Children, by nature, are innocent. They know little of their surrounding world, oblvious to the fact that to live is to suffer. And then, children grow up. Parents try to cushion the blow as best they can but it is no avail, like trying to soften the blow of a bullet. We thurst the child into reality and expect him to thrive upon his harsh enviroment. Perhaps that's why so many grownups were insane.
Amparo hefted the weight of her cargo onto the back of her motorcycle. She had wrapped the girl in her cloak so the winds and the sand kicked up from the tires wouldn't wake her. She didn't want to have her wake up mid-ride and fall off. Her employer wouldn't pleased to find she had broken a few limbs of their meal ticket.
She snorted. Her pride would have been wounded at the fact she was diligently taking orders from someone how many years younger than she. But it was already battered and bruised. What was a few more scratches? Besides, this was the last assignment. Then she was free. Molly could have been free too. But she was throwing it all away for this. A future she knew could never exist. The thought was almost sickening.
The motorcycle roared to life. Straddling the seat, she revved the gas and shot off out of the alley she had parked in. She left a whirlwind of sand and dirt in her wake, deterring any pursuers. So far so good. It would only be an hour or so until she was back at the compound.
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"No..We're not going anywhere until you explain what the hell is going on!" Vash and Wolfwood stared in amazement at the big girl's rare rage. She towered above Molly, making an imposing picture. Molly didn't flinch but stared back unrelenting into Millie's cerulean eyes. It reminded Vash of the day they had learned of Meryl's secretive past. Once again it was Millie grilling the older woman for answers to unexplained questions. He wondered vaguely why he was never the one asking when he perhaps was the one with the most questions.
"While I tell you the irrelevant, Meryl is one step closer to death!"
"Why?" Vash asked calmly. Rosemary's voice echoed in his ears as he looked to Molly. Millie hadn't let up on her death glare. It was that and maybe Vash's demeanor, pleading yet determined, that finally cracked Molly's resolve.
"Like I said before, I used to work for Songbird Corporations...sort of like a hit man. Amparo and I..were partners-"
"No..We know that already. Why, after 12 years, does the Corporation want Meryl?" Vash corrected. He didn't like waiting around especially if Meryl's life was at stake. But he had an inkling that the conversation would be crucial.
"I..I'm not sure."
"You're lying!" Millie shouted. From the way she was trembling, they could tell she was close to grabbing her stungun.
"She's...she's not who she appears to be. That's all you need to know for now. To explain it now would take too much time. Time we don't have. Come on, we've got to get going now." With that Molly breezed past all them, rifle in hand, and out the door.
Millie wasted no time in following the woman though she looked frustrated rather than murderously angry. Wolfwood hesitated before lifting the Cross Punisher to his shoulder.
"Come on Tongari. I guess all will be reveled shortly." Vash sighed.
//You will...soon.// Her words kept ringing in his head. He couldn't shake it.
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The image of Meryl's head snapping backwards burned itself into Vash memory as he dumbly followed Molly and the others out to the shed behind her house. He couldn't help but re-live the moment over and over again even if it was only a few minutes ago. Not only did the picture disturb him, but Amparo the Strongbow's apparent disappearances skills unnerved him as well. They didn't even find a trace of footsteps to follow. He didn't suspect they would anyway the way the wind was blowing so harshly.
"Vash-san?" The Humanoid Typhoon looked up, his eyes coming to rest on Millie and her unwavering smile. Behind her Molly and Wolfwood were throwing the tarp off of Molly's old truck and taking a few wooden boxes out of the trunk.
"Oh..I'm sorry I'm a little dazed I guess." A little ashamed more like it.
"I'm worried about Meryl too. But she's going to be alright, Vash-san, because we're going to help her. You're going to help her." Before Vash could utter even a sound, Millie had turned and set off towards the truck. That girl's sharpness awed him to no end. She had hit the nail dead on the head.
He was worried about Meryl. He was worried about her physical well-being but also her emotional side. Molly had said the corporation wanted her back. She was talking about the same corporation she had once worked for and the same corporation who had tortured Meryl and her sister for two years until it's sudden and mysterious downfall. But what could they possibly want with Meryl? And what would happen to Meryl once she knew she was back in the hands of her sister's murderers?
"Stop brooding Tongari and let's get going!" Wolfwood called. He realized that all three were already ready, Millie and Molly in the cab of the pickup and Wolfwood stationed in the back. As Vash trotted over the to the bed of the truck, Molly rolled her window down and leaned out.
"Here's the plan so far. I have a pretty good idea of where she's headed but they've got plenty good defense systems set up. We're going to need you and the priest in the back to get us through the defenses and into the compound."
"You sure do know a lot about this." Vash muttered. Molly didn't respond just started the truck up. He could tell it must be a touchy subject with her and so he climbed up over the tail gate to sit next to Wolfwood and his Cross Punisher.
"She should. She used to work for the bastards." Wolfwood grumbled, lighting up his cigarette. Vash looked over at him for a moment before turning his attention to the parting buildings. It was bumpy, especially in the back of the truck, where they had no cushioning or anything to steady themselves with. But he didn't mind being jostled around like this.
"I know that..but I can't find it in me to be angry with her for it. Neither could Meryl." Vash said to himself. He knew Wolfwood wouldn't be able to hear him over the din of the truck so he amazed when Wolfwood chuckled wryly.
"Shortie just didn't want that broad to end up slaughtering us. I suppose when we see her I'm going to have to thank her. The little Insurance girl saved my life. Speaking of her, I noticed that you two have been a tad bit friendlier towards each other." There was no hint of amusement in his voice throughout his statement. Vash wondered exactly how perceptive the Priest really was.
"I suppose so."
"Vash, I know you care for her. And you want to help her, save her from the skeletons in her closet, but are you sure you have the ability to do it?" Vash snapped his head around to stare at Wolfwood's face. He looked serene, eyes closed, for once no cigarette protruding from his mouth.
"What do you mean? Of course I can!" He said defensly. Crossing his arms over his chest he patiently waited for Wolfwood to respond.
"Listen Vash. Would you leave two wounded people to take care of themselves? You're both carrying around a lot of excess baggage. You can't help each other." Breaking the stiff silence, Wolfwood reached inside his shirt and pulled out a crumpled cigarette. He lit the tip and all fell quiet again. Well as quiet as it could get in the back of a rickity pick up.
Vash turned away. Wolfwood was right. He had let himself get too carried away in the idea that he could rescue Meryl. Maybe it was those dreams he'd have every night of her and her sister living happier times. Maybe it was because he wanted to help anyone in pain so they'd never suffer like he did. Maybe he felt a sort of connection to her because both knew the loss of a family. Whatever it was, it had clouded his sensibility. He chided himself for it over and over, thinking if he could convince himself to just physically rescue her from death and do nothing else, it would be fine.
But he couldn't push the memory of holding her in his arms while she slept, finally seeing her at peace. Seeing her like that had made his own soul feel weightless, free of it's wounds and it's scars. Perhaps that's why he wanted to save her. Seeing her happy and peaceful in turn brought him happiness and peace.
'So then you're doing it to save yourself, not her.'
'No. I'd be aiding her too. Not just myself. We'd both benefit.'
'And you think that just because you help her she's going to help you? Listen to yourself! You're talking about Meryl Stryfe, the Insurance agent, who at every opportunity rams the fact that you're a bumbling idiot down your throat ever chance she gets!' This last thought grealty wavered Vash. He had no guarantee that she'd feel the same way. He raked all his thoughts for anything to prove it wrong, to prove that she did care for him the way he cared for her.
'She didn't pull away when she woke up. And she only cried in my prescense.'
'It's called trust Vash. She's trusts you but trust and love is a whole different thing!'
'Whoa! Since when did we bring love into the picture?' As his mind continued to war with him, The foursome slowly made their way into the empty wasteland. Sand and sun mixed with smoke from the exhaust followed them like a puppy dog. It was if all the world had found serenity and there was no battle awaiting them at the end of their trail.
Sorry for the short chapter but I just had to get this little bout of inspiration out. In my head, I kinda skipped over these events and went straight to how it's gonna end. Not that I forgot about the in between part but it's just easier to figure out the ending and go from there. ^_^ I figure I'll be in the twenty something range of chapters before the story's over and I'm already thinking about a sequel. ^_^ Well, review pleeeeeze..if the urge tickles ya...MEEP....Ciao and Peaceful Schnoodlies!
Amparo hefted the weight of her cargo onto the back of her motorcycle. She had wrapped the girl in her cloak so the winds and the sand kicked up from the tires wouldn't wake her. She didn't want to have her wake up mid-ride and fall off. Her employer wouldn't pleased to find she had broken a few limbs of their meal ticket.
She snorted. Her pride would have been wounded at the fact she was diligently taking orders from someone how many years younger than she. But it was already battered and bruised. What was a few more scratches? Besides, this was the last assignment. Then she was free. Molly could have been free too. But she was throwing it all away for this. A future she knew could never exist. The thought was almost sickening.
The motorcycle roared to life. Straddling the seat, she revved the gas and shot off out of the alley she had parked in. She left a whirlwind of sand and dirt in her wake, deterring any pursuers. So far so good. It would only be an hour or so until she was back at the compound.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"No..We're not going anywhere until you explain what the hell is going on!" Vash and Wolfwood stared in amazement at the big girl's rare rage. She towered above Molly, making an imposing picture. Molly didn't flinch but stared back unrelenting into Millie's cerulean eyes. It reminded Vash of the day they had learned of Meryl's secretive past. Once again it was Millie grilling the older woman for answers to unexplained questions. He wondered vaguely why he was never the one asking when he perhaps was the one with the most questions.
"While I tell you the irrelevant, Meryl is one step closer to death!"
"Why?" Vash asked calmly. Rosemary's voice echoed in his ears as he looked to Molly. Millie hadn't let up on her death glare. It was that and maybe Vash's demeanor, pleading yet determined, that finally cracked Molly's resolve.
"Like I said before, I used to work for Songbird Corporations...sort of like a hit man. Amparo and I..were partners-"
"No..We know that already. Why, after 12 years, does the Corporation want Meryl?" Vash corrected. He didn't like waiting around especially if Meryl's life was at stake. But he had an inkling that the conversation would be crucial.
"I..I'm not sure."
"You're lying!" Millie shouted. From the way she was trembling, they could tell she was close to grabbing her stungun.
"She's...she's not who she appears to be. That's all you need to know for now. To explain it now would take too much time. Time we don't have. Come on, we've got to get going now." With that Molly breezed past all them, rifle in hand, and out the door.
Millie wasted no time in following the woman though she looked frustrated rather than murderously angry. Wolfwood hesitated before lifting the Cross Punisher to his shoulder.
"Come on Tongari. I guess all will be reveled shortly." Vash sighed.
//You will...soon.// Her words kept ringing in his head. He couldn't shake it.
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The image of Meryl's head snapping backwards burned itself into Vash memory as he dumbly followed Molly and the others out to the shed behind her house. He couldn't help but re-live the moment over and over again even if it was only a few minutes ago. Not only did the picture disturb him, but Amparo the Strongbow's apparent disappearances skills unnerved him as well. They didn't even find a trace of footsteps to follow. He didn't suspect they would anyway the way the wind was blowing so harshly.
"Vash-san?" The Humanoid Typhoon looked up, his eyes coming to rest on Millie and her unwavering smile. Behind her Molly and Wolfwood were throwing the tarp off of Molly's old truck and taking a few wooden boxes out of the trunk.
"Oh..I'm sorry I'm a little dazed I guess." A little ashamed more like it.
"I'm worried about Meryl too. But she's going to be alright, Vash-san, because we're going to help her. You're going to help her." Before Vash could utter even a sound, Millie had turned and set off towards the truck. That girl's sharpness awed him to no end. She had hit the nail dead on the head.
He was worried about Meryl. He was worried about her physical well-being but also her emotional side. Molly had said the corporation wanted her back. She was talking about the same corporation she had once worked for and the same corporation who had tortured Meryl and her sister for two years until it's sudden and mysterious downfall. But what could they possibly want with Meryl? And what would happen to Meryl once she knew she was back in the hands of her sister's murderers?
"Stop brooding Tongari and let's get going!" Wolfwood called. He realized that all three were already ready, Millie and Molly in the cab of the pickup and Wolfwood stationed in the back. As Vash trotted over the to the bed of the truck, Molly rolled her window down and leaned out.
"Here's the plan so far. I have a pretty good idea of where she's headed but they've got plenty good defense systems set up. We're going to need you and the priest in the back to get us through the defenses and into the compound."
"You sure do know a lot about this." Vash muttered. Molly didn't respond just started the truck up. He could tell it must be a touchy subject with her and so he climbed up over the tail gate to sit next to Wolfwood and his Cross Punisher.
"She should. She used to work for the bastards." Wolfwood grumbled, lighting up his cigarette. Vash looked over at him for a moment before turning his attention to the parting buildings. It was bumpy, especially in the back of the truck, where they had no cushioning or anything to steady themselves with. But he didn't mind being jostled around like this.
"I know that..but I can't find it in me to be angry with her for it. Neither could Meryl." Vash said to himself. He knew Wolfwood wouldn't be able to hear him over the din of the truck so he amazed when Wolfwood chuckled wryly.
"Shortie just didn't want that broad to end up slaughtering us. I suppose when we see her I'm going to have to thank her. The little Insurance girl saved my life. Speaking of her, I noticed that you two have been a tad bit friendlier towards each other." There was no hint of amusement in his voice throughout his statement. Vash wondered exactly how perceptive the Priest really was.
"I suppose so."
"Vash, I know you care for her. And you want to help her, save her from the skeletons in her closet, but are you sure you have the ability to do it?" Vash snapped his head around to stare at Wolfwood's face. He looked serene, eyes closed, for once no cigarette protruding from his mouth.
"What do you mean? Of course I can!" He said defensly. Crossing his arms over his chest he patiently waited for Wolfwood to respond.
"Listen Vash. Would you leave two wounded people to take care of themselves? You're both carrying around a lot of excess baggage. You can't help each other." Breaking the stiff silence, Wolfwood reached inside his shirt and pulled out a crumpled cigarette. He lit the tip and all fell quiet again. Well as quiet as it could get in the back of a rickity pick up.
Vash turned away. Wolfwood was right. He had let himself get too carried away in the idea that he could rescue Meryl. Maybe it was those dreams he'd have every night of her and her sister living happier times. Maybe it was because he wanted to help anyone in pain so they'd never suffer like he did. Maybe he felt a sort of connection to her because both knew the loss of a family. Whatever it was, it had clouded his sensibility. He chided himself for it over and over, thinking if he could convince himself to just physically rescue her from death and do nothing else, it would be fine.
But he couldn't push the memory of holding her in his arms while she slept, finally seeing her at peace. Seeing her like that had made his own soul feel weightless, free of it's wounds and it's scars. Perhaps that's why he wanted to save her. Seeing her happy and peaceful in turn brought him happiness and peace.
'So then you're doing it to save yourself, not her.'
'No. I'd be aiding her too. Not just myself. We'd both benefit.'
'And you think that just because you help her she's going to help you? Listen to yourself! You're talking about Meryl Stryfe, the Insurance agent, who at every opportunity rams the fact that you're a bumbling idiot down your throat ever chance she gets!' This last thought grealty wavered Vash. He had no guarantee that she'd feel the same way. He raked all his thoughts for anything to prove it wrong, to prove that she did care for him the way he cared for her.
'She didn't pull away when she woke up. And she only cried in my prescense.'
'It's called trust Vash. She's trusts you but trust and love is a whole different thing!'
'Whoa! Since when did we bring love into the picture?' As his mind continued to war with him, The foursome slowly made their way into the empty wasteland. Sand and sun mixed with smoke from the exhaust followed them like a puppy dog. It was if all the world had found serenity and there was no battle awaiting them at the end of their trail.
Sorry for the short chapter but I just had to get this little bout of inspiration out. In my head, I kinda skipped over these events and went straight to how it's gonna end. Not that I forgot about the in between part but it's just easier to figure out the ending and go from there. ^_^ I figure I'll be in the twenty something range of chapters before the story's over and I'm already thinking about a sequel. ^_^ Well, review pleeeeeze..if the urge tickles ya...MEEP....Ciao and Peaceful Schnoodlies!