Vandread: Unsung Hero Second Stage
Disclaimer: I do not own Vandread or Gradius.
Chapter II: New Member of the Family
Inside the hangar office room, Seth sat there reviewing the squadron reports from the last battle. The ace pilot took note of the reports on how the enemy seemed to be evolving. The harvest units seemed to be getting smarter, learning to evade their attacks at just the right moment and counter attack. Not an encouraging proposition.
'So the fuckers are actually getting better? That's going to be problematic.' Seth thought as he examined the clipboard with the report. 'Cecilia and I are fine due to our adaptable piloting skills from Latis and Gradius respectively, but the others…they'll need better training since they're more or less civilians.'
Seth took a gulp of his warm milk before glancing back at the reports.
'Well if the fuckers are getting better that just means we have to step up our game too. I'll have Parfet program the simulators to simulate…Operation Solar Assault…and have G-Team, Hibiki and the Dread Squadron go through them. That'll get them used to intense combat situations and even give them more insight on fighting the Bacterians too. Two birds with one stone.'
"You're up early Seth." A feminine voice said.
"Look who's talking Cecilia." Seth replied without looking up from the report as she walked towards the desk and sat in front of him.
"Well I had a feeling you'd be up. I remember you always being up and ready to train yourself." The Latisian said.
"That's because I had something to prove back then. Anyways you mind giving me a second opinion?"
"Sure I don't mind. Shoot."
"I'm thinking of sending everyone through a new simulation to help prepare against the enemy. Since they're getting better and smarter we need to get better as well."
Cecilia raised an eyebrow. "We?"
The Gradian quickly corrected himself with an amused smile, "I meant the Dread Teams and Hibiki; you and I can handle ourselves." He then handed her the report.
Cecilia grinned in amusement as she quickly went through the report. "Sounds like a good idea to me. How about we put them through the Operation Solar Assault simulation?"
Seth chuckled making Cecilia raise an eyebrow. "What's so funny?" she asked.
"I was thinking of putting them through that very same simulation." Seth replied, "I had it stored on a disk before I left Gradius."
"Really? Latis also gave me one too for me to use on my free time." Cecilia said, "Besides this could kill two birds with one stone. They'd get used to an enemy that adapts and also get training at dealing with the Bacterians."
"Did you read my mind?" Seth asked in amusement.
"Nope. We just happened to have the same idea." Cecilia answered, "Anyways how about we go get breakfast?"
…
Seth and Cecilia arrived in the med bay in time to notice Duero reading the data log from the pod they retrieved from the last battle.
"Curious about our newest guest?" Barnette asked from beside Seth.
"I'll admit that I am curious." Seth answered.
"Well we're about to find out now aren't we?" Cecilia stated.
"According to the logs her name is Misty Cornwell and she is 14 years of age." The doctor said.
Paiway held up her frog puppet, "14 plus the 63 she spent in cold sleep which really makes her 77, Ribbit."
Duero humbly chuckled, "Well then, I stand corrected." Hearing Misty groan the young doctor looked down at her, "She's regaining consciousness."
Now awake Misty opens her crimson red eyes and looks around to see virtually the entire crew staring at her making her clearly nervous. Suddenly her earrings began glowing and projected a hologram of a shapeless yellow creature that looked around the room making obvious aggravated sounds.
Misty said, "Don't worry Q-Chan, I'll be alright." She shivered the moment she sat up, "So cold!"
Duero covered her with a blanket and said, "It's just residual effects from your cold sleep, it'll wear off soon."
Looking over to him Misty's eyes immediately lit up, "Wow you're a really handsome guy."
Duero's expression suddenly changed showing his confusion at the girl's words much to Cecilia's amusement.
'He's never been complimented before.' Cecilia whispered to Seth.
'What do you expect? He's from a planet of sexist morons.' Seth deadpanned.
Bart then spoke up, "Hi there. I heard that you came from a place where men and women live together. Is that true?"
"That's the dumbest question anyone has asked me. Are you a moron?" Misty replied, glaring at the blonde helmsman.
"Yes he's a moron." Seth answered, "He's also freaking insane."
"Hey! That's not true!" Bart exclaimed in denial.
"Many people here can testify to that." Seth countered with many of the crew giggling or outright laughing.
Hibiki placed a hand on the Bart's shoulder as he also laughed at his expense.
Seeing Hibiki, Misty immediately looked back to Duero, "Hey who's he? What's his name?"
"He?" Duero wondered, "You must mean one of those two. If it's not Bart, then you must mean Hibiki."
"Hibiki! What an adorable name!" Misty said aloud catching said guy's attention, "I just knew that one day I would meet someone and it would be love at first sight. The red string of fate you know."
Everyone looked at Hibiki with his face turning red in embarrassment, "No! I have no idea what you're talking about."
Misty giggled, "Wow you're so naïve, but that makes you even cuter. Well just don't stand there come on over and sit next to me."
Dita quickly jumped in front of Hibiki, holding her arms out as if she was shielding him, "No way! He's not going anywhere near you! First off red is the color of bad aliens."
Misty glared at Dita before looking at Duero, "Hey who is she? Is she his girlfriend or something?"
"Yes." Cecilia snickered.
Seth frowned at that as it reminded him of Kara before shaking his head.
Duero seemed confused again, "Girlfriend? I'm not familiar with that term."
"Seriously?" Misty asked before muttering to her pet hologram, "Q-chan these guys are pretty strange."
Jura spoke up, "Well that works from both ways and from our point of view you're pretty strange yourself."
"What kind of place have I gotten myself into this time?" Misty asked herself.
"Well besides from me and my friend here, the people on this ship come from a solar system where men and women live apart from each other. Both genders haven't spoken to each other and have been at war for centuries. If you ask me, I think this battle of the sexes is completely stupid." Seth explained.
"Oh boy." Misty mumbled and then looked at Seth. "You're a Gradian right?"
Seth raised an eyebrow at that. "Yes I am. Name's Seth Reager. This your first time meeting a Gradian?"
"Well yes I think. I've heard stories about your planet's heroics in the galaxy especially against their mortal enemy the Bacterians. The same for their allied planet Latis. And if I'm right your friend beside you…is from Latis?"
"Good eye and I'm Cecilia Daley. What gave us away?" Cecilia asked.
"I've seen photos of your people a long time ago, though I can't remember how long."
"No need to sweat the small details. Just rest up and get comfortable for now since you're more or less part of the family now." Seth said before walking out of the med bay.
"Family? What does he mean by that?" Misty asked Cecilia in confusion.
"Seth considers everyone on the ship his family and values them a lot. As for why his birth parents disowned him and his adopted parents were brutally killed by the sexist Mejerians. Then another one of the crew, a member of his squadron killed herself. All those events messed him up a lot. It actually took a while before everyone on this ship earned his trust."
"That's sad." Misty muttered.
"Yes it is. My advice is that when you gain Seth's trust you do not betray him in anyway because I fear for him if he takes another major emotional hit." Cecilia advised before she left the med bay.
…
Seth walked down the corridors of the ship, his thoughts on the Nirvana's newest arrival.
'That girl definitely has an objective besides escaping from those damned Harvesters but the question is what exactly? The fact that she's been in cryo for so long says a lot.'
Seth was brought out of his thoughts when he slammed face-to-chest style into BC after turning a corner knocking both of them down.
"Sorry. Should have watched where I was going." Seth muttered pushing himself up to his feet before pulling BC up to her feet, surprising the woman with his strength.
"I can stand up myself, thank you very much." BC said with a hint of annoyance.
"I'll let that snarky remark slide only because you showed some gratitude." Seth countered before noticing a glass capsule in the sub-commander's hand. "So what's that?"
"It's the capsule that was in the cryo pod with Misty." BC replied, "The captain and I were going to ask her to help us decode it, but she's resting right now so I'll have to do it on my own."
"Mind if I join you? I need something to do and I'm decent at hacking." Seth said. 'Looks like the answer to my question's inside that capsule.' He thought after.
BC smiled, "Why thank you Seth, I appreciate the help. Never knew you could hack."
Seth shrugged, "You never asked. It's one of my…other talents apart from cooking, hand to hand combat and just being an ace pilot."
'I wonder how many more he has.' BC thought.
…
A fuming Dita sits in the cafeteria with the Ezra as the pregnant bridge bunny hands her a drink.
"Who does she think she is? She comes barging in and hugs Mr. Alien!" Dita ranted.
"If you suddenly woke up in an unfamiliar place shocked and confused, wouldn't you react the same way?" Ezra calmly asked.
"Then how come the first thing she does is hug, Mr. Alien? What's more is that he didn't react in the same way that he does with me." Dita argued.
The gentle bridge bunny nodded, "How awkward. I guess that'd be very shocking indeed."
"Someone's being territorial and possessive." The two turned to see Cecilia standing near the cafeteria entrance.
"No I'm not!" Dita denied.
"Yes you are. Don't try to deny it." Cecilia deadpanned. "Your reaction was as expected. The moment Misty tried to flirt with Hibiki you were quick to keep her away from him. You felt threatened by someone competing for him. That shows that you actually care for him."
"Speaking from experience?" Ezra asked.
"Yes…I actually was in a relationship once with a guy in Latis. We both loved each other and whenever someone tried to flirt with him I beat the crap out of them and my lover did the same to any guy that did the same with me." Cecilia said.
"Well where is he now? Are you still with him?" Dita asked.
Cecilia smiled sadly. "He's in a better place now Dita. He died years ago in an attack on Latis by the Bacterians. It was because of his death that I became a pilot for Latis."
Dita immediately regretted asking that. "Ah…I'm sorry."
"No need. I brought it up anyways." Cecilia waved her off.
Ezra was about to say something when she feels agonizing pain hit her stomach getting Dita and Cecilia's attention.
"Ezra, what's wrong?" Dita asked.
"The baby." The brunette groaned.
"So it's finally time." Cecilia said, "Dita. I'll need your help to get her to the med bay."
Cecilia and Dita both helped get Ezra out of the cafeteria and made their way to the elevator. Along the way they came across Hibiki.
"What's wrong?" he asked noticing Ezra in pain.
Cecilia answered, "Ezra's about to give birth to her baby that's what's up. How about giving us a hand in getting her to the med bay instead of gawking?"
The Vanguard pilot gasps and joins them and the four step into the nearest elevator with Hibiki pressing the floor number that their destination is on.
Duero contacted them as the door closed. "Hibiki, describe Ezra's condition to me."
Before Hibiki could say anything Cecilia walked over to the speaker and pressed the talk button. "She's in pain because she's gone into labor doctor! We're cutting it close as it is right now!"
…
Meanwhile on the bridge BC had put the capsule inside a holder and Seth was typing away trying to hack the device. So far he wasn't getting anywhere and Pyoro voiced that out.
"Access denied. The message is encrypted. In order to access it, we need to know the password! I'm sorry, Seth, Commander."
"Like it wasn't already obvious." Seth said but then suddenly raised his voice in realization. "Son of a…"
"What's it? I thought you said you could decode it." BC asked the Gradian.
"I could if this was a code based security measure. I just realized that this one doesn't require a code to get through its system." Seth explained.
"Really? Then what does it require then?"
"Something else completely. This one is sound activated. It requires a certain sound to activate."
Paiway suddenly showed on the monitors and announced, "Newsflash! Ezra's baby is about to be born!"
Suddenly Pyoro acts all funny then he short circuits, triggering a chain reaction that messed with the systems and shutting down.
"The infection's spreading throughout the entire system! We have one minute until full contamination!" Belvedere informed those in the bridge.
"What the hell did you do Seth?!" BC yelled.
"Unknowingly unleashed a virus on the ship no thanks to you!" Seth yelled back. Then the Nirvana began shaking. "Great! How convenient!" He rushed out of the bridge. BC wasted no time getting to the speakers.
"All hands on deck! The Nirvana's systems are down and we are under attack all hands battle stations immediately! Gascogne, you think you can divert power to the launch platforms?"
"No problem, leave everything to us, you just concentrate on getting rid of that virus, okay?" Gascogne responded.
…
The elevator that Cecilia, Hibiki, Dita and Ezra are in suddenly stops moving with only the emergency lights still on.
"What happened? Why did we stop?" Hibiki wondered, "Hello? Can anyone hear me?"
This time Magno contacted them. "There was some kind of computer virus hidden in the capsule BC and Seth were decoding, it's trying to shut down the ship!" Magno told them, "Has Ezra's condition changed yet?"
"No, unfortunately." Cecilia replied, "Without the elevator working she's going to have to give birth right here."
"Don't be ridiculous." Duero said.
"She's right doctor." Magno began, "We don't have a choice. I'm afraid that baby won't wait! Listen you three do exactly as I tell you."
Cecilia took off her jacket and folded it up before telling Dita to gently lift Ezra's head.
Once Ezra's head was off the ground Cecilia slid her vest under it as a makeshift pillow.
"Thank you." Ezra managed to say.
"You're welcome. Don't worry your baby's going to come out just fine." Cecilia assured her.
Just as Magno began giving them instructions the Nirvana shook with violent force. "Are you kidding me?!" Cecilia groaned, "Now of all times?!"
"Don't worry. Seth, Meia and the others are dealing with that problem. Just focus on now." Magno said.
…
Arriving at the hangar Seth met up with Meia, Jura and his team with the exception of Cecilia.
"Some people are missing." Seth pointed out.
"Yeah I know that. Cecilia, Dita and Hibiki are trapped in one of the elevators with Ezra and it doesn't seem like they're going to be able to restore the power to it." Jura explained.
"What are you saying Jura?" Meia asked.
"Ezra will have to give birth in the elevator." Seth finished as he began walking to the Alpinia.
"That's insane!" Meia argued.
"It doesn't matter where she gives birth squadron leader, we still have to protect this ship or there won't be a home for that child to be born into." Seth said. "Anyways G-Team let's move out!"
Following their team lead, G-Team launched into battle to defend the powerless Nirvana against the enemy attacks. Soon after the other dread teams joined them.
"Darn it why'd they have to show up now of all times." Jura complained, "I really wanted to be there when that baby was born!"
"Deal with the enemy first then you can see the baby!" Seth yelled as he blitzed three enemies and took down in seconds. "G-Team, disperse and defend the Nirvana! Don't let a rust bucket get past you!"
The battle raged on with flashes of laser and missiles being fired from each side. The Dread Teams and Alpinia were doing a good job of holding back the opposition with said opposition intensifying their attacks.
Lisa noticed two new blips show up on her radar and reported, "Seth! I see two enemies coming in from the front!"
Seeing the two massive eye shaped ships approaching Seth narrowed his eyes at them in recognition. Immediately the new enemies began glowing in their center before firing large golden colored chains toward the Nirvana piercing through the ship's arms and anchoring to them.
"What the hell are they doing?" Annette asked.
"Oh hell no! They're not taking away our home on my watch!" Seth yelled, making a beeline for the two ships.
Meia flew in behind him with a group of dreads, "Target the grappling devices they have hooked to the Nirvana. Jura, Barnette take the port-"
Seth cut her off. "No dice on that Meia! Those chains are impervious to damage! We'll have to destroy the fuckers themselves! I know because I've dealt with them before."
"Is that so? Alright! I'll trust you on this Seth. New plan then! Jura, Barnette we'll be hitting that one from the left port side while I go from the right. Seth, you and G-Team take out the other one! Everyone else keep the enemy off us and the Nirvana!" Meia quickly changed her orders.
"Roger!" Barnette replied as her and Jura flew to the port side of one of the ships and began attacking.
"Got it!" Seth replied before giving his team their orders. "Annette, you and Monica attack the enemy from the left, aim for its center. Lisa, you're with me in attacking from the right! Pound that fucker into oblivion!"
The fighters hammered the two ships with relentless fire. It didn't take long before they took out the enemies, causing their chains to break free from the Nirvana. With those two gone the stragglers were easy pickings for the pilots.
…
Due to the explosion outside Cecilia, Dita, Hibiki and Ezra are sent thrashing about inside the elevator.
"Ezra!" Dita gasped in fear.
Luckily for the woman in labor Hibiki used his body to soften the impact. Ezra winced and when Hibiki looked down, he screams at what he saw.
"Hibiki, what's wrong?" Duero asked.
"Water! A whole lot of water!"
"That's because her water's broken!" Cecilia answered for the teen.
"It's called amniotic fluid. It doubles as protection for the baby inside the womb and a lubricant to help it come out of the birth canal more easily."
Cecilia face palmed, "I already know that doctor. Spare us all the lecture please."
Ezra continued moaning in pain making Cecilia keep her focus on her. "Hang in there Ezra. It'll be all over soon." She assured the expectant mother.
"Hey old lady, she's in a lot of pain! What do we do?" Hibiki panicked.
"The baby is on its way. Which one of you is closest to her legs?" Magno said.
"I am." Cecilia replied.
"Then you're elected. Open her legs and when the baby's head comes out, pull it out gently." The pirate leader instructed.
"I can handle the rest Captain. I helped my sister in law when she gave birth to my nephew and niece." Cecilia stated as she got into position and opened the woman's legs.
"Hibiki your jacket please." Cecilia requested. Hibiki sheds his outer jacket and gives it to the Latisian who then uses it as a cushion and to keep the baby warm.
Cecilia said to Ezra, "Okay Ezra, we're almost at the finish line. On the count of three push with all your might. Ready? One, two, three, push!"
Ezra does as the pilot said and pushes, whimpering from the waves of agony assaulting her nerves. Cecilia smiles as she watches the infant's head slowly appear. She reaches under the baby's head to support it.
"I'm scared." Ezra whimpered.
Dita however gave the expectant mother words of encouragement. "Everyone has been waiting for the birth of your baby Ezra. So don't give up I believe in you."
Ezra smiled in response before pushing again.
"Alright. You're doing good Ezra. You're at the end. One final push is all you need."
With one final push and cry, Ezra's baby entered the world of the living. Cecilia wipes off the blood and other nasty gunk covering the baby and the infant takes its first breath. Funny enough her crying echoes through the speakers and restores all of the Nirvana's systems including the power grid. Everyone sighs in relief that the danger has passed.
"Congratulations Ezra, you have a beautiful baby girl." Cecilia said as she handed the baby girl over to her mother. It didn't take long before the newborn was fast asleep.
Ezra smiled warmly. "What do you know? She's already fast asleep."
"A mother's touch has that kind of effect. She's beautiful!" Dita said happily.
"Couldn't agree more." Cecilia added with her own smile.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. We're starting up the elevator again." Parfet said over the intercom system.
Without warning the emergency breaks snap, sending the elevator into a free fall at high-speed lifting the passengers off the ground.
"Parfet! I prefer to be in one piece!" Hibiki screamed. A second later, the elevator stops in its rapid descent.
"I won't allow you to die! I will protect Pyoro 2!" Pyoro vowed
Cecilia sweat dropped at that. 'Seriously Pyoro 2?!'
The robot lifts the elevator to a floor then stops allowing Seth and Gascogne to pry the doors open.
"To think that a baby's voice would save our skin. How magical indeed." Seth said.
"Really Seth. That's all you can come up with?" Cecilia deadpanned.
The Gradian ignored the comment to smile at the mother and baby. "Congratulations on the safe delivery Ezra and welcome to the family little one."
…
Later that day, Seth succeeded in decoding the capsule. It contained a video and Magno orders the bridge bunnies to play it.
In the video was an elderly male scientist and a younger female scientist. The female scientist bore a striking resemblance to Misty.
"My money says that she's Misty's mum." Seth whispered to Cecilia.
"I don't take sucker bets." Cecilia replied.
The elderly male began, "I apologize for any inconvenience you've experienced as a result of our precautions. We chose an infant's voice because we believed the sound of a baby would be a true sign of humanity. I sincerely hope that those who receive this message are thriving healthily and prosperously as human life was meant to be. Since you left your homeland on Earth it has suffered drastic and cataclysmic changes. It was thanks to an interplanetary race known as the Gradians that mankind was able to set off for space to colonize other worlds. The Gradians had arrived on our planet for diplomatic reasons and seeing our dire situation they offered to help mankind out."
Everyone was surprised as they turned to Seth who also had a brief look of disbelief on his face before it became neutral again.
"After we bid farewell to your fleet of frontier ships, mankind began to turn to madness leaving the path of prosperity behind. As you know human genetic distribution as reached the saturation point, in other words human evolution for those of us on Earth is no longer possible. So some of us had to leave, to avoid the trap of evolutionary stagnation to ensure that mankind survived, but now…"
The older man was replaced by a woman who showed them an image of a planet with massive machinery covering it.
"Take a look at this, this is what your beautiful homeland looks like now. The once blue atmosphere of the planet is hidden behind a monstrous web of hideous machinery. With which Luna, Earth's moon was forced out of orbit, as a result the Earth suffered a drastic change in its gravitational field. And in its present atmosphere storms rage continuously the surface is now like a giant acid field washing machine. What few Earthlings survived have created cities within these gears and are holding on for dear life."
"Damn." Cecilia muttered.
The old man picked up again from there. "When you left people thought you were the greatest hope for mankind's survival, but this faded with time. Now those on Earth believe that they are the only true humans and in so doing justified themselves in the right of self-preservation. However, the gene pool was so depleted that attempts at cloning ended in disastrous results. So with this same justification they claimed the right to harvest the organs of other humans, yours for their own self-preservation."
"So that's how the harvest started." Magno said to herself.
The old man continued, "I don't know how or why this madness started, many of those left on Earth began to blame the very Gradians for the cataclysm that befell our old home world. Now they use what is left of the original Peksis to make a fleet of unmanned harvesters to hunt you down and harvest you without mercy."
Seth growled in anger, "Bullshit! While I'm no longer loyal to Gradius even I know that they wouldn't do something that despicable. Those fuckers were pulling shit out of their asses!"
"Which explains why they attacked Gradius." Cecilia added.
The woman picked up once again, "It is clear that the people of Earth have made a horrible mistake, it is in order to stop this insanity that we are sending our messenger to find you. I doubt that I will ever meet you, you who are watching this message, but I beg you to help humans everywhere in their self-respecting dignity and to protect the circle of life that we all entrust to you and also do not believe the lies of the people on Earth about Gradius. There is nothing more we can do for humankind, the rest shall be up to you now. You should never allow the flame of life to be extinguished."
"To protect the circle of life and everything in it." BC muttered.
"We have received their message." Magno said with a disgusted look in her eyes, "Now we must accept this challenge and adopt their commitment in the name of humanity and a world where a child can grow up smiling."
"Well said Captain." Cecilia stated.
"The bastards from Earth started this fight and we're going to finish it." Seth finished.
Chapter 2 End.
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