Author's note: I don't own Trigun etc etc.

This is an experimental fic that will be continued depending on how good reviews it gets, so please let me know what you think of it.

And Again

The room was cavernous and pulsing with blue light. Within the steel walls are huge light bulb like constructions and a mess of computer equipment and railing; connected to the closest bulb are tubes and wires that buzz with energy. Beneath it all, stood Knives.

The light made him look like an angel, obscuring all else in the room. He stared intently into the Plant bulb, maintaining his cool exterior despite the enormity of the situation.

Dr Conrad watched, sweat dribbling down his back. He sat in the dark, monitor reflecting onto his face, re-checking the bulb captured Plant's vital statistics. Words, numbers ran by on the screen; if he changed them, if he made this fail, would the situation be worse or better? He'd originally agreed to be of assistance so he could keep an eye on him, but this…. he'd not expected this.

Sensing Conrad's stare, Knives turned.

"Well?"

The doctor swallowed. "Energy levels appear to have reached the maximum. She's ready."

Knives turned backed to the bulb. "Then do it."

Dr Conrad took a deep breath and forced his fingers to move. His fingers left damp sweat marks on the keys as he typed in the command.

The light in the bulb seemed to explode, growing brighter. If he squinted, Conrad could make out Knives' silhouette; and above it, trapped in its globe, the Plant. Her face was calm and peaceful, abnormally long arms clutching something to her chest, tendrils of her flesh connecting it to her, keeping it alive. As a low hum echoed throughout the room, she opened her eyes and looked down at what was in her arms. Power flowed out through her into what she cradled.

The tendrils began to break, flesh split and peeled away into nothingness. The Plant screamed, and Conrad felt himself sliding off his chair, as though what was happening was shaking the entire ship, the Planet even. Like the Fifth Moon Incident, the out put of energy was huge.

As the two separated, he could make out the smaller of the two, floating free now, slowly falling backwards. The shape was humanoid; child-sized and slender.

Knives mover forward, raising his arms to the glass of the bulb, his eyes wide open .He appeared to be communicating with the Plant and it ceased the scream in response. The tiny figure, dwarfed completely by the Plant, drifted further down. Soon, it would touch the glass of the globe.

Another wave of power shook the room, and the light increased again. Almost blinded, Conrad bought his hands to his face. Now, he had no idea what was going to happen. But through his fingers he saw Knives and the Plant, both arms wide .The figure had reached the bottom of the globe. The glass shattered but made no sound, fragments flying, leaving a spectral outline where it had been. Before he could take no more and closed his eyes, he saw Knives catch the small body in his arms.

Knives frantically wrapped the body in a blanket that had been resting by his foot, wiping Plant fluid away from its nostrils and mouth. It coughed and made wheezing sounds, taking in gulps of air. He stared as he recognized the face from memory. It was her. The breath caught in his throat as her eyes opened, blue as the Ocean that he had learnt about on the ship. As her eyes focused on him she took fright and tried feebly to free herself from his grip.

"…just like you." Conrad heard Knives' voice, soft and gentle; completely different to the harsh cynical tone he used to communicate with humans. The figure in Knives' arms had stopped struggling and lay still. Knives stood, carrying his bundle, a smile on his sharp features.

As he moved past, Conrad felt a presence behind his eyes, as though something foreign was inside his mind, sifting through his memories. He caught sight of two small eyes watching him and then the feeling disappeared as Knives laughed, saying "Conrad won't hurt you. None of the humans here can. They are all under my control." His voice sounded as it had when they had first met on the SEEDS ship, when Knives was still a child.

The doctor stood transfixed as the autonomous Plant left the room, the sight of the eyes burning in his head.

"Tessla."