Nadesico Fan Fiction ❯ To Die or Not to Die ❯ Chapter 16

A/N: Well now, what's everyone's opinion on the last chapter? Was it good? Was it craptacular? I'm asking because I'm merely writing this part now because I have nothing else better to do, not because people are begging for more. >< Oh well. I'll live. Well, what shall we see here… a lot of normal stuff… But a lot of things will be changed… But that's what happens when I'm running on a timeframe! Bite me! Okay… this is for Episode 23 (duh), where the crew storms the Nadesico (and suns it too… ignore me, please, or at least shoot me.). One a real quick note, did anyone else realize how creepy it was in that one Akito's Aesti scene where Yukina's face was just RISING? Okay, I'm shutting up. Playlist didn't take as much effort as last time… It was more of a throw together thing this time. ("Anxious Heart" by Nobou Uematsu, "Until Strawberry Sherbet" by Megumi Hayashibara, "Believe" by Houko Kuwashima, "Forever Love" from Nadesico, "Electronic Lover" from Tenchi Muyo, "Angel Blue" from Those Who Hunt Elves, "Shoot! Love Hunter" from Bakuretsu Hunters, and "Blind Game Again" from Gravitation) Anyway… let's get started before my insomnia eats your soul like typo demons eat my brain.

~*~

(Hiratsuka Bay)

Erina was reading her report on their progress as Akatsuki, Hory, and herself made their way back to Akatsuki's office. "It will only take three days to overhaul the engine block and the Phase Transition engines. On the other hand, it will still be at least ten more days to finish training the replacement crew. So, it's going to be another two weeks."

Akatsuki sighed. "So let's just launch as soon as the ship is repaired," dismissed he. Erina shook her head. "The new crew isn't ready, especially with what we have left of the original crew." Akatsuki nodded, catching her drift. "Yes… most of the good ones mutinied." Hory stopped and bowed in shame, slightly. "I'm afraid the new crew I've hired is not as good at their jobs as the originals." Akatsuki waved a hand, seeing it as no big deal. "Oh well, can't sweat the small stuff. At least we know they won't mutiny on us." He started walking away. "And our new ship is almost finished!"

Hory knit his eyebrows. 'A new ship, eh? It seems that my little charade has paid off, even if it was in the smallest bit.' He whispered into a small pin on his jacket. "You heard that, correct?" asked he, knowing full well the person on the other end couldn't answer.

Nevertheless, the purple-haired man, a few miles away, nodded gravely. 'This may mean more than it should.'

~*~

(Sasebo)

"In today's top story, the UE forces have successfully pushed the Jovian forces back, out of the Earth's atmosphere and Lagrange points. However, in spite of this new development, it may be several months before we are completely free from worry. We have with us today a special guest, Admiral Misumaru Kouichiro of the-" The TV cut off and Yurika blinked, pulled out of her TV-watching stupor by harsh reality.

Yukina glared at the blue-haired girl. She was still feeling crabby, after having to serve a rude couple during the morning rush at the restaurant. "Are you going to sit here watching TV all day?" Yurika looked slightly sad. "But… Otosan was on!" Yukina's glare didn't waver. "Are you going to skip work?" Yurika sighed. "No. I'm coming, okay?"

Downstairs, at the restaurant, Yurika stood in the center of the room, looking a little flustered at the slew of orders being put in, seemingly in unison. "I'll have Sweet and Sour!" "Miso Ramen here!" "Salt!" "Dumplings!" "Mine with pork!" "Chow Mein!" "Extra large please!" "Tang Mein, onegai!" "Rice Noodles!" "I'll have the Combo Platter!"

Yurika stopped for a short moment, thinking to herself. Then she raised a finger, smiling, and cried, "I've got it!" She pointed to each man and repeated his order exactly how he wanted it. "Sweet and Sour Pork. Miso Ramen. Salt Ramen. Salt Ramen with pork. Dumplings. Chow Mein. Extra Large Chow Mein. Tang Mein. Rice Noodles. Combo Platter! And that's ten teas all around! Is there anything else I can get for you, gentlemen?" They all clapped at how good she was at taking their orders, whispering to themselves that their friends were right. This was the best place to see smart pretty girls, especially recently.

Tatsumi Saizo was impressed, but not so much this time around. He heard this little spree of Yurika's often over the past two weeks. "Not bad!" Jun smiled. "That's why she graduated United Earth Academy, top of the class!"

Akito's eyebrows were raised. Today seemed to be one of their least busy days, especially since they started working here, so he actually got a chance to slow down and notice how good Yurika was at taking orders and actually remembering them. "That's the first time I've actually seen her doing some good, for once."

Jun glared at the Martian cook. "Hey! She was doing very well as the captain of the Nadesico!" Akito shot back at the man who was supposed to be his friend, "And look where that got us!" He sighed. "I guess this is all that it had to come down to. In the end, this is what we've been reduced to." He stared into the blue flame, but it didn't seem to calm him at all. It just made him feel more anxious inside. Jun glanced to where Akito was looking. He smiled slightly. The flame had no trouble calming him.

Saizo whacked Akito with his ladle. "Whaddya doin' staring at the soup? Start getting the ramen ready!" Akito squeaked, then started to rush to get to work. Saizo turned to Jun. "And you're supposed to washing dishes, not gossiping! And while you're at it," he threw the ladle into the sink, "wash this too!" Jun squeaked, "Yes sir!" and got right to work. Saizo called to Yurika in the serving room. "Sweet and sour's ready!" She came in smiling to pick it up.

~*~

In the back of the restaurant, Minato and Yukina were taking their break to do the laundry. Minato giggled. "I just love doing laundry outside!" Yukina knit her eyebrows. "Huh?"

Minato turned to her. "I forgot, you've never been on a real planet before." She pulled at blanket off the line, gathering it in her arms. "On the Nadesico we used electric dryers, but it just feels and smells so much better with the sun and wind!" She carried the blanket over to Yukina, handing it to her. "Here, see?"

Yukina picked it up, feeling a little silly trying to smell the cloth. Minato stretched in the sunshine, practically glowing. Yukina hid her face in the cloth and said, softly, "Maybe… I can stand living with you."

Minato wasn't sure she heard her. "Huh?" Yukina looked up, but kept her face hidden. "Well… I still don't like it, but… I guess some Earthlings are nice." Minato smiled, but told Yukina the truth, or at least what she thought. "There are a lot of jerks too." Yukina nodded, "Yeah," before the two of them started laughing. Minato shook her head, still chuckling. "Here, Yukina-chan. Let me help you fold the laundry."

~*~

(Kawasaki)

Itsuki padded into the study barefoot, mostly because of the very loud groan of frustration she heard up there. "Jiro?" Gai looked over his shoulder and past the chair he was sitting in to see his childhood friend. "Oh, what is it, Itsuki?" He seemed pretty calm for someone who was holding up a mouse, as if to be strangling it. Itsuki shook her head. "No luck?" Gai sighed, then turned back to the ancient computer. "Nope."

Itsuki walked over and hopped onto the desk in a flash of purple and lavender. "It's kind of obvious though. Of course our old pass codes wouldn't work in getting into Nergal's files. Hell, pulling rank wouldn't work either." Gai cocked his head. "You tried that already?" Itsuki nodded.

Gai shrugged. "Makes sense. Why would anyone in Nergal want to give passwords to the two CEOs of Mugendai Industries, especially since were one of the companies that rival them." Itsuki sighed, walked over to a tall chair, and plopped into it. "Asuka is computers, Nergal is ships, and we're missiles and robots. You'd think they'd want us to all work together."

Gai leaned back in the chair. "I really wish we could talk to everyone…" Itsuki's vindictive smile appeared. "Oh really. It seems that you really do delay your feelings, Jiro. But I knew that, somehow."

Gai raised an eyebrow at the lavender-clad girl in the black chair. "Oh? What the hell are you talking about this time, Itsuki?"

She wasn't fazed by his attempt to slow her down. "You know what I'm talking about. Jesus. This is déjà vu in the worst way." She shook her head, and pushed her loose ponytail behind the chair. "You miss him, don't you?"

Gai looked at the black keyboard in front of him. "…Yeah." He faced her again. "Don't you miss Ryoko?" She shook her head again. "Of course I do, but that's not what I mean." She clasped her hands in her lap. "I mean, I don't miss Ryoko the way you miss Akito. At least I'm on good terms with Ryoko at the moment."

Gai sighed, and then just focused on a small dot on the screen. After a few long moments, he felt a tear track down his cheek. "You're right," he choked out before pushing the keyboard to the floor with a clatter. He crossed his arms on the ebony wood of the desk and hid his face.

Itsuki got up from her perch on the chair, walked over to where Gai was sitting, and wrapped her arms around the torso of the man she'd known since she was a child. Sobs started to rake through his body, and Itsuki felt a pang of hurt. 'He really is like my little brother.' "I'm sorry for bringing it up, booger." He pulled his arms from the desk and wrapped them around her neck, crying into her shoulder. "He said he never even wanted to see me again…" whispered he, his emotions a mess.

Itsuki rubbed his back. "Shhhhhh. Don't talk, okay? Don't think, either, if you can help it." Gai shook his head slightly, holding onto Itsuki with all his being. "I can't not think about it… I can't help it… He practically owns me and… he… he…" Itsuki reached up and patted his head. "Don't speak, booger. Just feel it. I've been dropped before too. I know what it's like, especially when you're almost sure that's the only person there will ever be." She pulled her arms away and pulled the tissue box off the desk. She tugged at his arms, coaxing him to let go, and handed him a tissue.

"You just have to try to make the best of everything, even if you can't. Just try to go through your life, day by day." Gai nodded slowly, taking her words seriously for the first time in a long time. He continued to mop up his face as Itsuki ruffled his hair. "You're doing fine," she whispered, giving his shoulder a squeeze. "I hate seeing you like this. I know you've always been a crybaby, but… I never thought I would have to see the day when someone hurt you so much to bring you to this." Gai hiccupped. Itsuki smiled at him. "I'll beat him up if you want, okay?" Gai smiled slightly at that, shaking his head. Itsuki sighed. "Dammit. I wanted to beat the shit out of the little smart-mouthed ass." Gai actually laughed a little bit at their inside joke.

~*~

(Hiratsuka Bay)

Akatsuki sighed. "Do we have to file the report now, Erina? I'm really not in the mood." His cousin glared lightly at him. "That's what you have me for, isn't it?" He pushed the window with the report away. "All I'm asking you to do is to make a few notes and revisions, Nagare."

Akatsuki considered this, then realized Hory was standing right behind him. He whispered to his cousin, "Yes, and we still have to figure out what to do with Mr. Hory…" Erina nodded, then opened the files of the mutinied crewmembers. "We have to deal with everyone else, as well. Of the one hundred fifteen crewmembers that mutinied, twenty have returned to their former occupations and thirteen have asked to be reinstated on the Nadesico. We have found most of the remainder and they are under surveillance, while four members are still missing and unaccounted for. Hoshino Ruri, Maki Izumi, Amano Hikaru, and Subaru Ryoko." Their images went away, and the images of Yurika, Akito, Jun, Minato, and Yukina appeared.

Akatsuki stroked his chin. "It seems a little too convenient that the most dangerous group are all together…" Erina nodded. Their images went away, and image of Megumi appeared. "I'm going to take a shuttle to Tokyo. It seems that I'm going to have to have a little word with our communications officer." Akatsuki nodded, and sighed. "I'll look over the report while you're gone and send it to you to send to the UE." He looked up to his cousin. "Have our agents in Tokyo keep an eye out for the four still missing, and tell them to not hesitate to have them neutralized if need be."

~*~

Prospector sighed. "It's a little frightening when he's that casual about being ruthless." Mikako interrupted his thoughts by calling out, "Mr. Prospector! I don't know where this book goes!" On the other side of the aisle, Junko stood on a ladder. She nodded. "Yeah, I don't know where to put books about the 1990s!"

Eri giggled, coming up to the checkout desk in the library, where Prospector sat. "I found some manga in the Nergal bulletin file!" She opened the book and giggled again. Prospector sighed again. "Even these girls don't deserve a demotion like this."

~*~

(Sasebo)

Yukina glanced at the TV on the wall in the corner as she cleared a table during a shift. It was showing Magical Princess Natural Laichi. As a blue-haired, evil character came on screen and talked, Yukina gasped. "Hey! I know that voice!" Minato nodded, also clearing tables. "That's Megumi. She took up her old job as a seiyuu."

~*~

(Tokyo)

Megumi sighed as she finished the latest episode of Magical Princess Natural Laichi. She and Iwasaki Mari, seiyuu of Laichi, turned to the directors. "Thank you for directing us!" they cried.

Megumi was feeling crummy as she left the room, but she put on a fake smile as the producer appeared before. "Megumi, darling!" She blinked, and then smiled sadly. "Kobayashi-san." Kobayashi Kasuga took up Megumi's hands. "It's just great that you're back with us!" Megumi nodded. "Arigato." Kasuga wasn't finished. "You're doing such a wonderful job, voicing Rambutan." Megumi could only nod and say thank you again.

Mari walked past them. "See you, Meg!" Megumi pulled her hands from Kasuga's grip. "Mari, wait! Can I talk to you?"

~*~

Mari and Megumi sat in Coffee Dragon, their favorite coffee shop. Mari's jaw was slack. "You're going to quit Natural Laichi?" Megumi nodded sadly. "I can't thank Kobayashi-san enough for giving me such a big role, especially after being gone from the industry for so long, but… Natural Laichi's changed!" Now that Megumi had gotten started, she wasn't sure if she could stop. "All they ever seem to do is fight! I know there's a war going on, but this is a show for children! Are they always supposed to be reminded of the fighting? And then there's the enemy. Why are they called the Jovan? It's obvious that they're supposed to represent the Jovians! It's like… we're training kids to hate them on sight."

Mari blinked a couple of times before trying to denounce Megumi's statements. "But… the Jovan season of Natural Laichi has pluses, like new characters! I think what you're doing with Rambutan is wonderful! Why don't you just not worry about and go with the flow of things?" Megumi shook her head. "I can't!"

Mari smiled as she saw a somewhat familiar figure enter the shop. "It would be best in the long run!" She turned to the newcomer. "Isn't that what you would've said, Erina?"

Megumi gasped as she saw the black-haired woman sit down at the booth. "You?" Mari smiled at Erina. "I had no idea that you two already knew each other!" Megumi was speechless. "But…"

Mari held up her ID. 'She's a Nergal seiyuu?' Erina took over for Mari. "Megumi, have you seen the ratings for the Jovan season of Natural Laichi? They're absolutely fantastic! Your portrayal of Rambutan is one of the factors Natural Laichi is depending on. And Nergal is sure to back you up as long as you limit your public speaking to playing Rambutan and keeping you lips shut about you-know-where and you-know-who." Megumi felt tears form in her blue eyes. She jumped from her seat and ran off, crying, "I'm sorry!"

Erina called to Megumi as she left. "You can't run from us! You and your friends are nothing more than common criminals and we will hunt you down!"

~*~

Uribatake looked at his radar from where he sat in the alley. "Megumi's coming closer. I have a feeling those guys are going to try to kidnap her or something." Ariko nodded, grabbing the controls of the boy the two had created at Uribatake's house. "Most likely. Can't trust Nergal at all anymore. Want me to ready Timmy?" Uribatake nodded. "We're going to have to talk to Meg, and get rid of those guys. Just be ready to blow Timmy up when I say." The prince nodded, gripping the twin control sticks. "Ah."

~*~

Megumi ran through the streets, unsure, uncaring of where she was headed. Images flashed in her brain. Her voice-acting career, her job on the Nadesico. Developments in the war, developments in her life. Her choice to quit voice acting, her choice to leave America. 'Oh my god… I'm such a fool!'

She had to stop running when she saw a strange looking boy appeared out of an alley. He spoke, "Megumi. Megumi, I would like to talk to you." Two men behind her, she noticed, and started to run towards her. She gasped.

The boy motioned inside the alley, then took a few steps toward the men. "No! I have to speak with her privately!" The boy stretched out his arms and his hat flipped up. Megumi's eyes widened as the boy started shooting little missiles at the two men. He then tackled them, pinning them to the ground and effectively knocking them out.

Uribatake nodded to Ariko. Ariko nodded and hit the self-destruct button, sending Timmy soaring into the sky and exploding like fireworks. Uribatake waved to Megumi. "Over here, Meg!"

~*~

Megumi couldn't believe it. "So they've had me under surveillance all this time?" Uribatake nodded. "It's not just you though. They've surveillance on every ex-Nadesico crewmember. And since they've caught off or communicators-" Megumi nodded. "We're separated and alone."

Ariko piped up from the railing before them. "From what me and Uribatake-san have heard, there are still those they haven't found yet. Like Oneesama." Uribatake shook his head. "I'm not sure what Ruri thinks she might be doing. If our communicators have been cut off, it could be safe to say that the computer's software has been rewritten. Omoikane may not be able to reconnect to the network. I know it sounds like something Ruri would say, but I think the Nadesico we know isn't the Nadesico anymore." Ariko nodded gravely. "We've been trying to figure out who's surveying who, and try to get everyone together."

Megumi blinked. "How long do you think that will take?" Uribatake stood. "It's been difficult, and we've been without results. But once the truth about the Jovians really being humans is released, it shouldn't be too hard." Megumi looked down. "And when will that happen?" Uribatake stared straight ahead. "Possibly when the fighting will end and we can all live together in peace." Ariko shrugged. "Or when pigs grow wings."

Megumi smiled. "That soon, huh?"

~*~

(Sasebo)

Izumi watched the steam start to come out of the teapot. "We're out of filters, so I had to strain the tea through a page of Shakespeare." At first, Hikaru's jaw dropped. 'Shakespeare's Poems and Play in Original English' was one of Izumi's favorite books. But, Izumi continued and Hikaru realized she had nothing to worry about. "Now I have The Tempest in a Teapot. That's trouble brewing." She giggled.

Ryoko sighed. "She's gone over the edge." Hikaru nodded. "Way over."

~*~

Akito stood, slightly wringing his hands as Saizo looked over the dish he made. "Doesn't look too bad…" He tasted it. "Hmm… Let me think." Akito blinked. Saizo kept talking, though. "I ought to make you train for another ten years, but this is better than you can get in most restaurants nowadays." Akito's eyes widened. "You mean I passed, sir?" Saizo nodded. "With flying colors." Akito smiled. "Oh thank you very much, sir!"

Saizo gave him a half-smile. "You've obviously been studying under one hell of a chef!" Akito nodded. "Yes."

~*~

(Hiratsuka Bay)

Inez stood at the ordering counter in the Nadesico's cafeteria. "You're a peculiar one. Why compelled you to stay?" How Mei stopped sharpening knives to answer her. "My contract wasn't up yet. And besides, there's work to do." Inez smiled. "Still taking care of that kitten?" How Mei smiled back. "That's right."

~*~

Inside Omoikane's main core, the symbol of the new program appeared. A new message crossed it though. "Those Unforgettable Days, For Them, I Live." The symbol disappeared, being replaced by the original symbol for Omoikane.

~*~

(Tokyo)

Megumi had turned in early, holding onto her communicator as if it were a teddy bear. Her room in her apartment was decorated with posters. It seemed almost as if she had never left Tokyo to be on the Nadesico in the first place. A little red light on her communicator flashed on. "Megumi? Miss Reinard?" The voice woke Megumi, and she opened her blue eyes. "Huh?"

A window showing the image of Ruri opened. "Miss Reinard. It's me, Ruri." She was dressed in a cat suit. "Nyao?"

~*~

(Sasebo)

"I don't believe it!" cried Ryoko. The other two Angels crowded around Ryoko so they could see Ruri. "Yes, it's me," answered the Princess.

~*~

Akito smiled as he saw his silver-haired friend. "It's Ruri!" Saizo was about to freak out. "What's a Ruri?"

~*~

In their apartment above the restaurant, Yukina, Jun, Yurika, and Minato crowded around their table to see Ruri's window. "Isn't it cold, hiding in that refrigerator, Ruriruri-chan?" Ruri nodded slightly. "Yes, but this suit Miss How Mei gave me is very warm." Her pale lips turned up.

~*~

(Tokyo)

Uribatake dropped a wrench in surprise. "She smiled! Ruri smiled!" Ariko ran over. "Really? Let me see!"

~*~

(Hiratsuka Bay)

Ruri kept her hands on the small console in front of her, determined to keep all the communications with all of the mutinied crewmembers open. Omoikane sat beside her, unresponsive, but fully operational, with the electric blue lights running through his eyes. "I would have made contact sooner, but I've had trouble teaching Omoikane to impersonate the personality of the computer's new program. As it is, these messages are specially coded so that only you may receive them." Megumi smiled. "The computer was pretending?" Ruri nodded.

The silver-haired girl continued. "A year ago, Admiral Fukube told us that the Nadesico was our ship. To this day, I believe that statement is true. Nergal doesn't own the Nadesico, or the people who run it. We do. This ship is ours! And it's time to take it back!"

In the kitchen, How Mei looked around at how empty it was. She sighed, smiling. "Looks like I've got to get ready for company!"

Ruri glanced at the orange clad boy next to her. "It looks like we have to get a little rough, Omoikane." A communications window appeared, showing the letters "OK". Ruri smiled.

The security screens inside the dock filled with Ruri's face. "Attention all Nergal personnel! I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid I have to do this." Omoikane closed off all of the offices, not letting anyone get out to protect the Nadesico.

~*~

(Sasebo)

Yurika, Jun and Yukina came into the kitchen. "You ready to go, Akito?" asked the captain. Akito nodded enthusiastically. "You bet!" Minato came in, waving to them. "I'm coming too!"

~*~

Ryoko watched as Ruri's window disappeared. "It's time to fire up the Aestis." Hikaru squealed in excitement. "Yes! Let's!" Izumi smirked and strummed on her ukulele. Ryoko sighed. "Okay. You two head for Hiratsuka. I'll run to grab the captain off of Tenkawa and bring her so she can get the ship started early. I have a feeling we're going to have to get going as soon as possible."

~*~

(Hiratsuka)

Prospector handed Mikako the aprons without any logos on them. She smiled at the other cooks. "Okay girls! Time to change aprons!" Eri glared at her. "Change them why?" Mikako practically bounced. "Stealth!"

~*~

(Kawasaki)

Itsuki glanced at her childhood friend, who seemed much more ready to face the world now than he did a few hours ago. "I think we better get ready to go." Gai nodded. "I bet they'll come and pick us up." Itsuki shrugged. "Even if they don't, Meg, Uribatake-san, and Ariko have to get there somehow." She smiled. "Time to see if your family's extra strength batteries will get our Aestis and our little crowd to Hiratsuka."

Gai nodded, and held up his communicator. "I'll work on telling them to get here, you work on prepping the Aestis. See you in a sec." Itsuki nodded before running to her room to change into her uniform.

~*~

(Tokyo)

It wasn't long before Gai actually did get a window to Uribatake's house. "Hey, Professor!" Uribatake raised an eyebrow at the pilot. "The hell?"

Gai waved to the two mechanics, smiling. "Hey, I know you received Ruri-chan's message too, and me and Itsuki are offering to give y'all a ride!" A window opened next to his showing a direct way from their house to Kawasaki, and to Yamada Manor. Uribatake smirked. "Hey, if you get offered something for free," he turned to the prince, "might as well take it, eh?" Ariko nodded.

It also didn't take long for Ariko and Uribatake to be back into their blue uniforms. As Uribatake pulled on his jacket, Ayuko and Genji appeared at the doorway. Ariko grimaced. He expected something like this to happen. Genji glared at Ariko. 'I hate him. I don't know why, but I hate him.'

Ayuko sighed, glaring at Seiya's back. "You're going off to chase other women again, aren't you? Just as well. It's only a shame we didn't get a chance to finish things up first." Seiya turned to her. "I'm sorry, Ayuko. But I have friends who need me, who depend on me." Ayuko continued to glare at him. "We have loose ends to tie up, Seiya. When will you be back?" He shrugged. "It may be tomorrow. It may be ten years from now. But I swear to you, Ayuko. I will return." Ayuko smiled slightly. "Take care of yourself, Seiya." He nodded. "You too, Ayuko. We'll fix everything after this is all over."

Ayuko turned to the silver-haired boy. "You keep on eye on Seiya for me, okay? Make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble." Ariko nodded slowly. Seiya laid a hand on the prince's shoulder. "Let's go, Ariko-chan."

~*~

"Hey, seiyuu-girl!" Megumi was just looking at her orange uniform when Gai's window appeared. "You're coming back, right?" Megumi looked at the floor. "I don't know."

Gai's eyebrows knit. "Whaddya mean, 'I don't know'? We need you Meg!" He started getting dramatic, raising a hand to his forehead. "No! Never again will I be awaken by Megumi-chan's beautiful voice, motivating us to get out of bed and to have a good day!"

Megumi smiled. "I really don't like you, but thank you." Gai gave her a thumbs-up. "No prob, seiyuu-girl. I know you're completely against people like me, but how about I give you a lift in my Aesti? Or are you going to take a slow-ass shuttle to Hiratsuka?" Megumi nodded. "I'll take a ride, thank you very much."

~*~

(Hiratsuka Bay)

Prospector stopped pulling his cart when he ran into some guards. "Halt! What're you doing here?" Prospector didn't even blink. "What does it look like? I've got a special noodle delivery for the Nadesico." The guards surrounded him. He tried another approach. "Please let me through?" He reached up and scratched his head. "Or… are you going to be difficult? Girls?" The five How Mei Girls popped out from behind the cart.

~*~

(Sasebo)

Saizo sighed at the truck, Akito in his pink Aesti in the back, the extra black Aesti behind it. "You take care of yourself, Akito. You've got a hell of a lot of talent; don't need to see it go to waste." Akito smiled at his former employer. "You take care of yourself too, Saizo-san." Saizo shook his head. "I'll be okay. You've come a long way, Akito. The last time I saw you, you were running away from everything that bothered you. It's about time you faced your problems. Hell, I was surprised when you turn up again after being gone for two years, and with four women with you no less!"

In the cab of the truck, Jun sighed. 'He never could remember that I was male.' "Actually," he piped up, "I'm a man." Saizo didn't really notice that he said anything. "Right. Well, my restaurant won't be as popular without these lovely ladies waiting the tables." He walked up to the window of the truck. "Goodbye, girls! Take care!"

Minato smiled. "You too." Yurika waved. "See you, Saizo-san!" Yukina shot him a victory sign. "Take care of the shop!" Jun sighed. "Let's get going."

As the truck started leaving, Akito waved to Saizo as his figure grew smaller. "Thanks for everything!" His smile left his face soon though. "Okay… time to storm the Nadesico." He looked up, seeing the same broken glass shield as he did nearly two years ago. "But this time, there won't be any running away."

~*~

(Hiratsuka Bay)

Akatsuki walked through the hall of the Nergal office as some worried executive filled him in on the situation. "The mainframe has been hacked, and we're unable to let our security people out of the docking area! Also, various ex-crewmembers have broken into the Nadesico in the confusion!"

Akatsuki was calm, despite the new developments. "The confusion will be temporary. Besides, there's nothing to worry about. They can't do anything without the Master Key."

~*~

Prospector made it to the bridge, but it seems that he appeared caught. Mr. Hory stood on the lowest level. He reached into his inside coat pocket.

~*~

(Kawasaki)

Itsuki stood at the front gates of Yamada Manor, smiling at the three people who showed up. "It's about damn time!" She opened the gates and ran into the courtyard towards her violet Aestivalis. Climbing halfway up, she called towards the house, "Jiro no baka! Hurry your ass up!" Just then, Gai came hopping out of the mansion, trying to get one of his metal shoes on. "Dammit, Itsuki! The fuck is with putting MY uniform in YOUR armoire?!?" The purple-haired pilot giggled, then turned to the other crewmembers. "Okay, Uribatake-san's with me. Ariko-chan and Meg, you're with the booger. Any questions?" Uribatake started climbing up the side of the violet Aestivalis as Itsuki hopped into the cockpit. "Why am I with you?"

Itsuki shrugged. "Let's put it this way. I may be older than him, but Jiro no baka's much taller. I say it's easier to shove a tall person, a short girl, and a young kid into a cockpit than otherwise. That, and it's also easier to shove a short girl and a rather old guy into a cockpit than otherwise." Uribatake stroked his chin as he climbing into the cockpit. "True enough." He glared at the lesbian. "And I'm not old." She closed her eyes in defiance. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."

Gai helped Ariko into his cockpit first. After the prince was settled he came back down to help the violet-haired seiyuu into the green Aestivalis. On the way up, they too, had a conversation. "I'm surprised you're even listening to Itsuki. She's one of the kinds of people you don't like." Megumi sighed, and then looked down. Not a smart move. She shrieked, and grabbed onto Gai's leg. He stopped abruptly. "Seiyuu-girl, the hells are you doing to my leg?" Megumi took some deep breaths before letting go. "Gomen ne. I'm just… scared of heights." Gai shrugged slightly, and then continued climbing up. Megumi sighed again before continuing up too. "Look, I'm sorry, okay?"

Gai hopped into his seat. "For what? Being a self-righteous closed-minded wench?" Megumi had to blink. It wasn't everyday she was called a wench. A mere slip of a girl, yes. A bitch, yes. A whore, yes. A wench? No. She looked away. "I… guess that's it."

"Don't be." Megumi blinked, then glanced at the red-clad pilot. "Huh?" He closed his eyes. "I said, 'Don't be'. Look, I am who I am, and you are who you are. Nobody can change you without your permission." She didn't know she had hit the nail on the head, but Megumi was almost positive that, from his tone, Gai was speaking from experience.

Megumi shook her head. "No. It's all right, really." Gai glanced at her, and then started up the Aesti. He waited for Itsuki's to take off before he did. Megumi didn't stop talking, however. "When I first met you, I thought you were just an obnoxious idiot that had practically bribed Nergal to hire them." Gai chuckled. "That's pretty close!" Megumi smiled. "I guess… I just never really thought to look past people until now." Gai focused on the screen in front of him, listening intently on her words. "You're talking about Akatsuki, aren't ya?" Megumi nodded slowly. "How did you-"

"Hey, you're not the only one who hears stuff off of the Nadesico grapevine." He smiled at the communications officer, who smiled back. "Yeah, it's about the Akatsuki thing. I thought… He was a really great person. But… How could someone like him be so malicious to attempt to kill a little girl-"

"As sweet as Yukina," finished Ariko, sitting quietly. The two adults' gaze flashed to him. Megumi giggled. "Oh, that's so cute!" Ariko blushed, then made a very embarrassed face as he realized they heard him. Gai smiled. "Ariko and Yukina sitting in a tree…" Megumi joined in the song. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Ariko covered his face, yelling, "You guys both suck!" Gai and Megumi smiled at each other, making a silent truce.

~*~

(Sasebo)

"Faster, Jun! We've got to get to Hiratsuka!" cried Yurika. Jun, his foot about to hit the gas pedal, stopped the car as soon as he saw the flash of red and blue. The red Aesti before them opened up, showing Ryoko. "Hop in, Kanchou! I'll give you a ride to Hiratsuka!" Yurika hurriedly climbed out a window and pulled herself into Ryoko's cockpit.

Ryoko opened a window to Akito. "Tenkawa, cover us!" He squeaked in surprise. "What?" Ryoko growled at the stupidity of the Martian. She pointed down. "Look at your radar you idiot!" Akito glanced down and squeaked again. "Yipe!" Ryoko yelled, "That's 'Yipe' times six!" before closing the window.

~*~

(Hiratsuka Bay)

Akatsuki read the note left on his desk and burst out laughing at how dumb the whole scene was. Erina glared at him. "And just what is so funny?" Akatsuki shook his head. "Oh my god! That Goat Hory! I thought that he was just a boring old 'Yes sir' man, but I've seriously underestimated him!" Erina put her hands on her hips. "What are you talking about?"

Akatsuki held up a note that read, "I've taken the key. Goat Hory." "He took our Master Key and split!"

~*~

On the ship's bridge, Ruri and Mr. Hory slurped up ramen as fast they seemed to be able. Prospector took this time to start talking. "This is only Phase One. We're somehow going to have to collect crewmembers from all over the world, not to mention figure out where we're going to go."

"Hold on." Hory put down his bowl. "Another bowl please." Ruri nodded quickly. "That's right, we're starving!"

~*~

(Sasebo)

Three of the six helicopters tailed after Jun's truck, firing on them. Jun did his best to avoid this shots. One of the helicopter pilots shouted, "If you stop, you'll be safe!" Jun cried back out the window, "Why do I have trouble believing you!" Yukina cried, holding onto Minato, "Liars liars liars liars!" Minato said calmly, "They don't seem very trustworthy."

Akito didn't want to waste his Aestivalis battery just yet. He called to Jun, just in case the blue-haired XO was considering it, "Don't stop!" Jun cried back, flooring it, "I'm not going to!"

Far ahead of them, the other three helicopters chased Ryoko, who was flying her Aesti like a bat out of hell. "They don't seem to care that we're not firing on them, do they?" growled the tomboy. Yurika, next to her, smiled. "Oh, don't worry about those meanies, Ryoko. It's only a little farther until we get to Hiratsuka!" Ryoko sighed. "Please don't try to fix up my mood swings, Kanchou. That's one of the first lessons Itsuki learned."

Yurika looked down at the ground below them, starting to talk to herself. "Wouldn't this be a great place for me and Akito to start a restaurant? Akito would be head cook of course, and I could be the mysterious, pretty waitress that's the talk of the town. It would be hard at first, but we'd get popular quickly." She smiled serenely. "That's what we could do, once this war is over." She sighed, holding her hat to her chest. "But I don't think that would be enough for Akito anymore. The Nadesico has come to mean so much to him! To all of us!"

Ryoko took a deep breath and focused on her view screen. "Right." 'I was sure that Yurika was okay with Tenkawa being with someone else, but I guess with them living together, and with him now single, that little flame's been rekindled. Nevertheless, she's right. We all depend on the evil little hunk of metal known as the Nadesico.'

~*~

(Hiratsuka)

Ryoko continued to fly the Aestivalis toward Hiratsuka. "Dammit! I can't believe they're shooting over a city!" They finally made it to the dock. Hikaru and Izumi's windows popped open. "You're late, Ryoko!" cried the redhead. Izumi strummed her ukulele. "It's too late, baby now, it's too late…" Ryoko opened the cockpit, and Yurika headed straight for the Nadesico and the bridge.

~*~

"Cheers to the dearly departed Yamadas. Without them today, we would still be sitting on our asses at home." Itsuki's window closed instantly after her statement, and the two strangely colored Aestivalises touched down near Hikaru and Izumi's. They opened their cockpits and let the prince, the mechanic, and the seiyuu out.

~*~

Yurika finally made it to the bridge. "Have no fear!" she cried, copying her statement from the first time she boarded the Nadesico. Hory smiled and finished the exclamation for her, handing her the Master Key. "The captain's here!" Yurika grasped the key and smiled to all that were present. "Prepare for launch! Everyone to your duty stations!"

Ruri sat in her usual seat, Hory took Minato's chair, and Prospector plopped behind Jun's controls. Yurika plugged in the key and started up the Nadesico. Ruri reported their status. "Phase Transition engines online, Nadesico ready for lift-off." Yurika nodded. Megumi cried, "Sorry I'm late!" as she ran onto the bridge and sat in her seat next to Ruri. "Opening communication channels!" Yurika smiled at the purple-haired girl she once shared a rivalry with. "Thanks Megumi." She looked at Hory. "Set course for Akito and Jun's Aestivalises!" Ruri checked the maps to see how far they were. "Pilot Tenkawa and Executive Officer Aoi are still outside our energy transfer range."

~*~

Nevertheless, the pink and black Aestivalises were running top speed away from the three helicopters that still pursued them. Akito groaned, Minato in his cockpit, "Dammit! Why are they shooting at us?" A communications window appeared from the other Aesti, showing Yukina and Jun in the same situation. "They're bad guys! Shoot them down! Shoot them down!" cried the Jovian girl. Jun glared at her. "We're not shooting anybody!"

Akito sighed, but kept the Aestivalis running as fast as he could. "We only have thirty minutes of energy left!" Minato gasped. "No! Wait, our battery's recharging!" Akito raised an eyebrow. "Huh?" They both looked up and, wouldn't you know it, there was the Nadesico. Yurika's face appeared. "I'm sorry, Akito, are we late?" Akito shook his head, about to laugh at the déjà vu of the entire scene. "Actually, that was pretty fast." Yurika smiled. "I rushed the schedule for you!"

As soon as Jun and Akito docked and let the ladies out, Uribatake was on them like ugly on a cockroach. "Oh guys! Look at how you've abused my babies!" Ariko stood nearby, shaking his head in shame. Akito scratched the back of his head. "Gomen nasai…" Ryoko smiled. "He's joking! Great to have ya back, Uribatake!" Hikaru nodded ecstatically.

~*~

Jun made it back to the bridge and his post with only one statement. "We've got our crew!" Minato took over for Mr. Hory and Yukina stood by the captain. Mr. Hory looked skeptical as they started to get in range of the Defense Barriers. "We still have to get past the Big Barrier."

Prospector was typing away at the hidden computer on his ramen cart. "Yes, but these defense systems have a such thing as a cancel code!" Ruri stated their actions to the crew. "We are now hacking into the UE's defense computer systems." Omoikane sat beside her, working completely again. He was smiling broadly as the electric blue lights streamed through his eyes.

Prospector typed in one sentence. "To whom does the blue Earth belong?" The Big Barrier shut down completely. There were no missiles fired on the Nadesico, nor any Delphiniums deployed to bring their capture. They glided through where they should have been experiencing resistance.

Prospector, back on the highest level, turned to the captain. "Now we need a destination." Yurika nodded. "Our first objective is to locate Yukina's older brother." Yukina smiled. Hory looked at the Jovian girl. "Coordinates?" The brown-haired girl pointed straight ahead. "Head for Jupiter and we're sure to find him!" Ariko, hanging around on the lowest level, smiled broadly. Megumi giggled at the silver-haired boy. Ruri sighed. "Of course." Minato smiled at the brown-haired girl.

~*~

(Hiratsuka)

Erina groaned at the entire scene. "The Nadesico got away. AGAIN!" Akatsuki chuckled. Well, when we asked for the best people to ever crew a ship, we certainly got what we asked for! Too bad they're a little hard to control. What a shame." He looked down for a moment before looking up again. "Well, it's not a total loss. Now we'll get to see how the Kakitsubata will fare against the Nadesico. Won't we, doctor?"

Erina turned around to see her now ex-lover, Inez Fressange. 'Shit. Forgot all about her. I'm a little shocked as to why Nagare still trusts her. She staged this entire thing, including the revealing of many of Nergal secrets to those not loyal to us. Namely, the Nadesico's crew.' She closed her black eyes. 'She may be a Nergal child, being raised by us and all, but that doesn't seem to make her care about the consequences of her thirst for chaos.'

TBC…

~*~A/N: If you can believe it, this chapter was finished in TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. We haven't done that well since chapter five or something! Imagine it! 13 ½ pages in 24 hours! Anyway. Yes, Ariko is definitely getting a crush on Yukina! ^^ Oh, and wasn't Gai and Itsuki's bonding scene just so sad you wanted a hug? I sure did! ;; Anyway, how did you like this portrayal of this episode? You know, I think people seemed to forget the Jun's a pilot too when they wrote the script for this episode. That really bugged me. So it seems that he got to exemplify his lack-of-skill in piloting! ^^ Okay, like I said, how did you like this chapter? Was it good? Was it crappy-as-crap? Oh, a note. I wouldn't expect the next chapter so soon. See, I'm about to start moving, and that means a pack up of the old compy. >< But don't you worry; I'll be taking the time to plan out the next chapter! ^^ In the next chapter, Tsukumo and Gai meet! If I remember correctly, Bearit-san wanted to know how they would get along, so let's see shall we? And, um… some other stuff happens that I'm not sure about yet, so yeah. ^^ Welp, I'll see you next time and review me as always!