I do not own Trigun

-----

Losing her violin along with her sight and the rest of her belongings seemed to be too much for Eva to handle. Over the course of the next few days, she sank into complete silence. No matter how I tried, she would not respond to me. Even when I tried to comunicate in her mind she remained stubbornly silent.

Once she got some of her strength back, she began walking around the medical bay. She wouldn't let me help her as she walked about, arms outstretched to meet any hidden obstacles, but I would walk beside or behind her. Slowly she expanded into the hall and surrounding rooms, memorizing the ship, inch by inch. Her deep brown eyes had faded into a hazel, clouded by her condition.

It was on one of these walks I started telling her about my early childhood with Vash and Rem in space. I don't know why, but I told her everything, even about Tessla and the experimentation. Maybe I hoped it would get her talking again. However, she didn't respond and I now had more pressing matters to deal with such as the hair-blackening effect.

About a week after the incident, I was standing in front of one of the plant bulbs. I stared up at my Sister, thinking darkly about the Great Fall.

"I confess my sins," I murmured, falling to my knee in front of her. "I was young and impetuous.. I sacrificed too many of our brethren..."

I looked up at her and placed a hand against the glass.

"This is not fear, this is anger. Anger against the human who steal our life force."

The bulb began to glow,

"Give me strength. It seems I cannot do this alone..."

There was a huge flash of light, filling the entire ship with its brilliance. I could feel fierce heat traveling up my arm as the plant and I merged. As the wings sprouted from my arm, I could feel my rage building.

"Knives-sama!"

I turned my head slightly at Crimsonnail and raised my hand to the ceiling. An Angel Arm morphed from my limb. The heat and rage coursing through me concentrated into the arm and shot out into the sky.

At that moment, the world entered an age of chaos. One by one, communications across the dead planet were cut off, plunging towns into isolation.

I was exhausted. Despite using the power from the plant, I had still been awake for well over 32 hours and my body was crying out for rest. I slumped down into a sitting positon, leaning my back against the wall. A tired smirk crawled across my face. The game was in play and I had made the first move. I couldn't wait to see how those pathetic vermin reacted.

A quiet noise made me look up. Eva was standing in the doorway of the little room I was in, staring blankly over my head, her hand lightly placed on the doorjam. Nervously, I pulled my cloak over my left arm, or what had once been my left arm. Now it was little more than a mass of wings and blades. I knew she couldn't see it, but I couldn't help it.

"Hello, Eva," I said quietly.

She walked forward, stumbling slightly over part of my cloak, which stretched quite a ways. She kneeled down in front of me, head cocked slightly as she detected the sound of my breathing.

"What are you doi-"

I cut myself off as she put her hand on my cheek. With her thumb, she traced my features, determining my expression. I held completely still, slightly startled, confused, and ever-so slightly pleased.

Silently, Eva moved her hand from my face to my left shoulder. I saw her face tense when she realized that my left arm was no longer a normal limb.

"Eva.." I began, but she put up her hands and shook her head. With a sigh, she stood up and walked back out, but not before I saw a deeply disappointed look on her face.

Seven months passed. I had fought Vash right before the Ark took off. He was now under Legato's watchful eye and mind, prevented from doing anything foolish. The Ark was now filled with Plants, but the sheer size of their mass prevented me from leaving the room in which they were held, as I had fused my left arm to them all. As I had predicted, the world below had fallen into lawless chaos as the spiders struggled to survive without my brethren.

During this 7 month period, I often saw Eva walking the outer reaches of the room, moving easily over the metal gridwork that ran over the Plants. She was still completely silent, but I was unsure if she was still blind or not. She had not come close to me since that first day, so I couldn't tell by looking at her eyes. Though she moved as if she did have sight, she may simply have become adept at using her other senses for navigational purposes.

"Mama. Mama, look."

"She's pretty isn't she?

"Why is she in there?"

"She's working. It's thanks to her that you and Mama and Papa can live. She makes our meals, as well as many other things... Let's say thank you together."

"Okay!"

"Thank you.. very much..."

" 'Koo."

"Mama, look! She smiled! See? She smiled..."

I woke with a start. The happy faces of the mother and her small son remained, hovering in front of me in the darkness. I blinked rapidly, trying to remove the images from my sight.

"Was that a dream?" I whispered to myself, pressing a hand to my forehead.

A small sound suddenly wafted across the dark room. I snapped my head up, searching for the source.

Goodbye's the saddest word I'll ever hear...

My eyes strained in the corner of the room. By the pale glow of my brethren, I saw Eva kneeling at the edge of one of the metal supports.

Goodbye's the last time I will hold you near...

She seemed to be holding the hand of one of the Plants I had absorbed. Her voice carried softly across the semi-darkness as she crooned down to the mass a few feet under her.

"Eva.." I called quietly, standing up.

I saw her head perk up and she fell silent. Slowly, she stood up, letting go of the Plant's hand, and started walking to me. She stopped a little over an arm's length away, her head cocked.

"What are you doing here? It's late..." I asked her.

She remained silent.

"Don't give me that... I know you're vocal chords are still working."

Her eyes stared past me, still clouded. I sighed in exasperation.

"Why must you be so stubborn? I know you can talk, why won't you..." I thought out loud. "Even if you were mad at me, the old Eva would yell at me instead of giving me the silent treatment."

She sniffed, obviously displeased.

"Whatever," I sighed. "Are you doing all right? Just nod or shake your head." I hastily added.

She half nodded and shrugged. I watched her for a moment, studying her face for any sign of what she was thinking at the moment.

"You know, you're very good and making your face blank," I finally said.

This got a smile out of her. I felt the corners of my mouth tug up as well, as I took a step forward.

"There you are," I smiled.

She shrugged again. Hesitantly, I reached out and brushed a piece of hair out of her face, tucking it securely behind her ear. She looked slightly startled at first, but didn't move.

"You need a trim," I teased.

At that Eva made a face and stuck out her tongue. She swatted my hand away and turned to head for the door.

"Hey."

She cocked her head in my direction.

"..Goodnight."

She nodded with a slight smile, then continued. I heard the door slide shut behind her. With a sigh, I fell back to my knees, sleep overtaking me once more.

-----