A/N: Been less than the usual time it takes for me to upload, I guess...
Knives91 - Thanks. I've got less school now, but more work I guess. Still, I think I'll be more active in writing.
godofmadness43 - I kind of wonder about that too...thanks for the review.
Vader23A - Well, I'm not exactly a master of subtlety...thanks for liking the story!
Good news. I resolve to finish this fic within this year! Jai here's 23 years old, and I'd thought this fic would be done by the time I was that age. Haha! Belated happy 5th birthday to this fic too. LOL.
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CHAPTER 14
Set to Music
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The holiday festivities were over too soon for Dita, it seemed, even if they were already over for two days.
"But Mister Alien hasn't given me a proper Christmas present yet!" she complained. She and Hibiki were idling at one of the park benches with Jai, Parfet, Meia and Ezra.
"Idiot!" The Tarak mechanic shot back, "And what sort of present were you expecting?!"
"What present did you give her, Hibiki?" Jai asked, curious. Dita and Hibiki were not among those at the party venue by the time things were winding down.
Dita brightened up and answered, "Actually, it was a...mmmph!"
She was interrupted by Hibiki suddenly covering her mouth with one of his hands. "Hahaha! It was nothing! Hey, don't we have stuff to do at the hangar? Come on..." he then literally carried her out of the place.
Everyone else just watched them leave.
"Well, that was interesting..." Jai said at last. He had his guitar and was strumming a few songs. He had just finished a Christmas carol when Dita brought the topic regarding the celebrations up; and thus she ended up being dragged away so Hibiki could save himself from embarrassment.
"I think I have an idea what it was..." Ezra said, not looking surprised. She really DID seem to have an idea of what it was – and by her expression, it was something that seemed very amusing.
Parfet giggled. By the looks of it, she also had some notion, as well as a similar sort of present...probably from Duero or someone, Jai speculated, only half-thinking about the whole thing – he was beginning another song, a slow ballad by a little-known alternative/acoustic band, on guitar.
Meia just shrugged. If she had any idea of what was going on, she didn't show it. The shadow of a contented smile was playing on the corner of her lips, however, as she looked up at the dome overhead.
It was soon after when a NAVI droid drifted into the area...rather wobbly, Jai noticed.
"Pyoro!" Parfet exclaimed, "Are your systems check diagnostics all done?"
The droid shot her a weary look. "Apparently, I just need to wait for the effects of the Hyper-Charge to drain away, and I'll be better..."
Meia and Jai looked at Parfet puzzlingly. Jai voiced out what they were both thinking: "What happened?"
The mechanic answered, "Well, you can say that Pyoro here also had a party during Christmas. Although that Hyper-Charge fluid is taking a long time to clear from your system..." this last she directed to Pyoro. The droid just shrugged in response.
"Come to think of it," Parfet continued, "how come you're out here, and not at the engineering bay?"
"Uh...I thought I'd get some fresh air..." Pyoro replied feebly.
"Excuse me..." Parfet told her human companions. To Pyoro, "You're a DROID! You don't even NEED air!" Parfet then plucked the robot in midair and began trudging off. "I will strap you to the worktable if I need to!"
"NO! It's too booooooring in there! There's absolutely nothing to do! HELP ME!" Pyoro wailed as the two left.
Everyone just watched them leave, much like when Hibiki and Dita left earlier.
"Hmm," Jai said, "seems like everybody's dragging everyone else around today..." He then began playing another song, this time one with a light, pop-sounding, and almost comedic melody.
Several more minutes passed when the PA system announced: "Ezra Vieil, you are requested at the bridge immediately. Repeat..."
Ezra looked puzzled. "I wonder, what could be the problem? Oh well, I'll see you two later." She then got up and left as well.
Jai chuckled. "Seems like even Ezra isn't an exception to what's been going on. Don't you have anything to do right now, Meia?"
"Not really," was her quiet reply. Meia seemed to be enjoying the reprieve from anything strenuous for a while. Jai thought she needed – deserved – the relaxation. He began the next song...something mellow, perhaps.
Even during the opening notes, Meia felt a sudden chill through her spine.
Jai sang. "I see trees of green, red roses too...I see them bloom, for me and you. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world."
Meia's eyes were wide open, looking at some hideous invisible specter in the darkness of the dome above. She was trembling where she sat.
He noticed during the lapse in lyrics, and stopped immediately. "Meia?"
Slowly, she turned her ashen face towards him. "That song..."
Jai replied slowly. "'What a Wonderful World'. It was popular even decades before my own time. Is anything the matter?" Something was definitely bothering her...
Perhaps...the song?
Jai deemed the idea farfetched, if not very, very improbable. How could she remember something that 'ancient'? He asked again, "Meia?"
But almost immediately, Meia stilled her countenance, once more donned her mask. She said sternly, "...it's nothing."
"Are you sure?" Jai supposed he was pushing it a little, but went on anyway. "We could talk about it if..."
"I said it was nothing!" Meia snapped.
He relented. Psychiatric and personal problems were not exactly his forte, even before starting medicine school.
After a while of silence, Meia sighed. She looked about to say something when all of a sudden, alarms flashed throughout the ship.
The PA system blared. "Attention! All crew to battle stations! Dreads prepare to deploy! Meia please report immediately! Repeat..."
The two looked at each other and nodded before dashing out towards the hangar.
Some things could wait for later.
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"Status report!"
Barnette was the first to her Dread. Others were scrambling to the bridge, the hangar, or the service bay. If all the chaos onboard the Nirvana was any indication, it looked like something really big was afoot.
'And Christmas just ended besides...' she thought glumly while waiting for the reply.
It was Celtic Midori on the other side of the communications link. "Many of the approaching vessels are the same as those we encountered in the last battle...though there are a lot more now, and some new ones as well..." Her voice was clearly tinged with worry.
"Doesn't look good..." Barnette muttered, also anxious.
Someone seemed to be announcing something at the bridge. Midori listened for a while, and then returned to Barnette. "New information! It seems that their mother ship is also here...and it's a big one."
Barnette now did nothing to hide her increasing concern. "Damn it! Do they plan to destroy us now?!"
Another face appeared onscreen. It was Meia. "All Dreads listen up! We will split into two groups: I will lead Squad A with Barnette and join the Black Vanguard of Jai to take out the enemy mother ship; Jura will lead Squad B with Dita and join Hibiki's Gold Vanguard to defend the Nirvana. Is that understood?"
Everybody replied a reasounding, "Yes, captain!"
Barnette started her Dread's thrusters. 'Well, whatever,' she thought as she sped off.
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Jai sat in the Black Vanguard, waiting to take off. Turns out he'd be part of the group that will rush the enemy command ship. It sounded like a suicide mission...what with all the other enemy ships around. He figured he'll just try to do as much damage as he could, while avoiding being shot down.
The 'plan' sounded simple enough. It just also sounded very reckless.
He closed his eyes for a moment to calm himself, and saw in his mind's eye a blue glowing sphere...pulsating ever so slightly.
'This was...in the engine room...' he thought, remembering. 'I'll have to ask Parfet after this is over...'
He blasted off into the beyond. The darkness of space never ceased to hold him in awe, and he took a moment to wonder at the cosmos around him.
*WHAM*
'Piece of...my bad...' he cursed silently as other laser rounds whizzed past his Vanguard from behind. Quickly, he righted himself and charged, sword easily hacking the couple of enemy drones that sped towards him.
"Whew. There's the huge command ship...and WHOA...!" What he thought were stars in the distance were actually enemy fighters; and to say there were a lot was a grave understatement.
'Even saying there's a crapload of them is an understatement!' Jai felt a mix of sinking hopelessness and invigorating thrill at the situation.
Even as he moved, Dreads were mobilizing at his flank in formation.
Meia appeared onscreen. "Are you all right?"
"Huh? Oh, y-yeah, fine..." he was a little embarrassed at his folly, catching enemy fire in the back first thing out.
She nodded, and then adjusted something on communications. "Everyone concentrate. Our part of the mission is the hardest. Engage any hostiles that come too close, but keep moving towards the mother ship. Find a weak spot and hit hard and fast..."
'Yeah, with this many fighter drones against us, we'd get overwhelmed in no time,' Jai deduced. They were closing in fast with the next wave of enemies.
"...and for those who will need repairs, signal me then return to the Nirvana. That is all." She then closed the communication link.
"...and be careful," Jai added, though only he could hear.
He rushed forward, the platoon of Dreads at his side.
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Meia's head was pounding, and she hadn't even launched yet.
She had gone over their possible options quickly with the bridge crew, and there was no avoiding a skirmish. The Nirvana was unlikely able to outrun their enemies, and there was no telling how many of them there were, even. The best option was to attack head-on and, with any luck, see a swift end to the battle.
'Hopefully, the lead ship doesn't have many defenses of its own,' Meia pondered.
Jai had just launched. He hovered for a few seconds, and then was hit by a laser shot from behind.
Her initial alarm was supplanted by a slight irritation, 'What the heck is he doing?' thenwonderment as he cut down two vagrant fighters.
It was her turn, and soon she was out on the battlefield. The first thing she did was link to Jai. "Are you all right?" she asked.
He looked a little awkward. His answer was too. "Huh? Oh, y-yeah, fine..."
She nodded, relieved. Contacting also the other Dreads of Squad A, she repeated their mission objectives and specifics.
When she had closed the link, she heard someone add a comment. "...and be careful."
It was Jai. 'And that too. Thank you,' she thought, as they commenced the charge.
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Squad A and the Black Vanguard had gone ahead. Though they felled some of the smaller enemy ships in their advance, more were racing towards the Nirvana.
"Damn! They aren't going to go easy on us, aren't they?" Hibiki snorted. In truth, he wanted to lead the charge on the enemy command ship; instead, he was stuck babysitting home base.
He somehow felt he'd been cheated, probably due to the fiendish scheming of the Mejale, preferring the 'wanderer' over the 'true Tarak'.
"And why do I have to stay with you?!" He yelled.
Dita was strangely in high spirits despite their potentially dire situation. "Aw, c'mon Mr. Alien...protecting the Nirvana is also a very important job." It didn't help Hibiki's mood that she always hovered close to him whenever the chance arose.
"Hey, you two! Focus! They're approaching!" Now it was Jura who was shouting.
"Yeah, yeah..." the Tarak pilot mumbled.
Then B.C. appeared onscreen. "Squad B! Your task is paramount to the success of the entire mission. The Nirvana is not without its own shields or armaments, but these alone are not enough against such an amassment of enemies. You must carry out your orders with your all..."
Hibiki let the rest of the speech drone on without even listening. They were probably going to spout about the 'glory of Mejale' or something stupid, and he didn't even want to think of hearing it.
Hibiki looked around. The Squad B ships were more spread out, having to cover more space in defense. He was at the center of the general formation, directly in front of the Nirvana. This was also probably part of the Mejale plan to get rid of him more easily...
"Mister Alien! Here they come!"
The exclamation from Dita woke him from his inner griping so suddenly, he gave a start. But instead of complaining more, he seemed to be instantly fired up. Defense was a more important task, for more capable hands. He was at the center of the formation because he was the cornerstone of the whole operation.
"Yeah! They're going down!"
The part of him that wanted to shout that line against the Mejale died down within him...for now.
And the battle began. Hibiki wasn't really paying attention to anything else, save the battle drones that were unfortunate enough to get too close to him. He slashed and sliced, thrust and smashed, even kicked and punched, and enemies were exploding left and right.
He was, as he put it, on a roll.
Hibiki finally surveyed the battlefield, and his elation was suddenly gone. Every wave of enemies they felled only brought two more, and even more were still approaching. In several places, Dreads were ganged-up on and severely damaged. Their numbers were slowly declining, while the enemies' were increasing at a faster rate.
"They really aren't going easy..." he grumbled, only partly blaming the Mejale for their slowly collapsing defense of the ship.
"Mister Alien!"
He whipped his Vanguard around. There, being chased by twelve or so enemy fighters, was Dita. She was being shot at, and was slowly falling behind.
"Idiot! How did you get separated from formation?!" As he spoke, be was already speeding towards her.
"I'm sorry! They're just too much to...AAAH!" A beam connected with her right thruster, and her Dread was starting to corkscrew dangerously.
'Almost there...' Hibiki mentally willed his buddy to fly even faster. 'I will make it in time!'
"Come on!" He didn't even notice the part of him that was asking why he was even trying so hard for just this one Mejale in particular; all he was aware of was that he should make it in time...or else.
He also didn't notice at first that he was closing his eyes, tightly.
When he did realize, and opened them, he saw Dita spiraling directly towards him. It was too late to avoid a collision.
He opted not to look, and was sure she did the same. They both screamed, bracing for impact.
Only, there was none. A bright light filled their surroundings. The sensation was almost bizarre; everything around seemed to be shifting in different directions, but no crash.
Hibiki stopped shouting, but was too afraid to look.
Then he noticed something soft was pressed in front of him all of a sudden. He did venture a peek then...
...and was more than surprised to find Dita sitting right in front of him. She appeared to be unconscious.
That didn't stop him from yelling. "What the heck is this?!"
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The clash near the Nirvana was fierce, the Dreads (and Vanguard) outnumbered more than ten to one. At the same time, Bart was frantically trying to maneuver, or rather try to avoid getting hit.
"However..." Parfet mumbled, observing the battle from the bridge.
"However?" Magno repeated.
"These enemies don't seem to be trying to analyze our attack patterns. I mean, they're the same types, but these are just attacking like normal, I guess..." the mechanic replied.
"I DON'T CARE! Their lasers still HURT!" Bart exclaimed painfully from his control station.
Magno was only a little irked, and mostly amused at that last comment. "Are you a coward, or what? Don't let a little sting get you all worked up!" To Parfet, she said in a more serious tone, "That does seem to be the case. Maybe they're thinking sheer numbers could overwhelm us that easily?"
"I hope not..." Parfet did little to hide her concern.
The battle outside raged on, moments seeming to go on for hours. Little by little, the Dread forces were thinning, sustaining more casualties. Gascogne's support crew was an immense help, but still didn't seem enough.
"At this rate..." B.C. started worriedly, when a distress call came from the engine room.
"Status!" Parfet immediately answered. The image was projected to the whole bridge.
"Boss..." The woman at the other end was trembling. "We're not really sure what's happening, but the pexis..."
"What's happening with the pexis pragma?!" Parfet suddenly wished she was at the site as they all saw the entire background area of the engine room glowing blue.
And at the same time, another glow was radiating from somewhere outside on the battlefield.
Ezra was the first to see it, and all she could say was, "Oh my...!"
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Another major skirmish was taking place on the other side of the battlefield. Though far in distance, it was not very different in terms of what was generally happening from the encounter close to the Nirvana.
"Leader! I'm sorry, I've sustained too much damage," a Dread pilot reported.
"Understood. Avoid all combat on the way back," Meia replied just a little tersely. 'That's the fifth one...' she sighed. Somehow a strong feeling of exhaustion suddenly washed over her. She would have closed her eyes in weariness, but would not allow herself to, with all the frantic fighting around.
Majority of the enemy forces headed for the Nirvana, and were probably facing the defensive battery there, but still a substantial number of fighters remained – a lot more than Meia had expected, at least.
'That doesn't change our objective...we'll have to punch a hole straight ahead...'
Though Jai was the center of the formation, and she only the first wing, Meia was still in charge of the unit. She led the slowly-decreasing pack of Dreads and Vanguard past barrages of enemies towards the command ship, which now seemed all the more menacing, not to mention huge.
Immediately, Squad A let loose with whatever firepower they had, peppering the hulking vessel from starboard to port with lasers and missiles, and even slashes from Jai's blade, all the while avoiding hostile fire.
Meia was struggling not to collapse in her seat. She was having trouble breathing, and the controls of her Dread were heavy in her hands.
Her heart further sank when all their attacks seemed to do absolutely nothing to their target.
'What's going on...?'
Jai appeared onscreen. "Meia!" His expression was suddenly fraught with worry. "Are you okay?" His Vanguard was some ways away.
"I-I'm fine...it's just..."
From the corner of her eye, something bright exploded. It was dangerously close to the Nirvana.
'What...?!'
"Look out!"
She was turning to see what had happened, when Jai rushed towards her and blocked a careening missile with his blade. The impact sent him hurtling right for her Dread.
Even then, she was only half-aware of the scene in front of her. Part of her was still pondering the flash of light near the Nirvana.
Meia then finally closed her eyes, from sheer fatigue. She had a vague notion that something was supposed to happen to her...but it wasn't happening – like falling but never hitting the ground. Instead, a white glow seemed to surround her for a moment; and then she was aware of a presence right in front of her.
Firm hands shook her gently, feeling her head and neck. "Meia, are you okay?"
The voice sounded like Jai. 'Why are you here?' she wanted to ask, but she said, "Where am I?"
She opened her eyes to see him, sitting close directly in front of her. "It looks like you have a fever." He paused and looked around. "As for your question, that's...something I'd also like to know..."
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A/N: Lots of POV changes in here...which I don't consider a bad thing, really. It turns out like an episode in the series, I think. At least this one isn't filler material.
Cliffhanger! I don't know how long the next chapter will take, since I'm still working on how certain details will work out...or at least how they will look like. Haha.