These are the words of Hung Nguyen. I just have permission to post them and make it easier to read. Just want to give his stuff the recognition it deserves.
I am scrunching both works into one story, maybe even adding something extra. Any new updates will be told here. Think of this as the "Remastered version". Welcoming new and old readers alike!
Disclaimer: By now, the readers should know that Vandread, Ranma 1/2 and Tekkaman Blade belongs to their own respective creators.
italics: Thoughts
Chapter 16
The Difference Between Men and Women
Slade sighed as he headed toward the gym for a little exercise and to work off some tension. Over the last 2 weeks since the birth of Ezra's daughter Nodoka, (in which Pyoro still insisted that the baby's name was Pyoro 2), things had taken some dramatic changes. The biggest changes of all were with the Nirvana's helmsman, Bart Garsus, and the Dread pilot, Jura Basil Elden. Unbelievingly, Bart had actually grown a backbone and Jura was now interested in men, particularly the Tekkaman himself!
Slade's thoughts went back to that fateful day when the Nirvana had encountered another planet that was under the Harvestor's rule. (1)
Slade became even more disgusted about the world of his origin after learning that the planet had been one of many sites in which massive environmental and genetic experiments (courtesy of the Earth) had taken place. As a result, the soil, water, and air had been polluted and the inhabitants were doomed to a slow and painful death from the time they are born. Very few ever made it past the age of forty.
What was even worse was that the Earth collected the bodies of the dead like vultures, leaving nothing for the people to remember their loved ones by after they perish. As a result, the people spend most of their lives creating little wooden dolls of themselves, to prove that they had existed on that poisoned world. Each doll was placed in a large storehouse and was the only legacy of a person's life.
The pirates had tried, they had really tried to help them. However, nothing short of terraforming the entire planet could have saved them all. The best they could do was to seal off a few small areas with Paksis, so that any future babies could be born normal and healthy, forever protected from the lethal effects of their planet's biosphere.
It was a pity though, that the rest of the population could not be spared as well. One person in particular had every right to live, but died at the tender age of nine. Her name had been Shirley, and it was because of her that Bart finally decided to grow up.
Bart had formed a very close bond with the little waif and had excited her with tales of his 'great adventures' in space. Though he was lying like a rug, Slade couldn't fault the boastful moron for keeping the little one's spirit up. In fact, she had begun making a doll of Bart as a keepsake.
Unfortunately, during an attack by the enemy, Slade had been busy with Jura in keeping the planet's atmosphere contained with her Tekkadread's shield. As a result, the Dreads and Vanguards had been badly outgunned and would have been destroyed, were it not for Bart. He had been reluctant to leave Shirley, but through an act of true bravery, he faced off against the enemy and using a new weapons system on the Nirvana, actually defeated the enemy single-handed! However, by that time, the innocent girl who wanted only to finish her doll... died.
Bart had become heartbroken over Shirley's death. He had even begged Slade to use his powers to bring her back. However, as great as a Tekkaman's power was, the former Saotome had no control over life and death. It seemed that Bart would slip into the deepest of depression. Fortunately, thanks to some advice from Magno, he found the will to carry on. In fact, in honor of Shirley and her unfinished doll of him (which had no hair), Bart had decided to shave off his own blonde locks. This had surprised nearly all of the crew, but Slade could tell that the helmsman would be all right. Though Bart's new look would take some time to get used to.
Slade's thoughts then turned to Jura, and he shivered a bit as he remembered that time in her Tekkadread...
Flashback...
"Roger Parfet. We'll keep things under control here." Slade replied as he signed off. Sitting beside him in her chair was Jura, who had just finished polishing her nails. Currently, the Tekkadread was in its first form with its barrier surrounding the entire planet.
"Slade?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you realize that we're all alone up here?" Jura started to lean forward seductively.
"Yeah... so... what's your point?" Slade became nervous as he started edging back into his seat. The way she was leaning forward was showing off more of her ample bosom and since she never wore a bra, Slade could start making out her... Slade winced as he tried to banish such thoughts from his mind. This was definitely not the time!
Jura's smile became slyer as she continued. "My point is that there is no one else up here. That means... whatever happens will be just between the TWO of us!"
Slade began frantically backpedaling from her as his heart and breathing rate began to climb. "Whoa! Hold on there! What are you talking about?!"
Jura giggled a bit as she began following him. "Oh come now, Slade. I KNOW you know what I want! I told you before that I wanted a baby and I just KNOW that you'd make the perfect ohma for my little girl! Also, I want you to name her when she's born, just like you did with Ezra's. She's going to be beautiful, I just know it!"
"Whoa! Slow down! I don't think you've thought this through!" Slade waved a hand in front of him, trying to stave off both the very willing and voluptuous Jura, as well as the effects of his own body to her advances. A very large part of him wanted to jump her bones and it was taking a LOT of his willpower to keep him from acting on his more primal instincts. (2)
"What else is there to think about?" The blonde pilot said while shrugging her shoulders. "I've decided that it's time for me to be a fahma."
"What brought this on?" Slade asked.
"Well... after seeing how beautiful Ezra's baby turned out, I feel that I'd make a good mother myself."
"Okay... I guess, I can't argue with that, but why me?"
"Why not? After all, men and women USED to be able to make a baby, right?"
"Yeah... so what's your point?"
"My point is that I want my baby to be perfect, and I think that using your seed would give me the ideal daughter!"
"Whoa! Hold on a minute!" The Tekkaman interrupted as he began inching away from her. At that point, he was grateful that the seats were able to move freely around the circular cockpit. "It looks like you still need to know a few things."
"Oh?"
"Yeah... ah, I guess I should explain this a bit more." Slade felt very uncomfortable as he tried to describe the 'birds and the bees' to her. He had only given Duero and Bart a general overview of the process of natural procreation, and now he had to describe the procedure to the flighty Jura. "Ah... for one thing, yes it is true that a man and woman can make kids together, but it's... really personal and... it involves... really... close interaction... between the two."
This perked Barnette's friend's interest immensely. "Really? Go on."
"Ah... well... it's like this. Uhmmmm... the man and the woman have to be... close."
"Close? You mean... like this?" Jura immediately moved toward him, which caused the Tekkaman to backpedal even further. "What's wrong? Aren't I supposed to be near you?"
In his frantic efforts to keep Jura from getting closer, Slade accidentally brushed an arm against the Tekkadread's console. This activated the communications systems, audio only, on all channels. As a result, EVERYONE heard.
Uh oh.
The bridge...
Slade: Uhhhhh... that's not quite what I meant... but yes, you do have to be close and...
Jura: I'm getting confused. Am I supposed to be close to you or not?
Slade: Uh... well, I kind of meant close as in... uh, how do I put this?
Jura: You're making even less sense. Look, all I want is your seed. It's not like I'm asking for very much.
Slade: Says you! That's asking a lot! Besides, it's not that easy! Do you even have ANY idea what you and I have to do, in order for me to give you my... uh, seed?
Jura: No, but I'm sure that I can do it! How hard could it be?
Slade: SAY WHAT?!
Magno and Buzom looked at each other in confusion over this conversation. Then both women, along with everyone else on the bridge, began eagerly listening in.
The Register...
Jura: You said before that you knew about how a man and a woman could make a child. Well, I'm a woman and you're a man, so it shouldn't be any problem!
Slade: Ah... well, technically speaking that's right... more or less.
Jura: So why don't we do it now? I can't wait to have my little girl!
Slade: Er... there's something else you should be aware of.
Jura: Like what?
Slade: Well... if you really want to have a baby the old-fashioned way... I can't guarantee that you'd get a daughter.
Jura: What are you talking about?
Slade: Well... when a man and a woman... join... it's... ah, er... up to luck.
Jura: Luck?
Slade: Together, a man and a woman can have EITHER a boy or a girl. If I gave you my... seed (and I'm not agreeing to it yet), then you'll only get a fifty-fifty chance of getting a female baby. You could end up with... a son.
Jura: A son? You mean... a little boy?
Slade: Yeah. You STILL want to do this?
There was a very long silence as the people who were listening on the conversation held their breath for Jura's reply. Finally, she answered with a smile.
Jura: Hmmmm... the first woman not only to have a child made by a man's seed, but also the first to give birth to a boy! That's great!
Slade: Come again?!
Jura: Let's get started right away!
Slade: You've got to be kidding! It's not THAT simple and besides, we can't just take our clothes off and... er, uhh... forget I just said that!
Jura: Oh, so we need to be naked to get the seed? Sounds VERY interesting. I can do that.
All of the Register Girls, especially Ukyo, began blushing furiously when they heard the sounds of clothes being removed. Apparently, Jura wasn't shy about certain things like nudity.
Slade: HEY! WHAT YOU DOING?! PUT THAT BACK ON!
Jura; You mean, we're not supposed to be naked?
Slade: Well yes, urk, no... argh! Just put your top back on!
Jura: What's the matter? (sniffle) Do you find me... ugly? Is that why you won't give me your seed?
Slade: N-N-No, I think you're very beautiful, and... ah, it's not like it hasn't crossed my mind before, er... but I chest, er I mean I JUST can't... er, uh, ah, I think that it would be breast (ack), BEST if you think about this some more!
A sigh is heard with more rustling of fabric, indicating that Jura was clothed again.
In her office, Gascogne smirked and thought that this was WAY better than any soap opera being shown on Mejele.
The Vanguard and Dread hangar...
Jura: I've already thought about it, and I WANT a baby! I want it made from a man's seed, and I want yours!
Slade: Not that I'm not flattered, 'cause I am, but why me?
Jura: I told you, my baby should be made from the best and you are the best man I've ever met.
Slade: Uh... thanks, I think.
Jura: Besides, anyone who kisses the way you do would make a very good ohma for my child. Remember Anpathos? Mmmm, I can still remember you grabbing me and...
Slade: Hey! I thought we weren't going to mention that!
This immediately got the attention of certain girls.
"What?! Mr. Alien kissed Jura?!" Dita gasped. "It's not fair! Jura and that other girl got to kiss him! I want him to kiss me!"
Meia also became a bit agitated at hearing this, though she couldn't understand why. And she also didn't understand why she was imagining herself pressing lips with Slade.
Xian Pu similarly felt a kind of anger at Jura for being with Slade as she too had entertained thoughts of him being the ohma to her children.
The Sick Bay...
Jura: Come on, Slade. Show me how it's done! You said before that you know about that sort of thing.
Slade: Well, yeah but... I can't just... look, it's really personal and... I can't just...
Jura: I can't believe that you're afraid to give me your seed! Are you a man or not?
Slade: Hey! Now you're getting personal!
Jura: If you truly are a man, then you should show how strong and brave you are!
Slade: What does courage have to do with my seed?
Jura: No excuses! No more waiting! I want that seed NOW!
Crash! Bang! Whomp! Thud! Whump!
Duero became puzzled as he heard some thumping and bumping noises. Hmmm, I wonder if this is what Slade meant about ancient courtship rituals between men and women? Is the female supposed to be this aggressive?
Paiway was busily scribbling away on her notebook while her recorder taped every word.
"PAI CHECK!"
Jura: Now where is it? Where do you find the seed on a man?
Slade: Hey! What are you doing?!
Jura: Is it here?
Slade: Whoa! Watch those nails!
Jura: Maybe here?
Slade: Yow! Keep off!
Jura: Maybe over here?
Slade: That tickles!
Jura: Now where is it?!
Slade: Whoa! Don't do that! Hey! Don't go there! What are you doing? Keep those hands to yourself!
Jura: Or maybe... IT'S HERE!
RIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPP! (the sound of some fabric being torn)
Slade: Arrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhh!
The noises suddenly stopped and all became silent. Everyone on the Nirvana and the planet's landing party eagerly listened to their communicators. Finally, Jura's voice was heard.
Jura: Whoa... so... the rumors about men were true.
Slade: That's not funny! Now give me back my pants!
Two of the bridge officers looked at each other in confusion.
"What do you suppose she meant by that?"
"Maybe it's about that...?"
"It is." Magno said with a bit of a smirk and a chuckle.
Both girls blushed as they realized what Jura must have seen.
Jura: I... er, ah... never... ah, believed that men did have... ah... wow... it's...
Slade: Well, we have them! So stop gawking and give me back my pants!
Jura: I mean, I've heard the stories, but...
Slade: Give me back my pants!
Jura: Is that real? I mean...it's so... b-
Slade: WILL YOU JUST GIVE ME BACK MY PANTS?!
Jura: Oh sorry! Here you go.
(We now hear the sound of pants being quickly put back on.)
Slade: I can't believe you did that!
Jura: I'm... sorry, but I really want your seed and... wait a minute!
(Jura snapped her fingers in realization)
Slade: What now?
Jura: That's it!
Slade: What?
Jura: It's there, isn't it?
Slade: Huh?
Jura: That's where a man's seed is! It's in your-
Slade: Hey! Let's not go there! We've got a job to do, so let's just forget about this!
Jura: I'm right, right? That's where a man's seed is!
Slade: I'm not talking to you!
Jura: Oh no you don't! Now you are going to show me just how can I get your seed from that...
Slade: I said no! And let's not talk about this any more!
At that point, the interior of the Tekkadread became flooded with holographic communiqués.
"I want to know how, too!"
"Slade is going to be my Ohma, Sugar!"
"I want Mr. Alien to kiss me!"
"Does Slade really have that...?"
"Do all men have that?"
"Let's see it!"
"So how do you get a man's seed?"
"Can I have your seed too, Mr. Alien?"
"Get in line, Dita!"
At this point, Slade screamed to the heavens above.
"WILL YOU ALL JUST SHUT UP?!"
End of flashback...
That was quite possibly the most embarrassing situation he had ever been in. Since that time, the Tekkaman had been bombarded by countless questions from the crew about the ancient practices of procreation and more than a FEW requests to strip. The only time he was ever naked in public was when he transformed, but the process was usually too bright for anyone to see his privates. Slade grumbled as he decided that a good hot soak would be better to ease his stress. He then changed his direction and headed for the bathing area. He knew that it was empty at this time of the day so he was certain that no one was going to bother him for an hour.
A few minutes later...
Little did Slade know that several girls had decided to take an impromptu bath, and were also heading towards the same place. As they headed toward the bathing area, they conversed with each other. Each girl was carrying her personal bath items.
"Ah, I've been looking forward to a nice, long soak in the Jacuzzi all week!" Jura said as she led the group. "After all the constant fighting, it's good to be able to relax."
"You said it! I need a break from the Register." Ukyo agreed.
"Nothing eases the muscles after a long training session like a hot tub." Xian Pu added.
Meia, Dita, and Misty nodded as they followed the others to the changing stations, which were adjoined to the main bathing areas and stalls. In a few minutes, they all shed their clothes and laid them out in a nearby laundry hamper. As they wrapped themselves in towels, Jura caught sight of several articles of clothes that were definitely not feminine.
"Well now, what do we have here?" Jura's smiled as she picked up a certain jacket.
Dita gasped as she recognized it. "That's Mr. Alien's!"
"What are Slade's clothes doing here? Unless he's...?" Meia's question trailed off as she heard the sounds of splashing water in the next room where the large hot tubs and sauna were located.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh! That feels good."
The girls stiffened up as they heard the Tekkaman's voice. Ukyo, Xian Pu, Meia, Dita, and Misty all began blushing as they realized who was in there. As for Jura, her smile became devious as she started rubbing her hands together. With one quick motion of her right hand, the towel was flung off, leaving the blonde pilot in all her naked glory.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" Misty asked in alarm as Jura began heading toward the entrance to the bathing area.
"What's it look like?" Jura said with a glint in her eye. "This is an opportunity that I just CAN'T pass up!"
This caused the rest of the girls to be even more shocked.
"No!" Dita said as she ran up and got between Jura and the door. She spread her arms out wide and shook her head emphatically. "Mr. Alien is in there!"
"Exactly." Jura nodded. "With no clothes and this door being the only way in or out, there's nowhere for him to run. It looks like I'll be getting that seed sooner than I thought!"
"You can't! I won't let you!"
Misty nodded as she too stood in front of Jura, blocking her path. "For once I agree with her! We're not going to let an old lady like you get near Slade!"
"Who are you calling an old lady!?" Jura said in outrage. Her expression then softened as she tried a different tactic. "Now come on girls, aren't you the LEAST bit interested in seeing Slade in his birthday suit?"
The cheeks on both girls reddened as they suddenly brought up an image of a nude space warrior in their minds. The rest also began to feel embarrassed, yet curious. Sure they had seen Slade transform, but the process only allowed them to see an outline of his body as it was usually too bright to make out any details.
Jura went on as she addressed Dita. "Don't you WANT to know everything about 'Mr. Alien,' Dita?" She turned to Misty. "And Misty, since you're from that time in which men and women lived together, I'm certain you know what I SAW of Slade. And I must admit, he was quite... impressive."
Misty's cheeks took on a deeper tone of crimson as a series of very naughty thoughts entered her mind. She began twiddling her finger while bowing down her head in embarrassment. "You mean... Slade is really...?"
"Mmmmhmmm. I wasn't exactly certain what it was, but it was VERY interesting. And that's where a man's seed comes from, right?"
"Uh... yes." Misty replied in the barest of whispers.
"Ah, good! Then I shouldn't have any problems." The curvaceous blonde then began moving toward the door again.
"Hold on!" Misty came out of her embarrassment and spread her arms out, blocking Jura's path again. "You can't just go in there!"
"Oh? And why not?"
"Because Slade wouldn't be interested in an old bag like you!"
"Old bag?! I think you should take another look, skinny!" The blonde took a seductive pose, showing off her lush charms to their utmost, especially her breasts. Then she poked a finger at Misty's chest. "Maybe you should wait a few more years to fill out before you start calling anyone an old bag! That is, if you ever do fill out!"
The younger girl gritted her teeth at the insult. The fact that Jura had an extremely sexy body added more to the insult. Misty knew about how men were stimulated and Jura's assets would certainly get a (ahem) rise out of Slade. However, she wasn't going to give up on her Prince Charming.
"Hmpf! Having big breasts isn't everything! I'll bet all the blood that goes to those boobs leaves your brain with very little oxygen!"
"What did you say?!"
"If you didn't understand that, then I was right. Your chest is taking up all the smarts. I'm sure that Slade would prefer a girl with more up here," She tapped her right temple. "Then down there." She then poked at Jura's bosom.
"Why you little brat!"
"And even if you did go in there, you still don't know WHAT to do with Slade to get pregnant!"
"Oh, I believe I can get Slade to show me. I was close the last time!"
"Hah! Close doesn't count!"
"Well I was a LOT closer than you!"
The two then began getting into a heated argument as the others watched. This was the most unprecedented event in the history of Mejele. Two women were actually fighting... over a man. What was even more surprising was the fact that they too were thinking about going into the bath area and getting Slade's seed. Even Meia couldn't understand why she was feeling so... warm and... wet at the thought of encountering a nude Slade.
It was at that moment that she noticed that someone was inching her way toward the door.
"Dita! Where are you going?"
The redhead stiffened a bit as she turned to face her squadron leader. "Ah... I was just thinking that Mr. Alien... might need some help in scrubbing his back and..."
"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Misty and Jura said together as they momentarily forgot each other and raced toward the entrance to the bathing area.
Both Xian Pu and Ukyo nodded. They had decided that this was their only chance. Five females pushed and shoved at each other, trying to get through the narrow opening. In the mass of writhing bodies, their towels came loose and fell to the floor. With one final push, they all tumbled naked into the bathing area... to find it completely deserted.
"Where's Mr. Alien?" Dita asked as she picked herself off the tiled floor and looked about.
The other girls got to their feet and surveyed the huge bath area. However, there was no sign of the Tekkaman, naked or otherwise.
"Oh no! We missed him!" Jura pouted as she angrily turned to Misty. "This is all your fault! If I had gotten in here sooner, then I would have been a fahma nine months from now!"
"Don't blame me! He wouldn't have wanted an empty-headed bimbo anyway!" Misty retorted.
The two resumed their argument while the other girls conversed.
"How do you suppose he got out?" Ukyo asked.
"He couldn't have gotten past us. There's only one exit." The Amazon Vanguard pilot pointed with a thumb at the door they had come through.
"Maybe he used a secret alien power?" Dita suggested.
"Don't be ridiculous, Dita." Meia said.
"Well... how much do we really know about Mr. Alien?" Dita insisted. "I mean, he may have powers that we haven't seen yet. Maybe he can make himself invisible?"
Meia began reconsidering Dita's suggestion. She had a point. Slade was a man of many talents. What she didn't know was that invisibility was not one of them. The subject of the discussion was actually closer than anyone had thought.
Slade winced as he clung naked to the very high ceiling of the Nirvana's communal bath. When he had heard voices from the changing station, he knew that he was in trouble, especially when he heard Jura's voice. That Dread pilot was bound and determined to get Slade's most 'precious' bodily fluid and she wasn't at all shy about being naked.
The Tekkaman gritted his teeth as he found out that he didn't have a good grip on the ceiling. His hands and feet were still wet and he was starting to slip.
Don't look down! Don't look down! Don't look down! Don't look down! However, when he heard some splashing noises, he looked down.
ACK! Slade squirmed uncomfortably. The girls had decided to start bathing and Slade saw... everything!
Jura's figure had silky smooth skin and her long, blonde hair spread out like a blanket of gold. The strands flowed like ribbons of satin as they draped over her shoulders and her large, round... (argh!) He quickly shook his head and turned his gaze elsewhere, which was where Xian Pu and Ukyo were bending over a couple of stalls, raising up their firm... (urk!)He tried to look elsewhere, but ended up seeing Meia as she was soaping up her legs, which led toward her... (aggghhh!) Finally he tried to look at a far corner, but saw Dita and Misty glaring at each other, while they were scrubbing their chests. Slade noted that though Misty was only fourteen, her chest was starting to show signs of... (Quit it!), which contrasted with Dita's well-formed... (I said quit it!)
Slade could feel a lot of pressure building up in several areas of his body as he tried to regain control of himself. However, that was when he felt a nosebleed coming on.
I can't let them see me now...
That was when Slade's hold on the ceiling slipped and gravity took over.
Meanwhile on Earth...
"So, how is the process going?" One of the Earth leaders asked as he and the rest of the council stood in a laboratory. In front of them were three cylinders in which certain individuals were gestating.
The technician nodded as he replied. "The maturation process is nearing completion, Masters. We expect them to be ready within three or four days."
"Excellent. We expect these three to exceed that failure Saber."
Outside of the communal bath of the Nirvana...
Crewmembers who were passing by suddenly stopped when they heard a huge splash from the bathing area. Then they heard more splashing and a flurry of activity along with voices.
"EEEK!"
"AH HAH! SO THAT'S WHERE YOU WERE HIDING!"
"MR. ALIEN!"
"SLADE!"
"COMMANDER!"
"STAY AWAY FROM HIM YOU OLD BAG!"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING AN OLD BAG?! NOW THEN SLADE, I WANT-"
"OH NO YOU DON'T!"
"HEY! WATCH IT!"
"WOW! IT REALLY IS TRUE ABOUT MR. ALIEN!"
"WELL DUH! OF COURSE IT IS! WHOA, IT'S SO-"
"ER... IS THAT...?"
"YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE, SLADE! I WANT THAT SEED!"
"LEAVE ME ALONE! TEKSETTER!"
The entire chamber rumbled as a huge explosion rocked it. A minute later, the shaking stopped as the door to the bath opened up. Out stepped a seven-foot-tall armored figure. Draped over one arm were his human clothes as the Tekkaman angrily stomped down the hallway. The people in the area quickly made a wide berth to allow the irritated cosmic warrior through.
When Slade turned the corner and was gone from sight, several girls decided to look into the bathing area. There, sprawled out on the floor of the now ruined bath area, were six naked females with glazed looks on their faces.
Jura let off a quiet moan.
"I was SO close!"
From that point on, Slade took showers in his own quarters. Most of the times they were COLD showers. (3)
Of course, the fires had already been lit.
A few days later...
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!"
The bridge crew became startled as Slade came stomping in. His hair was still damp and it looked as if he had hurriedly put on his clothes after coming out of the shower.
"D-Boy, what's wrong?" Magno asked.
The Tekkaman held up his right hand. Clutched in his fist was a mass of mangled circuit boards, wires, and what appeared to be a lens. "You mind telling me why the showers have hidden surveillance cameras in them?!"
"They don't." Buzom replied. "Why would we have cameras in the showers?"
Slade's temper rose by several degrees. "Then do you mind explaining why MY shower has a camera in it?!" He smashed the remnants of the device on the floor of the bridge.
At that moment, the two other men of the Nirvana also entered. Bart was panicky while Duero was looking very... perturbed.
"Captain! We have spies on this ship!" Bart cried out.
This made Buzom a bit nervous, but she quickly recovered. "What are you saying? How could there be spies on the Nirvana? We're in the middle of uncharted space!"
"I found a hidden surveillance device in my quarters near the toilet! What else could it be but spies from the Earth?"
The doctor shook his head while pinching the bridge of his nose. In a calm, yet somewhat restrained tone, he addressed the captain. "Please excuse my comrade's behavior at this moment. The possibility of spies on this vessel is slim to none, and I severely doubt that the Earth would be interested in the process of Bart's... er, bowel movements."
"HEY!"
"My apologies, Bart." He addressed the captain again. "However, I cannot blame him for being in such distress. I have also found some questionable devices hidden within my own chambers, particularly the bathroom. Since we can rule out the possibility of spies, I can only surmise that one or more of the crew had placed those devices. I had assumed, that as part of this crew, we were entitled to our right to privacy."
Magno and Buzom both had really BIG sweatdrops as they had a hunch as to the culprits' identities.
Sick Bay...
"I didn't want to do it, but Jura and the others made me!" Parfet protested as Duero had gotten the truth out of the engineer during a routine examination. "Really, you've got to believe me!"
The doctor said nothing for a long time as he continued checking the brown-haired girl's vital signs. When he was through, he looked up from the monitors, sighed, then nodded. "I believe you, Parfet. Actually, I really can't blame any of you." He cocked his head a bit and shrugged. "If the situation were reversed, then I might have done the same thing."
"R-R-Really?"
"Yes, well not quite in the same fashion, but still I would have been curious as well. Admit it. You wanted to know about my gender as much as Jura did when she asked you to bug our rooms, correct?"
Parfet swallowed hard as was about to deny it. However, when she looked into his eye (the one that wasn't hidden by hair), she found that she couldn't tell any untruths to him. With her head bowed down, she gave him the barest of nods.
Duero gave her a small smile. "I thought as much. When Slade told me about the process of natural procreation between men and women, I started looking into all of the ancient files and texts that I could find in the old section of the Ikazuchi. I started making some connections between the physical differences between men and women."
The bespectacled female swallowed hard as she remembered what Jura had told her about Slade in the raw. "Y-Y-You... mean you've got that... thing between..."
"Quite." The physician replied as he finished the examination.
"Then... you know how men and women... made kids?"
"Only in the general sense. Slade didn't go into the exact... mechanics, and those books I've read do not give much detail either. I've complied all the data from the old files, plus everything that I've learned about female anatomy."
"Female... anatomy?" Parfet blushed a bit.
"I'm a doctor on board a vessel with a nearly all-female crew, remember?" Duero reminded her. "In any case, until Slade tells me the entire story about ancient conception processes, I can only make approximations and theories on how it was done. After what had happened over the last few days, I highly doubt that Slade wants to talk about it. In fact, it was nearly impossible to coax him to give me a sperm sample from his last physical."
"What's... sperm?"
"That's what the seed of a man was called in the old days. I use that sample for various DNA testing and such. I've got it safely stored away. There's not much left and I intend to use the last of it for some experiments I'm conducting. After what happened, I doubt I could convince Slade to give me any more."
"Y-Y-Y-You mean... you've GOT Slade's seed? Do you realize what Jura and the others would do if they found out?"
"Yes, I can imagine the consequences. So I trust you will keep this information to yourself, all right? I've already broken my oath of patient confidentiality by telling you this, but out of all the people aboard this ship, you are the one person in which I have complete faith."
Parfet's cheeks turned pink with embarrassment at the praise and she felt her heart beating faster.
Jura's quarters...
Jura smiled as she turned off the listening device. Unknown to both Parfet and Duero, she had secretly planted a bug in the Sick Bay, in hopes of learning more about the old ways of procreation and of Slade. Now a grand opportunity had presented itself.
Now the question was, how could she get a hold of it? This would require a lot of thought.
What Jura didn't know that while she was listening in on Duero, so were a few others. Since the blonde pilot wasn't as technically proficient with devices as Parfet, she did not know that in connecting the bug with the Sick Bay to her own chambers, she had also routed the device with the main communications system. The conversation between the engineer and the healer was transmitted to any comlink that was open at the time.
The Vanguard Hangar...
Huh? What's this? Xian Pu wondered as she read what was appearing on her Vanguard's main viewscreen.
The Register...
Ukyo was just sending out a routine order when a certain bit of information flashed on her console.
The Dread Hangar...
Meia and Dita were both putting their Dreads through a systems check when they both saw the message. The two girls began blushing as they read it.
Misty's quarters...
I'll be damned if I'm going to let that bimbo beat me!
Here we go again...
Earth...
"Masters... they have been completed."
The leaders of the Earth nodded as they watched their latest weapons against the Nirvana and that accursed Tekkaman Slade, step out of the maturation chambers.
The head of the Earth Council addressed the newcomers. "You three shall succeed where Saber had failed! We shall give you some time to adapt to your new forms and organs, then you shall destroy the Tekkaman Slade, once and for all! I dub thee... Lance... Axe... and Rapier!"
To be continued...
Preview...
Dita: "Guess what? Mr. Alien isn't the only good TekkaMan out there! We've encountered another Mr. Alien like ours during a pit stop at Delta 6."
Slade: "His name is Ghaleon Viperson.. He, like me, also underwent the TekkaMan power process, but was incomplete. Despite that, he was able to escape the mind-parasite of the Radam. Whoa! Where'd he go? How come I'm not able to do that when I'm transformed?"
Jura: "You're still elegant just the same, Slade. (heart)"
Slade: "Thanks. Also, we've had another surprise and unwanted encounter with a certain traitor. Hmph…. Rabat … you're still around ratting the Human Race out as usual? Not surprisingly, the Mission Station gets attacked by the Harvesters. Fortunately, things're easier with Ghaleon fighting as TekkaMan Phantom. Next time, on TekkaDread Remastered: 'Enter the Phantom'. Rabat , it's time I live up to the promise I made to you long ago…"
Author's Notes
I expect that my readers got a good chuckle out of this as we head into chapter 4. With this kind of situation, it was only a matter of time before the subject of S-E-X came up and how Slade would have to 'educate' the Nirvana's crew about it. Unlike the original Vanread the Second Stage, Jura is not going to give up on Slade as easily as she did with Hibiki. It's even more fun when there are other girls out to get him as well.
Anyway, chapter four will introduce a band-new character, courtesy of one of my readers who had given me permission to use his idea. See you then!
(1) I decided to forego the third chapter of the original Vandread the Second Stage as I did promise that Tekkadread would diverge from now on. In any case, I don't want to rehash what was already shown in the original.
(2) Hey, he's been traveling alone for a VERY long time, you know. He's not made of stone.
(3) Naturally.
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