TRIGUN
Volume 1, Chapter 7
Deep Space Planet Future Gun Action by: Yasuhiro Nightow
Translation by: Shadowslash
For translator’s notes and disclaimers see
Trigun Volume
1.0.
Drop me a line; C ‘n C, or flame, doesn’t matter.
I’ll read which I chose. ~.^
Byakko@blademail.net
-199-
several Mooks hang around in one of the lower deck corridors,
apparently making sure the walls stay standing and the floor
doesn't run away. then…
squeaka squeaka squeaka squeaka
a cart with two tanks strapped on it comes rolling noisily along, with no one pushing it. the Mooks come forward to investigate, and suddenly a shot rings through the hall…
-200-
…and pings off the tanks. all the Mooks drop instantly,
afraid the tanks will explode. a few seconds later, when
everything is still in one piece and only a little bit of air
trickles out of the holes, the bewildered Mooks start to stand up
again, eyes still on the tanks…
-201-
…which is why they don't see Our Devious Hero come
leaping over top of the tanks nearly in time to get to their own
weapons. a quick pair of shots to the shoulders while still
flipping mid-air, and Vash has neatly taken out two of the three
potential threats.
TRIGUN #7 Rem
-202-
…duck, catch the floor on the back of the shoulderblade,
tuck, roll, and smoothly right up… one Colt Longshot aimed
right between the eyes of the last, and slowest, Mook. thud,
thud… now the other two finish hitting the floor. Vash
smiles, and the other Mook, wisely, gives in. they find
themselves well accommodated in the nearest broom closet.
-203-
that obstacle cleared and three Mook automatics heavier, Vash
continues down the hallway, Kaito appearing out of whatever nook
he hid in to lead the way.
Kaito- …and.. this one!
he pushes open an innocuous looking door. the room beyond is
small, and so crammed with tubes there's hardly room for one
small chair and maybe standing room for one other person. Vash
has to duck to get in.
Vash- This makes sense. These are all the speaking tubes?
Kaito- Yeah, but do you honestly think this'll really work?
Vash- I guess we'll find out. I've already made the first move.
-204-
a lone Mook staggers up to the bridge, breathing heavily.
Mook- ……… He got us, boss! …. He's just
…too good…
the poor sap keels over right at BDN's feet. stuck to his back
with a little piece of tape is a big-nosed caricature of a
frowning Vash making a big thumbs-down.
-205-
a very big, very vicious grin lights up BDN's face like one of
his neon lights.
BDN- bwaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! This is great! It's just like one of
them dime novels, one thing right after another!
Vash and Kaito exchage thumbs-ups as BDN's voice comes across
the speaking-tubes…
BDN- Yo, sleazeballs! Slack off on this and I'll kill ya myself!
Flush out that damned blond, NOW!!
-206-
not one to let things stay at just "good enough",
Our Corny Hero decides to push things a little further. He pops
open one of the speaking-tubes.
Vash- This is the starboard passenger section. He's here! The
blond!
BDN- …good! Hold him there, reinforcements are on their way.
Vash- It's too late! He's completely overpowered us and dived
back into hiding! GYAAAAAA!!
Kaito: …. ham.
Vash- GYAARRRRGH! //closes the tube// ….. alright.
Kaito spreads out the map and takes up a good spot in front of
most of the tubes.
Kaito- Now we should be able to figure out the movements of those
goons.
Vash hands Kaito a fountain pen, much to the kid's confusion.
-207-
Kaito- What's this?
Vash- Talk into this end of it, and I'll be able to hear you.
he points at the small hoop earring in his left ear. it's got
more uses than simply looking cool, apparently…
Vash- I don't wanna run into a pack of Mooks in a narrow hallway,
y'know.
Kaito- A radio this small…? It should be a museum piece.
What the hell are you doing with a piece of Lost Technology? Who
are you…?!
Vash- I wouldn't mind explaining, but you probably wouldn't
believe me. Besides, there's no time. But anyway… don't
sweat the small stuff. Here I go!
Our Bold Hero steps out of the door…
-208-
…and runs smack into a passel of Mooks. a quick "oh
crap!" moment of recognition passes, morphing into an
equally short "oh, SHIT!" moment of scrabbling for
guns. shots are fired from both sides at point blank range.
-209-
the Mook gets the worse end of the deal, screaming and
collapsing.
Vash- Crap!!
another Oh Crud moment as the second Mook brings his gun to
bear, for all the good it does him. he gets dispatched in as
quick and efficient a manner as his partner. but something has
gone wrong, somewhere, and Vash is decidedly displeased.
Vash- Goddamnit! Right from the start…
-210-
Kaito jumps in shock as Vash starts dragging one of the Mooks
into their new "headquarters".
Kaito- What the hell?
Vash- I screwed up! He's bleeding too badly. If I don't stop
it…
Kaito- ??? …..! Don't tell me… this whole time…?
You haven't shot to kill even once?! What the hell's up with
that?! Just how good do you really think you are? Trying to look
cool? Trying to be a hero? You'll DIE, damnit! ?!
-211-
the rant trails off as Kaito realizes that Vash has been
clutching his side this whole time, little streamers of red
seeping through…
Kaito- ……
Vash- I…… really look stupid, don't I?
-212-
a flashback… one of Vash's. a huge space ship is burning,
breaking apart, and superimposed on that vision of impending
disaster is a serenely smiling woman with long black hair, and
Vash, looking very much younger, screaming soundlessly…
-213-
…the ship explodes in a white nova, leaving little doubt
as to the slim-to-nil possibility of survivors.
Kaito- ………
Vash- I know I do… Totally pathetic…
-214-
Vash- But… I promised her. If I make the light of even one
life go out, I know it'd make her grieve.
Kaito- …… 'her'?
Vash- Remember this name: REM SAYBREM. That we can live
here… that any of us are alive at all… it's all thanks
to her……
-215-
unfortunately, wounds of body and wounds of memory aside, the
fight has yet to end and rests can only be momentary. Vash makes
his slow way up to the bridge from the lower decks, cleaning a
stairwell of a Mook infestation with a few well placed no-look
shots around the banister.
-216-
the efforts have taken their toll, however, and Vash isn't
breathing easy. using their own bank of speaking tubes, a Mook
supervised by BDN directs the movements of those scattered
throughout the ship.
Mook- Third floor center stairs, we're under attack!
Mook-Coordinator- Roger. Port Passenger Section Team 3, surround
the third floor stairs from topside. All Teams on first and fifth
floors, forget about 'em! Converge on the center stairs at each
floor.
the tubes go silent for a moment, as silent as BDN has been
this whole time…
Mook-Coordinator- …… 7 minutes left.
BDN- … right.
-217-
staying one step ahead, Kaito directs Vash through the
quickest route.
Kaito- It's best if you cut straight across there. Everyone's
starting to gather above and below you.
Vash- Roger that.
the path hasn't kept him completely clean of disturbances
however. a pair of Mooks start as a door swings wide, and a bare
second later the Mooks are shooting it to pieces. exhausted, Vash
leans against the wood of a door and just lets it keep swinging
open, and letting himself fall to the floor… behind the
Mooks.
-218-
they only have half a second to realize what happened before
they're put out of commission. floors away, Kaito can only listen
to the tinny sounds of gunfire over a small radio, and
remember…
Kaito- //flashback// You can't underestimate the Bad Lad Gang!
Hell, you're looking at the whole human race through rosy
glasses!
…a woman, bags packed and at her side, smiles lovingly at
a faceless man as they prepare to leave…
…a younger Kaito stands and cries…
…a father's face smiles in memory alone, reality a cold and
lifeless gravestone…
…a younger Kaito wanders into the desert, dressed in
rags…
…forced to steal from corpses…
…to huddle in a trash-filled ally through the chill of the
night…
…survival and salvation found only through a blueprint and
knowledge sold to BDN…
-219-
Kaito- //flashback// All these guys… even me… we've let
countless people die. We've betrayed countless more.
Vash- So start all over again! Don't let them die anymore. Don't
betray them anymore. Look for happiness! Dream! Your ticket to
the future…
-220-
Vash- … is always blank.
reality comes crashing back with the fall of Mook bodies.
Mook- Ce-center engineering cabin… He's broken through!
Damn, he's one tough SOB. He's damn good with a gun, and he's got
to have the Devil's own luck!
BDN wonks the Mook-Coordinator over the head.
Mook-Coordinator- Meep!
BDN- It's not luck. Not this guy…
-221-
somewhere down a deserted hallway, Kaito's voice pipes through
a tiny radio…
Kaito- Alright, keep going straight ahead. You should be coming
up on a stairway to your right. Go down.
his only answer is Vash's labored breathing. of course, Our
Altruistic Hero took much time to bandage the wound of his
opponents, but he never seemed to bother dealing with his
own…
Kaito- There's no other way to go. For some reason, that's the
only place that's empty.
huge, metal double doors stand in the way and Vash near
collapses against them, shoving the switch to start the doors
cranking open wide in a slow clatter.
-222-223-
…was this place supposed to be empty? check that. there
are Mooks there. lots of them. lots, and lots, and LOTS of them.
and aaaaaaall of them have the business end of automatics pointed
right at Vash.
-224-
...and in the center lounges BDN, a smug smile on his face.
BDN- Welcome to the party! Your directions were precise enough, I
trust?
Vash- //muttering into earring// Kaito, get the hell out of that
room. Now.
TURN TO THE NEXT…
Continued in Volume 2, Chapter 1