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 2)
January 10th 3818 AD; 11:30 am (1130 hours)
Outside of the Nirvana, the battle continued which was starting to take its toll on the defenders as supplies were running low and if they couldn't get additional supplies, everyone would be screwed.
"Things can't get any worse." Brian said.
No sooner did he speak that did a pair of Seed ships started to approach the crippled Nirvana. On the bridge, the two enemy ships were detected and were not friendly.
"Enemy mother-ships approaching from either side." Amarone said.
"What the hell? What are they going to do?" Bart asked while looking up.
Just then the two Seed ships then fired grappling lines towards the ship and after each line went through both "Arms", the Nirvana was being pulled away. At the same time, everyone on the ship felt it and Bart for once felt okay.
"I'm so glad I wasn't inside when that happened." Bart said near the Navigational Well.
Outside, something within Arthur exploded and expanded like a supernova along with Brian. They had seen too many lives taken already at this point and knew what fate awaited Ezra and her baby which both were determined not to let happen.
With one swift motion Arthur did something that he normally wouldn't ask; he contacted Jura while Brian kept slicing up Cube Fighters for one thing which was to combine with him which surprised her, but she agreed and Gundread Jura A Mode was formed and went to work right away.
Back inside the elevator car, the vibrations were getting worse which was putting more stress on the emergency braking clamps and the wire Bella had deployed earlier.
"If I was out there, I would've taken care of them quickly." Hibiki grumbled to himself.
Bella glared at Hibiki before speaking, "Hibiki, what did Brian, Arthur, and I teach you that it's not all about you and there is no I in team dumbass. Dita and I would've been out there along with you, but Ezra and her baby are a much higher priority right now."
"Ms. Bella is right Mr. Alien! Ezra and the baby are more important right now!" Dita shouted with worry.
"Even if you-"
Hibiki didn't finish when Bella was about to slap him and tell him to shut up and focus when Ezra gently put Dita, Hibiki, and Bella's left hands on her stomach to calm them.
"Hibiki-chan, Dita-chan, and Bella-chan please be nice to each other." Ezra whispered quietly.
Bella nodded while Dita and Hibiki looked at each other then away awkwardly which Bella thought was funny just as Ezra winced in pain which prompted Hibiki to ask Magno.
"Captain! What should we do now?" Hibiki asked.
"That means that the baby is finally coming young man. Which one of you is the closest to Ezra's feet?" Magno replied.
"Um, I am captain?" Hibiki said back to the elderly captain.
Magno quickly replied, "Then I want you kid to do the following; spread her legs and when the baby's head comes out, help bring either him or her out kid."
Hibiki then crawled towards Ezra's feet and was about to do what Magno asked when he hesitated for a bit earning a scorn from Bella as time was of the essence not that a battle outside was helping.
"Mr. Alien, please do this for Ezra!" Dita shouted.
Nodding, Hibiki got himself into position while Bella and Dita held Ezra to await further instruction from Magno as the situation kept going onwards while the battle went on.
"Okay now I'm facing her!" Hibiki said.
Magno then spoke Ezra once Hibiki was where she wanted him to be at, "Okay Ezra now push and 1, 2, 3, push!"
Ezra did what Magno asked and naturally Hibiki freaked out because being he was from an all-male world, he'd naturally freaked out and made it pretty clear much to the annoyance of Bella.
"Ah, I see the head now!" Hibiki shouted trying not to pass out.
"Really Mr. Alien?" Dita asked.
Back inside the Medical bay, Paiway stood behind Duero and Magno freaking out while Duero and Magno continued to monitor the delivery from their spot in the ship as the battle outside raged onwards.
"Ezra one more push! Push!" Magno shouted over the intercom.
"Hibiki calm down, it's a contraction and soon it's going to open up. Stay calm and be ready to pull the baby out!" Duero said seconds later.
Hibiki shaking inside the elevator car replied while looking at where Ezra's baby was coming out, "Don't say that easily doc and besides I'm shacking right now!"
"Mr. Alien please!" Dita shouted.
"Pull yourself together young man! You're a man are you not?!" Magno asked annoyed.
"But it's too much!" Hibiki shouted in fear.
Bella having had enough spoke up, "All right numb nuts move, I'll do it then if you're going to be a big bloody sissy with no balls. Dita, come and help me. Before you ask, I helped my mom deliver babies long ago before joining the Navy."
"Right Ms. Bella, Mr. Alien will support Ezra!" Dita said.
Bella then moved where she was, made Hibiki move to where she was which she then took off her combat jacket and placed it aside so it could act like a crude blanket before Ezra moaned out Dita's name in pain.
"Don't worry Ezra, Dita and everyone is waiting for your baby because we all want the baby to be born safely." Dita said softly.
"Thanks Dita-chan..." Ezra said quietly.
Inside the Medical bay, Magno saw Duero close the book he had on him and wondered why he'd do this at this point and asked why would he close the book he had on him.
"What's going on? Did something change your mind?" Magno asked.
Duero looked at Magno and spoke, "I understand now that a manual isn't needed when it comes to bringing in a new life."
Magno nodded while at the same time, Dita removed her jacket and placed it between Ezra's upper legs to act like a crude pad or blanket for the baby while Bella knelt near her ready to help.
"Ezra its okay now, the head is out now and you'll be able to meet your baby soon!" Dita said in her most optimistic voice.
"I just hope things end in our favor or its game over for us..." Bella said near Dita.
Outside in deep space, the battle waged on though most of the Vanguards had to retreat due to them running out of ordinance and being damaged from the intense firefight.
Upon seeing the two Seed ships starting to pull the crippled Nirvana away, the thought of everyone being harvested including Ezra's baby ignited a fire in all fighters including Arthur and Jura in the Gundread they were flying.
Inside the bridge, Belvedere freaked out and spoke, "What should we do? If this keeps up, the whole ship will get pulled away."
"Even if you say that, there's nothing we can do." Bart said near Belvedere.
"NO!" Arthur shouted over the communications line.
Everyone was surprised at this sudden tone as the Fujin Gundam pilot then spoke, "I've seen mothers and fathers mourn for their sons and daughters, I've seen kids lose their parents along with Brian, those who had to sacrifice a lot so future born children can live without being killed or threatened along with ensuring they have a future, something that these monsters have denied to others. I will not let them win!"
"Right behind you sir, let's cancel this harvest!" Brian shouted seconds later.
Both pilot activated their Ultra Primus Modes and went to work harder than before to slice up Cube Fighters left and right. Not even copy Gundams that formed could stop both units when both were moving like crazy while nearby, Meia saw this and rallied everyone.
"Everyone, target the devices that have hooked into the Nirvana. Brian and I will handle the left side, Barnette, you take care of the right side along with Jura and Arthur." Meia said with determination.
While everyone outside lead by Meia's Dread and the Gundread Jura A mode, back inside Dita and Bella were helping to deliver Ezra's baby while Hibiki held her left hand which relived him.
"Boss, Ms. Bella can see most of the head now along with me!" Dita shouted.
"Okay Ezra stop pushing now and now use short breaths." Magno said to Ezra in a calm voice.
Ezra nodded before Magno spoke to Bella and Dita, "Dita, Bella both of you lend what hand you both can use slowly for the baby."
"Roger that ma'am." Bella replied quickly.
"I hear you loud and clearly boss." Dita said seconds later.
Ezra then proceeded to use her strength to deliver another push and the baby came out a bit more which Bella knew all was left was one final push which Magno spoke to Ezra as the battle outside raged on.
"Okay Ezra, one final push!" Magno shouted.
With one last titanic effort, Ezra pushed allowing her baby to be born just as the last of the prime Vanguard teams pulled back and the remaining forces kept trying to free the Nirvana.
It was then over the communications line that an unexpected miracle happened; a baby's cry echoed across all lines which for some, it was music to their ears as a new life was born Ezra's daughter.
Inside the Medical bay Paiway spoke only one thing, "That voice…"
"Yes young dear, a new life has been brought into this world." Magno replied warmly.
Duero nodded before speaking, "I wish I could've seen it myself."
Inside the elevator car, Dita and Bella quickly wrapped the baby using both Dita's jacket and her combat uniform jacket to keep the newly born baby girl from getting cold.
Bella near Dita smiled before wondering what her comrades back on the TPSDNS Solaris would react to her helping to deliver a baby in an elevator no less before she looked around and hoped that this would be the positive energy that would be needed in the months to come.
"The baby is born Ezra!" Dita said with joy.
Hibiki just stood where he was numb before he spoke, "That…That…That is a baby?"
Comically, Hibiki then fainted while Dita held Ezra's new baby girl before handing her to Ezra while Bella just shook her head while having a sarcastic smile at Hibiki's antics.
"Mr. Alien! Are you okay?" Dita asked while looking at Hibiki.
"Well for a dude born on an all-male planet, this would shock him, but he seriously needs to man up instead of fainting like this if he's going to have kids with a woman someday." Bella replied sarcastically.
"I guess you're right young lady for that kid is useless until the end by the way Ezra, you did well and good job Dita! Same for you Bella." Magno said to the group in the elevator.
Inside the Medical bay, Misty woke up to the baby's voice over the communications line in her bed not far away from where Duero, Paiway, and Magno were sitting in the Medical bay.
While Ezra was happy her daughter was safely born with Dita and Bella's help even Hibiki's help as well even though he didn't do much out in deep space, everyone was targeting and shoot the bases of the wires that sprouted from the Seed ships. Although the Seed ships deployed more Cube Fighters, this didn't deter the Nirvana forces.
"What a pain! You're in the way you pests!" Jura shouted from the Gundread cockpit.
Brian and Meia along with a few Dread fighters and Vanguards were able to destroy the lines holding the Nirvana's left arm while Barnette with help from Zoe and her Vanguard team were able to do the same to the lines on the right arm of the Nirvana.
It was at that moment that Jura noticed a button and spoke, "What's this do?"
"Time to find out Jura." Arthur replied.
Both pilots pressed the button and to everyone's surprise, the crossbows on the Gundread's lower arms detached and formed a long bow much like the ones hunters used during ancient times.
The Gundread then grabbed it, flew to a certain spot, and then pulled back on the string forming a Paksis energy arrow which the bow radiated energy itself amazing all human pilots in the area.
That wasn't the only surprise as the arrow then deployed five additional arrows before the Gundread's wings opened up while it was in its Ultra Primus Mode radiating a heavenly glow.
Inside, Jura got even more excited like a little school girl as both she and Arthur were about to fire the arrows and give the Harvesters a literal Divine strike that would be in Jura's eyes very epic.
"Ready to drop some real pain on these mechanical a-holes?" Arthur asked Jura.
"Oh yeah, it's time they learned a bit of elegance." Jura replied calmly.
The Gundread then fired its arrows two which went into each Seed ship destroying them, but the additional arrows hit two other Seed ships that were arriving to destroy the Nirvana. This did surprise everyone before Arthur pointed to the radars/sensors in the Gundread.
"Wow, so in its powered up mode, the range is extended?" Jura asked while astonished at the sight she was seeing.
"Sure looks that way Jura." Barnette said as she flew past the Gundread.
It was then that Celtic brought forth good news, "Hey everyone! Ezra's baby has been born!"
"That's great." Barnette said.
"Indeed, let's go home now." Meia said seconds later.
The Gundread the separated and everyone returned to the Nirvana as Buzam where she was watched and spoke, "Congratulations Ezra."
Buzam then turned to look at Pyoro and to her surprise; the screen on Pyoro showed password accepted before Pyoro returned to normal along with the rest of the ship's systems that were affected by the virus.
"(Beep), Where am I? Who am I? That voice? That's the baby's voice! Pyoro 2's voice! I can't just stay and sit around here! I'm out of here!" Pyoro shouted with joy.
Buzam just smiled before turning her attention to the screen in front of her and speaking, "I'd never guessed that the baby's voice was the password."
Just then Belvedere contacted Buzam, "The ship's systems are recovering now."
"The Paksis has returned to normal levels." Parfet said seconds later.
Buzam just sat where she was before she left with her work she could do was done while on the other hand, power was restored to the elevator car that Dita, Hibiki, Ezra, her new baby, and Bella were in.
"She's sleeping well everyone." Ezra said quietly while holding her daughter.
"She's probably relived." Dita said.
Bella standing near Ezra spoke up, "She's tired most likely and mostly likely will need Ezra's attention for a good amount of time."
Parfet's voice then boomed in the elevator car, "Everyone, thanks for waiting! We'll move the elevator car right away!"
"Will you please get it over with?" Hibiki said out loud.
"Roger that!" Parfat said with an optimistic voice.
The elevator then began to power up and started to go up when all of a sudden, one of the mechanical parts holding the elevator car broke like crazy which the others then snapped in rapid succession leaving only the wire Bella fired earlier keeping them held up so they were literally hanging by a thread.
"Things can't get any worse right?" Hibiki asked to himself.
Just then less than a few minutes later, the wire snapped and before it could start falling, something stopped it which was none other than Pyoro. The Navi-robot then began to lift the elevator car up to a safe spot for its occupants like Superman.
"Pyoro will protect Pyoro 2!" Pyoro shouted as he lifted the elevator car.
Pyoro was able to then bring the elevator car to a stop on a level where numerous crew members were waiting including Brian and Arthur. The doors then opened with the exception of the external ones being removed before hand.
"Too much impact." Hibiki grumbled to himself before passing out for the second time.
Everyone then proceeded to help Ezra and her baby out of the elevator car so both could be brought to the Medical bay while Arthur and Brian picked up Hibiki so he too could be brought to the Medical bay just as Dita and Bella got off which Pyoro then let go off the car and it plummeted downwards where it crashed below.
"That was too close." Bella said calmly.
"But we're all safe now including the baby." Dita said with optimism.
The female Gundam pilot nodded as she walked with her fellow Gundam pilots carrying Hibiki behind her had the same idea in mind as everyone got Ezra and her baby to the Medical bay along with an out cold Hibiki.
Several hours later around 4:30 PM, everything was now stable and the Nirvana was on its way again. On the bridge, Magno was listening to a report by Parfat with Duero, Buzam, and Arthur standing nearby.
"Well Captain, it seems that the sender must likely have set up a certain audio signal as the password in order to determine if the receiver of the message was friend or foe." Parfat said while looking at Magno.
"So, what was the password?" Magno asked curiously.
Buzam smiled near Magno and replied, "A baby's voice Captain."
"Are you serious BC?" Magno asked clearly confused by this revelation.
Arthur nodded nearby and spoke, "It sure was and ironically, Ezra's baby saved us."
Magno then spoke to Buzam again a little puzzled by this revelation, "Then…that means that there aren't any more babies on Earth?"
"Or, maybe that they can't have any more children anymore." Duero said right after Magno.
"Well then, I guess looking at the message will be fastest way to find out." Magno said while hoping the best for Ezra's baby.
With that said, Magno ordered the message to be played though Arthur requested that he'd make a copy of the message to present to his superiors later on whom Magno granted him and the message then played across the ship with what looked like a middle-aged man wearing a lab coat and an odd head piece who started to speak.
"Whoever is listening to this message I'd like to first and foremost apologize for the trap with this message. The reason is because I personally believed that the cry of a newborn human baby is the sign of a prosperous, healthy human society or a strong Humanity. I sincerely and firmly hope that whoever receives this message is living the way Humanity is supposed to as it was intended to be from the start." The male scientist said in the video.
Another person stood near him and it was a female scientist who also sported a lab coat and wore a visor-like device around her eyes before the male scientist spoke again.
"Since you have left Earth, the state of things on the planet has changed tremendously for the worst. After we sent you out on the colonization ships with the Zathura document, Earth our old home which should've been wishing for the continued improvement and survival of mankind…lost their sense of Humanity." The male scientist spoke again as the image of a colony ship leaving Earth was shown.
A series of images depicting genetic stuff was shown before the unknown scientist spoke again, "As you have become aware by now even to those who signed the Zathura document along with its creators, we have come to the saturation point of genetic engineering exploits. In other words, as long as those who continue to live on Earth, there is no chance for evolution to happen which is why some of us have left Earth to escape this fate."
The male scientist then spoke again while Magno and many others were in stunned silence, "In order for further evolution of the human race along with its survival, it was planned for humans to travel outside of Earth and beyond including Mars and Venus the first successfully Terra-formed planets or colonies of Humanity."
It was then that the female scientist took over as more images played which showed the current state of Earth, "Please watch this, this is what has become of your beloved Earth our homeland right now, which used to be beautiful and great. The outer circumference or the stratosphere which was once blue is now surrounded by ugly, gear wheels like a cage and forced out the moon from its orbit."
"Whoa, Earth is seriously messed up." Brian said quietly near his Gundam.
"As a sad result of this, Earth's atmosphere suffered a great and terrible gravitational abnormality; huge amounts of rain began pouring on the world as if Earth was one giant washing machine. The few people that were left on Earth then built a city in the interior of the gear well are clinging to life." The female scientist said as the images played on.
"Those same people who had originally sent you out as the hopes for Humanity suffered helplessly in isolation and came to the conclusion that they were alone and the only true humans. They came to embracing the regressive ideal of self-preservation along with justifying it above everything else. On the other hand, they're unable to clone themselves as they have lost the ability to evolve." The male scientist said with worry in his voice.
The next image showed the Zathura document being destroyed apart by group of cloaked humans along with other works including the Bible and the Koran which the male scientist spoke again.
"Then, someone or a group of Earthlings came up with the idea of using your organs to preserve themselves along with discarding the Zathura document ignoring what was written on it and dismissing the idea of some colonies becoming independent nations along with losing hope that Earth will never recover. Your very organs which have survived the harsh environments of the universe along with destroying those who oppose their ideology of self-preservation or Earth supremacy." The male scientist said with disappointment in his voice.
"So that's the harvest and why they're ignoring the Zathura document?" Magno asked to herself and those around her.
"I do not know why the people of Earth suddenly fell into such madness and genocide, but they've used the last remaining Paksis fragment to construct an unmanned harvest fleet. The sole purpose of that fleet was to hunt all of you down and harvest every last one of you without mercy or remorse." The male scientist said while showing the original Harvester fleets leaving what was left of Earth.
It was then that a flash of red which was identical to the Paksis of the Nirvana flashed through the minds of Hibiki, Dita, Meia, Jura, Brian, Bella, and Arthur which was the same feeling they had not too long ago.
"The choice that Earth has made is very wrong and was wrong to begin within the first place so in order to stop this and prevent the extinction of humanity, we're sending our messengers to find you whoever you may be." The female scientist spoke with worry in her voice.
As Misty was looking outwards to open space the message played on, "I may never meet anyone of you, but in order for Humanity to get back on track to what it once was and to protect the lives of those who we've entrusted to succeed us along carrying on the mantle of life and to eliminate warfare from Humanity so one day if we're to encounter an alien race, we'd have proof to show that we're worthy of existing. Also, we hope that the mistakes the human race have made will be corrected and not repeated again including forced eviction of native races of other worlds, but most importantly to who has received our message to not let the spark of life die."
The message then ended which Buzam was the first to speak, "To protect the spark of life…"
"We've definitely received the message and we'll accept the mission given to us so we can also bring about a world where a child like Ezra's baby can grow up with a smile." Magno said while thinking about the new baby that was just born today.
Inside the Medical bay, Ezra's baby girl slept quietly while Ezra laid in her own bed while nearby Dita and Pyoro watched her while Bella stood nearby talking to Brian and Arthur about lecturing Hibiki on not to faint when a baby is born and to be ready to be the emergency midwife.
"She's so cute! Ezra, have you decided a name for the baby yet?" Dita while looking at the baby.
"Pyoro 2!" Pyoro shouted with joy.
"No way! That's not cute Pyoro." Dita said sternly.
Bella glared at both before speaking, "Both of you two knock it off because it the baby is sleeping and let's let the crew decided along with Magno,"
"Yeah Pyoro her name isn't set in stone yet and if I were you, I'd keep my mouth shut until a name is decided or I'll have you be used for target practice for the Starfires you dumbass robot." Brian said sternly while looking at Pyoro.
It was then that Misty walked in wearing a light pink hospital PJ-type outfit and got everyone's attention as the young female entered the Medical bay to see what was the commotion was about.
Arthur then spoke, "Well now, you're awake."
"Oh hey there, are you all right?" Ezra asked from her bed.
"Yeah, I'm okay now and about the baby…congratulations." Misty said back to Ezra.
"Thank you." Ezra replied warmly.
It was then that the door to the Medical bay opened and it was Hibiki who came in after he walked back to the Medical bay after he got quickly treated before being released, but decided to check on Ezra and her baby.
"Mr. Alien." Dita said while looking at him.
"What do you want?" Pyoro asked as Hibiki came in.
"Umm…I just want to say sorry about fainting earlier." Hibiki said while being embarrassed.
Ezra looked at Hibiki from her bed before speaking, "Oh no Hibiki-chan, its okay now so don't worry."
"Yeah Mr. Alien come and look at Ezra's baby girl." Dita said warmly.
Just then Misty walked towards Hibiki while speaking, "I heard all about what happened in that elevator car."
"Why do I get the feeling that blue-harried gal is going to do something to Hibiki?" Bella thought mentally.
"One look at that little baby, you fainted and were out cold very quickly." Misty said with humor after she got to Hibiki.
"Hey now! Don't make fun of me!" Hibiki shouted with annoyance.
Misty just giggled before she spoke again, "I just love people like that!"
The next thing that anybody saw was that Misty kissed Hibiki much to the shock and horror of Dita and Pyoro while Brian chuckled at the sight along with Hibiki then fainting. Bella just shook her head while smirking just as Paiway appeared and did a Pai-check.
"He's so cute isn't he?" Misty while looking at everyone in the Medical bay.
Arthur just rolled his eyes while Paiway walked up to Bella and then spoke to her, "I can sense a lovers battle coming."
"Sure looks that way Paiway." Bella said while shaking her head.
A baby was born and the mantle of saving Humanity was given to the Nirvana and its allies for the coming battles would get a lot more brutal…..
A/N: Another Vandread GA The Second Stage chapter done (Part 2 for those who don't know).
The additional arrows' folding down was from Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
Now, 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!