Chapter 14: The Final Battle, Part 2

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

Vandread Raven: The Second Stage

Utan fires all of her machine's weapons at the Harvest units in front of her the enemy explodes like a volcano. The orangutan lets out a big sigh.

Rabat looked at the monitor that showed the depleted ammunition and groaned, "Geez, biggest waste of money in the whole universe!"

Gascogne came up on the screen and said, "Looking for some bullets? I'll sell them to you cheap."

The former trader replied, "Come on, you know I need them." Then he gasped as he saw the Big Boy unleash a huge laser barrage that either severely damaged or destroyed allied ships. The attack spooks Utan as she let out a yelp. The Nirvana shakes from the impact.

BC ordered, "Hold her steady! All teams report status to damage control!"

In the helm Bart exclaimed, "You want status? She's not responding at all!"

In the ship's engine room Parfet saw the Pexis engulfed in a red color.

She said, "I don't believe it! The Pexis is frozen up, it won't budge!"

Magno said, "This is not good."

Rabat said through a monitor, "No question about it. Whatever you guys did, you certainly got the folks from Earth pissed off in a big way for them to go this extreme." Super Vandread deactivates the shield it used to protect itself from the attack.

Hibiki growled, "God! They sure have a nasty way of saying hello, don't they?"

Dita asked, "I wonder why the Pexis from Earth is red?"

Pyoro answered, "The Pexis is a being that changes, reflecting the hearts of those who touch it. Red is the color of danger a closed heart that does not accept others."

Meia recited the sentence, "A closed heart that doesn't accept others."

Dita exclaimed, "Why?" Close by, Keith and Canis battle against the large squadron of 70 prototype NEXTs.

These machines were test models and as such they weren't heavily armed and had many weak spots that a NEXT pilot could exploit. The only danger the prototype had was the large, destructive blade it had on its left arm.

The pilots had to time their attacks accordingly because they were surrounded at the moment.

Two prototypes close in from Canis' eleven o'clock high, Savage Beast fires its right back mounted GAN-01-SS chain cannon at them. The armor-piercing rounds tear right through the thin armor plating. The two prototype NEXTs blow up and Canis locks on to more.

Keith just got done avoiding an all range blade attack by 5 prototypes and pulls out the Karasawa Mk 3 laser rifle and opens fire. Before he fired again, the beam weapon changes into the twin barreled plasma rifle that he has when Black Dragon combines with Meia's Dread to form Red Angel. A creepy smile forms on Keith's face as he briefly looked at the gun. A warning alarm snaps the American from his inspection and he spots 20 enemy units closing in on his position, Black Dragon splits the plasma rifle into two separate ones and fires, the black NEXT spins in a full circle destroying the prototype NEXTs as it did. A minute later, Black Dragon stops the spin and puts the two rifles together to form a single one again.

The unknown NEXT, Black Star, watches the battle unfold. With the team work of Keith and Canis, Black Star's escort is gone, leaving only the evil Armored Core.

Black Star draws its beam lance and a red energy blade comes out from both sides of the hilt. Savage Beast pulls out its own beam saber and the three machines collide. Violet, blue and red blades clash as they compete in a test of strength.

Back with Super Vandread, Hibiki felt a presence coming from the planet destroyer.

He said, "You may not accept others but you're going to have to rather you like or not!" Fakedread Dita, Meia and Jura attempt to stop them but only to get cut down by the machine's sword, the planet destroyer fires its beam cannon at Super Vandread, causing it to defuse. The three Dread pilots are thrown back.

Pyoro has his face buried between Jura's breasts.

She demanded, "Get away from me!" Hibiki pushes forward, somehow getting through that strange shield. The Dread pilots follow but get trapped inside the shield.

Barnette told Magno, "That shield can't be broken with just Dreads"

Valore asked, "What should we do?"

Magno stated, "It looks like everything is in the hands of those kids now. Barnette! Valore! You two take command of the Dreads there are still plenty of enemies here to deal with!"

Both pilots responded in unison, "Roger!"

Jura asked, "What is this pressure?"

Meia wondered as well, "Is this another ability of the Pexis?"

Dita cried, "Mr. Alien, are you alright? Mr. Alien!"

Hibiki wakes up to find himself in some sort main room. He looks up to see a boy looking at him with a cold and blank stare.

The Tarak teen asked, "Are you an Earthling?" Then he feels a near bone crushing pressure pressing against him, "You bastard!"

The boy said, "Resistance is futile." Three monitors appear to show the Dread pilots.

Meia asked, "Was that your voice I just heard?"

The boy went on, "The Pexis seems to have developed an interest in you. You have somehow gained powers by synchronizing with it. You are all incomplete."

Hibiki groaned, "Incomplete? I'll tear you apart for treating people like cattle!" The enemy applies more pressure to the young Tarak and he falls down dislocating his left shoulder. Hibiki screams in agony.

The enemy said, "Zen, leader of Tarak and Anri, leader of Mejale. Thanks to your efforts Earth is eternal. Thank you!"

On the Nirvana's bridge Misty demanded with anger, "What's so eternal about this? Tell me!"

The boy explained, "It's because of our existence that you were even born, don't you believe it is only for you to return the favor for our benefit? But you continue to get in our way throughout the universe and at this rate, Earth will crumble. So we chose the best method for mankind's prosperity. We are all children of Earth we can't allow ourselves to perish. You will continue to live on as a part of us!"

Duero agreed, "In a way, he does have a point."

The Harvest leader finished, "In regards of those unfortunate to die, you should be happy that you are able to die! Not everyone has that trait. All of you have that special destiny. Rejoice in your destiny!"

Bart said, "Geez, he's even more of a chatterbox than me! And he's rotten too."

'Having your organs torn from your body is not what I would call a special destiny! Life must go on without you organ-stealing fiends!' Empio thought in outrage.

Ezra mumbled, "To save the Earth?"

Misty cried, "Come on, don't be pessimistic! Come on, you guys!" Realizing that her words weren't getting through the others Misty began to get depressed.

Dita denied, "No! Call it what you want but it's nothing more than straight out genocidal murder!"

The boy offered, "Come now, little one open your heart. This operation has beauty in it! Don't you believe that giving up a human life for another is the most honorable thing for a human being?"

The redhead shook her head, "No you're wrong! I may be a klutz but there is no one who treasures peoples' feelings more than I do! I would gladly give my life to the people I care about but it's my choice and nothing will change it!"

The Harvest leader exclaimed, "What?"

Jura agreed, "Dita that was great. Listen up you runt, no matter how powerful or how important you think you are, you will never have the ability to truly open someone's heart!"

Meia added, "Regardless of what happens, our lives are finite. We all know we'll grow old and then one day our lives will end. That's why we intend on living every day to its fullest. That's why we continue to move onward through trial and error so we leave a sign mark for our descendants to follow. To cowards who hide in the shadows have no idea what the future holds, even if it's just around the corner!"

Rabat laughed out loud, "That was great! These guys are so entertaining! They deserve an Academy Award!"

The Harvest leader sighed, "Believing in the future is one of the rumblings of the weak, now you're beginning to bore me!"

Pyoro informed, "What an annoying little brat!"

Their adversary heard Hibiki laugh, "Damn, I must have sounded really mature when I thought I found proof of my existence but now I understand that what I need to conquer is myself. Keith has taught me that one must face their weaknesses in order to become stronger. The thing that's stopping me is my fear!"

The Harvest leader laughed, "You still have much to learn, little one."

Hibiki managed to get up to a kneeling stance and chuckled, "You think you're winning the game here but that's not true." The enemy puts more pressure on Hibiki but he went on, "You don't want to admit it but you guys are scared too, am I right? There's one big difference between you and me. Do you know what that is? I got myself a bunch of friends that believe in me and people who treat me like family and scold me whenever I do something wrong. You're all alone and do not want listen to your own heart. In comparison to that, taking care of you is a joke!" The Pexis inside the Nirvana returns to its normal shining blue.

Their enemy said to Hibiki, "I truly hate you!" Two crimson blades appear out of nowhere and cut the young Tarak. Hibiki looked at hand blood covered hand before the Harvest leader demanded, "You should go away!" With his incredible power he telekinetically pushes Hibiki back into his Vanguard and threw him and the Dreads out of the shield.

Hibiki saw the beam cannon detach from the ship and asked, "Oh yeah, so you're going to run away like a coward?"

The Harvest leader screamed, "Everyone must die!" Suddenly a powerful miniature wormhole appears. The enemy leader teleports himself into Black Star just as Keith launches a counter strike.

Jura wondered, "What is that?"

Rabat looked at the object and his visible eye went wide in terror, "That doesn't look good at all!"

Parfet observed the Pexis and fear ran down her spine, "Oh that's bad!" She contacted Magno, "Captain, it seems to be reacting the same way when we were thrown into a different sector of the galaxy."

BC replied, "At that time, a wormhole appeared by the Pexis' self-preservation instinct. It's not surprising that it would react like this."

Pyoro came up on the screen and explained, "But this isn't self-preservation! They are using the energy you guys make to create a wormhole to tangle up time and space!"

Misty blinked in confusion, "I don't understand."

Pyoro screamed, "They're trying to destroy everything on this side of the galaxy!" The words sunk in after that.

Bart panicked, "There's nowhere to run!"

Magno growled in fury, "That's just great! They certainly have succeeded in making the Pexis a bloodthirsty monster!" Hibiki attempts to be a hero and close the wormhole by sacrificing himself but Dita wouldn't allow her lover to do such a thing as her Dread combined with Hibiki's Vanguard to form Vandread Dita.

Hibiki whined, "Why did you have to go and do that?"

Dita giggled, "We're far stronger than you can ever hope to be when we are together." She ties her left hand to Hibiki's left hand; this made the Vandread's left hand useful and drives its gauntlet into the barrel.

Dita wanted Hibiki to say her name but Jura interrupted, "Hey guys, it's heartwarming and all right now but can we get down to business?"

Pyoro chimed, "Let's close the gate with one shot from Vandread Pyoro!" Hibiki could only shake his head. The four combine and Super Vandread dissipates the red shield.

Amarone stated, "Super Vandread has entered the area, it's putting up a shield!" Excruciating pain hits Magno's chest again as she tries to inhale fresh oxygen into her lungs.

Belvedere added, "The gate is putting enormous pressure on them!"

BC shouted, "Don't overdo it!"

Hibiki chuckled, "Don't overdo it? That's only for people who don't enough breathing room!"

Keith destroys the twin Gatling guns on Black Star's left arm as his enemy could only gasp in horror as his plan was being foiled.

Keith said, "Planet Earth has been dying even before I was born! I won't let you destroy mankind's golden age because of this damn harvesting operation that you are doing! I will rip you to shreds!" Black Star unleashes another blast of kinetic energy and this one blows off some of Black Dragon's armor, exposing its steel skeleton. The entire left side of the Armored Core's face armor was destroyed and its mechanical face is now exposed, parts of the core armor, leg armor and on the arms are also gone some shrapnel tear through Keith's left sleeve of his g-suit and gave him cuts. He ignores the small inconvenience and continues his fight.

Savage Beast fires its WHEELING-01 multi-chain missile launcher at Black Star, the projectiles hit home as bits of enemy armor fly off. Sensing his inevitable defeat the Harvest leader teleports away, Keith plans to give chase.

He said, "Hey Canis care to join me in this goose-chase?"

Canis nodded, "Sure. Let's go, Keith!" The two activate their respective machine's overed booster and chase Black Star. The chase ends in a nearby asteroid field. The Demons of Hell look left and right to find their target.

Canis taunted, "Where are you, freak you afraid to face us?" Keith senses the enemy's presence and blocked an attack from behind Black Star vanishes into the field again.

Keith ordered, "Stop being a coward and get your ass out here and fight like a warrior! Don't be shy, bitch!" Black Dragon turns around in time to punch Black Star in the gut before firing its OGOTO grenade cannon, sending his foe crashing through an asteroid. The enemy machine slowly gets up and continues to put up resistance. Keith fixes his Armored Core's regeneration ability and the damage done to Black Dragon heals instantly. Black Dragon raised its beam saber and strikes down but is blocked by Black Star's beam lance, the Harvest leader attempts to launch slashing attacks of his own but are thwarted by Black Dragon's 07-Moonlight beam saber. The enemy fires a Kojima missile at the American's machine but Keith activates the AMS to increase his reaction time and Black Dragon kicks the projectile away.

Super Vandread continues to struggle against the wormhole as pieces of its armor break off to show its glowing interior.

Hibiki shouted, "Hold on!"

Meia added, "Just look at our future! We'll fight to defend it!"

Pyoro said to the Pexis, "Friends: things to be cherished. We must protect our friends." The Pexis unleashes a massive laser barrage that cancels out the wormhole and defeats its evil twin. Gascogne smiles at the sight.

Barnette shouted, "We did it! We won, yeah!" The Harvest leader looked at the destroyed wormhole and screamed in rage.

Keith gloated, "Looks like your plan on destroying everything on this side of the galaxy has backfired! What a shame!"

His enemy growled, "Damn you, Demons of Hell! Do you have any idea of what you have just done? You sealed Earth's fate!"

Canis laughed, "What we did was saving life from extinction. You caused so much trouble to thriving planets and took so many innocent lives in this operation of yours. Now will you know why Keith and I are the most feared team against our enemies, you shouldn't have let this self-preservation consume you! The planet Earth now can decay for all I care! Leader of the Harvesters, you and your evil ambition will die here!" Their enemy rips off Black Dragon's WHEELING-01 multi-chain missile launcher before readying its beam lance but Black Dragon catches it and spins them around until the close-range weapon was in Black Dragon's hands only.

Keith told him, "You picked the wrong person to fight!" He drives the beam lance into Black Star's right shoulder then superheats Black Dragon's heat whip, making it glow red-hot before swinging it aggressively across the enemy Armored Core's chest. Electrical arcing can be seen as the pilot coughs up blood.

Savage Beast's pilot said, "Welcome to reality, foolish one."

The Harvest leader cursed, "Screw you, you shitheads!"

Keith replied, "Spare me the trash talk. You are the vilest human being I've ever seen you kill innocent people and don't give a damn about the pain and suffering you put on others! Like they say: desperate times call for desperate actions! Canis go back to the Nirvana and inform the crew that I'll be with them in a bit; I want some personal time alone with the leader of the Harvesters. I am going to introduce our little friend here to his new home." Canis shivered as he thought up what place Keith had in mind.

Canis nodded, "Okay, just don't take too long." When Savage Beast left the area, Keith transported him and the Harvest leader to an extremely hot and fiery place.

Keith said, "Welcome to hell, leader of the Harvesters! This is where your eternal suffering will take place! Before I go I will give you a taste of the punishment you'll be experiencing." They both climb out of their NEXTs and land on a large platform made of solidified igneous rock.

All around them were fountains of lava spewing thousands of feet into the air before falling again, the intense heat was unbearable to a mortal but Keith's g-suit was made of material that could withstand extreme heat and had a powerful cooling system.

The Harvest leader charges at Keith only to receive a vicious boot to the face. Keith picks his opponent up and punches him in the face repeatedly before slamming him into the ground. Here the American can vent all of his rage at his opponent.

The Harvest leader growled, "I won't be defeated by a punk like you!" He unleashes a burst of telekinesis to push Keith back, Keith skids back a few feet before he stopped. Utilizing his unrivaled speed, the American quickly closed in and delivers a roundhouse kick to the side of the enemy's face before picking him by the throat and holding him.

Keith informed his foe with a scary facial expression, "You have to be held accountable for your actions. However, the acts that you committed can't be atoned. You used the souls of many dead NEXT pilots against me. Roy Saaland, Katrina, Vora Nork, the list is endless! Even your own automated ships were just tools for you to use. You are a disgrace to all of mankind!" His enemy runs towards Keith only to be thrown over Keith's back and impacted the ground hard, a lava fountain shot up in response.

Demons gather around to watch the spectacle taking place.

Keith creates a sword out of hellfire and the weapon solidifies into hot metal.

The Harvest leader asked, "What are you going to do with that?"

Keith answered, "I could shove this down your throat."

His opponent gloated, "That sounds like fun then what?"

Keith replied in a sadistic tone "And then I pull real hard and as it comes out your stomach and intestines come out along with it. As you lay there in shock staring at your digestive organs sticking out of your body, you slowly bleed internally and you know there's nothing you can do to save yourself as you drown in your own blood."

The Harvest leader cried, "You're a demon! You are psychotic!"

The U.S. NEXT pilot shook his head, "No. I'm fucking pissed over this war with my home world and I want you to suffer for all the sins you committed." He walks forward and stabs his foe with the hot blade. The Harvest leader screams in pain. He attempts to crawl away.

Keith went on, "Do you understand now? This pain is only a taste compared to what is in store for you here!" He drives his weapon into the victim's calves.

One demon laughed darkly, "Keith's burning his ass! I love it!" Keith looks around him and notices that he has drawn an audience as he briefly noticed that this place was like the fire that raged within his soul during this war.

Another demon demanded, "Let us take over in this torture, boy. You head back to your friends!"

Keith nodded, "Very well, demons. The Harvest leader is all yours, have fun!" The sword in Keith's hand vanishes in thin air and he boards his NEXT. He teleports himself to where Canis and the others are which was right next to the Nirvana.

Keith, Canis and Empio remain quiet as they contemplated over their actions in this conflict with Earth. Did they have any doubts, any deep, personal regrets? Perhaps but none of them said a word. Not in the final battle, not when they first arrived in this timeline and not when they faced their home world. Not a word.

Keith deactivates the Dragon's Rage mode as the armor plating on the mouth, shoulders and the wings on the Armored Core's back return to their normal positions. Black Dragon turned its head to see Super Vandread encased in a protective aqua-green shield. Keith smilesas he discovered that his friends were fine.

Inside the machine, the pilots regain consciousness as they look at the sight in front of them.

Jura asked, "What is this?"

Pyoro replied, "It's the Pexis."

Hibiki said, "You're right."

Meia added, "It truly is one of our friends."

Dita's blue eyes shined with happiness, "Thank you!"

Hibiki sighed in content, "We did it. We protected our future!"

Jura laughed lightly, "What makes you sound so awkward? That isn't like you at all!"

The young Tarak rubbed the back of his head, "I've made enough comments for one day. You won't hear anymore from me." Then he noticed that his hand was still tied to Dita's, "You idiot! Why are we still tied up like this?"

Meia smiled, "Are you guys ready? It's time to go back home." A monitor on the Nirvana's bridge shows the damaged Super Vandread standing triumphantly.

Ezra wiped a few tears away, "Thank goodness everyone's alright."

Misty agreed, "Of course they are! We did it, Q-Chan!"

In the helm Bart said, "Good because my arms are stiff!"

BC chuckled, "Oh, brother!" Though she is relieved that the war is finally over!

Magno lightly pounded her chest, "I can't go down just yet. Not until I find out what the future has in store for those kids and besides they're still too reckless to be left alone."

BC agreed, "You are right." Black Dragon's red-hot black armor gradually cools due to the freezing temperatures of outer space.

The NEXTs, Dreads and Vanguard return to the Nirvana as their allied ships return to their respective planets, feeling that their work here is done.

Keith and the others get out of their machines and land on the hanger floor where the crew waited for them. Meia and Barnette are reunited with their boyfriends while Dita escorts Hibiki to the infirmary to have his injuries treated.

Barnette asked, "What happened to the leader of the Harvesters?"

Canis answered, "He's in hell, buried where he belongs!"

Keith said, "We won, Meia."

Meia nodded, "Yes, we did Keith!" Keith and Canis kiss their respective girlfriends as they hear the crew applauding and even a few whistled at the sight. The four blush from the sight.

That night a massive party is held to celebrate the crew's victory in the war with Earth. Keith had an arm around Meia's waist as they stood up to let the delicious food that Dita and Barnette made settle in their stomachs.

Meia looked at Keith's smiling face. 'Will Keith return to his own time period? I hope he doesn't because he's too precious to me!' Meia thought over Keith leaving her.

Keith and Canis get soaked with water as they laughed as they knew that this was part of the celebration.

Later that night, the whole crew sleeps soundly. Tomorrow will be an extraordinary event in the annals of human history in over 100 years: the reunification of the two genders!

As Keith slept, he decides to talk to Anri, the leader of Mejale to reveal his face to that planet and to Tarak as well.

A/N: That's chapter 14 done. Well, the war's over. Earth's harvesting operations has been thwarted and life continues to exist.

Oh yeah, I'm planning on writing a Rosario+Vampire crossover story but I don't know which other story I will use in it.

Here are my top two: Soul Calibur and Legacy of Kain. I don't know which one I should use because both are great game series. I'll let you readers decide.

PM me of which one I should use and I'll see what I can do.

Read and review.

Stick around for the epilogue.

Vader 23A