Inside a magnetic storm Vandread Jura was escorting the shielded Nirvana through its final stretch.
Inside the Vandread, Hibiki was looking over the enhanced systems "It's true that quite a few areas have been fortified. We can use this to get over the smaller magnetic storms".
Jura jumped in front of the Vandread's camera "Did you hear that everybody?" she cheered "The new and improved Vandread Jura will now escort you all the way to beautiful Mejere".
In the hangar, Chase was sitting on a crate with Barnette when they heard the announcement. The cowboy smiled before he looked over his shoulder to his mecha behind him "Did ya hear that Nighthawk? Almost time buddy".
He then looked to Barnette and his smile softened "And as for you" he said before leaning in and kissing her "We should really start thinking about what we're going to do once we get there. You know they won't let me on Mejere".
Barnette lowered her head "I won't return to Mejere unless you're there with me. I…I just want to be next to you".
Nighthawk's voice rang in Chase's head and the pilot chuckled.
"What did he say to you?" Barnette asked.
Chase shook his head while he kept his smile "He was just noting at how much you've changed since we first got here. You used to be so hostile toward everyone, I can remember when you first glared at me, it felt like my skin was burning away".
Barnette smiled again as she turned her head away "I really have changed huh? To think I would fall in love with a man, but it's not just me. Everyone here has changed".
Chase pulled the brim of his hat down over his eyes "I can only imagine how everyone else is feeling. After long last they're almost home".
"You say that like you don't have a home to return to" Barnette said, tilting her head up to look at him.
Chase gently pulled his hat down even more, completely covering his eyes" Well Melanos was completely destroyed, but the Nirvana is my home with everyone here, especially you".
Barnette could feel herself blushing as she leaned her head against hey boyfriend's chest "There's still the final battle ahead of us" she said, her voice becoming lower almost worried.
Chase grunted smugly "I say bring it on. I've waited a long, long time for my chance at vengeance. I won't miss it for anything".
Barnette looked up at Chase and for some reason the look in his eyes frightened her, it was more than just determination in his eyes, it was hatred. She couldn't blame him, the harvest had taken everything away from him at a young age and he spent most of his life on a path of self destruction. She remembered what Nighthawk told her a few months ago "He's going to need your help to keep him out of the darkness of his past, a light to lead him to his future".
"When this is all over" Barnette began "What will you do?"
Chase looked up at the ceiling of the hangar "Can't really say. I'd like to return to Melanos to let everyone know that it's finally over, but that world can no longer host any life. Its like that diseased world we encounter only Melanos is completely void of any life. The atmosphere was torn apart so I really doubt there's enough oxygen to sustain life. I'll just have to hope that wherever my people are, they'll know when it's over".
Barnette's arm tightened around Chase's shoulder "Sometimes I wonder what it is about you that made me fall for you".
Chase opened his mouth to reply, but Barnette cut him off "And don't say it was your charm and good looks".
"You just named my second and third best features" Chase replied with a small smile "First on the list is my quick wit. You should know that about me by now".
Barnette scoffed as she dropped her forehead against his chest "You can be so annoying".
"That's why you and everyone else love me though" Chase told her before the shipped rocked, knocking both of them off the crate they were on.
Barnette landed on top of Chase who was flat on his back, pushing herself up Barnette blushed when she realized the position they were in.
"I like where this is going" Chase laughed before Barnette closed her eyes and got to her feet.
"So, what about you?" Chase asked after he got back to his feet "When this is all over, what are you gonna do?"
Before Barnette could answer, Dita ran into the hangar with a worried look on her face "Have you seen Misty?" she asked them.
Chase looked over to the red haired pilot "Peksis Reactor. She likes to hang out there a lot".
"Is something wrong Dita?" Barnette asked her.
Dita told them what happened outside the bridge, the way Misty made fun of everyone for thinking that Mejere would still be there when they returned.
"She's just lonely is all" Chase told her "She's trying to act cold hearted because she doesn't think she'll ever belong here. Guess I should go find Meia" he sighed "She really seems to like Meia and I'm the only one here who really knows how she feels, so it'd be best if we talked to her".
Chase lowered his head and sighed "And here I was hoping this day would go by without a hitch".
"It's ok" Barnette told him "I should get back to Reg Central anyway. Even though nothing's happened yet I have to make sure everything is ready in case of an attack".
Chase nodded "Alright, I'll see you later then".
The three pilots left the hangar and went in separate directions.
Chase sighed again with a defeated smile "I just can't win". The cowboy looked up at the ceiling still smiling "Everytime we're alone together something comes up".
Leaving the hangar deck and heading for the Peksis Reactor, Chase found Misty outside of the infirmary, eavesdropping on Parfet and Duelo.
"Hey doctor how's it going?" the lead engineer asked as she entered the room.
Duelo was clicking typing on the medical console as he answered "Not bad".
Parfet placed a hand against her hip "Hmm, you know I never noticed until now, but when you're excited the pitch in your voice goes lower. Most people would get higher".
Duelo's chair turned around and the doctor had a semi evil grin on his face "Should I be thankful that someone likes to spend so much time observing me?"
Parfet paused and gulped hesitantly "Maybe I'm a bit nervous" she said "My heart just skipped a beat".
"Would you like me to examine you?" Duelo asked her.
Parfet quickly and nervously declined "Oh no I'm fine".
Misty narrowed her eyes to a hateful glare before turning around to run away, but she ran into Chase who was standing behind her.
Misty looked up to him with a surprised look, but immediately changed it to a glare, but Chase cut her off before she could say anything.
"Walk with me" he said to her nodding his head behind him.
Leading Misty away from the infirmary, Chase walked toward the staircase keeping silent until they reached their destination, the Peksis Reactor.
Stopping in the middle of the catwalk, Chase leaned against the railing and stared at the Peksis.
"Well?" Misty asked angrily "Are you going to say anything? Or did you just bring me here to ignore me?"
Chase lowered his head for a moment before speaking "There's no need to act the way you do Misty" he said calmly "You're not alone".
Misty closed her eyes and withdrew herself "You think I'm lonely is that it?" she asked him in the same angry tone.
"The fact that you made that conclusion" Chase began, remaining calm "Proves that you are". He turned to look at her "You can talk to me Misty, I'll listen".
Misty withdrew herself even more "You know this trying to relate to me thing is only annoying me further. What makes you think you…"
"I do know how you feel" Chase said cutting her off again "The harvest destroyed my homeworld as well, Melanos is nothing more than a wasteland with a toxic and corrosive atmosphere where even the bacteria in the ground cannot survive".
Chase looked back at the peksis "There's no more water, and the air there will eat away at your skin and even the armor to machines. There's nothing left, but a giant gravesite now, I'm the only one who survived the destruction, but that's only because I left before it happened".
Chase paused to stop himself from crying, the memory of losing his homeworld was bad enough, but saying he was the only survivor when he found out his former girlfriend was still alive as well made it even worse.
"We're a lot alike you know" he said with a sad smile. "Not only have we both lost our homes, but everyone we knew as well. The only difference is you were put into a cryo sleep, I actually witnessed what happened to my home".
Misty didn't say anything; she lowered and hid her face while she listened to Chase.
Chase took a slow breath "I know you're lonely Misty, but you don't have to be. You and Meia are friends right?" that got a reaction out of her; she hesitantly looked at Chase with pure sadness in her eyes.
"That's not all, I'm here as well" he continued "You can always talk to one of us and we'll always listen. There are a lot of people on this ship that'll be your friends if you let them".
Misty looked at the floor again "I…I really want to, but…" Misty tried to continue, but she could feel her heart ripping apart as she continued to think of her situation.
"Take your time" Chase said gently.
Misty began crying uncontrollably "I just…whenever I think about everyone here going back to their home I…I…" Misty reached up and rubbed her eyes "I get so mad, so jealous that they have a home to return to, why am I the one who's left alone".
"So that's it" Chase said, getting Misty's attention "You push everyone away because you think that once we get back to Mejere you'll be left alone again" Misty continued to cry, making Chase reach over to her and pull her toward him.
Wrapping one arm around her shoulders and using the other to gently hold her head to his own shoulder Chase told her, "We won't leave you behind Misty. I promise".
After Misty calmed down, the two of them sat against the railing. Misty leaned her head against Chase's shoulder and curled her knees into her chest "I'm scared".
"I am to" Chase admitted. "Just because we're almost at the end doesn't mean its over, we've still got the harvest to deal with".
Misty curled her knees in even further and wrapped her arms around her legs "Do you really think we'll survive?"
Chase smirked "I know we will, they know how dangerous we are which means they're going to lay everything they have against us. I won't deny there's probably going to be some casualties, but we'll win…There's too many lives and memories relying on us for us to fail".
Misty managed a weak smile "No pressure, huh?"
Chase chuckled "Oh there's going to be pressure, but…I prefer it that way".
"Extra, extra!" a shrill voice cried from the other side of the catwalk.
Chase rolled his eyes back and groaned "Oh great, he's here".
Misty took her head off Chase's shoulder and leaned forward, spotting Pyoro hopping over to them carrying several flyers in his small arms.
The NAVI-bot shrieked as it jumped and hovered in front of them "We're holding a banquet to celebrate our arrival at Mejere and Tarak!"
Misty's expression changed, showing extreme annoyance queuing Chase to intervene, "Pyoro not now!" the cowboy barked as Misty threw her head to the side.
"Why are you pouting?" the small robot asked Misty.
"I'm not pouting" Misty replied coldly.
Pyoro turned around and tilted himself back "Are you lonely?"
Surprised, Misty opened her eyes and looked down at the NAVI-bot while Chase began showing his own signs of annoyance.
"There's no way I could possibly be lonely!" Misty yelled at the robot.
"I knew it, I knew it!" Pyoro laughed "I'm right, I'm right you are lonely!"
Chase slowly reached his hand inside his vest, silently growling as he gripped the handle to one of his dual action revolvers.
Pyoro suddenly stopped cheering and became silent "Mee…" Pyoro hovered up to eye level and began speaking in a hollow, echoing tone "Alone, solitude, doubt".
"What's wrong with you?" Misty asked the white robot.
"I've been asking myself that question since I first saw this thing" Chase growled, releasing his revolver and taking his hand out of his vest.
Pyoro hovered even higher "Doubt, no where to return to, solitude, of a different race".
Misty yelled, "What do you mean by all that? Even if I am all alone I happen to be just fine with that. Besides I'd much rather be here than with all those kids". Misty noticed the Peksis was glowing more than it usually did "Wait…Is the Peksis?"
Chase also looked at the Peksis "Its funny, the whole reason I'm here is because I was hired to find the Peksis and after all that's happened I still don't know why he wanted me to find it".
Misty looked back at Chase, "You were hired to find the Peksis? By who?"
Chase smiled again "Can't tell you, before all this started I worked as a mercenary, I did everything from escorting cargo to let's say sending firm messages to certain people. One day I got a message about a well paying job if I could steal the Peksis from an old Tarak battleship and deliver it to the client. Of course when I went to steal the thing I got mixed up in the captain's raid on the exact same Tarak ship. And before I knew it we were thrown across the galaxy and the Peksis fused the two ships together".
"So you took a job from someone you don't know and haven't met?" Misty asked "That's not exactly what I would call smart".
Chase was still smiling "Most of my clients were people who preferred to stay anonymous; I usually charged them extra for it to stay that way. The price of privacy I called it. Of course I haven't told anyone this, not even Barnette, but after all that's happened I think I'm going to leave the Peksis right where it is, it's saved our lives several times and I'm not going to betray that".
Misty kept her gaze on Chase "The Peksis saved us…" she muttered "That day we fought the harvest flagship, I remember seeing a bright light before the super Vandread formed. Do you really think that was the Peksis helping us?"
Chase nodded "I'd like to think so; there is another Peksis out there maybe ours misses it".
Misty looked at the possessed Pyoro, "So you're lonely to?"
"Analyzing human emotion" the Peksis responded "Originally, Peksis fused and split up of its own will, it split up in the research of space in this dimension. A part of us is currently quarantined".
"But why?" Misty asked.
"When Peksis encountered a ship departing from Earth, there was an accident and Peksis entered a dormant phase".
"Wait" Misty interrupted "You said that the Peksis split up, so where's the other one? Don't you want to be with the other part?"
"We are interacting with each other" the Peksis replied "The other side seems to be connected with the Earthlings".
"The Earthlings?" Misty repeated.
"I kind of figured that part" Chase said "You shut off during several encounters with the harvest, almost like you were afraid. It was the other part of you wasn't it?"
The Peksis continued "The dark cloud of doubt that fell around them, when they realized they were trapped on Earth. It turned Peksis into a cluster of negative conscience".
Misty's expression became sadder "Then that means…you're fighting with one of your friends" she began reaching toward the possessed robot "You're calling out to it, but you're still enemies".
Watching Misty embrace the robot, Chase closed his eyes and quietly left. Once outside the Peksis Reactor he lost his smile and felt a cold curtain fall around him "Lonely huh?" he muttered to himself "I guess you're like me as well. I lost my entire world and you're fighting your friend, I'm sorry".
Chase raised his head "Whatever happens" he said aloud "I want you to know I really appreciate everything you've done. The chance you've given me to be with Barnette and everyone else, I want to thank you. I also want you to know that I'll do everything I can to help you in the end, we're both fighting against fate now and I promise I'll see it through with you to the end".
Entering the garden section of the ship, Chase looked around at how happy everyone was and a swell of mixed emotions formed within him. On one hand he was happy to see everyone enjoying themselves, everything they had all fought for was almost within reach, their long journey was coming to an end, but on the other hand he knew as much as they did that there was still the final battle to worry about and they all knew that Earth wasn't going to hold anything back.
The cowboy closed his eyes with a light, smug grunt before he turned to leave, but Barnette appeared and stopped him "Hey where are you going?" she asked "Aren't you going to have some fun?"
Chase smiled "I was looking for you actually" he said "I didn't see you so I thought you weren't here".
Barnette smiled just as the Nirvana finally cleared the magnetic storm.
"Well how's that for timing?" Chase laughed.
"Everyone" the captain's voice called out across the crowd "I'd say a toast in is order".
"Cheers!" all of the females cheered as they raised their glasses in the air.
"Oh Barnette!" Jura's voice cried through the crowd before the blonde pilot rushed through the swarm of women and ran over to the two pilots.
Embracing her friend tightly, Jura cried into her chest over how much she missed her.
Chase had a 'what the hell' expression over Jura's interruption, but he quickly smiled and laughed to himself.
"Hey where's Misty?" Dita asked, looking around for her.
Hibiki placed his hands behind his head "Maybe, she just feels like she doesn't belong here".
Dita left, leaving the four pilots to themselves. "Hey Hibiki" Chase said as he walked over to the young pilot.
"What is it?" Hibiki asked him quietly.
Chase gave him a friendly smile "So how's it feel?" Hibiki looked confused. "We're almost done and you'll be home soon right?" Chase asked him "Or do you plan on staying here with Dita and the rest of us?"
Hibiki blushed and turned his head "Well, it's not like I don't want to stay. I mean I guess we've all gotten along pretty well up until now, but…uh how do I put this?"
Chase chuckled "You still don't understand your own feelings do you?" once again Hibiki looked up to him. "You do like Dita; you just don't know why you feel so strongly about her. Sound about right?"
Hibiki's face got redder "Well I…Argh" Hibiki growled trying to find the words to match what he was thinking, but he just couldn't do it, much to Chase's amusement.
"What's so funny!?" Hibiki snapped after seeing Chase laugh.
Chase held up his hands "Sorry" he said before composing himself "It's just, I'm finally realizing how much you've matured since all this started".
Hibiki's face went blank.
Chase continued "I'd like to say it was because of me, but I'm a narcissist. You've really come a long way Hibiki, I'm proud of you".
Hibiki's face continued to grow redder and redder, but he managed a faint smile "I didn't notice until now, but you're actually calling me by my name".
Chase was the one with the blank expression now.
Hibiki finally looked at him with a nervous smile "You used to call me kid, but now you're calling me by name".
"Oh that's right" Chase muttered "I have to admit I didn't even notice that. Maybe I've grown up a bit as well now that I think of it. I used to just threaten you and Meia when I first got here, but now I think of all of you as friends" the pilot stopped to laugh again "There's many way a friendship can be forged, I guess ours was made through annoying each other to wit's end".
"Yeah I guess you're right" Hibiki said with the same faint smile before he saw Chase's hand in front of him.
Chase was holding his hand out to him with a warm, greeting smile "Here's to our friendship, Hibiki Tokai".
Hibiki managed a full smile as he shook Chase's hand "Same to you, Chase Hannibal Harris".
The two pilots firmly shook the other's hand finally looking at each other as equals.
"Well now what's this?" Jura's voice seductively asked as her and Barnette watched the two men shaking hands "Hibiki you aren't the only one who's matured I see".
Chase changed his smile back to a smug one and scoffed "Heh, just don't expect me to stay this way" he said smugly "After all its only natural for me to act like a stuck up narcissist".
Chase then turned around and held his hand out to Jura who seemed surprised by the gesture "But the same goes to you Jura" he said to the blonde pilot "I'm really glad we got to become friends during this journey".
Jura looked into Chase's eyes and quickly lunged at him with small tears in her eyes "Oh Chase!" she cried "Of course we're friends, you've always been so nice to me and Barnette even after we locked you up so many times".
Chase looked over to Barnette who was smiling at both of them and then back to Jura who was fake crying into his shoulder "Ok Jura I get it" he said to her gently trying to push her off of him.
Jura let go of the cowboy and continued to smile before she asked in a gossip type tone "So what do you and Barnette plan to do after we get to Mejere?"
Both Chase and Barnette blushed as they looked at each other, before tilting their heads away. "Haha I knew it!" Jura laughed before hanging her arm around Barnette's shoulder "You two are planning to make a baby of your own aren't you?"
"J…Jura!" Barnette gasped.
"Oh come now you don't have to hide anything from me" Jura told her as she hugged her even tighter "So when do you plan on making one?"
"Ok that's enough outta you" Chase said in an extremely embarrassed tone before he pulled Barnette away from her "If you promise to never mention this again I promise you'll be the third one to hold the baby after it's born".
"The third one?" Barnette asked.
Jura gave Chase a half glare "Yeah, what do you mean 'the third one'?"
Chase looked down at Barnette and then to Jura "Well, Barnette will be the first, then me. We're the ones who'll be its parents so of course we get to hold it first".
Jura smiled mischievously "Oh so you are planning on making one".
Barnette groaned "Jura…"
Dita finally returned to the party, dragging a reluctant Misty over to them "Come on, you're missing out" the redhead cheered "It must be troubling to live where you don't know how people feel, but you can always depend on us to be there for you". The cheery dread pilot looked back at her friends who were smiling at the both of them.
Dita continued "You're never alone here, hey I know! When we get back to Mejere you can come live with me how about it? I've got a ton of stuff I want to show you".
Misty silently looked over to Chase and the others behind Dita before looking back to the redhead and then snapping her head to the side with her eyes closed "You know, I'm not planning on becoming some UFO nutcase".
Dita looked at her, surprised by her cold attitude, but was happy to see her smile after that. "But maybe I'll take you up on the offer".
The celebration came to an abrupt end when the ship's alarm started ringing over head.
"I knew it" Chase sighed before running to the hangar with Hibiki.
Up on the bridge, Aramone brought up several screens showing what lay ahead of them "Mines everywhere! The entire area is just a giant minefield".
"The mines seem to be a defense perimeter for Tarak!" Ezra cried.
"For Tarak?" Magno said confused.
"Audio transmission detected" Belvedere announced before playing the message.
"This is the Tarak Space Self Defense System. Announce your ship's identification code, if you fail to respond we will commence an attack".
Hibiki's screen appeared above the bridge "What do you wanna do? I'm ready to go out there anytime".
Chase ran onto the bridge and stood next to BC "I don't think we should act hostile at a time like this, but if you think otherwise captain just say the word".
"Stay right where you are and take no action!" Magno yelled "This line helps stop or at least slow down attacks coming from Earth, we can't just crash through it".
"The defense system has begun activating!" Aramone yelled.
"A Tarak identification code" Magno said "Don't you men have anything like that?"
"I stole some id and transmission codes from Tarak officers before we met" Chase told her "But I lost them during your raid".
Bart's screen appeared as well "Codes like that are only given to senior officers, we were just junior officers in training". Duelo and Hibiki didn't have a code either.
"Two minutes until they attack" Belvedere yelled.
"Man why didn't I grab Grandpa's code when I had the chance!" Bart yelled.
"Ten seconds!" Belvedere yelled again before she began counting down.
"BC!" Chase growled as the countdown reached two seconds.
BC stepped forward and pressed her fingers against her broach changing its color from green to red and her voice became deep, a male's voice "Tenmei Urasagumi of the Tarak Empire Special Information Bureau, rank Commander. Identification code, Konue 2038 commence confirmation".
Everyone on the bridge except Chase turned to look at BC in shock at what they were hearing.
Chase lowered his head and closed his eyes as he gave an apologetic sigh.
The defense system confirmed the code and deactivated "Welcome home commander, we look forward to your ship's success".
"I'm sorry" Chase said looking at Tenmei "You had to expose yourself to make sure we made it through, I'll handle the rest".
Tenmei looked at Chase as the captain apologized "I'm also sorry, but there was no other choice".
Tenmei looked up to the captain "Are you saying, you both knew?"
The captain gave him a friendly smile as Chase nodded.
Tenmei also smiled "Even though I've deeply deceived you, there is one truth that remains. You are a wonderful person and even though it was short I've enjoyed my time serving under you" he then turned to Chase "I don't know what I'm more surprised about, the fact that you knew who I was the entire time or that you've managed to hide it from me that you knew, either way I'm sorry for trying to deceive you as well".
Chase nodded with an apologetic expression of his own "If I had a code I'd have used it, sorry".
A two man security team entered the bridge to arrest Tenmei. After they were gone Chase turned to the captain, "I'm not sure how long you've known, but I figured out who he was a few weeks after I joined the crew. I'm sorry for not telling you".
"There's no need for you to apologize" the captain told him "Just explain to me how you know him".
Chase looked to his right and down to his feet "I was a mercenary before coming here. I received a job to steal the Peksis from a Tarak ship, as a way to protect myself I always trace any job I receive back to the client, a Tarak officer named Tenmei. I arrived right after your raid started that day, once I realized that your people had gotten rid of the crew I was going to wait until you left before I stole the ship along with the Peksis we all know how things turned out after that".
Chase looked back at the captain "I'm sure it doesn't need to be said now, but I have no intention of completing that job, I'd be betraying everything you and the Peksis have done for me if I did".
"Captain!" Belvedere cried "We're being surrounded by fleets from both Tarak and Mejere".
"Boarding parties most likely" Chase said after looking at the screens showing the two fleets "They're coming to secure the ship. If I had to guess, Tarak agreed to turn over you and your crew to Mejere as long as they got Tenmei and the ship".
Magno returned her gaze to Chase "And where do you fit into this?" she asked.
Chase shook his head "I honestly don't know. Tarak doesn't know who I am and even if they knew I attacked them that day they probably wouldn't care. They'll either shoot me or take me prisoner for some reason or another".
The captain closed her eyes "I guess we'll just have to wait and see how things turn out then. I trust you won't do anything to jeopardize the crew".
Chase nodded "You have my word; I'll play along until its time to strike back".
Chase turned to look at the monitors showing the various boarding parties from both sides as they docked with the Nirvana. He clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes "When the time is right Nighthawk, we'll strike back just wait".
A/N. Well it's been 4 months since my last update, but its finally here.
I was busy trying to focus on my Vandread/Ace Combat 0 crossover, but I'm starting my second year of college in a few weeks so I've also been busy with that.
But enough about me. The Nirvana has finally returned home only to be intercepted by a Tarak defense system forcing Tenmei to blow his cover as the admired BC and revealing in the process that Chase knew all along.
Will this cause trust issues between Chase and the rest of the crew, find out next time!