Kira woke to the sound of the buzzer the next morning… or was it day. She had no idea how long she'd slept. She also had very little desire to get up to receive whoever was calling. She threw the blanket over her head and ignored them. A minute later the person began buzzing with metronomic repetition, making sleep impossible. She growled and rolled out of bed slamming her palm against the button to open the door. Unsurprisingly, Meryl stood in front of her.

"What do you want?" Kira muttered, half-tempted to shut the door in the short woman's face.

"Vash wants to see you."

Kira ran a hand through her hair and sighed, knowing she couldn't refuse. He was going through a lot more than she was right now… "I need to shower. I can meet you over there when I'm done."

"You know the way?"

"I know the number. I'm sure I can figure it out," she said, her tone sharp.

Meryl arched a brow, obviously skeptical of the brash statement, but thankfully had enough sense not to push the gray-eyed girl today. She inclined her head in acceptance and retreated without another word.

x.x.x.x.x

Kira was surprised how much easier it was to find Vash's room after her night of wandering through the halls. She'd gotten a much better sense of the ship's layout. She arrived to find a guard posted beside the door. She hadn't noticed one the previous day. Then again, she'd been pretty oblivious to her surroundings… The man furrowed his brows, casting a distrustful look upon her that she didn't entirely understand, but he let her in without any further trouble.

Millie and Meryl were sitting together on a couch and Vash was slouched in one of the chairs. "Kira!" He hopped up when she entered, his eyes wide. "What happened? I need you to tell me everything."

She shook her head, confused. "Everything…?"

"You went and saw him. Was he awake?"

Oh, right. "Yeah… he was awake. Barely. They must have had him on something but he was conscious."

"And?"

"I told him what happened—that they were exchanging him for you. He seemed… understanding. I don't know…" It was hard to form words as visions of him lying there, his cheek resting against her hand, swam through her head. She let out a short breath, forcing herself to stay focused on the conversation. "He said it might be for the best."

Vash's face fell and a barb of empathy pierced Kira's heart.

"I told him that was bullshit," she said bitterly, before softening her tone. "He asked me to tell you that he's sorry and he didn't mean to leave you so soon."

He sat down heavily, staring off into nothingness.

"So… does that guard out front mean you're supposed to stay in here?" she asked.

He looked up, his eyes still vacant. "Huh? Oh. Yeah."

She sat down in the other chair and looked over at the two women. Millie's face was fixed in an expression of sympathetic concern, while Meryl seemed to be captivated by her hands, clasped in her lap. "And you two are on good terms again?" she asked, her disgusted tone drawing a glare from the raven-haired woman.

Vash exhaled slowly. "Please, don't judge her too harshly. It… it took courage for her to do what she did. Just because we didn't want it to happen, that doesn't mean it was wrong."

Kira let out a soft, incredulous laugh. "Knives was right about you—you are unbelievably forgiving. It's… almost impressive…" She trailed off and shook her head. She knew what he meant. She didn't doubt Meryl's good, possibly even admirable intentions: she had done what she thought was best for the people of No Man's Land. She had put them first, knowing that it would disrupt her friendship with Vash. But Kira's acrimonious feelings were still far too fresh for her to hold much respect for the woman's motives.

Not that it mattered what she thought of Meryl anymore. Once they made it back to Octovern, she'd probably never see her again. Kira was determined to do whatever she could to save Knives and she doubted Meryl would want to be involved. Maybe Millie would though… and honestly, Kira would take any help she could get.

She had no clue what she was going to do. And her strongest ally was trapped on this fucking ship. Although… From some of the stories he and the girls had told the other night, he'd gotten out of stickier situations than this before…

She looked at Vash. "So, do you have a plan?"

"What do you mean?" he asked blankly.

First things first. "How long do they want you to stay?"

He frowned, a wrinkle appearing between his brows. Despite their nearly identical faces, the twins wore such different expressions that it would be hard to mistake one for the other, but in this moment, Vash so resembled his brother that Kira had to look away. "Luida didn't say exactly," he answered slowly. "But she told me that my incarceration here was one of the Federation's terms. They don't want me 'interfering.' I believe that was the word she used."

So they wouldn't just let him go…

Kira eyed Meryl suspiciously. If she heard that he planned to escape, would she betray him to Luida again? No… She had wanted to take him off the ship before. And since he'd forgiven her, it seemed unlikely that she'd risk stabbing him in the back a second time. Her misgivings momentarily steadied, Kira voiced her question to Vash. "Can you escape?"

Meryl let out a huff and opened her mouth, likely with a disapproving comment when Millie put a hand on her friend's arm, silencing her before she spoke.

Vash watched the exchange and sighed, absently rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know. I mean… I could probably fight my way out of this room, but I'd still have to make it off the ship somehow. It'd be tough… and I don't want to risk hurting anyone." He gave her a defeated look.

Kira's breath came faster as her lone hope that the gunman had some secret plan was dashed. "So that's it? You're just going to stay put and accept whatever happens?"

"I… I don't know. I haven't decided what to do yet. I'm still… processing."

Disappointment and frustration swelled inside of her. "Well, if you're staying here, then I need to leave. I told him I'd do what I could to save him and I plan to keep my word!" She stood and began marching angrily to the door.

"Kira—wait!" he barked. "Hang on. Let's just think for a minute…"

"You won't be able to save him—neither of you," said Meryl quietly. "Even if you made it off the ship, you wouldn't stand a chance. He's going to be held under very tight surveillance. Luida told me all about it. If you try anything, they'll arrest you before you get within the city limits."

"So you want us to just sit here and wait it out?" Kira said in disbelief.

"Yes! That's exactly what I want you to do. That's exactly what you should do. Look, I know you care about him, but you must understand—this is so much bigger than you, or him, or Vash, or any of us! This is about our entire planet. This is about moving forward. This is about giving closure to the people who suffered because of him—who lost friends and family members because of him. This is about finding justice for the people who died because of him. They deserve that much at least, and we don't have the right to take it from them."

"I… I know, but…" Memories of her mother, her father and sisters flooded her mind. Of course they deserved justice… but…

"He's come so far," Vash said, his voice thick with emotion. "It just hurts, to see how much he's grown, finally, and to have to let it go." A tear rolled down his cheek. "I think… I think Kira knows, like I do, that this trial is the 'right' thing to do, but it's hard to accept. It's like all his progress was for nothing."

Meryl exhaled heavily. "I know. And I'm really sorry—for both of you and for him. But if you want to create a new relationship between humans and plants, then you can't exist outside of the law. If it makes it any easier, Luida told me that she won't allow either of you to leave the ship—you're now officially stuck here as well, Kira."

"Wh-what? She can't do that!" Kira slammed her fist on the arm of the chair.

Meryl gave her a sympathetic look. "Actually she can. Technically, you're being detained for charges of 'aiding and abetting a criminal,' since you knew who Knives was and you smuggled him onto the ship. Honestly, I think your choice to visit him is what tipped the scale. She thought he'd been coercing you and was going to look the other way on your behalf, but when you went to see him of your own volition, she realized it was more than that."

"But, that's ridiculous!"

"I doubt she'll actually follow through with it. She's just using it as an excuse to babysit you for a while. The smoother this trial goes, the better—for everyone. There is still a chance he won't be sentenced to death. He's not human, after all, and he was trying to protect his species. Maybe the people will understand. Either way, they don't want you causing a ruckus trying to rescue him or something."

She almost laughed. They were seriously overestimating her criminal abilities. "So, what? I'm going to be kept in my room too?"

"I believe you'll have free run of the ship—she's not as worried about you escaping as she is of Vash—but you won't be allowed to leave, and they'll be watching you."

"For how long?"

Meryl shrugged. "I don't know. But she'll probably try to keep you here until everything with Knives is settled."

"But… I have to get to him. He shouldn't have to go through this on his own!"

"I'm sorry. His fate is out of your hands now."

x.x.x.x.x

It was dark when Knives stirred. He wasn't sure exactly how long he'd been unconscious. The last thing he remembered was Kira being led out of the room and one of the men in uniform injecting something into his arm. He tried to push himself up and was only mildly surprised to find his wrists cuffed behind his back. He sighed and glanced around his new surroundings, trying to make out what he could in the dim light.

Metal walls, metal floor, and a latrine and sink in the corner… Yes. This was his cell. He was sitting on a thin mattress, set on a narrow platform that extended from the wall. There was a pillow and a folded blanket at the head of it.

"Millions Knives. I see you've finally awoken." A cold, female voice resonated from a speaker in the wall. "I'm coming in to see you and suggest you be on your best behavior."

A minute later he heard the grating sound of what could only be a large lever being turned. The door groaned open and a tall, slender figure—likely the owner of the voice—stood, silhouetted in the doorway. She touched something on the wall outside the cell and the lights brightened, revealing his captor. She was… stunning. Beautiful. Blond. And…

"A plant?" he asked curiously, standing and approaching her cautiously. They'd done something to contain his telepathic ability, but even without it he could feel an unusual energy radiating from the woman. He'd only felt that kind of aura in the presence of his brother or the angels.

"My name is Chronica. My superiors thought it would be best if the first person to see you was one of your own kind."

He smirked. "They think I'll be less likely to attack you?"

She narrowed her eyes. "No, we're entirely aware of your disrespect for all the members of the Federation, regardless of their species."

"Then why?"

"Because I can 'feel' your energy. We need to know how dangerous you are… and from what I can tell you're not dangerous at all, anymore," she said with a chilling smile.

"Where am I?"

"You are in the brig of the Cassiopeia—Captain Garrow's ship. He thought it would be the most convenient location to hold while you are being questioned."

'Questioned.' It was such an innocent word… He swiftly suppressed the tremor of fear it inspired. "And why did they choose you to greet me—Chronica, was it?"

"I volunteered. None of the other independents were eager to be stuck in a room with you. It seems you've not only alienated your creators, you've alienated your own kind as well… what a pity."

"And why were you so 'eager' to meet me?"

"You killed my friend. I want to know why."

"I killed many people. I was trying to save my sisters."

A dazzlingly fast kick hit him in the stomach and he crumpled to the floor. "She was your sister!" He gasped for breath before slowly climbing back to his feet. "You used her—you destroyed her—to get to us."

The other plant. Yes, he remembered. He'd absorbed her, but since she was independent, she hadn't been able to merge like the angels. Her individual consciousness had been shattered. "I had to. I needed to stop the fleet. I sacrificed her for the others."

She landed a staggering punch on his already bruised cheek and he tasted copper. "You 'sacrificed' her for nothing! You failed! Half of your sisters died because you ripped them from the safety of their bulbs. You didn't save them—you murdered them, along with all the humans who relied on them. The time has come for you to pay the price for your actions."

He closed his eyes, waiting for her next blow but to his surprise, she walked around him and lifted his hands, removing the cuffs.

"Understand that this freedom is a luxury," she said, her voice eerily calm, "Do not abuse it or it will be rescinded."

With that, she strode out of the room, leaving him in isolation. Knives made his way to the sink in the corner and turned on the water, sipping some from his hands and swishing it to clean the blood from his mouth before spitting back in the basin. With that done, he gingerly climbed onto the bed and laid down, spreading the blanket over himself and trying to ignore the various aches coming from his face and body. That had actually gone better than he expected. Maybe this wouldn't be as painful as he thought. If they actually treated him like a normal prisoner, then it might not be so bad, even if he was executed. If he was going to be killed anyway, he preferred not to be tortured first…

Of course, if he were killed he'd never see Vash or Kira again.

No. Kira had promised to save him, and she hadn't let him down yet. And Vash was a master of getting out of tough situations, even if it was usually his own fault for getting into them in the first place. He had to have faith in them. They'd come for him.