Vandread: Corruption

Chapter six: Atsuko’s recovery

Well in the last chapter, Meia and her fellow Dread pilots had helped a neighbouring planet to halt the destruction of their planet. BC has just finished talking with the fleets leader, who has handed BC a capsule of medicine which could save Atsuko’s life. The Nirvana has been re-supplied and they are continuing to return home, the captain of the defence fleet will follow once repairs are made. BC has made her way to the medical bay to see the doctor, whom has just sat down at his desk.

“Doctor, how is Atsuko’s condition today?” Asked BC as the doctor turned round to look at her, his facial expression changing to a slight smile.

“She is resting now; she seems to be ok for the moment.” Replied the doctor as he stood up as BC held out her hand. In BC’s hand was a small sliver like capsule which was a gift for helping in the defence of the last planet. “What is this commander?” Asked the doctor as he took the capsule from her, he examines it before setting it down on his desk. He scratches his head and looks back at BC again who then replies.

“It’s the medication that will save Atsuko’s life; I was given it by the captain of the defence fleet at our meeting just a short while ago. Please give it to her as soon as possible.” BC turns around to leave after the doctor nods in agreement to her order.

“Yes Commander.” Replies the doctor but just BC is about to step through the exit, the doctor then asks an important question. “Should I tell Samui about the medicine?” The doctor watches as BC turns around shaking her head.

“No don’t inform him until we find out if the medication is working. I don’t want to get the young man’s hopes up, before I have firm evidence that the medicine is working.” BC then leaves the room making her way back to the bridge.

Though currently else where Meia, Barnette and Valore are currently not their general selves; though each of them have been in combat for years, they have never lost a wing mate in combat until now and even Meia can’t keep her emotions to herself anymore. Samui hasn’t seen Barnette in a while, despite the fact he hasn’t known her for as long as her friends have, he thinks that they have become good friends so he decides to do his best cheer her. Samui knocks on the door, and Barnette doesn’t answer. Samui enters the room by himself and sits down beside her; Samui can tell she has been crying.

“Hey are you ok Barnette? I know what it is like to lose a friend, I know it is not easy but I am here for you if you need me?” Commented Samui as Barnette started crying, the tears flowing from her eyes like a river. Barnette grabs Samui pulling him in for a hug; Samui wraps his arms around her waist pulling her closer for a hug.

“No; I feel really awful. Two of my friends died in combat I can’t take that. I was their leader and I let them down.” Barnette continues to sob as Samui tries to help her through it.

“You didn’t let them down Barnette; they died fighting for what they believed in. So try and cheer up. Though I am not certain of how to make you feel better.” Replied Samui as he held Barnette in his arms. Barnette doesn’t respond as she continues to cry. “I know how it feels to lose some one close, I lost my whole world. Well I will let you be on your own ok, though if you need me give me a call.” Samui gently rests Barnette on the bed while he stands up; he turns and exits through the door. When Samui arrives in the hall, Barnette’s bed room door slides closed. Samui then looks to his left and he sees Jura resting up against the wall with a very concerned look on her face.

“Is my Barnette feeling any better?” Asked Jura as she rested a hand on Samui’s shoulder, Samui shakes his head and he replies with concern in his voice.

“I don’t think so Jura, she doesn’t seem to be any happier. I can’t do anything to cheer her up, you might have better luck.” Samui then walks off leaving Jura to try her best to comfort Barnette. Samui then decides that he will pay a visit to Meia, to see how she is coping with the death of her wing mate. Samui is making his way to see Meia, after a small conversation with Misty. He continues down the hall towards Meia’s room only to hear a lot of noise.

“Argh!” There is a large bang as something hits of Meia’s door, Samui quickly runs into the room, Samui’s jaw drops as a sudden state of shock takes control of him. Samui looks around Meia’s room to see it trashed, the bed is up against the wall, her bed clothes and all of Meia’s personal items are all spread across the floor.

“Hey Meia are you alright?” Asked Samui as he edged closer to her, keeping his arms up not to piss her off anymore than she already is, Samui continues to move across the floor silently when all of a sudden Meia speaks up.

“What do you want?” Meia looks at Samui with a cold blank, expression on her face. Samui steps closer, only for Meia to get up and attack him, her right launches forward smacking in to Samui’s face knocking him to the floor.

“I came to see if you were ok; it is clearly obvious you aren’t yourself. Samui stands up as Meia runs towards him again; Samui grabs her by the arm, sticking her arm up her back to try and restrain her.

“Let me go!” Meia struggles as she tries to free herself from Samui’s grip, Valore hears all the commotion and she runs into Meia’s room to see Meia struggling as Samui tries to keep Meia restrained. Valore arches a brow as she watches Samui struggling to restrain Meia.

“What’s going on in here? Samui what’s wrong with her?” Valore runs forward to help Samui restrain Meia, though Meia lashes out with her feet, kicking Valore in the face causing her nose and mouth to bleed. Valore crashes into the wall, banging her back and her neck of the metal wall, Valore then slumps up on the floor before getting back to her feet again wiping the blood away from her wounds. Valore’s facial expression changes from concern to anger as she runs forward; She lashes out violently striking Meia in the face knocking both her and Samui to the floor. Samui cringes as he hits the floor, his back bounces off the metal floor as Meia lands on top of him. Samui flinches in pain as he pushes Meia off him, a Samui cough as he holds his ribs in pain, though however right in front of him Meia has just struck Valore back and they both continue to fight with each other.

“Stop it Meia what has come over you!” Valore braces herself as Meia delivers a right handed punch to the face, Valore stumbles backwards as Meia’s punch strikes the right side of her face, leaving Valore a nasty bruise.

“Leave me alone!” Replies Meia again as she lashes out with her fists, Valore dodges her punches quickly lifting her knee, which strikes an unaware Meia in the stomach knocking her to the floor.

“Everyone is hurt from losing friends in this war, so don’t think it is just you.” Valore then turns round leaving the room in total disgust; she walks down the corridor with a face like thunder, totally forgetting that Samui is on the floor. Though back in Meia’s room Samui has helped Meia up to her feet, Meia goes to step forward but she stumbles forward almost falling. Samui catches her, his hands around her waist, Meia manages to straighten herself up while Samui still holds on. Meia turns around her hands embracing Samui’s chest.

“I don’t need your help Samui.” Meia looks at him and they both go slightly red as they both quickly pull away from each other.

“Are you feeling better now?” Asked Samui as both Meia and himself sat down in a corner of Meia’s room, Meia looks at him awkwardly and she replies in an awkward tone of voice while she looks firmly down at the floor.

“Yes… I don’t know…came over me….” Meia continues to look at the floor keeping her head low, Samui then turns to look at her and he replies with a reassuring tone.

“I know it’s not like you to act in such a way, but there are times when it is good to let it all out, so don’t worry about it. It is all water under the bridge.” Meia some what feels happier now as she gives Samui awkward smile, Meia’s eyes give off some sort of sparkle as Samui stares back into them again. Samui then jumps up to his feet, despite being hurt he seems quite lively. “Well my friend I must get going now, I better go see how Valore is after you beat her up. Well speak to you later ok?” Samui looks down at Meia as Meia looks up at him and nods with a small but awkward looking smile on her face, Samui then turns around and leaves the room to try and catch up with Valore.

Though else where on the ship, doctor Duero Mcfile is having a bite to eat with his friend Parfet, in the dinning area of the ship. Parfet has managed to get away from engineering for a short while so they are both having a meal and a chat with each other.

“So Duero, how is Atsuko doing? I haven’t been able to speak with her since she got sick I am kind of worried.” Replied Parfet as she began to eat her meal, Parfet sticks her fork into her meal, she picks up a piece of meat with her fork taking a bite out of it. Parfet then looks up at the doctor who then replies.

“Her condition has improved, though she has been very tired as of late. Right now she is resting in bed, sleeping soundly I hope.” Replied the doctor as he too began to eat his meal, he takes a drink from his cup before setting it back down on the table again.

“I see, let’s hope she gets better soon, now that you gave her that medicine.” Replied Parfet as she continued to eat her meal, the doctor looks at Parfet, and his eyes widen with and he replies.

“I see that you found out Parfet, though I would like to know how you know about it.” Replied the doctor as he eats some rice looking at Parfet with a small smile on his face.

“I heard BC and the captain talk about it earlier, though I can honestly say I am the only one of the crew that’s. I will keep it a secret until Atsuko gets back on her feet; I really hope the medicine works.” Parfet pushes her empty plate forward as she rubs her belly. The doctor then turns to look at Parfet with a small smile on his face.

“Yes I would like to see her recover as well, she is a very nice woman and I would hate to see Samui lose someone so important to him, the doctor then remembers about a conversation he had with Atsuko during one of his check ups, until Parfet brings him back to the real world.

“Well come on I think we should get back to work, it was eating with you though.” Both Parfet and the doctor rise to their feet, pushing in their chairs, Parfet smiles at the doctor, with the doctor also returning the same gesture, they bot leave the room as the door slides shutting behind them, they continue to walk down the corridor both waving and going their separate ways when they reach the bottom of the corridor. Elsewhere on the ship however, Samui has found Valore and both of them are currently talking about the scene with Meia.

“So are you alright Valore?” Asked Samui as he looked at Valore with a small smile on his face, Valore then smiles back and replies with a cheerful tone in her voice.

“I am alright but how are you Samui?” Asked Valore returning Samui’s own question, as she smiled at him waiting on an answer from him.

“I will be ok, she has a very good punch on her; she seems a lot happier now so it was worth it in the end.” Smiled Samui as he stood up and stretched for a bit, Valore then stands up with a small smile on her face.

“Glad to here it, say have you seen your sister at all today?” Asked Valore as Samui turned around to answer her question.

“No I haven’t seen her today, but I will be going to see her later, why?” Asked Samui as both Valore and Samui left Valore’s room and begin to walk down the corridor. Valore then looks at him her thoughts dwelling on Atsuko for a few seconds before she replies.

“I just find it lovely that both of you care for each other so much, where I come from it was woman everywhere. I just wouldn’t want to lose a connection like that.” Smiled Valore as Samui put his hand over his mouth letting out a slight chuckle.

“I see, Atsuko is always sending me away when I come to visit, she doesn’t like me fussing over her, so I don’t go as much as I used to.” Smiled Samui as they continued walking down the corridor.

“Ah I see she likes to look after herself, does she? I can see why she is like that I guess.” Added Valore as they both continued to walk down another corridor. Though else where on the ship, Dita and Hibiki are currently walking along talking when Dita suddenly mentions about the medicine for Atsuko and Hibiki then grinds to a halt.

“Did you say that Atsuko is going to be ok?” Asked Hibiki as he stood in the middle of the corridor looking at Dita with a very shocked expression on his face. Dita then giggles and then replies.

“Uh huh. I heard that the doctor gave her a special medicine, now the medicine is beginning to work and soon she will be will again.” Smiled Dita as she skipped down the corridor with Hibiki walking beside her still with a shocked expression on his face.

“Does Samui know about his sister getting better again? Hey has anyone even told him about the medicine?” Asked Hibiki as he stared at Dita as they continued to walk down the corridor.

“Umm… I don’t think he knows about it, but I do know that he isn’t to be told about the medicine before Atsuko gets back on her feet, so Mr alien you can’t go and tell him about the medicine.” Smiled Dita as they continued to walk down another corridor, towards the hanger bay in which, Hibiki wants to try some upgrades to his Vanguard.

“But come on that’s not fair on Samui damn it, but changing the subject did you know that Meia and Valore had a fight earlier?” Asked Hibiki as Dita stopped looking up at the ceiling, as she thinks for a bit before replying to Hibiki.

“Yes I heard that they were fighting, but guess who is in the room when they were fighting?” Giggled Dita as Hibiki looked at Dita while scratching his head confused, he then replies.

“I don’t know who was in the room with them when they were fighting, but I bet you know so come and tell me.” Pleaded Hibiki as he waited for Dita to answer him, Dita just smiles and she quickly runs away down the corridor leaving Hibiki behind as she giggles.

“Hey! Wait!” Hibiki then runs after Dita to try and catch up with her, he runs around one of the corners in which he screeches to a halt. Hibiki just stops dead in front of Dita as she giggles before answering.

“Samui was in the same room with Meia and Valore.” Giggled Dita as Hibiki’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor, after a few seconds Hibiki picks his jaw back up from the floor and replies.

“Are you trying to say that they were fighting over him!” Yelled Hibiki off the top of his voice as Dita quickly covered his mouth with her hand.

“Hush… I think that they both like him, and they had a fight over which one gets to be his girlfriend.” Smiled Dita as she watched Hibiki struggling to comprehend what, Dita had said.

“Come on you can’t be serious, Meia liking Samui? Miss Private I don’t think so, Though Valore on the other hand might take an attachment to him.” Hibiki begins to ponder when he hears Meia talking to a crew member; both Hibiki and Dita quickly hide themselves from sight.

“So I heard Samui was with you during that fight and he made feel better, is it true?” Asked the crew member, as she stopped looking at Meia with a romantic glint in her eyes.

“Just exactly what are you trying to say?” Asked Meia as her face turns to a slightly red colour, Meia turns around to hide her embarrassment and the crew member accompanying her bursts out laughing.

“I am saying I think you like him, Meia actually likes someone.” The crew member then runs off and Meia gives chase, chasing after her. Hibiki and Dita then pop their heads out from around the corner to watch them disappear from sight; Hibiki then turns to Dita and says.

“I can’t believe it Dita, you are right.” Hibiki then turns to look at Dita a surprised look on his face, Dita yawns before turning to Hibiki with a small smile on her face as she points at herself.

“Hmm I am right; what do you mean?” Asked Dita as she looked back at Hibiki with an innocent look on her face. Hibiki runs his hand down his face and replies.

“I can’t believe your so dumb sometimes; I mean you are right from the way Meia reacted she could have been fighting with Valore over Samui! This calls for further investigation. Hibiki then grabs Dita by the arm dragging her along as he runs off after Meia.

Though back in the medical bay, the doctor has come in to find Atsuko standing on her own two feet again, her strength has returned to her. The doctor rushes in quickly putting his arm around her.

“Atsuko what are you doing out of bed? You shouldn’t be out of bed when you still ill, something real bad could happen to you.” Replied the doctor as he got Atsuko back into bed again. Atsuko smiles at him and replies.

“Its ok Doctor I am doing great I feel like I have been reborn again.” Atsuko sits up again full of energy, she smiles at the doctor as he returns the gesture. “I know what you did for me doctor thanks.” Atsuko smiles and the doctor shakes his head in disbelief before replying.

“How did you know?” Asked the doctor as he sat down in the chair beside Atsuko’s bed, curious as to how she figured out that he got the cure for her illness. Atsuko runs her hand along his face and she smiles replying.

“Paiway was taking the container off to be disposed off, I happened to be awake at the time. So that is how I figured it out.” Smiled Atsuko as the doctor laughed for a little bit before replying.

“Well I am glad the medicine is beginning to work I will let you go in a few hours time, however before I let you go I want to run a few more tests first is that ok with you?” Asked the doctor ash he got out of his chair and walked over to his desk to look for something.

“Of course it is, everything has to be ok before I can go doesn’t it? So let’s get the tests over and done with so I can go see Samui again.” Smiled Atsuko as the doctor nodded as he returned to Atsuko’s bedside.

A few hours later, Samui is sitting down in a observation room that had just recently been finished, it was designed as an area for the men and woman to have a nice quiet time together, Samui is sitting watching the stars as the ship continues to fly towards the males and females home worlds. A few seconds later though, Misty arrives on the observation room she spots Samui and she walks over to him to say hello.

“Hey Samui how have you been?” Asked Misty as she rested her arms on the railings along the windows of the observation room, Samui turns to face her and he smiles replying.

“I am doing ok how about you?” Samui then turns around leaning against one of the railings as he waits on her response, Misty then turns around her hair swaying in the air and she replies.

“I am doing ok, thank you for asking.” Replied Misty as she smiled back at Samui. “So what brings you up here? I haven’t seen you up on this part of the ship before.”

“Yeah I don’t normally come up here, but I was told that if I wanted sometime alone this would be the best place to be.” Replied Samui as he diverted his attention back to the stars outside, Samui continues to watch the stars as the ship continues to fly on its course back home.

“Yeah it is very quiet up here; it is one of my favourite places I come here a lot, though I admit to be quite surprised to see you up here though I am not complaining since I do enjoy your company, as I to once like you and your sister. I was found in space drifting and I too felt like a total stranger on this ship at first. Do you not feel like that now?” Asked Misty as she smiled at Samui, Samui then replies.

“Yeah I do but that is only natural, since it is a ship full of strangers. However give it time and then the strangers become your family and your friends. But I want my sister to be here along side us right to the end; it would feel very empty if she wasn’t around. But I pray that she won’t die.” Replied Samui as he stretches and letting out a slight yawn.

“She won’t die I wouldn’t worry about it, Atsuko is a good person, fate won’t let her die.” Smiled Misty as she stood up straight again stretching. “Well Samui I have to get going again, going to go and get a shower so I will see you later bye.” Misty waves as she leaves the observation room, Samui waves as he watches Misty leave, he then turns back around and continues watching the stars as the ship flies past them.

Meia is in her room, wondering why she went red when a fellow crew member hinted about her romancing Samui, though every time she does see Samui her heart flutters, though Meia knows what the others say when she mentions it, she might be in love with him but she is unsure. Meia then stands up and decides to go and look for him, she exits her room and she begins to look for him.

Though else where, BC has returned to the medical bay to see Atsuko, who is now getting changed back into her normal clothing, BC waits as Atsuko emerges from behind the drawn out curtains, Atsuko smiles at BC and BC returns Atsuko’s smile with a smile of her own.

“Are you ready to return back to your room?” Asked BC as Atsuko stepped forward with a smile on her face, she nods and replies to BC.

“Yeah let’s go would you tell Samui to come and meet me back in our room, but don’t tell him that I am there ok?” Asked Atsuko as she smiled at BC, BC then smiles back nodding in agreement.

“Ok Atsuko I will do that for but come on lets go.” BC puts her arm around Atsuko and they both leave the medical bay, to return to Atsuko’s room. Mean while Samui is about to leave the observation room, Meia arrives. Meia enters and she mentions to Samui that she wants to go talk to him. Samui stops, Meia then turns towards him trying to start a conversation.

“So Samui how are you?” Meia looks up at him as she asked him a question, Samui raises an eyebrow, unsure why Meia would ask such a question he replies.

“I am doing ok, how are you?” Replied Samui as he looked at Meia not expecting an answer since Meia doesn’t normally talk about her private life.

“I am doing well.” Replied Meia as she turned looking at Samui again, Samui looks a bit awkward as Meia actually answered his question, Samui then thinks about the next question to ask Meia, his heart beat speeds up as does Meia own heart beat. Samui then asks her.

“Umm so what did you want to chat with me about?” Asked Samui, as he leaned up against the railings, trying not to show Meia his nervousness. Meia then replies with a nervous tone in her voice.

“I am due to go out on a patrol in about an hour, I was wondering if you will accompany me in your Goliath.” Meia gulps as she shuffles a bit before looking up again. Samui then replies.

“Sure Meia I would be delighted to go with you.” Replied Samui as Meia then leant off the railing ands and began to make her way to the exit.

“Alright I will see you in about an hour.” Meia leaves by the exit as Hibiki and Dita hide around a corner. Samui smiles when the intercom then signals a message.

“Samui could you return to your quarters immediately I repeat, Samui can you please return to your quarters immediately.” The message stops dead and Samui quickly runs out from the observation room back towards his room, not knowing his sister Atsuko is waiting for him.

That’s it for the chapter hope you all enjoyed it please come back again