Chapter 12: Planet Caravan

As the others leave to collect themselves for training B.C. inquires to Duelo and Parfait about their research.

" So I take it you figured out what causes the Vandread fusions then?" Duelo and Parfait look and each other and nod. " It was actually pretty obvious, we just weren't paying attention to the minor details." Duelo says in an impassive way.

B.C. nods and raises a brow, " So, then it was what exactly?" as he says this he makes a hand motion indicating that he'd like a definite answer, not vague comments or riddles. Parfait smiles and responds in a manner that B.C. would deem acceptable, " The Peksis is actually a sentient being. We figured this out after analyzing the information from the battle with the Harvesters. Since our Peksis was afraid of the red Peksis for the longest time, we realized that's not a normal cybernetic reaction. So, further research proved that the Peksis, much like Pyoro can actual sense and experience emotions and motives. So as long as our motives remain pure and our goals are the same, I do believe the Peksis will allow any of our pilots to fuse."

After that answer B.C. smiles and looks off through the large screen and says lowly, " Let's hope that's all that is necessary. Because I'd be willing to bet, this will be a fight of epic proportions. They know how we fight, and unless we can hit our marks, and run perfectly cohesive, we may be out matched." As Duelo and Parfait gaze at B.C. he realizes he said it too loud and blushes slightly in embarrassment.

" Never mind what I just said, just make sure everyone does their best. That's seemed to work thus far, so why change it?" He smirks and laughs hesitantly and Duelo nods, " We are all worried B.C., don't lose sleep, no one will think less of you for showing fear or doubt."

B.C. walks off towards the control panel to analyze the enemy ships coordinates and do a few more practice procedures for the way the Nirvana's weapons are used and any possible new battle formations. Duelo and Parfait then look at each other and walk out of the bridge area and off to their separate areas. Duelo walks towards the infirmary and Parfait goes off to the different sections of the ship that always need her mechanical expertise.

At this time the newly paired duos are off in the kitchen area. The men are sitting around talking with each other, while the women are preparing the breakfast for them, and having their own conversations.

" So Renz, you and Meia have gotten awfully comfortable together… I take it you're overjoyed with the fact that she's your partner, right?" Alexei asks in a teasingly curious way.

" Alexei, now I can say the same thing about you and Barnette. I mean you two haven't given each other a minute of space since you've gotten on the ship." Alexei smirks and nods but retorts, " Hey, at least she didn't come into my bed and get all cozy with me."

Renz narrows his eyes and looks at Alexei, " Ya, instead of having human contact you decided to cook her breakfast… that's better how? Last I checked we were here for cohabitation, not culinary improvement."

Before Alexei can respond Jukkai chimes in, " Renz has a point, what better way to see if cohabitation will work, then to actually sleep in the same bed as a woman. I mean we all expect it of Dita and Hibiki cause they've known each other for a long time. So I personally say Renz is doing a great justice for Taraak by putting himself on the line like that, just to further the experiment."

Alexei shrugs and sighs a bit, " Well you're the only one that thinks the situation was strictly for cohabitation reasons Jukkai. The rest of us are willing to believe Renz and Meia have designs on one another and would like nothing more then to engage in the baby making ritual." Jukkai nods and looks at Renz, " So then Renz, which one is it?"

Renz rests his elbows on the table and places his head on his hands and sort of shrugs, " I don't know, I went to my room and found her sleeping in my bed. But the whole thing is, I like being around her, so I didn't care enough to kick her out and decided to take up residence next to her in the bed. I didn't mind the company and I'm pretty sure she didn't either. But I will admit, that I was reading those books Duelo gave me and a woman with Meia's curves and her kind of big hips is more likely to have an easier child birth and making the baby must be more fun too."

Hibiki just kind of soaks things in until he inquires about Renz's last comment, " So, is Dita alright to have kids?" Renz looks to Hibiki and smirks, " Ya all the women on the ship really aren't tiny, so they can all do it, just bigger hips help is all. So don't worry Hibiki, Dita can have your baby just fine." Renz grins as Hibiki's face turns bright red, " Hey! Who said I wanted to make a baby with Dita?"

The other men just shake their heads as Jukkai looks at Hibiki, " Man, it's obvious… you have no clue how shocked we all were when Parfait and Duelo ended up engaged in the baby making act before you and Dita." Alexei laughs a bit and pats Hibiki on the shoulder, " But don't worry man, Dita is very attractive… and if you don't want to make a baby with her, I wouldn't mind." Alexei smiles goofily as Hibiki just rolls his eyes and looks at the guys, " So it's really that obvious that I l-l-lo-love, Dita?"

All the men nod and Alexei smirks in a playful way, " Yes Hibiki, but I don't think that word starts with six Ls." They all laugh as Renz leans back in his chair a bit and looks towards the kitchen, " I wonder when they're going to be done with breakfast…"

At the same time the men were chatting the women are having their own gossip session. " So did you do anything Meia? Did he touch you? Did you touch him? Did you like it? Did he like it? What's he smell like?" Jura asks all these questions at an annoying and blistering pace wanting all the answers and information right at that very moment as Meia just kind of looks at her wide eyed and bothered.

" Well Jura… all we did was sleep, we kissed so that answers your next question also, neither of us complained… and… umm, he smelled, and well he smelled nice. I can't really put it into words. But I really liked it, it was sort of comforting." Barnette looks at Meia and inquires with a cute curiosity plastered across her face.

" Meia, was it odd sleeping with a man?" Meia shakes her head and looks over at Dita, " Did you ever think it was odd sleeping with Hibiki?" Dita's eyes widen and she blushes, " Well, not until yesterday…"

The other women look around at each other as their eyes all affix back onto Dita as Jura asks, " What happened yesterday?" Dita looks down and starts twiddling her thumbs and shuffling her feet around before she finally answered, " Well we were playing on our water bed, and my hand landed on the spot between his legs… and well he REALLY liked it. So I rubbed it a little… and he was all happy and begging me for more, so it seems that if you touch there, the guys will melt like butter and beg you to do it more."

The others just glance around as Meia inquires, " So, you think it'll work that way on all the guys?" Dita nods sharply and smiles, " I know so, cause I heard from Duelo that the male baby making body part is right there… so it must be really sensitive… as to insure a lot of baby making, or at least that's what I think."

Jura smiles and begins planning her course of action to get Renz to make a baby with her. " Dita, you know, you're the last one that I expected to be telling us how to get the men to want to make babies with us." Dita tilts her head and looks at Jura confused, " Why Jura? Don't you think I'm pretty enough for a guy to want to make a baby with me?"

Barnette answers for Jura in an attempt to keep things civil, " No Dita, Jura just means that you're always so carefree and innocent that no one thought you'd stumble across something like that." Barnette finishes her remark and looks at the oven. " Okay, my part of breakfast is done."

Dita checks hers and smiles, Meia and Jura both go to theirs and see that it's not burned so they all happily report the same and begin walking out to go have breakfast with the men.

So the breakfast is just like any other, a little idle talking, no inadvertent groping or anything, just a nice quite breakfast as everyone heads to the simulators to train with their new partners after they finish eating. Prior to the training though, Renz and Alexei quickly tweak the simulator to improve the AI and to force the simulated Vandread fusions to be the only means to win the battle.

From the point they began training all the way up to the day when they were to receive the next message from their enemy it was all the same. Wake up, eat, and spend the rest of the day training. The good news about all of this is that according to simulations they have well over an 80 percent chance to win this battle as long as nothing unexpected happens. Which taking their track record, means it's still going to be a very difficult fight.

So everyone slowly piles onto the bridge and awaits the transmission. The only people not there of course, are the pilots for the Dread and Vanguards. They were all told to sit in their machines and await the order to launch. This way even if the enemy does have some kind of quick reaction plan, the Nirvana and everyone aboard aren't taken fully by surprise.

So anyway, the screen slowly starts to go fuzzy as the transmission starts coming in and Ezra reports, " Captain, the ship is within 24 light years of us right now, and from the information I was able to gather before, their engines are quite impressive. So we'd need to make them retreat, cause I don't think we can out run them." Just then a transmission gets patched through from Mejere.

" Hey guys!" on the screen is the face of everyone's former pain in the ass, Misty. " We got B.C.'s message about your new problem up there. So just say the word and we'll lend as much support as necessary." B.C. looks at the screen perplexed, " When did you get on Mejere Misty?" She smiles and responds, " After you all left, Magno thought it would be best for me to go to Mejere and learn the customs of women nowadays because I already know about male and female cohabitation. Anyway, I don't want to keep you all. Good luck, later!" With that Misty's transmission dies and before anyone can formulate a response the enemy transmission comes through.

" Well Nirvana, have you reached a decision? Will you sacrifice yourselves to us or will you fight the noble, yet foolish fight against a force larger and more powerful then anything you know?" B.C. slowly looks over to Magno who just smirks and responds to the question in a rather callous manner, " Listen to me you flea bag. We aren't going to be subjected to being food for an inferior race of animalistic freaks of nature. So hit us with your best shot, and don't be surprised if we show you exactly the reason why the Harvesters were defeated. Come at us…" With that Magno cuts the transmission on a rather pissed off looking Hyena person almost foaming at the mouth.

As soon as the transmission ends Ezra quickly reports enemy activity, " Captain! Two dozen enemy fighters have just launched and are headed right at us, 20 light years and closing quickly." Hearing this Bart quickly jumps into the control area and smirks, " Come on guys! Let's show them who the real badasses are!"

To Be Continued…