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. Neo Strife is a character that I was asked to put in my story by a fan of my writing.

Author's note: For all you people that think Kagen is overpowered, this chapter explains it.

(dream)

Kagen wakes up and looks at his chronometer. He accesses the calendar function.

(in space)

Kagen is fighting an enemy flagship and it fires a yellow beam cannon and destroys his Vanguard's arms, legs, and boosters.

Kagen then watches in horror as the same beam fires again at Vandread Dita. Vandread Dita's left side is completely destroyed.

Kagen screams, "NO!" as he sees it starts to target Vandread Meia. He desperately tries to move to block the shot. But he has no means of propulsion. Vandread Meia is completely destroyed.

Kagen says, "No! This can't be happening!" The flagship then turns and fires the cannon again destroying the Nirvana and the remaining dreads. Kagen is the only one left. Then the ship turns to him and draws him inside. Kagen screams, "NOOO!"

(dream ends)

Kagen wakes up in a cold sweat. Kagen looks at his chronometer and sees the date. Kagen says, "So today is the day. I must be ready."

He opens a comm. window and calls Barnette. "Barnette, I'd like you to meet me in the north east part of the garden in 10 minutes."

Barnette says, "What! Why?"

Kagen closes the comm. window and gets dressed. He then runs to the garden.

In the garden

Kagen sits down against a tree and waits.

Barnette walks up to him and asks, "Ok, now will you tell me why you wanted to meet me here?"

Kagen stands up and says, "I just wanted to show you something just in case I… I… die."

Barnette says nothing at first. Then she says, "Well, what were you going to show me?"

Kagen gets closer to her and then says, "This…" He kisses her on the lips. He turns and leaves. Barnette is too shocked to move.

Barnette thinks, 'Why did he do that? Does he really feel that way about me? Then why did he walk away? Is he trying to mess with my head? He is going to pay!'

Barnette storms out of the garden.

In the Men's quarters

Kagen notices that Neo is awake. Kagen says, "Neo, if I die can I depend on you to protect everyone?"

Neo says, "You are too stubborn to die."

Kagen says, "Everyone dies Neo. It is a part of life. I need you to swear to protect them all. Please."

Neo says, "You sound like you are planning to die. But, I will still swear to protect them."

Kagen says, "Oh, and you do know that you can combine with the dreads, right?"

Neo asks, "I can?"

Kagen says, "Yes you can. And If I leave the Nirvana at anytime, stay here. I want you here to protect them."

Hibiki walks into the room. Kagen asks, "So Hibiki. Just try to stay alive. I know that you would defend them all with your life, but that is my job."

Hibiki asks, "What do you mean?"

Kagen says, "Sacrifice. If all else fails, I will synchronize myself completely with the Paksis and turn into energy. I will then strike at the enemy."

Hibiki asks, "You can do that?"

Kagen says, "Do what?"

Hibiki says, "Synchronize with the Paksis."

Kagen says, "I've done it a few times. The only reason I can think of that the energy color is different is because it is filtering through my yellow aura."

Hibiki says, "Oh, I get it. Blue and yellow mix to create green. So when you sliced through that door the Paksis helped?"

Kagen says, "Yeah."

"What about the time you jumped down 7 floors?"

Kagen says, "That was one floor at a time, Meia."

Everyone turns to look at Meia, who is standing in the doorway.

Meia says, "You didn't answer the question."

Kagen says, "That was all me. That is why I got hurt doing it. I still don't know how I did it. I thought for sure I would've collapsed on that last jump. I guess my own power was increased when the Paksis speed healed me after I got blasted by Dita's Dread."

Neo thinks, 'How did she sneak up on us? How much did she hear? Does she know that he plans on going kamikaze?'

Kagen says, "I've got to go."

Everyone in the room asks, "Where?"

Kagen says, "To take a shower. And then to engineering, to meditate and speak with the Paksis. I need to start preparing myself."

Meia asks, "Why are you taking a shower?"

Kagen says, "I'm sweaty and I need to relax."

Meia says, "I know you had another vision. Tell me about it."

Kagen says, "I'm not going to."

Meia says, "I did see some parts of it. I know we lose."

Kagen says, "No! Don't you ever say that! We will not lose. Not if I can help it."

Meia says, "I clearly saw us losing the battle."

Kagen says, "These visions are only possibilities. The future is what you make of it. This is precisely why I don't share my visions. Victory is always there. It may seem just out of reach at times, but you'll never reach it if you stop trying. You are only defeated if you stop trying to win. Where there is a will. There is a way. This is an old saying, in fact, very old saying. From before even the colonization period."

Kagen then continues walking toward the showers.

Meia thinks, 'I can't believe it. I've heard that phrase before! How could he know it?'

Kagen says, "I heard it from my dad, and he heard it from his mom."

Meia thinks, 'How could his dad have a mother? There are no women on Tarrak! Unless…" Meia walks quickly to the Bridge.

On the Bridge

Meia asks the Captain, "How far back do you remember?"

Magno says, "Why do you want to know?"

Meia whispers something in her ear.

Magno says, "Well, okay. Let me think for a second."

Meanwhile Bart comes in dressed up in a dress and makeup.

Everyone turns and looks at him.

Bart asks, "How is everyone?"

Everyone starts laughing, except for Meia and Magno.

Bart asks, "Why are you laughing? I just wanted to get closer to all of you." He suddenly jumps up and says, "Well, just look at me!"

Then his foot catches on a ledge and he falls and rolls over to Celtic's feet.

She jumps up and stomps on him a few times then runs away with the bear suit head on backwards. She hits the left and then the right sides of the door and finally makes it through.

Kagen has taken his shower and is returning to his room, because he forgot all his clothes except his loincloth. He is looking at a datapad. He turns a corner and runs into Celtic as she is running through the halls in a frantic frenzy. Then knock each other down and the bear suit head, which was loose in the first place, ends up on Kagen's head. Kagen gets up at the same time as Celtic. As Celtic stands up the bear suit slips off of her. (The zipper broke) Kagen takes the bear head off and sees Celtic.

Kagen says, "Wow. I mean I… I think this is yours." He hands her the bear head and turns around. He then asks, "By any chance do you see a datapad anywhere? That is why I wasn't paying attention to where I was going.

Celtic looks down to try and find the datapad and sees that her suit slipped off. She immediately pulls it back up and says, "You can turn around. I can't find it."

Kagen turns around and then she feels something hit her ankle inside the suit. She looks in her suit and sees the datapad resting against her ankle. She pulls an arm out of the suit to try and reach it, but then the suit slides down on that side. Kagen turns around as she bends over to retrieve it from inside her suit. Kagen looks down and notices that his loincloth is sticking out. He fixes it quickly.

She stands up and starts to ask if he could turn around, but sees that he is facing away from her again. She drops the suit and retrieves the datapad from the ankle of the suit. She then pulls the suit up again and says, "Here, I found it. It was inside my suit."

Kagen turns around and she hands him the datapad.

She thinks, 'I hope he didn't see too much. Although I guess he is wearing just as much as I am under this suit. Why is he dressed like that?'

They both part ways and go to their rooms.

Hibiki and Dita are on their way from the storage room to the kitchen. Hibiki is carrying three boxes and can barely balance them. Dita says, "I'll go on ahead."

Hibiki notices that a door is not completely closed. He peeks inside. Celtic is changing inside the room. Hibiki is startled by this and the boxes activate the door release.

Hibiki stumbles through the now fully-open door and straight into Celtic's behind. He looks up at her and then she screams. Hibiki gathers up his boxes and high-tails it out of there.

In the Kitchen

Dita says, "We have to hurry! Paiway is definitely starting to suspect something. Mr. Alien, hand me that bowl over there."

Hibiki says, "I refuse. I am not your servant!"

Dita asks, "What are you angry about now? That apron suits you."

Hibiki says, "You idiot, that has nothing to do with it."

Dita says, "Ah… if you help me, I will let you have some of this delicious hamburger. That's too bad."

Hibiki thinks it over and says, "Here." He hands her the bowl.

Dita giggles and says, "Thank you."

She starts to chop onions as Hibiki peels them.

Hibiki mumbles to himself as he starts to peel an onion, "Really, why am I…"

He finishes peeling the onion and looks up saying, "Hey, here."

He drops the onion as he sees her crying. He says, "…you…"

Dita turns and asks, "Yes? What is it?"

He gets up and she says, "It's nothing."

Hibiki says, "It's not nothing. Why are you crying?"

Dita says, "Never mind, leave me alone."

Paiway peeks in from the doorway.

Hibiki asks, "What's going on? You're making me feel bad."

Dita says, "I said it was nothing."

Paiway raises her camera and says, "Pai check…"

In the conference room

Celtic says, "I can't stand it anymore!"

Jura says, "You finally took that thing off." (Celtic is standing in the room in her undies holding the bear suit in front of her.)

Barnette says, "That's better you know."

Celtic asks, "Is everyone just going to let the men wander around the ship from now on? Just now, a man was peeping into my room."

Everyone gasps and someone says, "No way!" Kagen is on his way to his room and stops to listen.

Celtic says, "The reason why I wore this thing in the first place was to protect me from having any contact with the men. I can't stand breathing the same air as the men anymore."

Meia says, "How pathetic." Kagen hears Paiway coming and ducks into the shadows. Paiway runs in and says pointing at the screen, "Hey, everyone look!"

Kagen peeks in at the screen from the door.

Paiway says, "This is a video that I just took. That mean man made Dita cry. Recently, we have forgotten the most important thing. Men are dangerous!"

Jura says, "When you saw that, you should have gone to help out."

Paiway didn't expect that and says, "But, Dita said that that man is more important than me."

Celtic says, "How cruel! You two were very good friends before that man came on board. Besides, today is Paiway's embarking anniversary!"

Someone else says, "That's unforgivable! That guy!"

Barnette says, "No, it's all the men."

Paiway thinks, 'I think this might not have been a good thing to do.'

Jura says to Barnette, "I don't like how Dita is acting. Punishment, please."

Barnette asks, "Me?"

On the Bridge

Amarone, Ezra, and Belvedere are at Belvedere's station watching this on her screen.

Ezra asks, "I wonder why?"

Belvedere says, "It's finally time I guess."

BC asks, "What is it? What's with all the racket?"

Amarone says, "Hibiki made Dita cry."

BC says, "That's it? Go back to your stations."

Paiway says, "That's right! It's the men's fault!"

Kagen steps into the room and says, "There must be some mistake. Hibiki would never hurt Dita's feelings. Well not on purpose anyway. It looks like they were cooking something, considering that they are wearing aprons."

Barnette snaps handcuffs on Kagen, slaps him, and says, "Shut up, prisoner!"

Kagen asks her, "Do you carry those on you ALL the time?"

Barnette blushes, slaps him again and says, "I said shut up!"

Paiway continues saying, "Wasn't everybody perfectly happy before they came?"

Some other girl says, "But really, Dita has changed recently."

Another girl says, "Yeah, she's always saying, "Mr. Alien! Mr. Alien!"

Kagen says, "Well, to me it just sounds like she is in love."

Barnette backhands him into a corner.

The girl continues, "Did she get infected by some sort of bacteria from the men?"

Barnette says, "Definitely, I think it's time to rethink how to treat those men."

Kagen thinks, 'This won't be good. I just hope she isn't mad about this morning!'

Barnette says, "Let's complain to the Captain about this."

Meia says, "Useless, if you act with too much emotion without a reason, you're not going to get anything out of it."

Pyoro says, "That's right!"

Barnette turns to Meia and asks, "Meia, what are you saying? Are you siding with the men?"

Meia says, "I'm saying don't try to raise a racket on such a worthless issue."

Barnette asks, "Worthless? What do you mean by that?"

Kagen says, "I think she means that we should have both sides of the situation before we react. There are a lot reasons to cry."

Barnette walks back over and backhands Kagen again.

In the Captain's ready room

Magno asks, "It's become that chaotic, huh?"

Gascoigne says, "I guess we can't just leave this alone."

BC says, "It's not a big problem. The mother planet is nearby. We only have to think about getting back now."

Magno says, "But, there is the possibility that the people of Mejerr didn't believe the story of the 'harvest'. Since it's information that came from us."

BC asks, "Then, are you planning to just watch the mother planet die, boss?"

Gascoigne says, "BC!"

BC says, "I apologize."

In the cafeteria

Dita says, "It's done! It's done! It's done! Paiway will be surprised when she sees this!"

Hibiki takes a bite of his and says, "This hamburger is great!"

The door opens and Paiway, Barnette, Celtic, and a few other security members (in pressure suits with weapons) Kagen is tied to Barnette by his handcuffs.

Dita says, "Everyone…"

Paiway says, "Dita, you aren't allowed to talk to men anymore."

Dita asks, "W…what are you saying?"

Paiway says, "Dita thinks that the man is more precious than a friend right? You traitor!"

Barnette says, "The men are forbidden to get close to Dita."

Hibiki asks, "What are you talking about?"

Paiway says, "Don't act innocent! You made Dita cry!"

Dita says, "No! I was cutting onions, so tears come out! It's not Mr. Alien's fault!"

Kagen says, "See, I told you there was a reasonable explanation. So how about letting me go?"

Barnette elbows him in stomach.

Kagen wheezes and says, "Barnette, you cook with onions. I've seen it happen to you, too."

Barnette elbows him in the face.

Kagen acts like he is unconscious and falls to the ground limply. Barnette cuts the link between the handcuffs and her suit.

Barnette says, "Ever since you men arrived, everybody started to change."

Celtic says, "That's right! Men are all savage and dirty!"

Hibiki asks, "What the hell are you saying? Stop talking crap!"

Dita asks, "Why? Why? Dita just… wanted to surprise Paiway."

Barnette steps forward and says, "There is no use in talking. We'll have to take him by force!" The women rush forward. They circle Hibiki.

Hibiki says, "Will you guys stop saying all this crap?"

Hibiki jumps up on the table and says, "I can't stand this anymore!" He kicks the plates off the table and jumps past the women.

Kagen gets up and says, "I'm not going to the brig just because of my gender. Oh, and I shower regularly. Bye!" He then runs to catch up with Hibiki.

Barnette says, "Follow them!"

Kagen cuts through the infirmary and grabs a laser scalpel. He cuts the handcuffs off and taps Hibiki on the shoulder. Kagen says, "There will be time for that later. Come on!"

Hibiki ignores him and Kagen leaves.

Kagen gets to the hangar and checks his Vanguard. He says, "It's a good thing I always prep my Vanguard beforehand."

Hibiki runs in as Kagen launches.

Hibiki launches right after Kagen.

On the Bridge

Belvedere says, "It's two Vanguards! Two prisoners have escaped!"

Two comm. screens open. Kagen says, "I can't defend from inside the brig."

Hibiki says, "I am not going back to that cell again! Good bye!"

In space

Kagen slows down so that Hibiki can catch up.

Hibiki asks, "Really, what the hell did I do?"

Kagen says, "It was all just a huge misunderstanding."

Hibiki says, "Damn it."

Suddenly blue beams fly in from ahead of them.

Hibiki and Kagen try to dodge them but Hibiki is hit on right arm.

Kagen is hit on his left wrist. They then boost straight at the source of the beams as the beams slow down.

On the alien ship's bridge

"Hurry up with the identification!"

"Captain! Those units are not in the database!"

They open a comm. link to Hibiki.

They ask, "Who are you? Why did you trespass into this area?"

Hibiki says, "By accident. You got a problem with that?"

"Where are you from?"

Hibiki says, "Tarrak. What about it?"

Back on the Nirvana

Magno says, "It's a problem."

Dita says, "Eh? Captain..!"

Meia says, "If you authorize it, shall I go search for him?"

On board the alien ship's bridge

Kagen and Hibiki come up in an elevator that comes out of the floor.

Hibiki says, "What are you people? Staring at me like that?"

Kagen says, "Hibiki, don't try anything. This is not the place or the time. I'm sorry, I haven't introduced us yet. I am Kagen Furystorm and this is Hibiki Tokai. We were originally from Tarrak. It's a long story."

"We were somewhat rough on you. Please forgive us. We are trying not to get harvested. Your planet is probably in a similar situation. However, rather than just waiting to be harvested, we set up a defense line here in order to fight to the end."

Kagen says, "This has just been our day for misunderstandings."

Hibiki asks, "Defense line? Being that passive is a mistake! If I had the choice, I would attack them before getting attacked!"

Kagen says, "Hibiki, the best offence is a good defense in some situations."

In the alien ship's hangar bay

Kagen tries to get to work on his Vanguard, but can't use both hands because his wrist is cut open. He starts rewiring the Vanguard's wrist with one hand.

Hibiki looks at his Vanguard's right arm and then at his own. Suddenly a girl walks up and says, "You first. Now, show me your arm."

Hibiki asks, "W…what are you doing!"

Seran says, "It's fine…Just leave it to me, okay?"

Hibiki blushes slightly and then she starts spraying his wound with anti-biotic.

Kagen gives up trying to rewire it one handed and concentrates on his wrist intensely. It starts to glow and then the glow hardens into a crystalline bandage. He can move his wrist now like it never got hurt. He takes his bandana off and wraps it around his wrist to cover the crystal. He then goes back to work on his Vanguard.

Seran says, "My name is Seran. I'm a mechanic on this ship. What's your name?"

Hibiki says, "I'm…"

Seran says, "A courageous visitor. Just kidding." She then giggles. Hibiki just watches as she finishes the bandage off with the bandana she had been wearing.

Seran says, "There, that should do it. Ara? Aren't you going to say thank you?"

Hibiki blushes, looks away and says, "Thanks…"

Seran giggles and says, "You're welcome."

Kagen finishes wiring and starts to repair the armor on the wrist.

Seran goes over to Kagen and says, "Let me see that wrist of yours."

Kagen says, "I've got it."

Seran says, "I just want to make sure there is no infection."

She removes the bandana and sees the crystal. She says, "Wow, that's pretty. Where did you get it?"

Kagen says, "I made it."

Seran asks, "From what?" She looks at it and asks, "Is it attached to your skin?"

Kagen says, "Yes, it is. I call it an energy bandage. It sterilizes and covers the wound. Can I get back to work now? I'd like to get done." He recovers it with his bandana.

Seran says, "Ok, sorry. You don't have to be rude."

Kagen says, "This is just a bad day for me."

Hibiki says, "He really is a nice guy, usually."

Kagen gets back to work and finishes right when the alarm goes off. He says, "I'll go and hold them off until you get finished."

Kagen launches before they can say a word. Kagen sees the enemy ship and stops in his tracks. He thinks, 'No! It can't be! That is the ship that will destroy the Nirvana! No! The Nirvana isn't here. Ha! I have a chance to destroy that beam before they can use it to destroy the people I protect. Then again this might be a different one. I'll just have to wait until it uses it.' Kagen draws a sword and slices the enemies that are foolish enough to get close enough to him.

The alien fleet opens up with their main cannons and continues firing at the enemy fleet.

Hibiki finishes with the part he was fixing and says, "This side's finished! I'm going out too!"

Seran says, "Wait, just a little more here! I'll definitely repair this. There, done! Thanks for waiting! Ready to launch! Do your best!"

Hibiki says, "Yeah, just leave it to me!"

Suddenly there is an explosion and Seran is thrown to the ground from the lift.

Hibiki says, "Seran!" He jumps down to check on her. He asks, "Hey, are you alright? Hey. Hang on! Hey!"

Seran looks at him and says, "E…everyone… I wonder if everyone's okay…" Then she passes out.

Hibiki says, "You, you're kidding me right? It's a joke right? Hey, Seran!"

Hibiki realizes that she isn't going to wake up because she is dead.

Hibiki launches.

He says to himself, "So easy…So easy…so simple…So simple to die!"

He draws a sword and attacks the enemy cubes furiously.

Kagen says, "Hibiki! Don't let your anger cloud your mind!"

An enemy attacks Hibiki from behind. Kagen slices the enemy before it can strike.

Hibiki screams, "WHY! Come on, who's next?"

He boosts ahead. Kagen says, "Hibiki, don't…" 'Ah shit! He never listens to me. AH well. Better go watch his back.'

Kagen boosts after him.

Then the enemy mothership shoots a huge yellow beam destroying the ship they just launched from. Kagen thinks, 'That's the beam! I've got to take it out!'

Kagen screams, "NO! That was meant for me!"

Suddenly his Vanguard starts to glow with a green flame.

His crystal on his wrist spreads all the way around his wrist.

Hibiki sees this and snaps out of his rage. Hibiki asks, "What is he doing!"

Kagen suddenly says, "ALAKOR!" And flies straight at the enemy mothership. The enemy mothership shoots the yellow beam at Kagen as he flies at it.

Kagen doesn't stop. His Vanguard starts to disintegrate from around him as he is still advancing through the beam. He is soon left only with his pressurized armor that he had put on before this. He screams, "ALAKOR!" And all the energy gathers at his right fist. He then drives his fist into the enemy ship sending a beam going out the back. When the debris settles Kagen is gone. All that remains is his bandana and a tattered helmet. The enemy mothership continues fighting.

Hibiki is furious. "It's so easy to die!" He screams as he boosts at the side of the mothership. There is a big white flash and he is flung away from the mothership and knocked unconscious. Somehow the Vanguard's empty hand closes on the bandana and the helmet as it flies past.

Back on the Nirvana

Meia is walking in the hall. She suddenly feels an intense pain and collapses. Meia thinks, 'It feels like a part of me has been ripped out. Kagen! Something must've happened to him.' Meia staggers to her feet as Barnette walks up to her.

Barnette asks, "What's wrong Meia?"

Meia says, "Kagen… I think he's dead."

Barnette gasps and thinks, 'He must've known he would die today. That must be why he…'

Barnette says, "Let's get you to the infirmary."

They walk to the infirmary.

In the infirmary

"Duero is in the brig. So I'll check you, Meia." Paiway says. She runs some scans and says, "Meia, these scans say that you are perfectly healthy. There is nothing wrong with you."

Meia says, "I'll probably be fine after I get some rest."

In space

Hibiki is drifting. His Vanguard still clutches the bandana and helmet. Rabat's ship picks him up and blasts off.

I know, I skipped a bunch of the story. But I added a lot too. Sorry it took me so long to get this out.

Here are my feelings on reviews: 1. Please do!

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. And who knows? I might just use them and give you credit.