Okay all you readers, Ghp.2 is up, Thanks for the reviews, about the Meia & Misty thing, I'll try to fit in but there's no guarantee and B.C is in charge now, you'll know why later on the story, so sitback and enjoy-Adnan- Rahim

Chapter Two- The First blow.

"Hah... hmm... is... this really...," said Takeru as he took a good look at his Vanguard. "During training it seemed okay, but suddenly after taking a good look at it, it seems different,"

"Well, compared to the one your father pilots, this is nothing," said Parfet as she started to modify its engine.

"No, it's not that... It's because...,"

"It's because it's not pink," said Kahlua as she got up to the Vanguard's departure bay.

"What?! Are you out of your mind?!" replied Takeru.

"Yeah, maybe I am. I know, how 'bout hot pink!" said Kahlua as she tried to imagine the Vanguard in hot pink.

"*sigh* Suddenly the vanguard doesn't look so old." said Takeru as he approached his Vanguard.

"If only dad could see me now," he whispered to himself, as he gently rubbed his palm on his Vanguard gently.

It has already been a day since Nirvana departure from Talark and Merger airspace. Right now, as this story is been told, Nirvana and its 130 crew members are at the outskirts off the electromagnetic storm in search for Hibiki who has been lost for nearly 3 weeks.

"Bart, any sign of life, any at all?" asked B.C.

"Haa... I can't see a thing in this mess,"

"*sigh* I guess it'll be like looking for a needle in a haystack," B.C said whispered to herself.

*BOOM!* Suddenly Nirvana was hit. "Watch where you're going Bart!" shouted Belvedere Coco

"It wasn't me, okay," just as he finished his remark Nirvana was hit again. *BOOM!*

"Shields down 10%"said Belvedere Coco

"We were hit Portside, we can't get anything in this storm," said Amarone

"Parfet, how's Paeksis coping?" asked B.C as she connected to the engine room.

"Paeksis is doing okay. No major damage," Parfet replied.

"A powerful energy approaching," said Ezra.

"Bart!" shouted B.C

"This time I won't let you *BOOM!* What?! I'm sure I moved just in time," said Bart as he desperately tries to maneuver in an asteroid minefield.

"Boss, why hasn't dread team dispatch yet?" asked Meia as her picture appeared in the bridge.

"I won't risk dispatching the team to fight something we can't see," replied B.C.

"It's coming! *BOOM!* Suddenly the lights grew dimmer.

"Shields are 20% down, engine room is hit!" said Belvedere.

"Boss, damage in the engine room, another hit and we're done for!" said Parfet on the display screen above the bridge.

"Boss, Vanguard Takeru has just been dispatched," said Ezra.

"What?!" replied B.C as she stood up. "Takeru, come back now!" said B.C as she opened a communication line with Takeru.

"Sorry, old woman, but I came here to find my dad, not to just drift away like an access baggage!" said Takeru as he cut off.

"He's so reckless, but guess its no use to live a rookie out by his own, Dread team dispatch!" said B.C.

With that word pilots gave orders and board their Dreads dock of straight away.

"At last, some action," said Barnette as she took of from Nirvana.

"Its coming again from the front, 5 seconds to impact," said Amarone.

"I can't see anything!" said Bart.

"Darn, what in the world..." but just as he could finish he got a direct hit, and so did a few others.

"10% of the Dreads are out, including Takeru's Vanguard,"

"Another 5% are heavily damaged," said Belvedere.

"I guess it's my turn," said Gascogne as she drove her beetle like ship in.

"We've never suffered so much damage in one go before," Meia thought to herself.

"Huh...? Where...," mumbled Takeru as he found himself in space, contained in green light.

"Takeru," a voice spoke.

"Oto-san...," Takeru still mumbling.

"Come on, Takeru-kun, you're not that weak, you know it,"

"I'll find you oto-san, just hold on," said Takeru, now trying to get a hold of his surroundings.

"No, Takeru-kun, there's something else out there, and people who care for you. As long as you're with those people, they are your number one concern, protect them, as they've protected you since you were a child... Takeru. make me proud,"

"Oto-san, OTO-SAN!," Takeru said, now fully awake.

"Huh?" said Ezra with shockingly. "Boss, you wouldn't believe it but, Takeru's vanguard is up and running again,"

"What?" B.C replied with a slight confusing face.

"Impact in 20 seconds," said Amarone

"They are your number one concern... Takeru" Hibiki's voice ringing in his head.

"10..."

"*Takeru, make me proud* I will. Oto-san,I will make you proud,"

"6..."

"I will protect them as they have done for me," as he spoke those words he took out a broad sword half his vanguard size.

"4..."

"Irritating, bad alien. I'll make sure you won't forget this name as I pierce through your cold heart! Arrgh!" said Takeru, as he put his full strength, thrusting forward with his blade.

"Incoming!" But just before the enemy could touch Nirvana, Takeru was already there with his blade already halfway through.

"I, Takeru Tokai, will never let you pass!" as he finished off the machine with all his might.

"Takeru-san..." Kahlua whispered to herself.

"Takeru-kun," said Dita as she looked from the main bridge.

"Takeru, Takeru, is everything all right? Takeru," said Meia as she opened communication with Takeru.

Takeru was breathing deeply. "*Puff* *Puff* There's another one, it seems to be examining us, but... it's gone,"

"Takeru, I think you need a break. Return to the Nirvana now, that's an order,"

Takeru, still breathing heavily, nodded his head to confirm that he heard Meia's order.

Back at the Vanguard bay, just as Takeru got off his Vanguard, he heard footsteps, a lot of them. "Takeru-kun!"

"Oka-san..." said Takeru as he slipped off his pod.

"TAKERU!" said Dita as she tried to reach Takeru.

But just as he was about to touch the ground, Meia caught him in time.

"We need to get him to the infirmary now." Said Meia as she carried him.

+-- The next morning...

"Mmm..." moaned Takeru as he woke up.

"Good morning Takeru-san, you feeling okay?"

"Huh? Oh, Pai, ya... I'm doing okay," replied Takeru as he got up to sit straight.

"Can you walk?" ask Pai as she checked her clipboard.

Takeru stood up and began to walk around the room. "Enough proof?"

"Yeah, now you can walk to the bridge, Leader's order,"

"Hm... ok," said Takeru as he put on his jacket which was hanging on a chair next to the bed.

Just as he walked out of the infirmary, he realized Kahlua crouching next to the door.

"Kahlua..." smiled Takeru as he took off his jacket to tuck Kahlua who was shivering.

"Huh... Takeru-san?" said Kahlua slightly awake now. "... are you all right?"

"Shhh... go back to sleep, you'll need it," whispered Takeru as he placed his finger on Kahlua's lips and shut her eyes with his fingers.

As he stood up a voice called. "You got everybody worried when you pulled out of that stunt, you doing okay?"

"Oh, leader. I was just on my way to the bridge."

"Never mind, I wanted to see how you were doing anyway,"

"What did you want to see me for?"

"Takeru, after that stunt, you said there was something watching us, did you know what it was? Was it good or bad?"

"Frankly, I don't remember saying anything like that,"

"Huh?!" Meia said, now puzzled by his statement.

"All I knew, after I blacked out, I was talking to dad in a strange place, before I know it I was slicing that bad alien, end there. I guess I was too tired to recall anything," said Takeru as he placed his hand on his forehead to check whether he has gone crazy.

"Was this strange place green for some reason?"

"Meia, are you psychic or something? You read me like an open book."

"If I was I wouldn't have become a dread pilot now would I ? , anyway, you go have some rest,"

"Roger that leader, but I think I'll wait till Kahlua wakes up,"

"She's been here all night has she," said Meia as the both of them looked at Kahlua who is holding tightly to the jacket.

An hour later.

"Mmmm.", mumbled Kahlua as she opened her eyes," .Takeru"

"Good afternoon Kahlua, do you want some rice buns ?. They're really good, my mom just made it so the taste is still fresh" said Takeru as he offered her a rice bun.

As Kahlua accepted the it, she sat up straight leaning against the wall with the jacket covering her legs," Thank you" said Kahlua in a little voice.

"Likewise for you Kahlua, thank you"said Takeru as he starts eating his share of the rice bunds.

"What did I do?"

"You did a lot even in a simple act such as this. Anyway.", said Takeru as he stood up." You can have the remaining share of the rice buns, I'm kind of full and since you haven't eaten you're breakfast, this should fill you up for a while. Oh yeah, about the jacket, you can pass it to me when you're warmer, I'm not in a hurry to take it back," said Takeru as he walked away.

"Takeru.", Kahlua whispered to herself as she began to nibble on her rice bun slowly".I love you," she closed her eyes as tears were starting to come out.

Back in B.C's office. "My theory was correct, even tough the Vanguard was rebooted thanks to the emergency energy, t was no doubt Paeksis's doing in a way", said Meia standing next to a screen replaying the previous battle.

"Hmm. " B.C sat back to look at the video again.

" Never mind , knowing Hibiki, it'll take at least a dozen of those of those machines to take him and his Vanguard down"

"I hope your right Meia and I know the crew hopes to"