Vandread Fanfic - Slayer of God Duology Part 2: Together Forever
Prologue - Without You...
Rating - G / Romance / Sci-Fi
Time setting - Several years after the end of the Second Stage
I don't wanna love nobody else
I don't wanna find somebody new
I don't wanna live without your love
I just wanna live my life with you
Chicago - I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love
Planet Terra, a graveyard near the town of Gale...
The tombstone on the grave reads:
HERE LIES SARA NATHAN XERO, BELOVED WIFE AND CARING MOTHER. MAY HER SOUL REST HERE IN PEACE.
A man dressed in black stood beside the grave for hours, grieving over the death of his wife. And he still blaming himself about it.
"Sara..."
Then, he recalled the events happened two days ago...
"Sara, please hold on. The doctor will arrive soon."
Sara coughed. She turned to Rick and said,
"I'm sorry Rick...I don't think I can fight it any longer..."
Aya, who is standing on the other side of the bed said,
"Mom, please hold on a little longer..."
Sara turned at her daughter, smiling. Then, she caressed her face, wiping her tears.
"Aya, you have grown into a beautiful woman. I'm happy that I could watch you grow up all these years."
"Mom..."
"Sara, don't you talk like that. I'm sure you'll be okay soon."
Sara held Rick's hand, tightly. Rick did the same.
"Rick, promise me. Promise me you will go on without me. I want you to promise..."
"I...I don't think I can...living without you...I just can't bear it..."
"Rick, I'm sure you can do it. Please, promise me..."
"I...I promise..." Rick gave a hesitant reply.
"Aya, I want you to listen to your father from now on. Do as he says."
"Mom, I promise. Don't worry about it."
Suddenly she gasped.
"Sara!"
"Mom!"
"My time has come...Rick...I...LOVE...YOU..."
Then, her eyes closed and her breathing stopped. Aya broke down and cry. Rick stared at Sara's lifeless body in disbelief. Then, he let out a
shout.
"WHY? WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE HER? WHY NOT ME? I CAN'T ACCEPT THIS! I CAAN'T!!!"
Aya approached her father.
"Dad, please calm down..."
"How can I? HOW CAN I CALM DOWN AT A TIME LIKE THIS? DAMMIT!!"
"Dad, look. Mom is smiling..."
Rick looked at Sara. She's smiling as she was having a sweet dream.
"Sara..."
Planet Mejale, lightyears away from Terra...
A boy was having his dinner when he suddenly saw tears flowing on his mother's face.
"Mom, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
"No...It's nothing. Finish your dinner. Then we can go out and buy that Vanguard action figure you always wanted."
"Yay! Mom, you're the best!"
The boy then ate his dinner quickly. His mother forced a smile, trying to hide the sudden pain she felt.
(What is this pain I'm feeling? It was like a part of me is taken away...)
Back at Terra...
Aya has been waiting for his father for hours now. She too, was distraught by her mother's death. But his father was acting like he's the only
one that lost her.
(Dad, you promised Mom you're going to move on. But why you still...)
She looked up to the sky. Clouds started to darkened and there is only one answer. She ran up to Rick and said,
"Dad, it's going to rain soon. We better get back now."
Rick turned to his daughter.
"You go on, Aya. I'm going to be here a little longer."
"But..." Aya stammered.
"No 'buts'. I want you to go back and fix that aircar. I'll come by later."
"Okay..." she reluctantly agreed. With that, she ran back to town, leaving her father alone in the graveyard.
"Sara, if there's something I could do, then you'll..."
Then he heard a familiar voice. A voice he hasn't heard for years.
"Rick, stop blaming yourself."
"Joe..?"
"Aye, it's me alright."
"I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. I..."
"Stop it already, dammit! Sara will never blame you. You've done your best to fulfill your promise. Furthermore, your daughter needs your
support right now. She's suffering too, you know? Now, I'll take care of Sara. Don't worry a thing, okay?"
Rick smiled.
"Thanks Joe. Tell Sara that I will take care of Aya no matter what."
"I'll tell her that. Goodbye Rick. Take care..."
Then, the wind blew Rick's flowing hair. A short while later, it started to rain. He smiled again.
"Goodbye, Sara. Take care."
Then, he turned around and walked back to Gale.
Mejale revisited...
The little boy with blue hair was looking around inside the toy store at the thing he wanted most: Vanguard action figure. His mother shouted from afar.
"Axel! Hurry up!"
"Okay, okay. Let's see...darn! I like them all! Umm...duh! I can't decide."
His mother walked up at him.
"Axel, which one?"
"Mom, I can't decide."
"Okay, I'll decide for you."
She closed her eyes and randomly picked a box. She gave it to her son.
"Here. Do you like it?"
His son looked at the box in disbelief.
"WOW!! Awesome. A Vanguard X!! The Vanguard that never exist!"
The words struck her.
"Van...guard X?"
"Thanks mom!"
Axel hugged and kissed her on the cheek. Her eyes blinked a few times when she saw the toy inside the transparent box. It's a white mech with feather like wings. It was labeled: Vanguard X - The most powerful of all Vanguards.
Terra,(duh!) the town of Gale...
Rick entered the workshop and saw Aya was fixing the aircar.
"Aya, I'm back!"
"Dad, I just can't figure this thing out. Where I should put this?"
"Let's see...Oh, this thing is a bit complex for you to do. Let me do it."
Rick took of his long, black coat and tied his long hair to the back. He took a spanner and said,
"Now, watch the master in action."
His daughter grinned.
"The master? Yeah, right."
After a few hours...
"Phew. There. All done. Start the engine, Aya."
Aya pushed the ignition button and the engine roared.
"Dad, its working!!"
"HAHAHA! IT'S ALIVE!!"
"Dad, don't make that 'mad scientist' look again. It scares me."
"Sorry about that. It took a long time. But we managed to fix it anyway."
"Dad, I'm beat. Can we rest?"
"Yeah, sure. Aya, can you bring me a soda?"
Aya opened a container nearby and took out a can drink. She then threw it at Rick.
"Here, catch."
"Gotcha!"
Rick caught the can with his left hand. He was about to opened the can when he heard an explosion. This has caused a vibration in the
workshop. Aya lost her balance and fell.
"Ouch. What's that?"
"Dunno. Come on, follow me."
Rick and Aya ran towards the source of the explosion. People were running around, fleeing for their lives. Rick was shocked when he saw a
giant spaceship was hovering over the town.
(I...saw that before. Could it be..?)
"Dad, look. It's Uncle Ray!"
"Huh? Raymond?"
Raymond's lower body was under a large boulder. Rick and Aya ran to him.
"Raymond!"
"Urgghh. Rick, Aya. Escape while you can. Those invaders...they've returned..."
"Uncle Ray..."
"Tch. Stop this nonsense! We are not leaving you here!!"
Rick tried to lift the boulder but to no avail.
"Rick, leave me..."
"STOP...BABBLING!! GUWAAHHH!!"
With all his might, he managed to lift the boulder. Aya looked at him in awe.
"Aya, stop gawking! Pull him out of there! I can't hold much longer!!"
Aya pulled Raymond out and Rick released the boulder. It crashed to the ground with loud thud.
"Dad, I never knew you were that strong."
"Rick, since when..."
"Hey, cut the chatter okay? We've gotta get out of here! Aya, you take Raymond back to the workshop and start the aircar.
"Dad, what about you?"
"I'm gonna run back home. There's something that just can't be left behind. I'll come by later."
With that, Rick ran back to his home.
"Dad!!"
"Don't worry, Aya. He'll be fine. He knows what he's doing."
"Yeah. Guess so. Uncle Ray, can you run?"
"I can try. Lead the way."
Rick entered the house and makes his way to his room. He took out his black 'Flying V' guitar and slings it on his back. He was about to leave when he saw a picture. A picture of him and Sara. He took out the photo from its frame and slips it into his pocket. Then, he ran out of the
house. To his shock, a dozen of troops in metal suit surrounded him. Then, one of them said,
"SURRENDER, SLAYER OF GOD."
Suddenly Rick remembered. The one that called him 'slayer of god'. He still didn't know what it means. And he doesn't want to know about it.
At least for now.
"I have better things to do than hanging around with you guys."
"THEN WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE YOU IN BY FORCE."
The troops closed in. Rick grinned.
"Heh. Then I have to bust my way out by force."
With that, Rick did a round house kick, hitting every one of the troops around him. Rick took a few steps backward.
"I didn't do this for quite some time. LIGHTNING DOME!"
An electrical cocoon formed around the troops as they struggled to their feet.
"I WILL NOT LET YOU HARM INNOCENT LIVES ANY LONGER! PREPARE TO BE FRIED!!"
At Rick's command, an electrical blast came from the sky and engulfed the invading troops, giving them the new meaning of 'frying death'.
Aya and Raymond were waiting in the aircar.
"Dad, please hurry..."
"Rick, come on..."
They saw Rick running towards them. He jumped into the backseat next to Raymond.
"Okay. Aya, let's get outta here."
Aya raised an eyebrow.
"You want me to drive?"
"Yeah, is there a problem?"
"No, not at all."
"Good. Go for the mountains."
"The mountains? Rick, are you nuts?" Raymond protested.
"Don't worry. I have and 'old friend' that could help us out."
"Old...friend?"
"Trust me, Raymond. Oh yeah, make sure you have your seatbelt on."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"You'll see. Aya, let's get going."
"Yes sir!"
Aya pushed the accelerator and the aircar moves forward at breathtaking speed. Raymond screamed at the top of his lungs.
"WOOOOOOOO!!"
Rick grinned.
"See? Now, let's enjoy the ride, shall we?"
Mejale yet again...
Axel woke up from his sleep, gasping for air. His mother who is beside him hugged her son.
"I...I have the same dream..."
"There, it's alright now. Tell me, what's this dream that's bothering you so much."
"I was alone in the darkness, calling out for you. Then, there's a white, warm light and I saw this man in white and I couldn't see his face.
But I felt there is some kind of connection between us..."
His mother stared at him, without blinking. Axel continued,
"He picked me up and hugs me. He smiled and said 'Take care of your mother'. Then he left me, letting himself consumed by the darkness..."
"...Rick..." his mother mumbled.
"Hmm? You said something, mom?"
"Huh? No. It's nothing. Get back to sleep, okay?"
"Yeah. Guess so."
Terra, plains between Gale and the mountains...
"DAD! THEY'RE GAINING ON US!!"
"Rick, you have any ideas?"
"Well, kind of. Aya, keep on going. I'm gonna stall them."
"WHAT? DAD, THAT'S SUICIDE!!"
"RICK!! YOU'RE REALLY OUT OF YOUR MIND!!"
Rick smiled. He undoes the seatbelt and stood up, facing their pursuers.
"Raymond, should anything happen to me, take care of Aya for me, will you?"
"Dad, what are you going to do..?"
"Rick..."
"Don't worry. I'm not getting myself killed."
With that, he charged up his powers and an electrical energy coursing around him, to Aya and Raymond's astonishment. His black clothes turn into white as he leapt off and speeds towards the enemies, leaving a trail of white streak. Aya and Raymond blinked a few times.
"Dad?"
"I thought I knew all about that guy. C'mon Aya, we better do as he says."
"Uh...yeah..."
Aya and Raymond arrived at the wide area that is surrounded by mountains.
"We're finally here, Uncle Ray."
"Yeah. We better wait for your father here. Huh? What's that?"
Standing before them from a distance is a white mech. Aya and Raymond take a closer look on it.
"What...is this..?"
"This is probably the 'old friend' your father talked about."
"Dad must have used this to return here ten years ago."
"He told you that?"
Aya nodded.
"Yeah. Nothing more."
Suddenly the mech bowed and extends an arm. Aya and Raymond were perplexed. Aya walked closer and said,
"You...want us to get in?"
It hummed in agreement.
"I understand. You want to help my dad, isn't it?"
"Aya, you know what this thing said?"
"Yeah, I'm surprised myself."
"Then we better help Rick then."
"Okay, we're going in."
They stepped into its palm and the arm carried them up to the cockpit.
Rick already crushed the entire army battalion when he is confronted by more than a dozen fighters.
"Hey, this is unfair!!"
The fighters started firing at him and he is forced to dodge all the attacks.
"Shoot!! You've got to be kidding me!!"
Suddenly, a stroke of white flashed past the fighters. A short while later, they explode into pieces. Rick smiled when the white mech landed in
front of him.
"What took you? Are you getting rusty or something?"
It hummed.
"Okay, okay. It's my fault for didn't give you proper maintenance."
The hatch of the cockpit opened and Aya waved at him.
"Dad, c'mon. Let's get outta here."
"Good. You've made it. Where's Raymond?"
"I'm here, Rick."
Rick jumped into the cockpit.
"Okay buddy. Do as the lady says."
"DAD!!"
"Just kidding, dear. Okay, let me pilot this baby."
"Dad, we're cramped like hell here."
"Well, get used to it. Here we go!!"
The Vanguard X spread its wings and flew into the air, leaving the pursuers helpless.
The Vanguard X entered the orbit. Rick saw many giant sized space ships waiting for him. Then he saw a large object.
"Wait. That's not a ship..."
"Then what is it, Rick?"
"It's...oh no!!"
"Dad, what's wrong?"
"THAT'S A WEAPON!! THEY INTEND TO DESTROY TERRA!!"
A large energy ball is formed before the weapon. The weapon was ready to open fire.
Rick screamed.
"NOOOOO!!"
Aya looked outside and let out a shout.
"MOM!!"
Raymond stammered and covered himself, couldn't bear to watch.
"This...shouldn't be happening..."
Then, there's large explosion as the energy from the weapon hits the surface of the planet.
Terra already in pieces as Rick prepares to engage the enemy.
"DAMN YOU!! DAMN YOU ALL!!"
"Rick, calm down. We're toast if we take them now."
"Dad, he's right. We should get away as far as possible."
Rick hung his head low.
"Yeah. You're right. But where we should go?"
Rick checked all possible destinations stored in the database. To his dismay, there are only two possible places available, Tarark and Mejale.
"Tarark and Mejale? Great. Just great."
"Dad, you went there before?"
"Nope. But I have friends there."
"Then we should go to one of these planets."
"Yeah. Hey buddy, set to auto pilot and head for Tarark."
The Vanguard X acknowledged the command and flies away from the remains of Terra and entered into hyperspace.
Aya muttered as she took last look at her home.
"Goodbye mom..."
Lately my life's been going down
I don't know what is going on with me
Body's aching everywhere
And when I speak, the words don't come out right
Friends are telling me I ain't the same
That I'm starting to lose control
Can't remember who I used to be
Or who I wished I could become
Masaki Nomiyama - Let Me Be from Gensoumaden Saiyuki