit. Ahead of Finn there was a small land force.
"Aren't you going to take them out?" Ryoko asked, banging on the hatch in some kind of hope of getting Finn's attention.
He pushed the throttle up and simply rolled over them, leaving a pile of shredded metal in his wake. "Tonight for one night only! Saotome presents full metal destruction! MUAHAHAHAHA!"
"Don't overdo it,"
The Nadesico had taken a stationary position away from the battle, and was launching a missile attack against any Jovian cruisers that came too close. Finn wheeled into the Hangar and skidded to a stop. Akito followed with Izumi and Hikaru on his tail. The Nadesico raised its distortion field again and pulled out. The Jovians did not follow suit. There pray was in their jaws. They just needed the teeth necessary to shred it.
"Whew, close one. Thanks Saotome," Ryoko heaved a sigh of relief as she got out of her Aestivalis.
"Yeah, not bad Lieutenant," Hikari piped up.
"You knocked us dead," Izumi said in a creepy voice. Akito had a sense of deja-vu.
Finn slowly climbed down the ladder from his robot. "Thanks guys," he said weekly. However, before he made it a few steps he fell to the floor steam rising from his body.
"Saotome?" Akito nudged him, taking Finn's reaction as another one of his jokes, but there was no movement.
Ryoko and the other pilots moved over to where Finn lay. Ryoko knelt down beside him and looked at the smoking body. She tried to roll him over onto his back but his skin was searing hot. She held his arm for a fraction of a second before she let go. "Get a med team down here! NOW!" she ordered. After a few minutes a medical team followed by Inez. A few members of the team were able to bare the heat that seared anything it touched and managed to roll him onto a stretcher. They rushed him out of the room and away from the other pilots. "Idiot," Ryoko said to herself.
Out of the Frying PanYurika washed her face in the cool waters that flowed from the tap of the washroom. The sudden cold sensation against her face felt good, but offered little comfort. Akito approached her from behind.
"Why did we come here, Akito. Why did we bother? We didn't save anyone. I failed," she stared at the water as it splashed down from the faucet into the sink and whirled down the drain.
"Yurika," Akito whispered and took her hand.
"This is the first time you've been nice to me since you came aboard this ship," Yurika said, cherishing the feeling of his hand against hers.
"Stop it. Pull yourself together."
"Akito." Yurika whispered. "Please, kiss me?"
"Yurika, I gah…don't think this is the time," Akito stammered.
"I don't mean the way you kissed Megumi." Yurika pleaded. "I just want something that means there's still hope," she looked into his eyes. In Akito's eyes, a chibi Finn appeared on Yurika's right shoulder.
"Kiss her, man! What are you waiting for? Do it! She's one hot mama!" the chibi Finn cheered and waved a banner saying 'Kiss Her!' Then, a chibi Megumi appeared on Yurika's left shoulder.
"Don't do it Akito. Don't listen to them. How can you betray me like this?" she got all watery eyed and started to cry. The chibi Finn continued to wave his banner, until chibi Megumi grabbed it from him and started to beat him about the head with it. There was a brawl within a mini dust cloud. Chibi Megumi stood on top of Finn's body, making a V with her fingers. Chibi Finn was all swerly eyed and covered in bandages.
Ryoko paced outside sickbay, while Hikaru and Izumi sat on a bench opposite the doors.
"You think he'll be ok?" Hikaru asked no one in particular. Ryoko continued to pace. It seemed like hours since they had wheeled Finn past those heavy doors. Just then, the door opened slowly and the blonde haired woman came out.
"What the hell? Who are you?" Ryoko demanded.
"I'm Inez Fressenge," the woman introduced herself. "Captain Misumaru has granted me authority over medical issues,"
"Well, how is he?"
"Not good I'm afraid," Inez explained. "His body temperature has risen to over 84 degrees Celsius, which is approximately 48 degrees above normal. From what I understand, it would appear that the metal suit he wears while piloting the TFs regulates to amount of energy transferred from the ship to his body. However, because he was not wearing the suit while he piloted this time, the energy surged into him at an unregulated rate. The only way for his body to deal with so much energy is to turn it into heat. However, the temperature rose so quickly that his blood is literally on the point of boiling."
"Is he going to be ok?" Ryoko asked, a worried tone in her voice.
"Oooooo," Hikaru and Izumi nudged her.
"That is difficult to say," Inez began.
"What's the problem? Can't you just throw some ice on him to cool him off?" Ryoko said.
"The problem is that if we cool him down too fast his body may not be able to handle the stress. This heart would probably not be able handle the rapid heating and cooling of his blood and would simply give out. The best way for us to help him is to leave him to cool down naturally. We have lowered the temperature in the room to help speed up the process. However, it will primarily up to Lt. Saotome whether he lives or dies,"
"He's all fired up," Izumi snorted. "He's got the hots for you,"
"Now, if you will excuse me I have other matters to attend to," Inez excused herself.
Once she and the other two pilots left, Ryoko looked around. Making sure no one was around she slipped into the room. Finn was laying on an examination table, waves of heat radiating off his body. He looked almost asleep. However, if he was dreaming he was having a nightmare, for his face was twisted in pain. From time to time he would twitch or cry out, but for the most part he remained motionless.
"What did you go and do that for?" Ryoko whispered to herself more than to Finn. She took his hand and held it for as long as she could before the heat became overwhelming. "Idiot,"
Ryoko's comlink woke her.
"All pilots, please report to the bridge for briefing immediately," Megumi's voice piped up over the comlink.
"What?" Ryoko sat up in the seat she had taken in the corner of the medical facility. She determined that she must have fallen asleep there for some reason. Finn was still on the examination table, however his face was no longer contorted due to pain. Ryoko smiled to herself and left for the bridge.
"Ok, so just what is this all about, Captain?" she asked as she walked onto the bridge. She had returned to her 'battle hardened' attitude.
"This is our destination," Prospector said. "A research station at Mars North Pole. With any luck we should be able to obtain a spare phase transition engine there,"
"Excuse me Captain, but we're receiving a 'friend or foe' recognition signal. It matches our records. It's the Crocus," Megumi informed them.
"Is it now? Hmm," the Admiral appeared to be thinking about something.
"But how did it get here? The Crocus was sucked into a chulip months ago, and we destroyed the chulip that swallowed the Crocus and the Pansy. It just doesn't make sense," Yurika said to herself.
"Of course it does. A chulip isn't so much a ship as it is a gate, I think that the fact that the Crocus is here on Mars is proof enough of that," Inez explained.
"Are you saying that all the ship attacking the Earth are coming from here on Mars?" Hori asked.
"Well, no. Not just here on Mars. There's no sign of the other ship, the…" Minato struggled, trying to remember the Crocus's sister ship.
"The Pansy," The Admiral filled in for her.
"Yes, that's right. There's no sign of the Pansy." Minato finished.
"Which means that one end of a chulip may go to many different locations," Inez concluded.
"Prepare a landing party. We should go over and check for survivors," ordered Yurika.
"I'm sorry, but we don't have time for that now Captain. We have to continue onward," Prospector said.
"I think we should follow Nergal's guidelines for now, dear," the Admiral added.
"Just hold on one second here," Akito walked onto the bridge. "I have some questions for you, Admiral," his voice full of rage.
"You're late Tenkawa. I trust you have a good excuse," Hori began, but Akito waved it off.
"Is it true that you lead the UEAF Assault Force at the First Battle of Mars?" Akito's eyes pieced even the Admiral's usual determined face.
"What are you talking about, Akito? Everyone knows that the Admiral was in charge during the battle," Yurika explained. "You did know that, didn't you?"
"You're wrong, I didn't know. I didn't know that our leader was the 'hero' who caused the chulip to fall on to the Utopia Colony," in Akito's mind images flashed as real as the images displayed on the screen. Ai. Utopia Colony. Chulip. Grasshoppers. Ai. Death. "You did it!" Akito screamed. "You're the one to killed them all! Damn you!" he viciously attacked the Admiral like a man possessed.
"Here we go," Ryoko sweatdropped and walked over to where Akito was attacking the Admiral. She grabbed him by the collar and delivered a solid punch to his face. Hori quickly grabbed the stunned Akito and held him down while Hikaru taped him to a chair.
"Mellow out and think happy thoughts!" Hikaru said, blowing her whistle.
"Kill me now," Ryoko shook her head.
"Man, I can't believe how slow this land frame is," Ryoko complained.
"Well, you were the one who wanted to pilot the heavy weapons frame," Izumi replied.
"Oh shut up. You make me sick," Ryoko shot back. "Saotome," she sighed sadly. 'No one deserved to go through the kind of pain he endured. Its partially my fault too'. she thought. 'If I hadn't busted the leg unit up he would never have had to do that. Gah! While do I get all fuzzy when I think about that guy?!' "Damnit!" she bashed her head against he aesti controls.
"What was that Ryoko?" Hikaru's face popped up. Ryoko turned red.
"It was nothing. Shut up and keep your eyes on the terrain. Just where is this research facility anyway?"
"Well, I've been cross referencing it on all the maps, but I haven't…" Hikaru was cut off.
"Wait a second. This isn't right!" Izumi said.
"You mean its to the left? You sounded so serious that…ahh!" Hikaru screamed as he Aestivalis plunged under the snow and ice.
"Hikaru!" Ryoko called, seeing her fellow pilot disappear into the ice.
"Ryoko, its coming your way!" Izumi called. The robot bug swam through the solid ice below their feet as though it were water. It burst out of the ice and clamped onto Ryoko's aestevalis. A small hatch opened and a drill began to sink its way into her frame.
"That thing's got a drill. No way…no freakin way!" Ryoko screamed. Sparks were sent flying in every direction as the bug bored further into her frame. "Izumi! Hikaru! Tenkawa! Saotome! Help, please!" she cried. The bug had both the frame's arms pinned against its side. Ryoko couldn't fire any missiles because that would involve blowing herself up in the process. Izumi stumbled and slipped over to Ryoko and forcefully shoved her shoulder unit into the bug, forcing it off Ryoko's frame. "I got it!" Ryoko said as she locked onto the bug. There was a brilliant flash of light as she fired a shot directly into the bug's underside. It landed on the ground, limbs twitching and sparks flying for a few seconds before it simply exploded. "Whew. Thanks guys,"
"So who's names did I just hear you call?" Izumi's ever strange face appeared in Ryoko's cockpit.
"Yes yes. I heard it to Izumi," Hikaru added.
"What? You guys just misunderstand. I just forgot that he wasn't here and…" Ryoko tried to defend herself.
"Tenkawa!" Izumi and Hikaru chimed together. "Saotome!" Ryoko's head fell to one side, her face very red.
"Grr. All right, name your price you…you blackmailers!" she sounded very pissed off.
"Banana pudding for a month!" Hikaru demanded.
"And there's this cute little tea set I've been admiring." Izumi added.
"Hey Hikaru. Where in the heck are you anyway?" Ryoko asked, changing the subject.
"Down here!" Hikaru fired a shot up through the hole.
"Hey, watch it," Ryoko said as she came closer to the hole. "Can you climb out?" Hikaru clawed at the ice walls of the hole, which turned out to be a system of tunnels made by the bug, but just kept slipping down. "Try jumping," she suggested.
Hikaru looked up at the sky above her, hit her jets to maximum and tried to leap out of the tunnel. She made it about ten meters off the ground. "Huh? What happened?"
"She's got cold feet," Izumi laughed in her usual, insane manner while Ryoko tried to think of another way out.
"It must be the cold." Ryoko said. The external temperature read –65 degrees Celsius. "Its probably too cold for your jets to ignite. Send a fist up here, maybe we can pull you out."
"Roger!" Hikaru said, sounding as cheerful as she would have getting a new Gekigengar manga. She fired a fist attached to a cable up to Ryoko, who caught it.
"Izumi, help me pull her out," Ryoko ordered, and the two Aestevalis began to heave their yellow comrade up. About halfway up, there was a sudden cracking noise. The ice below Ryoko and Izumi's feet gave way and they all came crashing down into the tunnel. "Well isn't that just prime,"
"Captain," Megumi alerted. "I've lost contact with the aestevalis units,"
"Sensors indicated shots were fired," Ruri told them.
"Akito, go out and…" Yurika looked over at Akito, he was still struggling against the ropes around him and the gag in his mouth.
"Mmgph! Ammmmff!" He 'said'.
"Oh, right. I forgot about that," Yurika sweatdropped. The Nadesico slowly pressed onward towards their polar destination.
"Aw shit! What are we going to do now?" Ryoko asked.
"We could send up a signal flare!" Hikaru suggested.
"No, that would let every Jovian for a hundred km know where we are. Its like of like holding up a sign saying 'Welcome Jovians, enter here". Ryoko replied. The aestivalis sat in a circle, while their pilots thought of a way out.
"Why not contact the Nadesico and ask them to drop us a line?" Izumi suggested, pointing out the most obvious solution to their predicament.
"Its worth a shot." Ryoko replied. "Nadesico, come in Nadesico. Pilot Subaru to Nadesico. Nadesico, do you read?" all she got was static. "Its no good. The ice must be blocking our signal. Well, since we can't climb out, maybe we can find another way outta here,"
"What do you mean?" asked Hikaru.
"I mean, lets get our asses in gear and get going!" Ryoko replied.
"You mean, in there?" Hikaru motioned to the long, dark tunnel.
"Duh. Lets go," Ryoko said, turning on her searchlight. Fortunately for them the gravitron beam that fed their Aestevalises energy was able to penetrate the ice, even though their radios didn't.
"Out of the frying pan and into the fire," Izumi said to herself as she and Hikaru followed Ryoko. The tunnel, they learned, was not just a simple tunnel running from one end to the other. As it turns out, it was a complex network of passageways. Some went deep under the ice, whereas others went straight to the surface. Unfortunately for the trio every potential exit was at too steep an angle for them to climb out.
"Just how far do you think these tunnels go for anyway?" asked Hikaru.
"How should I know?" Ryoko replied. They continued onward, delving deeper and deeper into the labyrinth. After wandering around for about fifteen minutes, Hikaru spotted a light up ahead.
"Look, I think I see a way out." Hikaru cheered and ran for the light. However, as they got closer she began to doubt her words. The closer they got, sounds of machinery became more distinct. They came to a large hole that led down into a massive cavern. Upon taking a quick look over the edge, what they saw made them shiver. Bugs, lots of bugs, were down there. It was obviously some kind of manufacturing plant the Jovians had built. The walls, floors, and ceilings of the cavern were literally crawling with bugs. "What are we going to do now? There's no way we can fight that many of them. We had enough trouble with one, just imagine a couple hundred of them coming down our throats,"
They pulled back so that they would not be seen.
"I have an idea," Ryoko said. "I could throw a couple of grenades down there and probably destroy a good section of the plant. Then from up here we could take up covered positions and probably hold out for quite a while,"
"But what happens after 'quite a while'?" Hikaru asked.
"I don't know. I haven't thought that far ahead yet," Ryoko admitted. However, their decision was about to be made for them. A bug had dug its way below them, causing the ice between tunnels to weaken. The three aestivalis units crashed down. Every bug fixed their visual receptors on that tunnel and began to scurry towards it. "Awww shit!" Ryoko cried. "Fall back, mole formation," she ordered. Izumi stood to Ryoko's left, Hikaru to her right. They reversed the treads on their robot feet and started to pull out. Tens, if not hundreds, of bugs poured into the tunnel. Ryoko and her team returned fire, laying waste to any that got too close. However, they were in a precarious situation. There were hundreds of bugs and only three of them, and ammunition was starting to run low. A vidwindow popped up in Ryoko's cockpit. 'Warning, ammunition low."
"I know!" she screamed at the computer. They continued their retreat. However, there was a flaw in this plan. They did not know where they were going. Fortunately the tunnel was more or less straight. "I have an idea!" Ryoko called out. She aimed her heavy machinegun at the roof of the tunnel, just above the perusing bugs and unleashed a torrent of bullets, causing a cave in. "Yeah!" Ryoko cried triumphantly as their foes were crushed and buried under giant slabs of rock hard ice. "Hah! Take that!" she congratulated herself and kicked a deactivated bug's head off, sending it skidding down the tunnel. Above them, the ice cracked and shifted. Small pieces rained down on them. "Oh man, this really bites. Come on girls, lets get out of here!"
They wheeled their Aestevalis units around and peeled away from the collapsing ice as fast as their robotic feet would take them. However, the cave-in was catching up.
"Death's icy grip." Izumi remarked.
"Oh shut up. We don't need that crap right now, Izumi!" Ryoko shouted. "Just keep moving,"
To add to their troubles, the bugs began to dig themselves out, and were following the path of collapsed ice.
"Captain. I am picking up seismic activity 226km, 30 degrees off starboard," Ruri informed them.
"Could it be the Aestevalis team?" Yurika asked.
"Possibly. Readouts show a large wave of seismic activity approaching at high velocity. However, the activity is too deep underground to precisely determine the exact cause,"
"I'm out of ammo!" Hikaru called.
"Me too. Just keep moving!" Ryoko ordered.
"Captain, I'm picking up faint recognition signals from aestevalis type units," Ruri said. "They are being pursued by multiple subterranean Jovian units,"
"Ready the gravity blast cannon, Ruri," Yurika ordered.
"Negative. Firing off a gravity blast wave into the ice would cause the cave system the aestevalis units are in to collapse,"
"Oh shit!" Ryoko cried as she skidded to a stop. The tunnel angled straight up. The wave of collapsed ice thundered towards them.
"Ruri, configure the gravity blast cannon to a wide spread, low power shot. Just enough melt that ice," Yurika ordered.
"But Captain, if we fire the gravity blast cannon now, its possible all our power reserves will be drained. If that's the case, we will be defenceless if the Jovians turn their attention towards the Nadesico," Prospector said worriedly.
"I'm well aware of that, Mr. Prospector, but we have no other options, unless you want three out of five or our pilots to die. Do it, Ruri," Yurika ordered.
"Aye Captain," Ruri replied. She talked with the computer and gave it the proper commands. "Gravity blast is charging,"
Ryoko shut her eyes and waited to be consumed by the wave of collapsing ice.
"Firing gravity blast cannon." Ruri said as the Nadesico unleashed a wave of gravitron energy just strong enough to melt the ice.
"Huh?" Ryoko opened her eyes. "What the hell happened?"
"We got iced," Izumi snorted. Ryoko looked around. It looked as they had been transported away from ice, for it just seemed to melt all around them.
"All aestevalis pilots, return to the Nadesico immediately," Megumi's voice said over the comlink.
"Glad to see a familiar face!" Hikaru chirped as they made a break for the Nadesico, bug units nipping at their heals.
"Ruri, configure gravity blast cannon to full power, fire as soon as Ryoko and the others are inside," Yurika ordered.
Just as Ryoko entered the hangar, a bug latched onto Hikaru's Aestevalis. Ryoko turned back.
"Ryoko, get inside the ship. Now!" Megumi relayed orders to Ryoko.
"I can't just leave Hikaru out there!" Ryoko shouted back and wheeled her Aestevalis around.
"We can't raise the distortion field with you two outside the ship. Wait until the other Jovain units have been destroyed, then you can help her." Megumi said. 'No way.' Ryoko thought. 'No way I'm leaving one of my shipmates out there to get killed,'
"It'll be too late by then!" Ryoko shouted. She reached Hikaru and saw the drill ripping its way through her Aestevalis's armour. "Oh no you don't bug boy," she yelled as she grabbed the bug by the head and crushed its metal skull in. By this time the Nadesico was lifting off the ground.
"Run!" Izumi shouted, standing in her aestevalis by the hangar door. She had her robot's hand outstretched. Ryoko and Hikaru moved as fast as their robots would take them, but arrived just as the Nadesico's hangar was out of reach. "Jump!" Ryoko leaped and used whatever power her jet boosters could give her. She launched herself forward, but fell short of the hangar door. However, there was a jolt as Izumi's aestevalis grabbed Ryoko's aesti's hand.
"Hikaru, jump!" Ryoko ordered. 'Please, please let them work this time!' Hikaru tired to launch herself off the ground, but her jets didn't fire. She tried again, and again, but they just would not cooperate.
"Come on, one last try," Hikaru said to herself. Her boosters fired and she was caught by Ryoko's outstretched aestivalis hand. "Whew. Thanks Ryoko,"
"If you don't mind." Izumi grunted. "My servos are going to blow at any second," Izumi managed to lift them high enough for Ryoko to grab a hold on the hangar doors. She hauled herself up and pulled Hikaru up with her.
"Our reports show that there are five chulips surrounding the perimeter of the lab," Hori said.
"This doesn't look good," Yurika replied.
"Maybe so, but it is the sworn duty of all Nergal employees to retake that facility at any cost. That's section twenty two, paragraph four, subcolumn E of your contracts," Prospector informed them.
"Why don't you order us into an obvious trap?" Ryoko said. "And just want is so important about this lab anyway?"
"I can't divulge that information. All I can tell you is that we have to retake that facility. Remember, you did sign a contract, which is legally binding." Prospector dodged the question.
"Don't remind me," Ryoko said.
"I really would like to avoid subjecting the lives of the crew to danger recklessly," Yurika said.
"We'll use the other ship," the Admiral said, saying something for the first time in the conversation.
"What ship?" there was a collective question there.
"The Crocus," the Admiral replied simply.
Down in the hangar, Hori was busy arguing with the Admiral.
"Please sir, its far too dangerous. Let me go instead," he pleaded.
"No, I'm afraid you don't have the proper training Mr. Hori. Besides all we're doing now is making a survey." the Admiral replied.
"If that's the case, why are you making me come along?" Akito said. He still hadn't completely cooled off from his earlier discovery about the Admiral's past, but he restrained himself from ripping the man's head off and crushing his skull.
"Consider it your punishment," was all the Admiral said, and within minutes the Aestevalis launched, carrying Inez and the Admiral towards the damaged Crocus.
"The Crocus appears to be lifting off, Captain," Ruri reported.
"That Admiral really did it!" Yurika cheered.
"But what does this accomplish?" asked Hori. "There's no way he can fight in that piece of scrap,"
"Greetings Captain," The Admiral's face popped up in a vidwindow. "As you can see I've armed by guns and aimed them at the Nadesico's hull,"
"Huh?" the crew 'asked'.
"The Admiral wants us to enter the open chulip ahead of us," Ruri reported.
"Are you saying that the Admiral wants to destroy the Nadesico?" Megumi asked.
"It doesn't make any sense," Minato said.
"Oh yes it does! He's trying to cover up for his mistake. Don't you see? That's why he wants to destroy the Nadesico and all of the evidence!" Akito screamed over the comlink.
"Akito, if that were true you're the first person he'd kill," Inez said simply.
"Damn him! Damn him! Damn him!" Akito shouted as he jumped out of his Aestivalis cockpit and began sprinting towards the bridge. "Don't do it Yurika, what in the hell are you thinking about!" he burst onto the bridge a second later. "What the hell are you doing?!" He screamed. "Didn't you hear that all the crew members on the Crocus were dead?"
"Minato plot out an entry vector for that chulip, on the double!" Yurika ordered. For the first time, intentionally ignoring Akito.
"What? Do you realize how much this ship costs?!" Prospector cried.
"Don't you have any faith in the Admiral you selected?" Yurika shot back. By this time, Akito had had enough. He moved towards Minato, with the intention taking her seat and steering the ship out of the chulip himself. However, before he got there, a warm hand grasped his shoulder. Akito looked back. Behind him was a panting, weak, but determined Finn.
"What? What are you doing?" Akito hissed. Finn merely shook his head. No.
"But why?" Akito asked.
"Trust me. Trust them. Trust Yurika," Finn replied in a weak voice.
"Lt. Saotome? What are you doing on the bridge?" Yurika demanded.
"I wanted to see this," Finn replied simply and took a seat on the bench behind the Captain's seat.
"Get him back to sickbay!" Yurika ordered.
Meanwhile, the Nadesico slipped into the warp gate created by the chulip. The Crocus followed.
"Captain, the Crocus is now blocking the chulip's entrance," Ruri said, taking the Captain's attention away from Finn, who sat, breathing heavily, watching the view screens. The Jovians began to fire at the Crocus, the Admiral opened another vidwindow to the bridge of the Nadesico. Yurika pleaded with him to save himself.
"There's still so much you haven't taught me, so much I need to know!"
"No, there's really nothing left for me to show you my dear. I believe, love, that this is the best way to protect the ones I care about, and to make amends,"
"Admiral!" Yurika cried.
"Gah! Why are you all trying to make this look so honourable?!" Akito shouted.
"I was not a good admiral, was probably no better a man. Here I am, spending my last moments forcing others to abide by my wishes. But just let me say this. The Nadesico is your ship. All of the anger, the hatred, and the passion. All of what you feel is yours and can never be taken away…" he Admiral's vidwindow turned to static.
"Turn back!" Hori ordered.
"I can't its as though some invisible force is pulling us in!" Minato frantically worked the controls, but got no response.
"The chulip's opening has been destroyed," Ruri reported.
"Does anyone know where we're going?" Jun asked. Everyone stared at the subspace world they had been sucked into.
Akito sat in the cafeteria with his Gekigengar toy.
"Why?" He asked. "Why did we have to be saved by a murderer like him?" Yurika, Megumi, and Ryoko stood outside the doorway, listening.
"I relied on his wisdom and experience," Yurika said to them. "I don't know if I can do this without him,"
"Do you really think he came all the way to Mars just to kill himself?" Megumi asked.
"Doing something stupid to make up for something else you've done its pretty idiotic. At some point you have to accept responsibility," Ryoko replied. They stood there for a while in silence. Finn came around the corner and saw their solemn faces. He leaned against the wall adjacent to the one they were leaning against and stared at the floor. Even though he had only been on the Nadsico for a month or two, he considered Akito be like the little brother he never had. Still somewhat immature, trying to find his footing.
'Not that I'm much better,' he thought to himself. He looked at Ryoko, a sad expression on her face. "How is he?" he asked quietly. Not so much because he wanted to know how Akito was doing, more just to break the silence that had enveloped the four of them. No one replied. "I see," They continued their silent watch on Akito for a while. Miss Howmei was saying something to Akito. Finn couldn't make out the words, but he could tell it was important. Akito stood up shouting.
"Why the hell do I have to owe him anything?"
Finn got up off the wall and place a hand on Ryoko's shoulder.
"Don't worry about him. He'll be alright," Finn said quietly enough for only Ryoko to hear. Then Finn turned and walked quietly away.
Welcome Back:The Nadesico silently moved through subspace. Everyone on the mighty battle ship seemed to be enjoying a nice nap. All decks of the ship were quiet, with the exception to the bridge, where Ruri was still awake. She worked out complex equations, trying to calculate exactly where they were going, but it was no use. Nothing was known about subspace transdimensional travel. She sighed and looked at the Gekigengar plushie the Captain had once used as a substitute.
"Looks like it's just you and me." she said to the plushie. The view ahead of changed. "Hmm?"
"Commander, I'm detecting activity in chulip force one, sir. Its off the scale, something huge is coming through!" a UF officer monitoring scanner screens shouted to his captain.
The Nadesico began to accelerate forward. They were catapulted forward towards a large sphere, along the surface of which was some kind of portal. It was large, roughly the size of a chulip's opening. Along the outside it was like looking into another part of space. Ruri could see a battle. Energy blasts flew back and forth between opposing sides like pingpong balls.
"Is that what I think it is?" the captain of the UF fleet asked.
The Nadesico plunged into the sphere.
"It's the Nadesico!" the crew on the bridge of the UF flagship shouted.
"The Nadesico has returned to normal space. Would everyone please get up now? Hello? Get up. Its time to get up," Ruri tried to rouse the drowsy crew.
Finn slowly woke from a deep sleep. 'Where am I?' was obviously the first question that came to mind. The last thing he remembered was walking away from the girls at the cafeteria. There was a slight pressure at his side, like he was leaning against something. Finn slowly opened his eyes and looked around his surroundings. 'I'm in my room,' he thought. 'How did I get here?' he brought his arms up his face to rub his eyes, but he felt something else before they got there. It was firm, but yielded slightly to his touch. Finn took a breath and inhaled the sweet scent of something he could not identify. He looked down to see what this mystery object was. What he saw made his heart skip a beat. Resting on his chest was a mass of short green hair, belonging to a certain female pilot. 'What the…?' he asked himself, feeling a sense of comfort and a sense of fear at the same time. 'So this is the scent of a woman. How very educating,' Finn thought, taking in the scent. Ryoko stirred. Finn said his prayers.
"Mmm," Ryoko moaned. Every mussel in Finn's body tensed.
Ryoko was awoken by Ruri's voice. She dreamt she was in the arms of her father, the day he died. But wait, she was in someone's arms. She opened her eyes and looked around. She felt safe, comfortable, and warm. 'I like this,' She thought. She lifted her head off her mystery man's chest and moved her hair out of her eyes.
"Saotome?" she whispered.
'That's it. I'm dead,' Finn thought. "Yes?" he sounded tired.
"What are you…," Ryoko came to realize that she was laying in a bed, in Finn's arms. "What the…how did we get there?" she jumped up and stood up. Finn sat up and swung his legs over the side.
"I don't know," Finn replied quietly.
"You perverted little…" Ryoko threw up her defences, however her face was very red.
"Hey, I don't know how we ended up like that!" Finn said, desperately trying to save his life.
"Why should I trust you? Its not like this is the first time you've tried to sneak me away to your room," Ryoko said trying to sound disgusted with him.
"Excuse me. I hate to break things up, but the enemy is attacking," Ruri's face appeared in front of them. "All pilots launch immediately,"
"Look, we'll finish this later," Ryoko said and ran towards the door. "Come on!" she called from the hallway. Finn stared at the wall.
"That was educational," he said to himself and ran after her.
"All Aestevalis launching now!" Ryoko reported to the Captain. "All pilots, seek and destroy!"
"What's our strategy?" Hikaru asked.
"Improvise!" Ryoko shouted back
"Once more, into the fray," Finn said to himself, in his suit this time, and he launched in the MAF frame. All around them there were grasshoppers and cruisers firing weapons, most of them in their direction. Finn cranked up his thrust and unfolded the blades under his robot's wrists. He slashed his way through a few grassohoppers and dodged a few missiles. "This is too easy!" he said. Then he game face to face with a Jovian cruiser. "Maybe I spoke too soon," he said, sounding a little worried. A bright yellow light grew in front of him as the cruiser prepared to fire. Finn rocketed up and avoided the blast, and then he charged full speed into the enemy's distortion field. "Come on. Come on," he said, teeth grinding. The blade on the robot's right wrist came slashing down, weakening the field long enough for Finn to push through. He ran the blade along the ship's hull, gutting it like a fish. The ship exploded into a giant fireball, taking a few stray grasshoppers with it.
"Ahhh!" everyone heard Akito scream over the comlink.
"Yo Akito, you ok?" Finn called, slicing through another cruiser.
"There's something wrong with me," Akito said, sounding very shaken.
"He's freaking!" Hikaru said.
"Hold on Akito, I'm…aw shit!" Finn was cut off by a barrage of gravity blast cannons all aimed at him.
"Akito! Just wait five more seconds!" Ryoko called as she flew as fast as her aestevalis would take her towards him. A dark streak appeared out of nowhere and moved Akito out of the way of a missile spray.
"Get back! Its about to get extremely dangerous!" a new voice ordered. "You three return immediately to base!"
The sky exploded into fire as multiple beams of light flew overhead. Finn bugged out, after slashing a few more grasshoppers and returned to the Nadesico. 'I thought I heard the order to pull back. But from who?' he thought. Akito's rescuer turned out to be a blue aestevalis. Seiya drooled as it came to a stop. Finn ran over to Akito.
"You allright young Akito?" Finn asked. Akito was still in his cockpit, breathing heavily.
"There's something wr-wrong with me," he stammered.
"Come on, let's get you out of there." Finn helped Akito out of his Aestivalis. He saw the newcomer open his cockpit hatch and introduce himself.
"I'm Negare Akatsuki. From the Space Battleship Cosmos," he said triumphantly.
"Akatsuki." Finn said to himself. "I know that name. But from where?"
"Come on you two. The Captain wants us to report to the bridge for a debriefing," Akatsuki ordered, more than suggested to Finn and the shaken Akito.
"So what's up?" Finn asked as they walked onto the bridge.
"Yeah, why did you have us pull out like that?" Ryoko asked. Izumi started laughing. "Oh shut up!" Ryoko shouted, seeing what Izumi thought was so funny.
"It would appear the passing through a chulip entails more than simple teleportation…" Inez began. Finn's eyes drooped.
'Must stay…awake.' he thought.
"Yes yes, Inez. But I think we have to think about what this entails for this ship," Prospector interrupted Miss Explanation.
"What it means is that we will be integrated into the UF's far eastern command," Yurika put it simply.
"What? You mean we'll have to work for those idiots?" Finn asked. The crew began to argue amongst themselves. Some protested becoming mercenaries, while others disagreed with the decision to abandon Mars.
"Excuse me. But the enemy is attacking again," Ruri interrupted them.
"All pilots, engage the enemy at once!" Yurika shouted over all the bickering and fighting. The pilots ran out the door. Finn stayed behind and narrowed his eyes on Akatsuki as he ran out. After a minute he followed.
"Stay in blossom formation. Don't let them lure you out!" Ryoko ordered. "Saotome, you're going solo. Can you handle that?"
"Roger that, Commander Subaru," Finn replied and went to seek and destroy. The battle pretty much picked up where it left off. Akito was still pretty shaken. His mind was a blur of images. Mars. The Admiral. Crocus. Gai. He did little more than dodge any grasshoppers that came his way. Finn went out in the ACF this time, with the MAF frame attached to the centre of the back, and was on a rampage of destruction. His gattling cannon literally ripping Jovian cruisers apart. The battle seemed to be going in favour of the Nadesico and her crew. However, the Nadesico itself and Cosmos were left vulnerable, having docked with each other in order to repair the battered Nadesico.
"Akito! Let go of the grasshopper!" Ryoko shouted. Akito was spinning out of control away from the battle.
"Pilot Tenkawa has now entered the moon's shadow. Gravitron energy transfer stopped, " Reported Ruri.
"I'll get him!" Finn called and started to move off in that direction. However, the Jovians were not about to allow Finn to assist his comrade. A screen of grasshopper missiles and gravity blast cannons bombarded him. Finn cried out as his distortion field gave out and the blasts rained down on him. Turning his frame around, he faced the Jovians head on. His cannon firing, he ripped apart any and all Jovian vessels in his sights. "I'm coming buddy!" Finn cranked his thrusters to full. The frame moved at a snail's pace. "Shit! They took out my engines!" Finn slammed his fist down against the arm of his seat.
"Lt. Saotome, the Jovian lines are beginning to fall return to the Nadesico for repairs.The UF ships are taking control of the battle," Yurika said.
"Yeah, and all the credit that goes with it," muttered Finn.
"All aestevalis return to the Nadesico." Yurika ordered. Finn slowly flew his damaged frame towards the Nadesico. Seiya looked ready to have a coronary when he saw the status of the ship.
"What the hell happened?!" Seiya cried. "What did you do? Use yourself as a shield?" Finn jumped down the ladder from the cockpit.
"Do you think you can fix her up?" Finn asked, holding his helmet under his arm.
"I don't know. We haven't had much time to get know her," Seiya said somewhat doubtful.
"You've got all the data you need to fix it. Just give it a shot," Finn pleaded. "I really don't want to have to fix it myself. Believe me, repairing a damaged nuclear reactor by yourself takes a while,"
"Isn't it dangerous to have something like that aboard?"
"Nah, as long as it doesn't meltdown, then mild radiation poisoning's all you should get,"
"Allright kid. Since none of the other units appear damaged, we'll look at yours first," Seiya replied. "Allright men! We're going to fix up the TF frames first! The aestis can wait!" He ordered.
"Yes sir!" came a collective response.
"I love this job," Seiya said smiling. Finn sweatdropped.
Finn reported to the bridge first for a debriefing. After that he was allowed to do whatever he pleased. His stomach growled.
"Ok, ok," he said to his stomach. "I get the message,"
Some people looked at Finn somewhat strangely, and he headed towards the cafeteria.
After having a Mars Bowl, Finn decided to head to the observation deck. When he walked in, the room was dark, a small sliver of the simulated sun could be seen in the horizon. In the centre of the room, on top of the small hill, Finn saw a figure sitting hugging its knees and its head down. Finn ventured forward to see who this figure was. It was difficult to see, but Finn knew immediately who this was.
"Ryoko," he said quietly. She lifted her head up slightly.
"Go away," Ryoko replied, a slight shake in her voice. Finn saw light reflect from a few tears that were running down her cheeks.
"Ryoko I…" Finn began. He walked closer and sat down beside her. "If this is about earlier when we woke up…I'm sorry,"
"Its not about that," Ryoko said, her face buried in her arms.
"Then what is it? Something to do with Tenkawa?" Finn asked boldly after a few silent minutes.
"So what if it does," Ryoko replied. She fell silent, and stayed that way for quite a while. After a long time of just staring at the fake sky, Finn placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"He'll be back," he said quietly. Ryoko looked at him. He wiped a tear off her face gently with his fingers. "Don't worry," Ryoko smiled a little.
"This has never happened to me before," she said, looking at the ground. "I've never worried about anyone except myself. So why am I all of a sudden worried about him?"
"Something going on between you two?"
"Its nothing like that." Ryoko began to revert back to her 'I don't care about anyone' attitude. Finn smirked. "What's so funny?"
"If you say so, Subaru,"
"I..er…" Ryoko struggled to come up with a witty comeback. "Thanks," was all she said.
"For what?" Finn asked.
"For, well…everything I guess. Like how you almost killed yourself by piloting back on Mars. And just now," Ryoko struggled.
"Just doing my job. But you're welcome," Finn replied.
"Hey lover girl, guess who's back," Hikaru's face popped up in a vid window. "Oh," She said, noticing Finn there. "I didn't know you were busy. Jeez, you get over men fast. Or is Saotome going after you on the rebound?" Ryoko blushed.
"Shut up! Its not like that!" Ryoko defended herself.
"Whatever you say, Ryoko," Hikaru said, closing the vidwindow.
"That's the Ryoko I know," Finn laughed as he got up. "I'll see you later," and he left the room. Ryoko just smiled at him as he left.
"I'm back!" Admiral Ubatake shouted.
"Yes, Admiral Ubatake has been assigned to the Nadesico as our chief United Forces leas on."
"Its cool! Really!" the goofy Admiral with a mushroom for a haircut said.
"And I'm Erina Wan. I've been assigned to the Nadesico as your new co-helms woman," said a scary looking woman.
"Yes, that's right," Prospector said. "Damnit, what's the chairman's secretary doing here?"
…To be continued in Act 2
End of Act 1