Vandread Fanfic - Until the End
Chapter V - Purpose Of Life
Rating - G / Romance / Sci-Fi
Author's Note - What's your purpose of life?
Special Note - This chapter is based on the episode 'Impossible'
For my wish to come true, even with featherless wings
I won't stop flying Oh, light my fire
A new wind is blowing towards a place without promises
And today too, this unquenchable passion continues to inflame my heart
Takanori Makes Revoulution - Light My Fire (transliterated)
Several months passed by. Rick is already used to the environment around him. Most women on the ship begin to accept him. On the other hand, Meia keeps avoiding him. Even if they met, she avoids any eye contact with him. The sudden change in her attitude had sparked many speculations among the women.
Since he got nothing to do on the ship, he voluntarily lends a hand at the requisition department, under Gascogne or better known as Gasco among the ship's crew. He helps her re-supply the Dread fighters during battle. Gascogne called him "Gung-ho" because of his reckless and sometimes crazy attitude when he's given the controls of the supply shuttle. But because of his attitude, he managed to get out of many tight spots during battle. He also helps out Parfet to repair VX4 whenever he had the time.
"Strange, why everything is so quiet today?" Rick asked as he tries to pull out a circuit from its slot.
"Meia and the others are on a mission to investigate some kind of station," Parfet replied.
"No wonder...ouch!!" Rick felt an electric jolt coursing in his arm.
"You okay up there?"
"Yeah, this guy is giving me a hard time. If you keep doing this, you'll never see any action." Rick gives another try to yank the circuit. This time, he managed to do it.
VX4 hummed.
"I better go to the engine room to check things out." Parfet said as she pack her stuff.
"Yeah, you'll do that. I'm sure you needed there."
"Why don't you come to the engine room once in a while? You're pretty good with your hands." Parfet said as she leave the hangar.
"Yeah, I'll do that. See you."
VX4 hummed again.
"You like her? I see. That's why you didn't give her any electric shock."
It hummed again.
"Very funny. If you give me another one of that, you have to find yourself another pilot."
A few hours later...
"There, that should do it. Well, I'm finish for today. See you later buddy."
VX4 gave a hum.
"Don't you start with that line again. Of course I'm going fix you all the way. Well, see ya." Rick leaves the hangar.
Rick is walking along the corridor when he heard noises. He follows the source of the noise. He sees a tall man with two green stripes on his left cheek. He also has an eye patch on his right eye. With him is a primate like creature. It is holding Pyoro in it's arms. The man is surrounded by women.
(Funny. I think I've seen him somewhere before.)
He saw Paiway holding a few items in her arms.
"Excuse me Pai, who's that guy?"
"He said that he's a trader," she replied.
"What's with the lipstick? You're too young to use it."
"Hmmph. It's my problem. Don't bother." She then walked away from him.
Then, he saw Parfet emerged from the crowd carrying a few gadget like things.
"What have you bought?"
"Just a few things that could be useful. Here, take a look."
Rick looks at the items closely. A cube like item with a few buttons caught his eye.
(Hey, this thing...I've seen this thing before. This thing only exists back home. But how...? Could that guy be)
At the infirmary, Duero, Bart & Hibiki were having a discussion about the man with the eye patch.
"That guy is mysterious. I don't like him." Hibiki said.
"Just like Xero, he came from a place where men and women live together." Duero said as he check the monitor in front of him.
"Hmmph. I don't like him too." Hibiki quickly gave his opinion.
"C'mon, Hibiki. Xero is a nice guy. Perhaps you're just jealous because he's way cool than you." Bart chips in.
"Don't you see? Those two were too friendly with the women." Hibiki protests.
"He's right, Bart. Both of them look suspicious and too kind towards women." Duero gave his opinion.
"Hmm..." Bart didn't give an answer. The whole room is in complete silence.
"I'm outta here. Better keep an eye on him." With that, Hibiki walks out of the room.
"Him?" Bart scratched his head.
"He must be referring to Rabat." said Duero.
Rick was standing on a platform way up in the Vanguard hangar, trying to remember where he met the eye patched guy called Rabat.
(C'mon...remember...hmm...now I remember. He's the trader that sells useless junks back home. He cheated Sara into buying a defected engine booster. Maybe I should teach him a lesson...)
Then, he heard a sound and saw Dita & Rabat entered the area.
"Waaa...this is great." Rabat said as he take a look at VX4.
"That one is still under repair," Dita explained.
"I see. Let me take closer look at that one." Rabat approaches Hibiki's Vanguard but his path is blocked by Dita.
"No. You can't. This is Uchuuji-san's."
"C'mon, I just wanna take a look inside." Rabat said with a sneer.
"NO!! YOU CAN'T!!"
"Why do you care about him so much? To him, women are his enemies and I bet he didn't have any feelings for you." Rabat closes in and tries to kiss her lips.
Rick is about to make a move when he sees Hibiki comes in.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!!!"
"Uchuuji-san!!"
"Oh, here comes your hero."
"What do you think you're doing here?" Hibiki asked Rabat.
"None of your business."
"You'll tell me when your face got smashed."
With that, Hibiki rushes towards Rabat to land the first blow and Rabat easily avoided his punch and countered with a knee right on his chest. For the rest of the fight, Hibiki was totally outmatched by Rabat. The fight attracted a lot of attention as most of the crew gathered at the entrance to watch the fight. Rick is watching the fight silently from the platform and decided not to interfere.
"Heh. Have enough already?" Rabat said as he put his foot on Hibiki's head.
"Uhh..."
"Uchuuji-san!!"
"You have a big mouth for a kid. But you know what? You didn't have any of your own phrases to say." Rabat said as he applied more pressure in Hibiki's head.
(That's it. I can't stand it any longer. That kid gonna lie in bed for a long time.)
Rick is about to let his presence known when he sees Meia sneaking towards the fight scene and stands on Hibiki's Vanguard. She gave a laser shot from her ring and missed Rabat by a few centimeters. Rabat looked at her.
"Game Over." she said.
"Hmm..." Rabat turned his head and looks at the angry faces of the crowd.
"So, everyone hates me now, huh?" Rabat sighed.
"Let's go Utan." Rabat said to his primate companion.
"Long time no see eh, Rabat? Or should I say 'rat bastard?" Rick said as he jumps down from the platform above.
"You're...Maverick Xero!! What are you doing here?" Rabat asked with a shock expression.
"Heh. I'm about to ask you the same question." Rick smiles.
"Uchuuji-san!!" Dita kneels beside Hibiki.
"Take care of him, Dita. I'll teach this scum." Rick said as he takes off his guitar and his black coat.
"You knew each other?" Meia asked Rick.
"Yeah...not too long ago. He used to sell useless junks back at my home world. He even cheated Sara into buying a useless engine booster." Rick explained.
"I see. So, that is not 'her" Rabat pointed at Meia.
"Yeah. That's right. And I'm gonna kick your $$ for Sara and that kid." Rick said as he stretch his arms.
"Heh. Tell you what. I you win, I'll tell you what really happened at your home world." Rabat said with a sneer on his face.
"So, I assumed you knew those alien freaks?"
"Yup. And if I win, I'll have that black robot over there." Rabat pointed at VX4.
"Hmm...okay. It's a deal then."
"Okay, get ready. Here I come."
Rabat suddenly appeared before Rick and lands a heavy punch on the face and send him flying.
"Kuroi-san!!" Dita screamed.
Rick stands up and his face is bruised and bloodied. Meia then noticed something's wrong about him. His eyes. It's no longer dark like it used to be. It turned into demonic red. She could feel pure hatred and revenge inside him. Then, he gave a laugh.
"HAHAHAHAHA!!!" Good, it's been a long time since the last time I used this body. You turned me on, Rabat."
"You...you're not him. Who are you?" Rabat backs away a few steps. The others who are on the scene do the same thing.
"Heh. You're right. I'm not Maverick. You can call me Erick."
Suddenly, as fast as a lightning, Erick appears before Rabat and delivered more than a dozen blows that hit various spots on his body. Erick's final blow send Rabat crashing on the floor. His companion, Utan stood beside Rabat and then leapt towards Erick. Erick simply swept Utan away with his left arm. Then, he grabbed Rabat by the throat.
"Tell me what happened or I'll have your throat squeezed."
Rabat reached his pocket and takes out a small disc.
"Urghh...here. Take this disc. You'll find everything you need to know."
"Hmm...thanks a million," Erick threw Rabat away.
"I'll get you for this!!" Rabat quickly rushes out of the area with Utan behind. Everyone looked at him suspiciously.
"He's lucky that I don't have any intentions to kill him." Erick finally broke the silence.
Meia stood behind Erick and pointed her ring at the back of his head.
"Who you really are? You're not Rick."
"Heh. Every person has a dark personality. The name's Erick. I'm Rick's...darker side. He didn't tell you how he got these scars and burns?"
"No." Meia gave a short reply.
"I...I did ask him once but he refused to tell." Dita said as she and Duero attended Hibiki.
"Let me tell you all. Rick used to have a family. A strict father, a caring mother and two sisters makes them an ideal family. Even though they lived in a third class area where those who are weak and poor lives, they live happily until one day..."
"One day?" Jura said.
Erick continued his story.
"A band of robbers appeared and killed his entire family right in front of him. Rick, who at that time was 10, was kidnapped by the robbers and made him a 'punching bag'. He was slapped, whipped, cut and burned by them."
"Urghh...I think I'm gonna throw up." Bart said as he puts his hand on his mouth.
Meia backs away, holding her abdomen.
"Leader, you okay?" Dita holds her from falling.
"Hmm...want me to continue further?" Erick said after he saw everyone started to leave the area.
"Please continue. I want to know how you got into this," Duero replied.
"Then, he lost it. With hatred and vengeance in mind, he killed all those who were responsible by giving them a mutilated death," Erick continued.
"Mu...mutilated?" Dita fainted.
"Dita!!" Meia kneeled beside her.
"And that's when you were 'born" Duero finished the story.
"Right. He knew that I exists in him, so he sealed me in a 'conscious barrier' to prevent me from using this body." Erick concluded.
"So, where is Rick now?" Meia asked.
"He's sleeping right now. For the time being...Urghh...no...he's...reawakening...see you all later,"
Those were Erick's last words before his eyes turned into its original dark.
"Urghhh...what...what happened? Did he appear?" Rick asked Meia.
"Yes..." she replied short.
"Did he do anything?"
"Besides from busting up Rabat, he also told us about your past." Jura chipped in.
"So, you knew it already. I'm a killing machine when he appears." Rick said as he covers his head with both his hands.
(I'm...useless)
Hibiki was sitting in front of the lake at the park. Dita watched him from afar. She's about to make a move when Duero tapped her shoulder.
"When a man is acting like that, it means that he wants to be alone."
Dita nodded her head. Then, she and Duero left the area.
Hibiki kept thinking about what Rabat had said.
(You didn't have any of your own phrases to say...)
"You don't have to worry about what he said." Rick's voice echoed from the shadows.
"Hmmph. Leave me alone."
"Let me get to the point. Actually, you really talk a lot."
"So what? It's a proof that I'm alive." replied Hibiki defiantly.
"Heh. A proof that you're alive? I used to think like that when I was your age until I realized that I need to find the purpose of my life," explained Rick.
"Purpose of life?"
"Yeah. Until you find the purpose of your existence, you can never find a proof that you're alive."
"Have you found your purpose?"
"No. I'm still searching for it. Finding the purpose itself is a difficult thing to do. Let alone to find a proof of life."
Hibiki didn't say anything.
"Ha...don't take my words for it. This is just what I thought of. But you can use it to guide you through the later stages in your life."
"What do you mean 'later stages in my life'?" Hibiki asked, throwing a rock into the lake.
There's no reply. Rick left Hibiki to find it out by himself.
What can I do, I ask?
There's nothing left to say
What can I do, I ask?
There's nothing left to say
Why am I here?
Why am I lost?
Where is love?
Lead me with your light
L'ArcenCiel - Spirit Dreams Inside - Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Chapter V - Purpose Of Life
Rating - G / Romance / Sci-Fi
Author's Note - What's your purpose of life?
Special Note - This chapter is based on the episode 'Impossible'
For my wish to come true, even with featherless wings
I won't stop flying Oh, light my fire
A new wind is blowing towards a place without promises
And today too, this unquenchable passion continues to inflame my heart
Takanori Makes Revoulution - Light My Fire (transliterated)
Several months passed by. Rick is already used to the environment around him. Most women on the ship begin to accept him. On the other hand, Meia keeps avoiding him. Even if they met, she avoids any eye contact with him. The sudden change in her attitude had sparked many speculations among the women.
Since he got nothing to do on the ship, he voluntarily lends a hand at the requisition department, under Gascogne or better known as Gasco among the ship's crew. He helps her re-supply the Dread fighters during battle. Gascogne called him "Gung-ho" because of his reckless and sometimes crazy attitude when he's given the controls of the supply shuttle. But because of his attitude, he managed to get out of many tight spots during battle. He also helps out Parfet to repair VX4 whenever he had the time.
"Strange, why everything is so quiet today?" Rick asked as he tries to pull out a circuit from its slot.
"Meia and the others are on a mission to investigate some kind of station," Parfet replied.
"No wonder...ouch!!" Rick felt an electric jolt coursing in his arm.
"You okay up there?"
"Yeah, this guy is giving me a hard time. If you keep doing this, you'll never see any action." Rick gives another try to yank the circuit. This time, he managed to do it.
VX4 hummed.
"I better go to the engine room to check things out." Parfet said as she pack her stuff.
"Yeah, you'll do that. I'm sure you needed there."
"Why don't you come to the engine room once in a while? You're pretty good with your hands." Parfet said as she leave the hangar.
"Yeah, I'll do that. See you."
VX4 hummed again.
"You like her? I see. That's why you didn't give her any electric shock."
It hummed again.
"Very funny. If you give me another one of that, you have to find yourself another pilot."
A few hours later...
"There, that should do it. Well, I'm finish for today. See you later buddy."
VX4 gave a hum.
"Don't you start with that line again. Of course I'm going fix you all the way. Well, see ya." Rick leaves the hangar.
Rick is walking along the corridor when he heard noises. He follows the source of the noise. He sees a tall man with two green stripes on his left cheek. He also has an eye patch on his right eye. With him is a primate like creature. It is holding Pyoro in it's arms. The man is surrounded by women.
(Funny. I think I've seen him somewhere before.)
He saw Paiway holding a few items in her arms.
"Excuse me Pai, who's that guy?"
"He said that he's a trader," she replied.
"What's with the lipstick? You're too young to use it."
"Hmmph. It's my problem. Don't bother." She then walked away from him.
Then, he saw Parfet emerged from the crowd carrying a few gadget like things.
"What have you bought?"
"Just a few things that could be useful. Here, take a look."
Rick looks at the items closely. A cube like item with a few buttons caught his eye.
(Hey, this thing...I've seen this thing before. This thing only exists back home. But how...? Could that guy be)
At the infirmary, Duero, Bart & Hibiki were having a discussion about the man with the eye patch.
"That guy is mysterious. I don't like him." Hibiki said.
"Just like Xero, he came from a place where men and women live together." Duero said as he check the monitor in front of him.
"Hmmph. I don't like him too." Hibiki quickly gave his opinion.
"C'mon, Hibiki. Xero is a nice guy. Perhaps you're just jealous because he's way cool than you." Bart chips in.
"Don't you see? Those two were too friendly with the women." Hibiki protests.
"He's right, Bart. Both of them look suspicious and too kind towards women." Duero gave his opinion.
"Hmm..." Bart didn't give an answer. The whole room is in complete silence.
"I'm outta here. Better keep an eye on him." With that, Hibiki walks out of the room.
"Him?" Bart scratched his head.
"He must be referring to Rabat." said Duero.
Rick was standing on a platform way up in the Vanguard hangar, trying to remember where he met the eye patched guy called Rabat.
(C'mon...remember...hmm...now I remember. He's the trader that sells useless junks back home. He cheated Sara into buying a defected engine booster. Maybe I should teach him a lesson...)
Then, he heard a sound and saw Dita & Rabat entered the area.
"Waaa...this is great." Rabat said as he take a look at VX4.
"That one is still under repair," Dita explained.
"I see. Let me take closer look at that one." Rabat approaches Hibiki's Vanguard but his path is blocked by Dita.
"No. You can't. This is Uchuuji-san's."
"C'mon, I just wanna take a look inside." Rabat said with a sneer.
"NO!! YOU CAN'T!!"
"Why do you care about him so much? To him, women are his enemies and I bet he didn't have any feelings for you." Rabat closes in and tries to kiss her lips.
Rick is about to make a move when he sees Hibiki comes in.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!!!"
"Uchuuji-san!!"
"Oh, here comes your hero."
"What do you think you're doing here?" Hibiki asked Rabat.
"None of your business."
"You'll tell me when your face got smashed."
With that, Hibiki rushes towards Rabat to land the first blow and Rabat easily avoided his punch and countered with a knee right on his chest. For the rest of the fight, Hibiki was totally outmatched by Rabat. The fight attracted a lot of attention as most of the crew gathered at the entrance to watch the fight. Rick is watching the fight silently from the platform and decided not to interfere.
"Heh. Have enough already?" Rabat said as he put his foot on Hibiki's head.
"Uhh..."
"Uchuuji-san!!"
"You have a big mouth for a kid. But you know what? You didn't have any of your own phrases to say." Rabat said as he applied more pressure in Hibiki's head.
(That's it. I can't stand it any longer. That kid gonna lie in bed for a long time.)
Rick is about to let his presence known when he sees Meia sneaking towards the fight scene and stands on Hibiki's Vanguard. She gave a laser shot from her ring and missed Rabat by a few centimeters. Rabat looked at her.
"Game Over." she said.
"Hmm..." Rabat turned his head and looks at the angry faces of the crowd.
"So, everyone hates me now, huh?" Rabat sighed.
"Let's go Utan." Rabat said to his primate companion.
"Long time no see eh, Rabat? Or should I say 'rat bastard?" Rick said as he jumps down from the platform above.
"You're...Maverick Xero!! What are you doing here?" Rabat asked with a shock expression.
"Heh. I'm about to ask you the same question." Rick smiles.
"Uchuuji-san!!" Dita kneels beside Hibiki.
"Take care of him, Dita. I'll teach this scum." Rick said as he takes off his guitar and his black coat.
"You knew each other?" Meia asked Rick.
"Yeah...not too long ago. He used to sell useless junks back at my home world. He even cheated Sara into buying a useless engine booster." Rick explained.
"I see. So, that is not 'her" Rabat pointed at Meia.
"Yeah. That's right. And I'm gonna kick your $$ for Sara and that kid." Rick said as he stretch his arms.
"Heh. Tell you what. I you win, I'll tell you what really happened at your home world." Rabat said with a sneer on his face.
"So, I assumed you knew those alien freaks?"
"Yup. And if I win, I'll have that black robot over there." Rabat pointed at VX4.
"Hmm...okay. It's a deal then."
"Okay, get ready. Here I come."
Rabat suddenly appeared before Rick and lands a heavy punch on the face and send him flying.
"Kuroi-san!!" Dita screamed.
Rick stands up and his face is bruised and bloodied. Meia then noticed something's wrong about him. His eyes. It's no longer dark like it used to be. It turned into demonic red. She could feel pure hatred and revenge inside him. Then, he gave a laugh.
"HAHAHAHAHA!!!" Good, it's been a long time since the last time I used this body. You turned me on, Rabat."
"You...you're not him. Who are you?" Rabat backs away a few steps. The others who are on the scene do the same thing.
"Heh. You're right. I'm not Maverick. You can call me Erick."
Suddenly, as fast as a lightning, Erick appears before Rabat and delivered more than a dozen blows that hit various spots on his body. Erick's final blow send Rabat crashing on the floor. His companion, Utan stood beside Rabat and then leapt towards Erick. Erick simply swept Utan away with his left arm. Then, he grabbed Rabat by the throat.
"Tell me what happened or I'll have your throat squeezed."
Rabat reached his pocket and takes out a small disc.
"Urghh...here. Take this disc. You'll find everything you need to know."
"Hmm...thanks a million," Erick threw Rabat away.
"I'll get you for this!!" Rabat quickly rushes out of the area with Utan behind. Everyone looked at him suspiciously.
"He's lucky that I don't have any intentions to kill him." Erick finally broke the silence.
Meia stood behind Erick and pointed her ring at the back of his head.
"Who you really are? You're not Rick."
"Heh. Every person has a dark personality. The name's Erick. I'm Rick's...darker side. He didn't tell you how he got these scars and burns?"
"No." Meia gave a short reply.
"I...I did ask him once but he refused to tell." Dita said as she and Duero attended Hibiki.
"Let me tell you all. Rick used to have a family. A strict father, a caring mother and two sisters makes them an ideal family. Even though they lived in a third class area where those who are weak and poor lives, they live happily until one day..."
"One day?" Jura said.
Erick continued his story.
"A band of robbers appeared and killed his entire family right in front of him. Rick, who at that time was 10, was kidnapped by the robbers and made him a 'punching bag'. He was slapped, whipped, cut and burned by them."
"Urghh...I think I'm gonna throw up." Bart said as he puts his hand on his mouth.
Meia backs away, holding her abdomen.
"Leader, you okay?" Dita holds her from falling.
"Hmm...want me to continue further?" Erick said after he saw everyone started to leave the area.
"Please continue. I want to know how you got into this," Duero replied.
"Then, he lost it. With hatred and vengeance in mind, he killed all those who were responsible by giving them a mutilated death," Erick continued.
"Mu...mutilated?" Dita fainted.
"Dita!!" Meia kneeled beside her.
"And that's when you were 'born" Duero finished the story.
"Right. He knew that I exists in him, so he sealed me in a 'conscious barrier' to prevent me from using this body." Erick concluded.
"So, where is Rick now?" Meia asked.
"He's sleeping right now. For the time being...Urghh...no...he's...reawakening...see you all later,"
Those were Erick's last words before his eyes turned into its original dark.
"Urghhh...what...what happened? Did he appear?" Rick asked Meia.
"Yes..." she replied short.
"Did he do anything?"
"Besides from busting up Rabat, he also told us about your past." Jura chipped in.
"So, you knew it already. I'm a killing machine when he appears." Rick said as he covers his head with both his hands.
(I'm...useless)
Hibiki was sitting in front of the lake at the park. Dita watched him from afar. She's about to make a move when Duero tapped her shoulder.
"When a man is acting like that, it means that he wants to be alone."
Dita nodded her head. Then, she and Duero left the area.
Hibiki kept thinking about what Rabat had said.
(You didn't have any of your own phrases to say...)
"You don't have to worry about what he said." Rick's voice echoed from the shadows.
"Hmmph. Leave me alone."
"Let me get to the point. Actually, you really talk a lot."
"So what? It's a proof that I'm alive." replied Hibiki defiantly.
"Heh. A proof that you're alive? I used to think like that when I was your age until I realized that I need to find the purpose of my life," explained Rick.
"Purpose of life?"
"Yeah. Until you find the purpose of your existence, you can never find a proof that you're alive."
"Have you found your purpose?"
"No. I'm still searching for it. Finding the purpose itself is a difficult thing to do. Let alone to find a proof of life."
Hibiki didn't say anything.
"Ha...don't take my words for it. This is just what I thought of. But you can use it to guide you through the later stages in your life."
"What do you mean 'later stages in my life'?" Hibiki asked, throwing a rock into the lake.
There's no reply. Rick left Hibiki to find it out by himself.
What can I do, I ask?
There's nothing left to say
What can I do, I ask?
There's nothing left to say
Why am I here?
Why am I lost?
Where is love?
Lead me with your light
L'ArcenCiel - Spirit Dreams Inside - Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
