"We are not responsible for any stock market fluctuations, acts of nature, or the common cold, only for the story we are submitting. If you have any thoughts we would like to hear them (kind ones are acknowledged, mean ones are fed to our pet dragon, Slumberbumpkin the Not So Fierce.). We don't own Trigun, (wish we did though!) and we certainly don't own Vash (I know, I already checked into it) , and we don't own Nightow (do I need to repeat myself?), all we own is not really worth mentioning here. Please enjoy your stay and keep all hands and arms inside the ride at all times, and your seats...well, you don't have to keep them in the upright positions! Enjoy your stay!"
Chapter 1
The Legend Begins
One Week Later
Stardate: 07-28-0104-7:00
The nearest town to the wreckage of what was once July City existed about fifteen iles east, toward the rising suns. People from the city who could no longer stand the daily hustle and bustle of business life, and preferred the slower pace of country folk settled there. However much they abhorred the big city, they had come to depend on it, their only power supply came from the two lonely plants that had been thrown off from the July City ship over a hundred years ago. Most of the city's supplies came from July, and they were the first ones to feel the affects of a city that just wasn't there anymore.
Clive and his sister Wendy were the first ones to spot the red-coated figure as he walked out from the remains of Lost July. He looked a right mess, his left eye was black, and clothes in shredded tatters. Clive found himself hoping Wendy didn't find the guy attractive in her usual vein of trying to find a husband. Every hair on the back of his neck stood on end. There was something that just wasn't right about this situation, nothing about this solitary man rang an appealing note to him. It was strange that he should be the only person to have survived within the debris of a city that once was home to over a million people.
Begrudgingly he stopped for the man, who looked at them with the strangest eyes he'd ever seen. Clive stared for a moment. Those eyes, they were like the aqua color in his littlest sister's crayon box, nothing he'd seen on a human being before. Startling him from his ruminations and bringing his mind back to the matter at hand was the collapse of the stranger a moment later. He was committed now; he knew Wendy's sympathetic nature. She had him haul the man to the back of the truck to take him with them to the farmstead. They were home within the hour toting their unusual cargo.
The news of July City's demise spread through Little America, and then over the satellite like wildfire. Within a week, all of Gunsmoke not only knew something had happened to the city, but that there were also no survivors. Except for one man, this one inscrutable man they were now nursing back to health on a cot in Clive's room. The siblings kept him a secret as long as they could, knowing if the population found out about him, strangers would overrun their house. They told the local doctor, and he came only after dark to see the odd fellow.
The stranger remained unconscious for a week and showed no signs of stirring. They weren't sure why he fell asleep, or why he stayed that way, because as far as the town's physician could tell, he didn't have anything wrong with him. Yet, he slept on, but on occasions, in rough times, he started to mumble names of people, and shout things about the Big Fall, and other things that no one his age should rightly know.
It scared Wendy, so by the end of the third day she refused to have anything to do with him. Clive had decided if the sleeping man did not awake by the evening of the eighth day, he would turn him over to the sheriff…
Then on the seventh morning he woke up suddenly and sat up straight in bed blinking foggily at his surroundings at first before fixing those unusually colored eyes on Clive, as he was getting ready for work. The pale haired stranger simply stared at Clive a long time before asking, "Who are you?"
"I should ask you the same thing," Clive replied, his suspenders dropping from his shoulders just as he had been clipping them to his pants. He stared at his houseguest. After a silent moment, he finally offered his name, and then asked, "Do you remember what happened?"
"No," the blond man replied after pausing a moment in thought. "I don't recall." He set on the bed, his intense gaze on the man before him, now finishing clipping his suspenders over his shoulders again and adjusting his shirt. The man's mind was reeling, this was… This was the man in the truck, the one he saw outside the rubble… Why couldn't he remember what happened afterwards? What was his name? Where was he? His eyes glazed over in thought.
Clive sighed, "Amnesia eh? I've heard of it before, one of my siblings had it once. Couldn't remember anything. Well, you were in July City, or what is left of July, when Wendy and I found you, that ring any bells?" He sat down on the bed across from the stranger and watched him swing his legs over the side of the cot.
The stranger frowned, "I remember the city… Your truck, you and another…"
"My sister, Wendy," Clive coaxed. "Anything more?"
Another minute passed as he thought about what happened before Clive found him. He remembered the pain of walking through the debris in bare feet, the mirror shard… His eyes widened in the memory and he swallowed around a thick, dry tongue. "No, nothing more," he lied.
"Well, you've been unconscious for a week. Doc said there wasn't anything wrong with you, but you kept saying stuff in your sleep. You keep repeating the name Vash."
His piercing gaze returned as he stared Clive down until he felt the stranger was almost looking into his very being. Eyes like that… Clive knew no human could do that and there was something intrinsically wrong about this man, and the more he observed the odd man the more he wished he could be rid of him. "Vash… That's my name, I think… Or someone's, it's... familiar."
"But you don't know?" Clive received a headshake to the negative, and bit his lip, "You mentioned Count Revenant Vasquez as well, the Big Fall, something about Plants…"
"I don't…" The stranger said, hesitated, not sure why the names were calling up warring emotions, especially remembering how quickly he healed from his wounds… "Those aren't as familiar, but Vash, it must be my name." He nodded slowly, "And you are Clive, right? You saved me? I owe you my life I think." His eyes were distant as he recalled the sight of that blasted rubble and wreckage that surrounded him upon his awakening. There's no way he could have survived that… But he had, hadn't he?
"I didn't save you, but I did bring you back to my home." Clive glanced at the clock. He was supposed to be at work in a little while, but he didn't want to leave Vash alone with his sister until he knew he wasn't dangerous. "I think maybe we should take you to see the Doc now that you're awake. Can you walk?"
Vash nodded, getting to his feet, staggering a moment, but steady the next. He looked down at his clothing, a flannel shirt and jeans that were Clive's but just happened to fit him. "I seem to remember I had a coat… A red one… Is that right?"
"Yes," Clive said, he walked over to a closet in the corner of the room and fished it out for him. "Strangest material I've ever seen, what is it, some polyester blend or something? Wendy tried mending it and when the stitches just disappeared, she was dumbfounded."
He handed it over, frowning. Yet another reason why Wendy suddenly lost interest, the fabric almost mended itself, flowed together like water she said. She freaked out about half way through and Clive found himself testing it from time to time, almost afraid he was hallucinating, until sure enough, the holes vanished almost miraculously when he finished sewing it all up one evening and it looked brand new. After that he put it away and refused to touch it. He wasn't sure if the fabric was alive or not but once he had that notion in his head he couldn't get it out and decided it was just better to not even look at it any more.
Grabbing the coat from Clive, Vash pulled it over his shoulders and nodded at the fit, although it seemed a bit narrow through the shoulders as if it weren't meant for him, but then again, perhaps it was because of the mending.
The man didn't have anything else to say; that silent brooding look had returned to his face. Clive said a quick goodbye to his sister who gave him a look that revealed she would be pleased if he returned home alone that evening. The stranger followed Clive from their small house, down the road to the Doc's office. People eyed him curiously. There had been rumors spreading through the town no matter how hush-hush Clive kept to himself, he knew Wendy had been spreading stories at the beauty parlor. Now that the stranger was awake, everyone would know the rumors were true. There wasn't much time before the more vocal members of the town would come looking for this mysterious stranger.
They went up the steps of the Doc's office and entered waiting room. A few people sat around on small wooden benches and chairs, coughing and holding various wounded appendages, waiting for the doctor to see them. Vash sat down on a bench next to a little girl who was coughing. She wore pigtails and a little yellow dress, glancing at him as he sat down with big brown eyes, and scootched closer to her mother. Clive walked over to the nurse at the desk, said a few words to her. The nurse eyed Vash and disappeared into the back through a door behind the reception area.
Clive returned and glanced at his watch. "I've got to get to work." He gritted his teeth, thinking about how angry his father would be if he heard the next bit, "Think you can find your way back to the house when you're done?" Wendy would have to fend for herself; she was a strong girl as were all the women in their family he thought staunchly.
Vash nodded and with one last look Clive left for his job down the street. The little girl in the pigtails broke into tears. Vash frowned. "Um, Mr. Vash?" The nurse waved at the blond-headed stranger who stood and went over to her. She beckoned him to follow her through the reception area and they went into the back office where the doctor sat behind his desk. "Please, have a seat," the nurse motioned and he took the nearest chair. Once seated, the nurse exited and closed the door behind her.
The physician leaned over, "So, you're awake I see. Do you remember what happened?"
"No," Vash replied. "I barely remember my own name… I'm not even sure if it is my name, but it sounds familiar." He sighed, running a hand through his short hair. It lay completely flat now, dust and grease mingling from going too long without a shower.
The doctor examined him intently across from the desk. "People are starting to whisper that you destroyed July City."
Vash frowned, "What?"
The doctor folded his hands in front of him and took a long breath through his nose and let it out the same way. "I know this is a lot for you to take in, but you were the only survivor. There isn't a trace of another human being in that entire city, and believe me, they've searched this last week. They had scent hounds and tracker toma out twenty-four hours since the city disappeared. No one but you came out of that mess. Can you care to explain that?"
Vash wondered if perhaps it had been him. He wasn't human, he already figured that much out. But he couldn't tell this doctor. If people thought he was to blame then he'd be hunted for sure. His stomach turned sour with the thought. He had to figure out what happened, there was no denying it. But no one here could help him. Vash was fairly sure of that.
"I just, I'm just a victim in all of this," he said after a moment. "I can't remember what happened. I just woke up under a pile of rubble; stumbled out of it, saw the car, and I can't remember anything until I woke up a half hour ago. I'm sorry that a city was destroyed, but how could I do something like that? Look at me… Do I look like someone who could take out an entire city?" Vash lifted his hands in front of him and Doc shook his head.
"No, you don't. It's the darndest thing, what rumors people spread though. Only one man escapes miraculously unharmed, you gotta admit, it makes you wonder."
Vash lowered his head, "I see. Perhaps it might be best if I leave this town before the rumors become dangerous?"
"Might be for the best. There's a bus that's leaving in the morning up to Cankatee." The doctor's eyes were furrowed with worry, "You're a scary fellow Mr. Vash… There's this look in your eyes even while you're sitting there… Says to me you're hiding something."
"I'm not!" The blond man replied, standing. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. Thank you for your time." He turned and left the office without another word. The little girl in the waiting room started crying again the moment she saw him, and he dashed into the quiet street and turned in the opposite direction of Clive's house, straight out of town. But as he passed by the little shops, he caught his reflection in a window, and he stopped to look at himself. His fingers touched parts of his face as if to confirm that the reflection was, in truth, really him. The likeness did the same thing so it had to be him. He dropped his hand to his side and continued to stare at the grungy man in the glass.
"Vash? Is that me? Is that what you're called?" Numbly, he walked up to the window and placed his fingers lightly on the glass. The name didn't fit his face. It wasn't right… He wasn't sure why, but Vash wasn't the name he was given. He knew that, but he couldn't put the right name to the man staring back at him with eyes that were haunted and hollow. He could understand why the small child started crying when he walked in and why the doctor thought he was scary…
He allowed himself a moment to absorb the rest of his reflection, keeping his eyes off of his face. He looked down at the shirt he wore, and unbuttoned it slightly, looking to see that his bruises were now gone. There were still scars along his muscled chest and belly. Some of them were still pink and new. He re-buttoned his shirt and pulled the coat around him. It barely snapped, a tight fit even as his stomach grumbled from not eating for, what, a week? Clive said he had been out that long, correct? Vash sighed and stuck his hands in his pockets. Then he frowned.
There was something inside the pocket… Vash lifted the item out to gaze at it. A single silver bullet. He shuddered… Did he have a gun somewhere? He felt around the coat but came up empty-handed. Had Clive and his sister found it? Strange they should leave it in his pocket… Only that single bullet remained from a past he no longer remembered. Vash slid it back inside his coat.
Somehow, although it was familiar, none of it jarred the memories loose. He clutched the sides of his head with his hands, bending over in thought. He was lost, no, something else was lost and it wasn't just his memory. Some element of himself was missing and he was clueless as to what it was and how he had lost it. And at that moment, anything familiar was worth holding onto. Perhaps the familiarity would turn into remembrance, and eventually perhaps the pieces would fall into place. He wanted the name to fit him, the coat to remind him of something that happened, but at the same time, if he were truly the one to blame for this July City's demise, then perhaps he didn't want to remember. Perhaps he could remake himself into someone else.
"There he is! Hey buddy! Can we talk ta ya for a minute?"
Vash spun on his heel, and faced five rough-looking men, beards untrimmed, tattoos on their bare shoulders, and hard hats on their heads. Vash looked down the street and saw the cranes and bulldozers for the new courthouse that was going in. The construction workers had been having their break at the store across the street and had seen Vash exit the doctor's office. The first man wore small glasses on his nose, though they looked more like he stole them rather than needed them to see. "What can I help you gentlemen with?" He swallowed thickly hoping the doctor had not been right about the rumors spreading this quickly.
"Red coat and blond hair, you must be him. Rumor says you were the one who destroyed July…"
Damn it, he swore to himself. He had to get out of town! But perhaps if he were civil with these men they wouldn't do anything rash. "That's ridiculous. There's no way a man…"
"What's your name?" A second man said. He had MOM tattooed on his left arm.
"Vash…"
"That's a funny sounding name," said a third, he had a gold tooth. "Sounds like one of them old Earth names… Clive's sister said you spoke funny things about the old generation, what's up with that?"
Vash took a step back from them. He knew this wasn't going the way he'd hoped. "I'm afraid I really don't know… I just can't remember…"
Glasses stepped forward, his fists raised. "Maybe we can make you remember… My wife was in July City… She's been missing for over a week."
He lunged at Vash; who jumped miraculously over the men and landed, light as a cat, on both feet. From his expression, he was as stunned as they were, before regaining his senses and taking off down the street. How in the hell did I..?
"Hey! Come back here!"
"He ain't human Harry! Who could jump like that? He part toma or something?" Tattoo yelled as they turned and started running, fists raised.
"Look at 'em run!" Gold Tooth yelled, "Come back here ya bastard!"
Vash didn't stop to chat after that, he still couldn't figure out how he managed to leap over the men like he did, but he wasn't going to stick around and try to figure it out! Well, at least not until he was clear of the town. He dashed around a corner, thinking he could outmaneuver the gang rather than try to take them on in the straightaway, and screeched to a halt. It was a dead end. Vash swallowed, turned, backed into the corner; he was trapped.
"Look what I've found," the forth man said. He'd been in the back of the group and the first one to take off after their prey.
"Harry, you be careful now, he ain't normal."
"Don't worry, scrawny guy like this…" Harry was huge, at least seven eels tall, legs like house posts, and completely bald. He pounded a fist into his palm. "I don't see how a bitty guy like you could have wiped out a whole city… But my wife is missing too, and if you were the only person to come out of there, you'd better start talking."
Shaking his head, Vash stuck his hands into his coat pockets, holding the bullet in his palm, squeezing it as he gritted his teeth. It wouldn't help him without a gun. How could he stop this huge man from beating him into a pulp? He swallowed. "I don't remember anything. Ask the doctor! I lost my memory. As far as I know I was a victim too! I don't know how I survived… Or what I survived."
"That's not a good answer," Glasses growled. "Mess him up a bit Harry."
Harry nodded, "I think I will Mike." He lunged for Vash. The blond headed man closed his eyes, fearing the worse… If only they'd just leave me alone!
Why don't you use it? A voice echoed in his head. Vash felt a cold shock run over his body and he couldn't move. Come now, the voice continued, if you can't remember how, I'll help you.
Minutes passed and the feeling of ice disappeared from Vash's mind, he relaxed, nothing had happened. He swallowed, opened one green-blue eye and found the men were gone. Not a trace of them remained. What the hell? Vash didn't wait for an explanation; he bolted from the alley and down the street. He spooked a group of toma a farmer was bringing in to market, they exploded into frenzy.
"Hey, look what you did! Come back and help with this stampede!"
But Vash didn't look back; it was definitely in his best interest to get out of his town as fast as possible. He had a feeling he would be blamed for the men's disappearances as well if he did.
Sitting up on a rooftop, a man dressed in a white jacket and jeans watched his twin make his way out of town. He chuckled, uncrossing his arms from over his chest. His hair was blond as well; clean now, uncovered, spikes facing the heavens. He brought his hands together in a slow, quiet, clap. "Well done brother, well done! I couldn't have taken care of them better myself… But you don't know what happened, do you? Passed out for a week and lost your memory… What an interesting turn of events." He smiled darkly.
"You never ran before this, yet there you go Brother… Why is that? A master of all you see, and yet you flee at the smallest insignificant insect!" Down below he saw Clive dash out of the building to help the farmer, and he ceased his applause to listen, turning to watch with aqua eyes hidden in the shadow of a neighboring building.
"What happened?"
"Some guy with a red coat! Help me grab that one!" The farmer and Clive chased after a toma, grabbed his harness and brought him back with the other three. "Stampeding critters, stupid as rocks the lot of ya!"
"Did you see which way the man went?"
"Out of town! Good riddance! What, you knew him or something?"
"I think, his name…"
The man in white leaned forward, listening. His hearing was excellent, it always had been.
"…Vash…"
"Mr. Stampede!" The farmer growled, shaking a fist in the direction of the man's departure. "You ever see that man again, you call him that and tell him I have a bone to pick with that guy!" He wrestled the toma down the street and Clive returned to his office.
The stranger grinned. "Stampede? Well now, Brother, seems you've made a name for yourself already." He stood from his perch on the rooftop and leapt down into the alley below. Keeping his feet, he stood up straight and put his hands in his pockets. "Perhaps I should just let rumors take care of you for a time. Seems they're keeping you away from people better than anything I could devise for you at the moment, which is all for the best. I'll find you wherever you go." His smile darkened as he passed under an overhang that shadowed even his blond hair into black.
