Vandread GA: The Second Stage
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 7: Roar of the Phoenix (Part 3)
April 20th 3818 AD; 4:00 pm (1600 hours)
*(Continuing where Part 2 left off)*
The seven pilots that formed the new Super GunVandread all returned to the Nirvana with victory in hand, but before they could celebrate, the three Dread/Gundam pilots collapsed along with Hibiki while hanging out in the Hanger bay which they were then brought to the Medical bay.
Shortly afterwards, the four were bathed in a bright light which lasted about less than a minute which happened to Bella, Brian and Arthur when they arrived to see what was going on though it was more twitching than anything, but when it was over a awestruck sight was shown to those in the Medical bay including Duero himself.
Arthur was the first to awaken and asked, "What the hell just happened?"
"Um, guys you might want to look at Hibiki, Dita, Meia, and Jura." Brian said as he sat up.
The four Nirvana pilots had been enhanced by the Paksis which made them look like they had undergone the Lighting Commando Augmentations and been genetically enhanced as well. For Arthur and Brian, they were trying not to get a nose bleed at the new sexiness of their love lives much to Bella's amusement.
"Well, I'll be going now so bye guys and don't even think about it you two." Bella said getting up and leaving.
The four woke up, sat up while being covered, and took notice as Hibiki spoke, "Now this is more like it! No more Mr. Shorty."
"This is very nice." Meia said.
"I've been changed! This is cool!" Dita shouted.
"Now this is what I like to see and I love my new beauty." Jura said.
A few hours later, the Nirvana left on its way to the Tarak and Mejere system though the Nirvana crew had to say goodbye to Bella beforehand along with the 1st fleet of Terrain Prime contacting the Tier 1 fleet to collect the Harvester forces from the battle to analyze and hopefully use against the Harvesters themselves.
Magno and Buzam saw that unlike the other fleets of Terrain Prime, some including Bella felt a bit uncomfortable with contacting the Tier1 fleet for a reason; they were the black ops of Terrain Prime and many of their missions were highly classified even to Ashley's eyes herself.
Thankfully they shrugged it off and went about on the task before the Nirvana went on its way with newer data on stolen Helios and Selena Gundams along with charting check points so the 1st fleet could send Bella to form the Super GunVandread if it was needed again.
Inside the reactor room of the Paksis on a walkway overlooking the reactor, Meia and Jura stood where they were thinking about the battle earlier pf how they were all able to form the Super GunVandread almost like magic.
"That time…when the Paksis didn't lend us its strength when felt hate…" Meia said near Jura.
"But however Meia, it was ultimately the Paksis that allowed us to combine into one form to help us win the battle." Jura said a second later.
Meia nodded before speaking again, "That is because our thoughts were like one mind, everyone looked forward to living and that's why that Super GunVandread was born."
Meanwhile on the other hand, the bridge crew were asking Mango something and Buzam spoke the request to Magno since the battle was over and now they could resume their journey to the Tarak-Mejere system.
"Captain, the crew wishes to have a funeral for Gascogne."
Magno nodded before speaking, "Very well then BC, I'll leave it up to you. Call me when it is ready okay."
"Understood captain." Buzam said.
With that said, Magno left for her quarters with the help of her chair due to her age. After she left, Misty looked at where the elderly captain had just left before she spoke up in sympathy to the rest of the bridge crew present.
"I fell very bad and sorry for the boss."
"It's not that surprising at all Misty…" Amarone said.
Ezra then spoke up, "Gasco's been her dear friend and partner ever since she joined the pirates let alone was the co-founder as well."
After everyone agreed with her, Amarone spoke up again, "To us, she was a sister, but to the captain Gasco was like a daughter to her."
Misty held her head down before speaking, "Oh I…what you all mean by that…"
In her room, Magno opened up a cabinet and in it had over a dozen photographs of all of the crew that had died under her command over the years from the founding of the group to the present day as death wasn't uncommon for the pirates as most were able to be buried on Mejere while the rest were cremated and placed in a memorial garden at the hideout they used.
Most were young adults, but Gascogne was a very special one as she was the co-founder of the pirates. As Magno put Gascogne's picture among the deceased female pirates, her door alarm chimed.
"Come on in." Magno said.
The person was none other than Barnette who had a few of Gascogne's personal effects. Barnette looked at Magno before she spoke about an offer concerning the vacant seat Gascogne had left.
In the darkened Register, Hibiki just stood in front of the deck of cards he'd placed down earlier prior to the battle beforehand. He turned the deck over and it was four aces and one joker.
"Pretty good hand huh?" Hibiki said to himself.
"Not too shabby boy."
Hibiki looked at source of the voice which was Arthur as he walked up to him with something on his mind as he looked rather calmer than before the battle as he had a more relaxed posture and energy.
He then spoke to him, "Look, I'm sorry about what happened back in the Medical bay lad. The raid that happened nearly a week ago along with those who Brian and I lost which was topped with the strain of this battle really took me and Brian out of character."
"It's all right now sir, we won right?" Hibiki asked.
Arthur nodded as Brian came in and all three men looked at the data on the Helios and Selena Gundams so the Nirvana would be ready to face them while in another part of the ship, Barnette was changing into a different outfit from her original outfit she typically wore.
An hour later, Barnette contacted the bridge, "Commander, I'm about to change the security codes so, we won't be able to use the Register for a while okay."
"Understood." Buzam said.
Barnette then cut the transmission before Ezra spoke, 'Um, what's going on here?"
"She's started already." Magno said nearby.
Everyone looked at Magno before the elderly pirate captain spoke again, "It was good decision. No scratch that, that young lady volunteered for that position. Gascogne left us too early but, having someone succeed you or follow in your footsteps shows that a life was well lived and was a good one not bad or wasted."
Down in the Register, Barnette was still adjusting to her new role in the Register when Jura with Arthur's help sort of came in. Barnette saw Jura holding Arthur's left hand and smiled.
"How's everything going?" Arthur asked.
"Good, just need to readjust to a few things." Barnette said.
Both pilots looked at Barnette's new outfit; she sported black pants, a white and purple vest with a black line in around the center part, a tan tank top, and black boots/shoes. She still had a part of her headpiece along with a pair of wrist braces from her gloves and a brown belt.
"You look nice girl." Jura said.
Barnette nodded and then left leaving the Terrain Prime-Mejere couple in the Register with a few of the staff there before they left. A few moments later found a good amount of the crew eating dinner, which Brian, Arthur, Bart, Duero, and Hibiki sat together while everyone else sat at other tables. Arthur finished first before the rest of the guys and left for the Bio-Garden.
Unknown to him, Jura followed him and found him sitting on the bench in the park in deep thought. She approached him and he noticed her, which she then sat down to his left. A few moments of silence followed before Arthur spoke out towards space.
"Tell me, have you ever let anybody down before?" Arthur asked.
"Aside from some of my fellow pirates from time to time, just only two that stand out; my parents." Jura said.
Arthur cocked his head before asking, "Why is that?"
Jura pulled out something from her dress and it was a draft card for the Mejere military with her draft number on it and personal information as she then spoke to Arthur in a melancholy mood.
"Arthur, please don't tell anyone else this please? And please don't hate me for this as I'm…a draft dodger. I dodged the Mejere military draft a few years ago shortly after high school which I believe had something to do with you."
"The First Mejere Gundam Raid? Didn't realize I would do more than just earn the title of Savage Demon from Mejere.." Arthur said calmly.
Jura shook her head and spoke, "No, it's not your fault as war is war and people die all the time. I wanted to do was go to college and go into the movie industry as an actress and a model for some extra money, but the Mejere government instituted the draft and I was unlucky to be called up to serve and I'm not a military woman."
"I can see that, but how did you end up with the pirates and fighting anyway?" Arthur asked.
"I ran away from home and a few hours later, ran into Magno Vivian or the Boss while trying to hide from the military police who had come to get me kicking and screaming." Jura said.
Arthur sighed and spoke, "I see that instead of fighting a war you didn't want to fight in, you chose to fight your own home by being a pirate? What is it you are trying to prove?"
"That there are certain causes to fight for and there are those that aren't fighting for as after I ran into Magno, Gascogne helped hide us and after explaining to them why I was running, she offered me a chance to be part of her crew and I took without hesitation. I joined up so I could fight the battles I want to fight and get payback against Mejere for forcing me to give up my dreams for a life I didn't want at all in the first place, but now…why do we fight? For home? For family? For what?" Jura said while looking downwards to the floor.
Jura started to sob before she started to cry clearly conflicted on what was to fight for as Arthur pulled her towards him and hugged her while stroking her head softly as he let her sob her heart out.
A few minutes later, Jura stopped crying and looked at Arthur as she realized that he was holding her and wasn't bothered by her reasons for joining Magno's Pirates as it reminded him of the Terrain Prime Civil War in which not everyone on both sides wanted to fight.
"Jura, I don't blame you for your reasons for wanting to fight and not fight. For me, the reason I fight is to protect home and family, but the big question we ask ourselves sometimes including myself is this; what is worth fighting for? All we do is just keep on going and look for it. Sometimes, we fight because it's the right thing to do even if it doesn't change anything. Things aren't always black and white; instead it's full of shades of gray. The important thing is that we ride the storm out and hope for the best." Arthur said calmly.
Jura nodded and both looked out towards space while Jura for some reason leaned her head on Arthur's left shoulder which he allowed for today.
"Listen Jura, I'm sorry about how I've acted these last two weeks and day to everyone and to you." Arthur said.
"Look who's talking, I should be the one to apologize as I should've respected your feelings during your loss of your mentors and the betrayal of those two rats, but I kept trying to force my way into your heart as I have these new, strange emotions that I don't know about." Jura said.
Arthur signed and spoke, "Listen, don't apologize as you were just trying to help out that's all. I just hope we can redo things, you know? Start things right this time around and get to know each other as in the coming days, all of us will need the support to win this war against the Harvesters. As for these strange emotions you don't know about, it is simple; you are in love with me and desire to know me more."
Jura for some reason lifted her head up, grabbed Arthur's head, and brought it to her face so she could kiss Arthur right on the lips which he returned the kiss back. Parting, both were blushing slightly at this gesture while smiling at the same time.
"I agree and I look forward-"
Jura was interrupted by Arthur kissing her right on the lips before he parted and looked at her before he found the words to speak to the blonde woman as his eyes for the first time in a long time were filled with love.
"Don't say anything else for now, let us kiss and ignore the world for a few moments." Arthur said.
Both then resumed kissing each other as nearby, Brian smiled softly at the sight while Meia stood near him agreeing before Paiway did on of her infamous Pai-checks much to the amusement of the two pilots.
Back at the wreckage of the Harvester fleet, a salvage team from the Tier 1 fleet ship the TPSDNS Terrain were bringing back someone they'd heard about from their comrades, but never thought they find which many thought she couldn't survive.
A few moments later, the mystery female was sitting in front of the TPSDNS Terrain's captain covered a few bandages who's rank was classified to her for security reasons.
The captain was Ryan McCain and most would be intimidated by his height of 7'9, his face that had a scar on the left side of his face that stretched from his hair down to his jaw, his light orange eyes, was descendent of old-Earth Russia due to his build, had shaved silver hair, and his by-the-book attitude along with his age of 48 years.
His female guest was intimidated by him and spoke, "You know, I out to thank you guys for coming to get me and getting this bounty of Harvester tech."
He just nodded and spoke, "Indeed and you told me you want that Harvester flagship restored, why is that ma'am?"
She then showed him the wreckage of one of the Harvesters infamous flagships and spoke of it while both of them looked at the warship of the Harvesters as the salvage teams kept on working.
"It's simple really, proof of the Harvesters and a little present for my comrades on the Nirvana."
"Okay." Captain McCain said.
She nodded, but not before reminding him of her real name before the same salvage team delivered a report interrupting the two before everything resumed. For the crew of the Nirvana, Gascogne was supposedly lost though in due time, a surprise would present itself and another test for the Nirvana was just around the corner; the Helios and Selena Gundams….
A/N: All right, a few notes here. Gascogne to the reader is still alive as anyone who's watched Vandread (spoiler alert!) so that's why she's talking to one of the Tier 1 fleet captains, but he also as another role which will be shown in good time. The crew of the Nirvana on the other hand don't know yet, but they'll find out in due time.
I also took the liberty of breaking this chapter into three parts since it would be easier on some readers while adding some new stuff.
The other three Harvester copy Gundams that are based on the initial Gundam project of Terrain Prime also appeared in this chapter along with the Aqua Calypso Gundam or the XXVX-XV09 Aqua Calypso Gundam. The Gundam has the head, torso, and waist of the Dragon Gundam, legs and feet of the Mermaid Gundam, and arms, hands, and shoulders along with the backpack (sans all of the canons and has a mono eye on the backpack) of the Abyss Gundam.
All of the Gundams have no face mask vents much like the Season 1 Gundams from Gundam 00. On to the next chapter which has the Nirvana facing the stolen Helios and Selena Gundams along with the love triangle which will be dealt with better as I much like any Vandread fan dislike Misty's actions in the episode even though she didn't intended to make enemies.
The Vanswords I want to address because so it's out of the way and they are based on a series of mobile suits from different series…
The Knight Vansword or the VXZX-V100 Knight Vansword is the grunt unit of Terrain Prime's mobile suit forces. It has the feet, legs, and hands of the Arblast mobile suit/Armed Slave from Full Metal Panic!, head, torso and shoulders of the 105 Strike dagger from Gundam Seed side stories, and arms and waist of the windam mobile suit from Gundam Seed Destiny; the suit has more of a knight-like appearance namely in the torso, head, legs, and shoulders of the unit.
The Amazon Vansword or the VXZX-V400 Amazon Vansword is the mass-produced transformable suit of Terrain Prime used primary by the Self-Defense Air Force with others using it for other roles. It resembles the Delta Plus mobile suit from Gundam Unicorn, but with additional armor on the legs, the frame is slightly smaller, has the wings (are more aerodynamic and are slightly longer and bigger), head (slightly bigger and has a visor instead of eyes), shoulders, and weapons of the Delta Gundam from the Gundam UC side stories.
The Samurai Vansword VXZX-V200 Samurai Vansword is the commander unit of Terrain Prime's mobile suit forces. It has the feet, legs (have hard ports on the outer parts), and hands of the Musha Gundam from the Dynasty Warriors Gundam video game series, head, torso and shoulders (has hard ports for additional gear) of the Windam mobile suit from Gundam Seed Destiny, and arms and waist of the Musha gundam mark 2 from Dynasty Warriors Gundam video game series as well; the suit has more of a Samurai-like appearance namely in the torso, head, legs, and shoulders of the unit.
The Spartan Vansword or the VXZX-V300 Spartan Vansword is the special operations unit of Terrain Prime's mobile suit forces. It has the feet, legs, and hands of the 105 mobile suit from the Gundam Seed side stories, head, torso and shoulders of the Astray mobile suit (minus the face-mask vents and the eyes are replaced with a visor) from Gundam Seed, and arms and waist of the GM III mobile suit from Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn; The suit has more of a Spartan-like appearance namely in the torso, head, legs, and shoulders of the unit.
The Rajput Vansword or the VXZX-V500 Rajput Vansword is a special type of unit used for specifically assigned roles like bodyguard duty. It has the feet, legs, and waist of the RX-78GP01 "Zephyranthes" Gundam, head (minus the face mask vents and the eyes are replaced with a visor) from Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory, torso, and backpack of the RX-178 Gundam mark 2 from Mobile Suit Gundam Zeta, and shoulders, arms, and hands of the 00 Gundam from the second season of Gundam 00.
Finally, the Centurion Vansword or the VXZX-V600 Centurion Vansword is a civilian mobile suit for civilian purposes. It has the feet, legs, and waist of the Adele mobile suit from Gundam AGE, head (minus the face mask vents and the eyes are replaced with a visor), torso, and backpack of the G-Bouncer mobile suit also from Gundam AGE, and shoulders, arms, and hands of the Jegan mobile suit from MSG Char's Counterattack and Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.
The TPSDNS Terrain Captain does look like Sergei from Gundam 00, but is a bit taller.
R & R to tell me what you all think, but no flames for they shall be banished to the moon by Princess Celestia or to the sun by Princess Luna.
Bye now everyone…