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 Dita's room

Dita is sitting and sewing a pillow. She pricks herself and says,

"Ow…Ow!" Paiway asks,

"Hey, are you giving that to a guy?" Dita blushes and says nothing. Paiway says,

"Then give it to me!"

"No! I'm giving this to Mr. Alien!"

"Ribbit, Ribbit."

On the Bridge

"And it's really big!" Belvedere says while spreading her arms wide. Amarone is laughing and asks,

"And? What happened?"

Ezra is sleeping in her chair.

BC says,

"Sheesh…It's a different affair, not having enemy attacks."

Magno asks,

"Since when have you fallen into the ranks of the military?"

"But the morale of the crew…"

"Our business is piracy, right?"

"That is true, but…"

In the Hangar

Dita runs into the hangar and doesn't see Hibiki. She sees Kagen and asks,

"Where is Mr. Alien?"

"Last time I saw him he was over by his Vanguard. That was a few minutes ago."

"Thank you!"

She runs up to Hibiki's Vanguard and says,

"Look, look, look!" When there isn't an answer she says,

"Huh?" She checks behind the Vanguard and says,

"Mr. Alien?"

She gets up on the platform and asks,

"Aren't you here?"

She looks in the cockpit. She says,

"That's strange…I heard that he was here…" She leaves the Hangar.

Hibiki is in the roof of the cockpit. He says,

"Jeez…She's just annoying!" He then falls down into the cockpit.

Kagen meets Dita at the exit. She looks sad. Kagen says,

"Well if he isn't here then he could be in his room." Dita cheers up and runs off to Hibiki's room. Kagen just shakes his head and continues walking to the Reg centre.

"I still need more parts. I can't believe I damaged my Vanguard that much. I've only just finished remaking my shield. Now I have to replace all the outside armor and fix most of the systems. If I work all day I still won't be finished."

In Hibiki's room

Dita peeks under the sheet and says,

"Boo! Not here…" She checks in the toilet and says,

"Boo! Shoot." She looks at the room and starts to giggle. She suddenly pulls out a maid out fit and puts it on over her clothes. She says,

"All right!"
She starts by moving boxes. She says,

"Heave-ho." Then she dusts saying,

"Dust, dust…" She moves another box with another,

"Heave-ho." She dusts some more,

"Dust, dust...!" Then she sweeps,

"Sweep, sweep…Sweep, sweep…Wipe, wipe…Heave-ho…" Then she puts the sheet back on the cot. She then sighs and picks up the pillow and puts it on the cot. She pats it and says,

"There we go!"

Later in his room

Hibiki is coming back from working on his Vanguard. He opens the door to the men's quarters. He walks to his room and drops his toolbox with shock. He sees the decorations hanging from the roof and screams. He says,

"W-What the hell is this?" Dita sighs in her sleep causing Hibiki to look at her sleeping in his bed. He walks up to her and says,

"Damn you, wake up!"

Dita rubs her eye and looks at him. She smiles and sits up. She says,

"Welcome back!"

"Enough of that! What are you doing in someone else's room?" Dita looks surprised and then smiles and gets up spinning around saying,

"See? Look, look, look! It's all nice and neat, right?"

"Neat? How is this…"

"Oh, that's right!" She turns around picks up the pillow.

"Listen when others…"

"Here!" She shows it to him.

He looks at it and says,

"GET OUT!" Then he picks up her and her stuff and throws her out his door.

In the briefing room

Meia is busy working on Dread formations on a computer in there. Meia looks up to see Dita walk in the room. She says, "Dita."

"Oh…Meia…"

Later after Dita told Meia everything

Dita says,

"And then…he said I was in the way and to get out. I just wanted Mr. Alien to be happy…but I always make him mad."

"Dita…I can't put this into words well…And I don't intend to condone your curiosity, but…"

"What is it?"

"I have something against trying to enter someone's heart…when they're not ready for it."

"You're right…"

In the garden

Dita is throwing rocks into the river,

"Why? Why? Why! Why! More… I just want to know more about Mr. Alien…" She says falling to her knees. Paiway snaps a picture of her. She walks up to Dita and says,

"I took a shot with the aura camera that Parfet made for me. Dita, are you depressed right now?" Dita says,

"Can't you tell by just looking? It's just like when the bluebird that I used to own died…"

"A bluebird?" Dita nods.

"It was the first time I had a bluebird. So I was happy, and I pet it every day…but it started losing energy and died one day."

"Maybe that bird got tired because you kept messing with it."

"Is Mr. Alien…Is Mr. Alien tired, too?"

"Wait, um…"

"Is he tired when he's with me?"

"T-That reminds me…Hibiki did say that he gets tired when he's with Dita!

"It can't be…"

"Dita?"

"I see…So he does think that I get in his way…"

"N-No, I didn't say that it was that bad. Dita, it was a joke. You understand, right? Dita? Ribbit? Ribbit?"

On the Bridge

Meia comes up on a comm. screen and says,

"Captain! I want to solidify the Dread formations while we have the time."

Magno says,

"You and BC…Why can't you rest every so often?"

"I know it's much…but the day of the 'razing' is quickly approaching. I don't think we have the time to rest…"

"You're as hardheaded as ever."

In the briefing room

Hibiki walks in. Meia says,

"You're late." Hibiki grunts at this. Jura asks,

"Where's Dita?" Hibiki stops and says,

"Like I know! I'm not her babysitter!"

Jura says,

"Oh, my…" Gascoigne says,

"I'm sure it's some lover's quarrel." Hibiki says,

"Give me a break! Why would I…" Dita walks in and says,

"I'm sorry I'm late." She then walks to the other side of the room and sits down alone. Meia asks,

"Where is Kagen?" A comm. screen opens up behind her and Kagen says,

"My Vanguard is still not even near battle ready and it won't be for another week if I attend the meeting. So I'm sitting this one out." Meia turns around and says,

"No you are coming. You can still use a regular Vanguard can't you?" Kagen thinks about it and nods,

"Yeah I can. I'll meet you at the simulator; I'll have to recalibrate it." The comm. window closes. Meia says,

"All right, everyone's here. I will now explain the simulation we'll be doing today. First of all, the formation we'll get in when Dita combines…" Dita says,

"It's all right. It's all right. I won't be combining anymore. Everyone is shocked by this statement. Jura says,

"I get it. You've gotten tired of the alien now, haven't you?" Dita shakes her head no.

"Mr. Alien can't be happy with me. So from now on, you can combine with him, Jura." Jura is shocked and Hibiki looks from Dita to Jura and back and forth. Meia says,

"Dita! I can't acknowledge comments that mix public and private matters. This isn't a game!" Dita says, "I'm sorry."

A few minutes later

Barnette checks in, "Barnette here, I'm linking with the simulator."

Jura says, "I'm fine, too. Meia, can you hear me?"

Meia says, "Yeah, I hear you just fine. Dita, what's wrong? Dita?"

Dita says, "R-Right! I'm sorry!"

Hibiki sees an alien ornament hanging from his pilot stick, he goes to pull it off and then decides not to. A comm. window opens and Jura says,

"I'm all ready! I'm always ready to welcome you." Kagen cuts in and says,

"That was the sluttiest thing I've ever heard you say Jura." Jura says,

"What did you just say?" Meia says,

"No more personal comments! All units, check your assigned coordinates quickly."

"Hibiki here."

"Check!"

"Kagen here."

"Check!"

"Barnette here."

"OK!"

"Dita, what's wrong?"

"Right!" The simulation starts and everyone is doing what they are supposed to do, all except Dita. Meia sees this and says,

"Dita, your response time is dropping! Concentrate!"

"I'm sorry!"

Gascoigne says,

"That's no good at all. Her mind is somewhere else."

"Next!" Paiway says, "Pai-check!"

On the bridge

BC says, "There aren't any enemies in this area, right?"

"There is no doubt about it."

"Then can you do a long range scan right now?"

"Sure."

Ezra says,

"Don't worry so much. Why don't you relax a bit, Commander? Would you like some? I get so hungry lately, no matter how much I eat!" Pyoro says,

"You're eating too much, lady."

BC says,

"First she was sleeping and now it's a maternity-high…"

In the Trapeza

Jura walks up to Barnette and says,

"Hey, there really is something strange about them."

Hibiki is sitting at a table by himself and Dita is sitting with Meia. Barnette says,

"You're right…" Jura says,

"See? See? This is my chance, right?" Barnette is shocked and just says,

"I guess…" Jura starts to laugh to herself. Kagen walks up behind Barnette and says,

"You do know that she won't stop ignoring you as a partner." Barnette turns around to slap him but he has already taken his food and left for the Hangar bay. Hibiki is shoveling away his food when Duero comes to the table and sits down. He starts to sit in front of Hibiki and then he moves over to the next seat. Hibiki notices and says,

"What is it? You can sit across from me, you know." Duero says,

"Wasn't that assigned as Dita's seat?" Hibiki says,

"W-Who the hell decided that? Geez…"

"You should increase your calcium intake."

"You don't need to be so damn nosy!" Meia asks Dita,

"Aren't you going to eat?"

"I decided that I was going to change. Because the way I am now is bad for Mr. Alien."

In the men's quarters

Hibiki walks in to the main room and pyoro says,

"Hold it." Hibiki pushes him out of the way and says,

"Out of the way."

"What is it?"

"Hibiki, you're lonely!"

"What was that, you little…"

"You're lonely because Dita isn't coming to bug you."

"I-I'll break you up, you little…"

"It is better for you to be honest!"

"Let me tell you…I hate people like that! I'm feeling much better now that she is gone!" He then realizes that Dita is in the room and says,

"Uh…" Dita turns and runs out of the room. Pyoro says,

"Dita, wait!" Hibiki looks down at the pillow on the ground. As Dita runs she thinks,

'Hated me…He said he hated me…!' Ezra is in the kitchen eating. The door opens and Ezra stands up and asks,

"Dita?" Dita looks up and runs to Ezra saying, "Ezra! Ezra…" "Oh my…"

In Jura's room (At least that is what I think)

Bart says, "Well, now. What do you want to ask me about, ladies?"

Jura says, "You should become good friends with Dita. You know, Dita is getting in my way. So I want you to act as Dita's babysitter. Then I can take that boy."

Bart asks, "But what good does that do me?"

Jura says, "You're an idiot. If you get Dita on your side…you can be very popular on this ship! Your treatment and food will be exceptional then!"

Bart says, "Exceptional… huh?" Bart goes into a daydream.

(daydream)

Bart says, "Oh, is that so?" Bart is surrounded by women serving him like he is a king.

(daydream ends)

Bart starts to chuckle softly at his daydream. Bart says, "That's not bad…" Jura sits back and says, "I want to do it soon…" Goes into her own daydream.

(daydream)

She is standing on a golden version of her Dread with Hibiki. His arm is pointing forward. The Dread is gliding along with flowers trailing behind.

(End daydream)

Jura starts to giggle. Then both of them start to laugh out loud. Barnette sighs and says,

"I can't keep up with them…" Then all of a sudden she thinks, 'I wonder what Kagen is doing right now. Wait, where did that thought come from? He is a man, and that is why I shouldn't care.'

She shakes her head and then gets up and leaves Jura's room deep in thought.

In the Trapeza

It is deserted and the lights are off. Dita and Ezra are sitting on a table with sweets and cakes in between them. Ezra says,

"I've developed an appetite after getting over the morning sickness. No matter how much I eat, my stomach is empty!" Dita says,

"My heart is empty. Ezra, you're well off because you're happy." Ezra says,

"But Dita, you're on good terms with Hibiki, right?" Dita says,

"Mr. Alien said he hated me. That's why I'm going to become a new me!" Ezra says,

"You're a good enough girl just the way you are, Dita." Kagen says,

"I agree with Ezra. By the way was Hibiki talking to Pyoro when he said that?" Dita says,

"Yes, he was." Kagen says,

"Then he couldn't have meant it. He says things like that just to get that pest off his case. In other words he lies to Pyoro just to get him to shut up and leave him alone. But it usually doesn't work and Pyoro gets the truth from him or finds someone else to bug." Pyoro floats in. "Isn't that right, Pyoro? Hibiki says things he doesn't mean to you just to get you to go away and mind your own business." Pyoro says,

"I was provoking him so he would tell the truth and you walked in at the wrong time." Kagen says,

"Opps I interrupted your woman to woman talk. All I was going to do is get something to eat and then get back to work on my Vanguard. See ya later." Kagen leaves and Pyoro follows. Pyoro asks,

"What is with you and Meia?" Kagen asks,

"What are you talking about?" Kagen thinks, 'How does he know about that?' Pyoro says,

"Why can't you two relax for once?" Kagen thinks, 'Oh, ok it is about that.' Kagen says,

"Well I can't account for Meia not relaxing, but as you may recall my Vanguard needs a lot of repair. It needs bodywork, armor work, weapon work, new wiring, and well I need to get that all fixed if it is to ever launch again."

"Can't you just use a regular Vanguard?"

"Do you know how easy they would find it to predict my moves then? If I knew everything about it in a few weeks then I doubt that even with my skills I could last 3 weeks. Now go bug someone else, I have work to get back to." Finishes his plate and dumps it in a trash receptacle.

In the Reg centre

Gasco is cycling down the long list that Kagen sent her earlier, trying to figure out how he was going to pay for all of this. Hibiki walks in looking kind of sad. Gasco looks at him and smiles twirling the stick in her mouth. Hibiki looks up and starts to go back out the door. Gasco says holding up a deck of cards,

"Wait a minute! If you're bored, why not hang out with me?"

Hibiki turns around and says, "Oh, all right. Just for a little bit."

"What happened to your partner?"

"Nothing."

"Not that one. Dita."

"Why the hell is she my partner?"

"I thought you made a good combination…"

"You've got to be kidding…"

"It's your turn."

Hibiki puts 2 cards down and draws 2 more. He looks at his hand and says, "I'm in."

"You sure?"

"A man never has second thoughts." He puts down his hand and says, "3 of a kind!"

"Full house."

In Kagen's room

Kagen is sleeping. A nightmare hits.

(Nightmare start)

Kagen is fighting but there are no familiar Dreads around. The only familiar thing he sees is Hibiki's Vanguard. Time slows down as Kagen sees this big ship shoot a beam from its side straight at Hibiki. Kagen quickly reacts by placing his Vanguard in between Hibiki and the blast.

The scene skips forward.

Everything is black, a loud beeping is heard and Kagen opens his eyes. His eyes focus on his Vanguard's status window. He thinks,

'I am running low on oxygen!' He looks around to find a planet and sees none. He uses his scanners to no avail. He thinks,

'I'm going to die! Stop thinking that! Calm down! I need to activate my retrieval signal. Maybe they are near enough to save me.' He turns it on but there is an error message and his cockpit starts to leak oxygen.

'They won't reach me in time. At least not with my cockpit leaking.' Kagen then thinks,

'Wait, this is a dream. If it comes true I'll die. I need to make sure I study every detail of this dream and find out what is wrong.' He looks over it and sees the fatal flaw in his preparation.

'Good thing I caught it now. Now is the best time to install that system.' Notices the blue fringe on the dream horizon. 'Thanks Pexis.'

(Dream ends)

Kagen wakes up and says, "I need to order that system. I need to order it now!" He gets up and runs to the Reg centre.

In the garden balcony

Dita says, "Wow, how pretty!"

Parfet asks, "So do you like it?"

"It's amazing, Parfet! It looks like the stars are so close by! This way, I can see new UFOs and new aliens!" She saddens a bit as she remembers Hibiki.

"What's wrong?"

Dita looks distant for a minute and then says, "Nothing at all!"

"Did you get in a fight with him?"

In the Reg centre

Hibiki says, "How's this! Look at this! A man's distinction… A flush!"

"Four of a kind."

Back on the balcony

Dita says, "I'm basically holding back on Mr. Alien."

Parfet asks, "And why's that?"

"Mr. Alien said that he gets tired when he's with me. So that's why I've stopped being near him."

"I don't think he's that much of a wuss, though…"

In the Reg centre

Kagen walks as Hibiki loses another hand of poker. He shakes his head and sits at a terminal. He starts to check through the list he sent. He then starts to correct it.

Hibiki yells, "Damn it, another useless hand!"

"Don't be so hot-headed about it!" Says Gasco after she stops laughing.

"Shut up! Gimme another hand!"

On the balcony

"All I wanted to do was learn more about Mr. Alien. Hey, Parfet…Is that so wrong?"

"When I look at new mechas, I do want to know how they're built…You want to know more about what you like. Isn't that obvious?"

Dita blushes and says, "Like?"

"It's strange, I know. There's no way a girl would fall in love with a man." She looks at Dita and says,

"Oh my. You know, Dita… That scope wasn't the only thing I wanted to show you. I really wanted to show you something else. Wanna see it?"

Moments later

Parfet is typing on a keyboard and suddenly a screen pops up above it. I says,

"Virgo. This is the fateful year of the century. Be honest with your feelings and you will have great fortune."

Dita says, "This is…"

Parfet says, "I added astrology and compatibility fortunes to this thing."

"Compatibility?"

"Why don't you look up your compatibility with him? I already entered the data for all the crew…so just push the keys and enter his name."

"But…"

"It's all right! Now, hurry! Hurry!"

Dita sits down at the Keyboard and types in the first 2 letters.

In the reg centre

Hibiki is majorly stressed out by losing and it shows on his face. Gasco keeps a straight face and just shuffles the cards for another hand.

On the balcony

Dita swallows and types on the next 2 letters.

In the Reg centre

Hibiki is staring at his cards in half fury, half concentration.

On the balcony

Dita gasps and hesitates.

In the Reg centre

Hibiki says, "I'm in! How's this? Four of a kind!"

"Straight flush."

On the balcony

Dita closes her eyes and type in the last 2 letters, spelling Hibiki. The terminal blows up in her face. Parfet runs up to Dita and says,

"Are you all right, Dita? I'm sorry!" She stops shaking Dita and turns to the terminal to find out what happened to make it short circuit like that. She says,

"That's strange…Maybe there was too much data in there to handle…" Dita falls over. Parfet panics and says, "Dita, get a grip! Come on, open your eyes!"

In the Reg centre

Gasco slides all the chips toward her because she won. She says, "Well, thanks as always! Please try again!"

Hibiki says, "One more time! I'll win everything back with the next one!"

"Don't bother. The way you are today, you can't win no matter what."

"Are you running with the winnings? I don't like that…"

Kagen finally can't help himself and says,

"She isn't running, she is saving you from losing even more. Let me show you how it's done." He sits down across from Gasco and says in a serious tone,

"Deal. I put it all on this hand." Gasco deals and a few turns later, Kagen looks at Gasco and says,

"I'm in if you are." Gasco says,

"I'm in." She shows her hand and says, "Four of a kind." Kagen puts his cards down and says,

"Straight flush." He then pulls the chips towards himself. Gasco says,

"I guess I know how you're going to pay for those parts now." Kagen nods and gets up.

"I'll let the winnings slide if you get the parts I need to the Hangar." He then leaves and says while going out the door. "I need to get back to work."

Gasco says, "Listen up! This game is about reading each other's minds. That is why he won and you lost. There is no way someone who is showing everything can win."

"Hmph. I just don't feel comfortable for some reason."

"You don't feel comfortable for a different reason, right? Come again when you settle the score over there!"

"Shut up! You don't have to be so nosy!"

In the infirmary

Duero is scanning Dita. As he finished Parfet asks, "Well?"

He says, "I don't see any signs of illness. No external wounds either."

"Really? I'm so glad!" Duero turns to Dita and asks, "Have you ever collapsed like this before?"

"Never."

"Do you remember how you felt before you collapsed?"

Dita nods.

"What were you feeling then?"

"My heart…It hurt like it was being pinched around here. And it hurt…I don't know why at all. When I woke up, I was lying here…"

Parfet says, "I'm sorry that it turned out this way…"

Dita shakes her head and says, "It's all right! You were just trying to cheer me up!"

Duero's computer screen starts to flicker and he asks, "Again?"

Parfet asks, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing to worry about. This happens every so often. I'm trying to take some time to figure it out…but I'm not really used to it."

"Let me see!" She does some things at the control panel and says, "What is this? This circuit is cut off! Oh, here too… Why didn't you tell me sooner? This isn't a doctor's job!"

"I apologize. I didn't want to call you up after each battle."

"Don't be so reserved. It's my job! Next time, be sure to call me!"

"Understood." Dita smiles.

"Then I'll fix it right now. Help me out. First turn off that circuit over there…"

Dita gets up and Pyoro stops her and asks, "Are you all right?"

Dita just puts her finger to her lips and walks past.

Pyoro says, "Dita…"

In the men's quarters

Hibiki is lying on his cot thinking about today. Kagen has finally caught up with his work and is snoring softly in his room. Hibiki thinks back to the briefing room..

(flashback)

Dita shakes her head and says, "Mr. Alien isn't happy with me."

(scene changes to the Reg centre)

Gasco says, "You don't feel comfortable for a different reason, right?"

(End flashback)

Hibiki sits up as he notices Pyoro at his door. He asks, "You again? If you give me more crap, I'll make sure to tear you apart!"

Pyoro asks, "Hibiki, are you lonely?"

Hibiki says, "You…!"

"But… Dita is lonely, too." Pyoro leaves after saying this.

Hibiki says, "Wait a minute!" He runs into the Men's hallway. He looks around for Pyoro. He gets frustrated when he can't find him. He rubs his head vigorously and shouts, "Damn it! What the hell do you want me to do!"

Kagen mumbles in his sleep, "Shut it Hibiki." Then turns over.

On the balcony

Dita is staring at the stars thinking of Hibiki. She thinks,

'I believed for the longest time…that someday a UFO would appear… and an alien would take me to the land of happiness. I thought that my wish had been heard and granted. But it's different now… I don't care if my wish gets granted. I'd rather have Mr. Alien not hate me.'

Dita starts to talk to herself saying, "I wonder what's wrong with me? Dita… Mr. Alien…" She sees a familiar flash in the distance. She thinks, 'It couldn't be.' They get closer. 'It is!' "Huh? That's…! Those are bad aliens!"

In the men's quarters

The alarm goes off waking up Kagen and making him scramble out of bed and into the Hangar bay.

On the Bridge

Amarone says, "It's the enemy! Contact in 2 minutes!"

BC says, "Dread team, move out!"

Kagen climbs into his wrecked Vanguard and then wakes up completely. He thinks, 'Damn it! Wrong one!'

He gets out and get in his replacement Vanguard. He then looks down and notices that he is only wearing his fundoshi. 'I'm glad that this Vanguard can't combine. I wonder how Meia would react to me wearing only this?'

He shakes off that thought and launches with Meia and the others.

Meia asks, "Where's Jura? She's late."

Barnette says, "She can't be…"

Jura and Bart are still in Jura's room drinking. They hit their glasses together and say, "Cheers!"

Jura says, "So if I combine with him, and amazing new Dread will be created! I'm sure it'll be wonderful!"

Bart says, "And I'll be the captain of the Nirvana!" They then both laugh.

Outside

Meia looks back for Jura to launch and says, "I have no choice. Dita!"

"Yes?"

"Dita, I'm going with you and Hibiki!"

"But…"

Hibiki cuts her off by saying, "Hey! I'll tell you one thing right now! Um, well… I-In other words, um…"

"What?"

"Anyway, just don't do things that you don't usually don't do! Sheesh, you're getting me all out of whack, too… Got that?"

"Yeah!"

Kagen says, "Can we hurry this up? I need to get back to the ship."

Hibiki says, "All right, if that's been decided, let's get it on right!"

Then Dita and Hibiki combine into Vandread Dita. Hibiki says, "Let's go!"

Dita says, "Yahoo!"

Sorry that this one took a little longer in coming. I uploaded this a few minutes after I finished it so if there are errors I will fix it in time. I might just make this episode longer. Who knows? You won't unless you check again later.

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2. Any review is better than no review.

3. I don't like ROMs (Read Only Moron)s

So please don't be an Idiot and Not Review. I really don't care what you say as long as you say something. Anonymous reviews are fine. If you want to, you may email me. If you have any requests I'll be happy to listen to them.