Translation by sumire

Page 66

Vash (narration): Rem told us everything.

Knives just sat there and listened, wide-eyed.
We heard everything that had happened in the past.
About Tessla's birth.
How, amidst the uproar on the ship, Conrad and Rem had opposed the experiments.
How she had committed a severe violation of regulations out of concern for our safety.
How she intended to go to the new world with us in a capsule with forged data.
About our future life.
About her resolution.

Page 67

Vash (narration): And then she bowed her head low.

Knives seemed the same as he had always been.
If he had blocked out the memory,
I thought it was better that he know the truth.

Page 68

Rem approaches Knives.

Rem: Knives...

Aren't you...
...trying to bear this all by yourself?

Rem: Tessla's story must have been a shock to you.

I'm sorry, but I just feel like...
you're forcing yourself to take it calmly.

Knives: Forcing myself?

I am.

Page 69

Knives: It was a shock.

It was a shock, but...
We have to go on.
Right?

Tears well up in his eyes. Rem gives him a hug.

Knives: There's so much we have to do

so it never happens again.

Page 70

Knives pushes away from Rem and turns to leave.

Knives: Rem... Thank you.

Knives passes Vash on his way out of the room.

Vash: Oh--Knives...

Page 71

Vash follows Knives.

Vash: Knives... That's....

Page 72

Vash stands on the threshold of the cold-sleep chamber and doesn't enter. He's sweating.

Knives: What's the matter, Vash?

Are you afraid?
It's no use being afraid.
It's no use.

Page 73

Knives looks up at the cavernous ceiling. Then he sees that Vash has entered after all.

Knives: Vash...

Vash: Knives...

You're right.
I'll go on, too.

Knives: Okay!

That's the way to do it!

Page 74

A montage of everyday life on the ship. Rem, Knives, and Vash cook, play chess, and study.

Page 75

Rem and the twins asleep. Knives gets up in the middle of the night.

Page 76

Knives sits at a computer terminal surrounded by snaking cables.

Page 77

As he types, he chews his thumb until the blood is dripping down his arm. He smears blood on his face.

Page 78

He's breathing heavily.

Page 79

Tears stream from his right eye...

Pages 80-81

Jump forward in time. Knives raises his face to the sky as the ships rain down on the planet.

Page 82

Vash: KNIVES! This is all your...

You deceived us...
Rem... Me...

Knives: Now, now.

You shouldn't say such things.
I made an extremely rational judgement.
What would it take to make the universe a little more beautiful? You know?

Vash: That's a lie!

You really were afraid of them! Of mankind!

Knives kicks him in the face.

Knives: You're the one who was scared!

Would you knock it off? Always so gullible.

Page 83

Knives: Your education is sorely lacking, Vash.

You need to learn to look at the bigger picture.

Narration: The Big Fall.

Estimated casualties: 20 million.
60 million missing.
802 ships destroyed.
74 emergency landings.
124 ships missing.
The cause is thought to be an aberration in the flight system, but at present, it is impossible to prove.

Page 84

The present. Knives stands before a bank of Plants.

Page 85

He goes down on one knee.

Knives: I confess my sins.

Page 86

Knives: I was too impetuous then.

I sacrificed many of our comrades.
I'm not afraid.
This is anger.
Humans... They act on their material desires without self-control.
In the end, they even devour their host Earth like parasites.
Even now, they are trying to consume us,
unable to think of anything but themselves.

Page 87

He raises his hand to the bulb.

Knives: Give me strength.

It seems I can't do it alone.

The Plant Angel descends to meet him.

Page 88

The Plant Angel's writhing tentacles meet his fingers, and there is a great flash of light.

Page 89

Elsewhere in the fortress, the Beast, some worms, Elendira, Legato, Double Fang, and Trip of Death are startled. Elendira rushes to find Knives.

Elendira: ....!? Master Knives--!

Pages 90-91

Knives stands before the smashed-open bulb, the Plant Angel merging with his left arm.

Page 92

He angel-arms around her.

Page 93

A beam of energy shoots straight up into the sky.

Page 94

Narration: And so at that moment--

the world entered an age of chaos.

To be continued...

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