Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Out of the Blue ( Chapter 44 )

 

Disclaimer: Hmmm... I own my kids (Because I made them) I own my husband, (Because the Marriage License says so) and I own a REALLY big mortgage. (Because I'm stupid and signed on the dotted line.) However I don't own Trigun. (Because if I did, I wouldn't have said mortgage.)

“blah blah” : talking

`blah blah' : thinking

“blah blah” : telepathic talking

blah blah : other misc. stuff.

 

*~*~*

 

Forever Mine

Chapter 44: Out of the Blue

 

 

 

“I miss you little girl,” the older man breathed as he picked the framed picture up from the priceless walnut desk. With a small smile, he touched the glass surface that held a smiling young woman, of about eighteen years, before setting it back down, exactly in place.

 

Theodore S. Madsen the third was a meticulous man, who desired to have everything in life run in perfect order. From home to work, it didn't matter. It had been ingrained into his very being since he was a child by his father, who had his own father demand the same efficiency, the same standards. For generations the Madsen line would rise up to those expectations and prove their impeccable upbringing.

 

But, there was more to being a Madsen than their orderliness. There was also a certain social standard that needed to be upheld. Their children would go to the right schools, socialize with the right people, obtain the right military careers and marry into the right families. It had been a long standing tradition.

 

Then his daughter was born.

 

At first, even she was well on her way to social grace and acclaim, until that tragic day and he lost loved his beloved wife of ten years, Moira. Then his daughter completely changed her ideals and put everything she had into her studies. She didn't want to feel helpless, like she did that day out in the middle of nowhere, and pursued medicine with a driven intensity, completely ignoring her peers. He knew that it was her way of coping with her mother's death and allowed her to bend the `social rules.' After all, didn't he do the same thing? Working like a man possessed in order to become Gunsmoke's sixth elected Attorney General at the tender age of forty-two. And he did it all, because of the band of outlaws that took his precious wife away from him.

 

Now fifty-one, he proved business-wise that he was a shrewd man, who was consistently looking for ways to improve Gunsmoke's young justice system. It was a very challenging task that required long hours, even longer devotion, and he simply loved it. It kept his mind busy and his interest piqued, while doing something fulfilling, like making their arid planet a safe place to live. He knew that the people of Gunsmoke must have agreed with him or else he wouldn't have been reappointed twice, holding the position for over nine years.

 

Unfortunately, the required hours meant that he wasn't there for his only daughter when she was going through some of her most difficult times. Though, he would admit, that McKenna was a strong woman, like her mother, who didn't let the young cadets or other officials' children get to her because they disagreed with her career choice. She was adamant about practicing medicine and decided that if her `friends' couldn't accept it then they weren't really her friends. And she was just fine with that.

 

Then she met Michael.

 

Theodore remembered the night that she came home in tears after finding her fiancé in bed with another woman. She was angry with him for the deception and angrier with herself for believing that he actually wanted to be with her and just for her. Instead, he was using her because of what being married to the Attorney General's daughter would do for his career.

 

At first, he advised his daughter that he came from a good family and that she needed to over look the indiscretion. But, she adamantly refused. Her act of defiance had gone against the very fiber of being a Madsen and it made him furious, resulting in him, not only ordering her to marry the young captain, but to also quit practicing medicine. Of course, she took her defiance one step further and left, without saying a word. At first, he was angry and then hurt over her sudden departure. Though, after he sat down and logically thought about the situation, he realized that she deserved more than being married to an adulterer. She deserved the opportunity to spread her wings and explore the world, without having the responsibility of being his daughter. She deserved that and so much more.

 

Theodore also realized that he was very proud of her.

 

She was thriving out in the real world, making friends and gaining the respect of her peers. It truly seemed as if she found her little niche in the world. Her letters proved that. She would write about working in the ship's infirmary and, lately, about spending her free time with her new friends, especially the one exasperating man, who was consistently went out of his way to annoy her, Knives.

 

“I wonder if that's a nickname,” he muttered to himself, while wondering if there was another reason as to why the man irritated her so. However, before he could continue to wonder about his daughter's wellbeing, a brief knock was heard on his office door before it opened.

 

“Sir,” the young man started right after he slipped his head through the doorway.

 

“Yes Johnson?”

 

“Director Aura-Cayzen's assistant just left a message regarding your luncheon today,” Johnson said as his boss waived him into the office. Once he had the door closed behind him, he continued, “His granddaughter is back in town and wanted to see if you wouldn't mind if she joined you.”

 

“So Randolph's granddaughter is back from another adventure?” he said with a small chuckle and a shake of his head. He remembered his colleague's only grandchild very well. She had spunk, much like his daughter, and decided that she wanted more out of life than to be a society belle. So, she became a Federal Marshal and a darn good one. He remembered when old Randolph, the director of the Stantal Federal Bureau, came to him grousing about her decision to become a Marshal, instead of an agent for his more `undercover' branch of government. As a matter of fact, it was during one of their monthly luncheons when he told him. “Please reply, that it would be a pleasure to have Marianne join us.”

 

“Of course, sir,” Theodore's assistant replied with a small smile and a nod before exiting the room.

 

“A pleasure indeed,” he muttered as he glanced at the clock resting on the right hand corner of his desk. Noting the time of 12:05pm, Theodore knew that he still had time to finish proofing a report before having to leave in order meet them for lunch promptly at one o'clock. Just as he picked up a document lying on his desk to proofread it, the deep roaring sounds of several large explosions ripped through the space with enough force to cause the glass windows that made up the wall behind him to resonate.

 

“What in the blazes!” he roared, pushing away from his desk to stand just before the wailing sound of the attack siren shrilled throughout the complex.

 

“Sir, we are under attack!” Johnson shouted as he rushed back into his supervisor's office.

 

“Really?” Theodore sarcastically drawled as he turned to look down at the compound's main causeway. Black and white smoke billowed all throughout the space as bright flames of orange and red erupted intermittently amongst the hazy covering. Unfortunately, that was all he could see. “Contact General McAllister's office, I want to know who, how many, and what we are doing for a countermeasure, now!” he ordered as the muffled sound of gunfire started to echo from the ground below.

 

“I'm on it,” Johnson called out as he turned and flew out of the room.

 

“They knew exactly when to strike,” he mumbled, momentarily turning from the window to his desk, where he reached underneath to snatch a hidden rifle. After placing the gun on his desk, he pulled out the bottom right drawer and grabbed his gun belt. He then strapped it on as he turned back to the widow, trying to see what was happening. He still couldn't see a thing. But, if the sounds coming from below were any indication, then he knew that some major force was attacking the compound. And if needed, he was prepared to defend the fort with his life.

 

Then after what seemed like a lifetime, the smoked cleared.

 

Theodore could see dozens Calvary men lying about the space, lip like rag dolls. While others looked like they were in the process of falling over from the smoke's noxious fumes. Or, at least, that was what he assumed, since he was too far away to see clearly. It also looked as if some of their own men were shooting at their comrades, but he knew that couldn't be possible. Could it?

 

Then he saw them… the two men standing in the middle of mayhem, one wearing a coat of color of stone and the other a vibrant red. They simply stood there, as if overlooking the entire coup. And even though he was ten floors up, he could tell that there was something different about them. Finally, after a few moments, they started to calmly walk toward his building. Occasionally, one appeared to be throwing something as the other raised an arm to point at the item. An instant later, an explosion would occur.

 

He watched the two in awe as they prevented anyone or anything from getting too close, by sporadically slipping out of harms way before turning their attention to the obstacle and removing it with a precisely placed gunshot. Then as if nothing happened, they would instantly resume their walk, while detonating the explosive devices. Whoever those men were, he had a sickening feeling that there wasn't much that could stop them. And if the rest of their force was anything like them, then they were in big trouble!

 

“Ummm… Sir?” Johnson shakily interrupted, bringing his supervisor's awareness to him.

 

“Did you get me answers, Johnson?” he asked, while glancing over his shoulder to look at the young man.

 

Uhhh… yyy…yes,” he stuttered before audibly gulping.

 

“Well?”

 

“It… ahhh… appears that a lieutenant Watson was heading back to the base when the blasts started and he… ahhh… said that when he arrived at the gates, that the… ummm… MPs on duty wouldn't let him in because…” he trailed off for a moment until the Attorney General turned completely around and pointedly looked at him. Rubbing the back of his neck, he continued, “Because one said that they were commanded not to let anyone in.”

 

“An MP on duty said that?”

 

“YYY…Yes...”

 

“And who gave him that order?” Theodore bit out, while becoming very unnerved about the whole thing.

 

“The two that are attacking, sir,” Johnson whispered.

 

“What! There are only two?!”

 

“Yes. Lieutenant Watson said that the MP was staring blankly at him, while mumbling that he couldn't let anyone in because the two were going to take over the Federal Building. So, he started the alarm before radioing from the gate to notify security here,” he rushed as he watched the muscles twitch in his boss's jaw. “I believe they are coming after you, sir.”

 

“Son of a bitch,” he muttered, running a hand through his salt and pepper hair.

 

“We need to get you out of here!”

 

“No!” Theodore angrily breathed before picking the rifle up and making sure it was ready. “I will not leave my post. If these men can fight for their government then so can I!”

 

“But…”

 

“No buts!” he exclaimed, cutting off his assistant. Then with a deep sigh, he turned back to the window and saw that the two were almost to the main entrance. “How many are guarding the main lobby?” he then asked.

 

“There are twenty men, sir,” Johnson replied before adding, “There are also ten more men stationed throughout the floor to cover the elevators and the two stairwells.”

 

“Well… be prepared, son. Just in case,” he then added as he watched the two men slip from sight as they moved under the awning that led directly to the double doors. Then as an after thought, he asked, “We didn't by chance get a name, did we?”

 

“Ahhh… as a matter of fact… yes,” he stuttered before blurting out…

 

“It's Vash the Stampede, sir!”

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

“So, tell me Vash, how many do you sense?” Knives mentally asked, referring to how many men were positioned in the building's lobby.

 

“I'd say twenty and all military,” the outlaw answered, glancing over at his twin. Just like him, Knives was leaning against the sandstone, only on the opposite side of the doorway with his gun in one hand and a canister of tear gas in the other. “I don't sense many others. They must have evacuated.”

 

“I agree.”

 

“Do you want me to do the honors?”

 

“If you feel the need,” he replied back right before the distinct sound of gunfire rang inside the open space of the two story room signaling that Vash had mentally took over one of the men inside to create a distraction. Then for the first time since their attack, Vash engaged his machinegun and started to open fire on the glass doors. The shattering crash of broken glass filled the air as the remnants fell to the floor, completely opening the once locked entrance. An instant later, Knives pulled the pin from the silver canister with his teeth before throwing it in toward the men, who were now cowering from the assault from their own man.

 

“Shall we go and find red?” Vash asked out loud before the two walked over the threshold and calmly entered the room, occasionally shooting weapons out of their opponents hands, who simply refused to give up.

 

“She is in a back room by the elevators,” Knives stated. He quickly strode through the smoke filled lobby and around the corner to where she was, while Vash was right on his heels, only heading to the elevators to call them. A moment later a door opened with McKenna's head peeking through right as Knives reached her.

 

“Hi,” she said with a big smile, glad to see that there wasn't a scratch on him. “It sounded like you two created quite a ruckus,” she added with a small cough as some of the fumes slipped from around the corner. Knives smiled as he pulled her out of the room, while Vash sent one of the two elevators up to the tenth and held the other. Once the three were safely in the second, she wrapped her arms around his waist to give him a quick squeeze.

 

“I told you that you would see me in a few minutes, woman,” Knives stated with a small smile as she let go, letting him prepare for the short trip to her father's office. Triggering the release on his black long colt, he expelled the empty cartridges right before slipping his left hand into one of his many hidden pockets to retrieve a pre-filled reload cartridge. As he reloaded his gun, he looked over at Vash, who was snapping his own gun closed. “The first elevator should distract the troops upstairs. However, be cautious when we get off on the ninth floor, just in case. Then make a beeline to the stairwell on the left.”

 

“Right.”

 

“And McKenna…” Knives started as he turned to look at her. “I want you to stay right behind me and once we reach the tenth floor, you are to stay in the stairwell until I say it's safe for you to come forward.”

 

“But…”

 

“No buts!” he ordered. “There is no room for discussion. I need you to stay clear! Do you understand?”

 

“I understand,” she replied, slightly put out, but understanding at the same time.

 

“Good…” he then said right before a ding was heard, signaling they reached their stop. Pulling her close, he quickly moved into one of the front corners of the confined space as Vash moved into the other, in order hide from any potential gunfire.

 

The corridor was clear.

 

“Interesting,” Vash thought to his brother as he signaled for the elevator to head up to the tenth floor. Following his brother and Mac out and to the entrance of the stairwell, he added, “I have a feeling they know where we are going.”

 

“Does that bother you?”

 

“Not really,” he replied with an internal chuckle. “How many do you sense?” Vash then asked as a few shots were fired on the floor above them, signaling that the second elevator just opened.

 

“Twelve now, but there are troops entering the building from the back entrance as we speak,” he commented before stopping a few steps from the reaching the tenth floor. “Currently, there are seven on this side of the building, stationed strategically along the corridor to the Attorney General's office. Three are heading this way from the other stairwell and two are at the other end of the corridor.”

 

“What do you propose?”

 

“Simple, I'm going to takeover the ones immediately in front of us, while you hustle through. We don't have much time and the other three will probably beat you there. So, you'll need to stop them.”

 

“I don't know if I can control three at once, Knives.”

 

“Then take care of them the old fashioned way, Vash,” Knives sent back as he turned to look at his brother and smiled.

 

“I can do that,” Vash agreed with a matching smile. “Ready brother?”

 

“More than,” he replied right before telling McKenna to stay put.

 

The twins left the redhead behind as they climbed the last steps. Knives instantly opened the door and slipped out with his gun ready and stopped in front of the two elevator doors, while Vash rushed down the long hallway with both guns drawn, passing the seven Calvary men who were standing at attention with their automatic rifles securely held in front of their chests.

 

The very next instant the other three turned into the hall at the opposite end and prepared to shoot. Vash instantly aimed his long colt and squeezed off three shots in rapid succession, disarming the men before rushing up to them as he put his machine gun away. Once his prosthetic hand was free, he threw a punch at the closest man, while pivoting on his right foot to follow the punch with a roundhouse kick to his face. The man was thrown into the wall where he crumpled down to the floor unconscious. Then, without pause, Vash attacked the second man, knocking him out with a devastating uppercut that brought him off of his feet with the force. Finally, reaching the third man, he effectively dodged a couple punches, before simply slamming his long colt down on the base of the man's neck, knocking him out as well.

 

Glancing back at his brother, he noted that McKenna was stepping up to his twin, until a barrage of bullets flew through faux wood, immediately gaining his attention. Diving to the ground, he evaded the attack before crawling up to the right side of the door that was now riddled with holes, looking like Swiss cheese. Glancing through the punctures, he saw a young man wearing a suit with submachine gun in his hands. Taking immediate action, Vash triggered his machine gun and shot through the partial opening, sending the gun soaring in the air.

 

“Now, now,” Vash called out as he rose from the floor prior to of kicking the rest of the door in. Then once he stepped through the threshold, he overdramatically added, “That wasn't very nice of you. And… man… I really hope you don't treat all of the Attorney General's constituents like that!”

 

“Of course I don't,” Johnson stammered defensively with his hands in the air, while watching the man in red walk past his desk to the door that led to his boss.

 

Once reaching the door, the outlaw prepared to use his machine gun to dismantle the lock, but stopped. Turning to look back at the man, who was still in shock over the blonde's attempt at making light of the situation, he casually asked, “Is this locked?”

 

“Ahhh… no…”

 

“Good, I'd really hate too have to break another door. I can only imagine what this little coup de tat is going to cost the tax payers, as it is,” he said with a goofy laugh, putting the gun back in its hidden compartment before opening the door. Stepping in, he saw a distinguishably dressed man in his fifties, standing behind his desk with a shot gun in his hands. His golden hazel eyes flashed in anger under wire rimmed glasses as the muscles in his clean shaven jaw twitched. “Hi! You must be red's dad!” Vash happily exclaimed with an erratic waive of his left hand while the right had his long colt trained on the shotgun. “Why don't you put that away and we can have a nice chat!”

 

“Excuse me?” Theodore asked in disbelief, not believing that the man before him was really one of the two who effortlessly took over the Federal Building. “Where is the other man that helped you?” he then asked, still keeping his shotgun aimed at the taller blonde.

 

“I'm right here,” Knives stated as he walked into the room to stand next to his brother. “Vash, I have the room secure from the rest of the troops entering the building,” he said with a smirk before adding, “I have our little pawns keeping guard.”

 

“Excellent. Hey, where is…” Vash started until another person slowly stepped into the room, causing the older looking man to gasp.

 

“Here I am,” McKenna quietly murmured as she walked into the room before stopping to stand next to Knives. Looking down to her brown booted feet, she whispered, “Ummm… hello daddy.”

 

“McKenna Etain Madsen, what in the blazes is going on here!” he roared, instantly dropping his gun as he rushed around his desk to get a closer look at his daughter. Grabbing her shoulders he pulled her away from the two and gave her a quick once over to make sure she wasn't injured. Once satisfied that she was okay, he pulled her into a fierce hug. A moment later, he drew away to look down at her again before starting to lay in to her. “Why are you here and with them? Did you assist in this fiasco? You have a lot of explaining to do little girl and I swear to God that if you weren't twenty-five, I would put you over my knee! Hell… I'm tempted to do so anyway!”

 

“Man… do I know that feeling,” Knives muttered, instantly bringing everyone's attention to him. He simply shrugged his shoulders and said that it was true, while Vash laughed at how funny the whole thing was.

 

“And who in the hell are these two?”

 

“Well daddy…” she began with a nervous smile as she stepped back over to the twins and started introductions, “This is Vash, as in Vash the Stampede,” she said while pointing at the red clad man, who simply waived and said hello. Then motioning to the man standing next him, she advised, “And this is Millions Knives, Vash's Twin.” Knives simply nodded.

 

“Knives…” he started, clearly remembering the name of the man who he was just wondering about not thirty minutes ago. However, before he could start another barrage of questions, a voice enhanced by a megaphone rang through the air.

 

“This is Captain David Preston of the Calvary's fifth unit. We have you surrounded. So, lower your weapons and let the Attorney General go. Cooperate and no harm will come to you.”

 

“Daddy… please tell them to stand down,” the redhead pleaded as she rushed up to her father and looked into his eyes showing just how important the situation was to her.

 

“McKenna, these two strode in here without any regard to their surroundings, created widespread mayhem, destroyed government property, and are technically holding me hostage! And you just expect me to shrug this whole thing off?”

 

“But, daddy there is a very good reason for it! If you would just let them explain!”

 

“Then explain,” he said, tearing his eyes away from his daughter to look at the other two men in the room.

 

“Well… it is a very long story. And don't ya' think Captain Preston will get kinda antsy?” Vash said while scratching the back of his head before glancing at his twin for help.

 

“Call of the troops,” Knives started coldly as he casually brought his left hand up to adjust his sunglasses. “Or I will take care of them myself,” he then threatened after lowering his hand and smiling menacingly at the older looking man.

 

“And just how do you plan to do that?” Theodore shot back, not backing down from the platinum blonde's threat.

 

“Like this,” he sent telepathically to the Attorney General right before his assistant walked through the open door. With a blank expression on his face, he stepped up to the desk and picked up the discarded rifle and took aim at his boss's head. “You see… you are dealing with someone far superior than the average human. So, I would strongly advise you to call off the troops,” Knives then added smugly.

 

“Daddy please… listen to Knives,” McKenna added, for good measure, making her father turn his icy glare from the Plant to his daughter, where he immediately softened his gaze.

 

“All right…” he finally sighed as he brought his left hand up to scratch the top of his head in frustration. He knew he was stuck. “Undo whatever it is you did to Johnson and I'll call off the Captain and his men.”

 

“Then you'll agree to listen to us?” Vash interjected, finally putting his long colt away and taking his shades off, with Knives doing the same.

 

“Yes,” he bit out right before Johnson staggered in place, instantly dropping the gun.

 

“How in the hell did I get in here?” Johnson questioned mostly to himself as he shook his head to clear the wooziness.

 

“Johnson.”

 

“Sir.”

 

“Advise Captain Preston to withdraw his men. I have the situation under control,” Theodore started as he walked back around his desk. “Then I want a status report, ASAP!”

 

“Sir?”

 

“Do it Johnson!”

 

“Uhhh… yes, sir!” His assistant said, completely confused over the entire situation, before leaving to do what he was told, closing the door behind him.

 

“Have a seat gentleman,” he finally said sitting himself after receiving confirmation that the men where withdrawing. Vash immediately obeyed and sat as Knives motioned for McKenna to sit instead. He then walked over to lean against the left wall, while crossing his arms over his chest. Once everyone was situated, Vash started talking with Knives, every once in a while, interjecting a comment. Theodore simply sat and listened to the entire story, without showing any emotion. Though, there was plenty churning on the inside. He was in shock after listening to the reasons for the attack and what the circumstances where for him becoming an outlaw in the first place.

 

“And that's about it,” Vash finally said an hour later, expelling a long breath of air.

 

“Okay…” the Attorney General said after a lengthy bout of silence swept through the room. Running a hand through his hair, he looked at Vash and finally commented, “You mean to tell me that you planned this little coup to have the charges against you cleared? Charges, you say were falsely brought against you, in the first place?”

 

“Yep,” Vash simply said.

 

“And the real culprit was your brother, because at the time he wanted to annihilate mankind?” he then added, while pointedly looking over at Knives.

 

“That's correct,” Vash agreed before rapidly interjecting, “Though, Knives no longer wants to do that. Do you Knives?”

 

“Not at this moment in time,” Knives muttered, making Vash telepathically yell at him, saying that comments like that wouldn't help the situation.

 

“Why didn't you just come here a talk to me?” Theodore asked, still not believing that they actually pulled a stunt like this just to have the bounty removed from his head. “I would have listened.”

 

“I told you guys,” red finally interjected, speaking for the first time since the story began.

 

“That's enough, woman,” Knives bit out before adding, “You may have listened, but just as soon as the story was over, Vash and probably myself would have been arrested. So, we needed too prove to you that keeping the bounty on Vash's head would be futile. There isn't a man alive that would be able to collect it. Besides, if we were to get serious then you would have quite a bit more on your hands than a few burned out vehicles and men complaining about the effects of tear gas and smoke inhalation. If we were to get serious, this whole place would have been decimated and you know it.”

 

“That still doesn't give you the excuse to come striding in here with the intent to take over this building!” Theodore roared, slamming his fist on his desk before closing his eyes, trying to calm down. After taking a few breaths, he finally opened his eyes. “There is absolutely no way I can let the two of you out of here without recourse. In the matter of thirty minutes, you two not only made complete fools of the Calvary, but you just cost the Government hundreds of thousands of double-dollars!”

 

“But Mr. Madsen…” Vash started defensively before getting cut off by McKenna's dad.

 

“I'm not finished son,” he interrupted, rising from his seat and proceeded to pace behind his desk. “No… both of you need to serve time in order to repent for your indiscretions,” he muttered a few minutes later, right before stopping to look at his daughter. With a calculated smile, Theodore tore his hazel orbs from hers and glanced over at the man standing a few feel away before turning his attention back to the man sitting. “And in this situation, I feel that the only way for justice to be given out properly is to make the outlaws serve the government they so adamantly defied!”

 

“What?!” both Vash and Knives yelled at the same time as they stood erect over the implication.

 

“Daddy, what do you mean by that?”

 

“I mean, that these two can either go to jail and eventually be hung, or they can swear their allegiance to the Justice Department and become Federal Marshals,” Theodore clarified with a victorious smile. He had them and he knew it. Besides, having men of their caliber on the force would definitely be an advantage and he was always looking for ways to make improvements.

 

“You're serious aren't you?” Vash asked once he realized what he heard was real.

 

“As a heart attack,” he said with a smirk.

 

“Knives…” Vash murmured, looking over at his twin with shock apparent. He never expected anything like that. If they were to accept the terms then, not only would the bounty be removed, but they would be able to help people legally. It was a dream come true, or at least would be once he got Meryl back.

 

“What are the terms, if we agree?” Knives asked, leaning back against the wall and closing his eyes.

 

“It would be the standard contract all of our Marshals agree to. Along with a salary and a three percent bonus of whatever the bounty is on the criminal you apprehend,” Theodore answered, while clasping his hands together and laying them on his desk.

 

Knives didn't know what to think. He could tell Vash wanted it. It was quite obvious with all of the excitement running through his veins, but he wasn't so sure he was ready to take a step like that. Then he opened his eyes and gazed at McKenna. She was looking back at him with her eyes sparkling with anticipation, blatantly hoping that he would agree to the terms. Then he knew he needed to, not only for Vash's sake, but for her as well. “Fine. However, we are on a set timeline and need to be sworn in today,” he firmly advised right before pushing away from the wall and walking up to stand behind his mate.

 

“No problem, we can fill out the paperwork and swear you in right now if you would like,” Theodore replied as he stepped around his desk, heading over to leave his office. A few minutes later, he walked back in with his assistant on his heels, along with three folders and three small black cases in hand. He then proceeded to hand out the folders and cases, while advising them to fill out the information completely. He even gave one to his daughter.

 

“Ummm… why did you give me one?” She asked, looking up to her father with confusion apparent.

 

“You broke quite a few laws today, too, little girl,” he simply replied before adding that the badge would give her extra protection, making outlaws think twice before trying something devious. “Besides, it will help you keep these two in line,” he added with a chuckle right before accepting the damage report from Johnson. “No casualties, is this correct?” Theodore asked Johnson after reading that part of the page.

 

“Yes and there were only thirty wounded, none serious,” Johnson replied before adding, “General McAllister and Director Aura-Cayzen called, as well.”

 

“Contact them both and set up an emergency meeting in one hour. I need to cover this little situation up,” he instructed right before his assistant left. Once the door closed, he turned his attention back to the three and saw that they were about finished. He watched Knives, who was now sitting in his chair, look up to his brother as if questioning something before muttering `I can't believe I'm actually using that' as he returned to filling out the document. He couldn't help, but like the arrogant man, especially since it seemed as if his daughter really liked him.

 

A minute later, all of the documents were signed and handed over to Theodore. With a satisfied grin apparent, he looked at each document before setting them on his desk. Stepping around the piece of furniture, he pulled out an old leather bound book from the upper left drawer. “Ready?” he asked as he stepped back around to stand before the three. Receiving nods, he then said, “Repeat after me… I… state your name…”

 

“I, Vash Saverem…” Vash said, going first, where McKenna quickly followed before all three looked to Knives.

 

Oh, all right,” he dejectedly sighed before finally stating his name, “I, Alexander… Saverem…”