A/N: The action will begin. Enjoy. Dramatic sequences are to come and a pleasent surprise in the end.

Chapter Seventeen: Stage Two of Operation: Final Bout

Feeling the intense pressure on his shoulders, Hibiki walked skeptically down the white hall of the Nirvana. His idea of fusing with the Nirvana was downright insane but could prove worthy if he had the chance to prove it. Dita was taking care of the babies leaving him time to think about the necessary precautions he needed to take before bringing up his idea. Maybe they would listen to him? Would they even allow him to proceed with it? Questions and doubts when through his mind, racing to see which one of them will be the most valuable. Hibiki sighed as he slowly approached the bridge, letting the metal doors hiss open he noticed Ezra at her station. She was rapidly pushing buttons and scanning the information displayed unevenly on the screen, Hibiki snuck up behind her and placed his hands over her shoulders making her jump from her seat.

"Oh, it's only you Hibiki. Is something the matter?" she asked, Hibiki tried his best to conceal his doubt but failed.

"I have an idea." he whispered. He didn't want anyone to hear him, if someone was to criticize him, he thought it was best to let someone he knew do it. Ezra turned in her chair to face Hibiki, her complete attention focused on him. He took a second to remember his thoughts, behind the veil of doubt he found what he was looking for.

"I found a way we can rid the galaxy from the harvest for good." he spoke softly. Ezra who was now amused by the information, sat up straight in her chair.

"Go on" she said.

Hibiki sighed as he crossed his arms.

"We can fuse with the Nirvana." he said, to Hibiki's dismay, Ezra immediately frowned.

"Now, how in the world is that possible?" she asked tilting her head a bit. That was one blow Hibiki couldn't manage, he had to be confident with the information he was sharing. Otherwise, he'll just end up messing everything up.

"You see, half of the Mejarian and Tarakian ships merged to create the Nirvana. As if it had a mind of its own and was taking on a new life. So, if Vanguards and Dreads could also merge into a stronger being, what if you merge a Vandread with the Nirvana? You'll get something that no one has every seen before, the ultimate being. The ultimate life." he said. Ezra was in awe as her mind tried to visualize the endless outcomes of what the final being would look like. But a question was sparked.

"Your theory is a good one, but can you prove it?" she asked. Hibiki finally felt a smile appear over his face.

"That's why I need your help. I need you to tell the commander, if you can convince her then we have this thing in the bag." he said.

Ezra nodded as she stood and strolled away to the sub levels. Hibiki stood alone on the bridge, his gaze settled on nearby stars. He knew this idea wouldn't work, he was acting naive as always but if he was able to get everyone's confidence, maybe he could pull it off. He heard rumors and he heard facts about the ships known capabilities but was he sure he could lie to everyone? He was hoping he could finish this battle by navigating the ship with Dita but most likely he would like to try this out first. He turned and headed for the exit, but stopped short when he noticed Dita was standing in front of him. She held little Hibiki in her arms with a worried look on her face.

"What's up?" he asked. Dita held the baby in front of Hibiki.

"Okay, and?" he said, Dita glared at him angrily.

"You don't notice anything different about him?" she asked. Hibiki took a closer look and realized it with a mental kick in the face. The baby opened his mouth to yawn and when he did, a small tooth was visible.

"Oh, you had me worried there for a second. He starting to grow teeth now." he said smiling, Dita frowned.

"Well, I don't like it! He's getting sick because of it!" she said cradling little Hibiki. She pressed his small round face to hers and started to make baby noises.

"Nothings going to hurt wittle Hibiki. Nothing at all." she cooed. Hibiki patted his son on the head and went off passed Dita who was still mumbling baby noises.

Hibiki reviewed his idea for a second and then literately punched himself in the face. He didn't have a Vanguard! How the hell was he supposed to go along with his plan now? Just then, Parfait appeared behind him, holding several pieces of metal in her hand.

"Oh, Hibiki. Just the guy I wanted to see." she said. Hibiki turned around and waved.

"Oh really, and why is that?" he asked.

"I got your Vanguard ready for you." she said. Hibiki thought he was going crazy, did she just say she had a Vanguard for him?

"What do you mean?" he asked. Parfait grabbed Hibiki by the arm and steered him all the way to the hanger in which Hibiki felt a nosebleed start. Indeed, the Vanguard that stood tall in the hangar was his. It's pale composition still matched his old one, only the limbs were new indicated by its different appeal to the Vanguard as a whole.

"But how?" he asked.

"Well, we went looking for you for several months, we found most of your Van-type but considering we couldn't find anything else, we decided it was best to just build you new arms and legs. Hope you don't mind." she said cleaning her oil spilled hands. Hibiki eyed the new robotic machine. He looked at her behind his shoulder.

"Partner and I are back."

"Not for long!" yelled Dita. Hibiki sighed greatly, why must his triumphant return had to be burned so early in its life.

"Hibiki! We got an emergency here!" yelled Dita from the hangar doorway. She stood holding Anita and Hibiki in her arms. Hibiki went over, this wasn't going to end well.

"What's wrong?" he asked. Dita handed him Anita.

"She needs changing, I think she left a present in there for you." she said. Before Hibiki could protest, Dita gave Anita to Hibiki who eyed his daughter suspiciously.

"You mean I have to... what the hell is that smell?" he said trying to hold his breath. Dita laughed as she began to walk away from him.

"You may need four diapers for that one! Oh yeah, make sure you wipe her from front to back!" she yelled as she turned the corner. Hibiki stared at Anita who smiled.

"Is that some kind of code? Did you understand that?" he asked, Anita laughed.

"I'm glad to see you have a sense of humor." he said trying to hold the her away.

Hibiki leaned against the nursery wall with his hand up to his chin, he stared at Anita who was bouncing from side to side in her small bed. Hibiki didn't know how to change girls, he had never thought he would be in this situation. The smell was getting worse as he tried harder to think of a way to handle this without losing his cool. He approached Anita but quickly stumbled back as he cupped his hands over his mouth.

"Dear God! That's horrendous! How did the first generation of people do this without passing out?" he said. Hibiki noticed Anita was giggling and smiling happily as if nothing was wrong. He decided to be brave, if he was brave enough to risk his life he was sure as hell brave enough to take on this small task. He took in a deep breath and held it as he approach the next atomic bomb. He leaned over and unfastened the soiled diaper with caution, when he pulled it down he ran back to his corner and pulled his knees to his chest.

"That's horrible! There's so much... crap!" he said under his breath. Ezra entered the room and covered her nose immediately.

"Oh dear, is that Anita? But where's... Hibiki?" she said. She spotted Hibiki leaning against a corner of the room with a dazed look on his face. She couldn't help but smile at his misfortune.

"Poor Hibiki. Alright, I suppose I can help you change her." she said. Hibiki snapped out of his daze and stood but not without first covering his face with his sleeve.

"How can you women do this? That's disgusting" he spatted out. Ezra smiled as she placed Hibiki in front of Anita. She stood behind him as she guided his hands.

"You don't have to be afraid of your own daughter, just remember that it's part of life and you'll have to help her along with it. That's why a father right?" she said as she helped him.

After the somewhat successful task, Hibiki walked slowly down the hall. He was caught off guard when the ship tilted and the alarms went off. Hibiki almost panicked, but he managed to keep his cool. He dashed down the hall with Anita firmly in his arms, he bolted to the nursery and spotted Dita kneeling on the floor with little Hibiki in hers.

"Dita, come on. We got to do this." he yelled. Ezra ran in, her own daughter in her arms.

"Hibiki! Dita! Give them to me! The ship needs you." she yelled. Hibiki and Dita did just that as they ran side by side down to the hangar bay. The loud alarms echoed through the halls, red lights engulfed their vision.

"This is the commander, all pilots and engineers to your stations! I repeat, all pilots and engineers to your stations! Commence Operation: Final Bout!"

Hibiki whizzed around the corner until he ended up in the hangar. Hibiki headed for his Vanguard until he heard something that made his stomach twitch in pain.

"This is your commander! EVERYONE IMMEDIATELY STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING! THE ENEMY HAS ALREADY DISPLAYED ITS CANNON. THEY HAVE THREATENED TO FIRE IT EVEN WITHOUT OUR DEFENSES!"

The room went silent.

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