Vandread Fanfic - Slayer of God: Beyond the Time
Rating – Sci-Fi and a little romance here and there
Best viewed with the font Verdana, 10 point
Chapter 3: The Messenger from God
Intertwined in this heat, wanting to speak the truth
Who do I protect them from?
This feeling I wanted so badly once...
It lies within you
Invoke by T.M.Revolution
Everyone watches in awe as the white Vanguard advanced inexorably towards one of the two main vessels, leaving countless remains of enemy's fighters in its trail.
"Did you somehow survive?" Rick asked quietly.
Meia held his hand tight.
"Rick…"
Rick turned to his wife.
"I'm alright, Meia. From the looks of it, our friend has definitely improved."
Meia gave a nod.
"Captain, we received a signal from Muramasa. They finally arrived." Informed one of the crew.
"Good. Signal all units to engage the enemies." BC commands.
Hibiki was dispatching all fighters who were stupid enough to go against him.
"Oh yeah! It's PBT!"
"P…B…T?" Axel quizzed.
"Pay Back Time." Anton replied.
Axel smiled to himself.
"I see. Let's do it then."
Axel pulled out a double-bladed sword installed by his father and forms a swirling vortex to knock away nearby enemies. Anton did swirling-dervish slashes with his twin blade technique and Hibiki only uses one sword combined with basic martial arts move to decimate the fighters.
Hibiki was impressed by the way Axel fought that he have to compliment him.
"Not bad for a first time, rookie. Not bad at all."
"I have to agree. You're fighting just like an experienced pilot." Anton added.
"Thanks. But the same goes to Mara and Janette. Don't you two agree?" Axel replied. He points towards the two Dread fighters raising havoc beyond enemy lines.
"Of course!" Mara replied.
"I hope our parents are watching this…" Barnette said,
"Not my mom. Damn that old blondie! Leaving her daughter just to chase another man." Mara cursed, referring to her mother, Jura.
With rage and hatred, she mowed down the entire enemy defence line by herself. The three Vanguard pilots watched in awe.
"Okaaay. That's what happens when a woman is totally pissed off…" Axel said.
Hibiki and Anton nods.
"Yup. That's right. Woman really is a devil in disguise."
"I HEARD THAT!"
Everyone turned and saw a red Dread fighter leading the newly-arrived assault team. At last, reinforcements had arrived.
"Mom? What are you doing here?" Mara asked.
"Hm? I'm fighting with you, of course."
"Mom! You shouldn't!"
"What? Just because I'm retired that doesn't mean I can't fight." Jura shot back.
"That's not what I mean…"
Mara could hear her mother whispering to herself;
"I'm not strong enough. I'm not strong…"
"Mom?"
Jura quickly recovers and opened the line publicly.
"Alright! We'll form a defensive line to protect both Nirvana and Muramasa. You young guns take them down." Jura instructed.
"Understood."
"Roger."
"Fine with me."
Erick was watching the whole event on the window in the Vanguard hangar.
"Vanguard X, eh?"
He turned to his red Vanguard. It is identical to the Vanguard X with the exception of the AI. But it does equipped with the most advanced weaponry money can buy, making this unit stands out above the rest.
"Hah. Looks like all the money spent on this baby is worth it. I'll probably get to use it after all."
The white Vanguard had dispatched the last of the enemy fighters as it prepares to face against the towering figure of its mother ship. Blue light washes over the white Vanguard;
"Who are you?"
"…"
"You…must be the messenger the Gods had sent."
"Messenger?"
"The prophecy is true after all. It is you who will supposedly destroy us. You…must die."
The light suddenly vanished and a blast of blue energy was fired from beneath the ship. The blast quickly turned into a ball of electric energy and trapped the Vanguard inside. It tries to break free but to no avail.
"Is this…the end of me?"
Rick watches in anger as the white Vanguard was slowly compressed by the energy. He looks at his palm as he started to cursed himself. Meia noticed his reaction and held him tighter.
"Rick, don't…"
"I…what am I doing here while my friend is out there…"
BC looked at the couple sadly. If it is up to her, she will probably help the Vanguard but right now, they still have another ship to deal with.
"Captain, I detected two craft just left Nirvana!"
"Who?"
Erick and Dita appeared on screen.
"Yo. It's us." Erick said casually.
"BC, we'll help out the Vanguard X!" Dita said.
Rick looked at both of them.
"Erick, Dita…"
"Now, now. Don't get all mushy on me, man. You just hold tight in there and we'll do the work for you. After all, we don't want to see her cry again."
Rick turned to Meia. Then, he turned back to Erick.
"Ah, how about Barnette, then?"
Erick scratched his head as he tried to figure out an answer.
"Errh, don't worry. I'll have an explanation for her when I get back."
BC smiled at them.
"Fine. Do what you think is right but be sure to come back here, understood?"
"Hey! We should help out that guy!" Hibiki said as he took down another enemy.
"We'd love to, but it seems that they managed to make us busy…" Anton replied.
"Mara, Janette. How about you two?" Axel asked.
"Not good. Their defence is too strong. We couldn't penetrate it." Janette said.
"Wait. I see two new objects. What?" Mara exclaimed.
"What? Who?" Hibiki asked.
A Dread fighter and a red Vanguard joined both Mara and Janette.
"Dad, Dita! What are you two doing here?"
"DITA?" Hibiki asked, with his mouth wide open.
"Hibiki, you and Erick help out Vanguard X. I'll help out here." Dita said.
Hibiki quickly recovered from the shock as he maneuvered his Vanguard alongside Erick's.
"Alright. Just be careful, okay?"
"I will."
"Yup. You kids take these guys out and let us old hands do the dirty work." Erick instructed.
As the energy become more and more powerful, the Vanguard X within is getting weaker every second.
(Am I…dying..?)
"Hey, hold on there! We're on our way!" Hibiki shouted.
With perfect coordination and understanding, both Hibiki and Erick easily dispatched all the fighters protecting the main battleship.
"I'm breaking you free!" Erick said.
With that, he pulled out a beam rifle and a massive energy blast was shot from its tip. The blast hit the energy barrier but it wasn't enough to free the Vanguard X.
"Damn it!" Hibiki cursed.
"Looks like we have to break it by physical attack." Erick suggested.
The two pilots then attacked the barrier relentlessly with their swords until the barrier began to weaken. The trapped Vanguard X punched at the weak spot of the barrier and in a flash, it disappeared.
"Alright!" Erick cheered.
"Don't celebrate just yet. We need to finish that thing first." Hibiki said, referring to the mother ship.
Suddenly, they received a telepathic signal from Vanguard X. Strangely enough, the understand it.
"Got it." Hibiki nodded.
"Alright. Let's take out their laser turrets first!"
Without wasting any time, both pilots set on their task in taking out the laser turrets surrounding the ship. The Vanguard X extends its feather-like wings as it concentrating its energy. When the energy level reached its critical point, it sent another signal, asking them to go away as far as possible. Hibiki and Erick instantly left the ship and took their place behind the white Vanguard.
Without warning, thousands of energy blast was released from its wings, causing massive damage to the ship.
"Hey, that's similar to…" Erick mumbled.
"…Bart's main gun technique." Hibiki continued.
However, their astonishment doesn't end there. The Vanguard X charged at the ship at full speed and in an instant, the energy its producing turned into a phoenix. It instantly went through the ship which then exploded into pieces.
Everyone on the bridge of Nirvana was still in awe over what just happened.
"How do you become so powerful?" Rick asked.
"Ah, the energy it just released is indeed powerful. Perhaps too powerful. The readings are beyond our calculations." BC informed.
"That thing just used my main gun technique…" Bart continues to mumble.
"Hey! Stop whining over there! Help us take out another ship!" Jura screamed from the screen display.
"We're on it." BC replied.
"I won't be outdone. Alien scum; prepare to meet your doom!" Bart shouted.
Bart's main gun attack virtually wiped out the other mother ship as the others took out any remaining enemy. Then, everyone's eyes were on the Vanguard X as it approached Nirvana slowly.
"Captain…" one of the crew said.
"No, don't initiate any attack." BC said.
It then stopped in front of the bridge. Rick walked towards the edge of the area, staring at his friend.
"Are you…back for good?"
Rick smiled weakly as if the Vanguard just answered his question.
"I see. Thank you for helping us."
As the Vanguard prepared to leave, Rick said;
"I'm glad to see you back, my friend."
It pauses for a second, and then left the area, disappearing into the stars. Meia walked up to Rick, holding his hand.
"Rick?"
Rick turned to his wife.
"Don't worry. It will be always watching us."
"But you really want it back, don't you?"
Rick stared out at the stars. He smiled.
"Yeah. But I think it's time for me to let it go. It'll be alright."
Hibiki got out of his Vanguard and was on his way out of the hangar when Dita hugged him from behind.
"Heey. That's mean."
He shrugged and put his arm around her.
"Who said so?" he asked.
Dita smiles as she huggles up to him.
"Me, of course."
Hibiki sighed.
"Now, you're being mean."
"Hee. Looks like I got you."
Hibiki was stunned for a while. This gave Dita a few precious seconds to run away from him. He recovered his senses and give chase.
"YOU…I'M GONNA GET YOU FOR THAT!"
Jura, Janette and Mara walked out together.
"Mom, where were you when the attack came?" Mara asked.
Jura sighed in frustration as she replied;
"I was talking to this wonderful young man concerning the latest cosmetic product. And he invited me for dinner and about to give me his number when all hell breaks loose. Fortunately, I managed to locate my Dread and have it transferred to Muramasa since the ship is nearer than Nirvana."
"Mom, don't tell me you're into younger man now…" Mara said.
"Hey! Is there any wrong with that?" Jura shot back.
"No, but it wouldn't feel right if my stepdad is a little older than me."
Jura sighed in frustration. Then, she managed a smile.
"Fine, fine. If you said so. I'll find a hot, dandy old man then."
Mara smiled at her mother's little joke.
"Hey sis…"
She turned to where Janette was but no one was there.
"Never thought she could run THAT fast." Jura commented.
"Aah, no worries. I know where she headed to."
Erick was relaxing in a pool of hot water for men. He quickly came here the moment he saw Barnette in front of their room.
"Ah, guess I have to lay low for a while. At least until she cool down a bit."
He then closed his eyes. As he was about to doze off, a pair of beautiful legs wrapped around his neck and his eyes were covered by a pair of female hands.
"Barnette, this is for men only…"
Barnette removed her hands and choke Erick using her legs.
"Can't..breathe…" Erick jokingly gasped for breath. Despite his tone, the legs that were choking him were very strong.
"ERICK! You promised not get yourself involve. I can't believe you broke your promise!"
With that, she applied more pressure on his neck.
"Let…me go…listen…to me…" Erick gasped. This time, it's real. He really can't breathe.
"Hmmph."
Barnette released him and Erick turned around, gasping for air. After a while, he looked up at his wife who's been sitting on the floor behind him. It took him a full three seconds to realize that she was completely naked!
"What the…hey, what if someone shows up?" Erick tried to reason despite the fact that a certain part of his body just 'rose to the occasion'.
Barnette slipped into the pool huggles him around his neck.
"Tell me why…"
"Dear, I don't want Janette to get hurt."
"But you're the one who have total confidence in her."
"That's true. She is a capable pilot but she still lacks experience. I don't think she could last any longer than that. I'm sorry, Barnette."
After a short silence, Barnette kissed him softly.
"It's alright. You did the right thing. I was glad you went out there…"
Erick hugged her tight.
"Thanks."
Barnette looked up at him, tilting her head.
"It's okay. So, what are we supposed to do now?"
Erick scratches his head in confusion.
"Uh, you…want to have it here?"
Barnette blushed in embarrassment.
"You don't have to say that, you know."
"I'm fine with it. But what if someone shows up?"
Barnette smiled cheekily.
"Hehehe. I already locked up the door. We have at least an hour before it is unlocked."
Erick smiled at her. He then, pulled her close.
"Clever. So, shall we?"
The door slides open as Anton entered his room. He was about to take off his pilot suit when Faye suddenly jumped into his arms.
"Daddy!"
"Whoa. There, there. Settle down, honey."
He then put down his daughter as Aya walks up to him, smiling.
"Welcome back."
"Thanks. Do I…just in time for dinner?"
"Umm…just barely."
Anton hugged his wife and whispered;
"That's close enough."
"We'll go to the café after you get ready, okay?"
"Yeah sure. Give me a few minutes."
Rick and Meia just entered the park when they saw Hotaru lying on the ground, unconscious.
The couple quickly went to her. Rick pulled her close.
"Hey, you alright?"
The mysterious girl opened her eyes and smiled. Then, she fainted.
"H…hey!"
Meia checked her pulse and her heartbeat.
"She's fine. Let's take her to Duero."
Rick gave a nod and carried her in his arm.
In the café, Axel and Kahlua were talking over some sodas.
"Oh, I wish I'm a pilot too…" Kahlua sighed.
"Why don't you?" Axel asked.
"I failed the Dread squad entry test. Duh."
"Yeah. I heard the test is pretty hard."
"Yup. Who in the hell wrote the questions, anyway? No wonder there are so little Dread pilots nowadays." Kahlua complained.
"Haha. Yeah. How about you? Been busy at the engine room?"
"Busy, yeah. But it's boring because everything went smoothly without a problem. Other than checking status of Paeksis, there's nothing much I can do about it."
"I bet. So you're hoping something blows up and you can actually get to action." Axel said, smiling.
"That's right. It will be something like a battle too, you know?"
Then, both of them laughed until Axel saw Janette standing at the doorway.
"Hey Janette! Come over here!" he yelled.
Janette cautiously took a seat next to Axel.
"H…hi, Sister Kahlua."
"Hey now. Just cut the 'sister' part, okay? I heard from Axel, you were great today."
"Thanks. But I don't think I can do it without the help of others."
Kahlua smiled at Janette as she put a bottle of soda in front of her.
"Yup. That's the Janette I knew back in high school. Here, drink with us."
Janette turned to Axel. He gave a nod.
"Umm…thank you…Sis…Kahlua."
"So, how's she, Duero?" Meia asked as the doctor completes his examination on Hotaru's condition.
"She'll be fine with a few hours rest. She is just exhausted." Duero replied.
"I see…" Rick muttered.
Meia stared at Rick for a few moments.
"Rick?"
"Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"No. Nothing at all. I'll be going to the café. Wanna tag along?"
Meia happily huggles Rick as the two walked together.
"Of course I want to! Duero, we'll come by to check on her, okay?"
"Of course." He replied.
Duero sat down and continued on the paperback novel he's reading. He was unaware that Hotaru was smiling as she softly called out;
(Rick…)
A shooting shiny star is spreading
Its beginning is always at this place
When I look into your eyes
Near you
Cause I just want you to be by my side
Make me smile night and day
Beautiful - .hackSIGN insert song