Gundam SEED Fan Fiction / Vandread Fan Fiction ❯ GunDread SEED- The Second Stage ❯ Baby ( Chapter 2 )

 

Dita went to a greater panic as she realized what that meant. “Oh no!”

 

**************

 

Kyo sighed as he walked out of the Register after spending a tough time explaining the terms in male and female relationships to the girls in the Register and to Gascogne. Just what was he going to do with this new situation? He had seen the looks given to him by the new girl and the reactions of the other crew members. He felt as if he had been strapped to a bomb that was set to go off in the next few hours.

 

<Oh man…just what else could happen today?>

 

As if in answer to his unspoken question, he heard Dita's voice call out to him.

 

“Mr. Alien! We need your help!”

 

Kyo was shaken out of his thoughts as he spotted the redhead as Dita was holding up Ezra as the gentle Megele woman was in pain, holding her belly, having known that Ezra was pregnant he knew what was going on with her. He wasted no time as he got out his communicator, contacted the Medical Bay and got to help Ezra to the elevator.

 

**************

 

The moment Duero heard the call from Kyo, he wasted little time and immediately ordered Paiway to prep the Medical Bay's Emergency Room, it looked as if he was about to deliver his first baby, and it was NOT like the way babies were born on his world. He then read all the contents in his instruction manual. (The How to Book) However just as they were finally able to set up the entire room's systems, lights, and equipment went offline a minute later, plunging the whole room into darkness.

 

**************

 

“What's happening?” Buzam asked as she and Parfet were plunged into darkness. They had just began accessing the data module when the screen showed a request for a password, as Pyoro gave out a warning sound as the Navi-robot was also hooked to the device Parfet made and suddenly shutdown. This was followed by a complete system shutdown on the entire ship, from normal systems to main support systems, with the exceptions of life-support, communications, and some other key functions were deactivated.

 

Parfet wasted little time as she took out some of her own scanning tools. These were armed with their own power packs so they didn't rely on the Nirvana's power gird. She gasped as she got the reports from her devices.

 

“Oh no! The module was armed with a special defensive mechanism which is some sort of computer virus. The virus was released when we tried to access the module! The virus has caused a complete shutdown of the Nirvana's main power grid! We're totally dead in space!”

 

Buzam felt a chill flow in her body, The whole ship was completely disabled by the virus and couldn't move at all. And if the enemy would show up…

 

**************

 

“What's happening?!” Kyo said out loud as the elevator that he, Dita and Ezra were on suddenly stopped and plunged into complete darkness. The emergency lights came online and the whole room was bathed in a dim blue light. Ezra was on the floor of the elevator as the pain of her labor began to intensify. Kneeling beside her and holding her was Dita, trying to help ease the pain Ezra was going through.

 

“Duero? Can you hear me over there?!” Kyo said as he spoke to his communicator.

 

“I can hear you Kyo, but barely.” Duero replied as the power drain had affected communications. “Where is Ezra?”

 

“She's here with me and Dita! We're trapped in an elevator between decks four and five! We're stuck here! What's going on?!”

 

“Parfet already informed me of the situation. Apparently there was a virus in the message pod that got released when they tried to open it. The virus is in the Nirvana's power grids and all the main systems except life-support, communications and other key systems have been taken offline. What's Ezra's condition?”

 

“She's not looking good! She said her water's broke and she's going into labor and that means that the baby's already reached the stage of being born! The contractions are getting shorter by the minute, this baby's going to be born and there's no stopping it!”

 

In the Medical bay, Duero was surprised that Kyo talked as if he knew all that there was to know about child-birth. “You know how to deliver a baby?”

 

“HEY! You don't happen to go traveling about in the universe to worlds that still have children the old way without learning some things along the way you know!.” Kyo said back, but realized that getting flustered and panicked was out of the question. “I know…a good deal about it…but I've never delivered a baby before!”

 

“Well then, I guess you'll have to deliver one right there K.” Another voice came in.

 

Both Duero and Kyo were surprised as they heard Magno's voice. The captain, apparently had been listening to the whole conversation as she had entered the Medical Bay prior to the emergency shutdown and decided to lend a hand.

 

“YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS?!” The Gundam pilot cried out in shock. He was a Mobile Suit pilot and solider. He definitely wasn't a midwife!

 

“Kyo doesn't have the medical expertise for something like that!” Duero protested.

 

Magno then spoke to Duero. “And just how many babies have YOU delivered, doctor? Besides, you can't exactly go to where they all are, now can you?” Magno then turned to address the trapped Gundam pilot. “Kyo, I know that you never trained for this and this will probably be difficult for you. But right now, you don't have much in terms of options! Besides that, you already know some things about this, then it shouldn't be too hard for you, I'll help fill in the gaps by talking you through it.”

 

“Can you find a way to get out of where you are?” Duero asked, he knew that Kyo had more than enough training to get out of the elevator with Dita and Ezra.

 

“No! The scanners indicate that the elevator's stabilization systems have been badly damaged and won't hold for long, and it's only a matter of time before the braking struts give way!” Buzam interjected as she communicated from the Engineering section.

 

In the elevator, Kyo gritted his teeth, as far as he could see BC was right, if he tried to interfere with the elevator, it would become totally unstable. At the moment, the safety of Ezra and Dita, along with Ezra's about to be born daughter was the primary concern.

 

It looked like the toughest challenge of his entire life had just arrived.

 

That was when a certain band of unwanted guests decided to grace the Nirvana.

 

**************

 

BOOOOOM!!

 

The Nirvana shuddered as several Harvester Cube Fighters and a pair of Seed Ships appeared right out of the void and began attacking. With their main long range sensors offline, the bridge crew had no way of knowing that the enemy had already arrived for the kill. And with the Dread Fighter catapult offline, they had no way of launching a counterstrike. Shields and propulsion were also down, leaving the Nirvana totally defenseless!

 

**************

 

The elevator…

 

<Great! Just Great! Of all the times for THEM to show up!>

 

Kyo bit back his anger and frustration as he took off his vest and folded it into a make-shift blanket/cushion. Placing in on the floor in front of Ezra, he made a silent prayer as he took a deep breath and looked the new mother-to-be in the eyes.

 

“Okay Ezra…are you ready?”

 

The young woman nodded and gasped as another wave of pain hit her as the contractions began to grow shorter. Kneeling next to her was Dita, as she supported her friend. The redhead gave Kyo a reassuring smile as she also held the communicator to him.

 

“Okay Duero, Grandmother! Time to talk me through this!”

 

**************

 

The Medical Bay…

 

“Kyo, how far are Ezra's contractions?” Duero asked as he checked his stop watch and the book for reference.

 

“Looks like…she had her last one…at least about two…maybe two and a half minutes ago.” Kyo answered.

 

“That's it. She's now going into labor. You should be seeing some fluid coming from Ezra. That's the amniotic fluid that will help ease the baby's passage out through the birth canal. The baby should be going out headfirst, so support the baby by the back of the head and the neck.” Duero said as he checked the watch and the book.

 

At this point, Magno placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled a bit. “Sorry Doctor, but you'll have to skip all the scientific jargon. This is something you'll need to learn on a first hand basis.” She then directed her orders to Kyo. “K! Spread her legs open and get ready to…”

 

“Don't worry about that part! I think I've figured out that much already!” Kyo said as he got down to business. “All right Ezra, get ready to push!

 

Behind the doctor and the apprentice nurse, Magno couldn't help but smile. For a man, Kyo was certainly well versed about childbirth and all the things involved with it. Another man from Talark, save for the doctor, would have fainted dead away at the sight of normal childbirth.

 

**************

 

On the other side of the court…

 

In the Register, Gascogne was running her staff ragged, literally. Without any power, the Nirvana couldn't launch any fighters to deal with the enemy. So like all professionals in the whole universe, they had to improvise.

 

Some of her staff had been talking about losing some weight, so the Head Supplier decided to let them do just that, and give some power to the Nirvana's Dread catapult, she had them all running on treadmills and going on exercise bicycles, which were all connected to the main power grid. The girls were sweating, and panting as they used the oldest form of power in cosmic history, muscle power to generate enough energy to activate the Fighter Catapult.

 

Down at the Hanger, Barnette, Meia, and the other Dread pilots, along with the Crusader Squadron were getting ready to launch. Since the Vanguards could be deployed without the need for the Catapult, unlike the Dreads, Sara led her squadron out through the large hanger and out straight into space, after they finished opening the main doors. The `manual launch' method of the Vanguards was really basic, it consisted of the humanoid mecha running and jumping out into the void. Once in space, they activated their machines and thrusters and went into combat, therefore demonstrating the now valued versatility of the formerly hated male machines.

 

Right now, Barnette felt like she really wanted to be out there in a Vanguard as the process of launching the Vanguards was taking way too long for her liking. The Dreads had been upgraded for the new Cube Fighters so they were better in their original functions. One by one the Dread pilots and their Dreads were deployed into space, as they came into formation and got ready to aid their comrades in the Vanguards. By the time Barnette had shot down her first kill of the day, the Vanguards were already taking in an impressive kill ratio.

 

**************

 

“I…I…can't… do this!” Ezra cried in tears as her pain continued to increase in intensity. Her body was in absolute agony as her breathing became shorter and her contractions increased.

 

“Don't give up Ezra! We're almost there! You can do this!” Kyo said firmly as he was about to receive a new life in this world as the first signs of the baby's arrival came into view, he had NO intention of losing either the baby or Ezra…or both.

 

Ezra shook her head as tears flooded down her face. “I…I…can't! I'm…I'm scared!”

 

“It's going to be okay Ezra. I'm scared here too!” Kyo said as he still urged her on.

 

“You're scared?” Dita said in surprise. She had not expected Kyo to be scared of anything.

 

The former Yamato gave the two women a whimsical smile. “It's been my experience that not being scared of anything will kill you in the end. Being not afraid is for fools, who don't know how precious life is. I learned that from Dominion and the Harvesters. Being scared is totally part of human nature, and helps keep you alive sometimes. But listen to me Ezra. This is what you've always wanted, right? This is the reason you chose to be a fahma and receive the seed. You want to have a daughter more than anything else in the world, right?” Kyo asked.

 

Ezra sniffled back her tears and nodded, before letting out another gasp.

 

Kyo smiled once more. “Being afraid is totally natural, but you should not let the fear stop you from doing what must be done! And you need to do this! Your daughter needs you and I need your help to bring her into this world! I will always be here to help you and your baby. I will do everything in my power and ability to help you and your child, and!” He said as he continued hold back his own fear at seeing a newborn baby.

 

“I won't leave your side until you and your child are safe, I promise you, as a crew-mate, and as a friend. You can do this Ezra, Dita and I will be here with you…every step of the way. Are you ready? We're almost there!” Kyo said as he held out his hands as baby slowly emerged.

 

Ezra nodded once more. “T-Thank you Kyo!” She then resumed pushing.

 

**************

 

Out in space, Meia and her Dreads darted around as they continued to engage the enemy forces. The Dread Leader knew that they needed to win this battle quickly. Gascogne's supply shuttle wasn't going to be with them to re-supply the Dreads as it would be impossible to launch the Dreki with only muscle power. And the Vanguards were already running low on their own supplies of projectile and energy weapons. Most of them had to resort to their melee weapons.

 

Just then, she spotted the two massive Seed Ships making their way to the Nirvana. She contacted her teams and ordered an interception of the incoming Harvester Ships.

 

Sara noticed the approach of the enemy vessels as well and ordered her Squadron to do whatever they could to slow their approach. Unleashing the last of her missiles on one of the incoming ships, she reached and pulled out her Vanguard's battle spear and charged in. Several others charged in with her, wishing for the appearance of their commander and his Gundam,

 

**************

 

However, the Gundam pilot had his hands full… quite literally. The baby was almost out as he and Dita continued to urge Ezra to give one last push.

 

The ship once more rocked from side to side.

 

**************

 

Meia gasped as she and the others watched the two Seed Ships unleash their metallic tendrils and spear the Nirvana's two arms. Once the y succeeded the ships used the tendrils as towlines, dragging the pirate vessel away.

 

Both Dread and Vanguard leaders immediately commanded their teams to attack the tendrils as freeing the Nirvana was top priority. The mecha fighters cut away with their bladed weapons, while the Dreads blasted away with whatever weapons they had left.

 

However, it seemed that nothing now would stop the Earth's forces from claiming final victory. That is until…

 

**************

 

“WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

Kyo let out a loud sigh of relief as Ezra's baby girl took in her first breath of air and cried out. He had managed not to faint at the sight of the newborn and smiled as the baby breathed in and breathed out normally, afterwards Ezra released the after-birth remnants, including the umbilical cord and the placenta.

 

**************

 

At that same moment, Pyoro came back online with the words `Password Accepted' appearing on his screen. All systems were back online as power flowed in once more throughout the ship, and restore all functions, with the exception of the shields, due to the two Seed Ships with their tendrils piercing the Nirvana's arms. Then the pirate vessel shuddered began moving back to escape as Bart was now in the helm.

 

**************

 

The elevator shook as several grinding noises were heard as the brakes of the elevator which held most of the weight of the group, and keep then from falling to the bottom of the shaft, were about to give out.

 

Kyo realized that they had to escape now! Summoning all his enhanced strength he tore thee doors open and ripped apart the upper section of the doorway. Though it was painful and difficult for him, the enhancements to his body via his Coordinator background and the Paeksis energy imbued in his cells gave him the power to tear apart the doors like tin-foil, though with great effort on his part. Once he was done he quickly grabbed Dita, and Ezra who held her baby tightly.

 

“HOLD ON TO ME!” He ordered the two women as he immediately leaped outward and with a powerful kick, broke through the doors of the fourth level deck. The energy in his cells had allowed Kyo to leap a full twenty feet into the air even with Dita, Ezra, and the baby close to him. And not a moment too soon as the braking struts gave way and the elevator sped downward and crashed loudly on the bottom.

 

Kyo moved in mid-air allowing himself to cushion Dita, Ezra, and the baby, avoiding injury to the three women. He gave a groan, but didn't care as he protected the girls.

 

He gave a sigh as he immediately checked on his companions.

 

“Is everyone okay?”

 

“I…I'm all right.” Ezra said slowly as she also checked on the precious bundle in her arms. The baby let out a loud cry, but she saw no injuries to her little newborn child.

 

Dita shook her head clear and handed Kyo one of her smiles as she looked at Ezra and her baby. “We're all fine now! That was SO amazing; you did so well with Ezra Mr. Alien!”

 

Kyo was so relieved at hearing this, that he didn't get too angry about Dita calling him Mr. Alien though he had already decided to wait until Dita called him by his real name, so he didn't bother with it. At that point, he heard a familiar and rather annoying voice.

 

“DON'T WORRY! PYORO WILL SAVE PYORO 2!”

 

The Gundam pilot frowned as he spotted that annoying automaton making it's way to them all; behind the robot were Paiway, and Duero.

 

“You think that you can handle things here?” Kyo asked Dita as he headed to the hanger bay to get Freedom and Liberty.

 

The redhead nodded as the young man rushed for the Hanger.

 

**************

 

Out in space, Meia and her squadron let out a concentrated barrage at the Seed Ships. The attack was focused on freeing the Nirvana from the tendrils of it's captors. One line was finally severed and thus freeing the Nirvana from one captor. However, the joy the Dreads and their leader experienced was short-lived as they all realized that their Dreads were nearly depleted of all ordinance and ammunition. Meia was about to lose all hope when she caught a blue-white flash come out from the Nirvana, which was followed by another streak of blue-white coming from the main hanger bay. At that exact moment, the Nirvana's maneuvering thrusters came online, indicating the Bart tried to pull the ship away from it's captors.

 

**************

 

“Sorry I'm late!” Kyo called in as he and Freedom combined with Liberty and made their way into the fight, blasting apart a group of Cube Fighters. Freedom then disconnected from Liberty and then made it's way to Jura's Dread. “I had my hands full delivering Ezra's baby. You all will be happy to know that both Ezra and her daughter are in good condition!”

 

All the women, on either Dreads or Vanguards gave a hearty cheer at the news as the Gundam merged with Jura's Dread. GunDread Jura immediately went into samurai mode and made it's way towards the enemy, carving up Cube Fighters with it's halberd and cutting up with both anti-ship swords the one Seed Ship that had lost it's grip on the Nirvana, the samurai then moved to the remaining Seed Ship, which still held the Nirvana.

 

Inside the GunDread, both Jura and Kyo activated the weapon systems and the Gundam focused the power of the GunDread. He then pressed the button to command Liberty for fusion mode.

 

“Yes! That was absolutely perfect!” Jura cried out with joy.

 

“Let's finish this once and for all!” Kyo said as he decided to finish off the last Seed Ship.

 

The ATCISS obeyed the command and made it's way to the GunDread. In seconds the machine merged and activated the third transformation phase of Jura's fighter, forming the Amazon mecha. GunDread Jura Alpha got between it's enemy and the Nirvana. It pulled out it's twin swords, which emitted massive waves of light as the mecha vanished from sight and the remaining Harvester ship was diced to bits.

 

The advanced GunDread then reappeared and made it's massive No-Dachi style anti-ship sword and slashed the Seed Ship one more time. The Harvester unit was cut into pieces and exploded in moments, ending the battle permanently.

 

**************

 

Later…

 

“What? You're telling me that the password was a baby's cry, BC?” Magno asked BC as she received Parfet's analysis.

 

“That's correct.” BC nodded. “Ezra's newborn baby saved us all from the virus. That capsule turned out to be designed to respond only to a certain audio frequency, specifically to the baby's voice pattern.”

 

“So you're now able to read the data in the module?”

 

“Yes, we've completed out analysis, and I was about to play it.”

 

“Have it played on all communications. I want the entire crew to hear all of the information.” Magno ordered.

 

**************

 

Everyone onboard the Nirvana immediately stopped what he or she was doing, as the view screens and began relaying the message inside the capsule. The images showed the crew an image of a laboratory who's sole inhabitants were two people. One was an aging, balding man wearing a lab coat and wore a technological monocle and had a beard. The second person was a woman with long brown hair and also had a lab coat, and had on what appeared to be a technological visor. The images were somewhat grainy, but everyone could still see it clearly.

 

“I apologize for whatever trouble we have inadvertently caused to you all, but it was my belief that the only the cry of a baby was a sure sign that there was a flourishing human civilization out there in space. We are from Earth, or rather…what is left of the cradle of the human race. To make things more understandable as to the situation you all are facing, I feel that reviewing our planet's history is in order.”

 

The images changed and depicted a blue-white planet with life signs teeming all over it. And in the view of space were several clusters of colonies that doted the orbit of the blue-green world.

 

“This was what our home-world once was, more than three hundred years ago. And even though it may look peaceful at first, our home world has nearly been wiped out in a war that was totally senseless, and tragic.”

 

The woman then spoke. “Three hundred years ago, there were two sects of the human race. There at that time was a man that pioneered the science of genetic manipulation and enhancement. His name was George Glenn. He was a star athlete, scientist, and astronaut. He was the team leader on the first manned expedition to Saturn, and before he left, he revealed the technology and methods of altering the DNA of a child to make the baby faster, stronger, more resistant to disease and sickness, more intelligent, and could have better skills than those of normally born children. He called himself a Coordinator of the human race. Months after his return to the Earth, he had made many discoveries and built a number of giant satellite city/stations called PLANTS, which were shaped like hour-glasses. It was there that he began his research.”

 

The man nodded as he began showing images of the man in question. “George had great intentions and those were for the better future of man…but sadly, there were others who saw it differently. As many people began to have their babies turned into Coordinators like Glenn. There were those who considered such things as heretical to human nature and the morality of life. These groups considered the Coordinators who were born using the methods and techniques made by Glenn as abominations and completely inhuman. Though these were moderate at first, it didn't take long for bitterness, fear, anger, envy, and jealousy to evolve the hatred into violence. As more Coordinators were born on Earth, the racist attacks against them all, became both verbal and physical. There were now two sides of the human species, Naturals or those who had children naturally and opposed the methods used by Coordinators, and Coordinators themselves who accepted their gifts, but looked down on Naturals as weaker beings.”

 

The images changed as people were being attacked and killed others, while homes were torched, Labs were being attacked by mobs all chanting hatred for Coordinators. The people in the message then moved to other images. “George decided to explain a part of the story, his real motive to allow Coordinators to be what they were. But before it could be done, he was killed by a follower of the organization known as Blue Cosmos.”

 

“The Blue Cosmos was once an environmental activist group, but they quickly became brutal and cold towards Coordinators, and took every opportunity to spark hatred towards the Coordinators, and they staged bloody attacks against them all. The organization was strong in the leadership hierarchy of the Earth Alliance's chief nation, the Atlantic Federation. As the attacks intensified, many Coordinators fled to space and settled in the PLANTS. They then formed a security/government body which was known as Z.A.F.T or the Zodiac Alliance for Freedom Treaty. Though the Atlantic Federation was dominant and so were other nations of the Alliance, there were those who didn't see things the way Blue Cosmos did, namely the Orb Union, who's population were both Naturals and Coordinators living side by side. However…it didn't take long for this hatred and prejudice to break into full scale war.”

 

The images then depicted a battle group from Earth attacking a nearby PLANT as the woman spoke on. “The Blue Cosmos had given their final strike to Z.A.F.T as they allowed a combat group under one their members in the military to strike a nearby agricultural PLANT known as Junius 7. The Blue Cosmos unleashed their true weapons to `cleanse the Coordinator stain for their blue and pure world.' Those were a barrage of nuclear missiles. The PLANT was totally destroyed, and over twenty thousand Coordinators, men, women, and children were killed. This day became known to the Z.A.F.T forces as the `Bloody Valentine Massacre.' And this sparked the war that raged on Earth for two years.”

 

The images then depicted the wars between Earth and the PLANTS, the man then spoke further. “The Z.A.F.T unleashed weapons known as Neutron Jammer Cancellers that rendered the Earth Alliance forces unable to use nuclear power and reliant on battery reactors. When Z.A.F.T launched their counter-strike, it was believed that the Alliance would have the advantage in numbers. But Z.A.F.T had delved into greater weapons and created a weapon that had the armor of a tank, the maneuverability of a fighter, and the arsenal of a battleship. They introduced Mobile Suits, these weapons and the variants produced totally caught the Alliance off-guard and the war became bloody struggle.”

 

“The Alliance was overwhelmed and were beaten time and time again, until they decided to created a series of weapons needed to balance the tide of war. They created GAT-0001X General-Unilateral-Neuro-Link-Dispersive-Automatic-Maneuver operating system powered Mobile Suit series. These new weapons were to help them gain an edge over the Z.A.F.T. These suits were know as the G-Weapons…or the Gundams.”

 

*************

 

That bit of information got Kyo's attention as he looked at the screen. This might be what he had been searching for all this time.

 

The rest of the Nirvana crew were shocked and began thinking about Kyo and Freedom, was Kyo a part of the Earth forces that were after their organs?

 

**************

 

The message went on as the two people began recounting the events of the war between Z.A.F.T and the Alliance. (*). The man then spoke of the time when Z.A.F.T created their own generation of Gundams, this garnered even more of Kyo's attention and that of the Nirvana crew until the pair ended the explanation with the climax of the war.

 

“The Three Ship Alliance and the Clyne Faction were able to step in as the combined might of the Alliance and Z.A.F.T's own might met in space in front of the Z.A.F.T command station known as Yachim Due. It was there that the Alliance attempted to use nuclear missiles protected by the technology of Neutron Jammer Canceller systems stolen from Z.A.F.T to totally wipe out the PLANTS. The missiles were destroyed by the Three Ships Alliance and in the final moments of the battle, the super weapon of Z.A.F.T known as GENESIS was also destroyed. Both the extremist leaders in Z.A.F.T and the Earth Alliance, who were Patrick Zala, and Muruta Azrael were killed along with the madman Rau La Klueze, and with that both sides decided to come forward in peace talks.”

 

“In the course of over eight years, the PLANTS and Earth sighed the Junius 7 peace treaty and both sides began the long but worthwhile path to peace and cooperation. There were later marriages between Coordinators and Naturals. These marriages helped usher an era of peace and reconciliation between Z.A.F.T and Earth as others took that path. There however were rogue elements in Z.A.F.T and the Earth Alliance that still lingered to threaten the peace. Both moderate elements in each government decided to create a group of counter-terrorist units from both Z.A.F.T and the Alliance. They became the Guardians and in a span of two years, all elements that could have sparked another war between Coordinator and Naturals were arrested and removed, without major incident. This allowed Coordinator scientists to cure the threat of sterility in their race. When the recording unit of the founder of Coordinators was found and revealed. Both sides decided to finally remove the hatred and prejudice and a new era dawned on all humans, there was no longer any distinction between people as marriages between both sides grew fruitful and helped the efforts for peace grow. This Era became known as the Cosmic Era of Unification. And all governments of the PLANTS, Colonies, and Earth became known as the Cosmic Alliance.”

 

“But eight years after, the peace was nearly lost when a group of scientists on a routine expedition in space discovered a massive fragment of unknown crystal that seemed to radiate immense power, and it seemed that it could be a new source of power for Earth, as they were now ready to search of cleaner energy sources. Clean Fusion energy showed great power, but new energy sources were a must in their world to continue advancing, and it seemed that it would prove helpful.”

 

The woman then took over. “The scientists decided to use special magnetic field containers to hold the strange material as they took away a chunk of the crystal which was the size of a grapefruit. It was first tested in space in a newly established research station for safe testing.”

 

“Three more weeks later, the scientists decided to construct a new colony which will contain the fragment for a special field test. The Orb Union government decided to begin construction of the large field station between the PLANTS and Earth in the Debris Belt which was a safe distance away from many of the PLANTS and Colonies, but close to the nearest space port and supply station from either the Colonies or PLANTS and Earth. The scientists had determined that if kept in a proper containment field, the new crystal core could run a large city the size of Orb's main island for over two hundred years. However, they made it quite clear that the crystal is merely for field experiments only, if it was too dangerous, then the project would be discontinued.”

 

“But it went wrong, as the reactor began to react violently and it nearly went critical. The blast would have doused the Earth and PLANTS in massive radiation and kill millions of people and forever altered the Earth's biosphere. The results could have meant the death of the Human race, but due to the sacrifice of Kira and Lacus's eldest son who's name was unfortunately forgotten. Earth and the PLANTS were spared that fate.”

 

“Two hundred years later…Humanity began to colonize the stars and reach beyond the solar system. Thus a fleet of colony ships were built to reach out to the vast areas of space. It was then that the same crystal was proposed to be used in the colonization efforts. Though there was some dissent, the project was completed in a span of fifty years. The crystal reactors were in a pair and both were named the Paeksis Phlagma. One was stored in a Colony ship known as the Ikazuchi, while the second remained on Earth.”

 

The woman then spoke as she played another sequence of clips. “But the young Yamato's sacrifice was made useless as an extremist faction took over the Paeksis plant on Earth, and somehow made the reactor go critical. The crystal survived, but the resulting blasts destroyed countless cities and million were immediately killed by the explosion and radiation. The blast and radiation waves also consumed space and affected the Colonies and PLANTS. Millions also died there and the control systems of the space cities were totally destroyed and they fell on Earth, turning the already radiated landscape into a totally inhospitable world, the biosphere was totally altered and twisted. The surviving humans from the space colonies and Earth called the first days of this tragedy as the `Days of Despair', they rebuilt the reactor and tried to rebuilt Earth, but they failed. They were driven to a state of utter despair, they now believed that they were the last vestiges of the one proud human race, eventually they entered a state of madness. This is what the Earth now looks like.”

 

The scene changed into a picture of a dark world surrounded by machines and gears. The surface was totally filled with water and there were massive storms and energy clouds that sparked out massive lighting and energy pulses. Kyo became even more shocked as he recognized the land as the same one he had awakened to when he first activated Freedom.

 

<It…can't be!! If…if…that's the Earth, then…I'm…>

 

**************

 

The man once more spoke. “The Earth is now surrounded by massive gears and metal belts to keep whatever biosphere was left on Earth. The moon was also engulfed in the belts as well. Within this cage, the surface is bathed in torrential storms of radiated water and massive energy storms, and the biosphere can no longer sustain any form of life. He surface is like a washing machine with little landmasses, as such the humans on Earth reached a genetic end, they tried to use the old Coordinator method of having children before the Era of Unification, but because of the severe radiation, this was no longer possible as the genes of all the surviving humans were totally destroyed. They were not even able to clone themselves as children could never be born by ANY method. As a result… there no children on Earth at all.

 

**************

 

This news brought even more shock to the crew of the Nirvana. Ezra became very affected as she held her sleeping daughter tightly to her chest.

 

**************

 

“The humans were only able to survive using life support, then at last the desire for self-preservation became all consuming. The Council then implemented the plan to use the organs of those who survived the trip to colonize space. The people of Earth have long ago shed all sense of morals and were only concerned with their survival, despite it meant the death of everyone else. Using the Paeksis left on Earth they began constructing their automated Harvester Fleet to harvest all the humans in the new worlds. They have recently decided to recover the old designs for the Gundams of both the old Earth Alliance and Z.A.F.T so that will become totally unstoppable.”

 

The two shook their heads sadly. “I can't fathom how we have delved deeply into this madness, but I feel that this action will only destroy the once proud human race. In our own desire to save the future, we have allowed one of the few children that survived the Days of Despair to be the bearer of this message to go out into the void of the universe and warn the rest of humanity of the madness that now rules those left on Earth. For those of you who receive this message I implore you to resist the Harvest. You are the last holders of the torch of humanity and it's future!”

 

**************

 

Magno nodded grimly as the message ended. “Let it be known that we have received this message and we swear to continue to fight.” She then turned to her first officer. “BC, it is now imperative that we return to warn Talark and Megele to this danger. We must do everything that is within our power to ensure a future for all humanity…” She then thought of Ezra's baby and added. “A bright and clear future where a new life can grow in peace.”

 

Buzam solemnly nodded as she gave the order for Bart to make the trip back to their home-system at top speed.

 

**************

 

In a corridor…

 

Kyo wandered the hallways of the Nirvana, caring little for his destination, his whole thought was bent on what he had learned and was busy trying to find the truth.

 

< I'm…from…from Earth! For as long as I can recall, I wanted to know where I came from. And now I find out that I came from the same world as those…organ hungry butchers! I'm from the same world as the enemy we've been fighting for so long! I…I…can't believe that the Earth was where the Gundams were built! Then again…that…that could explain why they could have made the first Dominion and the other units…Does that mean…No! NO! That can't be true! I'm not one of them! Why this?! Just as soon as I learn an answer there are more questions in my face! Who am I? Why do the names of Kira, Lacus, Athrun, and Cagalli seem so familiar to me?! I feel like I know them personally! What does this all mean?!>

 

“Kyo?”

 

Kyo immediately turned about, totally startled as he heard Magno's voice. He assumed that he was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't hear her voice or sense her coming behind him. “Oh…hello, Captain.”

 

“Kyo, I've been looking for you for an hour. I've tried to contact you from your communicator and on the PA systems, but you didn't respond.”

 

Kyo nodded as he gave a far away look. “I'm…sorry…but I've been thinking about a lot of things.”

 

Magno nodded. “I can understand that considering what we've learned about our enemies, and about you. If you're worried that the crew will become hostile towards you because of that message involving the Gundams and the Earth…. Then don't be, we may not have learned all about you, but after all that you have done, how many times you risked your life for us, and your helping to deliver Ezra's baby today. We know for a fact that YOU are NO enemy, but a trusted ally and friend.”

 

The Gundam pilot nodded with a small relieved smile. “Thanks, Grandmother…that makes me feel a good deal better.”

 

“Good, speaking of Ezra's baby. She wanted to see you about something, concerning her child.”

 

Kyo immediately became concerned. “What? Is something wrong with the baby? Did she get…” Kyo was afraid that his actions in escaping the elevator had injured the innocent child.

 

Magno waved away his fears. “The baby is fine and healthy. Ezra told me that she wanted to see you know. It's something of great importance.”

 

**************

 

The Medical bay…

 

“She is sooooooo cute!” Dita cooed with a wide smile was she and Pyoro gazed at the sleeping baby. Lying on a bed near her new daughter was Ezra, who was recovering nicely from childbirth. “Hey Ezra, what's the name you're going to give to her?” Dita asked her friend excitedly.

 

“Her name is Pyoro 2!” The little automaton said with great enthusiasm.

 

“No way! That's so not cute! Especially for a little girl!”

 

“The decision is has already been made!” Pyoro insisted.

 

“We should ask the captain for a name!” Dita interjected as she continued to gaze at the sleeping form.

 

“Pyoro 2! Pyoro 2! Pyoro 2!”

 

Ezra gave a gentle smile, but shook her head. “I'm sorry Pyoro-chan. But I already told you that I will choose my daughter's name myself. I never said that it would be Pyoro 2.”

 

“Of course her name's Pyoro 2!” The little automaton said stubbornly. “What else could it be?”

 

At that moment Kyo arrived and made his way to the people in the room.

 

“Uh…hey, how are you doing?” Kyo said a little nervously, but he relaxed as he could see that both mother and daughter were fine.

 

“Hello Kyo. I'm so happy that you came here.” Ezra greeted with a smile.

 

“Hey Mr. Alien! Can you help think up a name for Ezra's little girl?” Dita asked.

 

“She already has a name!” Pyoro argued. “It's Pyoro 2!”

 

The young man looked with deep irritation at the automaton, Kyo spoke in a firm tone that brooked no argument. “In case you didn't know, it's every mother's right to name her child. Ezra is the baby's rightful mother and the baby is her daughter. She belongs to her and YOU have no say in that matter since YOU had nothing to do with the baby's creation.”

 

Pyoro wanted to argue further, but immediately got the message when Kyo raised his fist. The little robot may be stubborn but it knew better than to argue with the former Ultimate Coordinator, since he could either dismantle him into scrap or re-program him into a vegetable with minimal effort.

 

The man then lowered his fist and smiled at the new mother and her baby. Kyo asked. “So Ezra, have you decided on a name for your baby?”

 

The gentle bridge officer smiled back as she answered. “I've decided…”

 

“Pyoro 2, right?”

 

Kyo and Ezra glared at the little robot, which immediately made it silent.

 

Ezra continued. “As I was saying, I've decided to let you choose my baby's name.”

 

The made the three men look with surprise at the mother. “Me?”

 

Ezra nodded while Dita smiled. “You stayed and saved my life, Dita's, and my baby. You helped me and gave me the strength to bring my little girl into this world. I can't think of any better way to thank you for what you've done, than to let my daughter grow up with the name you will choose.”

 

“I…don't know what to say…I'm… deeply honored.”

 

Ezra nodded. “So what will be my daughter's name?”

 

The Gundam pilot became introspective as he recalled names for female children. They for a moment considered naming the little bundle Seran, after the brave and kind Melanos engineer he met long ago. But that name didn't fit well, so he thought of another name. He began to recall a name that was deep in his mind, something that gave him a smile whenever he heard it. He then walked to the baby's crib and began to speak.

 

“So you've all chosen the name Pyoro 2, right…?”

 

WHAM! CLANG!

 

The little automaton's circuits glitched, after Kyo used his other hand in a fist to knock the annoying machine aside. It now lay on the far side of the room in the Medical Bay, with it's main screen showing nothing but static as the little robot let out electronic sounds of pain.

 

“Bzzzt! Beep! Squark! Error!”

 

Kyo addressed the little bundle in a quiet voice. “Your name shall be…Lacus.”

 

The little baby smiled at the name as she continued to sleep.

 

At that moment, Misty came into the room, completely awake and in a simple nightgown.

 

“Hello everyone.”

 

Ezra nodded and smiled. “Oh Hello, and how are you feeling now?”

 

The young girl nodded and replied with a simple smile. “I'm feeling fine now. Congratulations on the baby.” She immediately gave a grin as she made her way to Kyo. “I heard that you all decided to name the baby Lacus. That's really nice.”

 

Kyo nodded a bit. “Uh…yeah.”

 

“That name's really beautiful. So what name will you give to our baby?”

 

“HUH?! WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!”

 

“You're so darn handsome when you get like that!” Misty remarked, she immediately reached up, took Kyo's face in her hands, brought him closer to her, and without any finesse kissed him full on the lips.

 

That had immediate results…

 

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” Dita was in a state of total shock as she saw their lips touched. Mr. Alien belonged to her!

 

Misty licked her lips as she pulled away, leaving a completely shocked Kyo. “Mmmmm…honey! My personal favorite!” She went back and reached up to kiss Kyo once more.

 

ZOOOOOOOMMMMM!

 

Kyo left a huge dust trail as he ran out of the Medical Bay at top speed.

 

Nearby, a certain someone was scribbling down on her book and taking pictures with her camera.

 

“Pai Check!”

 

**************

 

Later…

 

Duero frowned at the results of the first test and analysis of his theory came up on their monitors. He had hoped that his suspicions were not correct, but instead they were right on target. He immediately added several calculations and an extra amount of data, along with what he had learned from the recording and from the medical database of the Nirvana on his findings, but the results when placed on the main monitor were dead correct. He shock his head as he read the readouts.

 

Duero gulped loudly and gave a sigh of fear. Things weren't looking good at all! The data was very disturbing and very foreboding. He had to do more tests and research, but if those tests also showed the same situation in the first one, then the future of both his planet of Talark and that of the women of Megele was in grave danger.

 

**************

 

The bridge…

 

Magno smiled as she heard the name the three men had chosen for Ezra's little child.

 

< Lacus, eh? That's one name that I haven't HEARD in a very LONG time. Where did Kyo hear of it?>

 

To be continued…

 

Well… this takes care of chapter two. From here on out, the universe of VanDread The Second Stage is about to get some serious overhauls as elements of the Gundam SEED universe are about to meld in. What those elements are, that's under MY discretion. I've got some ideas in the hotpot for the coming chapters, But I'll have to do more research on it first before I make them. Who's going to get Kyo? It's up to both YOU readers, and ME.

 

(*) This is a recap of all the events in Gundam SEED, but in a third person perspective, not from the crew of the Archangel. So this will be a good factor for the rest of the story.

 

P.S

 

If you really WANT to know what elements I HAVE in mind, then check out the SEED series, along with Destiny.