After months of waiting...we post another chapter! Dwellin and I had this chapter written for...well, lets just say it’s been waiting for quite a long time as we got the next chapter written Hopefully it won’t be as long for the next chapter to be posted, but at least you know it’s in the works, no worries, we’re getting to the climax very soon! Thanks again to all of our reviewers, I don’t have your names with me right now, but thanks to all of our readers for your continued support for all of these years (or months if you’ve just started reading) I hope this chapter doesn’t disappoint! MillyT

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Chapter 26

Trapped

[Stardate: 11-09-0110-23:14]

Milly stood up, and then sat again, readjusting herself. The confessional really wasn’t all that comfortable, and she wondered how long a priest could sit there listening to the long list of sins some people undoubtedly had. Of course, she really didn’t think a priest went without food or going to the bathroom for this long. She didn't know about him but was about ready to burst a bladder muscle if this kept up. Only once had the spikey-haired Vash, the real Vash, let them out to stretch, one at a time, and use the bathroom. Milly was good, she knew what he would do to them, so when it was her turn, she didn’t try to escape.

Meryl, on the other hand, tried to climb out the window in the bathroom and nearly dropped to her death when she realized the bathroom window was directly over a cliff, and it was no wonder Mr. Vash allowed them to go in there by themselves. Since that time, however, he had not come back, nor had he spoken. There were no voices outside of the heavy oak doors either.

“Do you think, anyone will notice that we are missing?” Milly asked quietly to Meryl. Her partner had finally gotten over the shock of being trapped to tell her that it was Vash, not a priest, who had been within the other confessional, and trapped them here. Obviously, she found out for herself when she saw the handsome man open the door for their break hours ago. It was really a pity he was such a bad man. She half thought that Meryl and he would get along splendidly, especially since he obviously had a huge crush on her. Although, she doubted Meryl would be able to look past the whole evil thing; especially after locking them in a confessional!

“Who knows, the hotel staff will probably think we were just out late on the town…” Meryl grumped. She shook her head. “At least we do know that Mr. Knives is still alive…otherwise Vash wouldn’t be using us as bait.” She smiled on her side of the confessional, imagining her knight in shining armor coming to save her…then she remembered what he was and that meant this man who kidnapped them was also a plant… Meryl sighed, really, why was it the first two men who liked her weren’t even human? What did that say about her? Plus, they were bent on destroying one another and would soon probably end up destroying this town, because they had that power, she’d seen it before.

“I wonder if that means Mr. Priest and Livio are here?” Milly leaned against the latticework between them and smiled to herself, also thinking up a similar scenario as her partner's. Only in this one, she couldn’t quite make up her mind which of the two men would open up the door and scoop her into his arms. At first she thought perhaps Livio, but then she remembered his crush on Jasmine, so then she thought about Nicholas doing it…she figured he’d be strong enough, but it would look kind of awkward and unromantic since they were both almost the same height. So, perhaps Livio would be the scooper-upper…

“If they could get us out of here, I don’t care who shows up,” Meryl said, cutting off Milly’s imaginings. “I really wish you hadn’t put down your stun-gun.”

“Well….it was sort of bruising my side when I was laying against it…so I took it off… you can’t blame me, can you?” Milly scratched her chin. At least it was still sitting there outside the door, if she were to get out again. “But it would have been handy if Mr. Vash forgot to take off your cape…” Meryl, of course, had initially thought of it, and sat with her derringers in hand, waiting for the door to open again once Milly returned from her trip to the bathroom. But Vash was too quick, the bullets seemed to zoom around him the moment he stepped in, and then quick as a whistle, he ripped off the cloak and flung it away. Hhe took the derringers from her hands and shoved her in the direction of the bathroom.

Meryl didn’t even have time to retrieve it before getting shoved back into her prison on the return trip. Especially not after Vash found her trying to climb out to her death through the window. Oh, if she hadn’t seen his eyes glow before, she had no doubt they could now. This time with hilarity at her stunned expression from the drop straight down the cliff moments before he pulled her back inside.

“So, here we are, two of the best insurance agents around, and we can’t even get ourselves out of this situation?” Meryl stood up from her seat and then tried the walls again. Why was this thing so well built? Was it to contain the sins of the confessors so they didn't get out and infect the rest of the congregation? Why couldn't it have been made of plywood, or heavy curtains? How rich had this church been to be able to afford thick, hard wood confessionals? It wasn't fair!

Then she got up on her chair and started feeling around the ceiling, and around the latticework. She could see out only through the top, enough to see that night had fallen and it was dark out. The lattice wouldn’t budge, and was so thick she doubted even with a tool, she could break out. “I wonder what happened to the other agents who were supposed to relieve us?”

Milly stood up again, rubbing her numb butt. “Meryl?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think we’re going to die this time around?”

Meryl blinked, “Milly…of course not…I mean, there’s no way he’ll kill us…”

“But if the other agents are dead, which is what you were assuming, right…? Then what’s to say he won’t kill us as well?”

Surprised by her friend’s sudden loss of optimism, Meryl swallowed. “He won’t, at least I don’t think so, at least not until he….” Meryl remembered how eager the real Stampede was to have his way with her. So far, that hadn’t happened, and she really doubted he was into necrophilia. “It’ll be okay, Milly. He didn’t kill us right? That means he’s using us as bait, and as soon as Mr. Knives finds out, he’ll be here in a jiffy and come to save us.” She believed it as soon as she said it.

Milly smiled briefly and nodded. “I just wish he’d come back soon so we could go to the bathroom again…” She did a short potty-dance and then sat down on her chair. “I’m so hungry too…” She patted absently at her pockets checking to see if she accidently left a pudding cup in one, despite the fact they had been thoroughly checked several times already and the search resulted in turning up nothing but lint. If only lint were tasty.

Missing Persons

[Stardate: 11-10-0110-7:00]

At five in the morning, the priests left for Jeneora Rock. After Knives’ request they leave without him, they chose to do a ‘service’ of sorts in order to respect their beloved ‘god’ and pay him the homage they felt he deserved before they completed their pilgrimage. Then, first thing in the morning, they packed their things to go to the church on the top of the hill.

That left, Knives, Dr. Conrad, Wolfwood and Livio, to pack up what little they felt they would need on their own travels. The priests would, of course, find their master missing when they came to retrieve him in a few days. Knives planned it this way. These worshippers wanted normal humans dead; they wanted the plants to rule like gods, and Knives to be the leader. Oftentimes Knives wondered if he himself had encouraged this belief in the years before July City.

He shivered to think that he was such an evil person as to have destroyed the humanity in these men. Had he pushed them over the edge to change themselves into monsters both body and soul? Was this the kind of man he once was? Was this the kind of creature he was before that fateful day? Would that also be the kind of man he was to become if Vash had his way?

These were the things Knives considered as he walked with Conrad down the street into town. There was no sign of his brother, no rumors going around the town of trouble even. For all he knew, Vash had not entered this city, or at least he was lying lower than usual. As for the blue-haired one, Knives sent Wolfwood out to investigate. He wanted to know where the attack would come before it did, if possible. Livio hid in the shadows, as well as his huge, almost seven-foot form would allow, and ever so often Knives would catch a glimpse of him disappearing into an alleyway. He had chosen his guards well; there was no doubt about that. And he would miss them if he survived this final encounter with his brother.

Conrad noticed Knives’ sullen expression as they walked, “Do you feel something? Is he here?”

“No…I’m not sure,” the tall blond replied, hefting the bag on his shoulder higher, returning circulation to his arm. His aqua eyes pierced their surroundings with an icy chill, causing one couple to cross over to the other side of the street with unease. “He should be here by now. We waited longer than necessary I think; perhaps I should have investigated this town further before his arrival.”

The doctor nodded, then his eyes caught the church on the mountain, “I suspect he will be up there, waiting for you…” Knowing both boys from an early age, Conrad suspected that at times he knew more than they did about themselves. Although, even he did not truly know how the plants were originally created. “Do you suppose Vash killed Bluesummers?”

Knives blinked, curious, “What would make you think that?”

“I suspected when we entered this town, there would be a huge pile of bodies outside, blood everywhere…but perhaps it was just my own pessimism working.” William said. The words sent a shiver down Knives’ spine, as he too could imagine Bluesummers’ army killing everyone right outside the town. In his mind, the pool of blood spread as far as the eye could see.

“Well, there doesn’t seem to be any trouble,” Knives responded, sending the vision out of his head with a wave of his hand. The town was bustling today, for such a small place. People walked to and from businesses and did things as they usually would. None of them had the ‘feel’ to them of being controlled by a puppeteer as Knives suspected Bluesummers was capable of had they been under his power. “In fact, under other circumstances I would think we were in the wrong city.”

“It does feel that way, doesn’t it?” Conrad said, pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping the nervous sweat from his brow. “Let’s find a hotel room to settle down for the day while the boys look for our friends,” he said slowly. “I’d like to get a shower.”

The plant nodded, “Yes, of course.” He pointed down the road, “There’s a small place… The Sand Dollar Inn.” Conrad followed his lead as they went into the unassuming building. The woman behind the counter was on the phone, although she wasn’t speaking, and when they walked in, she pulled the phone slightly away from her ear.

“It’s ringing…just a moment…” Then she waited for what they assumed to be another few rings, before hanging up. “I’m sorry, the guests that arrived yesterday haven’t come down to pay and I haven’t seen a sign of them since yesterday… but never mind, what can I do for you two gentlemen?”

Knives wondered about her statement for a moment, but then he mentally shrugged it off. “I need two rooms for the evening, double beds if possible. Two more of my associates will be joining us shortly.”

“Is this business, or pleasure?” The woman asked, curious. Apparently she didn’t have much business in the recent months and was dying for gossip or something interesting…anything, in fact. She leaned forward on her elbows as she pushed the logbook out for the handsome blond man to sign.

“Strictly business,” Knives said with a small frown, pushing the book back to her after scrawling fake names in her book. She glanced down at the vaguely boring names, noticing how neat and perfect the man’s handwriting was, before grabbing up a set of keys.

“Well then, here you go. The rooms are upstairs on your right.” Then she paused, “If you happen to see two women up there come out of the room at the end of the hall, please call me. I’ve been trying to get a hold of them to pay for the extra night. They left their things, but I haven’t been able to reach them.”

Knives and Conrad had already turned by the time she said this last thing, and the plant stopped instantly. “Two women? What did they look like?”

The woman was looking at her nails, “One is a tall blond, the other a shorter brunette.”

Conrad and Knives eyed each other. Oh no. No, no, no. How did they follow them here from Grandal so quickly? And now they were missing? Knives handed the keys and bags to Conrad. “I’ll be back within the hour…” And he rushed out the door.

“Was it something I said?” The lady behind the desk asked of the doctor.

Conrad shrugged the bags Knives handed him onto his shoulder and gave her a million dollar ‘no problem’ smile. “Of course not, he just remembered there was an earlier meeting he should have been at right now.” Then he waved his hand, “If an extremely tall fellow and a tanned priest come in, please tell them which room I’m staying in, those are our associates.” Then, he walked up the stairs, internally praying that Knives wouldn’t get himself killed looking for those women.

Blue & Black

[Stardate: 11-10-0110-7:35]

Wolfwood shouldered his cross. No one took notice of him as he walked down the street, apparently being used to priests carrying large crosses and strange objects. Nicholas blamed the Eye of Michael for making it a usual sight in this town. If they hadn’t been here, he might have been able to ask around for the strange blue-haired man. But then again, Legato rarely walked around in public openly. Normally the monster used his powers to shield himself from normal people. It made looking for him like a needle in a very large haystack.

For the time being, he contented himself with walking down the street, smiling warmly as women and children walked by. He even took a confession or two as he went. A few donations for the orphanage were given when he mentioned why he was there. Most of the people were quite willing to give to the church, even though Wolfwood believed in an entirely different religion than the men who took over the top of the mountain. He suspected most of the townsfolk were the same.

In fact, he found a small parsonage being built in town under the supervision of a kindly old man with a beard and sparkling green eyes. The man looked up as Wolfwood walked by, a smile turning more to a scowl, until Nicholas himself stopped, wondering what it that had garnered this ill attitude.

“Is there a problem?” He asked gently, looking up at the construction of the new building. “Nice place you’re going to have here, is it for the people who can’t get up to the mountain?”

The man frowned, “No, it’s for the people who don’t believe in your heathenistic views…”

“Mine…? Oh no,” Nicholas set down his cross and put up a hand, “I’m not part of the Eye of Michael…at least not anymore.” He said. He noticed an immediate change in the old fellow’s attitude. “In fact, I was kind of hoping that someone would have taken up the old religion here in town.”

“Oh, why yes!” The fellow said, turning and holding out his hand, “Really? You mean that? Well, my son, I’m Joseph, I used to preach up there when I was a much younger man.” Wolfwood shook his hand heartily and Joseph turned back to look at the new parsonage. “This will be my home, but I’m planning on teaching here until we can work up enough funds to build a larger church. I’m afraid it was foolhardy for my predecessor to build that church up there, especially when it fell to disuse…and misuse.” He smiled at Nicholas, “So, when did you turn away from the Eye?”

“Quite some time ago… although officially only yesterday,” he said the last bit under his breath and the older man didn’t quite catch it. He smiled, ignoring the last statement, “May I ask you a question, Sir?”

Joseph nodded, “Of course, my boy, what is it you want to know?”

“Have you seen a tall blond man wearing black in town recently? Or a blueish haired man wearing white, either one?”

The man looked thoughtful for a moment, then shook his head, “I’m afraid I haven’t. Are they friends of yours?”

Nicholas laughed, “Oh no! No, no.” He shook his head, “I’m afraid they are quite the opposite. I’ve tracked them here to this town, they are evil souls, going around trying to…close the churches that are built upon the old, true, religion.” He added the last bit, thinking that Joseph would help him if he knew these men were trouble. Indeed, the older gentleman crossed his arms in front of his chest with thought.

“And you’ve tracked them here to stop them?”

“Yes. It’s important I find either one.”

Joseph shook his head, “Well, the best I can do is keep an eye out for them for you.”

“That would be quite kind of you,” Nicholas replied. He picked up his cross once again. “I’ll stop back in while I’m in town to check, if I can. Meanwhile, I’d best be on my way.”

“Yes, of course. May God be with you,” Joseph replied.

“May He be with you also,” Wolfwood said with a smile. He waved goodbye as he continued down the street. Unfortunately, this little stop had not given him any new information. He sighed, not noticing the dark shadow that fell behind him until it set a hand upon his shoulder.

Wolfwood spun, pulling his cross from his shoulder and about to click the latch that unwrapped the bindings, before seeing his partner behind him. “Livio! What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be watching over Spikey…”

“He’s over there,” Livio said sullenly, hitching a thumb over his shoulder. Knives was going from building to building, asking about them. “The girls are here somewhere in town.”

“They’re…what?!” Wolfwood gaped.

Livio nodded, “They checked into the hotel room last night and haven’t been seen since.” He bent down to whisper, “Do you think Milly’s okay?”

The priest shook his head, “I don’t know… But we might find them faster if we split up.”

“Yeah, that’s why I came over here to tell you,” his tall friend said. “Our Master is heading up to the church next, so I figured if you went to check the plant facility…”

Nicholas nodded, swinging his cross back into place. “Okay, I’ll head that way, be careful…” He eyed Knives as the man took off at a run from a shop, apparently following a lead. “Take care of him.”

A half hour later, Nicholas found himself outside the plant facility. It was a nice hike a few miles outside of the city, but he was able to find it easily following the large power lines that ran along the ground to it. The place was hopping this time of day, and the scientists paid him only half a mind as he walked through the doors. Apparently, from their yells and murmurings, they were slowing the power consumption of the town and switching now to the windmills. Wolfwood found this strange, most humans chose to use the plants rather than save them for backup. It made him somewhat optimistic that in the future plants and humans might live side by side. Or at least, perhaps they could find a way to free the plants so they could roam free like Knives and Vash did.

“Where is Vasquez?” One of the scientists called from a nearby plant. “I could really use his help…” Wolfwood froze at the name, where they meaning the Doc? No… Conrad hadn’t used that name since July City, so how…?

“Figures he wouldn’t be here when we needed him!” Another man called back. “Said something about meeting up with a business partner today. He at least could have brought the guy back here…”

“What about that strange fellow who came in this morning? Didn’t he say he knew a little about the plants?” A third said from under a bunch of wiring. “He was wearing a lab coat, wasn’t he?”

Wolfwood glanced around, thankfully no one said a word to him, so he was able to blend into the background as men and women alike passed him by. His dark gray eyes scanned the huge room. The plants were pristine, perhaps because the Eye of Michael made it so. But each bulb was in perfect shape, there were some empty spaces where plants might have once been, but their remnants were cleared out long ago. Six stories tall, rows of plants in their regular seed-like states, glowing softly behind glass globes; the building was a true sight to behold. But then… Nicholas caught a glimpse of something moving in the rafters even above the tallest row of plants.

He backed away from the hustle and bustle of the engineers and found a staircase, taking the steps two at a time. Was that…? Could it be…? Turning the corner, he looked up again, closer still, but the figure was still foggy in the darkness of the upper region of the room. There almost seemed to be a glimmer in his eyes, but then he disappeared and Wolfwood turned to find another flight of stairs leading higher still.

Within moments, without even breathing heavily, Wolfwood stood face to face with the darkness of the catwalks above the room. Had he imagined seeing someone here? No, he’d seen a figure and there was only one way down without falling straight to the ground. That person had to be here…was it him? Was it Vash? Or was it…

“You did a good job finding me, Priest.” The blue-haired man said, forming from the darkness itself. His yellow eye glowed beneath long dark bangs. “Chapel warned me you were on your way here. Where is your Master, then?”

Nicholas frowned, pulling the cross from his shoulder, unwrapping it and aiming it at Legato in a single breath. “I’m here to find the Insurance girls… what have you done with them?”

Legato laughed, the bubbly evil sound overtook the room. Even the scientists and engineers below stopped to face squinting eyes up in their direction. All they saw was darkness. Legato made it so they would not be able to see or hear the conversation taking place. “Oh, I have done nothing with them. Vash the Stampede has a fetish for them, if you recall. From what Chapel has told me, he has them in that repulsive church.” He said, the echoing laughter fading. “You are too late, my Master should be there soon… saving them. At least, that is what he will believe until the Eye of Michael stops him.”

“What are you planning, Bluesummers?”

The blue haired man stepped forward, “My dear Priest, or are you anymore? I hear you stopped believing in the ways my Master and I raised you in… No matter, traitors will all perish. But first, I promised the Stampede his chance. While he tries to stop my devoted followers, you and I can either come to an agreement, or you can die now.” Legato smiled, the gleam in his yellow eye sent a shiver down Nick’s back. “You will be welcome as my Gung-ho Gun once again, what is your choice?”

“I’m not going to be a part of this…” Wolfwood spit. “Ya can die for all I care,” he said, his anger causing his accent to flare again. Suddenly, he opened fire on Bluesummers. But it was too slow; the blue-haired man grabbed Nicholas’s face from behind, turning him around, squeezing his long, pointed fingers into his jaw until blood ran down his neck.

“Do not interfere, Priest.” Legato hissed. His silky smooth voice faded into hysteria, “Master Knives WILL be mine, once again. We shall destroy Vash the Stampede, and either you will stand with me, or against me. All those who stand against me…will die.” He snapped his wrist backward, and Nicholas felt the bones in his jaw breaking.

With both legs, Wolfwood bent his knees, jamming his fist into Legato’s leg, using it at leverage to push off. He wrenched free of Bluesummer’s grasp, sending himself backward, but his aim was off and he fell hard to the ground. Legato laughed as Wolfwood pulled himself to his hands and knees, careful not to move his jaw, knowing that it was shattered. He couldn’t speak, not yet, not until he had time to heal. Blood pooled in his mouth and Nicholas tried to spit blood but it merely slipped out the side of his mouth and the Master of the Gung-Ho Guns smirked.

“Goodbye… I am truly sorry I didn’t have more time to play with you, but time is short.” And Legato disappeared.

Wolfwood gasped, fumbling in his pocket for a small vial there. He looked at it, slightly repulsed. There were only three left. He wouldn’t be able to get more now that he no longer traveled with the Eye. But this was not who he wanted to be…he wanted to be a normal person again. His mind flashed on Milly, even as he pulled himself to his feet and set the vial to his lips. He wouldn’t be so careless again. Next time he would kill Bluesummers… Nicholas drank the potion within and felt the bones start to heal. His face smoked and reformed, and the vial dropped to the catwalk and smashed.

Feeling the bones become solid again and the pain recede, Nicholas reached up and ran a hand over his jaw and then swore under his breath, while gathering up his cross yet again. Was it too late? Would he be able to get to the church in time to stop Spikey from walking into the trap? Then, he took off at a run down the stairs and out into the hot sunshine.

Worship Services

[Stardate: 11-10-0110-9:35]

There were voices outside. Meryl knew for sure she heard voices. “HELP!” She pounded on the wooden doors of the confessional. Milly jolted awake, making a squeak of confusion; she had been sleeping most of the night until now. Once fully awake, she joined her friend, both of them pounding on the doors. “Help! We’re trapped in here!”

The voices got closer and suddenly someone swung open the door on Meryl’s side. Immediately seeing that it was not Vash the Stampede, but someone else, she said, “Oh thank goodness! We were trapped by a crazed maniac…” But suddenly, her relief turned into shock. The face that greeted her was an old, bearded man who sat in a wheelchair. He looked at her with distaste. “It’s…you…” Meryl swallowed.

“So, we meet again,” Chapel replied silkily. He reached out and grabbed her wrist, dragging her out into the sunshine. “And I assume your unintelligent friend is in the other side?” He waved at one of the other priests to open the door for Milly.

“Thank goodness….” Milly smiled, but found herself in the custody of one of the priests as well. “Oh, Father Jacobine, how are…oh oww, that’s a bit tight…” She squirmed, her smile fading as she realized they were not free quite yet. Her blue eyes turned to Meryl with worry.

“Where’s Vash? I mean…where’s Knives? What have you done with him? Let me go!” Meryl twisted in the old priest’s grasp, but his fingers were knotty and hard as old oak. His grasp was nearly as hard as that left arm of the real Vash.

Chapel leaned back, pulling Meryl with him as he moved his wheelchair away from the confessional toward the podium. He waved a hand to one of his other associates and a tall, skinny, and sickly looking man took Meryl from him. “Tie them up there on the stage. Gag them as well, they’ll be a nuisance during the service if we don’t.” He turned, smirking, “Your brother will be here soon?”

Meryl and Milly blinked at each other, only a second later realizing that Chapel was not speaking to them, but someone behind them. They turned violet and blue eyes to the confessional where the grinning Vash the Stampede sat on the top. Meryl wondered how long he had been there, sitting. Had he watched them sleep through the lattice work? Meryl had a sore neck and needed to use the bathroom again, but her worry overpowered both of those problems.

As Vash jumped down, the long black duster swirled around him as he landed on the floor with a dull thud. From head to foot he wore all black, his blond hair had recently been cut, Meryl saw, it stuck straight up like Knives’ usually did, only his spikes were longer. He had dark black sunglasses on that covered his eyes and he smirked at them. “Oh, he’ll be here… any time now.”

Before the other priests had time to move Meryl and Milly into position, Vash came up between them. He slid his sunglasses down his nose, “You both were so precious sleeping. I would have loved to have played with you more while you slept, but alas, I had to get ready for the reunion with my brother.” He slipped a gloved hand under Meryl’s chin. “’Oh Knives, I’m sorry…’ What is it between you and my brother, anyway? Calling his name in your sleep!” He moved his hand away and slapped her face.

Meryl screeched and snapped at him, “You evil bastard! He’ll get you, you don’t have any power over him!”

Vash shrugged. “Maybe not. Maybe he is a changed man. But, I doubt it. No one can change completely. That evil inside of him….you realize all of those towns that disappeared off the map before July City? He did it. You heard about November didn’t you? Your precious Knives is a killer as am I. And he’ll return to that. He’ll come here and perhaps you will be his first new victims.” He moved away, looking at Milly for a second.

“You…you bad man!” Milly choked. “I can’t believe I even thought you and Meryl should date!” She ignored the look of exasperation from Meryl as they both found themselves being hauled up behind the podium. The priests tied their hands and feet and threw the ropes up into the rafters. Within a few minutes, the insurance girls hung a foot off the ground by their arms, unable to escape.

Chapel looked at them with indifference and turned to Vash. He never quite liked Knives’ brother, but he was a plant, and with that, he deserved some reverence. “Master, I’m not quite sure of your tactics… should we not just capture Master Knives and force him into undergoing a test? Dr. Conrad could surely revert his brain activity back to the way it was before…”

Vash waved off the priest’s question. “Obviously, if Conrad had wanted Knives back the way he was, he would have done it by now, don’t you think?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Chapel, what do you hope to accomplish here? Serving us plants? We despise your kind. You only do evil to us, kill us, enslave us, wish us to do your bidding…”

“Never!” Chapel responded, offended. “The Eye of Michael wish only to serve you… You are our gods, our redeemers. Only by following you shall we truly become great! Better than the insects that crawl over this planet like a plague!” The old man sat higher in his wheelchair. “I might be in an old body, but my will is strong and my spirit is on fire! We wish more than anything to redeem our Master, to bring your brother back to you. Do you not wish for our help?”

The gunman turned from Chapel, looking up at the helpless girls. He licked his lips. It was truly a pity that he could not have had his way with the girl before using her for bait. But no matter, this wasn't time or place. Then, after shaking his head, he looked around at the multiple priests, all sitting, or standing, waiting on his every word and smiled to himself. What luck this was, stumbling upon the Eye of Michael! And they were surprisingly willing to help him out with this little task.

“I do require your services,” Vash said at last. They all seemed to lean forward, eager to help. “My brother has help, I will need you to distract them. Knives is mine. I will face him alone.” He turned to Chapel upon saying the last sentence and the old man nodded.

“So be it.” He waved at his men. “Let us prepare for the final hour!” Instantly, the priests filed out in various directions, taking their places as if following an intricate plan.

When they were all gone, Vash turned again to the girls. “It is a pity that we never got to go on that date…” He said. Meryl mumbled something behind her gag and he laughed. “Oh, you wouldn’t have gone out with me?” He threw his hands out, basking in the glory of the morning sun that came through the windows. “Maybe after this morning you will change your mind!” Vash mocked laughingly and then turned, strolling from the room.

Meryl and Milly moved their necks out from their raised arms, looking at each other. Meryl dropped her head, “Sobby,” she said muffled through her gag.

“Ib all bibght.” Milly returned, both sighing and turning to watch the church doors, waiting for either their salvation to walk through…or their deaths.

Change of Tactics

[Stardate: 11-10-0110-10:25]

Knives knew it was a trap even before Livio stepped out in front of him, barring his way from ascending the church stairs. There were eyes everywhere. He knew what he was up against and he was ready for it. This many guards meant that the Eye of Michael were not only here, but also that they were protecting someone, but not him. That left only one other answer, Vash was up there, and where Vash was, so were the insurance girls.

However, the tall, silver-haired man refused to allow him to go up to the church, the steady frown and firm posture meant he had made up his mind. However, being his master meant Knives could order him out of the way at any moment. It was, he had to admit, a reason for him to calm down and ready himself for the meeting to come.

“Get out of my way, Doublefang.” He murmured, using the old Eye of Michael nickname. Livio shook his head. “You will move, or I shall force you to.”

Livio swallowed, knowing full well his master had the power to do just as he promised. “Master, please, I know the Eye is up there, and although I know I can take them on myself, I fear your life may be in jeopardy. We should wait for this evening when they have retired to their beds.” His hands moved to the holsters where his guns resided. “We should also wait for Nicholas to return.”

He was right, Knives admitted to himself, but the girls were up there, and undoubtedly in trouble, and he couldn’t just allow them to be tormented by Vash! No... “We go now to make sure they are all right. When Wolfwood arrives, he will find us handling the situation by ourselves...” He moved quickly, bypassing Livio with a single step and started to run up the steps, “Don’t worry, Meryl, I’ll protect you.”

His run wasn’t to be, Knives soon found. Livio leapt up to his level like a gazelle and once again blocked his way. “I really didn’t want to do this, Master, but you leave me with no other choice.” And in one bright flash, everything when dark for Knives. It felt like a Sandsteamer hit him and he was out cold instantly.

Livio sighed, hefting his Master into his arms as he fell. “I’m sorry...I do hope you’ll forgive me, but if you get killed there will be no one to save Milly...and that other girl.” He jumped lightly down to the lower stairway and looked out over the desert to where Wolfwood had disappeared. “Get back here soon...” He murmured, making a tactical retreat, for now.