Vash reached for their cloaks and began to cover that which needed hiding. Knives, who was laid across Vanessa and Vash’s laps in the back of the hummer, had to be covered completely. Vanessa was in too much pain to talk or move, considering her day-old wounds and the bumpy ride, so Vash also had the task of cloaking her entirely. And since Vash the Stampede was just as wanted as his ‘kids’ now, Vash had to envelop himself in a cloak as well.

“We’re going to look pretty silly. Those ships should distract people from us, I hope,” Meryl muttered, squinting to see the moonlight reflected off the ships. She yawned, and tried to nudge Millie awake.

Exhausted, they all envied Millie for her gentle slumber, and even Knives for his drug-induced unconsciousness.

Vash felt himself nodding off, but catching Vanessa’s stiff pose in the corner of his eye brought him to attention. Knowing not to touch where she was hurt, he reached over and traced the back of her neck. He stroked the skin curve just behind her ear and softly described the ships to her. “There’s three of them, twenty stories tall and smooth metal. Shaped like buildings, except rounded on the bottom. I can’t see what keeps them steady, but they might be hovering. Looks like they landed right next to December, and they’re already setting up what looks like really big tents. Probably to house people before boarding. There ought to be plenty of space for the population.”

Vanessa nodded, head tilting into his touch. Checking Knives’ pulse again, she was reminded of the need for a secluded place here, in this bustling city. Knives was too dangerous; she couldn’t let him ruin lives again.

Once within December, Millie awoke and went about finding a place to rent. She was the least suspicious, healthiest of them all at that point, and found a surprising energy. In no time, she returned to the hummer with keys, informing them of a nice, little apartment complex basement the owner didn’t care about. “This way, rent’s cheap, and Mr. Vash will have privacy and security to hold Mr. Knives,” she reasoned, smiling happily.

Thanking the girls, Vash rushed to get his fellow plant children and their supplies into that basement. He helped Vanessa to rest on a cot, and laid Knives across another. Wasting no time, he began turn the dank rooms into a temporary home.

First, he found a mirror and arranged his hair and clothes such that he wouldn’t be recognized. Properly disguised, he headed out with a wad of double dollars into the dreary morning hours. Some shops were just opening, and he rushed to find what they’d need. He filled a backpack with cleaning supplies, bedding, and food. At a discount furniture store, he arranged for all he could afford – one twin-sized bed (he had to chuckle at this, since it would be his twin’s bed), one queen-sized futon, a small table, and a set of four chairs. They would be delivered to the basement later that afternoon, so he hurried back to check on his brother and Vanessa.

He found that Vanessa had already found her way into the bathroom, and was soaking in the tub. Knives was still quite unconscious, so Vash worked in the kitchenette to prepare a small meal for two.

But when Vanessa came out of the bath, dressed again in the purple dress, she walked past the food and made her way to Knives. “Vash, come read this for me,” she called from the next room.

He prepared a syringe and filled it with the specified chemical. But when he went to find a vein, Vanessa stopped him, insisting that she learn to do this sightless. Vash led her to the vein and bit his lip as she performed the injection. “The furniture will be delivered in a few hours; why don’t you eat something and I’ll get things cleaned up?” he suggested, lifting a blanketed Knives onto his shoulder and carrying him into the bathroom. Knives would have to rest in the tub until after the movers had come and gone.

Vanessa felt her way back to the other room and picked up a sandwich. She’d forgotten how long it had been since her last meal.

Turning back from the bathroom, Vash stopped and stared at her. In this weak light, he had just noticed the long, dark rows of stitches.

Sensing his pause, Vanessa swallowed the rest of her breakfast and explained. “Took off those dirty bandages. Let wounds air out for now. Sorry. I’m sure I look nasty,” she apologized. “I’ll hide in bathroom when they get here, too.”

With an awkward chuckle, Vash moved to the sandwiches. He grabbed one for himself and a second for her, and leaned against the cold, stone wall alongside her. “You don’t look nasty. You just invoke a lot of pity like this,” he replied sweetly. “I still like you, no matter what.”

Vanessa lowered her head, shook it slightly side to side, and began to laugh.

Vash frowned. “Hey, I’m serious,” he whined.

She sighed and turned to him smiling. “You’re darling, Vash. Really the sweetest thing.” Reaching out with her sore right arm, she tried to find his shoulder and missed.

He grabbed her hand and gave it a little squeeze. “I was so worried about you. There are a lot of things we need to talk about.”

“There most certainly are.” She flashed another genuine smile and bit into her sandwich.

After helping Vash to wash the thick layer of grime from the basement, Vanessa hid with Knives in the bathroom while the furniture arrived. Once the men had departed, she came back out to pull the linens into place, trying to memorize the rooms’ space as she went. Finally, Knives was placed onto his bed in the side room.

Vanessa wandered into the room and began to arrange their medical arsenal onto a crude shelf. “Where’s your bed, Vash?” she whispered.

“Um…oh, sorry, I couldn’t afford another one. That sounds like a lie, doesn’t it…?” He stopped pulling the sheets into place and scratched the back of his head. “I’ll sleep way over on the side; you won’t know I’m there!”

She laughed softly. “Sure.”

“Plus, it’s kind of cold down here,” he mumbled, turning to maneuver a warning device. He rigged the heart and brain monitor to electrodes on Knives’ chest and forehead, and wired a little device into the main room such that it would let an alarm if his vitals dropped or rose beyond the specified bracket. If everything was fine, it would sound a white noise; if the device received no signal, the sound would stop completely. Thus, they decided they could close Knives into this room once in a while and be assured safety.

The rest of the afternoon was spent planning out their lives in this basement. Knives’ health would deteriorate after time, since this constant flow of drugs would weaken him. So, Vanessa suggested he be allowed to come to consciousness once a day, at night, under Vash’s watchful eye. During this time, they could feed him a main meal and chat, though obviously it would be dangerous.

“When the ships leave,” Vanessa explained, “I can medicate him such that he’ll be out for 72 hours solid. This is sufficient to be gone from the atmosphere before he’s awake. But things could still go wrong, so we’ll need my back up plan.”

Vash shook his head, catching himself in the futility of the action. “I’m not leaving you here alone. That’s just ridiculous. If it happened that one of us would stay, it’d be me. Not you.”

“I don’t like the humans. Not like you do,” Vanessa reminded him, leaning back against the hard chair. She flinched, and bent forward again. “Um…So if one of us leaves, it’d be you! I’d rather stay here than go to Earth without you.”

“Well, I’m not leaving without you. No way – not alone with him,” Vash asserted, wondering again just what his brother had done to her thus far. “You know what he’d do with you if you stay.”

She nodded. “I wouldn’t worry about that so much. Not in the long run.”

“Huh?” Vash looked at her, confused. But facial expressions couldn’t convey much to she who was sightless. “That plant army he wants you to provide? What makes you think-”

“Impossible,” Vanessa declared, voice growing quiet. “As the saying does, one cannot draw blood from a turnip. Damage of the past rendered me unable to…The doctor said so.” She bit her lip, mouth drawn together as she rethought her revelation.

Vash opened his mouth to reply, but then the reality of it set in. He watched a few tears fall from the creases of her reddened eyelids.

“Sorry I lied before. I didn’t think it was your business, and…You know, it’s the one thing that gives me leverage against him, and…um…Well…” Her voice was cracking and she truly wished she could see him now, to analyze whatever reaction Vash was having.

He scooted his seat from the table and walked behind her. Folding his arms about her shoulders, he leaned forward and kissed her unharmed cheek. “It’s okay. Really. It’s okay now.” In truth, a part of him was crushed. ‘There goes my chance at fatherhood,’ he thought, instantly feeling the guilt of his own selfishness.

Technology far more advanced than the lost sort that residents of Gunsmoke built superstitions about was suddenly abuzz in every inhabited corner of the planet. Silent hovercrafts soared above the sands, rushing to inform all humankind of the emigration. Everyone was told to gather in May, where food, lodging, and rehabilitation seminars were to be provided.

At first, people were suspicious, wary of being dazzled too easily by such tales of fancy. But as they came to realize the great things awaiting them on Earth, they softened to the alien guests. Sure, the newcomers talked funny, what with their big fancy words, accents, ‘proper English’, and weird slang, but they were good people. Earthlings became known as the most intelligent, healthiest humans ever. Before long, fathers were encouraging their sons to join the Earth military upon arrival, and mothers attempted to match their daughters to the fine Earthmen.

Any complaints or mistrusts were easily put aside once people arrived in December. They dined on the finest-tasting foods and enjoyed something called ‘air conditioning,’ which made life like Heaven. The endless shows of a dazzlingly realistic quality displayed the wonders Earth life had to offer. On Earth, no one went hungry, or was alone. Everyone could find love and happiness, wealth and success, nature and inventions. War hadn’t broken out in any of the main four countries in the last 54 years, and the exquisite criminal corrections systems insured peace for residents of any section of society. A mammoth 2-year fundraiser had raised sufficient funds to provide housing and resources for the emigrants. New industries had been encouraged to secure openings for all new labor, and the education and training necessary to utilize the advanced technologies would be provided for in entirety on the ride back to Earth.

Orientation for Gunsmoke residents was a process, and began quite slowly. Such primitive people had to be eased into this level of sophistication. Weeks passed, and the progress was highlighted by the drastic decline in drunken merriment. The excitement had dulled to relief, and even Vash and Vanessa came to relax.

Slowly, Knives’ eyes cracked open. He groaned, finding himself once more in the gentle nightmare of captivity.

“Good evening, Knives. Vash made a wonderful lasagna for you,” Vanessa informed softly. Stitches removed, she could now smile fully.

Placing a spoon in Knives’ right hand, Vash grinned. “I didn’t burn it this time.”

Knives squinted in the sudden light, and yawned. He jostled his limbs a bit to learn that they were still secured by straps and chains. “I feel like shit. Vanessa, I hope you realize that you’re slowly killing me,” he growled, beginning to dive into his food with the one free hand.

Vanessa smirked at the comment. “You’ll be fine…in time. Considering what you’ve put me through, you can chalk this all up to my own revenge. I mean, since you think that back when Vash had you tied in bed at his place, it was because Vash wanted revenge for your nasty tricks towards him. Nothing terribly personal, just friendly retribution. And only temporary, of course.”

Scowling, Knives fell back into his pillows, panting merely from the effort of eating. Such slight movements were all he could handle in his weakened state, proof that he had no way out. Beads of sweat began to form on his brow as he caught his breath. His steely blue eyes focused uneasily on Vanessa. “You know…I would still forgive you. If you changed your mind,” he whispered to her.

“I’m still deciding,” she murmured, reaching for a bottle of medicine and a syringe. “For now, I’ve got to put you under again. Alright?”

In his condition, he could still have given a struggle. Yet he hadn’t. Something inside him had changed, and he could no longer question her methods. Somehow, he sympathized with her determination, to keep him alive and save the humans as well. He had come to admire that about her, that she was so strong. These newfound emotions led him to a new conclusion – that it would be difficult to break her spirit when the time came; he would almost hate to see the fire in her die. But it was for the good of the species, he reminded himself, justifying the plans in his mind.

Dropping his arm back into the open cuffs, he allowed Vash to buckle and lock him into place as Vanessa delicately injected the chemicals. “Goodnight, Vanessa.” Those sad, gorgeous eyes closed once more, not to be seen again until tomorrow night.

“Oh, things are going well. He’s been well-behaved. And Vanessa thinks she’ll be able to see colors and shapes soon,” Vash explained cheerfully, helping the girls with their luggage. “But we’ll still have to wait until nearly takeoff to board.”

Meryl frowned. “If you miss it, I swear…”

“Yeah, Mr. Vash, we really want to spend time with you on the ride to Earth!” Millie agreed, turning their weaponry in at the bins outside the loading ramp. “Peaceful days just wouldn’t be fun without you!”

Vash smiled. “You know I’ll try! Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine whatever happens.”

Millie fumbled for her new ID. “What’re you going to do about the medical check, Mr. Vash? They said you can’t get these card things without it.”

He shrugged. “We’ve got to cooperate, and hope that we slide by. We’ll do things by the rules, and with any luck things will turn out okay.”

A man in a very clean outfit walked towards them, “Good afternoon, ladies! I’ll be taking your luggage and get you moved into your quarters. Remember, once boarded, you must remain aboard. Ready?”

Meryl nodded, but turned to shake Vash’s hand. “Bye.”

Vash grinned, and took her into a hug. “Vanessa says goodbye, since she couldn’t come. Take care of yourselves. I’ll try to keep things as safe as possible.”

Millie flew at them, crying and hugging as tightly as she could. “Oh, Mr. Vash!”

As the pain of the last, truest goodbye hit them, they all began to cry. After prying themselves apart, the two girls slowly marched away from him, into the unknown, perhaps for the last time.

When Vash returned to the basement, he couldn’t find Vanessa. “Hey, where are you, Vanessa?” he called, knocking on the bathroom door.

He received no answer, but thought he heard a light groan from Knives’ room. Opening the door, he saw her lifting herself from the floor.

Vash rushed to Vanessa. A thin trail of blood ran from her forehead down the side of her face, and she sat cradling her head in her hands. “What happened, did you hit your head on that shelf again?” he asked, checking through her hair for the wound.

“No…oh, no…”

He tilted her face up and his throat tightened. “Um, what is it then?” he responded, voice full of hope.

“He’s gone,” she answered, shaking her head miserably. “His body was adjusting to the doses more than I’d guessed…Before his afternoon injection, he came to consciousness for too long. He cut the monitor; I didn’t know! I…and when I went in there, he was escaping, and he…” She sighed, heart racing.

A little chunk of the ceiling lay beside her. It looked as though Knives had carved it to drop on her head, knocking her out to quiet her during his flight from the basement.

“He was almost out of the chains and all, so I hurried to inject, but they were sliced up as soon as I…The angel arm, he used it to get out, but he sounded like it took all he had to…Tired and panting, but enough to leave. And he…he asked me if I was going to…with him…So I told him to find me at the ships’ last call and I’ll give him my…um, my decision…It’s the only thing…to…um…and then I fainted or something, and…and you got here…just now…”

“Okay. So…we’ll anticipate the things he planned before. And we wait until last call, and…” Vash cleared his throat, and hugged her tight. “We’ll see. I’ll think of something.”

In this delightful air of expectations and new beginnings hung an isolated cloud of worry. Nevertheless, Vash still found time to sneak away from his patrol and mingle with the various tent-fulls of people. For sporadic minutes, he would clown onto the scene and distract folks from their studies, beckoning children to come out and play. He still asked if anyone had seen his twin - a tall, blonde man - walking about, and his guard was never fully down, but without human contact he just couldn’t feel like his usual, goofy self. Vash certainly wasn’t pleased that Knives was on the loose, but was highly relieved to be out of that stuffy, old basement for good.

Money wasn’t an issue in the settlement, so Vanessa and Vash had locked up their basement and begun to live in the tents, taking turns patrolling for Knives, but not expecting to see him just yet.

The clock was counting down, and last call was fast approaching. The populations of humans in the tents dwindled in the hundreds, as opposed to the past thousands. Nearly all had boarded, and no major violent incidents had been reported.

Finding himself in the chokehold of an 8-year-old, Vash reflected on Vanessa’s theories as to why Knives hadn’t yet made any moves. ‘He’s bogged down from the medications, so he likely hasn’t been healthy enough to act without drawing suspicion. She said he’d have trouble with balance, eyesight, and fainting for a few days, and he would have to overcome the drug withdrawal before becoming healthy. The addiction we’d inadvertently caused in him is keeping him too nauseous to eat. But since his breakout was just this past Thursday…Any day now, he should start to meddle with the ships. Boy…Knives getting a ship and flying to Earth, to destroy all of mankind…Now, THAT doesn’t sound good at all…’

Vash brushed himself off and waved goodbye as the children dispersed.

“Hey, Mr. Vash, how come you don’t ever have to do these boring studying things?” a little voice asked him, while tugging at the leg of Vash’s jeans. “It’s not fair.”

Vash lifted Tommy into the air and gave him a little hug. “I’m sorry, I guess it’s really not! But it’s ‘cause I already know that stuff! I’m a really quick learner.” He set the little boy down in the sand and ushered him towards the tent. “Now, if you work real hard, you can probably get smarter than me some day!”

Tommy pouted a little, but sped along regardless.

“Vash!” Vanessa ran towards him, holding the long, white scarf close about her head with her good arm, the fracture healed. The other arm was still in a sling, since its shoulder blade still hadn’t completely fused. Despite her healing, it was a wonder she could run without tripping, in his general direction, since her sight was limited to a blurry squint. “Vash! You won’t believe it!”

He rested his hands on her shoulders as she sat back on her heels to catch her breath. “Holy crap, what?” he asked anxiously. “Did he…was it him?”

Vanessa smiled. “Uh, huh! He was trying to enter the ships! But he was stopped by a porter; asked him for his ID. Instead of killing the man, because I would guess Knives knows better than to do that now, he turned around and stumbled off! In his condition, there’s no way he could make it aboard. He’ll never accomplish that goal of his…He’d hardly be able to angel arm at all, the way he was weaving about!”

Vash collapsed onto his rear. He laughed softly. “Are you sure? That’s great! Wow…But did he see you?”

“No, I don’t think so. But it’s not like I could see well enough anyhow – most of the details I got from the porter afterwards. I don’t expect he’ll be around until last call.” She grinned, and patted Vash’s knee. “See? No need to worry!” he reassured, squinting to see his expression and failing.

“Yeah, that’s good news,” Vash repeated softly. “But you’ve yet to tell me what you plan to tell him.”

Vanessa shook her head, grin fading into a façade. She stood, dusting the sand from her dress, and brushed past him on the way to a tent. “It’s my decision. You’ll have to wait.”

Watching her over his shoulder, Vash remained slumped in the sand. He pulled his knees to his chest and set his chin upon them. “Why won’t you tell me?” he whispered to no audience. He again felt that familiar and loathed supposition – that she would choose to stay with Knives in a last-ditch effort to save the ships. Vash knew that if she told him that she would, the surprise he’d register might clue Knives in to the lie. If she was going to try to solve things on her own again, she would make the charade far more realistic.

Back in the basement, when things had been so in control and peaceful, Vanessa had begun to truly warm to him. They’d stayed up talking every night, laughing as they shared happy tales, and crying as they indulged in the sad ones. And she hadn’t complained about the sleeping situation – in fact, she had chosen to curl beside him as they slept, wrapping her good arm around his waist and tickling his ear with her breath. It was as though they’d picked up where they left off, back in his hotel room in May. Her smiles were always real, and so long as they weren’t in Knives’ room, she tended to accept hugs gratefully and kissed him for such long periods of time.

A blush arose on his cheeks as he giggled in spite of himself.

She had come to trust him completely, and showed so much affection. Though she seemed such a cold, stoic survivor during their time alone, she was far more passionate in private than he’d guessed. In that dank basement, with nothing but each other for entertainment, he never found himself bored. Not with Vanessa. She was special, somehow, and he enjoyed her true nature.

But then Knives broke out; they abandoned their home, and things changed greatly between the two of them. Vanessa suddenly insisted on sleeping alone, and showed Vash no physical affection. Only in brief moments - like when she had first lifted those scarred eyelids and found herself to not be blind - did a bright smile shine through her serious expressions. It was as if she was letting him down gently, disguising her self-sacrifice as a simple breakup.

Vanessa didn’t know that so many times, when she had taken over their patrol for Knives and left Vash to rest, he had risen and wandered out into the desert to practice his angel arm. Not since battling his brother so long ago had he flexed the ability, yet Vash was certain that his skill with the weapon would make the difference between his own happiness with Vanessa and Knives’.

‘I’ve got to protect Vanessa from him,’ Vash thought, staring at his right arm apprehensively. ‘With my control perfected somewhat, I should be able to fight him without killing anyone.’

At last call, Vash found himself and their luggage alone at the far edge of the ships. He’d asked Vanessa to hurry here after her checkup. At this point, hopefully no one would see their angel arms, or at least not be harmed by them.

He stiffened as his brother approached, hands in pockets, wearing a clever grin and clean suit.

“Hey, Vash. So where is she? You’re not moronic enough to make a trap of this, are you?” Knives asked impatiently, stopping within earshot of Vash but not so close as to invite an attack.

Vash smirked. “We know about your plans, and I’m not going to let you take a ship. You’re staying here, to watch over these plants, to leave humans alone forever.”

Knives rolled his eyes. “Whatever, Vash. Whatever.”

“You know I can beat you, again. And I will,” Vash continued, gesturing a little with his right hand.

“Is Vanessa coming or not?” Knives repeated, leaning against a nearby crate casually.

Vash bit his lip and attempted to match that level of calm. “Still at her medical check. She’ll be back any minute.” His hand drew into a fist as he glanced up into the sky, wishing this stupid confrontation was already over and won.

They stood rigid in a long pause, each wary of the other’s subtle movements.

“Sorry I’m late, it took longer than usual,” Vanessa called to them, arm over her chest as she strode forward.

“Vanessa, hurry and board! I’ll take care of things out here…” Vash lifted his right arm slightly from his side, hoping to appear as valiant as he envisioned himself.

Knives stepped forward. “No, she’s going to answer my request first. As agreed.”

“I already know what you’re going to say, and I’m not going to let you make that mistake,” Vash whispered to her, hoping Knives wouldn’t hear.

“Well, whatever you think I’m going to say, let it be known that I’ve changed my mind since this morning anyways. Have some faith in me – I’ll do my penance yet,” she replied softly, face a little pale.

He moved to protest, but was interrupted.

“Vanessa, I’d like to speak with you without that knucklehead overreacting,” Knives called.

She nodded slightly, avoiding Vash’s eyes. “Vash, please just relax. No need for violence.”

Vash’s face reddened. That should be his line…

Vanessa walked slowly and deliberately toward Knives. She lifted her palm to his forehead. “How are you feeling? I hope the withdrawal wasn’t too harsh. I’m really sorry we had to do that to you,” she apologized, in a low, genuine tone.

‘I’m worried about him too, but sheesh! Does she have to say it like THAT?’ Vash rolled his eyes, hoping one of them saw. ‘This is just like at the cave…Damn it…’

Knives smiled and said something Vash couldn’t hear. Hand reaching for Vanessa’s face, Knives began to look concerned, whispering to her about the injuries, most likely.

Vash stepped forward a little, just enough to hear what they were talking about. He frowned, picking up the all-too friendly tones of voice as she explained her healing and accepted his apologies.

“I hate to rush things along, but I think you should reveal your decision, Vanessa,” Knives asked, hiding impatience and growing more and more confident of the answer as this went on. He moved his hand along the unscarred half of her face, running his fingertips through her hair as he smiled.

She reached up and took his hand from her face. Holding it in her own, firmly, she grinned uneasily. “If I fulfilled our promise, and stayed with you, would you spare the humans’ lives? For me?” she asked sweetly, gazing into his face as nicely as she could when squinting this hard.

Knives smiled and moved closer to her. “For you, I would do anything. Yes, I’d let them all live, if you wish.”

Vash gasped. Even if he was serious, wasn’t it more important for Vanessa to be happy? Could he really let her sacrifice her will to him, even if it was for the benefit of an entire species? He knew the answer to that – any sacrifice they could make was worth all of these lives, these millions and billions of souls. Shoulders slumping, he resigned to his pathetic existence, only there as a backup soldier, should action arise.

“Knives, that’s sweet of you.” Still grasping his hand in her own, she tucked his wrist under her chin and strained to focus. Concentrating this much, she could almost make out his facial expression. “But you’re lying. No matter what agreements we’ve tried, for you to spare the humans, you’d never honor a single one.”

He pulled his hand from her grasp and sighed. “So then…No?”

Vanessa shook her head. “I’m leaving with Vash.”

Knives chuckled, glancing over her shoulder at Vash, whose chin was dangling open. “I’m not about to let that happen. You’re staying with me, to fulfill your duties to the race.”

“And if I stayed, and Vash left, you’d spare the ships?” she asked, a clever smirk emerging upon her lips. “No, you’d kill your only brother along with them, wouldn’t you.”

Hiding shock with offense, Knives frowned. “No, I wouldn’t.”

“Yes, you would. I saw it in your mind,” Vanessa whispered, waiting for him to realize the truth. “I saw everything.”

Knives gulped. He gently traced a scar line from the corner of her eye to her chin. So THAT’s what she was doing, not committing suicide…

“I’d hate for Vash to find out, though,” she whispered softly. “It would break his heart to know that his only brother doesn’t care about him anymore…Finally resolving to cut him down should he stand in the way of your goals…Which he is.”

“Unfortunately, yes. I’ve lost the ability to love a brother so blinded by lies and false compassion,” he admitted. “My choice is inevitable – Vash will die if he boards or stays. Regardless, you’re coming with me.”

Shaking her head, Vanessa sighed impatiently. “Well, that’s no plan! You know, if I stay, and you attack those ships, I’d throw myself in the way. I have a penance to fulfill, don’t I, Vash? Those humans will be killed only over my dead body.”

Knives shook his head with more confidence in response. “The first place we’re going is that basement, where I’ll use some of those anesthetics to render you unconscious for the duration of this rescue ship nonsense. You’ll miss the entire display, but you’ll live. Now, I’d appreciate it if you’d stop wasting breath, and come with me,” he added, grabbing her hand urgently.

Vash stepped forward again. “Let her go, Knives!”

“What, is my timid little brother going to blow me away? Join reality, Vash. Any action you make is futile,” he called over his shoulder as he began to drag Vanessa away.

Vanessa planted her bare feet square in the sand and fought his pull. “You can’t use those drugs on me! Trust me, you can’t!” she insisted, less in fear than in certainty.

Knives stopped tugging her and turned to scowl. “I can and I will.”

“I love Vash,” Vanessa snarled, tensing against his touch. “I’m going with him, whether you like it or not, because it’s the only logical option you have.”

Behind her, Vash let a muffled roar of frustration.

Seeing the hurt in Knives’ expression, Vanessa continued. “You know why I love him and not you? Because of your superiority complex. Because when you kiss me, it’s bitter and cold, while Vash’s kisses are as pure and sweet as he is. That sick pride and bloated ego of yours will prevent you from becoming anything better than his evil twin.”

Gritting his teeth, Knives whirled to face her, squeezing her fingers tightly in rage. “Take that back…Before my anger leads me to wield violence against you,” he threatened, drawing his left hand into a fist and lifting it before her face.

Vash flew at Knives, wrenching his hand from hers, narrowing his eyes furiously. “I’ll shoot you again, if I’m driven to it, Knives!”

Vanessa rushed between them, causing Vash to step back. “No one’s shooting up, blowing up, or slicing up anybody, or anything! And nobody’s preventing those ships from a safe homecoming. If you two fight, I’m going to get in the way and mess things up, so just give up. Both of you. Step back, Vash. There’s no need for hostility.”

Attempting to argue, Vash did as told and kept a keen eye on his brother.

She took a deep breath and continued. “Let me talk, I have something important I-”

“You lost the right to speak the moment you uttered those things!” Knives hissed.

“Vanessa, we’ve got to stay,” Vash argued, placing his hand on her shoulder. “As much as I hate to say it, we have to ensure…”

“Go ahead and board!” Knives stated, eyebrows lifted as his voice assumed a calmer tone. “It would sadden me, but if I must, I will destroy the two of you along with the humans.”

“So easily…You’ve decided that I, too, am expendable, huh?” Vanessa muttered.

Knives nodded solemnly. “Betrayal after betrayal, insult after insult…I will not forgive such morose, delusional brats as you. Board the ship. All sinners will pay…I’ll cut the two of you down as I would any other thieving parasite.”

“No you won’t,” Vanessa replied earnestly. “Hate us all, but there’s one you can’t destroy…” Taking advantage of this vulnerable moment, she grabbed Knives’ hand roughly and held his palm against her stomach.

Knives stood agape, frozen in surprise, as was Vash.

“For this you will have to spare everyone,” she continued, squinting to judge any response he may give. “I think it’s a girl. I think we’ll name her Tessla.”

Vanessa let her hand fall away, but still Knives touched her abdomen, feeling for the independent heartbeat within.

“A full-blooded plant,” she added softly. Turning her head to Vash, she added with a smile, “I thought they were crazy when they told me, at the checkup…but it’s true. You’re going to be a father, Vash, just like you wanted!”

Vash suddenly relaxed, and he shut his mouth.

Turning back to Knives, Vanessa’s voice became gentle and soothing. “As the first one born of a plant angel, Tessla was wrongly killed by the humans. As the first second-generation plant child, our Tessla should be allowed the chance to breathe and live, don’t you agree? You couldn’t kill Tessla…could you?”

Knives’ gaze fell, and his arms lay limp at his sides.

She reached to him, hugging him softly, the first truly felt embrace she ever gave him. “We have to go raise our children with other children. You stay here. Tend to the plants and make the Eden – I’ll bet some of our children will want to return here one day. If the humans are too harsh, they’ll need an alternative. We’ll tell them about you, their Uncle Knives who would take them in should they need him. The three of us - we’ll work to make them happy no matter what, okay?” she whispered blissfully, drawing back to see his expression.

Knives frowned. His skin felt cold and itchy all over. This was the checkmate he hadn’t allowed himself to expect. This was the key to sabotaging his plans, to reduce him to a mere observer of an accursed emigration.

His heart broken, he could only let a weak smile. So she wouldn’t love him. And she never would. But perhaps one day her children might. Perhaps…

“One day the Eden will be complete, then,” he surmised, glancing into Vash’s wide eyes before turning to leave without further incident. They watched him slink away from the human vermin and the only sentient members of his race; stealing into the desert alone, the abandoned plants his only solice.

Letting an obvious sigh of relief, Vash squatted to rest in the sand beside Vanessa. He scratched the back of his head and began to chuckle nervously. “That was the most clever…Wow, with acting that good and a lie that perfect…You know, you just saved everyone!? And it was so much easier than-”

“Are you calling me a liar?” Vanessa turned to him and put her hand on her hip. “That was the truth. At the check up, the lady said I’d healed. They tested me, and I’m pregnant. Really, I am! It’s not something I’d thought could happen…but…” Her voice suddenly quieted, and she looked to her feet nervously. “Not exactly the way I wanted to break the news.”

Vash felt his throat tighten. He wanted to yell something extremely loud, but restrained himself. Looking at her as if she were a semi and he were a deer, he inhaled, deep and long. Finally breaking out of his shock, he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face between the folds of her cloak and began to weep.

Vanessa knelt to hug him as he sobbed. “Um, Vash? Are you crying because you’re upset, or are you happy?”

Lifting his face to show her a quivering-lipped smile, he nodded. “Couldn’t be happier.”

Together, they stumbled, giggling because no words seemed necessary, to the ships’ main ramp. Luggage in tow, they held out their IDs and boarded. Hours later, they were gazing with wonder a starry galaxy, and the tiny speck Gunsmoke became - a mere memory of a planet in the distance.

THE END!