AN: Well another chapter bits the dust. (sighs) What the hell am I doing…even I don't know where I'm going with this now. Oh well I'm guessing from the over all good reviews that I'm doing something right. Well anyway I expect you to do the double R's. because I want to break the 200 Mark! Come on help me out! This is a challenge: Make me feel special!!

Read and Review.

Knives made his way to a small restaurant in the town of Cola. Looking around at the small town he had to admit there was an air about this place that Millie would like. It was small, quiet and while it was mostly peaceful he bet stuff still happened here occasionally. Not often mind you, just often enough to keep Millie from getting bored.

Keeping his head down so no one would feel the need to try and talk to him, Knives entered the restaurant.

He sighed a breath of relief. He had finally made it. It had taken some threatening and a gun pointed at the captain of the Sand Steamers head, but he had managed to get to Cola before his baka brother. That was an important factor really. For if Vash got to Millie first then it would be hard for Knives to make sure she was all right when everything went down. Vash was a bumbling idiot and Knives simply did not trust him to keep Millie safe.

Knives straightened out the green material of his coat…the coat that Millie had given him. This was the first time he had worn it, and the gun hostler since he had taken off on his own. Millie would like it, and the thought of that brought a smile to his face.

Knives found a seat in a corner and silently waited for one of the human filth to serve him. His mind was abuzz with everything that was going on. His plans, his wonderful plans have been forced forward due to his decision about Millie. His cards had been laid down and now his brother, even now was on his way to stop him.

To bad Vash the Stampede. You can't stop me this time. You may have my gun…but I'm still dangerous. I do hope we can get along after the trash is gone.

Just you and me…and the two human females. You should be happy Vash. I'm thinking about you. I'm letting that plaything of yours live.

You should be happy. You should be…

Knives frowned as he absently ran his fingers over his new (and completely normal) gun.

Vash should be happy. After all the pain the humans had caused him, after all the scars and the blood loss, Vash should want them dead. But Knives knew he wouldn't be happy…and…and that was the worst thing about this. All Knives had to do was close his eyes and he could see the horror on his brothers face. He could see the tears streaming down his cheeks and his eyes wide…wide with hate and anger.

Knives knew that look well. It was the same look when Rem died; when that relative of hers died…it was the same look every time.

Knives hated that look. Vash wasn't supposed to hate him. Didn't Vash see that he was doing all of this for them? Why did he have to love the humans so much…love them more than his brother?

A waitress finally came and Knives ordered. He ignored the waitress afterwards and like all the other humans (well most of them) she got the idea and left him alone.

He ran a hand through his hair nervously. It was a little longer than when Millie had last seen him. Although it was still just as blonde and ragged.

He was clean, dressed and after he was fed he would go to Millie.

Millie…

Knives wondered if Millie had missed him as much as he had her. Granted he had only felt lustful toward her, but that was quite amazing considering she was a human.

But did Millie feel the same thing toward him?

This is stupid. I don't care about what Millie feels. For some reason I don't want to kill her, but other than that and the lust factor I could care less. I wouldn't give a shit if Millie suddenly died, as long as it isn't by my hand.

I don't care!

"I don't…"

Knives muttered to himself.

Still he couldn't help but wonder if she dreamt of him at night. Did she wonder where he was or if he was doing all right? Was he still in her thoughts?

The waitress dropped off the food and Knives attacked it like a ravaged sand worm.

He hadn't eaten anything in almost two days now. Stress, worrying and general day-to-day business had kept him from the dinner table. True be told, he really didn't feel like eating now, but he had sensed earlier that if he didn't get nourishment into his body soon, he just might collapse.

The food disappeared all to quickly from his plate. Knives stared at the dish a moment as if just wishing just doing so would conjure more food.

His body was still screaming at him about the lack of nutrition, not to mention sleep. However Knives had grown used to ignoring the signals until they became urgent.

And besides, he had some important business to do.

Standing up Knives placed some double dollars on the table and walked out.

She works for a place called Buriadeli Insurance.

It was still early in the day. No doubt she was at work.

Knives brushed his hand against his gun and stifled the urge to make sure it was loaded. He knew it was. Checking was just a nervous habit.

I might have to force her to come with me. I might even have to…hurt her. Millie is a strong human; it might be easiest to subdue her with some minor injury.

Knives frowned as he headed toward several buildings that looked promising. He really didn't want to hurt Millie. But then on the other hand hurt was better than dead. He would have to do what he had to do to ensure Millie's survival.

"VASH!"

Knives gasped and ducked beside a building out of sight.

What the fuck! How the hell did Vash get here already! Damn it!

Knives cursed at himself in three different languages for underestimating the time it would take Vash to arrive.

He was closer than I thought, and he must not have stopped. DAMN IT!

Knives sidestepped and peeked his head out slightly so he could see his brother. He was surprised, very surprised. His brother was less than ten feet from him. How in the hell did Vash get so close and him not feel it?

"Millie was kidnapped by some bank Robbers yesterday!"

"She's a big girl. Probably already take care of everything."
"No Vash you don't understand! Millie got shot, she's injured. Vash…what should we do?"

Knives eyes narrowed as hate and anger flared violently within him.

How dare they! Those dirty disgusting humans! How dare they touch MY Millie. She's mine!

Shaking his head violently Knives forced himself under control. Getting out of control now would do nothing to help Millie. She was injured and in the hands of common spiders. He had to think clearly to save her before…before anything happened.

Quickly making his decision Knives stepped out into the street and made his way toward his brother.

"Seems we both arrived a day too late."

Both Vash and Meryl whirled around guns in their hands. Knives frowned slightly raising his hands. He wasn't surrendering, just showing them he wasn't going to shot them right now.

Vash was the first to lower his gun. He stared hard at his brother before reaching over and making Meryl lower her own derringers.

"What do you want Knives?"

Knives raised an eyebrow at his brother.

"You already know what I want. But that isn't the problem right now is it? This your car? Good we should get going."

Meryl glanced slightly panicky as Knives casually walked toward them and climbed into the back of their car.

"Vash? What the hell?"

"I don't know."

Vash eyed his brother, who seemed not to notice he was being stared at.

"He's acting very strange."

"I don't trust him! He's the reason we're here in the first place. What if those robbers work for him and this is a trap?"

"I don't know Meryl."

Knives tapped his finger against the side of the car impatiently. His brother and the wench were talking in hoarse whispers about whether or not they could trust him.

He, of course, could hear them just fine and it was starting to annoy him. He didn't care if they didn't trust him. Right now Millie was the main focus. Every second they stood there arguing, meant one more second those disgusting humans had to paw at or kill Millie.

MY Millie…how dare they even look at her.

Knives snarled to himself as he felt the anger from before rear its ugly head.

"GET IN THE FUCKING CAR BOTH OF YOU!"

Vash and Meryl blinked at him clearly surprised by the outburst. For a moment the female looked truly scared. This made Knives smile. Millie had never been scared of him. Not even when he had pressed a knife to her throat. Millie was much better than this spider.

Meryl however he noticed was quick to forget her fright in response to the anger she felt toward him.

"Why do you want to look for Millie?"

Meryl walked up to the side of the car. She ignored Vash's warnings and glared hatefully at him.

Knives leaned back in his seat, staring up into the blue sky.

"A few shades lighter than the sky."

"What?"

Knives winced slightly. He hadn't meant to say that out loud. But more importantly what was he going to tell Vash's plaything. Obviously the truth wouldn't do right now. If they knew he planned to kill every human but two within the next few days then nothing would get done. Vash would start freaking out and probably shoot him again. Besides the pain he would feel, there was also the fact that that would do Millie no good.

So he had to remain quiet for a little while longer.

But what to say?
"I haven't beaten her at chess yet."
He finally settled for that. It was slightly embarrassing to admit a human had beaten him at chess…but it would no doubt at least get Vash off his back.

Vash blinked then slowly reached forward and laid his hand on Meryl's shoulder.

"Let it go Meryl. We can all talk more when Millie's safe."

Meryl whirled around her eyes flashing with anger unlike anything Vash had seen in quite a while. Her gulped and took a small step back. Meryl might be a little thing but she had a temper…and a violent streak a mile wide. Wide enough in fact to scare the legendary gunman a little. He wouldn't put it past her to get pissed and do something stupid…like shot him or something.

"So you're just going to let him come with us uh? This Asshole is a murderer Vash! Don't forget why we are here in the first place. He threatened Millie!"

"Meryl please."

Vash threw caution into the wind and took her hand into one of his and then tipped her chin up with the other.

"Millie comes first. I don't know what he's planning, but I do believe he wants to get Millie back safely. Once we get her back then we can talk more about this. Millie first Meryl."

Meryl chewed her lip as she looked up at her husband. Finally she looked away.

"Fine."

An hour later Vash, Meryl and Knives were still driving around the desert looking for a trail, a sign…anything that would lead them to the robbers.

Well…Vash and Knives were at least, Meryl was having a hard time doing anything but glancing back at Knives to make sure he didn't shot them in the heads or something.

"Woman will you stop that!"

Knives growled out in warning as Meryl peeked at him for what had to be the hundredth time. He did not look friendly at the moment and for good reason. Millie was no doubt probably dead by now. There was no way the robbers would just let her go once they were out of danger. Most likely they raped then murdered her, leaving her corpse out in the desert.

And this did not make Knives a happy camper.

"Meryl Please. He's not hurting anything. Just give him a chance."

Meryl turned in her seat to give Vash a disbelieving look. Her short black hair whipped around her face in an unruly mass as the wind rushed by.

"Give this man a chance? I'm not even going to give him the benefit of a doubt, much less a chance! He's a cold-blooded murder Vash. Or have you forgotten!?"

"I haven't."

Vash whispered softly.

"Just don't cause a fight Meryl…please?"

Vash, Knives noticed looked over toward his toy clearly nervously. The female spider, a black widow if her attitude was anything to go by glared at both of them before finally settling down to huff in silence.

"Vash Stop here!"

The command was so sudden and unexpected that Vash startled violently, slamming on the brakes with enough force it was a surprise he didn't ram his foot through the floorboard. All occupants were thrown viciously forward.

After the 'dust' settled and they could breath again Knives hissed out something rude and uncomplimentary about Vash's driving…and for once Meryl agreed with him.

"You Baka, why the hell did you do that for?"

"Uh…he said to stop."

Knives jumped out of the back seat allowing the two 'lovebirds' to fall into a squabble. Well not so much of a squabble as Meryl just plain chewing his brother out.

Knives tried to ignore them as he looked around the desert. After a few moments the blessed silence told Knives they had stopped fighting…for now.

And I'm letting this woman live? I have lost my mind.

"Knives?"

Vash jogged easily up to his brother.

"What do you see?"
Knives turned toward his brother. Aqua blue eyes met steel ones…they were curious and trusting, with no pain or horror in them. Knives looked away unable to meet those eyes knowing the pain he was going to cause soon.

Just like old times. Vash letting me lead and always asking questions. Taking everything I said as gospel…well almost everything. I could never convince you brother that humans needed to die. That was one thing you never swayed from.

"Tracks."

Knives finally said pointing toward some slight disturbance in the sand and rocks. At one time it might have been tracks, but Vash sure as hell couldn't see it. But then again his brother was way better at tracking that he was. Vash looked around hoping to see something. However nothing but the sand and rocks met his eager eyes.

"It was a large car or truck…"

Knives followed the tracks, every now and again leaning down to examine them closer, or to brush away loose sand. At one point he leaned over so far that he actually rested his cheek against the sand.

"Something…no someone fell out."

"Can you tell who?"

"No."

Knives answered regretfully. Tracking was a…speculation science at best. He could only guess what had happened. Nothing for sure. For all he knew some drunken jackass had fallen out of his truck, and this wasn't even the truck they were looking for.

Knives didn't even notice that Meryl had joined Vash and was following him closely as he read the signs.

"Blood."

Knives smiled.

"What?"

Vash leaned down with his brother. True to his word on the sandy/rocky ground somehow preserved through a day and a half was a small smug of blood.

"You said Millie was injured."

"Yes."

Meryl answered before Vash could.

"They said she had been shot in the arm."

Knives head snapped up his eyes boring into Meryl's in sudden fury. He heard rather than saw Vash get up to stand beside his spider.

Meryl surprised at first by the venom in his glare, quickly got over it and sent one back at him not backing down one inch. This angered Knives. How dare this spider lock eyes with him. He had killed for less! Knives eyes narrowed as he stood up. Finally after a few moments of silent conflict Knives let his eyes flicker toward Vash. His brother stood silently beside Meryl like some avenging angel just daring Knives to try anything. Knives knew that look all to well…he had seen it before. Knives because aware suddenly of the tension in the air. He became aware that Vash had his hand on his gun.

Knives started to shake…in rage or something else, he didn't know. He swallowed his eyes flickering between Vash and the spider.

Vash will harm me for this spider. He…cares for her more than me.

Finally Knives forced himself to swallow the bile in his throat, forced himself to calm down a little, gorced himself to breathe.

Taking on the persona he had adopted while traveling among humans, he lowered his head slightly and stiffened his spine. To anyone looking this posture shouted out that he didn't want to be messed with or talked to.

Under lowered lashed he saw the confusion on Vash's face. No doubt the baka hadn't expected him to back down from this…well, he wasn't backing down.

He just didn't want Vash to see how much he had hurt him. He didn't want Vash to know…the pain of his rejection.

It hurt…really hurt to know that Vash cared more for a human than his own brother.

I have been there with him since the beginning. Our lives are forever linked. We were born as one, we will die as one! How dare these spiders separate us!

For the first time since the ships crash to this living hell, Knives felt tears swell in his eyes. Quickly he turned away from his brother; quickly he changed his thoughts so to feel something else.

I will not kill Vash's spider. I have chosen for her to live.

The words did little for his pride, but did abate his anger slightly.

"The tracks double back and there are no hiding places here. They must have picked her back up. At least we know she was alive this far out. They…might keep her alive a while longer."

Knives started back toward the car not looking back.

"I'll drive."

Vash and Meryl looked at each other not sure about what had just happened. Something…different had just happened. Something neither one of them understood.

"I think I missed something."
Meryl nodded.

"And for once Vash you aren't alone. So what do you think that was about? For a second there it looked like he was going to attack me."
"He was angry that you cut in to answer his question."

"Well HE did ask."

Vash sighed and rubbed his head as if to ward off the head that was coming on.

"You don't know my brother. He asked me not you. So he expected me to answer. Anything else…he considers, um rude."

Meryl snorted.

"Or uppity more like it! Lowly humans not knowing their place. Disgusting!"

"Ya well…that's Knives. I just wish…I just wish I knew what to expect from him right now. He's acting strange."

Meryl raised an eyebrow at her husband. Vash was looking toward the horizon with one of his rare I'm-dead-serious-whatever-I'm-thinking-about-right-now look. Meryl didn't speak for a moment allowing Vash to try and sort out his thoughts. Finally he sighed and smiled at her.

"Come on, I wouldn't put it past him to leave us if we keep him waiting."

**********

Millie woke up with a start.

For a moment she was completely and utterly confused. Where was she? Why was she here in the first place? Why did her arm ache?

Then slowly as memories upon waking always do, she started to remember.

She was in a space ship hundreds of feet below the ground. She was here because robbers had kidnapped her. And her arm ached because she had been shot.

Looking down Millie looked at the dressings on her arm. It was a well-made bandage made of some material she had never seen before. It was flexible, but looked quite a bit more durable than the cloth that she would normally have had used.

Millie smiled as she thought back to last night. She had gone into the med lab not sure what to expect…but what she saw was unlike anything she had ever seen.

The med lab had robots! Real live and working robots.

They weren't humanoid looking like she always imagined although she was sure that some were probably built that way. These robots however were unlike anything she had ever seen. They hung from the ceiling moving around from rails up there. They were shining and really pretty to look at. They had large oval, very insect looking blue eyes. They didn't have a mouth but they could speak. They had told her to sit on the table in probably the politest voice she had ever heard. After she had done that one of them stuck her with a needle and the other went about dabbing alcohol on her other scrapes. She didn't move or complain about the slight pain. She was too fascinated by them to worry about that.

The robots were intelligent, and were willing and able to answer some of her questions. They told her she was the first human they had seen since the crash. But that was about all they could tell her. They were Med Bots programmed to heal only. They didn't know much about the rest of the ship.

The biggest of the robots and the one that had worked on getting the bullet out of her arm was called MedR-1. He...she called him that because his voice was defiantly from a man, was the 'leader' of the med bots. He was the most sophisticated and programmed to take care of anything. The two other lesser bots were called PG-A and PG-B, which MedR-1 said, stood for Programmed Geo-thematic Robot Enhancements.

PG-A had an older woman's voice and PG-B was that of a younger woman's.

After MedR-1 had patched her up, he had admitted to being 'happy' as far as they could be that a human needed their services again.

"That was so amazing."
Millie muttered to herself as she stood up. As she stretched, she remained mindful of her wound, which was still sore. The medicine the robots gave her kept the worst of the pain away but not all of it.

Millie sighed and allowed herself a moment to just study her room. Last night she had been so exhausted from her ordeal…and the medicine that she had just crashed onto the bed without looking around. Now however she took the time.

It was really…different from what she was used to.

Of course there was a bed. But it was unlike anything she had ever seen before. First off it didn't touch the floor. Instead it was connected to the wall held there by what looked like a metal frame. The mattress itself was extremly comfortable. The pillows and blankets were all a light tan color, warm and useful but quite boring to look at.

There was what looked like a dresser and several door on the wall, which probably had shelves inside to store things.

Other than a door, which led to a small bathroom, that was it.

Millie being the curious thing she was opened one of the cabinet on the walls.

She gasped in surprise as something square with a typewriter keyboard of some sort folded out from the wall.

Looking over it carefully Millie came to the conclusion that this was a PC, a personal Computer. There were still a few working computers on Gunsmoke…but damn few, and Millie had never actually seen one.

"Wow."

Leaving the computer alone, she went to the other cabinets.

Most of the shelves were empty. However she did find some useful things.

Some clothes which surprisingly would fit her, and some things for the bathroom. She had gone to bed in the hospital gown and hadn't been looking forward to putting on her dirty and blood stained work cloths. Now however that problem had been taken care of.

Millie took her finds and went to take a shower.

(later)

Millie peeked out of her room. She was wearing the cloths she had found, a blue colored jumpsuit or something. It was the type that zipped up in the front. On her left breast was a patch of the earth and on the arm were the words 'S.E.E.D.S'.

After her bath she had exploded the cabinets better and had even found a pair of army style boots. They were about half a size too large, but an extra pair of socks took care of that problem.

The cart that had taken Millie to her room was no longer around. She frowned slightly at this since she had no idea where she was. For a moment she debated whether or not to wait in her room. Maybe the cart would be back to pick her up? It did sound better than getting hopelessly loss in this city size space ship.

However…a low grumble from her belly convinced her to explore. She was starving. She hadn't had anything to eat for at least a day now.

So with a deep fortifying breath Millie left her room and went right. She didn't know if this was the right way, but right was always right…right?

Millie sighed not comforted since she didn't even buy that and that was saying something.

She came to a four way…and continued to go straight.

"This isn't good. I have no idea where I'm going. I'm going to get lost then starve to death. Isn't that wonderful, I find this wonderful space ship, survive getting shot and kidnapped only to die of starvation."

Millie came to a T in the road. She stopped a moment carefully looking down each corridor. There was absolutely nothing to show which way was better. They looked exactly the same.

"Hmmm. Right is still right I suppose."

So she turned right again.

5 minutes pasted…then 10…and finally after 15 minutes of walking Millie plopped her ass down right where she was standing.

"This is stupid! I should have stayed in the room!"

Millie sighed and leaned back against the cold steel wall.

"I wonder what Mr. Vash and Meryl are going right now."

I wonder what Knives is doing.

Millie shook her head a small laugh escaping her. It was silly really. Even after two months she was still thinking about that man. He haunted her dreams and filled her thoughts during the day.

"I'm just a silly girl. I knew what would happen and it did. I got hurt. I'm still hurting."

I wonder where he is right now? What is he doing? Is he thinking about me?

She closed her eyes trying to ward off a headache…and heartache that was threatening. She really shouldn't even be doing this. She was just setting herself up for more pain. It would be best just to forget about him.

"For once I really don't know. I guess I should tell you to just forget about him. But I have a feeling that's not possible. Good Luck Little Baby."

Boy oh boy was Big Big sister ever right on that one.

"I want to see you again. Maybe…maybe after this I should go look for you?"

Millie wanted to laugh out loud. That was so silly sounding. Why would she go searching for a mass murder that would probably just kill her for bothering him anyway? Besides, Mr. Vash and Meryl had been looking of him for two months now and hadn't found a trace.

But I could find him.

Millie blinked. Where in the hell had that thought come from.

She didn't know, but more than that…why did she believe it so whole-heartedly.

That's it I am crazy. Just out of the blue I believe I can find Knives when not even Mr. Vash could.

"Miss. Thomson."

Millie gasped as a soft male voice spoke her name. Quickly she jerked her head to look up. There in front of her was another robot.

Unlike the med bots this one wasn't suspended from the ceiling. Instead it seemed to get around by tank trends. Its upper body was very humanoid looking, and it had the same blue eyes as the other bots.

"Umm I'm lost."

She didn't know how the robot did it. Especially since it didn't have facial muscles…but the robot managed to look amused. Millie blushed as she stood up.

"Miss. Thomson, I was asked to escort you."

Millie smiled at the soft voice. It was so soothing sounding. A slightly deeper than normal voice, but not overly so. It was gentle and almost seemed musical in its tone.

"Alrighty then, I hope it's to the dinning room. I'm Starved!"

The robot nodded and started off. Millie watched amazed at how easily this particular model was able to move. It fairly zoomed down the halls.

"So um…what's your name?"

The robot turned its head to look at her.

"I have no name. Only a serial number. Names are for humans."

"The plant has a name?"

Once again the robot managed to express emotion without its face. Millie wasn't sure how he did it. Maybe it was the way his eyes flickered toward her a moment but then looked away. Or maybe it was how his body lowered slightly on the trends. Hell, maybe it was the way his arms were folded. Well anyway the robot looked uncomfortable.

"Akako Hana is special. She is a living being. I am only a service bot."

Millie frowned slightly as she half jogged to keep up with the bot.

"But you seem intelligent enough. Even dogs have names, so why don't you."

The robot actually sighed, even if for only effect. Or at least Millie thought it was for effect; she didn't think the robot actually had to breathe.

"It has been many years, but I don't remember humans being this annoying."

Millie gave on of her award winning smiles, laughing slightly as she rubbed the back of her head.

"Sorry. Anyway you seem different from the med bots…you seem well, you seem more human."

"Well I am not a med bot! I am an AI multi purpose access and service droid. I was programmed to feel emotions and express them like a human, even though I am obviously not one."

The robot crossed his arms feeling more than a little annoyed at the human he had been sent to find.
"Uh…why?"

The robot would have twitched if it were possible.

"Why ask why? However I believe the reason was so that my master would feel more at ease with me. He had no family or friends aboard the S.E.E.D.S ship and if I remember correctly he was quite the loner. The human wanted something he could relate to. So I was thus programmed."

"Wow…so…um if you actually feel emotions doesn't that make you close enough to a living being. And wouldn't that mean you should have a name?"

The robot continued for a moment not speaking. Millie would have thought he was ignoring her if not for the fact he had slowed down to almost a crawl. Millie waited silently for his answer, which no doubt he was thinking over.

"You may name me if you wish."

Millie clapped her hands excitedly then taped on her chin in thought.

"What about Fred?"

"Fred?"

The robot stopped and turned his upper body toward her. Millie shrugged helplessly at its questioning look.

"Very well…"

Fred started forward again, and a few minutes later he stopped at a door.

"This is the dinning room. Your meal is ready. I shall wai…"

Fred sighed as he realized he was now only speaking to a closing door. Millie hearing the word Meal and ready in the same sentence had already taken off toward the food.

"I shall wait here."

Fred finished just to say it.