Afterward
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CHAPTER ONE:
Fall
Located somewhere on the spiral arm of the Milky way galaxy was the planet known as Mejere.
The planet in itself was a rocky, barren and inhospitable world. Efforts were clearly seen, however, to someday make this planet habitable. By all accounts so far it seemed like it was to prosper. Already wide blue oceans were starting to cross the planet and precious few trees were being planted with the hope and promise of one day covering the planet.
By contrast, it's largest orbiting satellite seemed the opposite. Like Mejere, Tarak was barren, inhospitable, and sun-perched. But unlike Mejere there was no efforts for terra forming here- only barren survival.
This was even made more evident by the presence of huge anti-planetary batteries aimed skyward in their positions surrounding Tarak, the largest city of the planet. Outside of Tarak were only precious farms and small communities barely noteworthy on the planet's overall scale.
Until recently both planets had been in a fierce war. Women inhabited Mejere, while men resided on Tarak. All this had changed when the Harvester force was destroyed just inside the Mejere system- forever changing the fate of the system. Since then, a cease-fire was declared that held the promises of a greater peace. Even after the legendary ship, the Nirvana, arrived at a pirate base orbiting Mejere for docking all seemed to lean towards a prosperous future with great promise.
This was, of course, the best of optimism.
It was hardly the case.
Even as historians were making great predictions about the future there were great atrocities in the making. When the final peace accords were signed a great many Mejere and a great many Tarak equally separated themselves from their forces in protest to form their own bands of resistance. Mejere space, once only inhabited by one renegade pirate group was now seemingly infested with malcontents that attacked both Government and Tarak rebel forces. Their ferocity was still as strong as it had been when those same ships were in the Mejere navy- no survivors were left from their attacks.
Tarak was no haven of stability either. Many of the old guard immediately took whatever arms they could and fled into the desert or into deep space. Splinter states formed from the greater part of Tarak and countries and continents were soon locked in bitter war with the Tarak government over the issues of the cease-fire. Some elements wanted nothing more than to unlock the final secrets of nuclear warfare and end the Mejere matter in a rain of hellfire.
There was neither any stability in the fledgling government being formed by both the warring Tarak and Mejere. Debates and disputes were frequent in the new council chambers in a former Mejere colony now set in a LaGrange point between both worlds. There were arguments in the parliament to resources, terms of the treaty, and the still-lingering threat of another Harvester attack. Other issues arose as to the defense of the system and the handling of the Nirvana and it's cargo.
The matter also concerned as to what to do with the pirates on the Nirvana, who had brought so much with them.
But in this time of turmoil, the one speck of hope still lingered within the Nirvana's crew- and she was dying.
Magano Vivan, one of the last of the first generation, was suffering heart problems. Luckily she had lasted out the final war with the Harvesters, but luck had left her there. The biological wizardry of the Mejere could only maintain her for a short while longer, and even that was not a promise.
She was still aboard the Nirvana. There was no question about this- she couldn't be moved even if she wished. The heart pump and support equipment was too large to warrant a transport. The Nirvana would be her deathbed.
Her eyes were closed now, and her still blond hair was set free around the pillow her head rested on.
Standing just inside the room was the Doctor of the ship. Dureo McFile was still the ship's surgeon despite being a man. He was just as devoted to saving a life as any other doctor, and so he was allowed to remain.
Most of the Nirvana's crew was still aboard ship when they heard the news that Magano had collapsed during a celebration. Some new faces had joined the crowd, but the ship was mostly manned by the same crew that had flown the vessel back home.
The only exception to this was BC, who had been absorbed into administration affairs in the new government. Since his cover was blown it seemed little remained of the being once called BC other than his compassion for the Nirvana. But he was too busy with the state of affairs to be constantly beside the dying woman.
Bart was gone too. His father had summoned him back to Tarak when Bart's father was on his own deathbed. Garsus industries was now being run by Bart- who was still learning the ropes of the business. The best he could do was to send a steady supply of mint candies to the Captain- who was too ill to take them.
Everyone else was still here though, to wait for Magano's final passing.
As the Nirvana was still docked beside the asteroid, the feeling of impending sadness was starting to get to the crew even after two weeks of waiting.
Already things were starting to come apart without the old woman's constant wisdom. As it was, Jura was too busy puzzling over new ads in various Mejere magazines for final recognition to fame. Barnette wasn't included in this, of course. She was judged as 'too plain.' They were having arguments over the subject…
There were also some issues regarding the promised 'Tarak-Mejere cohabitation project'. The largest flop was when one Tarak had broken through the crowds to see Dita- and had to be arrested for disruption of the peace. That and most of the Tarak were not as adjusted as the Tarak aboard the Nirvana- many of them were sent back to Tarak after being aboard the Nirvana for little under three days. Two of them were discovered to be Tarak terrorists undercover and had planned on bombing the Nirvana.
This only raised the alert level on the Nirvana- to the point where non-crewmembers were not allowed on ship. Only those registered in the government were allowed aboard- and only the high officials and their guard.
Other problems were also spreading through the ship, slowly and surely growing with the old woman's dying breaths.
---
Drifting outside the large bay window of the Nirvana was a passing Mejere ship. This was the focus of interest to Kahlua as the baby looked out the window at the passing ship.
"I still don't like all this," Muttered Rebecca as she looked at the newspaper on the desk.
Ezra didn't say anything as she handled the baby in her lap, with Kahlua's head turning away and burring itself in her mother's chest.
Rebecca closed the paper and looked out the window, "They're right though. I still think we should just toss the whole idea."
"About what?" Asked Ezra, "Rebecca I think you're still being a little harsh on the Tarak…"
"Well it's their own fault." Muttered Rebecca, "If they weren't so pig-headed and stupid maybe they'd agree to our de….terms…"
Ezra didn't reply and instead looked down at Kahlua.
With Rebecca's arrival the fear of Kahlua's confusion regarding her name had been settled. Pyoro long ago learned not to get anywhere near Kahlua when Rebecca was around.
And with Rebecca now living aboard the Nirvana, it was almost never.
But Rebecca's presence seemed to stir some of the anti-Tarak sentiment aboard the Nirvana. Twice she had managed to make an agreement that she won. The Tarak aboard the Nirvana were almost useless. The only one aboard that the Mejere seemed to completely agree with was Dureo- mostly because Parfait liked him. As for Hibiki…well…arrogance was a very prominent thing to argue about.
"But they only want what's fair," Ezra said finally.
"Yeah, fair for them." Rebecca murmured, "They want us to surrender our medical technology. Why don't they just develop it themselves? Stupid barbarians…"
"But if we're all one nation shouldn't we share?" Ezra asked.
"Pft. They don't deserve it in my opinion." Said Rebecca, "With that kid Hibiki being one of the 'promised Tarak' of the nation I'd say let them rot."
"Rebecca…"
"Can't you see," Asked Rebecca, "Ours is the better way? We don't need the Tarak- all they are is spare parts! We're doing fine on our own…" She crossed her arms and sat back in her seat, "If anything they're the ones who need us."
Ezra was trying to find the right words to counter her statement and found a point, "Parfait and Dureo seem happy…"
"Yeah, but Dureo's an exception." Rebecca replied, "He's a doctor. He's important."
"Hibiki's important to flying the Vandread…"
"Him? Ha! I think the Vanguards would work just fine with a Mejere piloting one! Maybe we should just take that vanguard of his and try combining with a Mejere. I guarantee it will work." Rebecca rebuffed.
Ezra turned her head down to Kahlua as the baby started to cry. "Rebecca, I don't think you should use harsh words like that…"
"Well someone needs to say them." Said Rebecca and stood up, "I can't let everyone just sit around like sheep and do nothing."
She grabbed the paper and said, "I have some work to do. I'll see you later."
"Okay." Replied Ezra and watched Rebecca walk off.
Kahlua started to cry again and Ezra was doing her best to sooth the child. She glanced over at Rebecca, who left the room as if she had never heard the baby cry.
---
Meia calmly walked into the platform with a purpose. Everyday at this same time she would come to the hanger to perform a checkout of her Dread. Usually it didn't take long, especially since it was parked near the middle.
But this time as she opened the door there was sounds coming from her right.
"You're leaving again Mr. Alien?" Dita chirped.
"Yeah," Said Hibiki, "There's another award ceremony I've been invited to on Tarak. They want me over there as soon as possible."
As Meia walked for the elevator Dita chimed, "Can I come this time?"
"Er…it's some sort of special occasion thing. I'm sorry Dita, they won't allow any Mejere in the meeting except for the high-officials. Sorry."
Dita's hurt was seen in her face, but Hibiki leaned forward, "But hey, I'll tell you all about it when I get back, okay?"
"…Okay…" Dita answered.
"Great. Well, gotta go." Hibiki smiled, "I'll be back as soon as I can."
Dita wanted to say something more but was cut off by the hatch closing and the Vanguard powering up. Dita stepped back as the gangway rolled back and the Vanguard stood up, then walked across the hanger to the doorway and disappeared behind the pressure door.
"Mr. Alien…" She muttered and lowered her head, "That's the fifth one he's been to without me…"
Meia listened from her place at the elevator, but clicked the button's ascension key before Dita could notice she had been listening in. Meia watched the little redhead leave the room and considered anything to do to help her.
But then she reached her dread and the notion was put on hold for the moment as she saw her cockpit door wide open.
"Oh no…" She murmured and crossed the dread's hull to see some of the systems missing.
"Gah…" She rasped and sat on the lip of her cockpit, "Souvenir hunters…"
---
In the medical ward, the main sound that was heard was the beeping of Magano's life hanging in the balance.
Dureo McFile silently worked, and beside him and away from her duties was Parfait Barblir.
"It's sad," She said, "To see her like this…"
"It is most disheartening." Replied Dureo and glanced over at Magano. "Heart failure is one of the incurable failures of the human body," said Dureo, "it's a miracle she's even alive right now."
The wheezing of Magano's breath underneath the mask was just barely audible over the beeping of the monitor.
"I just hope that we can all work together without her." Said Parfait, "I know I've heard some complaints…"
"Me too." Said Dureo, "And nobody seems to be doing much about them."
"Yeah, especially with BC…er…off all the time." Parfait said, "She was like a second commander."
"Maybe Meia could offer some insight." Suggested Dureo.
Parfait's eyebrows arched up near her forehead, "Meia's been really quiet lately. I think it's because of what happened with the compatibility mess…"
"Having learned a potential spouse is a terrorist isn't the best of things to wake up to." Said Dureo, "Fortunately she was able to deal with him before his arrest."
Parfait nodded sadly and then said, "Well if it's worth anything the Pexis hasn't been itself again…it seems to be loosing power. Almost as if it's leaving us like Magano is."
"I don't think it would come to that." Said Dureo, "Otherwise there would be some other signs."
"Then what do you think it is?"
"I'm not sure." Said Dureo, "Maybe it has something to do with the destruction of it's counterpart in the harvester fleet."
"I'm thinking that too." Said Parfait and looked at Magano, "But…what will happen to the Nirvana when the Pexis goes?"
Dureo turned back to his instruments, "Well…I can assure you it will be something similar to now…when our Captain is almost dead."
Parfait sighed to herself. It was exactly the kind of answer she did not want to hear.
---
Another night passed and she was still alive.
Things were still hanging around the Nirvana like a red haze- intensifying some of the deterioration already hanging in the air.
A main monitor screen was on in the briefing room where only a single occupant was watching.
The door opened to the room and Meia Gisborn stepped in, lacking the full shoulder gear to her flight suit. This particular duty wasn't for necessity.
"Dita, are you all right?"
Dita turned wearily away from the screen, which was showing a broadcast from Tarak.
Meia approached the younger pilot and looked at the display. "Hibiki, I assume."
"Yes. They'd said he would be presenting something, but I've been waiting for the past five hours…"
Meia looked down at Dita as she rubbed her eyes and Meia asked, "How long have you been awake?"
"…Since…Since four in the morning…"
"Four in the morning?" asked Meia with some shock, "No wonder you're tired. Why don't you get some sleep?"
"I want to see Mr. Alien on television…" Muttered Dita and turned back to the Tv.
Meia's face softened and said, "You're hurting yourself Dita. Why didn't you just ask to see a recording?"
"Because I want to see it live…" She replied.
Meia sighed to go on, "But getting up at four in the morning to see all of it?"
"I want to know when he'll be on." Replied Dita.
"And you do this every time you don't go with him?"
"Yes."
"Do you tell him about it?" asked Meia.
"Yes."
Meia winced and asked, "What does he say about it?"
"Mr. Alien just says 'whatever'." Replied Dita, her attention drowned on the TV.
Meia let out a passing sigh and looked down at the hopeless redhead drowned in the image of the television.
She finally closed her eyes, "Well, just get some sleep after this." Said Meia and turned around to walk for the door.
As she reached it she heard Dita mutter, "I wonder if Mr. Alien will like my cookies this time…"
Meia looked over at the girl again and sighed before leaving her to her dreams.
---
Later that morning news had reached the Nirvana.
"Valore's dead." Said Barnette simply at breakfast.
Meia was seated across from Barnette. Even though the flight commander had already had breakfast earlier that morning, Barnette had just gotten up from her new room elsewhere in the Nirvana.
"How?" Asked Meia with a little shock.
"Fighting pirates. She didn't even get to fight back it seems…her ship was ambushed out on patrol." Barnette replied, "Loyalists."
Meia closed her eyes and stirred the spoon in her tea, "You would have thought that since they're so loyal they would have listened to Grandma when she proclaimed the cease fire."
"Do you think people like that would listen?" Barnette replied, "They're still so blind after all this time."
"Remind you of anyone?" Asked Meia.
"I've changed…I hope." Said Barnette and looked distant.
Meia sipped at her tea and then asked, "So I take it you and Jura still aren't on good terms."
"Not since she accepted yet another contract." Replied Barnette, "I'm starting to wonder if we were friends to begin with."
"People change." Said Meia, "I'm surprised you didn't see that in Jura earlier."
"Well I never thought she would get this popular." Replied Barnette and sighed, "And now she wants to find some man to get pregnant with…."
"Why? She didn't want you to be an ohma?" Asked Meia.
Barnette shook her head, "No. And besides, someone in Mejere thought it would be in fashion to have children the 'normal' way. I suppose there's some success in getting the Mejere and Tarak to integrate- even if it means kidnapping and abduction beside the normal and social way."
Meia smirked, "I suppose it was Jura who started the trend."
"Of course. Who else?"
Meia just nodded and sipped at her tea again.
Barnette rested her head on a fist and pondered, "Maybe I shouldn't be an Ohma or Fahma either…"
"Because of Jura's sake?" asked Meia.
"No. My own." Replied Barnette and looked at Meia, "There has to be more Tarak like Dureo out there. Where do you suppose they are?"
"Probably in some secluded unit somewhere." Said Meia, "The Tarak aren't known for their open mindedness…or Compassion."
Barnette hummed as she nodded, then said, "Well I still think I should still try to find them. I don't care what Mejere fashion thinks."
"So you're saying you want to find a man?" asked Meia.
Barnette hesitated for a moment and then nodded slowly, "I thought men were just arrogant brutes. I guess after being healed by Dureo more than once I guess I changed my mind."
Meia nodded, "I know the feeling."
They were quiet for a moment as Meia sipped her tea, then placed the mug down and asked, "So is that scar healed?"
"Mostly. I'll never forgive that part of Tarak for what happened," Said Barnette and rubbed her side absently, "I was just looking for someone…"
"It shouldn't have happened to anyone." Meia replied, "Especially both of us."
Barnette nodded slowly and then sighed, "When will this end do you think?"
"Honestly?" Asked Meia and sipped at her tea. Then she set it down as Barnette nodded and said, "I think the only way it could get better is if we leave Mejere and Tarak behind."
---
Parfait looked out at the dim Pexis just behind the glass. The blue sphere was now lit with deep blues and mediocre hues- looking like a dim light bulb instead of the luminous sphere it once was.
The Engineer sighed and looked down at the instruments that were analogous to their counterparts in the medical room. Only where the medical bay showed the well-being of humans, the instruments here showed the health of the Pexis. The energy was enough to keep the ship running, but should the Nirvana return to combat status it didn't stand a chance.
She raised her eyebrows in worry and then turned to Pyoro. The NAVI robot had been silent for a week- off-line and slumped against the diagnostics table with a fleet of instruments attached to the NAVI robot. But like the Pexis and the ship's commander the little robot's energy was also dimming. Only to everyone in engineering it seemed as if Pyoro was dead, rather than dying. There had been no response from the robot since he was last seen in Ezra's room looking over Kahlua. Perhaps it was something Rebecca did that shut the robot off- probably hitting the wall to hard when the Mejere threw him.
Parfait had always relied on Pyoro for some indication as to what was wrong with the Pexis. Now she couldn't even talk to Pyoro to get any answers. She had nothing to rely on other than her ingenuity and engineering senses. But since the Pexis was a living being instead of a mechanical creation…
She turned back to consider the mystical energy once again. The knowledge about the Pexis was extremely limited- which gave Parfait an even harder time when she considered what could be wrong. She had tried asking Hibiki or the three pilots what they knew, but they were busy one way or another. The exception was Meia, who only shrugged and said she didn't have any dreams with the Pexis anymore.
Maybe it might have something to do with the fact that none of the Dreads had combined with the Vanguard since the last battle…
She looked at the Pexis with the growing feeling of sadness and concern. Should the Pexis completely vanish, all live on the Nirvana would be in considerable peril. Without the Pexis, life itself couldn't exist aboard the Nirvana for very long. Space was a very cold and inhospitable place. Parfait was praying that the same wouldn't be true for the Nirvana soon.
---
At lunchtime Rebecca was to be found in the Kitchen. She was one of the tallest women on the ship, and her presence was noticeable as she stood behind the counters in the mess halls making something. The room was hot and steamy already from some other items being cooked for the rest of the ship.
But for the moment the room was empty except for Rebecca, who was minding her own business.
That changed as Ezra walked in.
"Rebecca? Oh, here you are," said the smaller brown-hared woman as the door opened, "Can I talk to you?"
"I'm a little busy," said Rebecca, "But go ahead. What is it?"
"Well…" Said Ezra with pause, "I wanted to talk to you about Kahlua."
"What about her?" Replied Rebecca.
"…I was wondering if…well…she should go to school."
"At this early of an age?" Asked Rebecca, "Don't you think it's a little too early?"
"Well," Ezra said, "We need to start teaching her things. She's growing up, Rebecca. In a few months she'll be a year old."
"I think you're worrying too much about it. She'll be fine on her own." Said Rebecca.
This gave Ezra pause, and then she repeated, "On her own?"
"Yeah." Replied Rebecca as she looked for something, "We'll wait a while, or we'll just teach her ourselves."
Ezra shook her head, "I'm not the best teacher Rebecca…Kahlua needs to learn from someone. I would have asked Pyoro to do it, but-"
"No. I'm not letting that freak robot near Kahlua." Rebecca replied.
"But someone needs to teach her." Said Ezra, "Especially how to crawl…she can't move on her own as it is."
"I'm sure you'll do fine teaching her all that." Said Rebecca.
Ezra raised her head, "Rebecca, we need to raise Kahlua together. I can't take care of her all by myself-"
"Ezra, I'm busy half the time with other affairs!" Replied Rebecca and continued with her cooking, "Now that Magano's sick and BC's out I have to take care of the base and the personnel. It's not as easy as it sounds."
"But you have to have some kind of off time to take care of her," Said Ezra and then asked, "What do you do in your spare time?" Rebecca didn't reply, and Ezra pressed, "Well?"
"I don't have any spare time Ezra," Said Rebecca.
"That's not true." Said Ezra, "I know, because I checked your hours. You spend around eight hours doing other things. What are you doing?"
"I told you, working!" Said Rebecca.
"Working on what?" Asked Ezra.
Rebecca didn't say for a moment, then said, "I'm not at liberty to discuss that."
Ezra hesitated and looked at the ground, summing her courage up in a fist.
"Well…" She stammered, "If…If you're too busy to take care of Kahlua then…then you shouldn't be her Fahma."
Rebecca turned around now, "How dare you even suggest that! I love Kahlua as much as you do Ezra-"
"You don't show it." Said Ezra, "You're always busy!"
"Ezra, just calm down and-"
"No! I won't!" Ezra shook her head, "I'm taking care of Kahlua on my own now…" She wanted to say more, but she couldn't find anything to say. So she spun, crying, and ran from the kitchen.
Rebecca watched the door close with an argument on her tongue, but then she dismissed it and turned around to her work and other things on her mind. Besides, Ezra wasn't strong enough to do anything rash- especially with Kahlua.
---
At first Dureo thought he was hearing things, but when he looked up from his work to see Ezra crying at Magano's bedside he dismissed any doubt.
"Are you all right?" asked Dureo as he approached Ezra.
The woman was crying too hard to hear him, but looked up as Dureo's hand came to her back.
"Are you all right?" He repeated.
"No I…" She said and then wiped an eye, "Is…Is the Captain awake?"
"No. She hasn't woken up in some time." Said Dureo.
"I…I need to talk to her…badly."
Dureo's face softened, "I'm sorry, but that isn't possible right now." He blinked to consider her and then asked, "Is there anything I can do to help, though?"
"No…No…" Replied Ezra and continued to wipe her eyes of tears, "It's about Kahlua…"
"Is she sick?"
"No…It's…she…." Ezra sobbed again and lowered her head to the bed.
Dureo sighed and patted her back softly.
"I'll call Meia."
"No," Murmured Ezra, "I need to do this on my own…"
"Do what?" Asked Dureo softly.
But then the instruments beeped and the old woman's eyes peeked open, "Ez….ra…."
"Ah- Commander!" Shrilled Ezra and took the old woman's hand, "I need your help!"
"Ez..r.a…." Muttered the Captain, and moved her fingers about the other girl's hand.
Dureo on the other hand spun to the instruments.
The Captain seized up and her other hand went to her chest in pain.
"Her heart is failing." Dureo observed and stabbed the communications button, "All hands this is medical bay. All Medical personnel to the medical bay. The Captain is dying."
After saying this the Doctor moved to the instruments he had available and Ezra whispered, "I need your help captain I don't know what to do!"
"Ezra…" The Captain rasped, "I'm…sorry I can't….help you…"
Ezra grasped the captain's hand harder, "I can't take care of Kahlua alone…Rebecca won't help me! What should I do?"
The captain winced in pain again and rasped, "Rebecca…??"
Ezra shook her head, "She won't help me!"
By now medical teams had arrived and were rushing to the scene. Following them were Dita, Meia, and Barnette.
Leading the nurses was Paiway, and was quick to get the doctor what he needed.
He didn't move Ezra away from the Captain, but started issuing orders over the troubled woman.
"Captain…" Meia said, then, "Magano…."
"She's not going to last-" Barnette realized.
Dita, with bags under her eyes and weariness in her stance was wide-eyed and intense. "No…" She murmured.
Next to enter was Parfait followed by Gasconge, who pulled herself out of a mess down in Reg central when the news had been heard. Somewhere outside were the two parts to an argument on hold- stopped for the Captain's sake.
Parfait watched with the others as Magano seized up again, her breath lodged in her throat.
"Please help me!" Called Ezra.
Magano's hand squeezed Ezra's, and in that moment she turned her head to the troubled woman and managed a smile.
Ezra's saddened face softened with confusion.
"You'll do fine…Ezra…as long as you do your best….Trust-" Spoke the old woman.
Then she seized up again and coughed before falling silent on the bed.
Dureo looked at the monitor's flat line, and only the harsh shrilling of Magano's passing lingered in the room.
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