-168-169-
TRIGUN #6 DIE HARDS
the stage is set, the clock is ticking, and sides have been
taken. life is about to get vee~~ry interesting…
the crewman at the controls makes a stealthy grab for the brake lever, but BDN
stomps on the hand before it gets two fingers over the handle. the driver screams
in pain.
-170-
BDN- Hey, hey. That wouldn't happen to be the brake, hm?
Driver- …… I made a mistake. We have a duty to protect the passengers
of this sandsteamer. … Even if it costs our lives!
BDN- As you like it, then.
-171-
full marks for guts, dude, but you fail on intelligence. at something less
than point-blank range, BDN's shot takes off a good quarter of the driver's
skull. and he doesn't stop there. he empties all six shots in the chamber into
the poor guy.
-172-
what's left is little more than an awfully bloody mess.
BDN- …… Actually, he was my kind of guy. Ballsy and a pro. Let's preserve
that beautiful image of him just like he is. 'Kay, Captain? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
the captain can do little more than glare through the one eye that isn't
swollen shut yet… and into this grizzly seen comes a pair of Mooks with
the Kid in tow.
Mook- I brung him, sir.
he gets quite the eye-full.
-173-
BDN- Hey, don't look so grim, little man. It ain't right to get upset over adults
doing what comes naturally --- but I wanted to ask you something. Like how to
steer this great hunka junk.
Kid- ………… I don't know the console's layout, but I do know
that it involves the supply-manufacturing system that sends CO2 to the "heat-generating
plant" and the load-monitoring system in the boiler. On top of that, you
have to keep an eye on the level of heat and light going to the "water-generating
plant". Experience is vital.
Captain- ……? //thinking// How can a child know all that about these
systems? Who the hell is he?
-174-
BDN- Now isn't that a pain in the ass. Maybe I shouldn'ta killed the guy.
Kid- Uhm, why do you want to know about the steering systems? I mean, we suddenly
went to max speed a little while ago…
BDN- If we get what we came for, what does a little difficulty mean? The plan's
been changed. The loot's stashed in a vault in the middle of this clunker, and
it ain't no piece-of-crap lock-box either. It's well made. What's worse, if
we don't get to the town, we don't get the key. It's enough to make you cry,
ain't? What would you do in this situation?
-175-
BDN- The correct answer is… you crack the whole damn thing open like a
nut!
he pauses for a second… apparently this isn't getting the anticipated
reaction from the Kid.
BDN- …… What?
the Kid's gotten quite pale, actually…
Kid- …… wait…just… a second… please, not that …anything
but that!
-176-
BDN- I didn't just hear that. Your only job was to take care of the ship's defenses
and get us inside. Why the hell do you care what happens to this ship?
now the Kid starts getting stupid… he grabs BDN by the lapels of his
flashy coat.
Kid- This is completely different from what you said before!
that was definitely the wrong thing to say. BDN catches the Kid under his
jaw with one hand and lifts him straight up until his feet dangle by BDN's waist.
-177-
predictably, breathing gets a little difficult…
Kid- gah… gak…
BDN- …… listen, runt, you seem to be making a mistake here. Why should
I have to ask your permission to use what weapons I want to use to
get the loot? HMM?
he lets the Kid drop heavily to the floor.
BDN- That ain't beautiful. If you're gonna sell out on the ship, at least have
the guts to face up to the consequences, stupid!
the Kid spits out teeth, and struggles to rise.
Kid- I beg you…. please… spare… this ship…
-178-
not the wisest course of action apparently. BDN's kick catches him square
in the chest and he bounces across the room until he runs into the wall at the
far side.
-179-
but he still tries to get up again.
Mook- Oi! Stay down, stupid.
Kid- This ship…. Dad's… This is my dad's ship! ?!
all of a sudden, the Kid finds himself staring down the business end of a
fancy pistol at a very, very uncomfortably close range. the barrel clacks against
his teeth.
BDN- Enough of this. I'm really short tempered, y'see.
he pats the kid on the head with his free hand, pistol never wavering…
BDN- Say goodbye to your brains, runt!
-180-
BDN freezes. he can't see him, but he knows he's there. Our MIA Hero has
popped up again, hanging upside-down from the top of the "windshield",
longshot aimed squarely between BDN's shoulderblades…
-181-
Vash fires three shots through the glass into the chair BDN had been standing
behind. the big man reflexively ducks at the sound of the shattering, taking
his pistol off the Kid. taking advantage of the confusion, Vash ducks inside
and re-aims at BDN's back, at closer to point-blank range this time.
Vash- You okay, short stuff? Get over here!
-182-
do remember that BDN was not alone, there was a handful of Mooks there, and
they jump to their boss's aid.
Mook- Bastard!
however, Our Resourceful Hero has managed to secure a nice looking automatic
from somewhere in Hammer Space, and puts it to good use keeping the Mooks' heads
down.
Vash- 'scuse me.
of course, he's also polite about it. ^.^ and he never takes his eye off
of BDN either…
::Vash- I wouldn't do that if I were you…. Holding still
sounds so much better.::
the respite is very short, as another clutch of Mooks comes dashing in the
door…
Mook- Boss!
-183-
BDN seizes his chance as Vash's attention flits to the newcomers ever so
briefly. proving he's no slouch at shooting either, BDN pulls off an almost-no-look
behind the back shot. Vash flies backwards out the already-broken window. the
Kid gets the shock of his life as he realizes he's flying too. Vash had a very
secure hold on the back of his coveralls. the two fall screaming.
-184-
BDN- Hmph. This is gonna be fun. Those two are still alive, so keep your eyes
peeled, scumbags!
several stories down and on the outside, Vash and the Kid cling to the service
ladder they've managed to find for dear life. life that's about to get much,
much more interesting, as the Kid's just spotted a really, really big rock that
the sandsteamer is going to scrape…
-185-
they crash into the rock, and bits of boulder, one Kid, and one Hero go flying
(and screaming). Vash manages to grab hold of a pipe that's disturbingly close
to the ground (he's still screaming), which happens to be whizzing by at a rather
unsettling speed. the Kid (screaming) is dangling from one of his legs with
a very discomfiting view of the sandsteamer's wheels whirring close behind.
Kid- PULL ME UP!!! HELP MEEEEEEEE!!!
fortunately, Our Talented Hero is dexterous and the Kid is light, so there's
no problem getting the Kid to safety.
::Vash- If we climb a little higher, there's a ventilation duct.::
::Kid- Really? Good, good. Lets go then. Quickly. Very, very quickly.::
the two find the service ladder and get climbing, Our Courageous Hero with
Nerves Of Steel whimpering like a puppy dog the whole way up.
-186-
somewhere else, in the bowels of the ship, a pair of Mooks are poking around
a storage room…
Mook 1- Shit, the steering, huh?
Mook 2- Cleaning supplies… Snack cakes… Canned food…
Mook 1- … Oi. You smell something?
Mook 2- Huh?
Mook 1- I think I smell somethin' that reminds me of women. You think there
might have been someone in here earlier?
Mook 2- What the hell kind of junk are you talking about now? It's probably
this soap you're smellin'.
don't look now, boys, but there's someone behind you. two insurance girls,
to be precise.
Mook 2- Huh? What's this? Trunks?
-187-
the two finally get a clue and turn around, but it's too late. there's a
pair of thuds, a small scuffle, and then silence…
back on the bridge, BDN has found a way of making sure everyone starts behaving.
a well dressed and scared witless girl has joined them, not precisely of her
own volition, sitting on the wrong side of one of the Mooks' automatics.
BDN- Well, Captain, it looks like you're the only one left I can ask to get
this ship rolling along nice and smooth. To make sure nothing gets screwed up
this time, I've gotten a volunteer from the passengers.
Hostage girl- NOOOOOOOO!!
-188-
Captain- Da- Damn you straight to Hell, you worthless bastard!
BDN- tsk. I'm starting to get sick of hearing things like that.
on the outside of the ship, Vash and the Kid have finally reached the duct.
Our Exasperated Hero fires two shots into one of the corners of the hatch, then
simply rips the whole thing off and tosses it.
-189-
finally out of imminent danger of falling to a messy death beneath the sandsteamer's
treads, Vash and the Kid take the opportunity to catch their collective breaths.
Kid- …… Why'd you save-owch!
Our Peeved Hero wonks the impertinent Kid over the head.
Vash- //glowering like a dragon// Don't you mean "My eternal gratitude
for saving my life"?
::Kid-yessir, exactly that!::
skipping ahead to the point in time where the Kid has updated
Vash on all that's Going Down...
Vash- ………… Holy crap! This ship's headed to the bottom of
a gorge?
-190-
Vash- Oh, for crying out loud will someone please give me a break!? Death or
Poverty, one of the two of them is always just two steps behind me!
while Our Peeved Hero continues to rant, the Kid slips into flashback mode…
Kid- //thinking// What the hell was I thinking back then….? "This
is my dad's ship!" … that's got nothing to do with this, right? That
useless workaholic---
a much younger Kid peeps around the doorframe into a room overflowing with
books, a middle-aged man bent over an architect's drawing-board.
Vash- AWLRIIIIIGHT! Let's get going!
Kid- uwah!
-191-
Kid- ?????????
Vash- This isn't the time or place to be worrying over this 'n that. You're
gonna need all those un-busy spots in your noodle. We're going to stop this
ship!
Kid- ……… //blank stare//
Vash clonks the Kid over the head.
::Vash- You're helping.::
::Kid- Yessir.::
from an inner pocket on his coveralls, the Kid pulls out a many-times folded
and somewhat battered piece of paper and spreads it across the floor. it's a
blueprint.
Vash- Oi… this is…
-192-
Kid- Yeah. The blueprints to the Flourish.
Vash- Why do you have something like this?
Kid- It's not the original. I made this copy when I snuck into dad's workroom
once. I was a lot younger then.
Vash- This is incredible work. You even copied all the notes in the margins.
Your dad must have been a highly respected man.
Kid- …………
-193-
slipping back into flashback mode… a be-spectacled man looking much
like an older version of the Kid cradles a much younger, and cleaner, Kid in
his arms. and we finally learn the Kid's name.
Dad- Kaito. Kaito… grow up to be someone who can make things happen for
the good of others.
Kaito- //thinking// Yeah… he really was nuts about his work. Dad's dream
made this ship.
Dad- I wonder what those hands of yours will make in the years to come…
Kaito- But---
-194-
a small drop plips to the floor in front of Kaito's knees. it's shortly joined
by another.
Kaito- //thinking// I screwed up, dad… doing something like this, selling
you out to a bunch of thieves, just for a little money.
Kaito's crying freely now, tears making a stream down his face.
Kaito- Damnit! I… I won't be able to make any dreams now, will I….
-195-
doink doink… a gloved hand pokes Kaito's bowed shoulder. Kaito looks
up hesitantly… to come very suddenly face to face, nose-to-nose even, close
with Our Miffed Hero.
Vash- What. The. Heck. Kind. Of. Senti. Mental. Crap. Are. You. Getting. Bogged.
Down. In. Now. HM?
each syllable is punctuated by a clonk of Vash's forehead against Kaito's
noggin. the poor kid is rather shocked.
-196-
Kaito clutches his battered head, staring at Our Weird Hero in bewilderment.
in response, Vash pulls out the charm factor…
Vash- …Better? We will survive this.
Kaito- …… yeah!
-197-
getting back to where all the action is, BDN lounges on the bridge while
Enora Cliff rushes ever closer…
Crewman- 87 iles per hour… 2… 6… 8… 88 iles… 12 MINUTES
TO DESTINATION! Most likely, we will pass a point of no return in 10 minutes!
Captain- You'll die too, you know…
BDN- You think so?
-198-
BDN- I'm so touched by your concern. But actually, we've taken the liberty of
preparing ourselves a different stop.
tied by a long, metal cord and trailing behind the Flourish like a dinghy is
a large battle wagon.
BDN- …… so happy landings! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
the clock is ticking… ticking…
nothing like now for a… TBC.