-199-
several Mooks hang around in one of the lower deck corridors, apparently
making sure the walls stay standing and the floor doesn't run away. then…
squeaka squeaka squeaka squeaka
a cart with two tanks strapped on it comes rolling noisily along, with no one pushing it. the Mooks come forward to investigate, and suddenly a shot rings through the hall…
-200-
…and pings off the tanks. all the Mooks drop instantly, afraid the tanks
will explode. a few seconds later, when everything is still in one piece and
only a little bit of air trickles out of the holes, the bewildered Mooks start
to stand up again, eyes still on the tanks…
-201-
…which is why they don't see Our Devious Hero come leaping over top
of the tanks nearly in time to get to their own weapons. a quick pair of shots
to the shoulders while still flipping mid-air, and Vash has neatly taken out
two of the three potential threats.
TRIGUN #7 Rem
-202-
…duck, catch the floor on the back of the shoulderblade, tuck, roll,
and smoothly right up… one Colt Longshot aimed right between the eyes of
the last, and slowest, Mook. thud, thud… now the other two finish hitting
the floor. Vash smiles, and the other Mook, wisely, gives in. they find themselves
well accommodated in the nearest broom closet.
-203-
that obstacle cleared and three Mook automatics heavier, Vash continues down
the hallway, Kaito appearing out of whatever nook he hid in to lead the way.
Kaito- …and.. this one!
he pushes open an innocuous looking door. the room beyond is small, and so
crammed with tubes there's hardly room for one small chair and maybe standing
room for one other person. Vash has to duck to get in.
Vash- This makes sense. These are all the speaking tubes?
Kaito- Yeah, but do you honestly think this'll really work?
Vash- I guess we'll find out. I've already made the first move.
-204-
a lone Mook staggers up to the bridge, breathing heavily.
Mook- ……… He got us, boss! …. He's just …too good…
the poor sap keels over right at BDN's feet. stuck to his back with a little
piece of tape is a big-nosed caricature of a frowning Vash making a big thumbs-down.
-205-
a very big, very vicious grin lights up BDN's face like one of his neon lights.
BDN- bwaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! This is great! It's just like one of them dime novels,
one thing right after another!
Vash and Kaito exchage thumbs-ups as BDN's voice comes across the speaking-tubes…
BDN- Yo, sleazeballs! Slack off on this and I'll kill ya myself! Flush out that
damned blond, NOW!!
-206-
not one to let things stay at just "good enough", Our Corny Hero
decides to push things a little further. He pops open one of the speaking-tubes.
Vash- This is the starboard passenger section. He's here! The blond!
BDN- …good! Hold him there, reinforcements are on their way.
Vash- It's too late! He's completely overpowered us and dived back into hiding!
GYAAAAAA!!
Kaito: …. ham.
Vash- GYAARRRRGH! //closes the tube// ….. alright.
Kaito spreads out the map and takes up a good spot in front of most of the tubes.
Kaito- Now we should be able to figure out the movements of those goons.
Vash hands Kaito a fountain pen, much to the kid's confusion.
-207-
Kaito- What's this?
Vash- Talk into this end of it, and I'll be able to hear you.
he points at the small hoop earring in his left ear. it's got more uses than
simply looking cool, apparently…
Vash- I don't wanna run into a pack of Mooks in a narrow hallway, y'know.
Kaito- A radio this small…? It should be a museum piece. What the hell
are you doing with a piece of Lost Technology? Who are you…?!
Vash- I wouldn't mind explaining, but you probably wouldn't believe me. Besides,
there's no time. But anyway… don't sweat the small stuff. Here I go!
Our Bold Hero steps out of the door…
-208-
…and runs smack into a passel of Mooks. a quick "oh crap!"
moment of recognition passes, morphing into an equally short "oh, SHIT!"
moment of scrabbling for guns. shots are fired from both sides at point blank
range.
-209-
the Mook gets the worse end of the deal, screaming and collapsing.
Vash- Crap!!
another Oh Crud moment as the second Mook brings his gun to bear, for all
the good it does him. he gets dispatched in as quick and efficient a manner
as his partner. but something has gone wrong, somewhere, and Vash is decidedly
displeased.
Vash- Goddamnit! Right from the start…
-210-
Kaito jumps in shock as Vash starts dragging one of the Mooks into their
new "headquarters".
Kaito- What the hell?
Vash- I screwed up! He's bleeding too badly. If I don't stop it…
Kaito- ??? …..! Don't tell me… this whole time…? You haven't
shot to kill even once?! What the hell's up with that?! Just how good do you
really think you are? Trying to look cool? Trying to be a hero? You'll DIE,
damnit! ?!
-211-
the rant trails off as Kaito realizes that Vash has been clutching his side
this whole time, little streamers of red seeping through…
Kaito- ……
Vash- I…… really look stupid, don't I?
-212-
a flashback… one of Vash's. a huge space ship is burning, breaking apart,
and superimposed on that vision of impending disaster is a serenely smiling
woman with long black hair, and Vash, looking very much younger, screaming soundlessly…
-213-
…the ship explodes in a white nova, leaving little doubt as to the slim-to-nil
possibility of survivors.
Kaito- ………
Vash- I know I do… Totally pathetic…
-214-
Vash- But… I promised her. If I make the light of even one life go out,
I know it'd make her grieve.
Kaito- …… 'her'?
Vash- Remember this name: REM SAYBREM. That we can live here… that any
of us are alive at all… it's all thanks to her……
-215-
unfortunately, wounds of body and wounds of memory aside, the fight has yet
to end and rests can only be momentary. Vash makes his slow way up to the bridge
from the lower decks, cleaning a stairwell of a Mook infestation with a few
well placed no-look shots around the banister.
-216-
the efforts have taken their toll, however, and Vash isn't breathing easy.
using their own bank of speaking tubes, a Mook supervised by BDN directs the
movements of those scattered throughout the ship.
Mook- Third floor center stairs, we're under attack!
Mook-Coordinator- Roger. Port Passenger Section Team 3, surround the third floor
stairs from topside. All Teams on first and fifth floors, forget about 'em!
Converge on the center stairs at each floor.
the tubes go silent for a moment, as silent as BDN has been this whole time…
Mook-Coordinator- …… 7 minutes left.
BDN- … right.
-217-
staying one step ahead, Kaito directs Vash through the quickest route.
Kaito- It's best if you cut straight across there. Everyone's starting to gather
above and below you.
Vash- Roger that.
the path hasn't kept him completely clean of disturbances however. a pair
of Mooks start as a door swings wide, and a bare second later the Mooks are
shooting it to pieces. exhausted, Vash leans against the wood of a door and
just lets it keep swinging open, and letting himself fall to the floor…
behind the Mooks.
-218-
they only have half a second to realize what happened before they're put
out of commission. floors away, Kaito can only listen to the tinny sounds of
gunfire over a small radio, and remember…
Kaito- //flashback// You can't underestimate the Bad Lad Gang! Hell, you're
looking at the whole human race through rosy glasses!
…a woman, bags packed and at her side, smiles lovingly at a faceless
man as they prepare to leave…
…a younger Kaito stands and cries…
…a father's face smiles in memory alone, reality a cold and lifeless gravestone…
…a younger Kaito wanders into the desert, dressed in rags…
…forced to steal from corpses…
…to huddle in a trash-filled ally through the chill of the night…
…survival and salvation found only through a blueprint and knowledge sold
to BDN…
-219-
Kaito- //flashback// All these guys… even me… we've let countless
people die. We've betrayed countless more.
Vash- So start all over again! Don't let them die anymore. Don't betray them
anymore. Look for happiness! Dream! Your ticket to the future…
-220-
Vash- … is always blank.
reality comes crashing back with the fall of Mook bodies.
Mook- Ce-center engineering cabin… He's broken through! Damn, he's one
tough SOB. He's damn good with a gun, and he's got to have the Devil's own luck!
BDN wonks the Mook-Coordinator over the head.
Mook-Coordinator- Meep!
BDN- It's not luck. Not this guy…
-221-
somewhere down a deserted hallway, Kaito's voice pipes through a tiny radio…
Kaito- Alright, keep going straight ahead. You should be coming up on a stairway
to your right. Go down.
his only answer is Vash's labored breathing. of course, Our Altruistic Hero
took much time to bandage the wound of his opponents, but he never seemed to
bother dealing with his own…
Kaito- There's no other way to go. For some reason, that's the only place that's
empty.
huge, metal double doors stand in the way and Vash near collapses against
them, shoving the switch to start the doors cranking open wide in a slow clatter.
-222-223-
…was this place supposed to be empty? check that. there are Mooks there.
lots of them. lots, and lots, and LOTS of them. and aaaaaaall of them have the
business end of automatics pointed right at Vash.
-224-
...and in the center lounges BDN, a smug smile on his face.
BDN- Welcome to the party! Your directions were precise enough, I trust?
Vash- //muttering into earring// Kaito, get the hell out of that room. Now.
TURN TO THE NEXT…