Vandread GA: The Second Stage
By Fujin777
Disclaimer: I don't own Vandread or anything that references other anime, manga, movies, video games, and comics; they all belong to their respective owners and creators including Gonzo. I do own the things I created; enough said.
Chapter 2: Born in a Spaceship (Part 1)
January 10th 3818 AD; 8:30 am (0830 hours)
It had been only a day since the battle with the Harvesters and the retrieval of the pod that contained the mysterious young female and a tiny object which was being studied.
Right now in the Medical bay of the Nirvana, a good number of the crew was getting the latest of the new person to be picked up from the depths of space.
"According to the information here, this young female's name is Misty Cornwell. She also appears to be 14 years old." Duero said as he continued to monitor the female.
"Or in other terms, she is 14 years old, and then you add 63 years of being in cryonic sleep which puts her chronically at 77 years old which means she was most likely put into cryonic sleep in 3741 AD. *rib bit*." Paiway interjected from Duero's words.
"By your calculations, it would've been a year after the Fujin Gundam's development was put on ice for a certain number of years," Arthur said while standing near the bed.
Duero nodded and spoke, "Yep, that sounds just about right on the money."
"True, true." said Pyoro.
"Hey uh, hate to interrupt, but sleeping beauty here is waking up," Brian spoke up as he was referring to the young lady Misty waking up.
True to his word, Misty started to stir and opened her eyes revealing them to be red which if one were to think about it, Misty's hair and eye color were the opposite of Dita's hair and eye color.
She looked around and saw some of the crew of the Nirvana that had assembled by her bed. Just then, a mysterious light came from one of Misty's earrings and it formed into a blob shaped object near the young lady.
"What the hell is that?" Brain asked confused.
"It's okay Q-Chan," said the female known now as Misty.
After communicating with the odd blob, she sat up though she shivered mainly due to her time in Cryo stasis for over six decades. Duero moved quickly to provide a blanket for Misty to help her warm up from being in Cryo stasis for so long.
"It's the effects of cryonic sleep. You need to get some sleep now." Duero interject as he placed the blanket on the female.
Then like an atom bomb, Misty then turned to look at Duero and spoke, "Wow! You're one pretty handsome man!"
Bella just chuckled at the remark before Bart spoke up next, "Hey, you grew up where men and women coexisted right?"
"What? Are you stupid or something?" Misty asked like she heard the dumbest thing in life right before here.
While Arthur face palmed at Bart's antics, Misty then looked at Arthur before looking at Hibiki and asked Duero who were they.
She then spoke, "Hey, who's the short-harried one and who's the one with the wild hair?"
"Oh, the one standing next to Ezra and Jura is Arthur, Arthur Hanson of Terrain Prime while the guy in front of him is Hibiki and not Bart both who are from the all-male planet of Tarak including myself." Duero said to Misty's question of the guys that she saw near her bed.
"Oh? The long-harried one is Hibiki? How cute!" Misty shouted with glee at the sight of Hibiki.
Hibiki looked confused which then Misty spoke again, "I like to inform you that I'm a rather strong believer in love at first sight. Just like the Red String of Fate."
"What nonsense are you talking about!?" Hibiki asked Misty clearly confused by her actions.
"Oh you're so naïve and your crudeness makes you even cuter, why don't you Hibiki come closer to me please?" Misty asked Hibiki with love in her voice.
While Pyoro was freaking out over the shape shifting abilities Dita on the other hand didn't like this stranger's sudden affections for her Mr. Alien and took action.
"No way! Red is the color of bad aliens!" Dita as she got in front of Hibiki.
While Dita was guarding Hibiki, Paiway nearby wrote in her diary and spoke quietly, "I sense a battle coming. Pai-check!"
For a few moments tension seemed to slimmer in the medical bay before Misty spoke, "Is that red-head girl Hibiki's girlfriend or something?"
"If you're asking about Hibiki and Dita then the answer is currently not at that stage yet because of the culture barriers that still need to be overcome. And also, I apologize for Bart's dumb question for a lesson Brian and I taught has slipped from his mind." Arthur said to Misty asking about Hibiki's single status.
"Are you serious?" Misty asked confused.
Misty then looked at those present in the Medical bay before she spoke again, "Q-Chan, these kids are so weird!"
"Excuse me? It's the other way around kid. If anyone here is weird, it's you!" Jura said while glaring at the teen with an unfriendly glare.
"Easy Jura, forgive her ma'am. If anyone here is a kid, it's you although you're a teen which pretty much a majority of us are from teenage years to early young adult years or from 16 to 24 years of age." Arthur said as he was putting his left hand on her right shoulder to calm her down.
Misty looked baffled before asking, "Where did I end up?"
"You're on the fused Tarak/Mejere ship the Nirvana. Also I hate to say this to you but, you've been asleep Misty for over six decades or about sixty-three years." Brian said near the bed.
"Also aside from Brian, Bella, and I, the rest of this crew come from a system where men and women live separately not to mention are at war with each other which are complete bull if you ask me." Arthur said seconds later as he stood near Jura.
Duero looked at Arthur before he spoke to Misty, "He's correct on the gender issue and Tarak, Mejere, and Terrain Prime have different views on gender issues."
While Misty process the new information, Pyoro was looking at Misty's pet Q-Chan with confusion as the crew stared at the mystery teenager.
"If anything is confusing, it's that weird blob thing around you." Pyoro muttered out loud.
Dita then left the Medical bay with Bella following to see if she could help out. Brian and Arthur stayed for a bit before leaving as well. Everyone else soon left afterwards leaving Paiway with Duero and Misty in the medical bay.
In the Café, Ezra handed a cup of tea to Dita as she sat depressed about the recent events which Bella came in seconds later to help out the best she could.
"Her Dita, have some tea to help clear your mind." Ezra said as she passed Dita the drink to the troubled teen.
"That girl, she's got some nerve to act so shamelessly after coming out of nowhere." Dita grumbled as she took the drink offered by Ezra.
"Hey now, what if you all of a sudden woke up surrounded by complete strangers, I'm sure you'd feel surprise too right?" replied Ezra.
Dita shook her head and spoke, "But she hugged Mr. Alien as soon as she woke up. Not to mention, Mr. Alien doesn't get anger like he does sometimes with me."
Bella sat near her and spoke, "Hey, can't blame her. After all, she's been asleep for sixty-three years and doesn't know that all of us saved her. She'll know in time and don't worry Dita; we'll help if she starts to get out of control."
After reassuring Dita, she then left to talk with Parfet because the pirates head engineer had been working on a little toy and wanted her opinion on it. On the other hand, Magno and Buzam had arrived in the Medical bay to see Misty for themselves.
"So, how is she doc?" Magno asked as she entered the area.
"She's sleeping again now captain. Her body functions are unstable still due to the time she spent in Cryo-sleep. Sleep is the best solution for the time being captain." Duero replied to Magno's question.
"Well, I guess it can't be helped then. We still have to analyze the message that came with this young lady ourselves." Buzam said to Duero while holding the message pod in her left hand.
Buzam then left the Medical bay to analyze the message pod that looked like a mini football, but tiny and had a spotted green orb in the center of the message pod. Bella on the other hand decided to talk to Dita to see if she'd calm down after her trip down to the Engineering bay to retrieve a grappling-like device.
The device could in theory according to Parfet hold an elevator car in place for about ten minutes using strong powerful magnets along with a very strong wire that would allow the elevator car to be held by the ceiling of an elevator shaft long enough for rescue.
The effectiveness on the other hand had yet to be tested. The device looked like a harpoon gun, but had a magnet instead of a spear. Bella arrived back in the café just as Dita continued to speak to Ezra.
"I shouldn't have promised at all Ezra! It's so boring waiting Ezra that it'd be better if I just chased him." Dita grumbled in sadness as she ate a piece of cake.
"Hey he'll come around and besides, she's probably too young for him anyway." Bella said as she walking up to the two females.
Then just as Ezra started to speak by getting Dita's attention, she was overcome by a great pain. This caused both Dita and Bella to get concerned as both got to Ezra wondering what's wrong with her.
"Ezra, what's wrong?" Dita asked with worry in her voice.
"Dita….Bella…the baby." Ezra spoke while in pain.
"Oh no! That means the baby is going to be born now?" Dita asked while looking a bit scared.
Ezra nodded and both pilots moved quickly though Bella had to hold the new grappling device in one hand while using her other hand to help Ezra who clearly was now in labor.
As they walked, Bella quietly cursed that the Terrain Prime ship the TPSDNS Keetongu wasn't here because it had facilities to deal with this type of situation. Down in the Register, Hibiki while sitting at a desk was contemplating on what to do about the new love triangle he gotten himself into.
"Sheesh, what's with her? Calling a man cute? Serious, that female seriously needs to stop making fun of me." Hibiki said to Gascogne who came in and sat across the table from him in deep thought.
"You're saying that Hibiki, but you seem happy." Gascogne said to Hibiki's question and trying to give him an answer.
"What? I'm not happy!" Hibiki said clearly annoyed by Gascogne's answer.
Gascogne raised an eyebrow in confusion before speaking, "Oh really? Why don't you go and fulfill that promise you made to Dita."
Hibiki got a bit flustered before he spoke as he got to his feet, "Hey! It's none of your business okay! Sheesh, everyone around here is so freaking annoying!"
Hibiki then left the Register in a huff while the Register staff and Gascogne looked on before Gascogne said one last thing, as the Tarak youth left.
"This isn't going to work if he keeps this up." Gascogne muttered to herself as she got to work in the Register.
"Really, what the hell did I do anyway?" Hibiki grumbled to himself as he walked the ship's halls confused as hell.
Hibiki then continued to walk along the corridors of the Nirvana trying to figure out the love-triangle situation he was now in. His train of thought was interrupted when Dita and Bella holding Ezra rounded the corner. He was about to run when Dita got his attention.
"Mr. Alien! Help Ms. Bella and I get Ezra to the Medical bay!" Dita shouted loudly to Hibiki while holding up Ezra who the latter was in labor.
"We really could use your help here especially that I have a experimental grappling device in one hand while trying to help Ezra who's baby is about to be born here on this ship!" Bella shouted seconds later.
After all three got Ezra into an elevator, the trio contacted the Medical bay to inform them to get it ready for the baby's arrival. Duero was the first to contact the group while Magno and Paiway stood nearby.
"The labor pains have started?" Duero asked nervously even for a medical doctor.
"Yeah and it seems to hurt really badly! We're bringing her down to the Medical bay so you can look at her!" Hibiki shouted via a communication line to the Medical bay.
"Hibiki calm down, can you give me the details of the situation like what kind of pain you're describing?" Duero asked Hibiki while he was holding a book he'd read beforehand.
While Duero was walking towards a communication post in the Medical bay with the same book Jura read not too long ago, Magno was just baffled at Duero's "Handling" of the situation.
"Is this really okay? I mean, with that?" Magno asked confused as hell.
On the other hand, Buzam was busying trying to analyze the message pod found with Misty with Pyoro helping her. After placing the pod in a device to decipher the message, Buzam went to work right away though she was having a bit of a hard time accessing the pod's data.
"So, anything yet?" Buzam asked Pyoro as she worked.
"Nope it's protected. We'd need a password in order to view this pod's contents, sorry commander," Pyoro replied which told this was a tough nut to crack.
Paiway then contacted Buzam out of the blue while the XO of the Nirvana was trying to figure out the password to the message pod and spoke, "Hey Big news! Ezra's baby is about to be born!"
"What? Are you serious?" Buzam asked pausing from her work.
Pyoro struggled to leave while he spoke, "It's an emergency! This isn't the time for this!"
"Hey now, what are you trying to say? We're on duty Pyoro!" Buzam shouted to the Navi-robot sternly.
Before Pyoro could retort, his screen began to become distorted and then blackened out which right before Buzam's eyes, a domino effect began to happen.
"Pyoro, what's wrong with you?" Buzam asked Pyoro worried about this sudden change.
In the Engineer bay, the Paksis reactor began to shut down which bothered and worried Parfet as this was something she still had to get use to on a day to day basis.
"What now? Are you in a bad mood all of a sudden again!?" asked Parfet.
Before Parfet's eyes, the systems around her were shutting down in rapid succession which she spoke to herself, "What is going on here?"
Back where Buzam was located, Belvedere contacted Buzam while in another part of the ship, Brian and Arthur noticed the ship acting strange and both had a bad feeling that something bad was about to happen and was about to get worse much worse that it already was.
"All ship's systems are down. We've lost control and contamination is spreading extremely fast than we can stop it!" said Belvedere.
"Could it be true that the capsule contained a trap in it?" Buzam asked mentally.
Meanwhile, the elevator holding Dita, Hibiki, Bella, and Ezra in labor stopped and the emergency lights came on much to the group's chagrin especially for Hibiki as this wasn't supposed to happen.
"Oh come on! Of the worst times this could happen," Hibiki grumbled to himself.
"Hey Duero, the elevator has stopped all of a sudden! Do you have any idea what just happened?" Bella asked Duero via intercom.
Hibiki was equally confused and asked, "Yeah doc, what the hell?"
"Hibiki, calm down and listen carefully. There was an accident because currently, all of the ship's power is out. I need to confirm the situation, how's the patient?" Duero replied calmly.
Hibiki replied after a quick look at Ezra, "Don't ask how the patient is! Just get us out of here!"
"Hibiki, that's enough out of you. Ezra and her baby are far more important right now so shut it. Duero as for Ezra, she's experiencing labor pains every three to four seconds which means the baby is very likely going to be born in this elevator," Bella said to both Hibiki and then Duero.
"Bella's correct, those are labor pains which mean that the baby is ready to come out or be born. All three of you listen very carefully, due to the current circumstances; the very worst case scenario is that Ezra will give birth to the baby right there," said Magno.
While this surprised both Hibiki and Dita, Bella on the other hand wasn't surprised because during her times with her mom Sandra Malone who she knows works in a maternity ward were she and her sister live on Terrain Prime, she learned that a baby was occasionally born not in a hospital or at a home, but rather in an unusual location like an elevator.
"Hibiki, give me a quick hand please."
"Why?"
Showing the grappling gun device, Dita and Hibiki helped Bella reach the elevator roof access hatch which she opened, pointed the device which then fired a line straight towards the ceiling shaft which was pretty high, but the hook-magnet attached to the top of the shaft which Bella then secured the gun part to the elevator car and then came back inside the elevator car very carefully.
Back inside the Medical bay, Duero was in disbelief that Ezra's baby would have to be born in the elevator car when he heard a metallic sound along with Paiway and Magno. He assumed it was the elevator and resumed monitoring the situation in the elevator car.
"Captain, that's absurd," Duero said to Magno.
"Then what are you going to do then huh? The baby won't wait," Magno replied sternly.
While Duero was soaking in the realty of Ezra's baby being born inside the elevator car, Inside, Dita held Ezra's left hand while Bella was near Ezra which both females were trying to do their best to help Ezra while Hibiki stood nearby.
"It's okay Ezra; Dita is here so both you and the baby not alone along with Ms. Bella and Mr. Alien along with everybody else on this ship," Dita said to Ezra.
"Don't worry Ezra as long as we're here, nothing will happen to your baby right Hibiki?" Bella said seconds later before looking at Hibiki.
Hibiki looked away a bit before replying, "Uh I guess you're right on that."
"Thanks Dita-chan, Bella-chan, and Hibiki-chan," Ezra replied.
In the Medical bay, Magno looked at Duero knowing what was going to happen and spoke, "Well then, it's decided. What's next doctor?"
Duero spoke to the four in the elevator car after regaining his composure in an order-like tone, "What are the intervals between her pains?"
Hibiki didn't answer as Duero spoke again, "Hibiki, answer me."
"It's become a lot shorter than before, but right now the baby could come out at any moment," Dita said with worry in her voice.
Ezra winced in pain and spoke, "Dita-chan! It's here!"
In the Medical bay, Duero pulled out a stop watch and began to calculate the pains Ezra was experiencing while Paiway and Magno were near him a little bewildered at how he was handling it.
"In cases where there are more than six pains within one hour-" Duero didn't finish when the ship shook.
"What now?" Magno asked out loud.
Inside the Elevator car, Hibiki cursed at the Harvesters bad timing along with Bella while Dita sat near Ezra never leaving her side.
"Dammit! Of all the worse times the Harvesters could attack, this is one that is the worst," Bella grumbled to herself.
True to her word outside of the ship, the improved Harvester Cube Fighters were attacking the ship. Due to the unknown computer virus, the ship's shields weren't up and the ship was a sitting duck. Arthur and Brian gave the order to launch to all Vanguards and Dreads before boarding their Gundams.
In contrast to the Dreads, the Tarak Vanguards didn't need a launch catapult to launch while the Gundams sometimes didn't use a catapult, but those times were rare along with the Vanswords which the latter the Nirvana didn't have. On the Bridge, everyone tried their best, but had to make due to what they could use.
"Since the ship's systems are down with the exception of Life-Support, we couldn't use the radar. So we couldn't detect them and multiple enemies are approaching fast!" Amarone shouted with worry.
Parfet contacted Buzam about what was going on, "Due to the Paksis bad condition, we can't put up the Nirvana's shields!"
Buzam then contacted Gascogne and Arthur to see if the Dreads and Vanguards could be deployed and she spoke to Gascogne first, "Gascogne, can you see if the Dreads can be deployed along with the other forces including the Gundams?"
"Of course! Just leave the attackers to us and you hurry up and take care of that pesky virus," Gascogne replied with a thumbs up gesture.
Since the main power supply was out, the Register staff had to use muscle power in order to launch the Dreads when, Gascogne spoke to the staff to get them move like hell.
"Okay everyone, let's roll and girls, this is the way to get in great shape," Gascogne said with optimism.
Gascogne then spoke again as she pushed on a lever, "We need to redirect all the spare energy to help give the Vanguards backup."
Just then Barnette contacted Gascogne, "What's going on here? Why is there no one here?"
Gascogne replied quickly to Barnette, "I'm sorry Barnette, but we're kind of shorthanded here. Your orders have been processed so go and launch yourselves."
In the Register, the Dread pilots muttered to themselves along with the reserve Vanguard pilots before Barnette got their attention quickly as time was of the essence against them.
"I guess it can't be helped at this point. So everyone let's launch now!" Barnette shouted to everyone around her.
One by one, the Dreads that could go were launched and met up with the Vanguards outside along with the Gundams with the exception of the Calypso Gundam due Bella helping Ezra along with Hibiki and Dita which also meant the Vandreads were out of the question, but not the Gundreads.
"The Nirvana isn't functioning. Interception pattern Delta-4! We'll help the Starfires!" Meia shouted to her squad mates.
"Roger that Meia! Moving to defend the Nirvana and providing assistance," Barnette said seconds later.
"Damm, I wanted to see Ezra's baby being born," Jura grumbled as she flew.
Arthur spoke to her in a stern tone, "Jura, less talking and more defending the ship which is a sitting duck right now!"
"All Vanguard units commence attack and defend the ship," said Brian to the Vanguards.
After that was said, the Dreads, Vanguards, and the two Gundams began their counter-offense though it was a bit hard due to the ship's systems being down along with the Dreki not being able to deliver fresh ordinance.
Back inside the Elevator car, the shaking was being felt by its occupants and it was starting to strain the emergency brakes. Dita and Bella held Ezra to reassure her that everything was going to be okay.
"Ezra, hang on!" said Dita.
"Doc, she's still hurting! What now?" asked Hibiki.
Duero was about to speak while looking at a stop watch when one of Magno's hands stopped him and the elderly pirate leader looked at Duero telling him that what she knew would be more effective that what he was doing.
"How long are you going to act like a clueless nerd? Magno asked annoyed.
"I am because in order to widen the birth canal of the patient, she has to perform the actions of breathing," replied Duero defending his approach.
Magno sighed before speaking, "Fine, never mind doc. Listen up carefully, there are more times when experience becomes more important than theory."
"But cap-"
"Just leave it to me doc," Magno said sternly.
Magno then turned to the intercom and spoke, "Ezra, can you hear me? Don't try to push the baby out just yet. Ease the pain with shallow, steady breaths okay."
Ezra in the elevator car with Dita, Hibiki, and Bella just replied yes in a strained voice while outside, the battle continued as Cube Fighters continued to assault the ship which the effects were weakling the emergency clamps on the elevator car.
In the elevator car, a jolt tossed everyone around including Ezra which scared Dita, but her fears were put to rest as both Hibiki and Bella prevented Ezra from being hurt with Hibiki acting like a pillow while Bella held Ezra's left arm while in a stable stance.
"Heh looks like a man is good for something right?" Hibiki said while propping up Ezra.
Hibiki looked down and freaked out while Bella and Dita with the former not surprised by this due to her mom's stories from the hospital she worked at which was picked up by Duero, Paiway, and Magno in the Medical bay.
"Ah! What's this?!"
"Hibiki, what's wrong now?" Duero asked.
"Water! Water is coming out of Ezra!" Hibiki replied with worry.
Bella grumbled before speaking, "Oh grow a pair Hibiki, its normal because that will allow the baby to come out much easier."
Magno chuckled at the man joke at Hibiki before speaking, "Calm down young man, it's her water breaking as Bella would say."
"The amniotic fluid protecting the baby has been released. Without that vital thing, the baby can't pass through the birth canal smoothly. It's an important phenomenon Hibiki," Duero said a second later.
"I have no idea what he's talking about," Hibiki said to himself.
"Shut it Hibiki and help Dita and I," Bella said while glaring at Hibiki.
For the Nirvana, a new life was coming into the universe in a way the crew wanted the least; the Harvesters attacking while it was happening….
A/N: Sorry, no sneak peeks this time, but things will get more interesting and the next chapter will deal with a certain polluted planet, but another Gundread combo is coming.
This chapter will be one of many that are split into multiple parts so it'll be easier on certain readers if that's okay.
Would you kindly Read and Review to tell me what you think and like before, no flames with the exception of constructive criticism okay.
Bye now!