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 10: Discoveries and Revelations
June 14th 3818 AD; 12:30 pm (1230 hours)
Arthur sat alone at a table in the Nirvana's café, deep in thought and in sadness that was very bittersweet. Sweet on the facts that he could focus more on his duties and making sure Barnette was happy with Jura.
Bitter on the fact that Jura was the one who decided to end the relationship that had started with such promise and hope. Jura was the first Mejere woman to kiss an actual, biological man and come out okay.
His father Roy Hanson once said this very bluntly to Arthur once; a boy doesn't start to become a true man unless he's had his first heartbreak years ago. What many didn't know about Arthur was that he rarely cried or showed his emotions fully. When it did happen, Arthur would be reduced to a crumpled mess.
Now, Arthur knew what Lockheed felt when his girlfriend broke up with him, pain and sadness. What was the driving factor in the breakup was that Jura told him bluntly was this; it was his unhealthy focus on the war efforts against the Harvesters, Mejere and Tarak.
It was war and he had to do his duty as such to be expected from him. Ever since he destroyed the Selena Gundam thus earning a Silver Star in the process, he'd been doing more duty for Terrain Prime than before and thus, it kept him from being a decent lover along with Barnette being a contributing factor to the whole mess.
Ever since Gascogne supposedly died, Jura wanted to help Barnette as the green-haired woman's efforts to get Lockheed to return her affections failed. Arthur wasn't surprised by that note due to Lockheed's heart being broken before and refused to say why.
Jura saw that her relationship with Arthur was hurting Barnette and she wanted to fix it as thus, she broke up with him. Arthur then thought of the fates of the relationships Bella and Brian were in right now.
Would they last or fail like his did? Bella and Bart's concerned him the most, but didn't dwell on it Arthur did recall one thing; Jura thanked him for making her stronger and more confident in a leader which gave him comfort.
Arthur had sent the news to Victoria and she was stunned as was Harold as they both thought they looked cute together. One thing Arthur knew for sure was this; gossip magazines from Terrain Prime would be on him and Jura like fly on sugar.
The more and more Arthur kept thinking, he realized that he fell for a honey trap or so he thought. Jura did see him to have a baby. The thing that worried Arthur was the potential stigma that the child would face if the kid was to have been born between a union of him and Jura.
On one hand, if the baby was born a boy then neither he nor the child would be welcomed on Mejere. On the flip-side, if the baby was a girl, some on Terrain Prime would hate it. One group, the Gilead Foundation would hound them for it. Arthur snarled at the group for being sexist to women and for being bigoted against women not of pure Terrain Prime blood.
It wouldn't be long before the winds of war would howl again as an alarm told him the Harvesters were back again. As he ran to his mobile suit with his pilot suit, he ignored Jura as he was still hurting from the breakup.
Once in his mobile suit, the Archangel Fujin showed him first various situations on the battle coming up and then, ones not on the battle coming up, but rather his former relationship with Jura.
"Oh, shut up Fujin….we got work to do…you little stinker…" Arthur said to himself.
The Nirvana and its allies moments later were amid a heated battle inside of a field that stood on the path to Tarak and Mejere. The ship was nearly there, but a Harvester ambush force was waiting and was giving the Nirvana a headache.
"Take that! And another one is terminated!" Hibiki shouted.
From Vandread Meia, Meia herself directed an order, "All Dread team leaders, get your teams into position. The Vanguards should do the same. Does anyone read me?"
Very quickly, Meia found out she had not one person respond. Seeing that no one responded, Meia quickly spoke to Hibiki while Arthur and Brian nearby covered their blind sides.
"If this keeps up, we'll end up shooting at our own allies."
Nearby, Dita was being chased by a copy of Vandread Dita. Though Dita was getting better and better at war, she still had trouble every now and then as she quickly spoke up.
"Mr. Alien! I need help!"
"Man, she's always getting herself into trouble. Let's split…" Hibiki said to Meia.
Vandread Meia split apart and Hibiki flew to Dita and they formed Vandread Dita which landed on an asteroid which Hibiki and Dita looked for the copy Vandread Dita that was causing Dita a pain.
"Dammit, where did that bastard go?" Hibiki asked in annoyance.
Then the enemy unit that was giving Dita trouble appeared out of the blue making Hibiki curse at it before he replied in a determined, yet angry voice as the enemy appeared before the Vandread.
"If that's how it wants it, we'll let him have it!"
Vandread Dita pushed the enemy Harvester unit back which it then fired at Vandread Dita which caused the Vandread to stumble backwards which it was then destroyed by the Archangel Fujin Gundam which landed in front of Vandread Dita.
"Dammit, I can't see anything at all…" Hibiki said bitterly.
"Easy for you to say and keep your guard up because the enemy is still out there." Arthur said.
"I can't get in contact with anyone aside from Mr. Angel Alien just now…" Dita said.
Vandread Dita was then hit from behind by a Harvester copy of Gundread Dita A mode which the heroes fortunately got back up which Dita did cry out before Hibiki spoke softly.
"Hey now, don't get on your high horse."
Vandread Dita then took off from the asteroid it was on before it managed to destroy the Harvester copy that shot at them by slicing it to pieces. On the bridge of the Nirvana, the situation wasn't any easier for the bridge crew either as Ezra spoke out.
"Dread teams, Vanguard teams please respond."
"There's too much noise and crap. I can't get a reading or fix on anyone's position even the Gundams…" Belvedere said.
Seeing what the problem was, Buzam gave out an order which was for everyone to fall back and to activate a feature on the Dreads that got installed on the Vanguards which was added before the Second Mejere Gundam Raid as she quickly spoke up.
"Activate the Dread's emergency recall system and the Vanguard's fallback system. We need to get everyone back in..."
One by one, the Dreads and the Vanguards began to return to the Nirvana while Hibiki, Dita, Brian, and Arthur were still out in the fighting. In her Dread, Jura wondered why her Dread/Gundam was acting all weird.
"What is all of this all of a sudden and what's going on here?" Jura asked herself.
The blonde Mejere woman then noticed the emergency recall system in her machine just now and muttered one thing as the battle drew to a close between the Nirvana and the Harvesters.
"Could BC have told me about this sooner instead of just now?"
Everyone began to fall back which a copy of Gundread Dita B mode tried to follow, but was caught by Vandread Dita, Archangel Fujin Gundam, and the Saber Vulcan Gundam.
"Hey now, your opponents are behind you!" Hibiki shouted.
The trio of mechs or mobile suits was then able to destroy the Harvester war machine that after taking it out for good, Hibiki then spoke up while Arthur and Brian kept a close watch.
"Heh, take that you jerk. Now then, let's all head on back to the Nirvana."
The suddenly, a Harvester copy of Vandread Jura appeared and fired a trio of the same type of beam that could split apart Vandread and Gundread fusions which although Brian and Arthur were able to destroy it, it was too late by a whisker as the beams hit the three mechs or mobile suits separating Vandread Dita into two and causing Hibiki, Arthur, and Brian to be lost in the fog while Dita was able to regain her bearings quick and saw the men vanish into thin air.
"Mr. Angel Alien, Mr. Dragon Alien, and Mr. Alien! Where are all of you?" Dita asked.
The three mobile suits continued to fall aimlessly in space until all three reentered the atmosphere of a planet which the mobile suits or mechs then crashed on the surface causing all three pilots to be ejected from their respective machines but were still alive.
What would come next would surprise the three males from the Nirvana as a group of humans walked up to them and they spoke, but not with their lips rather it was something sci-fi level.
"The young man isn't lacking courage. The same can be said about his two friends."
"Oh, they've meet Samuel before…"
"That man, the one that goes by the name Rabat now these days?"
Hibiki groaned and woke up along with Arthur and Brian who heard the voices in their heads and Arthur spoke as he looked up at the group of mysterious humans looking at him.
"Oh great, voices in my head. I must have either hit my head really hard along with Hibiki and Brian or we've lost our minds yeah."
"Who are you guys?" Hibiki asked weakly.
The leader of the group then spoke, "There's no need to worry young one, the spirits haven't given up on all of you yet."
"What is this? That man's voice is resonating in my head." Hibiki said.
One of the men chuckled before speaking, "We have no need for a voice young one and to you friends, they're not losing their minds."
The three men got up with some help and while they were on their way to the village where these telepathic people lived, the Nirvana was anchored to an asteroid while trying to figure out where Hibiki, Arthur, and Brian went.
"Hibiki-chan, Brian-chan, and Arthur-chan, please respond! Anyone of you!" Ezra shouted with worry.
Ezra repeated the call a few times trying in vain to find the trio while Bart sat outside the Navigational Well looking a bit nervous and worried about the fate of the trio, which Celtic spoke.
"There's no use, they're dead."
"What!" Buzam shouted.
Everyone looked at Celtic. The Mejere woman was wearing an old-fashioned Japanese schoolgirl outfit quickly spoke up to calm everyone down and reassure them that what she just said wasn't what she meant.
"I meant the radar! Not them! Sorry if scared anyone! I was about to say that because there is too much interference and we're unable to use the sensors."
"Celtic, don't stay stuff like that! You what Meia would've thought of that if she was on the bridge right now okay." Amarone said sternly.
"Sorry about that." Celtic said.
Magno just signed before Meia appeared and spoke, "Captain, I'd like permission to go and look for Brian, Hibiki, and Arthur please."
"And how would that work? We can see only a few feet in front of us." Magno said sternly.
"It's that the enemy could still be around us waiting to strike." Meia said firmly.
Magno smiled and then spoke, "Is it about Hibiki? Don't worry we'll find him, Arthur as well and your boyfriend Brian young lady."
Meia blushed very heavily confirming Magno's suspicions about Meia's feelings to Brian as she was just about to let Meia continue speaking, Dita came on to talk while crying a bit.
"Captain, let me go look for Mr. Alien, Mr. Dragon Alien, and Mr. Angel Alien please!"
Misty then appeared and spoke, "May I use the Radar room and is it okay with you captain?"
Barnette then appeared with few members of the Register behind her looking very determined to help and spoke to Magno about the current matter.
"I don't think there's much risk or danger if we head on out in the Dreki with the shields at full power."
Jura then came on and spoke, "Let me go with Meia please Captain! If we don't find them, the Gundreads and Vandreads can't be formed."
"Everyone calm down please! We never said we'd give up on Hibiki, Arthur, and Brian." Buzam said.
Magno spoke to calm everyone down, "Easy now kids, there's no need to hurry. Either way, we won't be able to move from here for a good amount of time so, we've still got time to plan out a good plan."
Magno then left the bridge using the motor track for her chair and arrived in the original conference room, which she spoke to herself once she was by herself.
"We don't need those boys because they can combine, but rather they're a group of precious and dear friends to us…"
Just then, a small bit of pain overcame Magno that she clutched her chest and groaned at the signs of her advanced age of being over 100 years old.
"Of all the times for this to happen."
While Magno called for assistance for help, on the planet of the telepathic people on the other hand, the three male pilots were escorted to a village and were sitting with the residents of the village, which reminded Brian and Arthur of the Native Americans of old-Earth.
Currently, the three male pilots were going to be served some type of beverage while a group of village children watched. Arthur noticed that while they were dressed in outfits like Rabat but were friendly and they were talking telepathically must have had something to do with the Harvesters, but however they were still living which was strange.
Arthur's thoughts were interrupted by a villager as they were each being served a drink that appeared to be tea, which the chieftain spoke, to them,
"Drink it, it'll recover the strength all three of you just lost."
While Arthur and Brian drank theirs fully with no complaint which they knew it tasted better than that Vitamin D drink they had a while back while Hibiki spat out a bit of it much to the amusement of the children watching him and his two friends. Hibiki then heard the chieftain chuckle telepathically.
Hibiki then spoke, "Why don't you people use your voices?"
One of the villagers then frowned greatly at the question Hibiki asked as then, looking down at the floor telepathically spoke to the young, hot-headed Tarak youth. Again, Hibiki heard the voice in his head.
"The Earthlings, the Earthlings took our voices from us!"
The Chieftain then spoke, "Tatanka, that type of negative thinking or bear negative thoughts. Hatred achieves nothing."
"My apologies chief…" Tatanka said calmly.
The chieftain nodded and spoke telepathically, "Our ancestors had possessed a method of speaking with the spirits. However, it was something that couldn't be explained with human science. The Earth feared us greatly because they couldn't understand our ability clearly. So, they took our voice and exiled us to this planet."
"That's terrible…" Hibiki said.
The chieftain wasn't too bothered by Hibiki's comment though he appreciated the concerned comment from the Tarak youth and continued speaking telepathically. Once more, Hibiki heard the voice in his head.
"Ironically, thanks to that, we learned the language of the heart and gained a better way of talking with the spirits."
Hibiki put down his cup and spoke, "I can't forgive that! But why did you not fight? You were all exiled to a place like this! How come all of you are not angry?"
Everyone looked surprised before the chieftain spoke, "You're touching on negative thoughts."
"No good comes from negative thoughts, but destruction, death, and despair…" Tatanka said.
Another villager spoke up, "We don't like or take pleasure in destructive conflicts of any type. The spirits will not their strength to hatred or prejudice either."
"Easy for you to say, some people like the Gilead Foundation would hate you for that…." Arthur said.
"Wha-what? A fight is a-"
Hibiki didn't finish when Arthur put a hand his left shoulder to silence him and to calm him down greatly. Arthur then calmly spoke after Hibiki sat back down in a reprimanding tone.
"Hibiki, that's enough out of you. It's very clear that these people have suffered enough from the Harvesters and they don't have the means to fight back if they did, they'd be wiped out which fighting is the last thing on their minds. In a sense, they remind me of the Shaolin monks of old-Earth China and the Native Americans from old-Earth America as well. Unless you want a punishing workout, you keep your mouth shut unless it's something positive or won't offend these people okay. One doesn't have to use conflict to win didn't I teach you that or have you forgotten that as well?"
The Chieftain then spoke, "Your friend is right, for victory doesn't always result or has to come about from conflict. Yes, the beings from Earth who were once human are near. Also, the final battle against them who are now known as the Harvesters is near. But negative thoughts have entered through there. That young boy is the reason for your impatience. You must go now to converse with yourself right now. You must go to the place of the spirits."
"The place…. of the spirits?" Hibiki asked while confused.
"It's the place where we go to ease our minds and the place where we talk to God…" Tatanka said.
Hibiki hesitated before the chieftain spoke, "There's nothing to fear young one. You've already have conversed with the spirits before have you not along with several others?"
Arthur then spoke, "I think I've seen the spirits, but they appeared to be in the form of past leaders like Leonidas of Sparta. My injuries during the battle with that Melanos fleet were healed like magic and both Bella and Brian saw the same leaders as I did not to mention, when I was about to cut up the first Tarak Vanguard, I could hear a voice, almost like I was next to him."
"Are you sure it wasn't you leaving an open communications line on?" Brian asked.
"No…..I was…too…enraged to listen and if I was calmer, I would've heard him…" Arthur said.
The chieftain smiled and replied, "That' means that you, Brian, and that young lady Bella have communicated with some spirits before. There is someone here who you should meet."
"Who?" Arthur asked.
The Chieftain said nothing and asked him and Brian to follow him. Hibiki on the other hand left the group and went into the caves. On the Nirvana, the Paksis glowed unusually much to the bewilderment of Parfet, while Misty in the Radar room with Meia, Dita, Jura, Barnette, and Buzam stood nearby was trying to find where Hibiki, Arthur, and Brian located.
"We've been able to at last establish a map of the surroundings. We've been also been able to confirm the presence of a few nearby planets…" Meia said.
"I wonder if Mr. Alien, Mr. Dragon Alien, and Mr. Angel Alien are there somewhere…" Dita said.
Misty turned her seat and spoke to Buzam, "There is a very strong possibility that they were drawn into an asteroid belt."
"So, in other words, it'll be like searching for a trio of needles in a huge haystack…" Buzam said firmly.
Bart contacted the room and spoke, "It's even worse for those doing the actual searching sub-commander."
Buzam was confused at what they were all saying before Meia cleared up the matter by speaking to Buzam about what Bart was doing for the crew.
"We've asked Bart to check each possible signal to find those men."
"Oh, I suppose that's a very daunting task…" Buzam said.
Bart got excited by the news and spoke, "Oh, you understand and don't worry it's okay! Leave it to good old Bart to find those three men!"
Bart then cut the communications line to the Radar room and went back to work quickly while thinking to himself one, quick and deep thought.
"Hibiki, Arthur, and Brian. I'll find all three of you guys no matter what. Don't any of you three die until then."
"Oh, oops! That's not it." Bart said to himself while working.
Back on the planet of the telepathic people, Hibiki was climbing a rock face cliff while Arthur and Brian were lead to a spot away from the village and to their surprise, it was a wrecked Black Eagle fighter, but appeared to be an older model as newer ones had miniature reactors for longer deployments.
It however was used for a small-sized hut, which the door opened and out came an older man dressed in the same clothing as the rest of the male adults, had a long white beard, and used a cane to walk around.
What surprised the duo were the dog tags around his neck: Lt. Col Andrew Stonewall. He'd gone missing decades ago around 3750 AD and was presumed lost. He'd appeared to be in his late eighties to early nineties, which surprised them. Then, the guy spoke up.
"Hello there."
Stonewall then spoke again, "Come here you two, don't be afraid."
While the duo was getting acquainted with a long-lost pilot, Hibiki on the other hand was still climbing the rock face while struggling to get up despite getting enhanced by the Paksis along with Dita, Jura, Meia, and even his mentors Brian, Bella, and Arthur though the latter three was minor.
Among the things he recalled aside from an increased foot in height except for Arthur, Brian, and Bella, the four had gained muscle strength and other attributes, which was basically copying the Lighting Commando Augmentations for him and the three Mejere women according to Duero when they were medically examined after the battle with the Harvester Flagship.
Duero concluded that it was so they could pilot their machines in Gundam mode much easier. The women took the changes thanks to the Paksis with greater happiness after they passed out after the battle and being brought to the Medical bay, waking up, and noticing the changes to them.
For the three Mejere females, the enhancements included for some bizarre-ass reason a faint cup size increase much to the women's pleasure along with their beauty being enhanced which Arthur, Brian, and Bella had been enhanced themselves to pilot their Gundam with ease along with fighting the Harvesters more fluently though for the Terrain Prime trio, it was not much for them.
The guys for some reason had their beauty enhanced as well along with their junk being slightly increased in size like an additional inch when their dicks were erect and their balls being a bit bigger, but not very much.
Hibiki shook his head of those thoughts and spoke, "Man, I can't see anything. They threw me into a place like this without even a light to help me. Dammit, they've sure have deceived me."
Then the Chieftain spoke, "Don't fear the darkness young man, free your mind. If you do so, the spirits will talk to you…"
"Will you quite it with that preaching! All I must do is climb this right?" Hibiki asked himself.
Hibiki shook his head a little before he then continued climbing which he muttered to himself one thing as he kept climbing up the rock face in the cave.
"Just you wait, I'm going to succeed in climbing this thing if it's the last thing I do. Don't underestimate me."
After climbing for a bit, Hibiki for some reason began to hear voices as if they were near him or next to him even though it was just him there alone.
"I'm very disappointed with you."
"You call this training?"
"You can't do it."
"Stop dreaming!"
"What can you do alone?"
"Don't you understand the feelings of others?"
"You were so small and cute I thought you were a female."
Hibiki got scared and replied, "S-Shut up!"
"It's not you who's great, but rather it's those mechs."
"S-Shut up! I don't know who it is, but don't mess around with me!" Hibiki shouted.
The laughter began to appear and Hibiki shouted shut up repeatedly, but nothing worked. He lost his grip and fell downward thankfully he wasn't hurt due to the training he received, the enhancements by the Paksis, and luck.
Nearby near the entrance to the cave, the chieftain and Tatanka stood waiting for Hibiki to finish his trials when Tatanka asked something about Hibiki to the Chieftain. The chieftain's true name was Oosa Kokuberi.
"Oosa Kokuberi, perhaps the trials of the warrior were a bit too much for that man…"
The chieftain known as Ossa Kokuberi spoke, "No, not quite because it's all up to that young man's heart."
Tatanka looked behind him and spotted a familiar duo on a hill: Rabat and his pet Orangutan and Utan which he spoke Rabat's real name which neither Arthur nor Brian knew Samuel. He did notice a collar around his neck, which Rabat and Utan made their way to him and Oosa Kokuberi while Brian and Arthur were getting to know the lost pilot Andrew Stonewall.
"So, you got lost during a deep space recon mission and crashed here? Why hasn't Terrain Prime spotted this world yet?" Arthur asked.
"Because…due to its…location and distance…I couldn't get word out…. tell me, how's our home?" Andrew Stonewall asked calmly.
"It's doing okay except we have Mejere and Tarak on us for stupid reasons and the Harvesters want to destroy us…" Brian said bitterly.
He nodded grimly and replied, "I had a hunch we'd be discovered one day despite the Super Electromagnetic Storm surrounding our home. Also, is that blasted Gundam Fujin built or still on paper?"
"It was built but damaged to the point it had to be upgraded into the Archangel Fujin Gundam, why is that?" Arthur asked curiously.
"Because…. my brother Franklin Cusack Stonewall or you young man Brian should know as Sensei Doctor FC worked on it. Tell me is he still alive?" Andrew Stonewall said.
Brian looked down and spoke, "He's dead along with his fellow scientists who were murdered by Alberta Walker our former Supreme Commander of Terrain Prime. He was a good man why?"
The elderly man smiled surprising them which meanwhile, Duero was looking at Hibiki's medical file or what he had in the Medical bay while Paiway stood near him wondering what he was doing. A map of the surrounding environment was near it along with medical files of Arthur and Brian near Hibiki's.
"What are you doing doc-kero?" Paiway asked.
"I'm looking at the medical profiles of Hibiki, Brian and Arthur so that I can treat them better in the future no matter what kinds of wounds they get…" Duero said calmly.
"Sounds like a lot of work." Paiway said.
Just then, Pyoro came in though his screen was full of static. He then once he got near the Duero and Paiway began to display data Duero never received before. At the same time, Bella looking over a map of the environment around the TPSDNS Solaris looked at the data chip she taken from Rabat and decided to look at it, as one file wasn't cracked yet which she wasn't able to due to other tasks needing her attention.
After fiddling with it a bit with Lilo's help who Bella asked her to help her, the found something that stunned both women that Bella transmitted the information to the Nirvana to have Duero look at it before reminding themselves to turn it into people that should know it.
Back on the Nirvana on the other hand meanwhile, Duero was wondering what was Pyoro doing in the Medical bay and asked the Navi-Robot what was going on with him.
"What do you think you're doing Pyoro."
"What is Hibiki?" Pyoro asked himself.
Pyoro then turned to face the Tarak medical male and spoke calmly. At the same time, a message from Bella was received by Amarone and then, passed it to the Nirvana's chief medical officer.
"The proof that Hibiki is Hibiki. Excuse me for a moment."
Pyoro then left prompting Duero and Paiway to chase after him, which Pyoro ended up in Arthur's quarters, which the medical team retrieved him and the data pad belonging to the late Instructor Professor JJ.
After bringing him back, they looked at the data given to them along with the data found in the device of Arthur's late mentor which stunned them which it got more surprising as Duero noticed the message Bella sent him which surprised him on it getting to the Nirvana despite the Electromagnetic Storm.
Duero spoke after looking at all of the data, "Dear Lord Grand Pa…. what is all this?"
Meanwhile back on the telepathic planet, Hibiki found himself in a dream-like state when he found himself in the same environment as the Paksis when he heard another more, additional voices.
"The tougher a guy acts, the weaker the actual guy really is."
"Don't talk greatly of yourself using words borrowed from other people."
"What did you hope to accomplish by coming here? Was it not to establish proof of yourself?
"Hibiki, why do you exist?"
"What is your real reason for fighting? For glory? For fame? Or what is it really that you're fighting for?"
Hibiki replied to the voices, "The proof that I'm me? Truth is, I don't know. I...I…Who am I?"
Then suddenly without any warning at all, he then saw a series of images shown to him which were his past battles with the Nirvana and Terrain Prime which he muttered one thing.
"What is all this?"
He then saw more images he'd never seen before, a view into space showing the colonization fleets of which were of what the Ikazuchi was like years ago, a male and female couple holding him up while smiling, a young blonde girl looking at him, a group of techs floating around a series of cryogenic tubes and lastly, him looking through an open doorway at a mirror which he saw a younger version of himself.
Then all of a sudden on the Nirvana almost like they were possessed, Dita along with Meia and Jura felt something and pointed their fingers at a random spot on the map which Bella did the same thing on the TPSDNS Solaris which both Barnette and Ashley asked one thing.
"What's wrong?"
"Hibiki, Arthur, and Brian are on that planet…" Dita and Bella said together despite not being on the same ship.
On the telepathic planet, Arthur and Brian were stunned at what they were told: Andrew Stonewall was related to Brian's late mentor Sensei Doctor FC. Just then, Arthur looked at his communication device and saw a hidden message was for him specifically. He played it and it was is late mentor and Andrew Stonewall's brother as well along with their fellow scientists.
"Arthur, Harold and Victoria, if this message is playing then I've died before I could atone for my mistakes to our family. I hope you three and our family can forgive me for breaking my promises I made and broken over my life including not being a good husband to you great-grandmother Anna Susan Wilson-Hanson. The real goal of Project Patton wasn't to create weapons, but rather to create protectors that'd protect the weak and defenseless from those that prey on them including Communists and such. My coworkers and I created this project not only for our family, but for Humanity as well. Someday you'll find out that it represents more than science and engineering, it represents centuries of work for the real project we've dubbed Project Archangel…"
It was then that the dead scientist he spoke something wonderful. Just then, Arthur got a bit misty-eyed as this man before him was more than a mentor, he was his great-grandfather.
"Arthur, I know you're too young to understand what I'm trying to say or you're too busy so, I leave all of my work to you and to your friends. I want you to help create a better future not only for yourself, but for Humanity as well for one day an alien race might visit us and we'll show them that we're worthy of existing. My coworkers and I are limited by the resources available to us, but I know you'll figure it out with others to help for you don't have to bear this responsibility alone and when you do, you'll create a beautiful future for Humanity and for all sentient life for what will always be my most perfect creations ever and it has nothing to do with genetic engineering I let happen to you and others which I regret with my entire being, but it had to be done for a reason. For the greatest achievements ever to come into my life are your sister, your cousins, and you. I love all and may God guide you to peace in many ways."
On the other hand, while the message was ending. On the Nirvana moments later, Magno received some shocking and stunning news that was at the Holy Shit-Level news and asked.
"Are you absolutely sure about this doc?"
Duero nodded and spoke, "There is no mistake. Hibiki is a member of the first-generation and he was on the ship back when it was the Ikazuchi. When this colony ship entered this very same Electromagnetic Storm, they left only the bare minimum crew and put the rest in cryogenic sleep. Hibiki was one of them."
"Then the baby back then is him?! What about Arthur and Brian?!" Magno asked in pure shock.
"I only got this just now from Pyoro who accidentally was able to decode the riddle on the device from the late Instructor Professor JJ along with Bella just now from a message I was able to get from her in which this data shows this revelation. The leader of these scientists and such was Arthur, Victoria and Harold's late great-grandfather Johnathan James Hanson, younger brother of Simon Jacob Hanson a member of Terrain Prime's Founding Members. Years ago, Arthur, Bella, Brian, and around 105 others from Terrain Prime were genetically engineered to be perfect, stronger, have no flawed genes, no risk of diseases or viruses like Cancer, and superior as to be able to pilot the Gundams when they were built and to be the perfect humans both during war and during peace times. On the flip side, it was this that caused the Terrain Prime Civil War years ago."
"Then where does the Lighting Commando Formula fit in to all of this? And why did genetic engineering cause a Civil War in a Libertarian/Democracy/Pacifist nation?" Magno asked.
Duero took a deep breath and spoke, "It was to be one of the final enhancements for anyone who was part of Project Archangel. Less than twenty-four humans have received the augmentations. The last bit is called Project Dragon which is likely another thing for those involved with Project Archangel like I said most likely a type of battle suit for dealing with ship-boarding Harvester forces. The reason for the civil war according to the notes was moral conflicts of playing god and fears of a race of humans that would stamp out non-enhanced humans despite this all being for preparation to colonize worlds that had various challenges not found on Terrain Prime along with one hope or dream."
"What would that be?" Magno and Buzam asked together.
"To ascend Humanity to a higher plane of existence in a better way than the Earthling's plan of any attempted forced subjection." Duero said calmly.
On the other hand, while Magno and Buzam were digesting the latest information on Hibiki, Arthur and Brian, Hibiki on the meanwhile was looking at images of him and spoke.
"This is me?"
Then at the same time a bright light blinded him, the Nirvana raised up its anchor and speed off quickly towards where Hibiki, Brian, and Arthur were at. At the same time, Bart got spat out of the well.
"What's going on Bart? I don't recall giving you an order to move!" Buzam shouted while on the bridge of the Nirvana.
Bart near the Navigational Well spoke, "What? No, the ship just acted on its own."
In the Engineering bay at the same time, Parfet was confused at what was going on with the Paksis along with the rest of her fellow engineers and spoke while looking at the Paksis.
"What's going on?"
Pyoro then floated near Parfet and spoke, "A collection of Carbon and Hydrogen. Humanity, man, woman, friends."
"Pyoro, what's going on with you?" Parfet asked.
Hibiki on the other hand heard a voice speaking to him:
"What is human? What is Hibiki?"
"Who are you? Are you really a God? Or are you just an illusion?" Hibiki asked.
"You can't comprehend, man and woman are primitive life forms…"
"Oh, I understand now, you're alive and not what you seem right?" said Hibiki.
Hibiki heard nothing and spoke, "So, that's it then…. that's it!"
Suddenly, a bright greenish-blue light then engulfed Hibiki. Down below near the entrance to the cave, Oosa Kokuberi smiled and spoke to himself telepathically of course.
"So, you've reached the realm of the spirits."
Just as that thought had happened, Oosa Kokuberi then quietly and gently began to create a unique and complex sand drawing while speaking to himself. The chieftain smiled as his friend worked.
"The Blue Victory, the six prayers, the eight shadows, and the 150 hearts. Plus, the three knights and the 9 guardians..."
While the chieftain worked, Utan then ran up to Tatanka and jumped into his arms with excitement as then, the telepathic human told the orangutan something important.
"Shh, Oosa Kokuberi is in the middle of a ceremony."
Utan nodded as she understood what he just said and quieted up just as Rabat or Samuel Adams walked up to Oosa Kokuberi, which the chieftain spoke to him as he worked carefully.
"Samuel, welcome back. Though I didn't expect you to sport a necklace on you."
"I know, after being shown my crimes and given the choice between death and exile from any civilized system, I choose exile and I figure those three especially that boy would come here eventually in some shape or form…" Rabat said.
"It was the same when that pilot came here and you as well. The same look in your eyes along with his eyes as well just like that young man has now." Oosa Kokuberi said as he worked.
Rabat reflected on when he first crashed landed on the planet all those years ago. Back when he was impulsive and back when he was Samuel Adams before replying in a nervous tone.
"Oh please, stop kidding around Kokuberi, I'm not as foolish as he is and besides."
"The spirits choose him instead of you?" Tatanka asked.
"I did see the Blue Victory within that man…" Oosa Kokuberi said calmly.
"It's not just the Blue Giant. He's also got the White Wings and the Red Claws as well…" Rabat said.
Oosa Kokuberi nodded and spoke, "If that's the will of the universe, then that young man will pass it…the trial of himself that is."
"The other two men, both finding out that they were both genetically engineered for a life during and after a military career tells that they're destined for greater things along with their companions and that young man as well…" Rabat said with a soft smile.
"Yes, their respective pasts shaped them, but the spirits will show them the true paths for those three…as well." Oosa Kokuberi said.
While that event was going on with the Terrain Prime trio being added to the sand drawing carefully, Hibiki on the other hand heard the same voice talking to him as he continued to climb deep in the cave towards a destination he had yet to see.
"The etch in this time, the limited life."
"So, you're telling me that you're not etched in time yourself? Humans on the other hand are! We may be primitive to you, but we must treasure each day because of it…" Hibiki said as he climbed.
"What is Hibiki? Why does he exist?"
"To be honest, I can't answer that myself either, but I live every day to answer that…" Hibiki said with determination.
As Hibiki kept climbing higher and higher in the deep and dark cave, the mysterious voice from unknown then spoke again to the Tarak youth. While that happened, Hibiki just kept on listening while it spoke.
"That's the proof of Hibiki."
"It's pitiful, but I can't live alone for I can just barely scratch out a life being supported by a lot of people including Arthur and Brian." Hibiki said.
As the Nirvana and ironically the TPSDNS Solaris headed to the planet where Hibiki, Brian and Arthur had crashed landed onto, the mysterious voice spoke to Hibiki. The Tarak youth wasn't afraid anymore.
"Those are your friends, something precious."
"Yeah, I know that, they're all fussy at times, but they're there for a reason. I can be myself. I can't lose any of them, because I wouldn't be myself anymore." Hibiki said with confidence.
Just as Dita, Meia, Bella and Jura headed out to lead the search and rescue effort for the trio of guys on the planet, the mysterious voice then spoke once more. Hibiki grew confident with each successful climb.
"Many wishes….prayers…..hopes…."
"It's too big for me, but I can't just give up for some reason. For them, when I think they'd be sad, I just can't give up yet." Hibiki said.
The mystery voice spoke, "Question, worry, jealousy…"
Hibiki for a quick, moment calmly reflected on the memories of the Nirvana's voyage that was strange, yet brave from the start to the present day as he climbed and spoke up.
"Until a just a long time back ago; I thought only of myself and no one else, so I didn't give a damn about what everyone else thought. But I understand now fully and now I care. If I was anymore stronger, if I had more strength and wisdom, I could help everyone. When I think of that, I can't give up. Now, I have to think from the bottom of my heart that I have to become stronger for them."
Hibiki saw the red light that had initially pushed him down before when he first started to climb up the rock wall in the cave and spoke loudly and firmly. This time, he wasn't going to be stopped.
"Don't get in my way!"
The red light disappeared upon Hibiki's determined shout and iron-willed resolve as Hibiki continued to climb higher and higher with greater confidence which Hibiki spoke.
"I won't run away! There are many people who believe in me!"
As the two ships known as the Nirvana and TPSDNS Solaris got closer to the planet and the sand drawing was nearing completion, Hibiki spoke once more as he climbed.
"To protect them! I'm going to fight!"
"That's why you live, that's the proof of life."
"Yeah! That's the proof that I live!" Hibiki shouted.
Hibiki then found himself on a rock tower overlooking a canyon which Arthur and Brian arrived in the same cave as Oosa Kokuberi, Tatanka, Utan, and Rabat. They initially wanted to kill the traitor, but Andrew Stonewall stopped them and both saw the sand drawing which made them realize Rabat and Utan were here for a reason.
"Yet another true warrior has been born…" Oosa Kokuberi said.
"You mean that the young man is at the center of the universe? Is this the will of the spirits?" Tatanka asked.
Rabat smiled and spoke, "The world is your stage and the curtain has drawn! Go forth and declare yourself! In your own words and style!"
"I AM Hibiki Tokai! I'll fight! I'm not going to run or retreat! For those who believe in me!" Hibiki shouted with confidence.
Hibiki then saw the shape of Dita's machine in Dread mode flying in the distance along with Jura's and Meia's as well as in her cockpit; Dita shouted one thing with a slight blush on her face.
"Mr. Alien! Mr. Dragon Alien! Mr. Angel Alien!"
Hibiki just stood there smiling before making his way back down which at the same time, Arthur and Brian were lead to the desert tree forest for their own journey. After the duo went their own paths, both were confronted by their respective pasts.
For Arthur, it was dealing with the shadow of being alone and that of his father. Arthur, as he walked saw that he started alone, but became a man. Arthur also saw in a vision one thing: his dad Roy Hanson was a good man and loved him.
The vision in question was Arthur talking to his dad right before the fateful voyage that sent him on the path to the Nirvana and its crew. Looking, Arthur saw his mom tell him to say something to his dad or he'll regret it.
Arthur couldn't see what he said that day, but it was something good judging by how he and his dad hugged as a real father and son. Then, Arthur paused and saw that his past shouldn't determine who he is.
For Brian, he saw a dark shadow and that was his hidden anger and sorrow from not saying how much he loved them both. Brian was a bit immature and he grew up because of war.
Brian closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he opened his eyes and saw his parents though dead smiling at him. Brian soon realized that even in death, they're still with him and teaching him.
Both men found themselves questioned by voices as well along with a vision that Bella herself saw as she landed near Hibiki's Vanguard and the Gundams of Arthur and Brian: two Unicorns, two Earth ponies, two Pegasus type of ponies, and a small Dragon which behind them were two Alicorns one as bright as the sun, the other dark as the moon.
A shadow then confronted them which upon slicing it in half though Bella sliced through a rock, a grim reminder told them that their power must be used responsibly or end up down a dark and evil path of no return; hollow and heartless machines if they were to be using their powers for dark reasons.
All of them got to a dried-up lake bed which all three saw each other before getting into a group hug before parting and looking out to the horizon and proclaimed together one thing.
"We are Angels of life! Guardians of the weak and defenseless! We shall never let darkness or corruption consume us! We will fight to ensure the spark of life never goes out!"
While that was going on planet side wise, on the Nirvana on the other hand, Parfet looked at the Paksis with Duero and Pyoro and spoke in a surprised tone. To her, there was more to the Paksis than meets the eye.
"Wow, who knew that the Paksis was actually alive. That really surprised me."
"The universe is much vaster than our meager imaginations would have it…" Duero said calmly.
"Well now, here's to knowing ya Paksis. But now that we know it's a life form doc, you'll have to help me out in the future." Parfat said.
Duero looked at Parfet as she spoke, "I say this because we won't be repairing it, and we'll be healing it as well."
Seeing her new upbeat attitude, Duero put his left hand on his chin to think for a quick, little bit. Then, Duero looked at the pair before he then calmly spoke to her and Pyoro.
"I see your point. You always say the most interesting things!"
Unknown to them, someone was listening in. Hiding nearby and out of sight of the two humans and the Navi-Robot machine, Paiway quickly and quietly wrote in her little book and spoke.
"It smells funny, so let's check!"
"She's the only real annoying one around here…" Pyoro said out of the blue.
On the planet's surface, Hibiki's Vanguard was loaded up on the Nirvana's shuttle transport with Arthur and Brian's Gundam's left to be loaded up as the duo stood near Hibiki as he spoke to the chieftain Oosa Kokuberi one last time.
"The truly reborn young man. Good job in bearing the trials. You are a true warrior along with your friends near you…" Oosa Kokuberi said.
"Oh, please stop, it's a little awkward after all of the stuff I've been through..." Hibiki said with a chuckle.
It was then after Arthur and Brian's respective Gundams had been loaded up for transport so they all could leave that Oosa Kokuberi placed a stone on Hibiki's forehead and spoke.
"As long as that stone with you, we're always with you. Here you have passed the trials and here you have been reborn. From this day on, this land is a new home for you."
Hibiki was a bit surprised and touched by the gesture by the telepathic human as Oosa Kokuberi spoke once more with strong, good advice for the Tarak youth. Brian and Arthur stood nearby and watched.
"You can come back here anytime, whether you're happy or sad. We'll always greet you. There is no need to feel out of place, for we are your family. The same can be said about your three Terrain Prime friends as well."
"My family…. thank you sir!" replied Hibiki.
After the Nirvana left the planet of the telepathic people while the TPSDNS Solaris left with Andrew Stonewall while on the bridge of the Nirvana, Magno made an announcement to the crew.
"Once we passed through the storm, it'll be homeward bound for sure! I'm expecting your best people!" Magno shouted.
While everyone replied Roger in a sharp reply, Arthur on the other hand found himself in deep thought that he didn't see Jura coming out of concern while overlooking the Bio-Garden.
Seeing his uncertain state, she hugged him from behind and ignoring the obvious fact that her chest was pressed against his back. Then, Arthur spoke in a rather depressed tone and voice.
"I was genetically engineered before I was born to be perfect with no flawed genes and to be strong along with those who'd pilot those Gundams. Augmented years later, perhaps I wasn't meant to be born or to exist. Who I'm I really? A citizen of Terrain Prime and pilot or something meant to be used like a tool? A machine? Not to mention, why did my great-grandfather Jonathan James Hanson keep this from my family?"
Naturally Brian in the Bio-Garden felt the same after the truth behind the Gundam project was revealed. Bella felt initial the same while looking out towards space on the TPSDNS Solaris' observation deck, but Ashley then came to her and reassured her that she's still her sister no matter what happens.
Arthur then felt to his surprise a pair of arms wrapping around his chest along with Jura leaning her head against his left side of his neck. He lifted his hands up and let them touch Jura's hands.
"There is nothing wrong with whom you are Arthur, you're just as human as me and not like those Harvesters. You're more than a citizen of Terrain Prime or a pilot; you're my love and a real good, noble, and loving human male. Your great-grandfather loved you and his other family members deep inside of him and he had his reasons don't doubt him or yourself for one second. I'm sure that any future kids you'd have if it happens would love you for who you are. I've become a much stronger and happier woman because of you Arthur." Jura said.
They soon left and after a quick talk, the couple were able to part on good, better terms as on the other hand, Meia came up to him and hugged Brian before she spoke to him.
"Are you okay?"
"While I was down there, I saw a vision; a group of what looked like ponies were there as I saw two small horses or ponies, two others that could fly, two that looked like unicorns, and finally two that looked like a combination of all three along with a small tiny dragon out of the corner of my left eye, what does all that mean?" Brian asked.
"Who knows….who knows, but you won't face it alone and Brian I want to tell you this, but in my room okay?" replied Meia.
The two soon left as in Meia's room moments later, the Dread Squad Leader told her life story to Brian. She started when she was born, her life before her parents died, her time on the streets of Mejere and then, the present.
"So…sad…. I feel for you Meia…" Brian said.
"Why should you be?" Meia asked.
"I had similar feelings after my parents died; rage episodes, getting into fights at the private school I was attending, being transferred to a Marine Corps military school to straighten me up, and wishing I could've done something for them…" Brian said with sadness.
Brian signed and spoke, "My dad was a wise and noble man while my mom was the gentlest lady you would've met. There are days that I wonder what they would've thought of me and where I am now, which is anyone's guess."
Meia then spoke, "I'm sure they would've been proud of you and what you've become; a strong, noble, wise, and loving man because for both of us, out of the darkness can come the most amazing things like being thankful of life. When I first met you, I thought you were a jerk which was me making a mistake. I also I want to repeat this to you."
"What is it?" Brian asked with confusion.
Meia said nothing and kissed Brian right on his lips which her tongue pressed against his lips asking for entrance which happened that caused the two to make out like crazy.
When it was over, Meia spoke again, "I love you Brian De Gras! I love you! I love you! I love you like crazy! I love you for opening me up from a cold person to a better one. I love you for your determination, your honesty, gentleman behavior, your wildness, your empathy, your Marine attitude, your dragon drawings and love for that mythical creature, your odd philosophy, and most of all your compassion of not leaving anyone behind!"
Brian then saw Meia strip down to her undergarments which she let him watch that he felt he should do the same which both soon then climbed into bed together upon which Brian decided to speak to her.
"Meia, I love you for your attitude, your kindness, and other things about you as my dad once said when a man finds a woman he wants be with for the rest of his life, he'll make sure she's happy by being a gentleman. I did not agree with your attitude when we first met, but now I see the real you underneath it all which I love about that…" Brain said.
Meia smiled and kissed him which he kissed her back that both soon fell asleep after she put her headpiece away as in another part of the ship, Bart felt a bit better now that he knew that he had a crush on Bella which he hoped it would blossom into romance, but for now business as usual.
With a rebirth of a few heroes comes a new sense of hope for Humanity for its future and for when the time comes when other races will find Humanity and it'll take great forces to prevent any wars from occurring over petty reasons such as gender.
A/N: Here is the big revelation chapter, can't talk right now.
The Solaris-class is based on the Archangel-class from Gundam Seed/Destiny, but more futuristic and better designed along with being better armed.
The whole genetic engineering thing is based on the Ultimate Coordinator stuff from Gundam Seed, but with a better survival rating, the augments from Star Trek, but with no Khan-like evil brewing and no defective genes, the Newtype thing of Mobile Suit Gundam and Gundam X, Innovator thing from Gundam 00, X-Rounder thing from Gundam AGE, and the Whispered thing from Full Metal Panic, but aren't limited to specializing in one area of learning and can learn more multiple skills and knowledge.
This also forms the DNA enhancements for a couple of parts of the Lighting Commando Augmentations and future versions in later years.
R and R to tell me what you like, what you don't like, but no flames okay!
Bye now and hope you enjoy the little pop culture things here and there.