VanStalker

by DarkBlade the Damned

This is a crossover of Vandread and the DeathStalker novels by Simon R Green. Chapter 9. Tensions amongst the crew reach boiling point causing Hibiki and Tam to flee the Nirvana.

7. VanStalker Chapter5: Duelling in the Des...

Disclaimer: I do not own Vandread or DeathStalker.
Vandread belongs to Studio Gonzo.
DeathStalker belongs to Simon R Green.

Vanstalker Chapter 5: Duelling in the Desert

"So that's all he told you." Queried B.C.

"Not all but that's most of it." Confirmed Magno.

B.C. sat back and stared at her captain trying to puzzle through the reason for her actions. Some of the others around the table were much more direct.

"But Captain!" Meia was standing at her place at the table, hands spread out on its surface leaning forward aggressively.
"Why didn't you question him further as to what he remembers? He's finally admitted to knowing something about his past. Now we need to find out all we can about him."

"I didn't know you were so interested in Tam Meia." Commented Gascognue.

Meia stiffened slightly but gave no other reaction.

"The man has exhibited some strange abilities. He's a potential threat to this ship. Of course I'm concerned about him."

"It's a little strong to say that he's a potential threat Meia." replied Gascognue from her place at the table.
"After all he's only ever used these abilities of his to help us. He hasn't even complained much, even when he has had reason to."

"I agree that he doesn't complain as much as the other men." Every line of her posture indicated that she spoke the words with extreme reluctance.
"But even so the fact that he destroyed all of those machines by himself indicates that he's dangerous. We still have no idea how he did that."

"Apparently with a hammer." Gascognue commented dryly.

Meia turned to her angrily. "I know he used a hammer. That doesn't explain how he did what he did. Parfait went over those machines. What was left of them at least. She said that they were all heavily armoured. It would have taken heavy weapons fire to stop those things. If he could take out the entire boarding party on his own then what else could he do?"

"Then there's the rest." Commented B.C.

Meia turned to face her in puzzlement "The rest?"

BC turned to look at Magno for a moment who nodded her head in assent.
"Duero brought some surprising facts about Tam to our attention. The first is that his body is seemingly able to heal itself at an incredible rate. According to the doctor any normal human should have died after the injuries he received. Even if they had survived they would have been crippled for life. But in a matter of days he was able to completely heal himself. The doctor also identified something else. Apparently he has a number of strange organs in his body. These organs can, at need, flood his system with adrenaline and endorphins dramatically increasing his strength and speed. That's probably how he managed to overcome the robots."

Meia's face expressed her shock at this unexpected information.

"There's another factors besides what we have already mentioned." Commented Gascongue. The others turned towards her attentively.

"I overhead Barnette talking the other day. She was commenting about how just before the repair team opened the airlock Tam yelled at them to stop."

"So?" Gascognue turned to face Meia.

"So how did he know what was on other side of the airlock when no one else did? For that matter how did he know how to repair the waste water plant or survive the fumes in there while he did?"

They sat around the table contemplating those facts. Meia was particularly disturbed. She had thought that the man may be a potential problem before. Now she was certain of it.

"Well if we want to find out the answers to these questions why don't we ask him?" commented Magno.

The others turned to stare at the captain in confusion when suddenly there was a chime. Magno pressed the intercom button on her desk.

"Yes?"

"You asked to see me Captain?"

"Ah. Yes Tam, good timing. Come on in."

The doors to the meeting room opened and Tam marched in. Instantly the four women within could tell that there was something different about him. They remembered the first time that he had come before them. Then he had been almost maddeningly calm and relaxed as if nothing could affect him. His appearance now was completely different.

His stride was purposeful and driven. When he stopped he held himself at rigid attention. Even the way he moved had changed. He moved gracefully with a strange economy of motion. Even standing there at attention his body seemed to radiate the potential for action. Yes, after one look no one at the table could doubt that something was very different about their mysterious guest.

Magno looked at the ramrod straight figure that stood at the foot of the table. Ramrod straight. Shoulders back, eyes staring into the space over her head.

"Be at ease Tam, this isn't an interrogation."

"Yes Captain."

Tam moved his feet so that they were shoulder with apart. His arms moved from his sides to be locked folded behind his back. When he was finished the stance he had taken, although probably more comfortable, was only marginally less rigid than the one he had been standing in before.

Around the table the women stared in surprise.
Magno blew out a breath in exasperation. "Is that as relaxed as you can get?" Tam looks puzzled for a moment. Then he looked down on himself with a wiry smile.

"Sorry, force of habit."

With obvious effort he changed his stance to a less formal one, although it appeared to make him uncomfortable.

"That's not a habit that you appear to have had before." Commented Meia.

"I have memories now that I didn't have before."

Magno interjected before any further questions could be asked. "Oh sit down young man and try to make yourself comfortable." She waited for Tam to seat himself in one of the conference table seats before continuing.

"Now as the subject of your memories has come up and as you can understand the others are very curious to hear about them, why don't you give them a summarised version of what you told me."

Tam nodded his ascent.
"As I was recovering from my wounds I experience what I guess you would call a flashback. I felt like I was reliving a portion of my life. That flashback has helped me unlock some of my past. My childhood and some of the memories of who I was and where I came from. But there are still gaps in my memory. Some of the things that I remember, events which I feel occurred after what I experienced in the flashback make no sense. And I have no detailed memories of what happened after those events.

"So what do you remember?" asked Gascognue.

"My name is or was Tamorasp Naghanashar. I was a Lieutenant in the Imperial fleet. Deputy damage control officer of the imperial Starcruiser BlackSword. The events in the flashback, they were of the BlackSword's last mission. We were sent as part of a fleet to prevent the destruction of a planet by force of terrorists. We succeeded in our mission but the BlackSword was critically damaged. After that battle I and the remaining marines of the crew were assigned to guard one of the civilian cities on the planet in case the terrorists attempted to continue their attack on the ground.
We were attacked, but I don't know what happened at the end. We were close to being overrun and I believe that the fleet called in an air strike on our location. I remember an explosion but that's all."

"That's all." Meia's voice was incredulous.

Tam turned to her impassively. "Yes."

"After all that. All you remember is some old skirmish you were in. What about how you ended up here with us? How about where this supposed empire of yours is?"

Tams voice when he spoke was icy. "I did not say that was all I remembered. I remember many other things. I remember growing up on Nepalla. I remember my Grandfather teaching me how to fight. I remember going to the academy at the sector fleet capital on Dirigent. But I don't see how those memories should mean anything to you or why I should share them. As to your other questions let me answer them both. I still have no idea how I ended up here but I am beginning to suspect that whatever sent me here sent me much further from my home than I previously thought."

"What makes you say that?" asked B.C.

"The simple fact that you have not heard of the empire."

"Oh? Space is a big place. There are plenty of places we have probably never heard of. The only reason we know of the men of Tarak's empire is that they are in our home system. Why should we have heard of this little empire of yours?" asked Gascognue.

Although her voice held a note of gentle mockery Tam answered her impassively. "Because Gascognue, it was not a 'little' empire. At the last census there were over a thousand inhabited worlds within the empire. That means worlds with a permanent population in the millions or billions. There were countless other small mining communities, prospecting colonies and space stations. Not to mention the worlds controlled by other races that were allied with or known to the empire. What's more the empire was comprised of, or knew of every world populated by … men." Tam paused before he said the last word as if he had been about to say something else. Then he continued. "So if I was in a sector of space anywhere near where the empire exists I would have expected someone to have heard about it. The fact that you have not suggests to me that I am very far from home."

The women sat back and absorbed this stunned. What he was saying was preposterous. An empire of men that controlled a thousand planets! It was ludicrous. But somehow they felt that he wasn't lying. It was the way in which he said it more than anything else. There was no blustering or bombastic speeches like those they were by now used to hearing from Bart. Everything he had disclosed had been said coldly and dispassionately. He had been quoting cold hard facts and that stunned the women into silence.

"But there is something else even beyond that. Over the last couple of days I've taken the opportunity to access some of your star charts. I can remember some basic asterogation data from my time at the academy and I thought it might show me a way to get home. Nothing I looked at was remotely familiar. The stars the, constellations, all are completely different. I could find no familiar stars, no points of reference. From that I can only conclude that where I am from is so far away that the stars cannot even be seen."

The women relaxed a little in relief at this announcement. If this empire did exist at least it was so far away that they were never likely to run into it. However it still left the dilemma of their guest.

It was Magno's voice that broke the silence. "So Lieutenant Tamorasp Naghanashar what are we going to do with you?"

Tam flushed. "That's your decision Captain, and please call me Tam. It's fairly useless to claim a rank in a navy that may not even exist in this universe."

Magno smiled slightly. "Ok. Tam. But that still leaves the question of what we are going to do with you."

Tam smiled in reply "My response hasn't changed from the first time you asked that question Captain. The decision is in your hands. But I if you have no objection I would like to remain as part of the crew."

Meia bristled slightly at this but the other women appeared passive or showed faint signs of being pleased at the response.

"We would like you to stay as part of the crew Tam, but before I can offer that there are some questions I need to ask. Forgive me for this but as the captain the lives of the rest of the crew are part of my responsibility and I need you to answer these questions so I can determine if you pose a threat to the crew. Has Duero shown you the x-rays?"

Tam looked troubled as he replied. "Yes."

"Dou you have any idea what those organs could be or where they came from?"

For several moments Tam sat there, a look of deep concentration on his face. Then he responded. "The organs themselves look to be genengineered."

At their questioning looks he elaborated. "The empire had technology that could create new organs for specific purposes. But it was rarely used. Partly because it was incredibly expensive, partly because imperial medical technology was so effective at repairing even extreme physical damage that such organs were unnecessary. But other than that, no. I have no idea where they may have come from."

"Is it possible that you were given these organs in a time you have yet to remember?"

Tam grimaced as he replied. "Yes that's very possible. From what I remember the empire was on the verge of a civil war. Already the terrorists were bringing out terrible and forbidden weapons from the old days. It's possible that later in the war a decision was made to start modifying our own forces to increase their effectiveness."

Magno nodded seemingly accepting this. Across the table Meia seemed about a angrily dispute his explanation, but a glance from Magno silenced her.

"One other thing Tam. When you were with the repair team to the rear section. When you warned Celeste not to open the door. How did you know the machines were on the other side?"

Tam sighed deeply, this was the question he had been dreading. He couldn't tell them about Shub or the AI's. He still didn't know what his memories of them meant. But he couldn't lie to them either. But would they believe the truth?

"I could hear them."

The women sat in silence at the simple explanation. "You could hear them." Said Magno carefully. "You mean you could hear them on the other side of the door?"

Tam longed to agree to that simple explanation. But looking at Magno he realised that he could not. She had given him a chance on her ship. He owed her the truth.

"No I mean that I could hear them communicating with each other. In the empire some remote machines receive instructions and directions via highspeed machine code. When I was with the repair party I could hear something like that code. I couldn't understand enough to tell what they were saying but I knew they were there."

"But Tam, you didn't have a radio or a communicator. How did you hear them?" asked Gascognue.

"I could hear them in my head." Tam replied, noting without surprise the looks of disbelief that appeared on the faces of those surrounding the table.

"How is that possible?"

Tam shook his head. "I don't know. The only thing I can think of is." He was silent for a moment them he resumed.
"When I was in the empire I had a comm. Implant. Most people do. It was small computer implanted in our brains. It allowed us to communicate and to access data from the nets. Duero says that there is no evidence of such an implant in my brain. It's possible that whatever process brought me here somehow merged the functions of the comm. implant with my body."

If anything his audience appeared even more disbelieving, except for Magno.

"Did your comm.. implant include a translator?"

Tam blinked in surprise. "Yes it did."

"Then if what you say is true that may explain how you were able to interpret and read our language without ever having learned it."

Tam frowned in confusion before comprehension dawned. "Oh, you mean that time in the water recycling plant. Yes if I'm right that may explain it."

The others around the table were bemused by this unexpected explanation to another question but Magno moved on before they could gather their thoughts.

"Well then I see no reason why we should remove you from the ship. You are free to return to your assigned repair group."

Meia was about to dispute this angrily but another sharp glance from Magno stopped her protest before it started.

If Tam noticed the byplay he gave no sign. "Thank you captain, but there was one more thing I wanted to ask you."

"Oh?"

"I wanted to ask permission to use the training simulators to learn how to pilot the Vanguards."

The others started in surprise and turned to stare at him after this unexpected request. But Magno simply replied with a raised eyebrow.

"You no longer feel up to working in ship repairs?"

"No captain it's not that. It's just, although repairs were once my specialty I lack the detailed knowledge to be really effective at it. To put it simply your technology is too different from what I'm used to."

"You're not used to piloting the Vanguards either." Magno pointed out reasonably.

"True. But the Vanguards are machines optimised for close quarters combat. And that is something I excel at."

Magno nodded slowly. "Alright I think you've proved that point. But can you do it in a Vanguard?"

"That's what I want to find out."

Magno sat thoughtfully for a while before replying.
"Ok. In any case according to Parfait most of the repairs and maintenance tasks have been completed for now. So for the next couple of days feel free to learn about the Vanguards. But I warn you, if I decide you are needed more in repairs then its their you will work if you want to stay on this ship. Clear?"

Tam nodded his agreement. "Clear Captain. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now if you don't mind we have some other matters to discuss."

Tam rose and nodded formally to each of the women around the table before seeing himself out.

As soon as he was gone Magno raised her hand silencing the others before they could speak. "Before you start telling me why that may have been a bad idea let me explain my reasoning to you."

She could see from the expressions on the others faces that she had barely halted a torrent of protests before they had begun. Each of the women around the table nodded before settling back to hear what she had to say.

"Factor number one. Those machines, whatever they are, are still out there. Every time they attack us they seem to get a little bit stronger and have a more detailed knowledge of our capabilities. We're alone out here, cut off except for the resources that we have with us. Now we know that this man is a capable fighter, I believe that not making use of that is squandering a potentially valuable resource."

Magno noted slow nods of agreement from B.C. and Gascognue, although Meia still looked ready to protest.

"Finally if this man is a potential threat to us. An agent of this far away empire he claims to be from. Then where do you think he could do the most damage? Working on the Vanguards, which are confined to the launch bay? Or part of a repair crew with access to the entire ship?"

Looks of dawning comprehension appeared on the faces of the women around the table.

Magno nodded satisfied.
"Now if that's settled lets move on to other business. Gascognue what's the supply situation like?"

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Meanwhile in the Vanguard bay Hibiki was busy working on his partner.
The damage from the last battle had long since been repaired but Hibiki was still learning all he could about his enhanced Vanguard and its capabilities. Besides the Vanguard bay was one of the few places on the ship where he could usually get away from the women. He was so engrossed in his work that he failed to notice a figure moving up behind him.

"Jeez little brother, do you spend all your time with this machine? I'm surprised you don't sleep down here too."

Hibiki started and jumped six inches straight up in the air before turning around an angry expression on his face.

"Damn it Tam stop doing that!"

The older man was trying, not very successfully, to conceal a smile.

"Stop doing what?" he asked innocently.

"Sneaking up on me like that! For a minute I thought you were." A look of brief panic crossed Hibiki's face before disappearing.

"You thought I was what?" Replied Tam a knowing smile on his face.

"Never mind! Just stop sneaking up on me."

"I wasn't trying to sneak up on you little brother. Its not my fault that you were so engrossed in what you were doing you didn't hear me coming." Said the older man as he leaned against one of the legs of the vanguard.

"And that's another thing. Why do you call me little brother when we're not related?"

Tam smiled mischievously "Well you are littler than me."

He laughed at the glower that formed on Hibiki's face, and then became serious.

"I don't know why. I've never had a brother little or otherwise. I guess I've started to think of you as one. If it bothers you then I'll stop."

Hibiki's expression abruptly changed at this unexpected admission. "No. No it's ok. I don't mind. I was just curious that's all."

For the moment the two men smiled at each other, then Tam moved to break the silence.

"Well I got a chance to speak to the Captain today and guess what she said?

"What." Asked Hibiki disinterestedly as he turned back to what he was working on.

"She's given me permission to start training to pilot the Vanguards."

"The old lady said what?" Hibiki asked in shock, turning to Tam his eyes wide.

"Yep" Tam replied with a grin

Hibiki turned and stood. "That's great. Finally I'll have another man to fight beside me. Together we'll show those women how real men fight."

As he spoke he started to move around, making a series of slashes with the wrench in his hand as if it was a sword.

This would have been more impressive if he hadn't managed to drop the wrench on his foot.

Hibiki yelped and grabbed his foot as the wrench fell to the floor with a clang. He then proceeded to hop around the room on one foot in a vain effort to make the pain subside.

When he finally finished Hibiki turned to see Tam staring at him, a troubled look on his face.

"Little brother who taught you how to use a sword?"

"What?" demanded Hibiki. "I'm a man! I know all I need to know about fighting." Replied the boy a confident look on his face.

This confidence rapidly wavered when faced with Tam's unblinking stare and sceptical expression.

"Well no one really. I've just acted on my instincts. Done what I thought was best. And so far I've done pretty well." He replied defiantly.

Tam nodded his head in acquiescence,
"No argument little brother. So far you have done well. But if you will pardon me for saying so it is fairly obvious that you are untrained. Luck and enthusiasm will only carry you so far. After that it's a matter of training and experience."

"Well I've never had the opportunity to get either of those." Commented Hibiki.

"Something I plan to rectify." Replied Tam. After he finished speaking something caught his eye and he moved to a cluster of spare tools in one of the Vanguard bays.

Hibiki meanwhile turned to stare at him wide eyed. "You're going to teach me to fight? When?"

Tam picked up a broom handle and removed the brush with a quick twist. He took a grip on the long wooden handle and then with a sharp motion, brought its centre down against his upraised knee. Snapping the handle and leaving to roughly arm length pieces of wood. Hefting the two he tossed the smaller one to Hibiki who caught it awkwardly.

"Right now."

Hibiki took a two handed grip on his length of wood and moved forward with a wild cry. Eager to show his skill.

Tam watched his approach. He could not stop himself from shaking his head slightly.
So much to learn. 'You are going to hate me for doing this too you little brother'. He thought to himself. 'But hopefully like me one day you will realise its value.' And then there was no more time for thought. Easily and gracefully he moved to avoid Hibiki's clumsy attack and then moved to launch his own, his movements a blur.

And for a long time the clack on wood on wood rang out across the deck. Frequently interspaced with sharp cries of pain.

Several days later:

The Nirvana cruised through space. Ahead its destination could be seen. A dusty orange world.

In the conference room B.C. and Magno were discussing the planet ahead.

"This world? But it appears to be dead."

B.C. turned from where she was standing near the view screen to face where the captain was sitting. "Yes we haven't been able to pick up any signs of life. But we have been able to detect evidence of artificial structures on the long range scans. Which would seem to indicate that until recently the planet was inhabited. Boss lets send a landing party down to the planet. If its population was the victim of an attack by the machines we've been running into then we may be able to get some information about who they are and what they are after."

Magno frowned thoughtfully as she stared at the screen.
………………………………………………………………

Meanwhile in the Vanguard hanger.

As usually the hanger deck was quiet and almost deserted. The only sign of life was coming from the bulky gold and cream Vanguard that stood out from its brothers like a sword in a silverware set. If one looked closely at the vanguard a diminutive figure could be seen standing on one of the shoulders half buried in one of the access panels.

Hibiki closed the panel he was working on with a weary sign. He was utterly exhausted and for once it was not with the effort of keeping his partner maintained.

When Tam had said that he was going to teach him how to fight he had initially been elated. That elation had died quickly. After his victories against the harvester attacks Hibiki had grown to feel quite confident with his skill at fighting. Five minutes with Tam had rapidly disabused him of that. Initially he had charged in confident of an easy strike. Tam had simply moved gracefully out of the way and proceeded to counter attack with a strike that Hibiki barely had time to block. But then it was too late Tam had taken the initiative of the fight and he never let Hibiki regain it. For the next 5 minutes he had chased Hibiki around the hangar deck. Always attacking, never giving Hibiki an opportunity to catch his balance or his breath. By then end of that time Hibiki was more exhausted then he could ever remember being in his life. And the lesson was just beginning.

Since that first day he had practised sword fighting with Tam at least three hours each day. Usually he would find himself rudely woken out of bed for an early morning session of exercises including running and calisthetics. Then they would have sword practise for at least an hour. After that they would get cleaned up and Tam would spend a few hours in the simulators while Hibiki either went back to bed or went to work on his partner. Then before lunch they would have another hour long session before breaking to work on the Vanguards for the afternoon and then having another hour long session before dinner.

On the first day of this, his body weak from exhaustion and covered with painful bruises where Tams blows had gotten through, Hibiki had had enough. He threw down his practise stick. Angry and in pain he had yelled at Tam telling him how he didn't need him or his teaching. That as long as he had his partner he would be able to overcome any enemy. Hibiki remember standing their trembling with righteous rage. Tam hand simply stared at him for a few moments waiting for him to calm down before replying.

"That's Bullshit little brother and you know it." The words were spoken calmly, soothingly and Tam raised his hand to stop Hibiki's angry retort before it could start.
"Even in your first battle you didn't win alone. It needed the combined power of your machine and Dita's to overcome the enemy. Likewise the last time when you had to join with Meia to stop the space urchin (as everyone was now referring to the spiked sphere that had attacked them a few weeks ago). You couldn't win alone then. You have never been able to fight alone. As you say you have always had your 'partner' with you." "And what's wrong with that!" retorted Hibiki angrily.

"There's nothing wrong with fighting together with others little brother. Knowing how to work as a team is a strength not a weakness. But it can be a weakness if you cannot fight alone." Tam paused here and stared directly into Hibiki's eyes.

"What will you do if you have to fight without others to help you? What will you do if you have to fight without your partner? There are no rules in war little brother. The enemy is not always going to fight when you are ready for them. And our enemy is growing stronger."

Hibiki looked up at Tam in surprise.

Tam smiled back at him wryly. Then he bent down to pick up the stick Hibiki had discarded "Haven't you noticed little brother? Each time they attack us they are using different techniques, different methods. Each attack is a little bit stronger, a little bit harder to counter. That means if the force levels stay as they are it's only a matter of time before they find a way to overcome us. Unless …?" as he finished his question he held the stick out to Hibiki.

Hibiki stared at the stick for a long moment. Then with careful deliberation he reached out and took it. "Unless we become stronger ourselves."

Tam nodded. "I am being hard on you with this training little brother. I am pushing you as hard as I dare and maybe harder than I should. But if I am harsh with you, our enemy will be much harsher and far less forgiving than I."

Hibiki stared at Tam for a moment. Then he nodded his head. He still didn't like this, but he could accept it.

Tam nodded in reply, then brought his stick up to guard. "Then let us begin again."

And Hibiki readied himself to meet him, much more warily this time.

And Hibiki admitted he training had been helping. It was just that there was so much to learn. The grip of the sword. The way to stand. The way to move. Then there were all the moves of fighting itself. The slashes, the lunges, the parries the ripostes. Tam had put him through drills until he felt like his mind was going numb. There was just so much to remember and every time he forgot to do something properly Tams stick was there to wack the offending spot. Hard. Tam appeared to be a great believer in pain as a teacher.

"He really believes in being rough on people. Right partner?" Hibiki commented, not anticipating that he had anyone other than the Vanguard for an audience.

Just as he finished speaking he heard a faint sound behind him. Turing to find the source his exhausted arms lost their grip on the Vanguards Torso leaving him to drop sprawled to the catwalk a few feet below.

Hibiki looked up blearily only to find a concerned pair of blue eyes in a familiar (if upside down) red haired face looking down at him. Oh great. Thought Hibiki. I wonder if I have the energy to run.

But Dita only looked down at him and asked in a concerned voice.
"Are you ok?" …………………………………………………………………………………………

A short while later Hibiki sat dressed only in his loincloth on one of the pallets in the infirmary. As Duero attached medical sensors to the key points on his body.

He appeared even more exhausted than before. Although when Duero began squeezing his thigh he suddenly became much more active. Jerking up in shock before curling up defensively and waving his arms to fend the doctor off.

"What are you doing?" Yelled Hibiki in surprise.

Duero remained unflappable as always. "It's a method of diagnosis."

"Well do it without toughing strange places!" retorted Hibiki as he grew red with embarrassment.

Duero ignored his outburst and moved closer. "You look pretty tired. What have you been doing lately?"

"Well Tam's been teaching me how to fight lately and it's pretty tiring."

"Teaching you how to fight?" Commented Duero in surprise. "Is that what you have been doing in those additional exercise sessions?" The doctor usually joined them for the first part of their exercises in the morning but had to leave early to get to the infirmary.

"Well Tam pushes me pretty hard. And between him and getting caught up with those women and all. Fighting those machines. It does get pretty tiring you know?"

Duero stared back at Hibiki. "I can understand you wanting to fight to defend this ship. But why are you asking Tam to teach you how to fight. You have that machine don't you?"

"Well because." Hibiki's reply was interrupted by Paiway interjecting herself in the conversation.

"If he's feeling tired he should spend time in the Jacuzzi. That's a sure cure."

"Jac ussi?" asked Duero ………………………………………………………………………………………..

It was probably fortunate that Tam had never heard of the Jacuzzi on board the ship. His likely response of "What the Hell kind of a fighting ship has a beauty salon on board?" would have been unlikely to further endear him to the crew.

Yet sure enough, right at that moment several of the dread pilots were being attended to by the skilled staff of what, many of the women of the crew, would have considered one of the most important departments on the ship.

Jura sat stretched out in a chair dresses only in a towel while four of the attendants hovered around her. Two to deal with the nails on her hands. One to massage her legs and the other to attend to one of her most important features. Her hair.

Jura signed in contentment.
"Battles are bad for the hair." She commented.

The attendant looked up. "Don't worry I'm here to preserve your beauty Jura."

"Please. IF my hairs not set I don't feel like fighting anymore." The attendant nodded and turned away to start work. As she moved Jura noticed a figure sitting on one of the hot tubs.

"Meia! Do you want to get thinner?"

Meia replied without looking around. "Useless fat gets in the way during combat."

"But your breasts will get smaller" warned Jura.

Meia smirked. "Don't worry I'm taking care of myself" She settled herself in the tub more comfortably. Lately she had felt an uncommon need to relax and so she had come here. Before spending time in the hot tubs had always helped her to relax and clear her mind. But now for the first time it wasn't doing any good. Her thoughts kept returning to their mysterious crew member form the distant empire.

'That man.' She thought to herself. 'Why can't I get him out of my head?' …………………………………………………………………………………………..

Elsewhere Dita sat before the carrousel in the mess hall watching as the various kind of dishes paraded slowly before her paying close attention to the calorie markers stuck into them.

Just then Barnette came up next to her and reached out eagerly for a large steak. But the little red head was quicker grabbing it just before Barnette could reach it.
"Got it!" she yelled happily.

Barnette jerked up in surprise and shock.
"Dita that's high calorie" she said warningly.

"That's fine Barnette. He said he felt like he doesn't have enough energy." Replied the energetic red head as she made off with the plate.

Barnette's eyes widened further in shock. 'He'? Did that mean that Dita was still spending time with that man? Barnette turned to follow her to warn her that that man was dangerous and not to be trusted. When her eyes caught sight of another figure.

Tam was sitting at one of the tables in the mess hall. He had been a regular there ever since he had discovered that there was real food on the Nirvana. And not even the unfriendly, and in come cases outright hostile, stares of some of the crew had been enough to keep him away. Barnette also noticed that seated at the same table were some of the members of the repair crew he had worked with and a girl from the register. They were seated a little away from him and it did not appear that they were including him in whatever conversation they were having. But unlike the rest of the crew they did not appear to be trying to avoid him either.
……………………………………………………………………………………….

Meanwhile on the bridge Ezera was engaged in a detailed scan of the planets surface.
The main view screen zeroed in on a sector of the planet. Ezera bent over the consol to interpret the readings.

"Heat source identified on the planet. It's hard to see because of the atmospheric disturbance, but there is definitely a artificial structure with a power source down there." Reported Ezera

B.C. Turned to Magno from where she was standing next to the captain's chair. "Let's go down there and see if we can find anything."

Magno sighed "Our kitchen is also starting to get empty. I guess it's possible we'll find some supplies down there." Turning she looked at her second.
"Well I guess we'll have to do this the old fashioned way."

"Thank you Captain." Responded B.C. Then she turned and started issuing orders to the bridge crew.
"Commence climate observation. Calculate time for landing." "Understood" came back the response.
………………………………………………………………………………………… Dita was crouched in the mess bay. Her arms loaded down with food. Mr Alien had really appreciated the food she had brought him. He had even said thank you before running off. Maybe that was the way to get Mr alien to talk to her. To bring him food!
So to that end she raided the galley for as much as she could carry.
She was just about to make a dash for the exit when suddenly a voice rang out over the ships intercom. "To all pilots and crew. In order to conduct the planet landing each pilot will begin Vanguard simulation training immediately."

In the infirmary Hibiki had just finished getting dressed when he overhead the announcement. His reaction was predictable.

"What! They're going to let the women use the Vanguards!" …………………………………………………………………………………………..

If Hibiki's shock at the announcement had been bad, the shock he received on his arrival as he ran all the way from the infirmary to the Vanguard bay was far worse.
The long rows of identical gunmetal grey Vanguards were gone.
All had now been painted in bright primary colours. Covered with designs such as stars and circles. The colours ranged from a vivid lime green to hot pink and were utterly alien to Hibiki's Tarak brought up standards.

Meia, Jura and Barnette were watching the engineers finish painting the final Vanguards.
"Really even if we can't go down to the planet in our Dreads. Of all things we have to use the men's Vanguards." Commented Barnette with distaste.

Meia also stood with a sour expression on her face.

Only Jura had a faint smile.
"Whatever's fine with Jura." She commented as she turned to face her Vanguard, which had been painted a bright scarlet and equipped with a long slashing sword in a shoulder sheath. "As long as I can do the flashing uniting." She whispered, too low for her companions to hear.

Bart chose that moment to appear on the scene.
"Everyone, if you have any questions ask me! I've endured tough training in military school. In other words I know everything about the Vanguards!" Knowing Bart his spiel may have gone on for a fair bit longer if not for the timely intervention of one of the engineers float pallets which dropped down from above. Knocking him to the ground but stopping before it could do any read damage.

"Hey what are you doing down there?" cried out the voice of an annoyed engineer.
"We're busy here so don't get in our way."

This was the scene that greeted Hibiki's eyes as he finally reached the hangar. Driven to a panic at the though of what the women may have done to his partner. And with reason. For at that moment Dita stood on that catwalk in front of his Vanguard. A paint gun held in both hands. "I'll make Mr Aliens Pretty, Pretty too." Said the redhead as she took careful aim at the Vanguard.

"WAIT." Yelled Hibiki as he raced up the catwalk to put himself in the path of the spray.

He succeeded. Just in time to received a full blast from the paint gun. Turning one half of his body a bright pink and leaving a large Hibiki shaped centre in the spot of pink that now covered most of the Vanguards torso.

"What are you doing?" He yelled at Dita.

But the redhead appeared oblivious to his rage. "Wow a pink alien how cute!"

Hibiki signed in exasperation. Well at least it was only her. It could have been worse, it could have been.
A choking sound made him turn around swiftly.

Tam stood at the foot of the Vanguard. He was plainly endeavouring mightily to keep a straight face. And failing miserably. "Little brother I have to tell you. Pink is really not your colour." At that Tam finally lost it and bust out laughing.
Hibiki could only sit and fume as Tam struggled to get himself back under control.
He only succeeded when he noticed another engineer moving towards another Vanguard a few cells down that was partly covered with a tarp.

"Hey wait." Tam yelled as he turned and started running towards the spot.
The engineer in the meantime had picked up the tarp and tugged it down. As she turned curiously at the sound of Tams voice she pulled it further. Until the tarp slid down to reveal the Vanguard underneath.

It was Black. Not dark, not grey, not shadowed. Black. The black of a moonless night with heavy clouds. A black darker than the depths of space, which have the stars to light them.
Well at least most of it was. The green jewel like eye that dominated the centre of the Vanguards head was still there. And faint highlights of silver could be seen on the shoulders, arms and legs. But the rest of the Vanguard was as black as utter darkness.

The engineer, and a few of the others standing nearby turned to look at it in shock. "Who did this?" One of them asked.

"I did" replied Tam.
They turned to star at him in shock.
"But why?" another one asked.

Tam shrugged. "It's the Vanguard I'm going to use. I wanted it to be in colours that felt familiar."

"What do you mean it's the Vanguard you're going to use?" an angry female voice rang out.

Tam turned to see Meia, Jura and Barnette standing in a group. He nodded politely.
"Hello Meia. Didn't the captain tell you?"

"Tell us what." Asked Barnette.

"I'm going down to the surface with the landing party."

"You're what?" Cried out Barnette anger and disbelief tingeing her voice.

Meia appeared to be able to control her emotions better.
"Why did the captain select you to be part of the landing party?" Tam shrugged. "I assume it's because I'm the second most Vanguard pilot on this ship after Hibiki. Given all the time I've spent in the simulators over the past two weeks. By the way, that reminds me. Aren't you scheduled to commence your simulator training soon?"

Meia's face twitched slightly. For a moment Tam thought she was going to respond. Then without another word she turned away and headed for the lifts. Jura and Barnette turned to follow calling out for Dita to join them as they passed.

A moment later Hibiki stepped up to join Tam.
"What was all that about?" he asked.

"Nothing much little brother, I just reminded them that they're late for their simulator training."

"So the women are really going to use the Vanguards?"

"Looks that way." Replied Tam, then he noticed the troubled look on Hibiki's face.

"Why little brother what's wrong?"

Hibiki shook himself. "It's stupid. There's no way that women would be able to understand machines like the Vanguards."

Tam chuckled. "Well I tell you what. Lets get you cleaned up, and then we'll go and see how they're doing with their training." That said he settled an arm on the younger mans paint free shoulder and started to steer him away from the hangar.

As they were leaving Hibiki raised another question. "Hey Tam. Why did you choose Black and Silver for your Vanguard?"

The older man paused for a second before replying. "Where I came from, the Marines, soldiers taught to fight on land and in space, wore black and silver. I just felt it was appropriate." Hibiki shrugged accepting the answer.
And, thought Tam in the privacy of his own mind, because Black and Silver are the colours of Death. Which feels even more appropriate to me.
…………………………………………………………………………………

Later Tam, Hibiki, Bart and Duero were observing the training of the female dread pilots in the simulators. Things were not going well.

The women had mastered the basic functions of moving around and manipulating objects on land fairly easily, once they got used to the odd motion of the Vanguards.
But now the training had moved to space combat and things were starting to come apart.

Tam watched as Jura's Vanguard moved itself forward to attack three others. She sliced forward with her armblade but was blocked by the other Vanguard. Her Vanguard then started to tumble forwards off balance. Oddly enough this made the attack more successful. But only because the wildly flailing legs of Jura's Vanguard managed to connect with the other, knocking it away.

Inside her simulator cockpit Jura cried out in frustration. "I hate this. Why can't this thing move around more elegantly? Uggh, I give up." That said the tall blonde opened her canopy and stalked out of the simulator room.

The three men watched her depart from the simulator control room. "I told you so." Remarked Hibiki. "There's no way a women can pilot a Vanguard."

"It's not that little brother. They demonstrated that they can operate them on land fairly well. It just looks like they have no experience fighting in zero G."

Hibiki turned to Tam in surprise. "But how can that be. They're Dread pilots. They fight out in space all the time."

Tam's mouth twisted. "They pilot high speed attack fighters in space, few of them seem to have any experience with hand to hand fighting in zero G. And trust me there's a world of difference between the two."

Meanwhile something on the bank on monitors before them had caught Duero's attention. Tam looked forward to see what it was.
The doctor was staring at Meia's vital signs monitor. Tam noticed that her heart rate was way above normal. The cockpit view on the monitors showed her breathing deeply, her face streaming with sweat. What's wrong with her? He wondered.
………………………………………………………………………………………

Meia slammed her hand against the side of the simulator cockpit. One the view screen the simulator informed her that she had died yet again.
She breathed in huge gasps of air, trying desperately to relieve the tension inside her. 'What is wrong with me?' she thought. 'I've been in combat many times before. I mastered piloting the Dreads years ago. Why is it so hard to get used to this machine?

Just then a view screen lit up on her cockpit display showing the face of the male doctor. A moment later his voice came over the comms.
"Is there a medical priority system in Mejere?"

Meia face settled into a scowl and turned to face the doctor's image.

Duero continued. "On Tarak a doctor has the authority to prevent a pilots launch in cases like this. Do you agree?"

"No" Weak though she apparently was that one word was full of determination.

Duero nodded slightly. "Then change your FOV to all directions. That should relieve some of pressure you are feeling."

"Leave me alone." Retorted Meia angrily her blue eyes blazing. "I don't need help from anyone. I'll overcome the situation by myself" …………………………………………………………………………………………..

Meanwhile Tam watched the exchange with interest from the observation room. Bart was occupied reading a manual on Vanguard operation. Hibiki in the meantime had grown bored and decided to get back to cleaning his partner.

Unfortunately he wasn't looking where he was going and suddenly collided with something warm and pliant.
Jura stared down at the face of the man that was currently wedged between her breasts.
"Just so you know. Next time we go out there you are going to do that uniting thing with me. Remember that." Said the tall blonde as she turned to walk away leaving a very confused Hibiki behind her.

Perhaps fortunately Tam hadn't noticed this. He was too busy watching the scene down in the simulator room …………………………………………………………………………………………..

In the room the canopy on one of the simulators opened to reveal Meia. She appeared utterly exhausted. Still breathing heavily she lay sprawled over the simulator controls. Far too tired to notice Duero's quiet approach.

"I'm worried about you." Said Duero. "The sudden change in your pulse rate appears to be psychological. Does anything come to mind?"

Wearily Meia raised her head to look at the doctor and smirked. "Hmph! Stop making things up doctor. This is just stress. Overwork."

Duero didn't even blink before responding. "You're getting upset. This is pretty serious."

Angrily Meia pushed herself up and climbed out of the simulator. "I told you I'm Fine!" But actions put lie to her words. As she began to walk away she stumbled and almost fell. Fortunately Duero was close enough to catch her. But as soon as she had her balance she pushed him away and started to walk on her own.

Suddenly she stopped and turned to the doctor.
"Too many questions are annoying." And with that she left.

She didn't notice Tam staring at her. Or the thoughtful expression on his face.
…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Several hours later the event they had been waiting for finally occurred.
A break finally opened in the dust storm that covered the planets surface. After days of waiting B.C ordered an immediate launch of Vanguards.

Hibiki was the first one out of the hangar. For the past few days he had been struggling to avoid the women on the ship. First Dita and then funnily enough Jura and Barnette, had started chasing him around. Now finally he could go somewhere he could be away from the women. At least for a while.

Tam, Dita, Barnette and Jura followed soon after riding one of the drop ships that the women had taken the time to assemble.

The strange metamorphosis that had come over Hibiki's Vanguard when the pirate ship had merged with the Ikazuchi had also outfitted it with a set of thrusters far superior to the standard Vanguards the others piloted. While not as fast or as mobile as one of the women's Dreads, Hibiki's Vanguard was more than capable of rapidly moving and manoeuvring in space.

The standard Vanguards with their much weaker thrusters, had to rely on the drop ship to get them down with any kind of speed.

The dropship was an extremely simple affair. Little more than a sled with thrusters, Harnesses for the Vanguards and a set of manual controls for the lead pilot. 'But it does appear to be effective.' Thought Tam to himself.

Suddenly the drop ship jerked to the side and started to accelerate, throwing Tam around in his cockpit. Jura was piloting the drop ship down and she had apparently sped up to keep pace with Hibiki.

Tam was about to complain when suddenly he noticed the external temperature gauges were rising. They were entering the planets atmosphere. Tam watched the gauges closely, but they ceased to rise well before the danger zone. Jura had brought them in a perfect re-entry, using the drop ships head shield to take the majority of the re-entry force. Tams eyes widened, impressed. Her first time in a real Vanguard and she had performed the complicated manoeuvre perfectly. She may be vain and attention seeking. But she was an excellent pilot.

Suddenly they were through the upper atmosphere. Automatically the drop ship Broke apart. An automatic part of the design process it was intended to create sensor ghosts on approach to hinder incoming fire from a hostile planet. This planet showed all signs of being dead, but they weren't taking any chances.

For a moment Tam found himself in free fall. They the training of the last few weeks took over and he flipped the controls to activate his landing chute. He noticed that the others in the group had all already done so. For a moment he considered what they must appear like to anyone that might be observing from the ground. A group of giant metal Cyclops's using giant metal umbrellas to fall to the earth. If there was anyone hostile down their he expected that the sight would have them so incapacitated by laughter they wouldn't be able to target them until they were on the ground.
But all jokes aside, the chutes appeared to be doing their job, slowing their decent to a safe rate. 'And as long as they do that' Tam thought to himself 'I don't care how ridiculous they look.'

As they neared the ground Tam looked down at the facility that was starting to take shape below them. It was the remains of what had obviously once been a substantial city. There were a number of multi-storey buildings in a variety of configurations. But as he descended further he noticed that the buildings appeared to be falling apart. Either through damage or neglect and much of the area was covered in sand. Varying from a fine coating of dust, to whole dunes that seem to have sprung up on what had once been cleared areas between the buildings. Plainly no one had been here for a long time. But if that was the case then who had built this place. And where were they now?
………………………………………………………………………………………….
Meanwhile back on the Nirvana Meia was desperately hurrying down to the Vanguard hangar. She ran through the final set of doors only to find the hangar empty of personnel. One of the two drop ships that had been prepped for the mission was missing. As she looked round she noticed that five Vanguards, including Hibiki's were also missing. "Damn" she swore under her breath. She had been in the Jacuzzi desperately trying to relax when the call came through. She had been so preoccupied she hadn't even heard it until one of the attendants had asked her if she wasn't part of the landing team.
Immediately she had hurried to change and make her way to the hanger. But she had been too late. Now they were gone.

Meia hated piloting the Vanguards and more than that she was afraid of it. After a time the tight confines of the cockpit and the limited visibility played over her mind like nails over a blackboard. But none of that mattered. She was the leader of the Dread squadron. Jura, Barnette and Dita were her responsibility and as long as they flew with them, so were the two men. She would not let her fears get in the way of her duty. With this in her mind she looked at the second drop ship and then at the plain gunmetal grey Vanguard she had chosen to use.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Back on the planet the pilots came in for their final approach. Tam and Barnette made a textbook landing. Disabling their chutes while still several meters in the air and using the Vanguards thrusters to bring themselves down easily to the earth. Jura's and Dita's were very nearly the same, but they picked bad spots for their landing sites. As they came to the ground the sand beneath them gave way, causing their Vanguards to slip to the ground. Surprisingly, Hibiki for all his experience was the worst of them. He completely forgot to disable his chute or to use his thrusters. As a result he came crashing to the ground in a spray of sand.

Fortunately no damage was sustained and the pilots soon had their machines up and moving about to inspect the landing site. The female pilots were plainly not impressed.

"There's nothing here." Complained Jura.

"Looks like there's nothing Meia should worry about." Commented Barnette.

"Aww there's only sand?" asked Dita forlornly.

The women began to split up to search the area.

"Wait! Don't go off on your own." Yelled Hibiki. But even as he called out his Vanguard began to teeter precariously and appeared about to fall.

"Hibiki! Stance!" yelled Tam.

Responding automatically to the training command Hibiki felt himself automatically seeking his balance. As he did so the Vanguard also seemed to find its balance and finally stood straight.

In his cockpit Hibiki breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks Tam."

"No problem little brother. Concentrate on keeping your balance, just like in training."

"But how does keeping my balance affect my partner's ability to walk?"

"You don't know?" asked Tam sounding surprised. "The Vanguards are designed to use the pilot's sense of balance to regulate their own. If you feel off balance so will the Vanguard. Didn't you encounter that in training?"

"Well actually I never did any of the ground training." Said Hibiki sheepishly

There was a pause, and then Tam's voice came back over the comm. line. This time with a distinct note of seriousness. "Little brother this isn't your first time using a Vanguard on land is it?"

"Um, yeah."

"Hellfire." Muttered Tam. "Ok look, just focus on keeping your balance and try to move naturally. Vanguards are designed to mimic human movement and as long as you don't try anything fancy you should be ok. Remember balance isn't everything but.."

"But it makes everything else easier." Said Hibiki as he finished one of Tams many quotes from their training sessions.

Tams voce came over the comm. rueful. "So you have learned something."

"I've had to." Retorted Hibiki. "Whenever I can't remember you hit me with that damn stick."

"Well it's obviously working. And if you think that's bad I should tell you what grandfather used to use on me. Now there was a man who believed in providing incentive."

Tam winced for a moment at the very painful memories of the old mans incentives. Then he moved his Vanguard forward to follow the others.
………………………………………………………………………………………..

Half an hour later the five were still moving their Vanguards through the sand filled streets.
"I'm tired of this. How much longer do we have to stay down here?" complained Jura.

The sub commander asked us to make a thorough search of the area and find any useful equipment." Replied Tam. "Since the sands seem to screw up the passive and long range scans we have to get in close with the active scans and go building to building."

"But have you seen the size of this place. It could take us days to search through all these ruins." Jura sounded horrified at the prospect.

In his cockpit Tam shrugged. "If that's what it takes."

"Arrrrgh. There has to be an easier way to do this." Jura's complaints were getting louder and Hibiki for one decided to do something about it.

Activating his thrusters he sent his Vanguard soaring up into the sky. Soon it had risen over the tops of the tallest buildings in that area.

"Hibiki get back down here! What are you doing?" yelled Tam.

"Don't worry Tam I can cover much more area if I scan from up here. We'll get this done much quicker and we won't have to listen to so many complaints from. Arrrgggghhh." Hibachi's next sentence was drowned out by the cry of pain that flowed out of his lips.

As he rose up Hibiki had tripped off a concealed sensor system. Upon detecting the movement the sensor registered the anomaly and triggered the second stage of its programming. From shielded, locations around the ruined city bean projectors suddenly came on line. A latticework of red energy beams started to flicker into existence. Forming a cage like dome over the city.

Hibiki's Vanguard had been right in the path of one of those beams when it activated. Instantly pain coursed through his body as part of the beams energy was conducted through the Vanguards metal skin and into him. The beam also stalled the Vanguards thrusters sending it crashing back down to the ground in a shower of sand.

The others hurried to set their Vanguards in motion to the place where he had fallen. Tam started to move his Vanguard but stopped when a sudden pain crashed through his head. He stopped and breathed deeply. The pain had receded but their was still a strange roaring in his ears. Like a swarm of bees. Or the roar of a sandstorm.
……………………………………………………………………………………….

Back on board the Nirvana Duero jerked upright at his borrowed console on the bridge.
"The pulse rates of the away team have started to increase dramatically. Something's happening to them."

"Report!" Ordered B.C. to the bridge crew.

"A defence screen has activated on the planets surface."

"It appears that the landing team are trapped under the screen."

B.C. looked up at the main monitor worriedly. "Landing team respond!"

Images of the three female pilots slowly appeared. They were hazy with interference.

"What is this?" Cried out Jura.

"We're completely trapped." Reported Barnette.

"Mr Alien will die!" cried out Dita.

"Calm down." Ordered B.C. "What kind of trap is it?"

"The sand is attacking!" yelled out Dita in a scared voice.

B.C. was a hardened commander who had led the pirates through many situations. But Dita's words left her feeling confused and uncertain. 'The sand is attacking?' …………………………………………………………………………………………..

"What's with this sand?" called out Hibiki.

Moments after he had fallen back to the ground a sandstorm had come up, apparently out of nowhere. Strangely the sand seemed to be attracted to the Vanguards. More and more of it began to attach itself and spread out over the surface of the machines, slowly covering them.

In her cockpit Dita glanced around nervously.
"Waaah! This sand is strange."

"It feels like its alive!" Yelled Jura.
………………………………………………………………………………………… On the Bridge B.C started at the panicked faces of the pilots.

"Analyse the sand!" She ordered.

"Understood." Responded the bridge crew.
………………………………………………………………………………………….

High over the city a shinning dot could be seen descending. Meia's Vanguard was finally on approach.
As she neared the ground Meia called out to the rest of the ground team.

"This is Meia! Where are you everyone? Respond!" …………………………………………………………………………………………..

On the bridge Duero noticed that an icon displaying Meia's image and vital signs suddenly sprang into existence on his panel.
The doctor frowned. "She's pushing herself. Will she be able to hold it together in the face of whatever they are up against?" …………………………………………………………………………………………

On the ground things were looking bad for the rest of the team. Hibiki's Vanguard was almost completely covered by the sand. The others were at least half covered or worse. The sand seemed to impair the Vanguards functions, restricting their ability to move.

One by one they began to crash to the ground as the sand shut down their motor systems. Tam's Vanguard was forced to its knees by the sand. Desperately he tried to force the Vanguard to move, using every motion and technique he had trained in. But it did no good. The Vanguard was frozen. Tam collapsed back in his seat and then slammed his head against the headrest in anger. After all of this. To have come all this way, to have survived so many battles. He was going to be killed by a bunch of sand. It was so goddamn unfair!

Desperately he tried to remember a way to deal with the sand but nothing came to mind. In the empire energy shields would have been used to create a barrier against any environmental hazards like the sand. But that did him no good, the vanguards had no shields. The only thing he could think of was the faceplates on hard suits. These were equipped with electrostatic generators. If the faceplate was covered by dust liquid or any other opaque substance a static charge could be used to clear it away.
For a minute he though that might provide an answer, but the had no idea how to rig the Vanguards systems to generate a static charge. He didn't even know if it was possible. And that meant he was going to die here. Far from home and with his questions unanswered. In rage and frustration he slammed his fist against the control panel. And gasped.

Suddenly in the back of his mind something clicked. Fuelled by his raging emotions and driven by necessity his mind unfolded. Opening itself in a way that was at once completely alien and utterly familiar. Suddenly he felt his mind accessing the vanguards systems. Flowing through the data streams. Suddenly he was part of the Vanguard, and it was part of him. And it was the easiest thing in the world to take his imagined solution, correct the errors that his only human mind had not even thought of, and apply that solution to the reality that was the machine.
………………………………………………………………………………………….

Barnette was desperately trying to rub off the accumulating sand as her Vanguard became more and more sluggish, when suddenly she looked up in shock.

A weird corona of blue and while lights was flickering across the surface of Tam's Vanguard. Suddenly the lights increased in intensity until in a blaze of white and blue they flared over the surface of the Vanguard. Blowing away the accumulated sand and sending it whirling away. The sand picked up in intensity and tried to reattach itself. But even when it gained a foothold every few seconds a weaker version of the corona played across the surface of the Vanguard. Completely removing the sand.

Barnette and the other stared in shock.
"Wha.. What."

"How did you do that!" demanded Jura.

"Cool. Mr Tam please does that to me."

"Quiet everyone!" Tam's voice broke over the comm. channel. "I'm sending you a program over your comm. nets. Once you get it activate the power management function on your vanguards and run the program."

"What does it do?" Asked Barnette suspiciously

"It'll generate a static shield on your Vanguards. That should clear them of the sand and stop it from taking hold."

"When did you have time to come up with this?" Demanded Barnette.

"I'll tell you later." Replied Tam. "Now unless you want to remain a giant sand sculpture for the rest of your life?"

Barnette grimaced. She hated trusting the man but it appeared that they had no choice. Quickly she and the others, including Hibiki uploaded the and ran the program they had received from Tam.
For a moment nothing happened. Then there was a sudden surge through the power systems of the Vanguards as the shield kicked in. As soon as it activated they found the controls responding normally. They were able to get their Vanguards up and moving. The sand continued to flow around them, trying to attach itself. But the static shield just pushed it away whenever it started to accumulate. For a moment the group sighed in relief. Then the sand changed tactics.
…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Meia did not come down for an easy landing. Unused to handling the Vanguard she missed the landing cue and came down hard. The crash temporarily shorted out her systems leaving her alone in a dark cockpit lit only by the red emergency lights.
Almost immediately the feeling started. Her pulse began to quicken and she started to feel physically ill.

Suddenly Duero's voice came over the comms. "Meia do you copy? Open your FOV. Try to see as far as possible. Meia do you copy?"

Inside the cockpit Meia was breathing deeply. Struggling to keep herself under control, she reached out with a trembling hand to touch the view screen controls.
The view screen snapped to life, giving her a view of the barren landscape dotted with bits and pieces of wreckage. Almost immediately her breathing began to ease and her pulse began to settle. But then something else appeared which sent her pulse soaring again.

A patch of sand in front of her suddenly bulged and writhed. Slowly it formed itself into the vague shape of a Vanguard, like something a child would build out of mud. The figure had its arms held out towards her graspingly. Before Meia could adjust to this the figure suddenly flew apart. The sand that made it up suddenly disintegrated, only to fly at her Vanguard like a swarm of angry bees. Meia only had a moment to scream before the sand engulfed her entirely.
……………………………………………………………………………………….

On the bridge B.C. had been reviewing the positions of the Vanguard team on a map when suddenly the icon representing Meia winked out. "Meia unit disappearing from the radar." Announced one of the bridge crew.

"What!" cried out B.C. in shock. "Jura, Barnette, do you copy? Meia is lost. Search for her"

"Understood" Reported Jura and Barnette, but they had barely finished speaking when their images suddenly disappeared into static. Over the come line B.C. could hear Dita scream.

"Everyone! What's wrong?" she called out.
…………………………………………………………………………………………..

The pilots had only barely regained control of their machines when the sand sprang its next surprise. Suddenly before the pilots eyes piles of sand began to rise up. Forming themselves into Vanguard shaped figures.

Suddenly one of the figures moved forward its arm raised and sent a punch flying at the head of Jura's Vanguard. Jura managed to block the blow but the figure countered and moved forward to grapple with her.
Other figures moved forward to engage the other pilots. Soon the women were crying out for help.

"Somebody help." Yelled Jura

"This thing."

"No No. Don't come!" ………………………………………………………………………………………….

Back on the bridge B.C cried out in exasperation.
"What the hell is happening?"

"Analysis complete." Reported one of the bridge crew. A dark haired girl in Indian style robes. "We are picking up signals from this device." She said, bringing up the identified object on the main screen.
"It appears to be controlling the sand."

"As I thought." Said Magno from her chair. "This is a trap they left for us."

"Inform the ground team." Ordered B.C. "Tell them to knock out that machine."

"We can't." reported another bridge crewwoman. "Our transmissions to the planet are now being blocked. There's no way to inform the ground team. They are on their own." …………………………………………………………………………………………..

On the ground things were looking bad. The figures appeared to be slower then the Vanguards, but there were a lot of them. And they were vicious.
Added to this was the fact that the women were used to fighting at long range in Dreads and had little to no hand to hand combat experience. The situation did not look good.

Hibiki finally managed to break away from a sand figure that had been trying to prevent his Vanguard from rising. As he rose to his feet he spun around bringing his Vanguards arm around in a chop that passed right through the body of a sand figure forcing it to break apart. He barely had time to turn around before he was attacked by another one. Hibiki threw a punch, but the figure blocked and moved in to grapple. "What" yelled the boy in surprise. "This one knows how to fight?"

Meanwhile nearly one of the sand figures had Dita's Vanguard on its knees. One of its arms gripped her Vanguards head as if trying to crush it. Suddenly Dita noticed something on her computer display. Shocked she cried out.
"The sand is copying the Vanguards systems. Its like it's trying to suck the life out of it." Suddenly her Vanguard shook as the figure started pounding on it.
"Someone help me please." She cried out desperately.

Suddenly the pounding stopped. Surprised she looked up. A black and silver Vanguard stood before hers. In its hands was a massive sword blade, easily as long as the Vanguard was tall. Tam shifted his sword to one hand and used the other to help pull Dita to her feet.

"Thank you Mr Tam."

"You're welcome Dita. Now go and stand with Jura. Try and cover each other."

"What about Barnette."

"She's gone looking for Meia. We have to wait here until she gets back with her."

"But what about the sand aliens?"

In his cockpit Tam smiled. "Don't worry lass, Hibiki and I will take care of them. Now go."

Tam waited until Dita had moved off to join the other two female pilots. The he turned to see how Hibiki was doing. The lad was holding his own fairly well against three of the sand figures. His moves were still rough and unpolished, but his Vanguard was moving gracefully and quickly. Dodging around the clumsy blows of the sand figures while he darted in with sweeping chops and kicks that disintegrated them. But that was part of the problem.

"Hibiki stop messing around. This isn't a game!"

"What the hell do you mean?" Yelled Hibiki sounding annoyed.

"I mean you're only using your legs and fists. You have a sword so use it."

"Ohh." Instantly Hibiki reached back and drew one of the swords from their sheaths on the Vanguards back. With the additional reach of the blade he soon made short work of the remaining figures.

Once he was done he turned his Vanguard to see Tams walking towards him.
"Well what do you think Tam? Not bad huh?"

"Not bad little brother." Tam admitted. "But can you keep it up?"

"What do you mean?"

In answer Tam raised his Vanguards free hand to point behind Hibiki. Hibiki spun around and gasped in shock.
Dozens more sand figures were making their was towards them. Even as he watched he saw more form and join their ranks.
"I mean little brother that the funs just started. Looks like there are many more that want to join the dance.
…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Meanwhile Barnette's Purple Vanguard had been searching for Meia.

She finally found the Vanguard by now almost completely covered in sand. Desperately she tried to raise Meia on the comm. channel to transmit the shield program Tam had come up with but there was no response. Desperate Barnette brought her Vanguard in close and started to scrape off the sand with its hands.

She had barely started when Meia's Vanguard suddenly sat up and punched hers in the head, leaving it sprawled on the sand. The sand covered Vanguard then ignited its thrusters and shot up into the air, reaching out to touch one of the red bands that formed the defence screen. This done the Vanguard started to drop back to the ground. But almost instantly alarms started to scream all over the ruined city. …………………………………………………………………………………………

On the bridge a new window opened on the main view screen as the scanners detected a new threat.

"It appears that the defence systems self destruct have been activated." Reported one of the bridge crew. "900 seconds till explosion."

"This is bad" muttered Magno.

"Keep trying to raise the landing team." Ordered B.C. "Tell them to return to the ship immediately!" I only prey it wont be too late.
……………………………………………………………………………………… Back on the ground Tam and Hibiki faced the growing number of sand figures. They had found a good position where the figures could only approached them three or four at a time, with buildings that prevented them from getting at Jura and Dita. The two men had been fighting well together. Their swords moving to keep each other covered and to attack their enemies in well timed, coordinated strikes. Despite that they were being slowly pushed back by the sheer weight of numbers their enemies could bring to bear.

"Tam we gotta do something!" yelled Hibiki. "At this rate we're not going to hold them for long!"

"I know." Yelled Tam as be ducked under a punch before skewering a figure with his blade. "This things are adapting their tactics to combat us. We have to change ours to force them to adapt again."

"Any idea?" Hibiki yelled as he struck out with a horizontal slash, cutting through two of the figures. But almost instantly there were two more to replace them.

"Only one." Commented Tam. "When I give the word drop back with Jura and Dita."

"What! What are you going to do?"

"We're on the defensive too much. Only way to put them off balance is to change that. I'm going to attack."

"That's crazy. You're barely holding your own now. How do you expect to attack?"

Tam laughed. The sound was harsh and slightly disturbing.
"I've shown you some of the dance little brother, but not all of it. Now time to show you how a master dances. Now get back there."

Reluctantly Hibiki moved his Vanguard back to stand with Jura and Dita. Leaving Tam alone. The Sand figures hesitated for a moment as if uncertain, then surged forward. Tam stood still waiting to meet them. Then as soon as they stepped within range of his sword he moved. The Vanguard gripped the huge sword in two hands as it brought it around in a massive sweep. The sweep passed through three figures forcing them to break apart. The others moved in closer but as the first sweep ended Tam was already in position to start another. He had entered the dance.

From where they stood Hibiki and the women could only gasp. Anyone who thought that the Vanguards were clumsy awkward things had never seen Tam pilot one. He danced, that was the only way to describe it. Every step, every sweep of the sword was perfectly timed, perfectly balanced. Each step led to another and that to the next. The massive machine moved with a grace and power that made it seem alive. The women could only stare in shock, and Hibiki for the first time realised just how much their was to learn, how much Tam had to teach him. He made it look easy. Flowing around the sand figures the way water flows through a stream. Dodging their clumsy attacks almost as if he knew where they were going to be before they happened. And so it went on for minutes on end. The it ended abruptly.

Suddenly Tam's Vanguard crashed to the ground as the sand beneath one leg gave way. Instantly the figures piled on top of him one after another until his Vanguard was buried under a mountain of sand. Tam's static shield struggled to keep of the sand. But the Vanguard was buried too deep. The shield no longer had the power to clear the sand away. Tam sucked his lip and swore. He had cut his lip on his teeth in the crash and now his teeth were stained with his own blood. He knew what the sand was trying to do. The effort of maintaining the shield was rapidly draining his power reserves. Soon they would be dry and he would be helpless. Then the sand would have its victory.

Hibiki saw Tam go down and cried out in shock. He saw the other figures pile on top of Tam's Vanguard, covering the machine in sand. He started to move forward to help him but other sand figures appeared blocking his way. Hibiki tried to slice a path through them, but no sooner did he cut one then another appeared. Yet they made no move to attack him. Only to prevent him getting to his friend. Hibiki tried again and again. But he could make no headway against the wall of figures. There was no way to help his friend.

Hibiki screamed in frustration, and then he stopped as he noticed another figure moving to attack Jura and Dita from behind. Instantly he drew one of his blades and prepared to throw it across the distance, but a voice stopped him.

"Wait" Called Barnette. "That's Meia, she's been swallowed by the sand and being controlled."

"What?" yelled Hibiki. Then turning he charged at Meia's Vanguard. "What are you doing daydreaming? Get rid of that shit now!" His Vanguard slammed into Meia's knocking it to the ground on its back. Hibiki gave it no chance to get back up. He straddled the Vanguard and started rubbing off the sand with his machines hands.

With some of the sand removed the comms were partly restored and Meia's voice could be faintly heard. "Go away. Leave me alone."

"Stop saying shit like that." Yelled Hibiki. "I've already lost one person today. I'll be damned if I lose another. Even an annoying woman like you."

"We lost someone?" asked Barnette in alarm. "Who? Jura!" the last was said in a tone of desperation.

"I'm fine Barnette but we lost Tam. He got buried underneath the sand and there's no way to get him out."

Barnette turned to where Jura was pointing just in time to see the sand erupt upwards.
………………………………………………………………………………………….

Under the sand in the slowly darkening cockpit, Tam knew he had to do something soon. The effort of maintaining the shield had draining the Vanguards on board power. If he didn't act soon then he would never be able to. But still he hesitated because the only idea he could come up with was to use the boost. He remembered what it had felt like when he had used it before. The feeling of liquid lightening flowing through his veins. It was the most intense thing he had ever experienced. The feeling of power. The feeling of invincibility. And therein lay the problem. Because the boost did not make you invincible. Oh it helped. With it you were stronger, faster than any normal human could be. Small wounds healed before your eyes and everything seemed to go into slow motion giving you an eternity to consider each move you made. But for all that, he knew he was still largely human and that all the power that the boost used up had to come from somewhere and that somewhere was him. Every time he used the boost he was killing himself slowly. The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long. He didn't want to use the boost unless absolutely necessary. But then again if he didn't use it now he would die. That was a certainty.

The other reason was that even with the boost he might not be able to escape. The boost enhanced his own strength and reflexes. It should do nothing for the vanguard. But maybe the extra edge would be enough. Even if it was not he had to try.
Why, because he refused to give up. eE refused to give in. He owed these people a duty and a debt and he could not rest until both were fulfilled. And so his mind decided Tam closed his eyes and subvocalised the code word. "BOOST."

Blood thundered through his head and his heart raced. The buried subliminals kicked in. Adrenalin, endorphins and other more potent serums flooded his system from the genengineered glands. His muscles swelled and his senses blossomed. And at the same time for the second time that day something in his mind clicked. A door opened and a passage was shown. A road familiar but not often travelled opened to him. And with the new awareness that was his, he instinctively reached out to take the power that was offered. Sudden energy flooded into him. Into, through and out into his Vanguard. Batteries nearly dead were suddenly raised to full life, power flooded through the Vanguards systems and small but significant changes were made to the machines structure. But more that that Tam's mind opened wide as it never had before. Old memories whispered in his mind as he reached out to inspect his surroundings. Suddenly he was aware of it all. Of the sand, which in reality was made up of billions of tiny machines, all linked to a central controller. Of the defence screen, how it had once been built to defend this place, but was now linked to the controller too. And he became aware of the bomb which was running through the final third of its countdown and which could not be stopped now that it had started. And so he knew that he had work to do.
Tamorasp surged upward and as he did the familiar but unknown battle cry burst from his lips. "SHANDRAKOR!" ……………………………………………………………………………………

On the bridge of the Nirvana the mood was tense. There were now less than 5 minutes until the bomb would go off eliminating the ruins and the ground team with it.

Suddenly a comm. channel chimed.

"Captain its Parfait, I need to speak with you."

"Parfait we're in a situation right now." replied Magno

"But captain this may be important too. It's about the Plexis."

Suddenly concerned Magno turned her attention to the viewscreen showing the chief engineers face. "What about the Plexis?"

"It's acting weird again."

…………………………………………………………………………………….
On the ground the others could only stare in stock at the latest development. With a sudden explosion of energy Tam's Vanguard burst from the heap of sand that had buried it. His battle cry thundered over the comm. channel. "SHANDRAKOR"

The sand swirled around the Black and Silver machine trying to envelop it again. But Waves of lightening cracked across the Vanguards surface like a much more powerful version of the static shield and the sand simply slid off. Once again the sand changed tactics. Out of the sand a mass of Vanguard figures formed. But these were different from the earlier ones. The earlier one had looked like a child's crude copy made out of mud. These ones were distinct. Perfect replicas save for the colour. In their hands they carried weapons. Long swords, maces and axes and they moved as if they knew how to use them. They should have saved themselves the effort.

In a single motion the black and silver Vanguard raised its hand. Drew its sword and attacked. When he danced Tam had appeared deadly. Now he was death itself. The Vanguard moved to fast to see. To fast to follow. Its movements were a blur and soon the air around it was filled with flying sand further obscuring their vision.

From their Vantage position, Hibiki, Jura, Barnette and Dita tried to follow Tam's progress with awe. They had all head the story about his fight with the machines. Intellectually they had all known what he must be capable of. But being aware of that and seeing it in action were two very different things.

Very soon it was over and the black and silver Vanguard stood only meters away from the group.

"Tam!" Hibiki yelled as he moved his Vanguard forward. "You're all right. How did you…"

"No time little brother. We have to act fast." Tam cut across Hibiki's questions.
"A self destruct has been set, we have to disable the defence screen and get out of here before this whole place blows sky high."

"What? But.." said Hibiki confused.

"How do you know this?" demanded Barnette ever suspicious.

"No time!" yelled Tam. "Hibiki I'm sending you the coordinates of the controller. It's what's controlling the sand and the defence screen. Destroy it and we should be able to get out of here."

Hibiki gasped in shock as target data suddenly appeared on his control panel.

"Get going little brother. I'll keep these ones busy until you return."

Hibiki looked up. A formation of the new sand figures were moving towards them. Already there were at least 30 and more were coming all the time.

"Go." Yelled Tam.

Hibiki nodded, then igniting his thrusters he headed for the site Tam had pinpointed.

Meanwhile Tam turned to face the oncoming sand figures. There were a lot of them and with the latest upgrade they were much more formidable than before. But then again so was he. So once again he lifted his sword high and charged to meet them, his voice raised in the unknown battle cry. "SHANDRAKOR".

Hibiki flew low over the skyline dodging between the beams of the defence screen. The building that housed the computer was close. Suddenly he could see it just ahead of him. A tall slender tower that stood at an odd angle. And at the top of the tower Hibiki could see the control computer, and it could see him. Gun emplacements suddenly sprang to life pouring laser and cannon fire at him. Hibiki dived straight through the middle his sight fixed on the machine at the centre. He passed through the fire unscathed, moving too fast for the guns to track. Then as he passed he drew on of his swords and brought it round in a sideways strike before shooting by. Behind him the control computer sparked and cracked before exploding into a thousand pieces.

Tam was on the verge of being surrounded by the Sand figures when suddenly they all fell apart. Falling down into the sand heaps they had come from.
Almost instantly a concerned voice came over the comm. channel.

"Ground team this is the Nirvana. If you can hear me get out of there! You have only one minute until the self destruct blows." Came B.C.'s frantic voice.
"One minute!" the others yelled in shock before frantically igniting their jets and boosting for orbit at top speed. Tam was about to follow suite when he saw something that stopped him. Meia's Vanguard lay where Hibiki had knocked it. The sand that had controlled it had largely fallen away but the Vanguard gave no sign of rising.

"Meia" he yelled, moving his Vanguard in close to check for damage.

"I never thought I would ever live to be indebted to a man." Came Meia's quiet voice.

"What the hell are you talking about? Get yourself up! We have to get out of here!"

"Why do you care? Just leave me here."

"Why do I care?" Tam yelled in shock. "I don't know how you do things here but where I come from we never leave our people behind while there's the slightest chance they may be alive. Now if you don't want to die, grab my hand."

So saying Tam caused his Vanguard to reach out with one of its arms.

In her cockpit Meia stared at the image of the Vanguard and the man in front of her. A dozen conflicting emotions and thoughts ran through her mind. But above all these was one simple almost basic thought. 'I don't want to die.'

Slowly almost reluctantly her Vanguard reached up and grabbed the offered hand.
………………………………………………………………………………………….

On the bridge of the Nirvana the counter representing the bomb suddenly reached zero.

Instantly the scanners showed a series of explosions taking place over the planet. Destroying not just the ruins that the ground team had visited but all the other sites as well.

On the bridge the mood was sombre. There had been no contact with the ground team since communications were cut off. They had no idea if their communications had gotten through. Or if there was anyone alive to listen.
The force of the explosion had overloaded the scanners. It would be a few moments before they would be back on line and they could determine if anyone survived.

Duero was the first to see it. Suddenly the monitors for the vital signs of the pilots sprang back to life. Showing all six to be alive and healthy.

The next minute 6 dots appeared on the short range scanners, showing the Vanguards returning to the Nirvana.

"All Vanguard units safe." reported Ezera.

All around the bridge people sighed with relief. With one exception.

"Um Subcommander, we are receiving a substantial upload of data from the Vanguards."

"Well?" asked B.C. "What are you waiting for, read it."

With obvious reluctance she began to do so. "This times harvest items: Red blood cells, white blood cells, plateket, lymph, and other blood substances. Situation all good. Data ends here."

As the operator was speaking the eyes of everyone on the bridge had turned to stare at her in shock. As soon as the operator had finished reading B.C whirled around to face Magno's chair.

"Boss, do you realise what this .." but the older woman cut her off.

"The enemy's objective was literally to harvest the blood from the people that were here. They think of us as nothing more that vegetables. We found out only one thing from this incident. We are dealing with a terrible enemy." …………………………………………………………………………………………..

In the Vanguard hanger the techs were busily returning the Vanguards to their berths. Utterly exhausted after their experience on the planet, the female pilots were sitting around the storage area trying to recover.

One pilot in particular was dwelling deeply about what had occurred on the planet.
Meia sat on the floor with her back against a large crate. A look of suppressed fury could be seen in her eyes.
"How humiliating." She thought to herself. "To be saved by a man. And of all the men on the ship it had to be him!"

Angrily she turned to look for the man. But she was surprised when she could not see him. The Black and Silver Vanguard that he had piloted was now back in its storage berth, but Tam was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly she noticed Hibiki move up to the gantry before the Black and Silver Vanguards cockpit. Meia could hear him yelling something. But could not make out the words. Then suddenly the cockpit opened. Tam fell out of the cockpit, right into Hibiki. For a moment it looked like the youth would go down under the weight, but then he managed to brace himself and hold the older man up.

Meia got to her feet in concern. Tam's whole body appeared to be shaking. He was trying to stand on his feet, but he didn't appear able to support his own weight. Hibiki's assistance was the only thing holding him up. Suddenly he turned to the side and retched. Meia saw a spray of vomit travel over the gantry rail and into a bucket below. Hibiki started calling out loudly and urgently. Then he started pulling Tam away. Together they descended the gantry stairs shakily and started moving out of the hangar. Hibiki almost having to both drag and hold up the older man at the same time.

Meanwhile the women were staring after them stunned. They were so tired and shocked that they didn't even think to yell out or to offer to assist.

Meia stared after Hibiki and Tam. Thoughts flashing through her mind. What was wrong with him? "Why did he seem so ill now when he had been so strong before?" "And why", another part of herself wondered, "did I feel so concerned when I saw him?" End of Chapter 5:

………………………………………………………………………………………..

Whew. Another long chapter.

I apologise that this one took so long, but work has been really busy lately and I also just bought my first house and had to deal with all the million and one details that that involves.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you did or even if you didn't please read and review.

I am open to any comments and constructive criticism and am happy to consider any suggestions of scenes people would like to see in the story.

But if you don't let me know then how can I make the story better?

Until next time, hopefully soon.

DarkBlade