I do not own Vash, Rem or Knives: they belong to the incomparable Mr. Yasuhiro Nightow.

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Rude Awakening

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Year 0932 month 3 day 4

Knives awoke, sitting bolt upright from a sound sleep. He felt a sensation of deep, burning pains in his stomach and chest. Almost immediately, another phantom pain struck his temple and caused a minor headache.

Glancing down, he could see that his own flawless body was undamaged. He knew perfectly well that only one other soul in the universe could possibly be responsible for him feeling any pain that wasn't his own. He threw aside his blankets, and swung his feet onto the floor. He ran his fingers through his short black hair, and grimaced.

The orb sisters all over the planet cried out, their voices echoing in his mind: "Red brother!"

Knives knew who that was. They all loved him, even the sister here. He still wondered how that misguided pacifist had achieved such a profound effect on their lesser sisters. He shrugged. For the moment, that didn't matter.

Abruptly there were echoes from two different emotional spikes. One was full of grief, and near-despair. He recognized the flavor of those emotions well enough.

The other emotional spike vibrated with a desperate hope, love and fear... that second must be an orb-free sister. He knew there were a few of those around, since he listened to the radio when he grew excessively bored.

He had little use for females of any breed, however. They existed to serve males like himself and his brother. When they served well, they could be convenient. The rest of the time, he preferred to live without them and their more intense emotions.

He wondered idly if it was the same orb-free sister that his brother had sent an intense love to, 712 years ago.

It still irked Knives that his brother would send so much love to any other than himself. Even if it was another orb-free Plant, it still felt like the so-called "Stampede" was giving away something that rightfully belonged to him.

It didn't matter that he'd not interacted with Vash for over eight centuries. It didn't matter that he'd done his best to leave his twin believing he was dead. Knives didn't like feeling as if his brother had found someone to replace him.

He stood and began collecting a few things that would be useful on a journey. 817 years had passed since he'd interacted with anyone other than the orb sister here. She provided him with food and water, and enough power to run the machinery that sustained her. His needs were small, so she was in no danger of running short on energy from tending to him. At least, she should not run short of energy anytime soon.

He'd chosen the place to leave his brother carefully. It was small, and within walking distance of this forgotten crash site. No humans had ever come here – he'd never even brought Legato. Yet he had come upon occasion over the years before the earthlings arrived, especially if he wanted something that other, busier orb sisters could not provide.

After entrusting Vash to his beloved humans following their last battle, Knives had walked toward this lost retreat. He'd been mildly surprised when he arrived a few days later, without dying in the desert. He still loathed the limitations that came with black hair. He missed flexing his Plant abilities. He felt as if he'd spent eight centuries existing without living.

Knives had sensed numerous times when Vash had reached out with his emotions, searching for him. He'd always remained quiet when that happened. He'd needed to hide for a few days, when his brother came to this spot looking for him. He intensely disliked being compelled to exist almost like a human, and didn't want to give his brother any opportunity to gloat.

He'd endured this quiet, solitary existence for slightly over eight centuries. Not even Vash knew where to find him, since he had never permitted himself to grow excited over anything in all that time.

Until today.

At least he'd not needed to deal with any human vermin. He still despised them, and would like best for their taint to be removed from the world. However, even though he disagreed with Vash, he couldn't help respecting the strength of his brother's determination to defend his ideals... and his stupid, stinking humans.

Since he no longer enjoyed the superior abilities of his kind, he'd withdrawn into retirement. Many times, he'd considered making one last energy expenditure that would end his life. Unfortunately, it was much easier to talk or think big about such things than to do them.

When it came down to it, he didn't really want to die.

He still didn't really want Vash to die, either.

There was no possibility that he could arrive in time to help decide his brother's fate. He was limited to foot travel, and the sense of Vash's presence was almost exactly on the opposite side of the world from where he was now.

He would, at least, be able to visit his grave and watch over it, if his brother died. If Vash lived, well... then it would be time to make a decision about whether or not to reveal that he also remained alive and whole.

He felt hope from the orb sister nearest to Vash's presence. That hope passed around and gradually reached all of the others. She knew something from emotions not strong enough to reach all Plants on the planet, but strong enough to reach her. The orb-free sister had found Vash, and was trying to save his life.

Knives finished packing his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and walked out into the desert.