Chapter 10: A New Love
Disclaimer: I don't own Vandread or the Armored Core games, just my OC and his NEXT
Vandread Raven
As Keith investigates the Vandread forms that Hibiki's Vanguard makes when combining with one of the Dreads, he begins to see a pattern.
He said, "Vandread Dita is for power, so that explains its humanoid knight-like appearance. Vandread Meia is designed for speed as hinted by its dragon shape. And Vandread Jura is made mostly for defense hence its crab-like appearance." Unfortunately he couldn't keep his focus because his mind is focused on Meia. Even when he could sleep his dreams were centered around them being together. He looks at the watch that Parfet built for him yesterday and it displayed that certain type of holiday. He decides to hang out at the bridge.
Unknown to Keith, Meia is also having trouble with her work. She wanted to feel that warmth she felt when Keith held her. She somehow had the feeling that the American Lynx wanted to take their friendship to another level. In her sleep, she always found herself being with Keith as if fate wanted them to be together.
When Keith enters the bridge, he sees the crew putting up the Christmas tree and decorations.
'Man, when it comes to decorations these ladies sure know how to do it.' He thought.
He hears Amarone asking BC if it's okay to display the comet on the main monitor.
Suddenly Ezra appears in front of Keith holding two bells and asked, "Hey, Keith which one of these decorations should we put on the tree?" She gives off a small giggle at him.
Keith, after recovering from being startled, said, "Either one will do!" That's when Magno comes in wearing a Santa costume.
BC gasped, "Captain!"
Magno asked with a smile, "Now we certainly can't have a Christmas without Santa, can't we? And who else can play the part besides me?" Keith spots Meia surveying the scenery with a small smile then she looks at him. They stare at each other for who knows how long then look away with a blush on their faces.
Keith gathers up his courage and grabbed his leader's hand before she left, "Hey, Meia. You aren't busy with anything later on, are you?"
Meia shook her head, "No, I'm not. Why?"
The black-haired youth formed a teasing smile, "Well, if I told you than it wouldn't be a surprise." He pointed his index finger at the ship's garden, "Meet me down by the stream at 12:30 a.m." After hearing what he said, Meia leaves to do a patrol.
In the Nirvana's kitchen, Jura is overseeing Barnette putting icing on a giant cake roll while the dark green-haired woman hummed a tune.
Jura said, "You know, Barnette I don't think there's enough chocolate icing on this one. And make sure that it has a lot of powdered suger."
Barnette cried, "Well, I shouldn't add too much powdered sugar on it because we don't know how many on board the ship have much of a sweet tooth like Keith does." Jura sees Dita's golden tiara.
The redhead puts a sample of the icing into her mouth and it tasted exquisite. Dita doesn't hear the sound of high heels approaching her location.
Jura whacks Dita on the head and said in a parent-like manner, "Didn't I say that your responsibility was to watch over the condition of the turkey?" When Dita turns around she spots black smoke coming from the oven, indicating that the turkey is burnt. She rushes out of the kitchen while Barnette and Jura turn off the oven before a fire could start. Hibiki, Duero and Bart look on to see what the crew's doing.
Hibiki asked, "What's going on?"
Pyoro answered, "It's Christmas time. They get like this every December 24, Pyoro! You guys don't know what Christmas is?" Hibiki looks at Duero to see if he knows and the doctor shook his head then Hibiki turns to Bart only to receive the same negative answer.
The robot face faulted, "It's a festival for crying out loud! Don't they have those on Tarak?"
Bart said, "Well, there was one..." He recalls the rituals and military rallies on the male planet, "But they weren't anything one would consider enjoyable, were they guys?" He asked his fellow men.
Hibiki and Duero answered in unison, "Not at all."
"Hey!" Keith announced as he made his presence known to them.
Hibiki asked, "Hey, Keith do your people have Christmas on Mars?"
Keith answered, "Yeah, we do. It's a time of gift giving." That's when Dita comes in.
Hibiki attempts to run away but Keith grabs his shirt collar to keep him from escaping, "Hold on there, pal. Stop being a chicken! Just help Dita out." The two walk down the hallway until they reach a storage room. Keith heads to the kitchen to see if Barnette needed help with any of the preparations for the feast.
Hibiki trips over a box and crashes through an aged door. "Ow!" He grunted as he rubbed his head. When the others enter the new room they spot several unknown items.
Dita asked, "What are these?"
Duero runs a finger against a dusted table, "They would appear to be items from the Colonization Era." He said.
"Hey, this looks unfamiliar, doesn't it?" Dita cried as she held a VHS with its cover labeled 'Christmas with family.' She puts the tape in after turning on every monitor in the Nirvana. The occupants in the kitchen are drawn to the playing video. It starts off with a fireplace then to a woman with a girl and a baby, this didn't surprise them but what did was the man sitting next to them, kissing the baby's forehead before wrapping an arm around the mom. When the camera zoomed in on the couple Keith recognized who they were.
The woman had long black hair, around 25 years old and had the body shape of an athlete.
The man had brown buzz cut styled hair, around 29 years old, had deep blue eyes, and had a significant build nothing like that of a body builder, but still pretty muscular.
The young girl next to the mom had long brown hair, green eyes, and was around the age of 9.
The two parents were Ryan and Serena Oswell. The baby in Serena's hands was Keith. The young girl was Kate. Apparently Kate asked if she could spend the holiday with them, which Ryan and Serena gladly accepted.
'My dad recorded this while I was baby?' Keith mentally screamed.
'So this is what Keith meant when men and women use to live under the same roof. In a way, it's so nice.' Barnette thought with a small smile but it disappeared when she saw Keith turning his gaze away from the screen, clenching his chest.
At first Barnette thought he was having chest pain but it turns out he's fighting to hold back the void of emptiness.
Finally unable to watch anymore Keith exits the kitchen. Barnette wonders if she can try to cheer him up. When the tape ends the crew is convinced that men and women can peacefully live together still. Dita is ecstatic by it while Hibiki, Duero and Bart are stunned. They are also convinced that everything Keith said is true. Keith really wanted to celebrate this Christmas with the rest of his family but that jerk Adam Archer took them away from him. He then starts to think of a present he would get for Meia.
'I thought I lost my chance to find love once Katrina died but I care about Meia now. Come on, Keith pull yourself together!' The young Lynx thought.
In the hanger, Meia rides the lift that takes her to the Dread.
"Hey Meia, aren't you going to the party?" A voice asked Meia, she looks down to see Gascogne helping a stage hand put a new seat in Dita's Dread.
Meia said, "At times like these, someone has to remain alert."
'And also to clear my head of Keith for a moment.' She mentally cried.
She takes off. A little while later she gets caught in a net by a new Harvesting vessel and the Eclipse Arms Fort inside the comet.
Eventually, Hibiki comes to her aid. They destroy the two machines and head back to the Nirvana.
The Vandread defuses and Hibiki's Vanguard lands on the observation window with a piece of ice in its hand. When the pilot lands his machine Dita immediately runs up to him, he slumps onto the platform and the ice in his hand melts to reveal a pretty flower. Dita happily accepts it. Hibiki passes out afterwards. The countdown to Christmas finally reaches zero and the snow machines started spewing snow.
In the Nirvana's garden Barnette and Jura exchange their gifts.
Barnette puts a ring on her friend's finger and said, "Merry Christmas, Jura." Jura in return gives Barnette a kiss on her forehead, much to the dark green-haired woman's disappointment.
Keith has just arrived at the garden. Believing that he still has some time left before Meia shows up, Keith decides to give Barnette a present of his own. He walks up to the young Mejale.
Keith asked, "Disappointed because all you got from Jura was a kiss?" Barnette nodded.
The young Lynx smiled, "I have a gift that'll cheer you up. Follow me." She is led to a brown tarp.
Barnette said, "So, sub-leader what is it that you wanted to give me?"
The American answered, "You can call me by my name when we're not engaging the enemy. As for the present..." He throws the tarp over. Barnette looks at the gift and picks it up, testing its weight.
She said, "Is this what I think it is?"
Keith nodded, "Yeah. Since I had a suspicion that you liked weapons from the 21st century, I got you this. It was in a forgotten weapon storage room. What you have in your hand is the new carbine assault rifle of the U.S. Army: The HK-416 assault rifle. It's a breakthrough in weapons technology. It's lighter than the M-16, has enhanced compartments, don't have to polish the inside of the barrel as much, it still works even after being submerged in water, sand or thick mud, its magazines hold 50 rounds each, it retains the M-4's customization ability. It has destructive firepower. You can tear a hole through a thick plate of armor with just a round from the HK-416. It currently doesn't have any magazines equipped but the box next to it carries them and a suppressor too."
Barnette puts her gift down and gives Keith a big hug, "Thank you, Keith!"
'Normally, I'd be mad at the thought of receiving a gift from a man but since Keith isn't from Tarak, I guess I should be happy. Besides he's been with us for a long time now. You are right, Keith, this gift has cheered me up!' She thought.
Keith replied, "You're welcome! Now I need to go and meet Meia." He stands by the stream, waiting patiently for his friend to show up.
Meia heads to the garden as fast as she could. She spots him by the stream just like he said.
Meia said, "OK, Keith I'm here."
The young pilot took a breath, "You know, Christmas is my second favorite holiday." He slowly turns to face Meia; the light emanating from the crystals next to him added a subtle glow to his deep blue eyes that made them shine. As she looked at him, she notices that his eyes were not filled with anger, hatred or sadness. The crew had managed to reawaken emotions that Keith lost after Katrina's death: happiness, serenity and so forth.
Keith continued, "Why don't we dance first?"
The blue-haired woman wondered, "Why? There is no music playing."
The 16-year old replied, "Because I want to. As for the music I know just the one for this moment." He inserts a CD into the stereo he found in the storage room.
Keith extends his hand, "Meia would you honor to have a dance with me?"
"Sure." Meia said with a blush on her face. They begin to dance as the lyrics start to play. He selected the song that Katrina used in singing contests and to him whenever they were alone.
"I just feel the 'Rythm Emotion'
The beat of my heart reaches out to you, so far away
It's OK if I get hurt.
I want to live passionately and intensely
without turning my eyes away.
Unknown to them the crew were watching them through the monitor inside the commons to further see what the relationship between men and women was like, Keith and Meia didn't care about it
Because it was you who gave me the strength
to never give up, I want to embrace you.
I just feel the 'Rythm Emotion'
Mistakes and pain
lead us to a brilliant, momentary light.
I just feel the 'Rythm Emotion'
The beat of my heart reaches out to you, so far away
Keith and Meia danced like they were at a school prom.
Keith commented, "For someone who has never danced before, you're pretty good for a first timer."
Meia replied, "I can say the same thing about you."
Yeah...Lithely accepting this moment
with my bare skin,
I want to find more "gentleness!"
Take back the miracle of your youth,
when everything shined.
I just feel the 'Rythm Emotion'
I believe in the kindness
of feeling and understanding each other's heartbreak.
I just feel the 'Rythm Emotion'
With this kiss, I want to show a definite passion to you, so far away...
As the lyrics briefly stop and a piano takes over, Keith said, "You see, Meia. I wanted to talk about us. We have known each other for quite some time now I want to turn our friendship into something more special. What I'm trying to say is that I...I..."
'What is it? What?' Were the rampant thoughts running through Meia's mind!
The words finally came out of Keith's mouth, "I love you."
Tears form in her eyes but nonetheless Meia smiled and hugged him, "I love you too, Keith. I don't know how it happened but I don't care. I really love you!" Meia said as she layed her head on his chest. They both stop and look at each other with love in their eyes.
Keith looked up and smirked, "Look up and see what I found." Meia did what he said and giggled.
She said with a warm smile, "It's always been tradition to kiss someone under a mistletoe during Christmas." She sees him nod with a gentle smile of his own.
They look at each other for a moment before starting to lean their faces toward one another's. Meia can feel her heart beat faster then their lips met. Meia blushes again with a deeper shade of pink. Her Mejale instincts tell her to stop this and get this taste out of her mouth but her new feelings are telling her to accept the kiss.
'Her lips are so soft and they taste like strawberries.' Keith thought as he continued to passionately kiss the new love of his life.
This goes on for a few minutes before they stop to get air.
When they did they couldn't deny now what they feel about each other, "That wasn't the only thing I wanted to give you." He said.
Meia asked with a little smirk, "What else could you give me?"
"This." Keith told her as he took off the ruby necklace that he wore 24/7 and puts it around Meia's neck.
Meia protested, "But Keith, Katrina gave you this! I can't accept it!"
Keith explained, "But I want you to have this. Look Meia, this my choice. It looks nice on you, and I want you to wear it because I respect you not as my superior but as a person. It has kept me from being consumed by the ravages of war and no matter how hard the situation may be, a part of me will be in that necklace and in your heart." He hugs Meia in a warm embrace.
"Oh, Keith...Thank you!" She said as she returns the hug. For some unknown reason to her, she felt that a great weight has been lifted from her heart and soul.
'From this day forward I no longer follow the teachings that Mejale taught me about men. I will accept my new feelings with all that I am.' She happily vowed.
'I will always protect you, Meia and this crew.' Keith thought as he continued to hug Meia under the falling snow.
He snuggles closer to Meia, which she gladly responds back by snuggling closer to him as well. Keith feels a tear running down his cheek. He feels some of the emptiness in his heart disappear and be replaced by warmth. He felt safe around Meia and the others. The lyrics start their final string.
I just feel the 'Rhythm Emotion'
Mistakes and pain
lead us to a brilliant, momentary light.
I just feel the 'Rtythm Emotion'
The beat of my heart reaches out to you, so far away."
Surprisingly the kitchen occupants scream at what they're seeing it was not of protest but of joy. Barnette has a big smile on her face as she looked at her two leaders embracing each other.
Duero approaches Parfet and presents her a painting.
Parfet asked, "What's this?"
Duero answered, "Well, this is a painting of a star with planets orbiting it. It was Keith's suggestion." Parfet looks at the picture and to her surprise it was expertly painted with great detail.
She said, "Thank you." When Hibiki wakes up he screams in anger as he missed out on all the tasty food. He is about to march into the kitchen when he sees a plate of food with plastic wrapping around it on the desk in his room. On the edge of the plate he spots a note.
He picks it up and read it, "Hibiki, I've asked Barnette to save some of the food for you after you woke up, take the plastic wrapping off and place the food into the microwave oven. Enjoy. Keith Oswell. Oh yeah, and Merry Christmas." Hibiki smiles as he saw that some of the food was saved for him. He followed his instructions and hopped the food into the microwave oven then chows down.
The Nirvana crew enjoys this moment of relaxation because they know that the Harvesters will be more determined than ever to take their body parts and use them for their own purposes, not to mention that they've got Arms Forts and NEXTs with their pilot's soul trapped in them. This war will become more violent and bloodier. Keith knows that he also needs to tell the crew that he actually comes from a planet where these Harvesters are coming from.
A/N: Chapter 10 done. There are a few things that I need to lie down.
First, I brought the Eclipse Arms Fort from the Armored Core: For Answer video game into this story.
Second, the song that I used during the romance scene between Keith and Meia at the garden is Rhythm Emotion by Two-Mix. It's used in the second opening of one of my all-time favorite anime, Gundam Wing.
I changed the painting that Duero gives to Parfet because personally I didn't like the idea of painting blood so it was changed to a star with planets orbiting it. I'm not doing anything out of Duero's character I just decided to tweak Duero's Christmas present a bit. Everything else that the doctor does will remain the same just like in the anime.
Third, the HK-416 carbine assault rifle is a future replacement for the M-4 of the U.S. Army. It's being tested on if it'll still work even after being submerged in water, sand or thick mud in the battlefield's environment.
Forth, I've decided to bring in the Answerer AF during the mission where the Nirvana crew turns that planet into a star since that's a big battle.
Read and review.
Chapter 11 will be up soon.
Vader 23A.