Chapter 17: Baby matter
"Give me your seeds now, Shota." Jura was using her sexual to persuade Shota to have a baby with her.
"There must be some misunderstanding here. Help! Somebody? Anyone?" Shota try to evade the woman but he fail. She was on top on him.
"Don't try to fool me anymore. I want those seeds and I want them now." Jura kept forcing.
"Jura! I can't!" The black haired male turned his face to the side.
"Why not?"
This time, Misty emerged to the rescue when she passed by the men's toilet and heard someone scream. "Oh my god! How dare you do that?"
"Misty, it's not what you think." Shota explained.
"Yes Misty. It is what you think." Jura fired the girl.
"Jura! You are going too far!"
"Just leave her alone. Where are we now? Oh, why can't you give me your seed? Do you need anyone's permission?"
"Of course he can't and he won't do that!"
"Why not?! I thought you like children."
"Yes, I do. But I'll only have children with Meia." Shota struggled.
"Why? Can't you have children with me?"
"That is a no for your question! He is married with Meia. A man cannot betray his wife after he is married including having children. Don't you get that?"
Jura was shock, "Is that real?"
Shota nodded.
Instantly, Jura acted like a spoil kid, "No way. Why don't I know that?"
"For god sake, who will tell you if you are going to ruin this marriage? Thanks for cooperation and... Let him go!" Misty pulled out the victim.
"Thanks, Misty." Shota stands up.
"No problem. Just leave the hell out of here." Misty suggested. Then, the room was left with the poor Jura inside, who's soaking in sorrow.
"I let a potential father of my child flee away from my own hand." Jura was regret for what she done.
Meanwhile, Meia is doing her proposal for the meeting. Just when she is concentrating on her work, someone sneaked into the meeting room.
"Hi Misty." The dread leader said while she is working.
A head popped out behind the monitor, "Oh no! I've been busted again! Why do I always fail to surprise you?"
"Several times each day? I've been immune."
Misty is frustrated, "I just feel boring."
"You can help vice-captain in the radar room. She is locating the potential harvester's base."
"I don't think she needs my help. Anyway, why don't you have more time with Shota? Both of you aren't seems like a married couple."
"I'm seen him everyday. Isn't that enough?"
"No. You must spend your time with him doing other things. Not your work."
"I think every couple have their different way to spend their time with each other."
"Like what?" Misty was interested on the couple's routine.
"Training and battle."
Misty fainted when she heard that answer. "That is not spending time with each other. You need to do something special, and something romantic."
"Everyday special? I don't have anytime for that."
"Okay, making a baby won't waste you much time, right?"
Meia stopped typing. "Why are you asking that question in a sudden?"
"Jura had just forcing Shota to have baby with her."
"I know. He told me."
"Don't you worry, or jealous? Both of you just being married for a couple of month and she has started to ruin your marriage."
"It's not that serious, is it?"
"Not serious? Jura is more evil than you knew. She will do anything to have his seeds."
"So? What's the relationship with the baby?"
"It can strengthen your marriage and get rid of Jura. Besides, everyone knows that Shota likes children. Why not having a baby with him earlier?"
Something had caught Meia's mind. "Actually, I'm not planning to have any."
"What? Did Shota know that?"
"I don't think he is. I can't tell him that. He will be hurt."
"It will hurt him more if he doesn't know it."
"Misty, being a parent is not that easy as it sound. Besides, we are still battling with the harvester. I just don't want to add more problems."
"Then, are you going to wait until the harvester is gone? It may take your life time. Shota loves children and you know that."
"I know. Misty, our situation is not allowing that. We could be killed at anytime. I rather die childless than to leaving my child being an orphan. You and I understand the bitterness being an orphan more than anyone else, don't you think?"
"You are right. But Kahlua too is born in this circumstance."
"She is different. Ezra was already being pregnant before we start the journey." Meia put her hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "Misty, I appreciate for your caring. But I know what I'm doing. I'll talk to Shota to hope him understand."
"Okay, I didn't mean to border your private life. However, you must talk to Shota as soon as possible. This is very important."
"I know, I know."
"Lunch?"
Meia smiles and say, "1500."
"Oh! You haven't change at all." Misty grumbled and left.
Duero was concentrating on data analyse. He always remained soundless when he is working.
"So everything is fine, right?" Meia asked. She is doing her regular check up.
"Your brain injury is fully recovered now." Duero turned his seat to face his patient.
Finally, Meia get the answer she is been waiting for. Then, the doctor the injector and injects the medication on her arm.
"I thought you said that I have recovered."
"Yes."
"Then why do I need this?"
"You mean this injection?"
"Yes."
"Do you need me to explain it deeper?"
"No, no, no. Just let it be simple."
"There's a slightly bleed from your virginal. This will stop it."
"Stop it? Isn't that normal a woman bleeding during her menstruation?"
"Yes. But this is not during your menstruation."
Meia is getting confuse. The doctor got the message and he decided to show some imaging to explain the whole question. However, the answer is beyond her expectation.
"Does this answer all your questions?"
"A baby?"
"Actually, it's just an embryo."
This is worrying Meia. She did not plan to have any child. "You mean I'm pregnant?"
"That's the only explanation. You must be careful during these future months." Then, the doctor noticed the woman is not happy. "I thought every woman will be happy to hear that."
"You don't understand, doctor." Meia was leaving.
"Do you need my help?"
"Thanks, but I'll solve the problem by myself."
"Problem?" Duero found the word is interesting and he began to type his report.
Meia is heading to the canteen. She feels unguided. A new life is inside her and a new burden. Then, she saw a toddler walking fast to her.
"Pyoro 2, don't go too far!" Pyoro was following Kahlua. Behind them is Ezra.
Meia lifted up the baby and give to Pyoro.
"Thanks Meia." Pyoro turns an angry face to the baby. "Pyoro 2, you are a naughty girl." The baby laughed.
"Oh, Meia, thanks for the help. She is getting uncontrollable." Ezra said.
"You're welcome." Emotionless, the dread leader said and she left.
Ezra noticed the girl is unhappy. "I wonder what is going wrong."
A few pilots are laughing when they heard a joke enjoying their lunch. Only Meia is quiet.
"Ne Onesan, isn't that funny?" Misty turned her head and smiled. When she realized the woman was not paying attention, she stops smiling. "Onesan! Onesan!"
"Huh?" Meia finally noticed someone was calling her.
"What got into you?"
"Nothing."
"Are you sure? Do you need to talk?"
Meia stood up. "Sorry Misty. Please excuse me. I need to go." Then, she left the canteen in a rush.
"Where is leader going?" Dita asked.
"I don't know."
"Let her be. She always acts weird." Hibiki said.
Back to her room, Meia sits on the bed and panting. Tension inside her is driving her crazy. Suddenly, she saw her music box and opens it. The music which is played comforts her and the picture of her parents has recalls her memory. Without notice, tears drop on the picture. She missed her parents.
"I don't want my child to be an orphan like me." She murmured. So, the only solution is to talk to her husband.
Bart is dragging his tired body to his room and fall on his bed. "I think I'm going to die."
"Don't worry. We'll bring flowers to your grave." Hibiki teased while he is playing poker. Then, he claps his hand with the others and they laughed.
"A bunch of rude. I wonder you have any heart."
"Sorry, my heart has been given to my buddy. Now, open. I'm full house! Looks like I'm win." Hibiki said proudly.
"Way to go, Hibiki. What about you?" Joe said.
Duero is still holding his cards and not responding.
"Don't worry, Duero. No body will laugh a rookie when he's lose." Hibiki was confident.
Therefore, the doctor shows his cards. The men opened their mouths and widen their eyes.
"This is what a rookie got?"
"I guess this is a double full house. Am I right?" The doctor asked.
"No way! I lost to a rookie?" Hibiki was frustrated.
"Don't you learn from your lesson? A quick-tempered will always lose to the person who is calm." Bart offended.
"Looks who is saying? The pot calls the kettle black." Both the boys are having a fight.
"Tweedledum and tweedledee." Joe said.
"Shut up!" They yelled.
"Did I miss anything?" Shota came in.
"How nice, sergeant! You're back to visit us!" Bart showed grateful.
"So what's blow you here?" Joe asked.
"Like Bart said, I came to see you."
"We meet each other all the time. Go back to your bossy wife."
"Hibiki, don't you get it? He is doing this for us." Bart said.
"Then what do we get? He's having a nice treat from the women and we are still sleeping in a 'compact cell room'!"
"Why don't you marry too? You can also live like him." Joe suggested.
"No! Living with a woman, I rather die."
"However, I think that our lives here are getting better. At least, the women won't be harsh on us anymore." Joe said.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. But we still don't have our own room."
"Remember the objective why we are here? To live with the women. On other words, we need to marry one of these women to get our treats." Bart said.
"What do you think I am? A dog? I'll never give in." Hibiki said.
"It's up to you." Bart said.
Shota feels funny about the boy's conversation. When he planned to leave, he saw his wife, waiting for him.
"I meet you guys at 1700."
"We knew that." Hibiki said.
Shota walks to meet his wife. "Meia, are you waiting for me?"
"Shota, we need to talk."
"It's serious, right? Wait." Then, the couple went to the park.
At the bio garden, Meia has not find any word to start the topic. Therefore, Shota takes the incentive to talk.
"So, what do you need to tell me?"
"I'm pregnant."
Shota feels he is on top of the sky. "Really? I'm going to be a father?" Then, he becomes quiet. "What's wrong, Meia? Why don't you feel happy?"
"I don't want to have any child."
"Why? I thought you like children."
"Yes I am but raising them is another question."
"But you are now pregnant. Are you going to take the abortion?"
"I can't decide it." Meia turned her back to him.
The man puts his hands on her shoulders and turns her around. "Meia, look at me. You can't take the abortion, okay? This is my child too. We'll find the way out together. No matter what's happen, don't kill your own child." Then, Shota brings her to the room.
The Nirvana is not an ordinary ship. Instead, it is beyond extraordinary. Although the crews don't know what is going on outside the universe, but the inside is everything under their control, including secrets. Secrets between them don't even exist and it will be spread out in just a minute.
"Oh!"
"Really?"
"I can't believe it!"
"NO!"
"Yes!"
"Yippy!"
"Huh?"
"Are you sure?" A girl asked.
Paiway smirks, "Absolutely."
So, if you have such dedicated and skilful 'news reporter', who needs television and newspaper?
"Take a rest. I'll be back at night. We'll discuss it later." Shota told his wife before he went out.
"Maybe he's right. I shouldn't kill my baby. It's innocent." Meia thought. All of the sudden, someone is calling her.
"You're my hero!"
"Congratulates!"
"What's going on?" Shota has no idea that the 'wind' has changed its direction, to him.
"You become a father."
"How do you know that?"
"We are a big family, Shota. There will be no secret."
"But at least let it comes from my mouth."
"Too late. Someone did your work."
"Paiway." Shota was frustrated.
"Correct. You know what? You just win a grand prize." Hibiki said.
"Stop teasing me."
Hugo put his arm around the future father's neck. "Cheer up, man! Everyone is just caring you."
Shota raised his head and clapped his hands to draw the attention. "Alright guys! Warm up!"
"I knew more of this ship. It is horrible." Shota murmured while he drying his hair with a towel. "I hope Meia won't face the same problem as I am."
When he opened the door, he saw the room is piling with a lot of presents. "I guess not."
Meia is sitting on the bed and looking him. "We have another problem."
"What's this about?" Shota checks the presents.
"I almost forgot that we live in a big family."
"These are from them? Seems like they care about the baby more than we do."
"I hope it can hide from Okashira longer." Then, Meia's communicator is beeping. The caller is their respectful captain.
"Meia, I have already consulted the doctor. You condition is not allowing you to lead the team temporary. Is Shota besides you?"
Disappointed, Meia passed the communicator to Shota. "Shota, it will be a burden for you. Do you need other crews to take over your position for short-term?"
"Thanks, Okashira. I don't want to be suspended." The couple are then glancing on each other.
Magno smiles, "Very well. Please take a good care on Meia and congratulation."
"Thanks, I will." Shota closed the communicator. "I guess it's too late, Meia. You've been busted."
"Thanks for reminding me. Now I'm going to be a prisoner."
"Don't worry Meia. You'll be the happiest mother." Subsequently, Shota pick up a maternity dress. "First, starts from attire."
"Don't cry, Jura." Barnette soothe the heart-broken woman and passed over the tissue to Jura. Many women are surrounding her and giving their condolence.
"You don't understand. I had never been this regret before." Jura is sobbing.
"Jura, you are a dread leader now. It is something to be happy for."
"But it is an acting dread leader. Plus, I would be happier if I can be a first Mejerle woman who used a man's seed to give birth a baby."
Joe is holding his breakfast and he saw Jura. To show that he is a friendly, he decided to congratulate the woman. However, he is making a bad mistake. "Hey Jura, I heard you've been appointed to be an acting dread leader. Congratulates!"
Hearing this, the woman wails, "Wha..a...a..a...a!!!"
Then, the women around her wave their hands, showing a sign for the boy to leave.
Joe didn't get the message. "What? I just want to be nice. Is that guilty?"
Seeing the condition is getting critical, Hibiki decides to give help. "Come here you idiot." He pulled the boy to another table.
"What's the big deal? Why everyone treats me like I'm condemned by history."
"Because you really are."
"I thought we should be nice to them."
"Yes, but not at this moment."
"What do you mean?"
"Can't you get it? This is between woman and woman. It is not the time for you to be a gentleman. They'll kill you before you do."
"Then what should I do now?"
"Keep quiet."
"Women are really unreasonable."
"Good. You finally notice that."
"Honey, honey, wake up." Meia awakes her husband.
"Let me sleep. I'm tired." Shota gets back to sleep.
"No. You're late. You have a meeting this morning."
Then, the man finally rises up and prepares himself. "Whao Meia. You look great in this."
Meia looks the cream-colour maternity dress she worn. "Really?"
"Yeah."
"Oh! Look at the time now. You're late now, quick!" Meia finally alerted that the time is getting short. She quickly helps her husband to wear the military coat.
"I'll go now." Just as Shota opened the door, Jura burst in and embraces Meia.
"Jura, are you okay?" After the surprise, Meia asked the woman while she saw her husband give sign for her that he is going out.
"No, Meia. I feel terrible." Jura cried.
"What happened?"
So, the woman told her everything.
"I'm sorry, Jura. I don't know we hurt you so deep."
"No. It's not your fault. It's my fault." Jura howled.
"I don't know what to say. The baby's parents are not just Shota and me, but everyone on this ship."
The sorrowful woman begins to feel better. "Really?"
"Yes."
"It's means I'm its parent too?"
"Sure."
"Thanks Meia. I feel better now." Jura cheered up. "From now on, I'll be responsible and taking care of the baby."
"Jura, I think it's a little earlier to say that."
"Don't worry Meia. I promise that I will do my job." After that, the woman left with joy.
"The Harvester has left Talark and Mejerle." BC said.
"Why?" Magno asked.
"The reason is unknown. But the locals remain unharmed."
"Our enemy's motive is unknown. They are getting fathomless. If they are planning something right now, I can feel that it is very dangerous." Shota explained.
"Okashira, I have located the enemy potential base. I think we should send a probe to this potential base."
"It's useless. We won't get anything because they are too clever to been found. There's nothing we can do now. We should be ready and wait for them."
"But..." Just when BC was about to protest, she almost falls on the floor. They have been attacked.
"I'll dispatch the vanguard team." Shota left the conference room at once while BC and Magno get to the bridge.
The attack is too powerful. Each strike rocked the ship and the crews can't even walk or stand.
"Where's the shield?" Magno roared.
"The defence system has been shut down. It's damage." Vervedale reported.
"The enemy number is increasing. There were thousands of them." Amarone said.
Then, someone appeared on the main screen. "This is the engine room. There had been an explosion. We can't get inside. The fire is uncontrollable..."
Follow by, many people pops up on screens and reporting problems. "The gate is jammed. We cannot despatch." "The cubes are blocking our ways. We can't despatch the vanguards."
"Where is Bart?" BC asked.
"He's inside the navigator pool since the attack started." Ezra answered.
"Bart! Retreat now!" But there was no respond. Suddenly, a man had been thrown out. It's Bart and he hurt badly. "Duero, we need medical assistance here."
"Right away."
"I won't lose to these bullies." Then, they heard Hibiki. He is fighting outside the ship and chased away the cubes which are blocking the dispatcher.
"There's too many of them. Retreat now!" BC commended.
"We will be dead men if we didn't defend this ship." Hibiki ignored.
"Ujiujinsan!" Dita cried out.
"Jura, you need to go out and unite with him to protect this ship!" Shota said.
"But the gate is jammed. They are too many!"
"Don't worry, Jura. We are going out." Barnette suited up and lead the others to open the gate outside the ship.
"We will cover you! All vanguard units dispatch now!" Shota ordered.
"Roger!"
"Be careful." Magno advised.
The enemy knows their plan. They all attack the gate and reseal it.
"Quick Barnette! We can't hold them any longer!" Shota cried out.
"We know that! We need to repair the damage wires. Give us some time."
"There's no time for you! Their weapons are getting more powerful!" Shota kept struggling.
Barnette connected the circuit at last. "Yes! Everyone! Get back to the ship now!"
"Jura, look! The gate is opened!" Dita said.
"This is Shota. The gate is opened. I repeat. The gate is opened." Shota reported.
"Don't talk! Dispatch now or we will die!" Hibiki cried out.
"I thought you will never say so." The dread team dispatched immediately. "All units cover the Nirvana." Jura ordered.
"Roger!"
Then, Jura unites with Hibiki and they shield the Nirvana and retreat.
"Okashira, the enemy are still with us." Misty reported.
"Guys, use your lenses to compact the cubes." Shota suggested.
"We know that." Hibiki and Jura said together.
"We can't run forever, can we?" Hibiki asked.
"Of course not. It's fight back time." So, Vandread Jura used all lenses and compact the cubes like a garbage disposer.
"Now, they know how powerful we are." Jura said proudly as the enemy has been eliminated.
"Good job. All units retreat now." BC commended.
"Each department report your status." Magno ordered.
"The fire in the engine room is under control. A few crews are having minor injury." Parfet reported.
"The delivery room is okay."
"There are many casualties are sent to the infirmary. We are kind of short hand."
"I'll send some crews to help you. Shota, the infirmary need some help." Magno said.
"Roger that."
After everything is settled down, Magno is relief. "Our days are getting tough."
"I'll go check the others." BC left the bridge.
"Me too." Misty followed.
"What a mess!" the men saw the infirmary is full with the injured.
"A few people help me here. The rest go to search for the injured at the rooms' deck." Duero ordered.
"Okay." The men obeyed.
"Oh my god." Shota was stunned when he and the others reach the deck. An explosion occurs near the rooms. Luckily, the fire had been put out by the anti-fire system. A few people are lying on the passage.
"Meia!" he is search for his wife. Hibiki followed him.
"Quick! Help the injured." Hugo ordered the others. They carry the casualties to the infirmary.
As Shota opened the door, he finds Meia lying supine on the floor. "Meia! Meia!"
Hibiki quickly check on her. "She still has pulse but not breathing."
"Wake up Meia! She's unconscious." Shota very worried. He rose up the unconscious and tried to awake her.
"Maybe she inhaled too much smoke."
Then, she coughed. "Meia, can you hear me?" Shota asked.
"Ah...." The woman yelled in pain with her hand on her abdominal.
"Meia, where did you hurt?" Shota asked anxiously.
Hibiki is freaked out and crawled a foot away. "Bl..blo..od!" He pointed.
Next, Shota noticed there is a pool of blood beneath her.
The husband sits beside the patient and waiting for her to awake while Paiway checks the patients.
"I'm sorry." Paiway felt pity for the couple.
"It's okay." Shota calmly accepted the truth.
"If you need any help, I'll be outside the room."
"Thanks." So, the nurse left.
At last, Meia awakes.
"You're okay now honey." Shota said.
"What happened?"
"The enemy attacked us and causing damage on this ship. Don't worry, everyone is safe now."
All of the sudden, Meia recalls what just happened. She had a fall during the attack.
"Meia, are you okay?" He asked when he seeing her panting.
"Shota, how's our baby?"
"You need some rest." Shota tried to avoid the question.
"Please tell me."
He keeps silent for awhile. "It's gone."
Meia feels guilty when she knows her baby is dead. "I'm sorry." She cried.
"It's alright. It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself." Shota embraced the woman and console her.
This attack not only damaged the ship, but their child's life. For the couple, the price of the battle had never been this expensive before. Other than grieving, there is nothing they can do for their lost.