Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ The Resurrection Of Nicholas D. Wolfwood ❯ Surprise In Lotenburg Canyon, Part Two ( Chapter 12 )

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

The Resurrection Of Nicholas D. Wolfwood

Part Twelve: Surprise In Lotenburg Canyon Part Two

By Bekka Mouri

(Trigun doesn't belong to me and I am not making any money from this so please don't sue. Wolfwood and Vash face off against Brilliant Dynamites Neon. A Few Spoilers, Cussing and a little bit of heaving… Okay, a lot a bit of heaving.)

Wolfwood loosened his grip on Vash's shirt as he stared in awe of Brilliant Dynamites Neon. He had heard the man was big but he didn't think they had meant he had taken a swim in the Nebraska gene pool. Neon smirked, " What's wrong, preacher man? "

" N-n-n-nothing, " Wolfwood stammered, trying to remember if he brought a gun along. He was strong but there was no way he could even fathom taking Neon down.

" Oh. That's great then, " Brilliant leveled his gun at Vash and Wolfwood. " You two just saved me the trouble of taking hostages. Now be good and follow me. "

" Where are we going? " Wolfwood asked.

" The control room. Everyone else should be fine. I had my scumbags bring them to the dining hall for safekeeping, " Brilliant smiled. " If everything goes as planned, no one will die. "

" Okay, " Wolfwood sighed.

" You two get in front of me so you don't try anything funny, " Brilliant pointed down the hallway with his gun.

" Yes sir, " Wolfwood said but Vash fell on him. " What's wrong with you? "

" I'm too drunk to walk, " Vash whined.

Wolfwood rolled his eyes, " Then lean on me. "

Vash put and arm around Wolfwood and they walked as Brilliant barked directions at them. Finally, they reached the control room and Brilliant told them to move to the side. With a couple of shots, he had the lock broken and the door swung open. The crew was all turned to see who was shooting the door and all visibly paled at the sight of Brilliant.

The captain stepped forward, " What is it you want? We'll let you have anything as long as you don't try to crash the ship again. "

Brilliant smiled, " My, aren't we agreeable. I know that the policies at the company changed and there is someone on this ship with the key code for the safe. "

The captain went even whiter than he already had been. " How do you know that? "

" I heard it from someone, " He pointed the gun at Wolfwood. " Now, if I don't get the person who knows the code the padre gets it. "

An older man stepped forward, " I know the code, sir. "

Brilliant's smile grew wider, " This is so easy. Now, come along quietly and don't do anything stupid. "

" I wouldn't dream of it, " The man said calmly. " Shall I lead the way? "

Brilliant stepped aside, " You lead the way. "

The small party of four walked until they reached the cargo hold of the steamer and Brilliant forced the door open before letting Vash, Wolfwood and the crewmate go ahead of him. Wolfwood looked over at Vash's left arm a few times but Vash was too drunk to notice so he gave up on trying to give him the hint that he was unarmed. As they walked through the hold, Wolfwood spotted the Angelina II and looked over his shoulder until he caught Brilliant in his side vision. ~That jerk better not touch my bike, ~ He thought and kept walking behind the crewmate.

Finally, the safe came into view and they stopped. " Open the safe, " Brilliant barked.

The crewmate walked towards the safe and Vash groaned. He let go of Wolfwood and put a hand over his mouth. " I don't feel so good, " He muttered and half ran/half stumbled to a dark corner of the hold. The tell tale signs of heaving could be heard and they were soon followed by the sound no one likes to hear.

Brilliant growled as the disgusting noises continued for a long time and pushed Wolfwood in the direction Vash had run. " Go check on him. That doesn't sound too good. I can't stand a man who can't hold his liquor. "

" Rotten needle noggin, " Wolfwood muttered, not happy with the fact he would have to get near Vash while he was puking. Wolfwood had done his share and it really didn't gross him out but it was never pleasant to be around when anyone else was heaving no matter how good of a friend they were. He trudged off and found the corner Vash was standing in. He was about to pinch his nose closed but realized the air smelled like… tomato sauce.

Wolfwood couldn't resist smirking as he got closer to Vash and noticed he was reaching into a crate filled with jars of the stuff. Wolfwood leaned over the crate and Vash smiled. " Take my gun before anything bad happens, " He whispered, handing Wolfwood the gun.

Wolfwood furrowed his brow as he realized the gun seemed different somehow. Upon closer inspection, he noticed it had a similar design to Vash's old one but it was much lighter. " What happened to it? " He asked Vash, pointing at the gun.

Vash smirked, " I got rid of my old one and had Frank Marlon make me a new one based on the same design. I can't do my city-destroying trick with this one. "

Wolfwood frowned, " What about Knives? "

" His got left behind with mine, " Vash stopped and listened. He could hear footsteps and he acted like he was throwing up again. Wolfwood quickly tucked the gun into his jacket and put an arm around Vash.

" It will be okay, " Wolfwood said quietly. " You shouldn't drink so damn much. "

" Hey! " Brilliant stayed a good distance away as he called to Wolfwood.

Wolfwood looked at him, " I don't know what to say, sir. My friend really overdid it on the booze I guess. "

Brilliant growled, " Leave him then. I need you in case our friend changes his mind about helping me. "

" What do you need me for? " Wolfwood called back.

" Encouragement. Now, get back over here or I'll shoot you and the wuss, " Brilliant barked.

" I'll be fine, " Vash whispered. " I just can't let him find out my identity. "

" Why? Is he someone else you pissed off in your past? " Wolfwood teased.

Vash nodded, " He said he'd kill me the next time he saw me. "

" Oh, " Wolfwood looked back towards Brilliant. " I'd be scared of someone that big too. "

" Hurry up! " Brilliant barked.

" I'm coming, " Wolfwood called as he let go of Vash and started walking towards the safe. " I hope my friend will be okay. "

" He'll get over it! Now, get your ass back over here or I'll start thinking you're trying to pull something! " Brilliant said.

Wolfwood got back to the safe, Brilliant grunted and looked back at the crewmate. He jumped back when he realized the man was no longer typing in a key code and now had a gun aimed at him. Brilliant pulled his gun and aimed it at the crewmate. The crewmate snorted a laugh and continued to aim, " Blow me. "

Brilliant's eyes got wide as the man shot and knocked his gun to the floor. It skittered across the floor and under a pallet. Brilliant growled and looked back at the man, " You just fucked up big time, asshole. "

Brilliant went to use his huge dynamos but froze when he heard a click and the barrel of the crewmate's gun telescoped out so far, it now rested square between Brilliant's eyes. The man smirked, " Who just fucked up big time? "

" Woo-wee! " Wolfwood jumped back and looked around to see if Vash was watching what was going on. He could see that Vash was still leaning over but it looked like he was laughing and trying not to make a sound.

Brilliant narrowed his eyes, " Who the hell are you anyway? "

The crewmate laughed, " My name is Marshall Mac Hammond and I am with the Cavalry. I am escorting a group of cadets to a graduation ceremony in Inepril City. "

Brilliant realized something and growled, " You never knew the combination, did you? "

Mac shook his head, " Nope but there wasn't anything valuable on this ship anyway unless you count the class and several undercover officers that tagged along in case we came across you or any other outlaws along the way. "

Brilliant blinked, confusion evident on his visage. His mouth moved before he was finally able to ask, " It was a set-up? "

Mac laughed, " Looks that way, doesn't it? "

A woman came running through the cargo hold and stopped when she saw Mac. She saluted him and smiled, " All of the Bad Lads have been subdued and contained, including the inside man. "

" It was the navigator just like we suspected, wasn't it? " Mac smiled.

" Yes sir. He never knew what hit him, " The woman smiled.

" Very good, April, " Mac looked over at the woman and away from Brilliant. " All we have to do now is get Neon contained and everything will be fine. "

Brilliant narrowed his eyes, obviously not happy that he had been set-up. He moved his hands to the dynamos and grinned. Wolfwood rushed forward, pulling Vash's gun from his jacket. He placed it behind Brilliant's head and said, " I wouldn't do that if I were you. "

Mac looked back and noticed Brilliant had attempted to use the dynamos again. He looked at Wolfwood and then at the gun in his hand. It was a big silver gun and he locked eyes with Wolfwood. " Where did you get that? " He asked.

" It was a present from a friend, " Wolfwood smiled. " I think you had better get this guy cuffed before he tries anything else. "

Mac realized Wolfwood was right. He nodded at April, " Cuff him. "

Wolfwood sat on the edge of his bed and wanted to hit himself in the head. He realized he had forgotten one Gung-Ho Gun who could have had a student and it could have been deadly if he hadn't remembered it. ~How could I forget about Caine? ~He thought. ~Could have that bastard had a student? ~

A knock at the door brought Wolfwood from his thoughts and he wondered who was at the door. Vash was asleep in the other bed so he had no choice but to answer it. He went to the door, " Who is it? "

" It's Mac, " The answer came from the other side of the door. " I wanted to talk to you about something. "

Wolfwood opened the door, " What is it? "

" I wanted to thank you for saving my ass down there. I should have never taken my eyes off of Brilliant, " Mac reached into his coat and pulled out a huge stack of money.

" What's that for? " Wolfwood looked at the stack.

Mac held it out to him, " Your share of the reward I'm going to collect once we get to Inepril for catching Brilliant. "

" But how did you get it so quickly? " Wolfwood looked puzzled.

" My students donated some of it as thanks for looking out for me, " Mac moved the money closer. " Some is from the crew as thanks for stopping Brilliant and the rest came from my own pocket. "

Wolfwood put his hand up, " I really can't. "

" Take it, " Mac pushed the money into Wolfwood's face.

" I can't, " Wolfwood tried to push the money away even though he really wanted to take it. If Mac offered one more time, he'd give up.

" Are you sure? " Mac pushed the money again. " I can tell by the look in your eyes you want to take it. "

Wolfwood took the money and smiled, " I might as well. "

Mac laughed, " I knew you'd cave. "

" You never know when it will come in handy, " Wolfwood sighed.

" That is true, " Mac nodded his head. He turned to leave but stopped. He looked over Wolfwood's shoulder towards Vash. " Oh, how is your friend doing? He sounded really sick down there. "

" He'll be fine, " Wolfwood shook his head; " He was just putting on a show so I could get a hold of that gun. "

" That is one hell of a gun you have, mister, " Mac smirked. " Looks a lot like the gun everyone said Vash The Stampede used to carry. "

Vash sat straight up in his bed and jumped out of it, startling both Wolfwood and Mac when he landed on the floor. He headed for the door, " Make way! " He shouted.

Wolfwood and Mac both moved because Vash was running like hell. When he got to the hall, he bolted for the men's room and slammed the door just as he started turning a rather unpleasant shade of green. Mac looked at Wolfwood, " I thought you said he'd be okay. "

Wolfwood shook his head, " I guess not. He really can't hold his liquor that well. "

Mac laughed, " I have to agree with Brilliant. "

Wolfwood furrowed his brow, " What do you mean? "

" Your friend is a wuss, " Mac shook his head. " To tell you the truth, I thought your friend might have had a connection to Vash The Stampede because of that gun. "

Wolfwood put his right hand behind his head and started to laugh. " That is funny! "

Mac looked over Wolfwood's shoulder and noticed his jacket over the back of a chair. He zeroed in on one of the cuff links and smiled. " Say, I knew you looked familiar. "

Wolfwood stopped laughing. He blinked in surprise, " What do you mean? "

" Have you ever been to Steele City, Mr. Preacher man? " Mac asked smoothly.

Wolfwood went totally quiet. He was so quiet, he wasn't even sure he was breathing. Were those idiots looking for him so they could have him arrested for destruction of public property? After a few tense moments, he managed to mutter, " Hmmm, I think I was there for a couple of days in the past. They still looking for that guy who smashed up all those statues? "

Mac laughed, " No. I was just checking to see if you were the same guy. I read the story in the newspaper and thought that was some fancy gunmanship. I guess you're not him. "

Wolfwood relaxed, " Nah but I read about it in the paper. You think they'll give up looking for him soon? "

Mac eyed Wolfwood, " I don't know. The Steeles' are a pretty tenacious family so I doubt they won't be letting it go for a while. "

Wolfwood shook his head; " You'd think they would be happy they still have their town intact. "

" I said they were tenacious, not sensible, " Mac smirked.

" Oh, " Wolfwood didn't like the way Mac was smiling… like he figured out some great mystery.

Mac yawned, " Well, I had a pretty exciting day. I think I'll go back to my cabin now. "

" Take care, " Wolfwood stepped back into the cabin.

Mac waved and walked away. He stopped and smiled, " You take care too and tell your friend not to drink so much. "

Wolfwood laughed, " I will. "

Mac continued down the hall and Wolfwood shut the door. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, " Damn that was close. "