A/N- Yeah, part 2 is up after a long, long hiatus, and this one's got mood
way, way deeper than the first chapter. Expect this fic to just keep
getting better, better and even better than before. Plot will thicken as
the story progresses. Read and enjoy!
Vandread: Chapter 2
===============
SHADES OF GRAY
===============
"Is everything clear?"
Silence.
"Yes, vice-captain..." Bart said haphazardly, obviously to break the ice. All the rest simply nodded.
It had been unanimously voted that the salvaged box of goblets retrieved from the Harvest mothership was indeed authentic. The Holy Grail was now top priority of both mankind and that of Earth.
"Indeed, we need to do something about this new threat," Duerro stated matter-of-factly.
"We shall contact our superiors within Talark and Mejer. Meanwhile, you may all take a good night's sleep; it has been quite a day," Boss Magno concluded. "This meeting is adjourned."
Again, silence. Only the constant sound of footsteps could be heard amidst the unusually indifferent crew.
The footsteps were slowly coming to a deep silence now, leaving a deeply reflective boy within the halls of the conference room.
How did Harvest survive that onslaught...?
Hibiki sighed as he reopened his eyes. Things felt unusually weird; the silence too serene to be true. Why, the deliberation of the salvaged box seemed over in a flash.
The stars felt unusually indifferent to him, however.
He trudged down the now-empty hallways of Nirvana. Virtually all of the ship's crewmembers have gone to their quarters to sleep, leaving the Pexis- morphed ship on autopilot and him on sole guard duty.
Which means, obviously, 2 things: Harvest's survival, and of Harvest's master plan against them. They knew neither. Earth had know been exposed to have, as he had always feared but never showed, a contingency plan.
But of what intent?
With that on everyone's mind, Boss Magno had wisely decided to conduct a full-scale operation...within Talark and Mejer's consents, of course. Such plans needed considerable backing.
He scoffed at his humiliating position. He, of all the able women on this ship, was made on guard duty? Nonsense. He was a man of action; a man of the fight..not like this! Any hero of mankind would be insulted.
And yet...he didn't complain. Not one word coming from his mouth to BC or Boss Magno.
Out of character? Perhaps.
It felt weird to him, though; the once gung-ho feeling he once had, that pre-madonna persona...was now gone.
Misplaced, maybe? a mysterious voice told him mockingly. Or perhaps...influenced?
He shook his head. To entertain his ego now would be disastrous. His current duty was making his thoughts wander, though...
Disastrous? In what manner?
Hibiki abruptly quickened his pace; his fists clenched. He didn't care on where he was going; he just needed to be with himself. Away from his naive, immature side.
You're a fool, Mr. Tokai. Daring to elude me?
Again, Hibiki paid no heed. His eyes were almost squinted.
It was a mistake to assume victory over Earth.
"No," he whispered to himself. "This is just some 1st generation instinct to fear Earth...this means nothing to me. We are..."
We are...what? Free? What is "free"? How do you define "free"? Can you be free from "me"?
"We have defeated Harvest...I saw it myself."
Folly. As long as Pexis exists so shall Harvest. Can't you see? As long as humans exist the purpose of Earth can never be fulfilled. Your time in this universe has all but passed...but this passion...this passion for living...you wretched humans...it is all meaningless. Why bother with the inevitable? No matter what anyone says or does all humans shall experience pain and loss. Why even live? It is but a madman's dream to experience such a state; hating, fighting, grinding another down...the temporary dissemination of happiness is only but a frail cushion to the sufferings of existence. Such inferiority entails weakness of design; what you humans need is a cure...and that is what we are.
"NO!!" Hibiki screamed, his legs taking him as fast as they could go to nowhere.
Foolish creature. Your fears have already deluded you. It is what all humans fear, and it is the prime causal factor for your wretchedness. But for us, the truth has long been uncovered. We cannot die...we cannot afford to die. The very reason for living, as you say, is that it has meaning. But what is meaning? The universe has no intrinsic meaning at all; it is only you humans...who do so. Just how meaningful is your life compared to the eternity that is time? To die is to lose cognition...and cognition is the primordial root for meaning. To die is to lose remembrance of your previous life...but how could something be meaningful when you can't even remember it? Everything entails knowledge as a prerequisite; emotions, friends, family...even this "love" that you humans cherish most. Yet even you can't love what you don't know! Can't you see the foolishness? Meaning stops the moment a person dies...but for us...meaning does not, for meaning is in itself meaningless.
"This is bullshit!! YOU LIE!! Lies...all lies!!"
Join us, Hibiki...come and assimilate with our bodies...become immortal. Void of all wants, needs, desires, emotions...isn't that what humans all desire? Isn't this the very namesake of your vessel?
Hibiki ran and ran, as fast as his legs could carry him. The once-friendly walls of Nirvana suddenly began to shrink in size, as if squeezing him to death. He could only run away towards a nearby door as he heard the evil laughter resonating in his head.
This door must lead to salvation!
He hadn't expected to run astray to the Pexis Plagma, though.
And now...become one!!
The Pexis became blood red, enveloping the helpless pilot. Deep within, Hibiki swore he saw Dita inside, the heart of all the evil in his life. Mocking, jeering, a mere toy within the emptiness.
Calling his name...
Noooooooo!!!!!!!!
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Hibiki awoke in a cold sweat; his screams echoing throughout his room. It was a dream...no, a cruel hellish nightmare, that he had just endured.
"Uchuji-san..."
Dita... Hibiki thought in between gasps.
"Dita heard you scream...was your dream a nightmare?"
Hibiki could only nod.
"..."
"Why so silent, Dita?"
"Nothing...just sad...sorry Dita wasn't there to help you out of that nightmare..."
Hibiki chuckled softly, but his smile quickly formed into a deep, foreboding frown. "...don't say that. I just..."
An awkward silence filled the room.
"You were saying something, uchuji-san?"
"...no, it's nothing. Just forget it."
"Uchuji-san...but-"
"I said FORGET it, ok?!"
Dita's spirit fell; the vanguard pilot's cold, harsh tone shattering her good intentions. Hibiki was definitely holding back something...but what? His tone had hurt, but she couldn't afford to cry at that moment...no, not even in a million years. Her emotions would have been nothing more than a burden. Who needs a crybaby, anyway?
But a single tear had already betrayed her, much to her distress.
If only she could pry inside his mind...see whether or not he was hurting inside...
She shook her head. No, that would be unethical. Why was she so concerned, anyway? It's not like she actually made an impression at him or anything...
But he impressed her...in almost everything that he does.
What was this thing that she was feeling?
Was this the hidden power men had over women?
It had been so long since they returned to Nirvana from their adventures together. All those times they have shared together...
Even if Hibiki only shared what could be said as platonic...
Despite him being so childish, untrusting and secretive in his emotions at times...
"Hibiki..."
She turned away from Hibiki, who was now wiping the cold sweat from his face and arms. Uchuji-san wasn't someone to be frightened so easily by dreams and such. Whatever the reason he woke in the middle of sleeping time, wasn't some ordinary nightmare.
She felt so helpless, just hearing his ragged breathing echo out in the room.
Uchuji-san won't make the cut. If she wanted to help at all, she'd better call him by his real name...and quit her childish mannerisms.
But is his attention worth a change of heart?
If only she wasn't such a simple-minded bimbo...
A second tear was now making its way down her cheek, but before she could do anything about it, a callous right hand wiped it away.
"Hibiki...?" Dita managed to croak out.
Hibiki smiled back at her; his eyes locked into hers. "Uchuji-san suits me just fine, Dita."
They then spent the entire night there; with Hibiki resting on Dita's bosom as their breaths went in synchronized slumber.
...to be continued...
Vandread: Chapter 2
===============
SHADES OF GRAY
===============
"Is everything clear?"
Silence.
"Yes, vice-captain..." Bart said haphazardly, obviously to break the ice. All the rest simply nodded.
It had been unanimously voted that the salvaged box of goblets retrieved from the Harvest mothership was indeed authentic. The Holy Grail was now top priority of both mankind and that of Earth.
"Indeed, we need to do something about this new threat," Duerro stated matter-of-factly.
"We shall contact our superiors within Talark and Mejer. Meanwhile, you may all take a good night's sleep; it has been quite a day," Boss Magno concluded. "This meeting is adjourned."
Again, silence. Only the constant sound of footsteps could be heard amidst the unusually indifferent crew.
The footsteps were slowly coming to a deep silence now, leaving a deeply reflective boy within the halls of the conference room.
How did Harvest survive that onslaught...?
Hibiki sighed as he reopened his eyes. Things felt unusually weird; the silence too serene to be true. Why, the deliberation of the salvaged box seemed over in a flash.
The stars felt unusually indifferent to him, however.
He trudged down the now-empty hallways of Nirvana. Virtually all of the ship's crewmembers have gone to their quarters to sleep, leaving the Pexis- morphed ship on autopilot and him on sole guard duty.
Which means, obviously, 2 things: Harvest's survival, and of Harvest's master plan against them. They knew neither. Earth had know been exposed to have, as he had always feared but never showed, a contingency plan.
But of what intent?
With that on everyone's mind, Boss Magno had wisely decided to conduct a full-scale operation...within Talark and Mejer's consents, of course. Such plans needed considerable backing.
He scoffed at his humiliating position. He, of all the able women on this ship, was made on guard duty? Nonsense. He was a man of action; a man of the fight..not like this! Any hero of mankind would be insulted.
And yet...he didn't complain. Not one word coming from his mouth to BC or Boss Magno.
Out of character? Perhaps.
It felt weird to him, though; the once gung-ho feeling he once had, that pre-madonna persona...was now gone.
Misplaced, maybe? a mysterious voice told him mockingly. Or perhaps...influenced?
He shook his head. To entertain his ego now would be disastrous. His current duty was making his thoughts wander, though...
Disastrous? In what manner?
Hibiki abruptly quickened his pace; his fists clenched. He didn't care on where he was going; he just needed to be with himself. Away from his naive, immature side.
You're a fool, Mr. Tokai. Daring to elude me?
Again, Hibiki paid no heed. His eyes were almost squinted.
It was a mistake to assume victory over Earth.
"No," he whispered to himself. "This is just some 1st generation instinct to fear Earth...this means nothing to me. We are..."
We are...what? Free? What is "free"? How do you define "free"? Can you be free from "me"?
"We have defeated Harvest...I saw it myself."
Folly. As long as Pexis exists so shall Harvest. Can't you see? As long as humans exist the purpose of Earth can never be fulfilled. Your time in this universe has all but passed...but this passion...this passion for living...you wretched humans...it is all meaningless. Why bother with the inevitable? No matter what anyone says or does all humans shall experience pain and loss. Why even live? It is but a madman's dream to experience such a state; hating, fighting, grinding another down...the temporary dissemination of happiness is only but a frail cushion to the sufferings of existence. Such inferiority entails weakness of design; what you humans need is a cure...and that is what we are.
"NO!!" Hibiki screamed, his legs taking him as fast as they could go to nowhere.
Foolish creature. Your fears have already deluded you. It is what all humans fear, and it is the prime causal factor for your wretchedness. But for us, the truth has long been uncovered. We cannot die...we cannot afford to die. The very reason for living, as you say, is that it has meaning. But what is meaning? The universe has no intrinsic meaning at all; it is only you humans...who do so. Just how meaningful is your life compared to the eternity that is time? To die is to lose cognition...and cognition is the primordial root for meaning. To die is to lose remembrance of your previous life...but how could something be meaningful when you can't even remember it? Everything entails knowledge as a prerequisite; emotions, friends, family...even this "love" that you humans cherish most. Yet even you can't love what you don't know! Can't you see the foolishness? Meaning stops the moment a person dies...but for us...meaning does not, for meaning is in itself meaningless.
"This is bullshit!! YOU LIE!! Lies...all lies!!"
Join us, Hibiki...come and assimilate with our bodies...become immortal. Void of all wants, needs, desires, emotions...isn't that what humans all desire? Isn't this the very namesake of your vessel?
Hibiki ran and ran, as fast as his legs could carry him. The once-friendly walls of Nirvana suddenly began to shrink in size, as if squeezing him to death. He could only run away towards a nearby door as he heard the evil laughter resonating in his head.
This door must lead to salvation!
He hadn't expected to run astray to the Pexis Plagma, though.
And now...become one!!
The Pexis became blood red, enveloping the helpless pilot. Deep within, Hibiki swore he saw Dita inside, the heart of all the evil in his life. Mocking, jeering, a mere toy within the emptiness.
Calling his name...
Noooooooo!!!!!!!!
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Hibiki awoke in a cold sweat; his screams echoing throughout his room. It was a dream...no, a cruel hellish nightmare, that he had just endured.
"Uchuji-san..."
Dita... Hibiki thought in between gasps.
"Dita heard you scream...was your dream a nightmare?"
Hibiki could only nod.
"..."
"Why so silent, Dita?"
"Nothing...just sad...sorry Dita wasn't there to help you out of that nightmare..."
Hibiki chuckled softly, but his smile quickly formed into a deep, foreboding frown. "...don't say that. I just..."
An awkward silence filled the room.
"You were saying something, uchuji-san?"
"...no, it's nothing. Just forget it."
"Uchuji-san...but-"
"I said FORGET it, ok?!"
Dita's spirit fell; the vanguard pilot's cold, harsh tone shattering her good intentions. Hibiki was definitely holding back something...but what? His tone had hurt, but she couldn't afford to cry at that moment...no, not even in a million years. Her emotions would have been nothing more than a burden. Who needs a crybaby, anyway?
But a single tear had already betrayed her, much to her distress.
If only she could pry inside his mind...see whether or not he was hurting inside...
She shook her head. No, that would be unethical. Why was she so concerned, anyway? It's not like she actually made an impression at him or anything...
But he impressed her...in almost everything that he does.
What was this thing that she was feeling?
Was this the hidden power men had over women?
It had been so long since they returned to Nirvana from their adventures together. All those times they have shared together...
Even if Hibiki only shared what could be said as platonic...
Despite him being so childish, untrusting and secretive in his emotions at times...
"Hibiki..."
She turned away from Hibiki, who was now wiping the cold sweat from his face and arms. Uchuji-san wasn't someone to be frightened so easily by dreams and such. Whatever the reason he woke in the middle of sleeping time, wasn't some ordinary nightmare.
She felt so helpless, just hearing his ragged breathing echo out in the room.
Uchuji-san won't make the cut. If she wanted to help at all, she'd better call him by his real name...and quit her childish mannerisms.
But is his attention worth a change of heart?
If only she wasn't such a simple-minded bimbo...
A second tear was now making its way down her cheek, but before she could do anything about it, a callous right hand wiped it away.
"Hibiki...?" Dita managed to croak out.
Hibiki smiled back at her; his eyes locked into hers. "Uchuji-san suits me just fine, Dita."
They then spent the entire night there; with Hibiki resting on Dita's bosom as their breaths went in synchronized slumber.
...to be continued...