Chapter 10 The Decisions part 1

Days past on the nirvana and each day Nix and Meia could be found working on battle plans. Sometimes Nix was with Duelo having his right arm wrapped. Even Nix and Hibiki seem to be getting along. As they worked on their ships, they talked about their lives and backgrounds.

Even so what was different was Nix and men seemed finally be accepted into the crew. Each one the crew saw in a good way. Hibiki the brave but grumpy warrior,Duelo the wise doctor,Nix the well spoken leader and ofcourse Bart was well, just Bart. It seemed the crew was finally getting along that is until now.

In the supply hold of the Nirvana Dita was leading Hibiki through the darkened storage room to gather supplies for a special event. After handing him a box of potatoes, she continued walking before stopping at a crate of carrots. "This will do" she exclaimed in her usual cheery voice handing him the box.

"Hurry up" Hibiki groaned as the box became slightly heavier in his arms. Dita looked over her shoulder and apologized. "Oh sorry, that must be getting heavy for you" she said. With this Hibiki straightened himself. "Its fine,I can manage" he said protecting his pride while still struggling to carry the boxes.

Dita giggled "That's just like you Mr. Alien you're so dependable" she smiled reaching down to grab another crate of carrots. She set it on top of the other crate then. "Here take this these too" dita said sweetly piling the two more boxes on top of the tower of boxes Hibiki already had in his arms.

Just as Dita turned around she spotted Paiway on the other side of the shelf where she had just take a box from. "What are you two doing here all alone?" the young nurse asked in a grim, suspicious voice. In a nervous tone Dita replied. "Nothing really, We were just getting some supplies that's all".

Paiway narrowed her eyes. "You look really suspicious to me" paiway said staring at the two with her child like eye's. Dita's went red and she nervously said "It has nothing to do with you Paiway". Groaning Paiway then asked "Hey Dita. You do know what day it is right?"

"Day?" Dita mimicked as she placed her hand around her chin as she thought. "I don't know"she said in her soft tone. After a few seconds of disbelief Paiway sighed then said in an annoyed voice. "Fine" and she left. As the young nurse left Hibiki's was really confused. "I really don't get her"he said still trying to hold the tower of boxes.

Meanwhile at the bridge Parfet was looking through her telescope and zeroed in on Mejere the women's home planet. "I see it, I see it" she said excitedly.

Captain Magno looked down to the engineer. "So how far have we gotten on our journey" said the captain awaiting good news. Parfet thought for a second before speaking. Then with an enthusiastic voice said "I'd say about half way". The captain sighed,This was not the news she wanted.

BC looked at the captain and said "If we've gotten this far that means that the messages we sent must have arrived by now".

The captain nodded. But then Parfet turned around to look at the sub commander and said "Well then again, it could be that the harvest is already over and everyone is already dead" she said making it sound like a joke.

However The bridge crew didn't seem to see that as a joke. Leaving Parfet laughing nervously as she stood in the centre of the bridge as they all stared at her. It was during this, that Nix was being strapped up again by Duelo. "You should leave your ship alone for a while, your doing you arm harm with all this maintenance and upgrading" said Duelo in his calm voice.

"I'm fine doc, I need to finish in case" but Nix was cut off by the pain in his right arm. "You've hurt badly with all this work you've been doing, you must rest" said Duelo putting his equipment away. "Is that an order doc?" asked Nix painful holding his right arm.

"Yes if we were on our planet, I would have called you not fit for duty" Duelo said. Then he faced Nix and smiled his smile. "But since were not, I have to rely on your common sense to tell you when to stop" he said. Nix nodded. "Thanks doc" he said walking out the infirmary.

But it was as Nix walked his right arm seem to hurt more and more. "I'm thinking about it too much" Nix thought holding it. "I'll have to do something to take my mind off it" he said walking on.

Meanwhile in the women's quarters Dita was carrying the crate of carrots she handed to Hibiki earlier and was leading him towards the kitchen. "Hurry up Mr. Alien" she cheered as she turned around to look at Hibiki struggling.

"I'm coming. You know you're really annoying sometimes" Hibiki said trying to look around the crates he was carrying as they wobbled like jelly. Dita was already at the end of the hall when she called back to him. "I'll be in the kitchen hurry up".

Hibiki sighed as she saw her run ahead."I hate this" he thought when suddenly he noticed one of the door slight open, curiously he peeked inside.

In the room was Celtic slipping out of her bear costume. She was a worker on the bridge and seemed to avoid being touched by the men including nix who called her stuffy as he believed that is what is is like inside the costume.

However what hibiki did not noticie was the top box falling off and activating the motion sensor on the door. It flew open sending Hibiki tumbling in right into Celtic. She screamed running out only in her underclothes holding her bear suit in her hands as she ran. Seeing what happened Hibiki quickly retreated to the safety of the kitchen.

Finally arriving after his accident Hibiki dropped the crates in the kitchen and Dita began to work. After a while Hibiki noticed her crying. "Oh why are you crying now?" he moaned. But she kept crying. "It's ..the oni" but before Dita could go on Hibiki freaked out ."Why are crying tell me!" He shouted. "It the..." Dita tried to speak but her crying stopped her.

As the two had this banter, they did not notice the sly Paiway recording them from the kitchen door. "I knew it" she thought running off to the meeting room where a meeting was already under way.

"He was peeping on me! I wear these costume to keep men from touching me. I don't think they should be allowed to roam so freely" shouted Celia at the other women. The women seemed more shocked at seeing Celia in person rather then her that's when Paiway showed up.

"You all have to see this" she said showing them all the recording she took of Hibiki and Dita arguing in silence for some reason. "See the men are being mean to Dita,we gotta stop them" said Paiway. At this the women seemed to rally. "I select Barnette to decide the punishment for the men" announced Jura. The women agreed,well apart from one who didn't seem to care.

"Meia, are you on the men's side or ours?" said Barnette feeling her leader position. " I don't take sides" said Meia calmly looking at barnette who stared at her as she sat there."But if your going to succeed, you can't let your feeling get the better of you" Meia said sitting back in her chair.

With those wise words Barnette rallied the women and they began their man hunt.

But they left in such a rush that they did not notice Nix hiding beside the door listening to them. "Hmph typical, I better see what's going on here" he thought entering the meeting room.

As he entered, Meia was getting up from her chair. "So I see your squads are having a merry old time hunting men" Nix said looking at her as she stood. "It wasn't my idea before you say anything dark heart" she replied angrily.

"Then tell me, why is it we're being hunted?" asked Nix in his cold way. Meia explained to Nix about the video of Hibiki and Dita.

"I see, I shall have to investigate this matter myself "he said turning to leave. "Good luck dark heart" she faced her again,he knew that smirk was a challenge."If you think your crew can catch me, your wrong" Nix said strongly. Meia just huffed at him. "I'm not doubting you, just be on your guard, there determined" she warned.

Nix nodded and stealthy left the room.

Meanwhile Hibiki was now being chased all over the ship by a hunting party. "What did I do to deserve this?" He thought running on. In the infirmary Duelo was trying his best not to laugh at Bart who was had dressed up as a women. Calming he was trying to fit in with the women.

"You told me that stupid story about the man with long hair and now look at me" moaned Bart. Duelo sighed at the mindless man. "The story was about fitting in with time Bart, not changing yourself" smiled the doctor.

Then to the two's surprise Hibiki ran into the infirmary. He stopped when he saw Bart's new look. He hesitated ready to comment but then continued running. "What was that all about?" ask Bart flicking his long fake blonde wig. Duelo shrugged but then the women showed up with guns. "Things have changed" said barnette pointing her gun at them. With that the two men surrendered.

Meanwhile Hibiki had ran to his vanguard in the hanger. "I'm not staying here another minute" he said as he got in and blasted off into space.

While this was all going on Meia, BC, Gascongne,Dita and the captain watched the action from a Monitor in the captain's meeting room. "We have to help"cried Dita, but the other women knew they could not.

"I can't believe it" said Meia shocked at the crews actions. BC just sighed as she watched. "Well it seems the man are heading for a ruff time" said Gascongne relaxing in her chair as they all watched Bart and Duelo lead to their cells by the hunting parties. But the captain just smiled.

"Captain how can you be so happy at a time like this?" asked Meia noticing the captain smile. "Hmm I just know one man who won't be caught" she said looking towards the meeting door with an old grin. They all looked to see."Mr Dark heart" smiled Dita with hope in her eyes.

In his arms Nix held the guard who was supposed to be guarding the meeting room door. "I'm very sorry captain" Nix said softly as he entered."She would not let me in,so i had to use

alternative methods. She will wake up within a few minutes "said Nix softly placing the guard on the meeting room table.

The captain shook her head."Hmm so what have you found dark heart?" said the captain looking at him with her old eyes. Nix produced an onion from his pocket. "This seems to be our problem starter captain" he said showing them. "I see" said the captain, she knew all about this.

"Who would have thought a vegetable could cause so much trouble" smiled Gascongne taking it off Nix. "I have more bad news" said captain looking at her monitor . Nix looked at her with his cold eyes. "It's soldier, isn't it" said Nix strongly, the captain nodded.

"Yes he left in quite a rage" she said showing them all the video on the meeting rooms monitor. "Should I give chase?" asked Meia. "No, it is his choice to he wishes to return he will" said the captain softly, but Nix had other plans.

"If it is all right with you captain, I will flee too" said Nix shocking everyone expect the captain who just smiled. She loved his crazy idea's. "Perhaps then I will catch up to Hibiki" Nix said turning his back to them. "I'm glad to see you know I cannot aid you" the captain said strenly.

"It is my choice to flee captian, I ask for you not to help me. Just assure me, my fellow men will not be harmed" Nix said looking at her over his shoulder. "I can not make promises" smiled the captain. Nix smirked back."Of course captain" he said leaving the room.

Meanwhile Hibiki was now on another flagship, where men and women lived together. "There It will get better soon" said a women as she tied a cloth around Hibiki hurt hand. "Um" Hibiki said babbling, he seemed to have fallen for the women that help him. "By the way the names Sara" she smiled. "I'm Ur um Hibiki" Hibiki said slowly stunned by his new found love.

During his time on the ship Hibiki felt happiness and unity, perhaps what he saw on the video was true. Maybe Men and women could live together.

Meanwhile back in space Nix had just escaped the ship in his van defender. "Computer search for any heat signals" he said tapping the computer controls. "I need to find our fleeing troop" he continued to say looking back at the nirvana as it grew smaller and smaller.

Meanwhile on the other flag ship another harvester flag ship was attacking. Sara was helping Hibiki ready his vanguard to launch. "OK your all set" she said, Hibiki smiled at her, but then bang!

Hibiki opened his eyes as he lay on the floor. A harvester ship had shot through the ship destroying a hanger wall and under it lay Sara. "Sara Sara!" shouted Hibiki fanatically trying to wake her, but she was gone.

Hibiki froze. "Are we really that fragile?" he said with anger and sadness in his voice.

It was quite a trip, but finally Nix picked up a signal. He looked ahead to see the other flag ship, he then looked to his other side ."What a harvester's flag ship here!" He said shocked. Suddenly the harvester's flag ship fired a huge laser destroying the other flag ship in seconds.

"Ah that power" said Nix shocked as he watched as the laser fade, leaving nothing of the other flagship.

Nix then looked around again as his sensor picked up another heat source. It was Hibiki's vanguard floating near by. Quickly Nix opened communication. "Solider, we must retreat" he said. But Hibiki's mind was set on one thing. "No.. No.. No!" he roared charging towards the harvest flag ship in his vanguard.

"Hibiki no" shouted Nix giving chase. However the harvester flagship emitted a blinding blast that engulfed both the Vanguard and the van defender. "Hibiki!" shouted Nix as the blast dealt serious damage to both ships.

Unable to move the two vanguards floated helplessly in space. But Nix with the last of his strength looked out his carcked cockpit window to see hibiki's vangurad being picked up by a familiar red ship. "No.. not you" Nix panted passing out from his injures.