Disclaimer: I do not own Vandread. I did make Kagen and I am ready to cooperate with anyone if they want to put him into another story.

Author's note: 'fundoshi' A cloth that acts like underwear and covers the genitals.

In Meia's room

Meia thinks, 'Why can't I stop thinking about him? Why! I need to get away from him for a while. Maybe I can relax in my Dread.' Meia walks out her door.

In the Hangar bay

Meia walks into the Hangar. Meia sees Kagen, she thinks, 'Maybe I can sneak around him.' Kagen says,

"I know you are there, Meia. You don't have to sneak around me to get to your Dread. I was done here anyway." Kagen packs up his tools and leaves the hangar bay.

Meia thinks, 'That was too easy. Oh, well.' She walks over to her Dread and boots it up. She calls the Captain saying,

"I'm going on patrol." The Captain says, "Ok. Go right ahead." Meia launches and moves ahead of the Nirvana. She thinks,

'Why am I doing this? Do I…No! That is impossible! I care nothing for him. Ahhh! I need to stop thinking about him!' A beep sounds from her console. She sees an enemy on her radar and thinks,

'An enemy. That will take my mind off him! Should I call the Nirvana? No! It is just one, I can take it alone.'

She boosts towards it firing. It dodges her attacks and gets behind her. She tries to shake it but can't. Kagen sees this on the radar and immediately launches at over full speed. The enemy fires and hits Meia's wing and engine. She thinks,

'I knew better than to attack alone. I was distracted.' Kagen flies in between Meia and the enemy. The enemy tries to fire at Meia's disabled Dread, but Kagen throws his arm back and his shield slides onto his left arm he quickly blocks the incoming fire. Meia thinks,

'Why is he protecting me? He has no barrier! I do have a barrier. Why is he doing this?' Kagen takes hit after hit after hit after hit before Gascoigne gets there with the Delivery ship. Kagen's Vanguard is unrecognizable from the dents and his shield has disintegrated. Kagen thinks,

'No one will ever hurt her! Not while I'm around!' Meia thinks,

'How can he still move? Surely his Vanguard should've stopped functioning by now.' Meia then passes out as her blood loss catches up with her. Gascoigne picks up her Dread and Kagen's Vanguard and retreats back to the Nirvana.

Inside the Nirvana

Duero is rushing Meia to the infirmary. Duero says,

"External head wounds. Ruptured spleen. Around five bone fractures."

Hibiki says, "You idiot! You were too rash!"

Meia looks around half-conscious and sees Kagen and Hibiki and Dita around her saying something she can't hear. Then her life starts to flash before her eyes. Images of her parents, the way they died and certain other images flash before her.

Duero shouts, "Clear the treatment bed!" as they enter the infirmary. Paiway hears and turns knocking Meia's ornament off the bed as she moves out of the way. Kagen bend over and picks it up from where it fell as Duero and Paiway start to treat Meia's injuries.

(Kagen's injuries were minor and were treated while still in the Reg pod on the way back) Kagen wipes it off and places it somewhere safe. Meia thinks, 'Mo…ther…' Kagen says to Hibiki and Dita,

"You two get outside and fight for her, I'll stay with her. Anyway my Vanguard is totaled for today." Hibiki and Dita nod and leave for the hangar.

Outside in space

The dragonfly shaped enemy is hitting the Nirvana's shields and Dreads. Jura says,

"A-team engage formation Alpha-One! B-team…umm…" She stops to think and the enemy flies at her formation firing. The Dreads dodge and almost hit each other. Barnette says,

"Hold yourself together Jura! Formations are all over the place!" Jura says, "I know! I know…but…" She then gets hit and so does the Nirvana's shield.

Belvedere says, "First rear shield lost!"

Amarone says, "The attack is concentrated on the lower hull!"

"C-team! Return to formation!"

"Where is everybody?"

"Who the hell's leading?"

"We need some help here!"

BC says, "To think they would have a fighter organization system."

In the Reg centre

"Hello?"

"I meant more!"

Gascoigne walks in and says, "Stop panicking. Confused or calmed down, the results are the same. Here!"

All the members say, "Smile! Smile!"

Gascoigne says, "Yes. Very good."

The enemy attacks the Nirvana again. Bart says, "Yaaa! Go away! Go away!"

"Main enemy force has split into two."

Belvedere says, "Three more dreads have been destroyed."

"The defense line won't hold…"

"We can't get to Gasco-san's delivery!"

"Delivery failed!"

"I can't get in!"

"Why don't the ships have better shields?"

Magno says, "Meia…"

In the infirmary

Duero is typing at a computer. Duero says,

"Pai, suppress the decrease in oxygen saturation. Paiway immediately responds and does it. Duero says,

"Stabilizing the heart and lung functions is the top priority." Meia looks around and sees Duero, Paiway, and Kagen. Then she goes into another flashback. Meia's Fahma says,

"That's a present from Oma." Meia's Oma says,

"You are a very talented child." Meia's Fahma says,

"Ah! How messy! You'll be an Oma." Meia thinks,

'Somewhere in my mind, I had been scorning. My weak mother. I thought that I was already grown-up enough. The kind of mother that I thought I could protect by myself.' A memory of an explosion shows. Meia thinks,

'However, I realized in the final moments, that in fact, I was the one being protected.' A tear escapes her eye as she relives her sorrow. Paiway notices and says,

"I've never seen it before…" Duero says, "Hmm?" Paiway continues, "…Meia's tears."

Outside

The enemy is attacking three Dreads which dodge and the enemy hits the Nirvana again. Barnette says,

"We can't create an opening like this! Jura! Jura! Jura!" Jura says,

"Stop asking me!" Hibiki is dodging rocks trying to catch up with the enemy punching a few of them out of his way. He shouts as he dodges,

"Ora! Ora! Ora! ORA!" Then he almost gets hit by a Dread. He says,

"Shit! I guess I have no other choice. Oi! UFO woman! We're uniting!" Dita says,

"Huh? OK!" They unite and immediately lock on to the enemy as he readies to fire the enemy dodges a rock directly in its path. They barely have enough time to dodge and end up upside down. Hibiki says,

"Damn! I can't catch it!" Jura says,

"What is this? Is this all you've got after talking so big?" Hibiki sharply retorts,

"Shut up! You can't even lead properly!"

"EH? I don't have to take that kind of abuse from a man!"

"What!"

On the bridge

"We have too many delivery orders"

"We can't handle them all!"

"Report!"

"I don't have time to say anything right now!"

BC says, "I guess we have depended too much on Meia's leadership. We have neglected the training of the sub-leader."

Magno says, "She's the one who didn't do it. She avoided contact with people unless it was necessary. She couldn't depend on others. I thought something like this would happen from the day I picked her up."

(Flashback)

Some images of after the evacuation. Magno says, "After the accident, the public that had supported her turned their backs to her and became cold. At the same time, she realized…that she didn't have anything. She is blaming herself. Even though it's a common mistake that anybody could've made. She blamed it all on her being weak. She said quite often, 'I don't need anything important. Because when you have something important, everybody becomes weak. I want to be strong. Whatever happens I won't be hurt at all… I want strength…'"

(flashback in a flashback)

Meia's Oma says, "Everyone, our project will speed up the oft-delayed Mejeriu Home Planet Development Plan." A reporter says,

"Mejeiru's star has put the spotlight on the development of the home planet. Because of her participation in the project, we expect a lot of donations. Her scientist partner Sherry will of course be cooperating. And their cute daughter Meia-chan seems to be happy too." Sherry says to Meia,

"Put out a nice face." Meia's Oma says,

"You have enough talent to become a star." At this Meia turns to the crowd and smiles widely. Her picture is in magazines, on tv screens, and billboards.

(Change of scene)

"Isn't it OK already?" Meia asks Sherry. Sherry says,

"Well…Ask Oma." Meia says,

"Then, it's okay right?" With out waiting for an answer she opens it and music starts to play. Meia asks,

"What is this?" Meia's Oma says,

" 'It's a Wonderful World.' It's a song from our ancestor's planet, Earth."

(another scene)

Meia puts on her face ornament and looks at it turning her head side to side. Sherry says,

"It's a present from Oma. You had to take it from me…" Meia says,

"It's alright. It suits me better than it suits you."

(Meia's room)

Meia looks up from her magazine to see Sherry standing in her doorway.

(Yet another scene)

Meia looks in a mirror and then looks at the door where Sherry stands apologizing for her. (Explosion scene again)

Meia's Oma opens the door and looks outside. She says, "I'll be back soon!"

A newspaper flashes in reading, "AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED!"

Another newspaper reads, "SUSPICION OF SKIMPY CONSTRUCTION"

The same newswoman from before says,

"We have been deceived. The bribery between F Brashuritz Co, who provided the basic technology, Andre & Hank and co. that contracted the planet construction and the terra-forming committee, as well as the Senate, has been discovered. According to the support committee that met today, Andre & Han's all…"

Meia gets mad and punches a mirror. Blood drops down into the sink along with the glass.

(The evacuation)

"Ship 475 has docked. Please let children board first. Please don't panic."

"I beg you! Let these children board too!" Meia is trapped in a crowd trying to get back to her mother. She shouts,

"Mother! Let's go together! MOTHER!" Sherry shakes her head no. Meia shouts,

"No! I'll stay here too then! Mother!" The ship takes off as the whole settlement explodes in a huge fireball.

(A green field)

Sherry says, "I want… to turn this land green. Everyone could be peaceful, take a nap, or read a book. To make a place where everyone feels happiness from their heart."

(double flashback ends)

The Dread teams have retreated and the Nirvana's shields are getting pummeled. Jura is sitting against the wall. She says,

"I… can't do it. I can't do what Meia does." Gascoigne says,

"Stop being conceited. No one's expecting you to replace Meia. So, it's okay to just relax and depend on others. Look around you. You are Jura, not Meia. You don't have to push yourself to do something you can't do. It's okay to let them know what you can and can't do. After that, everyone will help you help."

Jura nods in agreement. Dita and Hibiki are still in Vandread Dita protecting the infirmary by blocking all the fire concentrated there. Hibiki says,

"Shit! This is so frustrating!" Dita asks Hibiki,

"Will Meia die…?" Hibiki looks up at this and pays more attention. Dita continues,

"If that happens…"

"My Grandpa used to say very often… 'Even if you think and worry about it, answers won't always come out. What is important is whether you can laugh with a sigh of relief in the end.' Leave her to Duero. All we can do now is protect the ship that has the treatment room. Isn't that right?"

Dita turns and faces him saying, "Yeah! Thanks Mr. Alien!"

"Sh…She'll probably say that too."

"Everybody listen up! We're going to change the frequency of the barrier and the beam. Match the pattern that has been sent out to you. If we do that, we can prevent attacking each other." Hibiki says,

"I see. That's it!"

In the Infirmary

Kagen asks, "How is she?"

Duero says, "The problem is that the Pexis piece that entered her body through her wound is causing an independent opposing reaction. It is slowly eroding Meia's brain cells away. The question is, how long would her mind hold in her chaotic central memory?" Kagen asks,

"Did you say Pexis piece?" Duero says,

"Yes I did. Why?" Kagen says,

"I want to try something." Kagen walks over and places his hand near the wound. He suddenly is pulled into her mind. He thinks,

'That was unexpected.' Suddenly a flashback stirs up.

(Flashback)

Images of items from Meia's past that are tagged are being shown. Sherry's Voice says,

"You should not hate Oma. Oma is a great person. She is clumsy… She is ridiculously simpleminded…but she is an honest person without any falsity. If she sees a person in trouble, she won't just leave her alone. And she always does that…However, I loved that part of Oma. That's how you were born. Someday, you'll understand. When you find someone precious to you." Kagen thinks,

'What have I got myself into this time? I don't belong here. I shouldn't be watching this. I'd close my eyes but I can't.' Meia says,

"I don't need that. If by her own fault, she hurts other people like this…"

"Meia, it is a great thing to love someone. Because you have someone precious, you can become strong."

"That's wrong! Because of that, you become weak! Don't you get it? Who's fault is it that we're hurting like this!" Sherry flinches at this comment and says,

"I am sorry… for dragging you into this." Meia thinks,

'I wasn't planning on saying something like that. I wanted to apologize someday, But… I can't anymore. Whatever I say, it'll never reach…'

Duero attaches probes to Kagen because he is now in a trance-like state. Suddenly the consoles for both of them start going off. On screen it flashes, "Warning". Duero shouts,

"Hang on! You must live! Both of you!" Meia thinks, 'No more…' Kagen thinks,

'Oh shit, as her life fades so does mine! Then again could I really live without her anyway? Where did that thought come from? Oh well, I came to save her and if I can't I'll die trying!'

Outside

The enemy is still attacking and it starts to break through the shield.

Belvedere says, "Port side damaged! Ship is tilting to one side!"

"Area 6 to 9 damaged! Power is down!"

"Pexis level is…"

"Shield power has dropped again!"

"Dread team support ready yet?"

Hibiki says, "There's no use in struggling like that! I have an idea."

Magno asks, "You… you want to die?"

Hibiki says, "Heh, stop joking. I have no plans to commit suicide with a woman. And besides, I haven't tasted that 'Pekastore' yet."

Magno smiles and says, "If this goes well, I'll make you eat until you die."

Hibiki says, "Sure! If I'm going die anyway, I'd rather die that way."

(Flashback)

"Hey look, it's that girl."

"She's the one who survived the accident."

"Ah, the one who pretended to be a celebrity."

Meia returns to her room, changes, and falls onto her bed. She asks herself,

"Why? Why am I the only one who has to go though all this?" She gets mad and swipes everything off her nightstand onto the floor. The music box opens as it hits the ground. She looks at the stuff she just threw on the floor. She says,

"I… I don't want to live any more. Somebody… just…" Kagen thinks,

'It looks like I've failed. Why am I still here? Oh, ok she hasn't died yet. I thought that was her losing the will to live. It is hard to tell between the memories and her thoughts in here.' Magno says,

"You've been really spoiled by your family. You're depending on someone else for your own life and death?" Kagen thinks,

'How is she in here? I never had a real family. It must be one of Meia's memories again.' Magno continues,

"If you plan to die anyway, I'll prepare the place for you." She throws something to Meia. Meia opens her hand to see a laser ring. Kagen thinks,

'Hey that is the ring she almost blasted me with when we first met. So she still uses that same ring.' The image shifts to a scene where the ring is on her finger. Magno says,

"From then on, she studied the job to death. She was talented from the start too."

(Flashback ends)

Magno says, "Soon she learned how to pilot the Dread. Meia! Don't die! You haven't won your stake yet!"

Outside

Hibiki says, "Well, I'm beginning to get hungry. Let's take them out with one shot! Everyone tighten your 'fundoshi' strings and let's go!"

Dita asks, "What's that?"

The enemy is preparing for another big shot. They shoot it and hit the Nirvana's shields. Bart feels it and says, "Ouch! Not yet!"

Hibiki says, "Not yet…"

The enemy closes in on the Nirvana. Hibiki says, "A little bit more!"

Belvedere says, "Shields have reduced to level 3."

Amarone says, "Distance 1,200! Distance 900!"

Hibiki says, "YOSSHHHAAAA!" Suddenly all the Dreads and the Vandread boost to their positions.

Suddenly Meia enters the limbo between death and life. Meia's Oma says, "Meia, be strong."

(Another scene) Sherry says, "Forgive Oma."

(Another scene) Meia says, "No! I'll stay too then!"

(Another scene) Magno says, "Why are you closing your mind off so much?"

(Another scene) Meia says, "I don't need anything precious…"

(Another scene) Bart says, "You need to take it easy."

(Another scene) Hibiki says, "Are you stupid?"

(Another scene) Kagen says, "Are you ok? You don't need to push your self so hard. Take it easy. Breath for a second."

(Another scene) Kagen says, "Please Meia. You don't need to force yourself so hard."

(Another scene) Kagen says, "You don't need to push yourself."

(Another scene) Kagen says, "You will not die in front of me!"

Meia asks, "Why are you…?"

Outside

Vandread Dita is still moving forward. Suddenly it crosses its arms to block some beams.

In Meia's mind

She says, "At last… I can rest…"

In the infirmary

Kagen screams, "Meia!"

Both Kagen's and Meia's heart monitors go flat-line.

Outside

Vandread Dita is still blocking the beams.

Dita says, "I can't hold on any more!"

Hibiki says, "Don't give up so easily! The fun is just starting! Let's go!"

Suddenly Vandread Dita throws back its arms and the two cannons attach to the arms. The arms cross in front of the Vandread again and charge up for a huge shot. It then releases it in two beams that ricochet off the Dreads' shields creating a huge crossfire destroying the whole enemy fleet.

BC says, "What the… to use our own fighters as reflectors…"

Magno says, "Pretty impressive for a man's shallow wit."

Inside Meia's mind

Kagen thinks, 'Great, just great. If I don't get back soon my body will die. Come on Meia! Choose life!'

Sherry says, "Mother is…a weak person. I don't have the courage to go out like Oma or you. So, that's why my dream was to create a place where everyone could rest safely when they returned. During happy times, sad times, lively times, and tired times… So that I can greet with a 'Welcome home!' at any time." Meia says,

"No! Mother wasn't weak! I was the one who was weak. I didn't have the courage to find out people's feelings. I was scared to expose myself… I was afraid of being disliked…" Sherry says,

"Meia, you are actually a kind child, with a strong heart. So it's okay to stop blaming yourself. There is nothing to be afraid of any more. Open your heart! A person can't live by herself. Find it. The place you should return to. The place where the people precious to you are waiting…" Meia says,

"Wait!" Meia thinks, 'Mother… wait… I still have something to say to you… something I want to say to you…"

Kagen says, "Meia!"

Dita says, "Meia!"

Kagen says, "Come back!"

Magno says, "Meia!"

Meia says, "Why? Leave me alone!"

Kagen thinks, 'If I don't intervene she'll die. I can't allow that!' Kagen reaches up and pulls her back to the land of the living. Meia thinks, 'I…I…'

Kagen snaps of his trance and moves away. He thinks, 'Why? Because I care too much. That is your answer. That is why I couldn't let you die.' He picks up the ornament and looks at it closely. Meia reaches up to find the ornament gone. She half-way panics. Kagen says,

"Don't worry. I picked it up before anyone stepped on it. I guess it's something very precious to you." Meia says,

"No… that's…that's my admonition." Kagen hands it to her and goes to get something to eat. He ends up sitting next to Hibiki congratulating him on his use of tactics. Kagen finds the song and broadcasts it throughout the entire ship. Then he falls asleep at the table. Meia hears the song and realizes who it was who had been there the whole time. Meia thinks,

'I should be mad at him for invading my mind, but for some reason I'm not mad at all. Hmm, then again I did kill him for a few seconds. I wonder how he is doing.' She gets dressed and walks into the Trapeza. She sees Barnette and Jura leaning against each other asleep. She also sees Dita, Hibiki and Kagen passed out at another table. She ignores the rest and walks over to Kagen. Magno says,

"Everyone did well." Meia looks at Magno and says,

"Captain." Magno says,

"But isn't it mysterious? He's totally different from you…this totally open idiot." She takes Hibiki jacket and puts it on him like a blanket. Meia thinks,

'Ok, she thinks I was looking at Hibiki.' Magno continues,

"Before anyone knew it, he became one of us. Could it be that you two are actually pretty similar to each other? The only difference being whether you let things out or not." Meia says,

"Captain." Magno asks,

"Isn't it about time you forgave yourself?" Meia realizes that Magno is right. She looks at Kagen and then out the window. She says,

"Yeah…"

I don't really have much to say anymore. 

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