Chapter 9: False God

Disclaimer: I don't own Vandread or the Armored Core games, just my OC and his NEXT.

Vandread Raven

Ever since his defeat at the hands of Rabat, Hibiki has been doing sparring matches with Keith but the NEXT pilot won every time. He's currently doing a mock battle with Keith's NEXT, testing his Vanguard's abilities while staying close to the Nirvana. Black Dragon slams its shield against the Vanguard's chest, causing the cockpit to violently shake.

Keith said, "Face it, Hibiki you will never be able to reach my fighting level. The kind of physical training that I went through with Katrina put a lot of strain on my muscles; you wouldn't last 2 minutes in those sessions. I tore my biceps 8 times in the first 3 weeks just to gain the gain muscles I have today. Believe me tearing a muscle is not a pleasant experience." Hibiki levels his machine out and readies it.

Hibiki replied, "Why should I? You defeated that Rabat guy like he was nothing! I want to reach your fighting level, so teach me!"

Keith sighed, "Seriously, man you need to stop challenging me to these mock battles, Hibiki otherwise your Vanguard won't be in any shape to fight against the Harvesters." The stubborn young Tarak didn't hear that advice and charges at Keith again so Black Dragon pulls out the Karasawa Mk 3 laser rifle and points it at the Vanguard's head. This act of intimidation seems to be effective as it halted Hibiki's advance.

The 16-year old Lynx growled, "I'm warning you, Hibiki!"

Hibiki gasped, "You'd use that to disable my machine?"

Keith answered, "If you continue to push me into these mock battles then yes, you will leave me no choice." After saying that little threat they return to the Nirvana. Keith gets out of Black Dragon and heads to the bridge. When he enters he sees the bridge bunnies doing their daily routine of keeping an eye out for enemies and Bart keeping the ship on course toward the Mejale/Tarak border. He doesn't show it but Keith cares about this crew, as he thinks of them as a family and thinks of Meia as a sister. He hopes that they'd accept him but he doesn't decide to ask them just yet, he still wants to gain their full trust, because a few are still wary about his intentions.

About 20 minutes later the Nirvana comes across a thriving planet.

BC said, "99% of the planet's surface is covered with water and it's got a nitrogen and oxygen atmosphere which means it fulfills the requirements for life." The camera zooms in on a piece of land, "Hm? There's an island! And the inhabitants appear to be humanoid we've also detected a colonization ship on the ocean floor."

Magno chuckled, "Why don't we go say hello to our long lost relatives." The bridge bunnies get a good view of the planet through the observation window in front of them.

Belvedere said with glittering eyes, "This planet is so pretty!" The ship's radar picks up enemy signatures.

BC asked, "What is it?"

Ezra said, "Enemy approaching from behind the planet!"

The sub-commander cried, "How many are there?"

Ezra answered, "Approximately 12 cube-types and 2 strange machines I can't identify." The main monitor shows the pirate leader the 2 unknown machines; she doesn't know the first one but recognizes the second.

Magno asked, "What the hell is that? Another Arms Fort?" As the Nirvana approached the targets, the cube-types stop their construction on the strange looking machines and attack the pirate ship.

Hibiki starts running towards the hanger though Keith was a few feet ahead of him due to his athletic speed. Suddenly a blinding spotlight stops them then a laugh is heard. Keith knows that laughter can only belong to one person.

Jura said, "The time has come! Listen up you and me are finally going to combine in the upcoming battle, Hibiki." Keith face faults at the announcement.

'This whole elegance thing is getting old!' Barnette thought as she holds a small camera, recording the whole thing.

The blonde asked her friend, "Did you get it? I was great wasn't I?"

Barnette gives her thumbs up to hide her annoyance, "Perfect!"

Hibiki sighed, "This is stupid!" He and Keith make it to their machines, ignoring the Dread pilot.

"Where do you think you're going? I'm not finished talking to you yet. Come on, Barnette this calls for the second phase of my plan!" Jura said with a tick mark.

Her dark green-haired companion exhaled, "Right behind you! Chill out!"

Hibiki immediately targets a cube-type in front of him and tries to dice it but to his surprise it dodged his attack, a second cube-type slams on top of his Vanguard and starts to push him down but a beam from a certain crimson Dread saves him.

Jura asked playfully, "Hello there, so are you ready to combine yet?"

Hibiki refused, "I don't think so!"

Dita warned, "Mr. Alien, watch out!" The redhead saves him from a frontal attack.

She said, "If you're going to combine, do it with me okay?" She gives him a blow kiss while winking at the same time.

The Vanguard pilot gritted his teeth, "Will you two just shut up? You're so annoying!" He attempts to cut a cube-type but it avoids while another attacks Hibiki's blind spot.

The young Tarak angerily stated, "Damn it! They learned how to avoid my attack!"

Keith is also having trouble dealing with a bunch of Normals, their armor was thicker enabling them to withstand a round from any of Black Dragon's projectile weapons so Keith was resorted to using the 07-Moonlight beam saber and heat whip.

On the Nirvana's bridge, the occupants observe the battle going on.

Belvedere stated her own, "The enemy is moving a lot better than before."

BC cried, "It appears that the enemy has learned from their mistakes and improved their maneuvers."

Magno said, "It seems that they're able to predict our hand, how disgusting!" A monitor inside Black Dragon's cockpit shows Keith the unknown AF. He recognizes the design.

'Oh great, it's a Sol Dios Arms Fort!' He mentally cursed.

Surprisingly the Sol Dios doesn't activate. Keith can only assume that it's not fully operational or it is just bidding its time.

Meia yelled, "Keith, enemy approaching from your 12 o'clock!"

The NEXT pilot shrieks as he barely had time to slice a Normal in two. Without warning another unknown enemy rams him from behind, when Black Dragon turns around Keith looks at his attacker, its weaponry and body shape is familiar.

The frame was colored dark gray and its eye had a cyan glow. It had a laser rifle in its right hand, a chain gun mounted on the left forearm. support missiles on its shoulders, a heat-seeking missile launchers on both of the back units. This was Roy Saaland's NEXT, My Bliss. Keith fought against Roy in an Arena match to increase his rank number and had to admit Roy was quite a formidable opponent, now besides Arms Forts and Normals the Harvesters have managed to their hands on NEXT technology. Keith knows that it's not the NEXT's abilities that'll determine victory or defeat but it's the pilot's skills that will determine it.

My Bliss proves to be a difficult opponent but Keith detects no vital signs inside the enemy cockpit so he believes that this is an A.I. controlled version. The enemy NEXT's movements are predictable so the American teen uses it to his advantage. When Black Dragon uses its shield to block a round from My Bliss' laser rifle it turns its head, Keith sees that four cube-types have attached themselves onto Hibiki's Vanguard and start to descend through the planet's atmosphere Jura follows them.

Ezra informed, "They're entering the atmosphere!"

The four cube-types attached to the Vanguard burn up during the entry soon the yellow machine will probably join them if a miracle didn't happen. The Vanguard wasn't designed to do a re-entry without the use of a heat shield.

Hibiki screamed, "It's hot! I don't want to be roasted to death!" The cockpit is starting to turn red due to friction. Jura closes in on the Vanguard.

She said, "Barnette, you better have the camera rolling!"

Barnette replied through the growing static radio, "This isn't the time for that, Jura! Your craft will burn up if you keep descending!"

The blonde laughed, "Ha ha, it's time for the debut of my Vandread!" The two crafts finally fuse together. When the Nirvana crew was able to get a clear picture, they see the new Vandread hovering above the surface of the ocean. It retained the crimson color and its shape resembles a familiar sea creature.

Amarone said with a face fault, "It's...a crab."

Keith super heats the heat whip and cuts My Bliss in two. When he gets a picture of the Vandread, he couldn't contain his laughter and laughs hysterically. Despite Jura's whining and Hibiki telling her to help him, the cube shaped fighters get destroyed.

Meia informed, "All cube-types have been destroyed but we have been unable to damage those 2 unknown machines."

Magno confirmed, "Understood, Meia. Return to the ship. I wonder what this planet's name is. Perhaps our answer lies down there!" In the cockpit of the Vandread, its two pilots lean back in their seats.

Barnette said, "I managed to record all of your elegance! It's all on film for the other to see. Jura? Hello, Jura? Can you hear me?" Back on the Nirvana's bridge, the crew establish a transmission with the island.

Ezra cried, "Communications established, captain."

Magno demanded, "Put it on the main screen." Ezra follows her command and the main monitor appears with a woman in her early 20s with blonde hair and wearing some sort of festival attire with a mask similar to the ones that were used in plays.

The blonde announced, "Greetings, travelers! My name is Fanieta! Welcome to the beautiful planet Anpathos!"

'Cheesy name for a planet.' Keith thought as he powers Black Dragon down after landing in the hanger.

Magno asked, "Anpathos, huh? Is that your planet's name?"

Fanieta answered, "That's right. We have called it that ever since we arrived on it and we have been waiting for you."

BC wondered, "Waiting for us? What do you mean?"

The blonde asked with a smile, "You must be the Munya, are you not?"

Magno raised an eyebrow before saying, "I'm afraid there must be some sort of misunderstanding. We are not the 'Munya' you speak of! Pardon for being so forward but may we visit you? They are questions that I'd like to ask you."

Fanieta told her, "Our ceremony is at hand so we are not able to greet you properly."

The pirate leader said, "Oh, there's no need." She then contacted the helmsman, "Bart, can you hear me? Me and some of the others are heading down to the planet's surface."

Bart groaned, "Sure if you say so."

Magno instructed, "Take good care of the ship while I'm gone, I leave you in charge."

The helmsman started, "Wait just a minute, captain!"

The old woman added, "And you are forbidden to run away, got that?" Down on Anpathos' watery surface, Jura's Dread floats near the shore while the Vanguard lies on its back on the beach.

Hibiki jumps down and looks around to see men and women holding various baskets filled with food.

He wondered, "Is some kind of festival about to happen? Hey, Jura we should check out. Hey!" Jura sulks over the machine that her craft makes when combining with the Vanguard. Hibiki turns around to see a shuttle landing.

Magno and BC walk down the ramp then the sub-commander spots an orange flag with a spiral shaped marking.

BC mumbled, "Why does that design look so familiar?"

"Mr. Alien and Jura are alone on that planet." Dita said in worry as she paced back and forth, well more about what Jura could do to Hibiki.

Meia asked as she watched her, "Why don't you try to calm down, Dita?"

Dita replied, "But Mr. Alien and Jura are alone on that planet!"

The Dread leader assured, "The captain and commander are down there, too." Meia was getting tired of Dita pacing back and forth.

Dita protested, "But even so...Mr. Alien!" Meia just shakes her head.

Keith said with a smile, "Yep, it's official. Dita is 100% in love with Hibiki."

Meia asked, "How do you know that?"

The NEXT pilot said, "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you haven't seen the signs?"

His leader cried as she walked alongside him, "Oh, and what signs would they be?"

Keith explained, "The way she looks at him, the way she blushes, and how they care about each other even though they don't know it."

Meia said with a smirk, "Oh? And what makes you think that this is about love?"

Keith answered, "Well, for starters we are on a ship filled with women and a few men, so I know what the signs are." Then something comes into mind, "Hey, Meia do you want to try a simulation inside Black Dragon? I think you have the potential to become a Lynx if you can conquer your fear of enclosed spaces. I'll be inside that cockpit with you."

Meia thought about it and said, "Okay, when do we start?"

Her sub-ordinate cried, "How about when the enemy is not attacking?"

'I really wish Canis was here. We could use his help.' Keith mentally pleaded.

Keith suddenly trips and falls over, which in turn causes Meia to fall forward too. When they regain their senses they notice they were in an awkward position. Meia's arms were wrapped around Keith's neck and his hands were on her hips. They look into each other's eyes for a moment and images of them in Meia's mind scape and them almost kissing played out in front of them. With this they slowly move their faces close to one another's and start to close their eyes. Their lips are about to meet when a voice breaks them out of their near memorable moment.

Gascogne said with an even bigger smirk, "I hope I'm not interrupted anything, am I?" Keith and Meia get out of their position with beet red faces.

"N-No!" They said in unison.

Keith explained, "Well, you see I lost my footing and I landed on top of Meia. That's all what it was. Right, Meia?" He gives her a 'help me out here!' look.

Meia replied, "Y-yeah, that's what happened. Come on, Kieth. We got some formations to think up." They both high tail it out of there.

Gascogne scoffed, "Hmph, you can't fool me. Why don't you tell each other how you feel." When the coast is clear, the two leaders of the Dreads stop to catch their breath.

Back on the island of Anpathos, Hibiki called out, "Old lady!"

Magno sees the Vanguard pilot approaching, "Little one! You're safe, are you?"

BC asked, "What about Jura?"

Hibiki places both hands on his hips, "I don't want to talk about Ms. Crabby Pants!"

The captain assured, "As long as she's safe, that is alright. Why don't you follow me?" The three enter some sort of shrine or temple.

Fanieta said, "This is the shrine that leads to the holy path."

Magno asked her question, "First off, can tell you us of the 'Munya' that you're waiting for?"

The blonde answered, "They are the ones who guided our ancestors to this blessed land, our people are very grateful. We consider the Munya the foundation of Anpathos and we believe that they're in need of us."

Hibiki asked out of curiosity, "Need of you? What for?"

Fanieta smiled, "According to the prophecy, they are in need of the spiral code."

BC mumbled, "The spiral code?" Then she looks at the picture above Fanieta and exclaimed, "The spinal cord!"

Meia passes a simulation test on board Black Dragon and Keith is impressed, he provided her comforting words so Meia could focus on the simulation and not the enclosed spaces of the cockpit. The screen displayed "Simulation Complete."

Keith patted Meia on the shoulder and commented, "Excellent work, my friend! Even though you have claustrophobia you focused on the training simulation. It looks as if you were born to be a NEXT pilot."

Meia replied, "I'm beginning to see the reason why Katrina chose you to be her student, she has forged you into the perfect Lynx. You are gifted in many ways."

Her sub-ordinate scratches the back of his head, "Well, I may not be the perfect Lynx but I am extremely gifted even though I'm only 16 years old."

The blue-haired woman asked him something he didn't expect, "Why do you hate Adam Archer so much?"

Keith answered in a deadly tone, "I was only 10 years old when I visited my parents' grave site, it is a part of me that doesn't want to visit that place again but this is on Adam, Meia. He condemned me to this hell and since he did, he's the one who is going to pay. There is a saying that you must atone for the sins that you committed. My next encounter with that bastard, Meia his day of reckoning. You know when Katrina and I looked around that place it's filled with all the souls that she put to rest but all of these poor unfortunate souls have one thing in common. Not one of them, not one single person ever threatened my family! None of those warriors wanted Katrina raped or my parents killed! You know, Meia it's a shame having to spill his tainted blood and rotten soul onto the battlefield but I will. He thinks I'm weak and said that only the strong will win, I might have to tell you my friend, Adam's in for the most hellish hour of his life! It's only going to stop when I lock onto his NEXT then I pull the trigger and his unit will tumble to the ground, as he lays there staring up at me, looking for forgiveness and mercy, all I'll have for him are shells of hot lead. I'm going to fire those shells until the armor on his NEXT has melted and covered his body, the only thing I'm going to leave out at that point is his head because with that last inhale of air pumped into his lungs I want him to realize that he's getting ready to suffocate and I want him to suffocate on the crimes he's done in his lifetime. All the people that he used, abused, hurt and destroyed. People that have worked for Collared and have broken their backs for it. And as that hot, solidifying metal surrounds his body, the realization is that Adam Archer is killed by my hands. So far luck alone has saved his wretched life. He better hope that God has mercy on him because I won't! He is responsible for the cold-blooded murder of countless innocent men, women and children. He doesn't care about who he kills, he is nothing more than a selfish piece of trash." Meia felt venom seeping in every word he said. She never knew that he had so much burning hatred inside but now she does. She also felt pain and sadness in his voice, as if he was searching for someone who can heal his wounded heart.

Suddenly the cube-types commence a second attack on the Nirvana.

Inside the 360 virtual helm, Bart wondered, "What now?"

"That's obvious, isn't it? You want us to put up an immediate defense line is that right?" Meia asked as she along with Keith appeared on the monitor.

Bart screamed, "I guess so. Dread teams, prepare to engage!"

Keith and Meia said in unison with a smirk, "You got it!" The fighters scramble to intercept the cube-types.

Their leader commanded, "All units, focus on defending on the ship and the planet. We must not let the enemy pass through our line of defense!"

Keith added, "Also keep your guard up because that Sol Dios can strike when you least expect it." They get a 'roger' from the pilots.

Suddenly, an enemy Armored Core hits Black Dragon. When the black NEXT turns around its pilot growled.

The American Lynx cried in irritation, "Nothing is more pathetic than someone who never learns his lesson! I'll have to inflict 4 times as much damage to My Bliss."

Inside the planet's temple, Magno and Fanieta have a heated argument about beliefs, which clearly that nobody wins.

The old pirate, seeing that she isn't getting through Fanieta, said, "I see that it's useless let's get going." Then a terrible pain hits Magno.

Hibiki asked, "Are you okay?"

Magno groaned, "My back went out! You need to go and fight off the enemy." Following her request Hibiki immediately runs back to Jura. The sea levels have risen due to those spikes on the huge pillar that is also having an effect on the planet's weather.

Hibiki shouted, "Hey, Jura we need to head off into combat. Hey, Ms. Crabby Pants are you listening to me?"

Jura moaned, "Unfortunately, yes!"

Hibiki growled, "How much longer are you going to sulk? Look, you have the opportunity to save an entire planet, that's something only a few could dream of doing. Are you going to let such an opportunity pass you?"

The blonde stood up and wiped her eyes, "That sounds crazy but also not half bad. OK, I'll do it. Let's combine right away and if I see you slacking off, you won't get off the hook so easily!"

The young Tarak said, "Uh, sure." Above the planet the Dreads seem to be doing well in holding the defense line.

Black Dragon's attacks against My Bliss are more aggressive than before. Black Dragon pulls out the Karasawa Mk 3 rifle and rapid fires on the enemy NEXT inflicting damage onto the frame, though the Harvesters have managed to obtain Armored Core technology they haven't been able to determine what Kojima technology is or more importantly what powers the Primal Armor so Keith can relax on that part. My Bliss closes in and makes a fatal mistake because when it came in at point-blank range, Black Dragon activates its Assault Armor, a breakthrough in Kojima technology that the Nirvana crew don't know about. The blast hits its mark it blows off chunks of dark brown armor then Black Dragon fires its multi-chain missile launcher at the target, inflicting even more damage to My Bliss. Keith changes his battle tactics to a more aggressive style only against persistent enemies that don't know when to accept defeat. Black Dragon places the Karasawa Mk 3 back into its holding place and ignites the 07-Moonlight the violet beam of energy comes out and is first driven through the chest area then up the core, followed by the torso, then the hips and finally the head. Just as Keith prepare to deliver the final blow, he hears Roy Saaland's voice coming from the NEXT.

He said, "Please, Keith. Release me from this imprisonment! The Harvesters are trapping the souls of dead Lynx into the resurrected NEXTs they piloted. Only you can release my soul. I respect you, Keith you are the rank 1 Lynx in Collared, no one else could ever achieve a mission success record without failing like you could. Now deliver the final blow. Don't hold back! Only then can my soul face judgment and determine if I go to heaven or hell." Keith accepts Roy's request and finishes My Bliss off with a combination attack of the 07-Moonlight and heat whip.

Roy said his final words before moving on, "Don't die, Keith. You are the last Lynx in the universe. Before your time comes, train a new generation of NEXT pilots to continue the legacy of the Ravens."

Bart screamed, "Ah! We're done for!"

Magno said over the radio, "Grow a spine! I have been alive for a very long time and throughout my life I have seen many of my brave pirates die. Keith has seen his share of battles as he grew up being a NEXT pilot and the last surviving member of the Oswell family. Every time someone died I cursed myself for being powerless and at times it feels like I'm being torn apart. Many young lives brought to abrupt end. They were shinning stars living every moment. That's why I can't stand people who can't make their own destinies!"

Keith threw in his two cents, "We humans must control our own lives and build our own futures!" This morale speech seems to have affected Bart.

He cried, "I won't move!"

Hibiki ordered, "You're in the way! Move!" The Nirvana moves as Vandread Jura speeds through, "You've done your job so why don't you go and take a nap or something!"

Jura exclaimed, "If you don't hurry up, you'll end up becoming a casualty too!" The Vandread deploys discs that envelops Anpathos in a green shield, this cancelled out the weather effects those spikes were causing.

The blonde said in an ecstatic voice, "If anyone can cover an entire planet, I'd love to see them go ahead and try!"

Hibiki swings his chair against hers and told her, "Don't celebrate just yet!" That mouth-shaped object attaches itself to a new Harvest vessel.

Seeing this caused Hibiki to smirk, "Hungry are you? Well then, chow down on this!" He slams his fist onto a button which in turn makes the mirror of Vandread Jura create a vacuum effect that sucks water from the ocean of Anpathos and directs it at the Harvest vessel, filling its mouth with tons of water. After 30 seconds, the enemy vessel can't take any additional water and breaks up before exploding. The pilots return to the Nirvana.

That's when the Sol Dios Arms Fort activates. The cannons start firing at Meia's Dread. Keith sees this and rushes to his leader's aid.

He screamed, "Meia, what are you doing? Get out of its line of fire!"

Meia answered, "I can't the controls aren't responding!" As Black Dragon nears the damaged Dread, that strange light appears when one of the Sol Dios cannons fire a blast of highly destructive Kojima energy. As the light fades the Nirvana crew get a look at the new NEXT.

It was colored red with a blue eye, it retained the body frame and the L01-TELLUS humanoid legs Black Dragon has, held a twin-barreled plasma rifle in its right hand, an energy shield on its left forearm, 40mm Gatling guns on its torso, large spike discs on its hips, and wings with boosters inside them and nuclear cannons resting on the top ones. The red machine opens its wings and start tearing apart the Sol Dios cannons before locking onto the Arms Fort.

Keith said coldly, "What you Harvesters are doing is sick and twisted. You will not prevail in this operation of yours." They achieve a lock-on for the plasma rifle

Keith and Meia said simultaneously, "Be gone!" The twin-barreled weapon fires and the beam of destruction destroyed the Sol Dios AF. The ensuing fireball blocks the crew's vision.

Hibiki called, "Hey, Keith! Do you hear me? Come in!" When the fireball clears the red NEXT appears unharmed, a monitor shows the crew a picture of Meia sitting in Keith's lap. The machine defuses before landing in the Nirvana's hanger.

Jura whined, "What? You didn't get it on video? Why?"

Barnette replied with a tick mark, "I was too busy to record the whole thing!"

Her blonde-haired friend brushed it off, "Oh, well it doesn't matter as long as you record the elegance and beauty of my machine with the camera next time. After all, no other machine can put up a barrier around an entire planet like mine can!" This sudden change in Jura's mood stunned Hibiki.

Meia spots Keith sitting against a container. The American teenager now has a strong sense of foreboding. If the Harvesters managed to obtain the Stigro and Sol Dios Arms Forts than its highly likely that they will send out the other models. The blue-haired woman snaps the teen out of his train of thought. He had to tell the crew about what they're facing and soon if they are to survive.

She asked, "Keith, what's wrong? You've been quiet since we arrived back."

Keith informed, "Oh, I'm just wondering on how the enemy got their hands on these Arms Forts." Seeing that she got the answer, Meia prepares to leave.

Then she feels a pair of arms wrap around her waist, this causes Meia to blush, "Keith?"

Her sub-ordinate said, "Please, just hang out with me for a while."

'Right now I don't care.' Meia thought as she sat in Keith's lap and lay her head against his chest.

'I couldn't afford to lose her!' Keith also thought as well. He stares at Meia's serene face, 'Who would've thought that I would end up falling for the leader of the Dreads though I wonder if she feels the same way about me.' He holds Meia close to him, enjoying the sweet smell of her blue hair.

BC suggested, "You look tired, Captain. Why don't you rest?"

The aged pirate said, "There's somewhere I'd like to visit before that."

Bart moaned, "I'm gonna die!"

Magno asked, "What's the meaning of this? I was only gone for a bit and look at this ship's condition."

The blonde Tarak gets his feet, "Excuse me? Sorry if I'm being offensive but do you have the slightest idea of how hard a time I had while you were absent?"

The captain answered with sarcasm, "No, Bart. I have no clue." BC looks on with a smile.

A/N: OK, chapter 9 complete. This chapter was the debut of Keith's new NEXT when it combines with Meia's Dread. The wings it has was based on the wings of Freedom Gundam since I thought they look cool but its armament was of my own design.

Stick around for chapter 10.

Vader 23A.