Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ The Resurrection Of Nicholas D. Wolfwood ❯ Surprise In Lotenburg Canyon ( Chapter 11 )

The Resurrection Of Nicholas D. Wolfwood

Part Eleven: Surprise In Lotenburg Canyon

By Bekka Mouri

(Trigun doesn't belong to me and I am not making any money from this so please don't sue me. An unexpected detour causes Vash and Wolfwood to meet up with another old bad guy. Spoilers!)

The captain of the sand steamer watched as the landscape rolled by and the twin suns set on the horizon. Everything seemed like it would be okay and he hoped it would stay that way. Luckily, the sand steamer's route no longer involved going through Bad Lads territory and that had cut down on robbery attempts made by Brilliant Dynamites Neon's gang. He relaxed a little in his chair when he heard the navigator let out a frustrated groan.

" What is it Sanders? " He looked over at the man.

" There is a report of severe sandstorms in the area. The authorities are saying that all land-based travel should be stopped, " The navigator put his head down on the radar screen. " And if we keep going the way we are going right now, we'll get caught up in the storms according to the radar. "

The captain groaned, " Is there anywhere we can go so we'll stay on schedule? There is some time sensitive cargo heading to Inepril on board and we can't be more than two hours late. "

The navigator did not come up, " Yeah. Through the canyon because it is below the level where the sandstorms will hit. "

The captain shut his eyes and pressed his hands to his face. He could cut through the canyon and make it to Inepril ahead of schedule but then he would run the risk of falling into Bad Lad territory. " How long are the storms supposed to last? " He asked without moving his hands.

" Until dawn… day after tomorrow, " The navigator answered.

" Is Inepril in its path? " The captain felt a headache coming on.

The navigator lifted his head up and looked at the radar. He then looked at a map and sighed, " No. It will pass 100 iles to the east of Inepril so the city won't be in any danger. Captain… we need a decision right now. "

The captain waved his hand, " We have to get this cargo to Inepril so switch to the emergency route. Head for the canyon and I want everyone to hope we don't come across Brilliant Dynamites Neon. "

**

Wolfwood looked down into the whisky and sighed. He had not been able to shake the terrible feeling that had been eating him up and it was making him nervous. He was also wracking his brain as he tried to remember if he had ever seen any of the other Gung-Ho Guns with students. He was certain that it was possible but he couldn't recall hearing any students mentioned.

It was certain that E.G. MINE hadn't had one; nobody could stand the spike covered jerk because he was downright irritating. He hadn't been surprised when he had found his body in the rubble of Augusta and nearly laughed because E.G. had probably got what he deserved. He had been battered in the blast but it was obvious he was dead long before Vash had fired off his Angel Arm. He had been stabbed with a sword and Wolfwood was certain it had been Rai Dei's that killed him.

His thoughts shifted to Rai Dei, someone more likely to take on a student. After Augusta went down, Wolfwood found the swordsman climbing through the rubble and visibly shaken. Rai Dei had obviously seen the whole thing and still hadn't got his wits about him when he saw Wolfwood. At first, Rai Dei hadn't recognized Wolfwood but he soon realized who he was and begged him for his help in capturing Vash.

Wolfwood answered him with a bullet and decided to start looking for Vash in the morning. When he started searching, he found two more Gung-Ho Guns in the wreckage but they had been dead for a little longer and several of E.G. spikes were lying around. He found Dominique The Cyclops first, discovering her eye patch was gone. He had never seen her without it but he knew what had been beneath it.

~Could she have had a student? Is there someone else out there with the Demon's Eye? ~ He asked himself as he took a drag from his cigarette. He didn't think it was possible but he made a mental note of it anyway.

The next body he found was that of Monev The Gale. Wolfwood had heard of him and knew he had to be one big guy. For twenty years, he had been imprisoned with nothing better to do than physical training. He reveled in his loneliness and was not too social so it was unlikely he had a student.

He swallowed the last of his whisky and signaled to the bartender to give him some more. The man refilled the glass then left the bottle and Wolfwood thanked him. He stared down at the bar and started to think of others who couldn't have had students. He knew of a couple that was just too freaky to have students: Hoppered The Gauntlet and Gray The Nine Lives.

His mind went to Leonof The Puppet Master and a chill went down his spine. He recalled how he had used a puppet to trick everyone on the flying ship. No one saw through the marionette until it was too late. Leonof seemed like the type to pass on his twisted sensibilities so Wolfwood decided it was very likely he had a student.

He stamped out the cigarette he had been smoking and lit another one. He was sure that Midvalley had a student because he too would have wanted to pass on his gift of musical ability and he had heard Midvalley mention him a few times. He sighed because he had reached the end of the list but he knew someone was missing from it. He frowned, knowing whom he had forgotten.

~Zazie, ~ He thought but shook his head. ~Nah, he was a demon. He didn't have to teach anyone because he could possess anyone he wanted to. ~

A hard slap on the back brought Wolfwood out of his thoughts with a jump. He narrowed his eyes and looked over his shoulder at Vash. " Don't scare me like that needle noggin! "

" I've been standing behind you for a long time but you were so zoned out, I couldn't get your attention, " Vash smiled. "So, what were you thinking about? "

" Stuff, " Wolfwood sighed. He waved to the bartender to bring another shot glass for Vash and the man did so. Wolfwood filled up the glass, " So, are you drinking tonight, Vash? "

Vash took the glass, " Just a little. "

**

Brilliant Dynamites Neon watched as a sand streamer plowed through the canyon and a slow smile spread across his lips. Pickings had been slim since the sand steamer company had re-routed all of its runs around the outside of the canyon but it seemed nature was on his side tonight. Sand storms raged around the canyon and that would have forced normal people into shelter. " If they are down here they have something that can't wait, " He muttered to himself.

" What do you want to do, boss? " One of the Bad Lads asked.

" Let's go, " Brilliant adjusted his hat. " We need to have a little fun. "

**

Wolfwood stared down at the bar as Vash tried to unsuccessfully hit on girls. Vash was considerably intoxicated but Wolfwood had stopped after three drinks because it was just intensifying the sense of foreboding Wolfwood was feeling. Vash fell from his barstool as yet another girl had turned him down and walked away. " Man, I'm never going to score, " He whined from the floor.

Wolfwood snorted a laugh and looked down, " You know, if you would just give it up and admit that you like Meryl you would save yourself a lot of trouble. "

Vash rolled over and lifted his left arm, pointing his index finger limply at Wolfwood. " Look, buddy. There isn't anything between that insurance girl and me. We're just friends. "

Wolfwood smirked, " Yeah, whatever. Come on, I think you've had enough. "

Vash furrowed his brow and then made a lame sweeping gesture towards the room, " I haven't even got started yet. There's all kinds of women I want to talk to, Nick. "

Wolfwood narrowed his eyes at Vash, " What did I tell you about calling me by that name? "

Vash propped himself up on his arms, " But we're buddies. Can't I call you by your name? You call me by mine all the time. "

" I only call you by the name I know you by, needle noggin. You never told me your real name, " Wolfwood pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

Vash fell back to the floor, " Oh yeah. "

" Besides, the only things that like to sleep with you is chaos and poverty, " Wolfwood muttered.

" Hey! YOU slept with me! " Vash shouted. The room got deathly quiet as everyone's attention was now focused on Wolfwood and Vash.

Wolfwood got up, grabbed Vash by his shirt collar and started to drag him through the aisle the crowd had made as they stared. " I think we had better get the hell out of here. I don't want to kill you in front of so many witnesses. "

Vash realized what he had said and blushed. He looked up at people as Wolfwood drug him through the crowd and said, " No! I didn't mean like that! I'm drunk! I don't know what I'm saying! "

People just stared as Wolfwood drug Vash into the hall and turned, Vash's arm slamming into a corner as they turned down the hall. " Hey! That hurt! " Vash whined.

" Just shut up. Why do you always have to embarrass me in front of people? Never mind… I never realized how obnoxious you get when you are drunk, " Wolfwood grumbled.

" Well, you're meaner than cat… " Vash started but a gun shot rang out and blocked the middle of his statement. " And twice as nasty when YOU drink, pal! "

Wolfwood jerked Vash to his feet, " Did you just hear that? "

Vash blinked, " You mean the gun shot? "

" No, needle noggin. Did you hear the birds singing? " Wolfwood narrowed his eyes, " Of course the gun shot! "

Vash nodded, " I figured it would happen sooner or later. We are going though Lotenburg Canyon you know. "

Wolfwood blinked, " What? I thought the steamer company rewrote all the routes! "

" They did but there are sand storms everywhere around the canyon, " Vash chuckled. " I forgot to tell you that earlier. I think there might be some important cargo on board and they have a delivery deadline to meet. "

" Aren't we going to do something to stop him? He and The Bad Lads are going to rob the ship; " Wolfwood was fighting the urge to shake Vash because usually 1 out of 10 sand steamers made it through the canyon without being assaulted.

" Well, we sure as hell didn't come here for a tea party, " A deep voice startled Vash and Wolfwood. Wolfwood looked over Vash's shoulder and saw the ominous figure of none other than Brilliant Dynamites Neon at the other end of the hall. The lights on his outfit were glowing full blast and a very evil grin graced his lips.

Vash craned his neck around and shut his eyes, " Could this get any worse? " He muttered.

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