Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Life Thereafter ❯ Federal Intervention ( Chapter 26 )

Disclaimer: How I wish I owned Trigun. Sadly, I own it not.

 

A/N: Wow, a whoppin' 4000 words! O.o

A couple of announcements. First, after this chapter, only nine are left. I have made an outline, and that's how many there are. Secondly, Abo made a new fanart! Go look!

So, chapter is what shall be known as the “branching out” chapter. My story has mostly been centered on Meryl, Vash, and Knives, but now I'm going to throw another twist into the plot and give Millie some airtime.

I hope you enjoy it, and have a very Merry Christmas! (Or, have a very Merry Whatever-Your-Holiday-Is. XP)

 

 

Federal Intervention

 

Millie Thompson stretched as she stepped (or rather stumbled) out of the bus, which had just arrived in the city of December, the hometown of the Bernardelli Insurance Society. Since Meryl had left with Vash and Knives, Millie had, at Meryl's stern order, maintained correspondence with the main office, but she had been a bit nervous about it since Meryl had always been the one who wrote back to the Society. Still, Millie had sent a letter off the day after Meryl had gone and left for work as usual the next day.

Three weeks later, Millie came home to an empty house once again with a slight pang of loneliness. However, much to her surprise, a letter had arrived for her from the main office, telling her to return to December effect of immediately. So, after explaining her situation apologetically to the Foreman, Millie had taken the next bus coming through town. And, after skipping from town to town by multiple different modes of transportation, she found herself back in December.

“Here ya go, miss!”

Millie turned to see a man holding her luggage out to her. “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed, taking the bags from him as a tinge of pink crept into her face from embarrassment. She had nearly forgotten her things on the bus.

He shrugged. “No problem. Just be sure to keep a close eye on your bags next time, eh?” he said, smiling kindly.

“I sure will!” she said before waving goodbye.

Walking swiftly, Millie headed straight for the Bernardelli Insurance Society main office. The letter had, in addition to recalling her, told her that she was required to appear before the chief as soon as possible. At the time, she had thought nothing about it, believing that it would be something trivial. But, the closer she had gotten to home, the less likely that possibility seemed.

I wonder how Sempai is doing…

Millie sighed. She had been asking herself that for the past month, and no answers were forthcoming. Meryl had not written, and while Millie had expected that, it made her worry all the more about what was going on with Vash and Knives. Plus, it looked like she was about to have problems of her own with Bernardelli. She hoped she was wrong.

I wish you were here, Sempai. I could really use your help right now, but I guess I'm on my own.

She stopped short at a set of steps and stared up at the entrance to Bernardelli. Musing a little, she noticed that the place looked pretty much the same. Considering Millie had not been here for months, things appeared to have moved forward without her. Time tended to do that.

Just like people tend to leave us all alone, sometimes on purpose and sometimes…not…

Sniffling a little, Millie wiped roughly at her eyes and adjusted the sling holding her stun gun hidden beneath her clothing before marching up the stairs and into the office. People turned to stare at her, and she smiled widely at them, slightly disconcerted by their stares.

I wonder what's gotten into them…

“Millie! Hey girl!”

Millie turned, smiling really big as she dropped her bags and lifted her friend off of the ground in a hug. “Hello, Karen! How are you?”

“I'm…fine,” Karen gasped.

“Oh, that's wonderful! How is everyone?”

“Can't…breathe…”

“Oh, sorry!” Millie said sheepishly, releasing her friend.

“That's quite a grip you've got there,” Karen coughed.

“Ahahaha,” Millie laughed nervously. “Thanks. Sometimes I forget…”

“Well, that's fine. But listen,” Karen said, her voice lowering confidentially as she pulled Millie off to the side. “I've been wondering, what happened to Meryl?”

Millie looked down at her feet. “I can't…I can't really say.”

“Why not?” Karen demanded, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Did that man do something to her? Vash the Stampede?”

“No! No…nothing like that,” Millie protested. “It's just that…I'm not really sure what's been happening myself, and…there's just some things that I can't say…”

Karen frowned. “That's not fair. Tell me-!”

“Is this socializing hour, ladies?”

Millie and Karen both jumped and whirled around to see the chief standing behind them, a bored, wry look on his face. Karen glanced at Millie one last time before walking back to her desk. As she sat down, Karen had a hurt look on her face before resuming her work.

She sighed. I wish I could tell you, Karen, but…

“Millie Thompson.”

“Oh!” Millie turned about hastily. “I'm sorry, sir!”

“It's fine. I'd like to see you in…” His voice trailed off.

Millie cocked her head, puzzled. “Sir?”

“Why do you have your luggage here with you?”

Looking down at her feet, Millie saw her things strewn unceremoniously on the ground. She picked them up, and looked at the chief.

“Well, sir, the letter said that I should come as soon as possible so I did.”

He blinked. “You could have dropped your stuff off at your apartment first, you know.”

“Oh yeah. Eh heh…” Millie's face turned bright red.

The chief shook his head. “Don't worry about it. Just bring it with you.”

“Um, where to, sir?”

“To my office.”

Uh oh…

Millie gulped. The last time the chief had asked her to come to his office was when she had come into work three hours late…for the twentieth time. He had not yelled, but his voice had been so calm and eerie while telling her she would have to clean the windows on a scaffold that Millie had hoped she would never have to go back in there again. Of course, she had experienced much worse things in her travels with Vash and Meryl, but the chief could be just downright creepy, no matter how plain he looked.

Her stomach twisted in a knot as she walked slowly forward, the bag handles gripped tightly in her hands as she stepped over the threshold of the chief's office, a very simple room with clear windows. As Millie walked in, the chief shut the door behind her and pulled the blinds down over the windows.

Millie bit her lip. Oh no… What'd I do? I've never been locked in before! Did I do something exceptionally bad that I don't know about?

“Relax, Ms. Thompson, you're not in any trouble,” the chief assured her.

Millie blinked. I'm not? But then, what's all of this about?

“Millie Thompson,” the chief began, walking around his desk, “I'd like to introduce you to Federal Marshal Marianne Aura Cayzen,” he said, indicating a woman in red with blond hair and violet eyes who was sitting on a couch to the side, a gold star glittering on her chest.

Her eyes widened. Miss Marianne? Millie was about to open her mouth to say hello when Marianne shook her head incrementally, pursing her lips. Millie closed her mouth, taking the hint.

“Marshal, this is Millie Thompson, one of out finest disaster investigators who was recently assigned to watch one of the most dangerous men alive: Vash the Stampede.”

Marianne stood, her hand outstretched. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Thompson.”

Millie shook the hand. “You too, Miss…I mean, Marshal. So, um, what brings you to December?”

“Actually, Millie, it has to do with Meryl Stryfe, your partner.

Millie's countenance fell. “About Sempai?”

He nodded. “Yes. You see, recent events, coupled with the disturbing news that Miss Stryfe has disappeared with Vash the Stampede, have brought the Feds into this matter.”

Millie frowned. “The Feds?”

The chief nodded. “Indeed. Which is why this Federal Marshal has come here to speak with you.”

“With me?” Millie asked, startled.

“Yes,” Marianne said. “If it's alright, I'd like to discuss your assignment,” she looked pointedly at the chief, “outside the office. Would you like to get a coffee?”

Millie tried her best not to smile. “Actually, I'd like Ceylon tea.”

Marianne's lips lifted slightly. “I think that can be arranged.”

“Wait,” the chief protested, “are you sure about this?”

“Of course,” Marianne asserted. “Besides, I wouldn't want to bore you with things that you already know. So,” she continued, facing Millie, “shall we go?”

“Ok, but what about my luggage?”

Marianne waved her hand. “I'm sure you could leave it here,” she announced.

“Yes…yes, that's fine,” the chief muttered.

“Wonderful!” Marianne said, leading Millie, who deposited her personal belongings, out of the office with a wink.

As the two walked together through the offices, Millie felt even more uncomfortable under the scrutinizing stares of her colleagues. This time, however, it was because of the company she was keeping. They probably thought she had done something bad, like breaking the law, which was not the case.

She sighed. I guess I should have expected this. Mr. Vash is very famous, like a celebrity almost, and I traveled with him all that time. I guess that makes me kind of famous, too…

“How's this?”

Millie jerked her head up. “Huh?”

Marianne pointed. “Does that place have good coffee?”

Millie looked and nodded. “Oh yes. The Desert Café has wonderful coffee!” She paused. “It has good Ceylon tea, too…”

“Well then, let's go in,” Marianne said, smiling.

Millie pushed the doors to the café open, earning a few glances from the patrons who promptly returned to their drinks. The doors swung open again, admitting Marianne, who pointed at a small booth near the back of the room. The two made their way to the back and slid onto the seats.

“May I help you?” a waiter asked.

“Yes, I'd like a cappuccino, please,” Marianne said.

“And I'll have a gaston mille fuelle with Ceylon Tea,” Millie said cheerfully.

“Coming right up, ladies,” the waiter replied, leaving to fetch the drinks.

A few minutes later, the man plunked the drinks before each woman. Millie and Marianne both paid and watched the man leave to serve the next customer who walked in the door, a boy wearing a hooded cloak.

That's kind of weird, Millie thought absently, sipping at her drink.

“It's been a while.”

Millie looked up at Marianne, who smiled back at her. “Yes, yes it has been, Miss Marianne. So, what brings you out here?” Millie asked.

Marianne leaned back and sighed. “Work, I'm sorry to say. And, I'm afraid that it involves you.”

“Me? What did I do?”

“You didn't do anything,” Marianne sighed. “But this does involve you, your partner, and especially Vash the Stampede.”

Millie hesitated. “So, I guess you know who Mr. Vash is, then.”

Marianne nodded. “I guess it was obvious the first time we met, but I just didn't believe it then. Anyway, that's not important now.”

“Then, what did you need to talk to me about, Miss Marianne? You mentioned Sempai…”

Marianne leaned forward confidentially. “Are you aware of what's been going on these past few weeks?”

Millie shook her head. “No. I only left town a week or so ago and spent most of the time traveling. I haven't gotten any news.”

A frown creased Marianne's brow. “Not even from your partner Meryl?”

Millie's throat tightened. “No. Sempai hasn't written to me.”

“I see…” Marianne said softly. “I'm sorry to bring it up, but you have to understand something. There have been a lot of strange things going on, and people are getting nervous.”

“Well, what's been happening?” Millie asked, somewhat alarmed.

“Rumors,” Marianne said. “Strange ones. For example, the town you just left has been buzzing over a blond-haired man whom the townspeople claim murdered Professor and Gofsef Nebraska, as well as a bounty hunter called Descartes, with `bladed arms.'”

The knot in Millie's stomach tightened. That sounds like Mr. Knives…

“And then, in the criminal underworld, superstitious thugs are talking about a `blond devil in red with cold blue eyes' who dispatched a little over half of the henchmen belonging to a certain Brilliant Dynamites Neon.”

Millie grasped her cup, her hands shaking slightly. No…

Marianne gauged Millie's reaction, her eyes sad. “In addition to these rumors, the Feds have been investigating Vash the Stampede (since he matches the description), places he's visited, people he's met, everything. And they found some very disturbing things.”

“Mr. Vash wouldn't hurt anyone! He isn't that kind of person!” Millie exclaimed, rising slightly out of her chair, outraged.

“I know that,” Marianne said.

Millie paused and sat back down slowly. “You…do?”

She nodded, smiling. “Of course I know. I'll always remember Vash as the goofy bodyguard I met a few years ago. I really do find it hard to believe that he's responsible for all of the terrible things that have happened in the past.”

Millie looked down at the drink she was holding. “So then, why does everyone accuse Mr. Vash of these things?”

Leaning back in her chair with a creak, Marianne sighed. “Millie, not everyone has met Vash and seen what kind of person he really is. Most think he's a mad mass murderer, and after July and Augusta, I doubt anyone will want to take his side and especially not the Feds.”

“But that's not fair!” Millie cried.

“I know that!” Marianne exclaimed. “Which is why I did everything I could to get this assignment. I want this to be as fair as it can possibly be under the circumstances.”

“What circumstances?” Millie demanded.

“I already told you about the Bad Lads and the town massacre,” Marianne replied. “And, despite rumors that the Stampede disappeared after the Fifth Moon Incident, the Feds have proof (besides the Bernardelli reports) that Vash is still active. We have testimony from a certain Frank Marlon of Warrens City who claims that a man in black with a cross slung over his shoulder came to him to repair the Humanoid Typhoon's gun. Plus, we've spoken to an old woman and her granddaughter who reportedly kept Vash with them during the two years he was missing.”

Millie's throat tightened once again, and her eyes burned. Mr. Priest…

“And now there is speculation that Vash the Stampede isn't even human at all.”

“What do you mean?” Millie asked hesitantly.

Marianne looked at her, and her voice lowered to a whisper. “We also have the testimony of the chief engineer of the Marius Bresken Kantacle Technical Industrial Union work dispatch team-”

“Miss Elizabeth!”

Marianne nodded. “Yes. She told us that she believed Vash was something more than human, but when we inquired further, all she would say was that he had accomplished the impossible when he prevented a Plant from running amuck at Inepril City.”

“I remember that…” Millie mumbled.

“So, as you can see,” Marianne continued, “all of these things contribute to a growing belief that Vash is not human, which means that the federal government wants him brought in at all costs, even more so than before.”

Millie stared. “But, that doesn't explain why you've come to see me…”

At this, Marianne looked away. “Well, because of your assignment and close proximity to Vash, the Feds want you watched, just in case he, or your partner (whom you say is with him), resurfaces somewhere.”

Millie's eyes widened and sat a little bit straighter in her chair. “So I'm bait?”

Marianne bit her lip but refused to answer. Millie leaned back heavily, a shocked look on her face. After everything that had happened, she had hoped things would get quiet again. She had already lost Nicholas, and Meryl and Vash were gone, leaving her all alone. Millie almost felt like crying.

I don't know what to do! What can I do?

“Listen, I'm not happy about this either,” Marianne said uncomfortably. “I volunteered for this job so it wouldn't be so hard on you. I'll be here if you need me,” she finished, leaving an address on the table before standing up and walking out of the café, a sad look on her face.

Millie watched her go. Unable to hold back her tears anymore, she grabbed a napkin from the basket in front of her and blew loudly. Sniffling, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She just did not know what to do anymore.

“Excuse me, miss?”

She looked up at the boy she had seen come in earlier, the one in the cloak. He was staring at her from beneath the concealing confines if the hood. Millie composed herself hastily and gave him a watery smile.

“Yes?”

“Are you alright?”

Millie nodded, a little surprised at the girlish quality of the boy's voice. “Yes, I'm…I'm fine.”

The boy nodded absently before sliding into the seat across from her. Millie stared at him quizzically, wondering what he was doing. The boy was silent for a moment before removing his hood.

Millie's eyes widened in shock. “You're a girl!”

The red-haired girl smiled sheepishly. “Yes, I'm a girl.”

“Oh, I'm sorry!” Millie exclaimed. “I just couldn't tell under the cloak!”

“Well, that's kind of the idea…” the girl muttered.

Millie blinked. “Huh?”

“Oh, I'm sorry! My name is Lina!” the girl said.

“It's nice to meet you, Lina! I'm Millie Thompson!”

Lina nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

Millie blinked. “You do?”

“Yeah. The person who sent me told me about you. You know Ericks!”

“Ericks?” Millie asked.

“Yup!”

Who is she talking about? “So, er, who sent you?”

Lina's expression became serious. “Someone who wants to talk to you in person.”

Uh oh… “And why should I trust this person?” Millie asked suspiciously.

“Well, he said that I should show you these,” Lina said, reaching into her pocket and pulling something out of it. “See?”

Millie gasped. Those are Sempai's earrings!

“We're supposed to meet him in a few minutes. Are you coming?”

Millie looked from Lina to the earrings and then nodded. Maybe I'll get some answers…

“Ok then,” Lina said. “Let's go.”

 

 

“What's our time?”

“16:03.”

“They're late!” Brilliant Dynamites Neon growled.

“Well, boss, something might have come up,” Beremy told him.

“I don't care. It ain't beautiful to be late,” Neon snapped.

He had been in a foul mood for about two weeks, ever since the battle with Knives. Even after Vash had explained everything, BDN had still felt royally pissed. In fact, he had told Vash that he and his damned brother could piss off for all Neon cared.

Of course, that was just the problem. Neon did care about that spiky-haired bastard, as well as the men he had lost. While the Bad Lads had known that there would be danger involved in their chosen line of profession, they had never at any time been prepared to deal with something like that monster Millions Knives, and Neon blamed himself for it.

When BDN had left with his remaining men in what vehicles had not been irreparably damaged, they took the loot with them but left behind dozens of crosses perched atop small, body-sized mounds. Neon remembered the look on Knives's face when he had started digging graves. The bastard had not wanted any “human filth” present on the site of his ship.

“Listen to me, you shit,” Neon had growled, “if you so much as look at those graves the wrong way, I'll find out and finish what I started!”

Since Knives had still been recovering from his own wounds, his only reply had been a cold glare. BDN had then laughed, smacking Knives on the back, saying that he should lighten up. Of course, Knives had known as well as Neon that even a smile could hide the teeth behind it.

Since then, BDN had been traveling from town to town, soliciting those with aspirations for greatness who had not been born with the means to join the Bad Lads. He had had very limited success because a couple of deserters (whom he had found and flogged for being cowardly weasels) had started rumors about the great Brilliant Dynamites Neon being defeated by a “blond devil in red with cold blue eyes” and that his men had been massacred, the second of which was true. However, it hindered his recruitment efforts.

In any case, he had finally ended up outside of December City. Since it was so large, Neon had figured that he might have a better chance of recruiting new Bad Lads here. It was then that he remembered the request that he had sort of agreed to. So, he had waited for Millie Thompson to arrive in town before sending Lina into town to find her.

Damn my good heart, Neon grumbled. First I pick up that kid and the old bat because that spiky-haired bastard asked me to look after the two people he lived with when he was Ericks. (What the hell kind of name is Ericks, anyway? No flair or style at all.) And now I'm gonna talk to that Millie woman. I must be getting too old for this shit. I'm getting soft.

“They're back, boss.”

Neon took a long drag of his sparkling cigarette before dropping it and crushing it under his boot. “So, maggots, any luck?”

The two men he had sent out to recruit looked at each other. “Well, we got about ten, but that's it,” they said.

BDN frowned. “Just ten?”

They nodded. “But we're going out again tomorrow.”

Neon frowned. “Whatever. Just go.”

“Yes, sir,” they nodded before rushing away.

“Feh,” BDN muttered. “This is ridiculous.”

Beremy pointed. “Hey, boss! Look!”

Neon watched as Lina walked in, bringing the woman Millie Thompson with her. He recognized her immediately, of course. After all, she had boldly announced herself as “Stun Gun Millie” back on the sand steamer. She looked a bit nervous as she walked into the camp, a few of the less chaste men leering at her.

“Back off, fellas!” Neon announced, standing up to greet his guest. “She's with me!”

Her eyes widened. “You…you're Mr. Brilliant Dynamites Neon!” she exclaimed.

Neon grinned. “I love being recognized. I gotta remember to thank my PR agent.”

“But…what are you doing here?”

“Well, ain't that the million double dollar question?” Neon asked, grinning. “You could say I've been sent, but hell if I know why I consented to this at all. Sense of honor and all that shit.”

“Mr. Neon, where's my grandmother?” Lina asked.

“Oh, you mean the old bat? She's in her tent,” Neon said, shrugging.

“Ok, thanks!” Lina said before running off to meet her grandmother.

Millie stared at him. “Who is that girl? And why did you take her in?”

“Take her in?” Neon guffawed. “You've got the wrong idea. I only picked up that little brat and her old bat of a grandmother because a certain spiky-haired bastard asked me too get them out of their old town. He thought they might be harassed or somethin' since they'd known him, and he was right, wouldn't ya know it? By the Feds no less. But whatever, I'm gonna get rid of `em as soon as I can.”

“Spiky-haired… Wait, are you talking about Mr. Vash?” Millie asked excitedly.

“Sure am. The ass says `hi,' by the way.”

Millie hesitated. “Er…thanks. But, um, why are you here in December now?”

Neon shrugged. “Because that friend of yours, Mary or some such thing-”

“You mean Meryl?”

“Oh yeah. Her. Anyway-”

“How is she?” Millie asked anxiously. “Why hasn't she written? I've been worried sick, and-”

BDN held up both hands. “Whoa, whoa, slow down! Anyway, like I was sayin', she asked me to come and tell you what's been happening.” He grinned. “She figured you were frettin' about hearing nothing for all this time.”

“So, will you tell me?”

Neon scoffed. “'Course I am! I didn't come all the way here to chat about the weather. `Sides, it's always hot and sunny in the mornin' and freezin' cold at night. We'd run outta things to say, anyway.”

Millie blinked. “Um, ok…”

Neon gestured. “Sit. I'll tell you about it.”

So, they sat, and Neon explained everything as best he could. By the time he finished, Millie was near tears.

“All of this has been happening?” she asked. “I had no idea! Poor Sempai…”

“Yeah well, if ya ask me, that Knives character is a bastard through and through,” Neon muttered. “But anyway, that's what I was told.”

“This is awful!” Millie exclaimed. “And now I'm in trouble, too!”

BDN frowned. “What'd you do?”

“The Feds are watching me!”

“Hmmm…” Neon rubbed his chin. “I ain't really surprised about the federal government interferin'.”

Millie stared. “You're not?”

“Nope,” he stated. “After all, you're the only link to the Stampede, ain't ya? Makes sense.”

“I guess so, but now I don't know what to do,” she said, looking down at her feet.

Oh hell. I can't believe I'm even CONSIDERING this. “Well, I guess I can stick around here for a little while…” Shit! I did NOT just say that!

“Oh, really?” Millie asked hopefully.

Damn it… Does she have to look at me like that? “Yeah.”

“That's wonderful! Thanks so much, Mr. Brilliant Dynamites Neon!”

How the hell do I get myself into these things? Neon grumbled, rubbing his brow.

 

 

-Christmas music plays in the background- PARTAY! -rocks around the Christmas tree- XD

Knives: -grumbles-

-pokes him- Lighten up! It's Christmas time!

Knives: I do not celebrate Christmas.

Huh? Why not?

Knives: Because I do not believe in what you humans call Santa Claus or a divine life form. Other than myself, of course.

-gasps- BLASPHEMY! -whacks Knives with a giant candy cane-

Knives: Owowowowowow!

Take THAT! And THAT! And THAT!

Kuroneko-zilla: NYARGH! (Translation: REVIEWS please! Or I'll eat you!)