Chapter 9: Wave of Guidance: Bonds
Vyse slowly walked through the hallway; his hammock folded up and swung over his shoulders, carrying it though the long hallways of the Nirvana. His mind though was more set on the one book he had started to read ever since it was discovered in the one ship that he had come in. Key of Eden by Schala Lansdale, the one girl who he had considered his only friend in the outside world. Indeed was he so far enjoying it, as his full attention was focused upon the novel.
He was abruptly interrupted, as he walked directly into the conversing Celtic and Belvedere, falling back and landing on his rear end, the two girls likewise having the same reaction as they bumped into him. He groaned looking ahead, as the two glared at him with irritated faces.
"Jeez, can your eyes for once leave that book and watch where you're going?" Bel questioned as she stood to her feet, dusting off her bottom.
"I can't help it, it's a good novel and I'm completely hooked." He remarked, standing to his feet slowly, as he looked at his novel once more.
"Speaking of help, why aren't you giving Dita some advice on what guys like, she really could use a few tips." Cel asked and clarified with a calm but still demanding glance.
"I'm camera shy for one thing... and your friend Amarone seems to be using the security camera's to turn the conflict into a damn soap opera ain't something I approve of." Vyse said, shaking his head.
"Soap opera?" Both replied unified.
Vyse sighed, remembering most terms of television were not well-known to most aboard the Nirvana.
"Nothing you need to know... but there's more to this then you seem to be aware of." He mentioned, crossing his arms.
"Huh, just what do you mean by that?" Cel asked desperately.
"Bonds... I'm sure you two know what I mean." He said, walking between them as he walked on.
"Bonds... what kind of an answer is that!?" Cell demanded, as Belvedere thought about it.
"Hmm, I think I know what he means." Bel remarked.
Parfet firmly tightened the last bolt on the pipe in place, taking a deep breath as she continued to the next one.
"Hey!" Hibiki shouted out, as Duero and Parfet glanced in his direction. "When are the repairs gonna be done?"
"Sorry, could you wait just a bit more?" Parfet asked, glancing at him from over her shoulders.
"If you want your room back sooner have you thought about offering to help out?" Duero asked him, still holding onto the ladder Parfet was perched upon.
"Hey well plumbing's outta my league." He said taking a quick breath. "Dammit, if things don't get back to normal soon, their gonna run me ragged!"
"The problems not just your room, is it? Your return to this room isn't going to solve anything. Isn't that right?" Meia asked, gazing at Hibiki with her calm eyes.
Hibiki only gave her an irritated glimpse, not sure what she was getting at.
"What are you trying to say?" Hibiki asked still agitated.
"We were raised to believe men were our sworn enemy, but now were helping each other out, and in a way, the feeling that we can live together in the same system is starting to form. Furthermore, there's an even greater feeling now starting to form between you and Dita. I think you relies that yourself!"
Hibiki only gave a puzzled look, before once more putting on his demanding face, yet he blushed a bit when asking.
"We never faced a situation like this before, but Hibiki Tokai would never run away from that. Isn't that so?"
Hibiki didn't know how to reply, he had faced perhaps a life threatening situation head-on, yet this new one was one he had yet to even go indirectly with.
"You have to be honest with yourself, believe me, it is the only solution." Meia remarked, as she turned leaving the flooded hallway.
Hibiki only crossed his arms, with a interrogated smirk on his face.
"Heh, she's beginning to talk more and more these days." He mentioned.
"Oh no! It doesn't look like anything's going on at all." Amarone stated sadly.
"So what do you thinks gonna happen?" The green haired one stated.
"Do you think a man and a woman can actually get together?" Amarone asked.
"Vyse seems to point to yes." One mentioned.
"What would he know; Schala claimed he spent most of his years as a soldier, so I doubt he knows anything." Another answered, the girls now gossiping upon the subject, as Jura waited in a corner, frustrated with how things were so far going.
"Jeez, it's so frustrating just waiting for it!" She replied in her annoyed tone.
Tying his two ends upon the tree did he finish setting up his hammock, taking a sigh, as he left most of his belongings next to it.
"Exactly what are you doing Vyse?" BC asked, glancing down at him from the bridge.
"Setting up my sleeping area." He remarked with a sigh.
"That area is not a campground, even if you're flooded out of your quarters!" BC remarked demandingly.
"Yeah, well kiss my stubborn male ass then Commander... actually, 'Commanderess' is more like it, unless you're a hermaphrodite that is!" He rudely commented.
"Just what do you mean by that?" She asked confused.
"Simple, a male with divine power is called a 'God' while a female with divine power is referred to as a 'Goddess', masculine and feminine stuff mostly." He mentioned running a thumb along his nostrils.
"I meant the word hermaphrodite, just what exactly does that mean?" She asked, giving him an annoyed glance with her hands on her hips.
"Hehehee, that's giving it to him Commander." Bart said to himself, hearing the conversation.
"It's a human with male and female reproductive organs... considering that is basically what makes the two genders different." He mentioned, shooting a prideful smirk back at her.
"Humph, well, make any messes and your on litter patrol, got it Vyse!?" BC mentioned as Vyse only gave thumbs up, focusing upon his reading.
Opening his blanket, he stared inside, looking down at the Santa Alien doll Dita had given him on that one holiday the girls had celebrated. He sighed, remembering just how excited she was to give it to him, as he sighed.
"You were thinking about Dita, weren't you?" Misty spat out, as Hibiki glanced out of the hanger, seeing her leaning right along the edge, as she glanced up at him.
"It's you again? Don't you ever have anything else to do?" Hibiki arrogantly questioned.
"No..." she grimly replied, "I'm an outsider, so there's really nowhere for me to go on this ship." She mentioned, Hibiki now focusing his attention on her.
"And my family on Pluto are all gone, too. So it's just me... all alone...so..." She said, sobbing as she began to cry.
Hibiki would have told her to go off and pester Vyse, considering he was just like her. Though his heart for once took pity, he knew how it felt to be an outside, to be an outcast in his society. He was merely the one guy who was never cut any slack. Looking down, he tossed her a polishing brush, as she turned, looking up at him in surprise.
"Well... if you're bored, you can help me polish." He mentioned, his eyes closed, as he scratched the back of his head.
Misty only glanced up; beaming with happiness, as he finally had at least paid some attention to her. She nodded immediately, excited that he was paying some attention to her.
Already did a gross dozen pair of infant socks hang from the lines above, as Ezra focused her two picks upon the wool set, assembling once more another pair of socks for her newborn child Kahlua.
"Come to think of it, Misty has been all alone for some time, hasn't she?" Ezra asked, as Dita thought about it, realizing that Misty didn't have too many friends up until now.
"Perhaps you could try being friends with her." Ezra suggested in her usual caring tone.
"Hibiki's a bit rough around the edges, but he's very kind, and so is Misty. I'm sure their just passing some time together. Ezra concluded, as Dita slowly thought upon it.
"EZRA!" Pyoro cut in, as the two glanced down at the infant size droid. "I told you paper diapers were no good, at this rate it will take longer to potty train Pyoro two, after that it's gonna take longer to wean her off milk... oh, she's drooling!"
"I'm sorry Pyoro." Ezra remarked calmly.
"This should make a good dinner for tonight!" Vyse mentioned to himself, carrying the round gourmet made meals through the hallways.
He really felt a bit guilty for them preparing all this even just a thanks was not the right kind of recognition the girls were going through to help him out.
"Help... someone let me out of here, please!" Came a familiar voice.
"Huh?" He turned, entering the dark room, as he glanced around, seeing the green puppet, and the one girl he found utterly annoying.
"Let me guess, that little robot locked you in there?" Vyse asked, as Paiway glanced at him with despairing eyes.
"Oh it's you... guess I won't get out anytime soon, rwibbit." She said pouting.
"That's not true, I'll getcha outta there." He said with a smile.
"Huh? You will, rwibbit?" Paiway said feeling very assured.
"NO... I'd say this should be a good lesson for you. Especially when you take pictures of me that I find embarrassing." Vyse commented, as he gave her two middle fingers, his hands free as he had set most of his food down before walking over.
"C'mon, what would Jezebel think, rwibbit?" Paiway said, hoping he would reconsider.
"Dunno, but your definitely not her... so ta-tah!" He said walking out of the room.
Silence once more filled the room, as Paiway sighed, slumping down to the ground.
"Damn him... I can't believe he would leave me here!" She muttered despising him.
Entering the order area, Hibiki looked over, as he saw an illusion of Gascogne looking at him with her usual bright face.
"Hey, what's with the sulky look on her face?" She asked, Hibiki gasping as the image faded, Barnette now sitting in the chair, as she had decided to replace Gascogne.
She glanced up with a confused look on her face.
"Did you want something?" She asked, glancing up at him.
"Oh, um, no, not really." He remarked, his arms moving behind his back as his eyes darted away from Barnette's, he turned away, walking towards the exit.
Barnette looked over her shoulders, knowing she had to be a lot less like her old self since she had decided to take control of the armory.
"Oh, you know... I'm can't really play cards, but I'm not all that bad at listening. Maybe, if you don't mind, you can talk to me." She mentioned welcomingly.
"Oh, that's all right, I wouldn't wanna bug ya." He replied apologetically.
"No, I don't mind at all. Just a minute, I'll go make us some tea."
"Um, sure."
Standing right at the edge of the balcony, Dita stared up into the stars, her mind racing in the past through the many times she had spent with Hibiki over the past several months, joyful and heart-warming ones that she greatly enjoyed. She sobbed, her eyes glancing down at the floor as she thought of him so deeply.
"What your experiencing is something that has been long a taboo within your system." Vyse mentioned, as Dita glanced behind, seeing him walk forth, his blanket swaying back and forth behind him like a scarf, his face innocent and understanding.
"V-V-Vyse... I... tell me... what is it that I am experiencing?" She asked, not knowing at all what was going on with her.
"It's romance Dita... your confused, you want to tell Hibiki just how you feel, but when you try, your heart races faster, your stomach tightens up, and the right words just don't come out. In a way Dita, it is normal." He replied in a calm and understanding tone.
"You seem to know it so well, but how?" She asked feeling a bit frightened.
"Even though I base such things off novel writings, it is in ways true. Your in love with him, and many people in their lifetime deal with such things in different ways." He answered, walking closer to her.
"But why does he tell me to leave him alone. Why is he always running away from me?" She asked, really wanting to know the answers.
"Hibiki is possibly having the same internal conflict you are having. Being the tough wannabe he is, he tells you to back off as his way of not saying the right words."
"Then what should I do... I don't know if he will even listen to me. I don't know what he'll think of it." She mentioned, feeling a bit more scared.
"That's something I can't answer, you must find that out yourself. If you ask me, if he wants to act so tough, I'd say it's high time he learned to express himself honestly. Let him express himself first, it's time he learned to show his softer side for once." Vyse said with a smile, as he placed a hand upon Dita's shoulder, firmly grasping it.
"And Dita... try to call him Hibiki, not Mr. Alien when your telling him your feelings." He said, glancing warmfully into her eyes as she nodded.
"I will... and I will tell him right now..." She said, running off, as she stopped turning back to Vyse with a smile.
"Thank you Vyse... I'm very greatful for all that you have done." She said, as she walked off.
Vyse only smirked, as he glanced out into the stars, with a smile on his face.
"Will that do Jezebel?" he asked silently in a whisper.
Walking out from his new quarters, Hibiki only took a few steps before two arms wrapped around his neck, squeezing tight.
"I found you!" Misty cried out, as she kept her arms tightly wrapped around his neck, nearly chocking him as she had leaped up from behind.
Regaining his stance, he glanced behind, finding two books, a music player. A cup and a basket of muffins right near a chair, a small pillow being the only comfort possibly fit to make the metal seat so uncomfortable.
"You were waiting for me, weren't you?" he asked calmly, as Misty gasped, surprised he had caught onto her.
Releasing her arms from around his neck, she backed away from him slowly, as she held her arms down, glancing to the ground with a guilty face.
"C'mon, be honest. After all, we are... sorta living together in the same community." He replied, her face lighting immediately up in joy, her clasped hand now moving to her chest.
"Hibiki, I'm so happy." She cheerfully cried out, once more leaping at him with arms out wide ready to hug him once more.
Hibiki only stood there, baffled by Misty's little reaction as she nuzzled against him.
"Hey, what's that all about?" Hibiki asked, as she giggled in her cute feminine voice.
"Oh Mr. Alie..." Dita stopped short, as she dashed into view, looking as Misty now hugged him tightly around the neck.
Hibiki glanced back in fear, knowing this wasn't something he wanted Dita to even see, knowing she wouldn't take it so well. She immediately dropped the plat with three rice balls directly onto the floor, as she glanced on with a shocked face, nearly on the verge of crying.
"It's... not..." Hibiki despertly mentioned, his eyes widened with fear, knowing Dita had to feel betrayed by the sight.
Dita only looked on, before taking one step back, before turning away and running off. Hibiki immediately shoved Misty off, as he started his pursuit of Dita.
"Hey, wait... it's not what you think!" He shouted out pleadingly, but was immediately grabbed by his wrist by Misty, who pulled him back.
"No wait! Don't look at Dita, just look at me!" She begged, shaking her head with her eyes closed, as she pulled him toward her, her eyes flowing with sadness.
"But she's..." He mentioned, pondering upon the subject as Misty looked to him with tense eyes.
"Well it's...it's something I never felt before..." He mentioned, staring to the ground.
Immediately did Misty gasp, feeling her heart shatter to pieces as she heard him speak, her face filled with sadness as she heard the words. She knew by the look in his eyes he was serious, it was obvious he had no interest in her at all. She released his hands, placing them to the side, as she looked to the ground.
"I see..." She mentioned, as she glanced to the ground.
Running through the halls did Dita pant, sobbing as she slowed down, leaning against the walls of the hallway, trying to make sense of the situation. She knew what she saw, but she didn't understand why... why would he let Misty be with him.
"Dita!" Jura called out, as she glanced up towards Jura. "Let's go. We're going to discuss some plans for a new formation, head over to the meeting room immediately! Got that?" Jura asked, brushing her hair back, as she turned around, walking off calmly as always.
"Okay, I understand." Dita mentioned, as she wiped away her tears.
Setting his book to the side, bookmark placed in the page he had last saw, he glanced out into space, taking a deep sigh, seeing the many stars out in the vast regions of space. Once more his mind thought into the past where his memories of joy had existed.
FLASH
"Look brother, there are fireflies in the sky!" Jezebel said, pointing up into the sky.
"Their stars Jezebel... a vast number of them cover the sky during the night. Many planets rotate around such stars." Vyse said, standing next to her.
"Wow, so there are other planets?" She asked glancing up at him, as he nodded.
"When I grow up, I'm gonna get off this planet and explore those stars, who know's, I might find myself becoming the greatest adventurer to ever live. Yeah, that's what I'll be, an adventurer." He mentioned with a prideful smile.
"Will you let me go with you?" Jezebel asked, with an innocent smile.
"Of course, I wouldn't want to leave you out of it Jezebel." He said with a smile.
FLASH
"To think fate's cards would give me a pair of dreams fulfilled... I guess maybe I am getting one thing I wanted..." He said with a sigh.
The door swished open, as Dita walked in with her usual stride.
"Sorry I'm late..." She mentioned, as she glanced forth finding Hibiki sitting within the area.
She remained silent, glancing to the ground, before the door shut, behind her, as she walked slowly over to the likewise confused Hibiki.
"What's up?" he asked, as the screen suddenly clipped on, Jura's perturbed face glared at them angrily.
"ATTENTION, I fixed it so that you two could be alone for a while and I hope you appreciate this. You are to talk things out properly, until then the door remains locked, and stop bothering me with all this silliness already..." She muttered angrily, as she brushed her locks back over her shoulders, before glancing at them angrily. "YOUR MAKING ME LOOK OLD!!" She shouted loudly.
Jura irritatingly tapped her index finger against the table watching the two still refusing to talk things out as she had demanded they do, slowly growing agitated.
"Arrg, it's maddening. Are you to just going to stay like that forever?" Jura yelled out, once more making communication, her eyes now taking up a larger percentage of the screen.
"HURRY UP AND GET TALKIN'!" She demanded.
"SHUT UP... Man you guys are annoying, sheesh!" He yelled out loud.
"So um, Mr. Alien, I..." She stopped as the two glanced in opposite directions.
"Uhhh, how irritating!" Jura bickered angrily.
"Oh, so that's what's going on here. Here we have one hundred and fifty people teaming up and all rooting for one girl. The pirates of Majale sure do seem to value friendship a lot, don't they?" Misty mentioned, her arms crossed and her brows furrowed.
"This is a good moment here, so don't you dare get in the way." Jura demanded, clenching her fist as she stood up.
"Oh relax, I'm not so dumb as to go around and make enemies out of the entire ship. Anyway, the only reason I was fooling around with that boy was because I was bored. Hmph!" She concluded, walking off.
Meia glanced out, watching as she walked off, knowing she was hurt deep down, even if she acted so tough; she was very saddened by the sudden change of her surroundings and lack of many people to rely on.
Slowly walking off to where he was recently camping out since the recent flood. Even as it was still only near half the hours he usually was awake, he still had to fill his belly with food to keep him ready for any enemy attack. He stopped dead in his steps as he watched Misty walk within the area, sitting down upon the bench as she started sobbing, a few tears streaming down her face. Vyse sighed, knowing she had to be hurt, not by the feeling of rejection, but by the feeling of being alone, especially in a society as this.
Meia was about to go over and comfort her until she recognized Vyse in the distance. She decided to only watch, considering Vyse perhaps understood Misty's feelings more then anyone else. Slowly did he walk over as Misty continued to cry, her little hologram blob crying as well. Standing to her side did he take his blanket, gently wiping the moist tear watered fingers Misty had, as she looked up with a still irritated glance.
"What do you..." She stopped noticing it was Vyse, though still didn't have much of a reason to trust him. "Come to pity me for being dumped?" She asked angrily, thinking he had seen it.
"You were an outcast, weren't you?" He asked, Misty clenching her teeth and fist as she heard him.
"So what! Are you just going to belittle me as well?" She demanded still crying.
"You can't always get what you want Mist... you need to get it through your head!" He demanded, as she growled, once more sadness flowing over her heart.
"How can you be so cold, how can you just ignore the reality that everyone you know is gone!" She demanded, glaring at him.
Vyse remained calm, as he took a deep breath looking to her as he placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Deep down, I do feel alone... but then I remember of all those who gave their lives to ensure that I escaped safely. I know full well that I must move on with my life, I can't repent the losses of the life. If anything they want me to move on and live life to the fullest. Understand?" he spoke, as she looked down toward the floor, pondering on what he had just recently mentioned.
"I..." She didn't know what to think, Vyse seemed to understand how she felt, and yet he had known more emotional trouble then her.
"Mist, believe me, I know it's hard to live knowing your family is gone, but what would they think of you seeing you in such misery. Will you let all those who gave their lives for your survival be in vain?" he mentioned as she gasped.
She thought about what he mentioned, about all those who gave their lives perhaps keeping her safe. She sobbed wiping the tears from her eyes, knowing Vyse had a good point that she was only thinking of herself rather then considering those who had given their lives to prevent her death. Vyse smiled, noticing she had finally took in the words she had mentioned.
"It's funny, y'know... Two of us, from now extinct societies brought together about this ship... you, a female from Pluto... and I, a soldier from Apollo... maybe it was fate that we were to meet with one another." He mentioned with an honest tone.
Misty glanced up, smiling as she heard his words, for once feeling trust towards him. She immediately sprung up from the bench, leaping at him as she wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling against his left side as she closed her eyes.
"It is you, Vyse... you're the prince I have been waiting for." She said, leaning against him.
Vyse remained quiet, he didn't want to spoil the moment of joy for her. He knew eventually through time and hardships their bound would evolve into something perhaps stronger then what Hibiki and Dita had. He only smiled, feeling Misty's head resting upon his right shoulder, her breasts pressing against his back as she hugged him tighter. The moment didn't last long as the alarms went off, Misty opening her eyes as she frowned.
"I guess you better get going... just-"
"Like hell I will, the dread teams can do things on their own." Vyse commented, as he crossed his arms.
"Then I'm sure the Captain would like to hear of this, Vyse. Your duty is a Vanguard pilot, and unless you're in handicap status are you excused from battle. I suggest say your farewells now." Meia called out, as Vyse sighed.
"She was watching us the whole time, and I'll bet you knew about it!" Misty mentioned angrily.
Vyse sighed, looking over at her with a sly smile.
"Is there anything wrong with a big sister looking out for her little one?" Vyse asked as Misty's face went baffled but quickly beamed as she shook her head.
Taking his blanket from his shoulders, he placed it on Misty's shoulders, as he looked at her eyes with a tender glance.
"My hammock is located right down that path, wait for me there, I will return as soon as possible. Okay?" He asked, as Misty nodded to him.
"Cut the crap Vyse, let's get going already!" Meia demanded, as Vyse nodded, running off and away from Misty.
Misty stood there, clasping her hands together as she closed her eyes.
"To think, I have a prince and a sister... both looking out for me... I guess I am not alone." She mentioned to herself, looking out into the stars.
"SISTER!?" Meia demanded, as Vyse glanced back at her.
"You'd mind telling me why you were watching us?" Vyse asked with a smile.
Meia sighed, knowing it was impossible to get an answer, as the two dashed towards the hangers, knowing they were already behind schedual.
The battle so far was average, a gross dozen cubes along with several pods, a mere mediocre battle to the Dread team of the Nirvana. Hibiki and Dita remained calm, as they blasted away several of the pods. Dita smiled, for once she was glad to be with him, to be with Hibiki. Even though he didn't come clear, she could understand from Vyse's words that he did perhaps have the same emotional feelings she had for him.
"Visiting hours are over you automated bastards!" Vyse shouted, as he cut through a few cubed, before delivering a charged blast directly at the cubes and pods among the field.
He continued his assault, throwing a thin sword beam at the group of cubes, a few escaped only to be nailed dead on by his shots from his Z-blaster, blowing them down in one well aimed shot. He continued on, charging towards one of the pods, delivering a well placed kick to the frontal-left side as it careened into another, blowing up immediately afterwards. Vyse only had one thing in mind: Finish all enemy units. He already was doing a good job with the enemy already down to a couple dozen cubes remaining and around seven to eight pods surrounding them. Once more did Vyse accelerate forth, sword held back to deliver one hell of a strike upon the enemy he was charging towards.
Landing back within the hanger, Vyse immediately removed the equipment from his body, as he quickly jumped out of the cockpit, running past a couple of the ship engineers who were in charge of checking up on his Vanguard.
"S'cuse me!" He said, moving past them as they gasped frightened.
"What's his hurry?" One asked, as the other shook his head.
"Dunno, guys sure are weird!" The other commented.
Misty sat upon the soft grass, glancing out into space, as she sighed, thinking of Vyse. She knew the battle had ended, so she knew he would be back soon.
"I wonder what he would say if I asked him to stay with me..." She thought closing her eyes.
Even though it was just recent that he showed interest in her, she still thought about how Hibiki had turned her away, even after all she had given him. She feared Vyse may just do the same, but yet she remembered his eyes. Tender, gental, caring... the kind that truth was already gleaming with. She held her hands near her heart, sighing softly. She remembered her old planet, how she was an outcast, how kids teased her, how she was always alone with Q-chan to listen to her.
Not once did she have a boyfriend, someone who loved her for who she was, someone who looked at her with a smile, someone who told her she was pretty. Yet for once did someone actually seem to care for her. The words echoed in her ears, 'Fate that we were to meet one another.' She heard a few pants, glancing behind as she saw Vyse standing there, looking over to her with a smile, his face beat red from running all the way, as he took a few staggering steps, before sitting down next to Misty, as he took a deep sigh, leaning back and onto the grass.
Misty smiled, taking a bottle of water, as she poured it down his throat, as he gulped it down, giving a refreashing sigh, as he moved his left hand up, sliding his finger against her cheek, as he smiled up at her.
"Thanks Mist..." he remarked with a smile, his eyes still the same when he spoke to her.
"Anytime Vyse." She remarked, laying down with him, resting her head upon his shoulders.
Moving his right arm behind her, he pulled her closer, as she pleasantly moaned, snuggling up against him.
"Vyse, I want to ask... you wouldn't mind being my roommate, would you?" She asked, clasping his hands as he glanced down at her.
Vyse thought about it for a few seconds, before taking a deep relieving breath, as he ran his fingers through her tail rhythmically, as she glanced up at him with begging eyes.
"Heh, I guess I'll take you up on that offer... I mean, Hibiki is a pain in the ass as it is... but mind if I sleep in your bed with you, right?" He asked as she rubbed her soft hands along his torso.
"Not at all." She said with a pleased smile.
Authors notes: I hope I can still get more done, but... with college and new games, its not that easy. Still, to those who review, much thanks to thee. I just wish I could get a few more reviews.