Vandread Fanfic - Slayer of God Duology Part 2: Together Forever
Chapter 10 - Confession and Expression
Rating - G / Romance / Sci-Fi

Even if this world were mine I would not give away my love
I'm not the kind that says that love has a price
I don't know what you're telling me if the feeling is real inside
Is it truth or lies I'm not gonna be wasting time

Holy Lonely Night from Macross 7


"Boss, we're just a few days away from Earth. We still haven't encountered any attack from the enemy. Should we send someone to scout ahead?" BC asked Magno for her approval. Magno gave a nod and replied,

"It might be a trap but we have no choice. Call Rick, Erick and Anton."

"Very well."


Rick, Erick, Anton, Hibiki, and Gasco were playing cards for hours. Erick then put down his cards and laughed.

"HAHAHA. Full house!"

The others sighed in frustration.

"Not him again..." Anton muttered.

"Lucky bastard..." Hibiki said.

"Just thought when my winning streak is coming back to me..." Gasco replied.

"Duh...how many times you have to win anyway?" Rick asked.

"Oh, shut up. I'm on fire right now. If you're a man, let's have another round. Raymond, shuffle the cards will ya?"

Raymond, who was appointed as the dealer gave a nod and shuffled the cards. He was about to hand out the cards when BC's voice echoed through the speaker above the room.

"Rick, Erick and Anton. Boss wishes to see the three of you immediately."

"Dang. Oh well. Hey, Bart. Take over for me will ya?" Erick said to Bart who was watching the game.

"Yeah, sure."

"Make sure you maintain my winning streak."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Hey, Erick. Let's go."

"Okay, okay. I'm coming. Sheez..."

With that, the three left the room, leaving Gasco, Hibiki and Bart with Raymond as the dealer.

"Seems that this whole place is a lot better since Erick's here." Gasco said after a moment of silence.

"Yeah..." Hibiki muttered.

Raymond gave a nod.

"That's true. Hey, Bart. Show us your cards, will ya?"

Bart put down the cards and both Hibiki and Gasco heaved a sigh.

"Not again..." Gasco said.

"To lose to a novice card player...It's the ultimate embarrassment." Hibiki said as he leaned back in resignation.

Bart looked at both at them and pointed at himself.

"I...I've won..?"


Rick, Erick and Anton arrived at the bridge as requested. Magno looked at the three and said,

"We're just a few days away from Earth and we still haven't encountered any resistance. We need someone to scout ahead. I know this mission is dangerous, that's why you must decide which one of you will go."

Then, Erick stepped out.

"I'll do it. This one will be a cinch."

"Hey, are you sure?" Rick asked.

Erick grinned.

"Yeah. Don't worry."

Then, Anton stepped out alongside Erick.

"Please let me do it."

"Anton, it's dangerous. Let me do it." Erick said.

"No. I won't back out. I want to do it."

"Have you decided?" Magno asked.

"Fine, fine. If you insist..." Erick heaved a sigh.

"Thank you, Master Erick."


Barnette was shooting targets at the shooting range area. Then, she heard Erick's voice behind her.

"What are you doing, cutie?"

A slight blush appeared on her face as she tried to answer.

"I...I'm practicing my shooting skills."

Erick looked at the targets. He took a gun from the table. After he makes sure it was loaded, he smiled.

"Now watch and learn."

He then closed his eyes and fired at the targets. All the shots hit its intended target: the head.

Barnette looked at him in awe.

"How...how did you..."

"Use your instinct. By the way, did you like what we did last night?"

"Is...that how a baby conceived?" She mumbled.

"Yep. That's right. Why do you ask this stupid question, anyway? You're the one who wants to know, right?"

"Can you...can you do that to Jura?"

Barnette's question hit Erick like some laser blast.

"What? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Jura really wants to have a baby with a man's seed..."

"Hey! Do you have any idea what are you talking about? You want me to do it to her?"

"Yes...I want you to do it..."

"Oh, brother..."


Hibiki, Gasco and Bart were still at it when Dita entered the room. She looks worried.

"Huh? What's the problem?" Hibiki asked.

"Axel and Karu-chan. Just couldn't find them anywhere."

"They're probably playing hide and seek with Pyoro again." Gasco suggested.

"Pyoro is with Parfet right now in the engine room."

"Where the heck could they be?"


Rick and Meia were walking together hand in hand when Ezra came up to them, exhausted.

"Ezra, what's wrong?" Meia asked.

"Axel and Karu-chan. They've disappear. Couldn't find them anywhere..."

"Surely they didn't left the ship. Come, I'll go with you. And Rick..?"

Rick was lost in thought and Meia screamed right in his ear.

"RIIICK!"

"Huh? What? Hey, don't startle me like that."

"Ezra and I will go and find the kids. You want to come along?"

Rick shook his head.

"Nah, go on. I have my own way to find them."


Aya came out of her room after she heard the commotion outside.

"What's going on here?"

"Aya!"

Aya turned and saw Paiway.

"Pai, what's going on?"

"Both Axel and Karu-chan went missing. Everyone is looking for them."

Aya sighed.

"Not at this time..."

"Huh? You've said something?"

"Ah, nothing. Come, let's go and find them."


Axel and Kahlua were sitting on the platform overlooking the Paeksis.

"Hey, Ax-chan."

"Umm?"

"Do you like your father?"

Axel paused for an answer. Then, he shook his head.

"I don't know. He left mom all alone and I still mad at him because of that..."

"I think he loves Aya onee-chan's mom more than aunt Meia."

"Yeah. Guess so. But still..."

"But still I shouldn't leave your mother like that?"

Axel's reply was interrupted by Rick, who was standing at the end of the platform. He then approached both children.

"Axel, listen. I never want to leave your mother like that. It's just that I felt so lonely at that time and all I could think of is Sara. And your mom was there for me. "

"Mom cried a lot because of you..."

Rick touched the boy by his shoulder.

"Axel, you will understand what it's like to leave someone you care so much. That's all I can say. To forgive me or not, it's entirely up to you."

With that, Rick turned and left both children.


Shortly after he left the children, Rick saw Meia and Ezra running towards him.

"Did you find them?" Meia asked, worriedly.

"Yeah, they're at the platform above the Paeksis. Don't worry. They're fine."

Meia gave a nod. She turned to Ezra.

"Come Ezra. Let's go."

Both Meia and Ezra ran quickly to the place, leaving Rick alone. He smiled.

"Mothers..."

He then looked at the stars through the window.

(If I was one of Earth's last children, then the parents I've known was not...)

Tears flowed down his cheek. Then, he shook his head.

(No. No matter what happens, they are still my parents. They took care of me. They raised me. Dad, mom...thank you...)

Then, he turned and continued walking. Suddenly, one of the stars glowed brightly, as if his parents were happy on hearing what Rick had said.


Meia and Ezra ran towards both children. Meia hugged Axel and Ezra did the same to Kahlua.

"Mom? What's wrong?" Axel asked.

"I'm so worried about you." Meia replied.

"Worried? We're not doing anything." Axel asked in puzzlement.

"We're just sitting up here, looking at the Paeksis." Kahlua said.

"Please don't disappear like that, kids." Ezra said.

Meia nodded and looked at her son.

"Please don't do that again. Everyone was looking for you two."

Axel looked at Meia. Then Ezra. He looked down at the floor and sighed.

"We're sorry. It will not happen again."

Meia smiled.

"It's okay. Guess your father has found you?"

Axel nodded.

"Uh-huh..."


Anton was making his final check on his Vanguard when she heard Aya's voice.

"Anton..."

Anton turned to her.

"Aah, Miss Aya. Anything I can help?"

"Umm...I've heard that you've been sent on a mission."

"That's true. It's just a scouting mission. Nothing serious."

"Can you come down for a while?"

Anton raised an eyebrow.

"Sure. I'll be down right away."

Anton climbed down the ladder and approached Aya.

"You have something to say?"

Aya handed something in his hand. It's a ring with a glowing blue stone on top.

"Dad found the stone when he was on Alpha-1. He then gave it to me. But I don't know what to do with it. So I forged this ring and placed the stone on top."

Anton looked at the ring. Its blue stone radiated a faint, white glow. He tried it on. It fits perfectly. Aya smiled.

"Looks good on you."

"Thank you, Miss Aya. I wish I have something to give you..."

Aya shook her head.

"No. You don't have to give me anything. Just think it as a token of our friendship, okay?"

Anton looked at her in the eyes. Then, he gave a nod.

"Alright then."


Rick was at the park, strumming his guitar as he looked up to the stars above. Then, he remembered Sara.

(Sara...Were you happy when we were together? Was those ten years were enough to compensate after what you've been through? Am I a good husband? Am I a great father?)

He then took out the clay figure of himself given by Axel for his birthday.

(Will my son ever forgive me..?)

He then started to sing under his breath,

Somedays I think of my home
Of times gone by and I smile
All the laughs we shared and
All the dreams we cherished
The wonders and joy of our childhood days

I'll never forget all the love that you gave
The kindness of your gentle heart
I'll never forget all the tears that you shed
For a love like ours never ends

I cannot return to your arms
I've traveled too many miles
But my memories of those happy days
Will live on forever and ever

Somedays by Donna Burke

"Dad?"

"Huh?"

Rick turned and saw Aya approaching him. Something's wrong with his daughter. He could feel it.

"Aya? What's wrong?"

"Dad, can I talk to you for a while?"

"Yeah, sure. I'm all yours."

"It's about Anton."

Rick raised his eyebrow.

"What's wrong with Anton?"

Aya hesitated, but then she replied,

"I...I love him..."

Rick stared at her. Then, he smiled.

"Are you sure you love him?"

Aya nodded.

"I've been trying to resist this feeling for a long time, but I failed..."

Rick held her shoulder.

"Aya, there's no use resisting the feeling you've already known. To love and to be loved, that's what makes a human so special..."

Tears welled up in her eyes. She then hugged her father tight.

"Dad..."

Rick caressed her hair softly and said,

"Don't worry, Aya. You can cry all you want..."


Anton was passing by the park when he saw Aya talking to Rick. He also heard her confession about the feelings she had for him. Anton was shocked. He didn't know what to do.

(Miss...Aya loves me..? I...what should I do?)

He looked at the ring Aya gave him. Then, he ran away as fast as he could muster.

(Miss Aya...)


Erick was walking alone along the corridor, thinking about Barnette's 'crazy'
proposal.

(Now I get two girls at one time? This is getting weird. Barnette practically begged me.)

He stopped and thinks for a while.

(I'm gonna do it. But not now. Let's wait till this whole crisis ends.)


A few hours later...

Anton had prepared everything for the mission and was about to climb into his Vanguard when Rick called him.

"Hey, Anton. You're leaving without saying goodbye?"

"Master Xero, I'm just going out for a scouting mission."

Rick smiled.

"Yes, I know. But anything could happen out there. Just be careful."

"Yes I will, Master Xero."

Anton was about to turn around when Rick grasped his shoulder.

"One more thing. Please stay alive."

Anton was puzzled by the sentence but gave a nod. Then he climbed into his Vanguard and activates it. He then looked at the ring Aya gave him.

(I'll be back soon...)

He then jumped into space and left Nirvana.


Aya looked on from the window as Anton's Vanguard left for the mission.

(Good luck, Anton...)

Suddenly a female voice called her name.

"Aya?"

She turned and saw Paiway standing behind.

"Yes?"

"Do you like Anton?"

Aya was surprised by the question and forced a chuckle.

"He. Why do you think that?"

Paiway looked at her with a stern look in the eyes.

"I've been watching the two of you closely. You like each other."

Aya's smile faded away, as it confirmed Paiway's words.

"Yes. I do like him. But I'm not sure about his feelings though..."

Paiway smiled.

"I'm sure he feels the same."

Aya held her hands. She smiled sweetly.

"Thank you. You're a good friend to be with..."


Anton was cruising at full speed when his sensors picked up a few hidden enemies.

"Can't let them know I'm here. Convert to stealth mode."

His Vanguard turned transparent, blending itself with the surroundings. He approached the enemies slowly, trying not to attract much attention. He passed the enemy lines undetected. Anton heaved a sigh.

"That's close. Hmm? What's that?"

A sphere metal object that was emitting a yellowish glow caught his attention. He could see many winged humanoids attaching themselves to it. Anton realized that he finally found the planet Earth.

"That's Earth? Looks much more scarier than I've heard."

Suddenly, one of the humanoids howled and points at Anton's hiding place. Then, more than a hundred of cube like enemy fighters surround him.

"Darn! They've found me!"

Anton was forced to disable the Vanguard's stealth mode and fled from the area. He tried all he can to shake them off but they were persistent in chasing their prey. Finally, he realized that he will never escape from them. He turned and confronts the enemies. He looked at the ring. He smiled.

(I'm sorry Master Xero, Miss Aya. We might not see each other again...)

With sword in each hand, he gave a shout as he advanced towards the enemies.

"COME, I'LL TAKE YOU BACK TO YOUR MAKER!!!"


Soon the light may disappear
Nothing is meant to last
Yet we believe our world
Searching for happiness
The blue bird flies away

Beyond the Bounds by Maki Kimura, Zone of The Enders: The 2nd Runner opening theme