Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ After The End of All ❯ What happened to you, Vash? ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: BAH! Humbag… (my Grouch-y way to say “not interested”)

Spoilers: Read the previous part. Dun need any repeatin’, no?

A/N: Huuuuarrrrgghhhh~~ Huh… Sawh-rey for dat. Got dis exam. Just finished. Now need sleep… Zzzzzzzzz……

(Vash picks up the drooling author from in front of her com, and tenderly tucks her in bed) (Knives, who was left to sulk by himself, sulks even more horrendously) (Vash smiles at Knives, mouthing something) (Knives blushes)

(Vash faces the readers, smiling pleasantly)

“Enjoy your reading, ‘kay?”

(With that Vash walks away and his flaming red coat whips along dramatically, with Knives in toe; reattaching himself back onto his brother. And the earring.)

“Oi! Kniiiives~~!! ”

(author twitching of scary dreams, restless; muttering under her breath about getting less than 3.0…)

--------------
After The End of All
Part 2
--------------

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGGHHH!!! ”

“Stop struggling, Knives! You’re just going to hurt yourself!”

“HHHUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!”

“CALM DOWN, KNIVES!! Damn! Where is that switch!”

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRHHHH!!!!”

VASH!!

Pishu.

“AAH… Ahh…. Ugh…. Haa….Haa…”

“That’s just a tranquilizer. I’m sorry that we have to take that measure. Please, calm down.”

How…

How… am I to calm down… when he’s… he’s… in…

THAT.

Shown in the hologram was a cylinder, maybe three meters high. Filled completely with transparent blood-like fluid, wires and wires of tubes of different colors were tangled and centered all on a single embodiment in the tank.

Vash.

He was suspended in the cylinder-like vessel. Numerous tubes and wires were attached on his body, focusing on his forearms, neck and left chest.

His serene face seemed peaceful. Even with the tubes inserted into his mouth and nose, he looked like he was only sleeping. Peacefully sleeping…

He looked so much like Tessla…

No… No… Not again!

As my mind was still muddled up by the injection made to the back of my neck, the female voice started to speak out again, “I did not envision that you would react like that. You did tried to kill him, after all…You are quite unpredictable, Knives.”

Shut your trap and tell me what the hell is going on!!

“I’m sorry to say that Vash’s situation is very critical. As you can observe, his hair is totally jade black. His body is degrading gradually, to a point where we can’t let him out of the cylinder for long without him convulsing with a severe rejection attack. Those supply tubes attached to his body are the only thing that kept his biological activities going. Nano-machines were inserted into him to heal his body from inside, while the Gouhfon’s bio-stabilizer solution is working to further mend his body, and to avoid repercussions resulting from his treatment. We managed to salvage and reattach his left arm from one of your followers. The one with sky-blue hair; Legato was his name…?”

Legato…

Hmpt. At least in death, he was still useful.

“Experts of human and Plant medical and research fields from both Earth and Gunsmoke have already tried their best to restore Vash’s body until this point. But after several long months of failed attempts to revive him from his coma, we’ve come to a point where we can no longer help him in his recuperation. We cannot do anything for him anymore.”

What…? No… no…

“However, there is another way to save him…”

How!?

“We detected the main source of his degradation: His Seed. After exhausting the maximum level of output, until even his reserves were all used up, his Gate won’t close. Rather than releasing power, it somehow has an effect of a counter-flow. In other words, it is absorbing energy from the body of its host to regain the energy lost. All the ATPs generated by his cells were all soaked up by his Gate, with very little to spare in restoring his health. His body needs a very stable source; a constant inflow of energy from outside for his body to recover. And maybe… maybe after the inflow of energy is sufficient, his Gate will close. There is a 2.84% success ratio of recovering his Seed, and in turn saving his life; as long as we can find a suitable source.”

“This is the very first time we have this kind of case. We didn’t know exactly what to do. At first, we tried using the powers extracted from Plants. This has positive effects, but it’s quite subtle. His body at times rejected this treatment, as the energy flow did not synchronize with his. Even thought overall recovery is impossible, at least Vash’s life can be lengthen for a few more weeks. We can only make do of what we have for now…”

“However, we were aware of one source that has complete energy synchronization with Vash. We were aware of it ever since we know that the problem involves stabilization and synchronization of the energy source. We ran some tests to confirm our suspicion. As result, we have verified and confirmed it again. There is only one way to save Vash now…”

What is it!? Tell me!

“Only one person can save him now.”

“It’s you, Knives.”

……. Ah.

“We performed a few tests on your energy flow for some time now. Even though your energy flow is still unbalanced, it is the only one that has almost complete harmony with Vash’s. We already tried to forcibly extract more of your powers from your Gate, but forced extraction of the energy only de-stabilizes it, rendering it obsolete.”

… I can see where this was heading to…

“All the leaders of Gunsmoke almost anonymously agreed to take whatever course to save Vash, even if it involves releasing you, their source of distress for so long…”

Can you hear that, Vashu? Almost. Not all of your beloved humans want you back it seemed. Even after all you went through to save them. Pathetic humans… I silently snickered.

“It has been a very long and hard battle of wills and logic amongst the leaders of Gunsmoke, and between Gunsmoke and Earth. The best decision was just to use up the natural energy output of your body, supported with the energy from other Plants. But this method only manages to keep Vash from death, not helping in his recovery.”

“So we are left with our last card. Letting you willingly heal your brother by transferring your energy directly to his body.”

Hey. I did say that I’d do anything for him. So just LET. ME. GO!

“But before releasing you, you must agree to our Terms and Regulations.”

… I harrumphed. I should have seen this.

“Main Regulation Number One: Never do harm to any Homo sapiens – the human species –, or any living or non-living beings, in any form whatsoever; whether it’ll be physical, psychological, or both.”

Yeah, yeah. I can see that. I can even see my imaginary self waving my hand sarcastically.

“Main Regulation Number Two: Never try to hack into the main processors of this spaceship. You may have access to the computers, as the primary purpose is to let you grasp the situation of Vash, and the position he’s in right now. However you may not try to sabotage the mainframe. If you ever try it, it may have dire consequences on your brother…”

Really…? Taking hostage of the one they claimed to be rescuing. That is so… human.

“There are more regulations that you must follow, but we cannot waste any more time. Your brother is in a very precarious state. We cannot be sure of how long we can keep him alive in that condition. He’s on the very brink of death at this very moment.”

“We will release you. But, you must give us your oath; that you will not cause reparation of humans anymore.”

… Yes.

“Do you agree to the regulations we put onto you? And the others that may, have and will be imposed onto you in the near future?”

Yes, I do.

“….We will keep you to your words. We will release you in a few moments. You may have difficulty in moving your limbs, as you haven’t been using you muscle for some time. I will aid you with an automated itinerant chair to assist your mobility.”

I. Don’t. Need. Some. Fucking. WHEELCHAIR!!

“…Do you want to waste more time in useless arguments? Vash is dieing right now. You realized that, don’t you?”

Yes. But I don’t need some useless implement to move. Just let me go. I’ll walk just fine.

“…if you insist. But I will bring it with me, if you should change your mind.”
Vash’s hologram faded out from in front of me. Wait for me, Vash… This time, I will save you…

“We will release you now. Be ready.”

I felt the strange sensations of something – the needles perhaps – pulling out of my forearms and neck. The straps that bind me were slowly loosing its grip. I can somehow twitch my fingers. Somehow I felt glad that I still have them. At times I thought that those spiders may have incapitated me because I can’t even feel my arms, nor the rest of my body, in the steel-like grip of the binds that held me in this cross-like tomb.

I started to move my muscles a bit in the loosen straps. I was still very sore, and it felt very uncomfortable trying to move my unutilized muscles. But I believe I can manage to walk. Somehow. It seemed that the Recuperation Chamber – or whatever they called this shit of a coffin – even prevents the degradation of muscle tissues, even after long immobility. That’s just so sweet of them.

I continued to twitch and stir around as the straps loosen even more, getting used to the sensation of moving limbs. I can hear the sound of shifting in front of me. With a soft hum, my enclosure started to open, and bright light started to filter in from either of my sides. My eyes, which has gotten used to the soft glare of the hologram, still hurt from the intensity of the brightness.

My face mask was slowly removed from my face. The light was getting even brighter, I blinked some more. I can feel the binds on my head, arms and legs were completely removed, leaving those on my torso. I experimented more on my arms and legs. Especially legs. It would be almost impossible for me to start walking immediately after being released, but I’d try nevertheless. Never, ever accept the mercy of the humans, the last remnants of my ego told me.

My vessel opened completely, and I breathe in the air of freedom. In my haze – the tranquilizer was still working in my body – I barely made out the equipments around me. The humming and clicking of instruments that have kept me bounded and healed. I let my arms grip onto the left edge of the opening as the binds on my torso started to loosen even more. It slowly helped me onto my feet, which weren’t really ready to carry the weight of my body yet. I struggled to keep standing, and barely managed to do so with me leaning heavily on the walls of my compartment. I looked around.

I was in a vast room, 60x40x20 I suppose; consisted of computers, machineries, everything that ensured me locked inside my enclosure. Everything was pearly white. The room was filled with bright light; I just can’t stand looking at it for long.

Hm? With me leaning down, I realized my hair was quite long, expanding to the lenght of my back; about half as long as it was when I revived back to health after the event of July. My, did Vashu packed a shot back there… This hair was starting to be really annoying… How long have I been in here…?

Then, I noticed the door far opposite of my vessel opened. I cut short of my musings, focused my attention there; forgetting momentarily of my hair. I can see her: a tall, mature woman, who looks like in her early twenties. Unyielding features. Shoulder-length, blond hair. Blue eyes. She was pushing along a mobile chair with her. Trust her to execute her promise of bringing along that goddamned wheelchair.

I recognized her on the spot.

Its HER. The damned woman of the Earth ship that attacked me… interrupted me when I was in the process of giving Vash his so much earned freedom from humanity… his death. At that time, it was necessary. He was interrupting the creation of Eden. But now, I just want him by my side… no matter the price.

“It seemed like you know who I am.”

Of course I know who you are. Stupid bitch nearly shot me to death.

“I have very keen eyes.”

My voice came out with very clear clarity, it even surprised me. Given, that my throat was still sore from yelling so hard.

She stopped walking when she was about five meters from where I was, still leaning onto my vessel. I crossed my arms with my back onto the walls outside of my vessel, which helped in supporting the weight of my upper body. It appeared that I can barely walk, but I still kept myself composed in front of her.

I did notice one more thing about her, though.

“We meet again, Knives.”

She’s just like me.

“I am Chronica.”

A Plant.


----------
TURN TO THE NEXT EPISODE.