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||   Prologue – Remembrance   ||

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||           Legend:                                                            ||

||           Word - denotes character thought                     ||

||           [Word] - denotes setting, time              ||

||           <Word> - denotes sound effect                        ||

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[Brief recap]

            After the great battle with the harvesters of the Earth fleet, peace talks commenced between Mejer and Talark. 

The council of elders, along with Grandma and Grandpa (leaders of Mejer and Talark), gave some thought in allowing the males and females to coexist.  A program to instill some male members into the crew of the ship, Nirvana, was to be commenced in a matter of weeks.  It would serve as a good example to Meger and Talark.          

The male members of the crew in the Nirvana --- Bart Gilsus, B.C. (Buzam Calessa), Duero Mcfile, and Hibiki Tokai --- were called on to report to the council and discuss their involvement with the Nirvana and its crew.  They bid their farewells to the crew and traveled to the council.   

After a week, B.C., Bart, and Duero returned.  Hibiki was needed by the council to serve as an emissary to Mejer and Talark, teaching the inhabitants on the culture of male and female interaction.

Three months have passed since then...

The number of crew in the Nirvana numbered to 200 --- 150 female personnel and 50 male personnel, thanks to the program.  The interaction between the males and females in the ship was well and balanced. 

Magno Vivian assumed as commander of the pirates one last time, knowing she has little years left to push on.  The rest of the crew remained the same, but working diligently in their respective duties.   

The Nirvana makes a routine patrol in the Meger system when an unexpected event arises…

[End recap]

[The Nirvana --- Bridge]

            Magno rested her chin on her folded hands holding a walking cane, her eyes on the main screen showing her home planet.  She watched the bridge crew working busily on their duties. 

            Hmm… well, after all, this was the peace that all of mankind managed to achieve.  I guess this is my last time as commander of this ship.  I can sense my time drawing close.

            A smile etched on her face.

            However… I'm glad to have lived this life to the fullest.  Thanks to Hibiki, the hostility between males and females should crumble away slowly.

            B.C. noticed her thinking and interrupted.

            "Boss?  Something on your mind?"

            The female pirates’ commander looked at her and smiled.

            "Just recalling on how much has changed since the battle.  The usual thing."

            "I see."

            "How's the patrol going?"

            "There’s nothing to report so far.  Amarone, is there anything up in the radar?"

            Amarone Slaintheav, the radar operator, shook her head.  She ran a check on the radar.

            "Nothing so far, ma'am.  It's just us and vast space."

            B.C. looked back at Magno.

            "And the council has to give us this trifling job on doing routine sweeps around Mejer system.  Add to that, we have our hands full with this program to let 50 male officers instilled as part of the crew."

            Magno chuckled a bit at the remark.  B.C. looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

            "It's unlike you to ratter on like that.  You're starting to sound like Hibiki.  Even he has a heavier task to accomplish.  He wouldn't stop until he finished what he started."

            "…You're right.  Sigh… he's impossible to not forget.  I must have picked up a piece of his attitude during the trip to the council."

            "Ha, ha, ha.  Right indeed, you are.  I'm sure he will guide us to the future mankind hasn't thought of.  And also, I think you're about ready to take my place."

            "Boss…"

            "Which is why I want to assume my role as commander/leader for the last time.  I'm glad to have lived this long and experienced so many things that are unforgettable.  B.C., you have to learn to enjoy what life gives you no matter what."

            B.C. smiled.

            Magno pressed a button on the armrest of her seat to turn around and head for her quarters upstairs.  As she climbed up she added, "I'll be in my quarters.  Contact me if anything happens."

            "Yes, Boss."

            The sub-commander watched her retreating form disappear and focused her task on hand.   

[The Nirvana --- Engine Room]

            Parfet Balblair, the chief engineer, made a diagnostic check on the working engine run by a sea-like entity dubbed Pexis Phlagma.  She titled her spectacles and smiled in relief after a hard day's work. 

            "Ah, Pexis-kun, looks like you're in good shape as always.  I wonder how long you can keep this ship running?"

            She watched the mysterious engine shimmering off its blue aura of energy as it pulsated with a soft hum.  A fellow engineer handed her a daily report of the engine diagnostics. 

            "Thanks."

            The fellow engineer asked her.

            "Hey Parfet, why don't you take a break?  I'll let you know if anything happens."

            "Hmm… I guess I could use a little break now and then.  Thanks, Rina."

            The engineer named Rina waved Parfet off and took over her place.

            As Parfet walked on to the cafeteria for a break, the chief engineer thought about Duero. 

            He's really cooped up in the medical bay, studying all the time.  I haven't had a lot of time to sit down and talk with him lately.

            She stopped and changed direction, heading to the medical bay.

[The Nirvana --- Medical Bay]

            Speaking of Duero, he was checking up on the personal medical data of the crew in the data records.  He had nothing to do since no patients were reporting in.  After reading off a file on one of the crew personnel, he switched the data records off.  He swiveled his seat around, his eyes wandering all over the room.  He ran a hand through his shoulder length hair. 

            "Hey, Doctor, why don't you take a break?  You should relax for a while.  We won't be getting any patients you know.  Things have quieted down," Paiway Underberg, his sole nurse of the ship, remarked.  She was cleaning up a medicine cabinet with a feather duster. 

            "Hmm… I was thinking about doing that.  I'll be in the biosphere then," the doctor replied, getting off from his seat. 

            "Gotcha, Doctor!  I'll call you if you're needed," Paiway said to Duero, who nodded to her and left the medical bay.

            A few minutes later…

            Parfet walked in, looking for Duero.  She spotted Paiway checking on the many pictures she took in her "Pai check" on her personal portfolio.  The nurse looked up and noticed her.

            "Hi Parfet!  What brings you here?"

            "Oh, Paiway, I'm looking for Duero.  Where's he?"

            "He went to the biosphere to take a break."

            "Ok, thanks."

            As Parfet left the medical bay, Paiway rubbed her hands in anticipation and curiosity.  She brought out her "Kero", a green puppet, and talked to it.

            "Hmm… what do you think, Kero?"

            She altered her voice to sound from the puppet in reply.

            "Must 'Pai check!'"

            The nurse nodded and smiled. 

[The Nirvana --- Hangar]

            Meia Gisborn, chief dread pilot, was busy checking up on her dread's system.  Its performance was displayed on the cockpit screen. 

            "Hmm… it seems satisfactory.  I wonder how I could adjust the speed?  I'll have to ask Parfet or Gascogne about it some other time," she said to herself.  She wanted her dread to be initially fast, due to the lack of the Vanguard that Hibki brought along with him to his meeting with the council.

            "Hibiki…" she quietly said to herself as she thought about him. 

From their first encounter, she had a bad impression of him due to his cocky, brash personality.  But after the war with the Earth forces, she came to realize that he was a matured, experienced male with an admirable character. 

Why am I thinking about him like this?  This… isn't right of me. 

As the months passed after their farewell from each other, she found herself wanting to hear from him.  To her, he was more than just a friend and comrade. 

She kept that feeling inside her heart for a long time then.

To sum it up, she missed him.

I mustn't think about him at this time.  I don't want it to affect my job.

She slammed her fist down on a control panel in slight frustration.  Closing her eyes for a moment, she pictured him in her mind.  She took a deep breath and hugged herself.  As she did, she felt a bandana worn on her left arm.  She looked at it and smiled.

[Flashback --- the males’ departure to the council after the war with the Earth forces, docking bay of the Nirvana]

            The entire crew gathered around the four males who were leaving.  Parfet was the first to see off Duero. 

            "Well, I guess this means good-bye, Doctor," she said to him. 

            "Yes."

            "I'm glad to have worked with you until now."

            "Same here.  It was a pleasure."

            "By the way---"

            Jura popped in front of Duero and interrupted.  She looked at him with puppy eyes. 

            "Mou… I'm going to miss you males!  I wanted so much to have a baby with you!"

            She gave him a big hug, leaving Parfet gritting her teeth and waving her fists at her back annoyed.  She pulled her away from him.

            "What's the big idea?" she exclaimed.

            "What are you talking about, Parfet?  I'm just giving him a good-bye hug!"

            "As if!"

            As Jura argued back, she unknowingly raised her arm and swiped off the front hair of Duero, revealing the covered right side of his face.  Parfet watched him, amazed by the sight.  Jura followed her direction and joined in.  The two females were at a trance. 

            Paiway appeared and took a "Pai check!" at Duero. 

Meia went up to Hibki.  She extended her hand to him.

            "Thank you for everything.  You've really helped us through a lot."

            He shook her hand warmly.

            "It was nothing.  It should be us males doing the thanks instead."

            The two stared at each other for a few seconds.  Hibiki removed a bandana, which was tied around the back of his hair, and tied it around her left arm.  She looked at him surprised.  He stifled a small laugh at her.

            "I won't need this anymore.  I think this looks good on you."

            She smiled back. 

As he stepped back from her, Dita was next.  She played with her hands as she looked down the ground, trying to find the right words to say to him.

            "Um… Mr. Alien…"

            "Yeah?  What is it?"

            "Can you say my name before you go?"

            "Er…"

            Hibiki looked around everyone and was embarrassed to reply.  It was kinda nervous for him to do that request.

            "Uh… what are you asking?  I… I have to go.  I'm sorry."

            He turned around.  He pulled Pyoro away from running up to Karuwa-chan, Ezra's daughter, who was held by her mother, and threw it inside the shuttle he was leaving on.

            "Kawura-chan…" Pyoro lamented.

            "Where do you think you're going?  You're coming with us!" he bickered.  Carrying a small backpack around his shoulders, he walked to the shuttle hatch, leaving the confused girl in silence. 

            Idiot!  Say her name for crying out loud!  You want to make your goodbye lame?

            "Tch," he muttered to himself.  He stopped and turned around, walking up to Dita.  She watched him with a worried look.  He then embraced her.

            "You have to make things embarrassing for me, huh... Dita."

            Her eyes widen in surprise.  She embraced back and smiled happily.

            "Aw…" the crew chimed.  Meia watched the couple with mixed feelings.

[End Flashback]

            But he has Dita… or maybe?

            "Argh… this is getting me nowhere," Meia muttered in annoyance.  She shook the thought off her head and turned off her dread system.  She jumped off from her dread and landed on the ground.  She decided to see the one person suited for a heart-to-heart talk with --- Gascogne Rheingau.