Part nineteen

Two levels below the Plant chamber, the Master ran, cursing his lack of fortitude in running from the strange blonde man, for believing that vision, that trick of the light, could possibly be real. Stupid, a vampire his age running from such things.

Still, he had felt the death throes of the Plant, the scream as she finally threw herself from this plane to the next, so perhaps it was for the best. There were other towns out there to subdue, other cities he could hunt in. It wouldn't be difficult to rebuild his army in the slightest.

A tingle at the edge of his predatory senses brought him up short. He tilted his head, using his preternaturally given abilities to track the source of the disturbance, not quite believing what they were telling him.

The Master drew himself up to his full height and turned around. "Show yourself, fledgling."

He heard the drag of steel before he saw the figure emerge from the dark, a tall, hulking man, hat settled low along his brow, casting long shadows under his eyes. In his hand, he carried an impressive-looking sword, what little light there was glinting off the highly polished metal. The stranger raised his head and smiled ferally. "I'm no fledgling."

The Master frowned. "You're not one of mine."

"One of mine?" the stranger chuckled. "Just who do you think you are?"

The Master's lip curled up into a sneer. "I am Master of this town, leader of fifty strong, sire of-"

"Y'know what?" the stranger interrupted. "I decided I really don't care."

The Master growled and attacked.

But honestly, he never really stood a chance.

As the headless body hit the ground, bursting into a cloud of ash, Liam shook his head.

"Children just don't respect the old ways anymore."

***

Vash watched as Rem organized her plant clippings, catalogued for comparison day by day, long fingers carefully placing each leaf in the proper slide. She had, he noticed, large hands for a woman. Compared to Mary's, they were almost masculine in appearance, weathered by work in the rec room and covered in calluses from constant activity. One would almost expect them to be clumsy or harsh, but she treated each of her samples as if they were delicate crystal and gave the boys and her friends only the lightest of soft touches.

Vash loved those hands, loved everything about her. He understood that she wasn't his mother, that he had no mother, but if he did, he hoped she'd be a lot like Rem.

She noticed his eyes on her, peeking up over the desk. She smiled, and waggled her fingers at him in greeting. "Hey there."

He smiled shyly. "Hi."

"How long have you been standing there?"

He shrugged. "Dunno. A while. Is that okay?"

Her smile deepened, eyes twinkling. "Absolutely."

The brief swoosh of a door opening came from behind him, causing Rem to look up, her smile shifting subtly. He couldn't explain it, the way that her smile could portray different emotions without really changing at all. He guessed it was just a grown-up thing.

Still, she seemed pretty happy to see the man who stepped up behind him. "Hey, Angel."

The dark-haired man smiled back. "Hello." He looked down at the little boy between them. "Hey, kiddo, what's up?"

Vash bit his lip. "Just watchin'."

Angel glanced back at Rem and winked. "Well, I can see why."

Vash frowned, not quite understanding, but Rem just shook her head and laughed. "Mister Angel, you do know how to flatter a girl."

"One of my talents," he quipped, laying a hand over hers. For the briefest of moments, their fingers intertwined, before he pulled away and hunkered down next to Vash. "So, what do you say to some donuts?"

"Now, that's just going to ruin his appetite before dinner."

"Oh come on, someone's gotta spoil the twins around here…"

The memory slipped away into Vash's subconscious as he woke up, stiff and sore in nearly every joint.

He looked at his surroundings, failing to recognize them. A hotel room of some sort, he supposed, simple, but clean and warm. He sat up slowly, back cracking as he moved, although it appeared he wasn't much the worse for wear beyond that. No new scars for him this time.

Yawning and stretching out his neck, he finally noticed he had company. "Uh, hey."

Liam smiled at him from his chair in the corner. "Hey."

Vash frowned. "Where am I?"

"New Hope, about thirty iles from Salem Town."

The outlaw scratched the back of his head, mildly befuddled. "I don't remember coming here."

"I'm not surprised," Liam smirked. "You've been asleep for two days."

Vash raised his eyebrow at that. He searched his memory for the events leading up to his blackout, but really only remembered discovering the ship. Afterwards, things grew too blurred for him to sort out any linear sequence.

Something important nagged at him. "What about the Plant?"

The other man's face softened and Vash knew the answer before he even said anything. "She died. I'm sorry."

"It's okay." He rubbed a knuckle over his eyebrow. "I – I don't think there was anything to prevent that. She was dying before we got there."

"I know."

Vash tilted his head to the side. "You really do, don't you?"

Liam just smiled enigmatically.

A flash of a barely recalled dream flittered through his head and Vash stared at Liam. "I know you." It wasn't a question and Liam didn't treat it as such.

"But you can't remember."

"I should, though, I…" Vash trailed off and sighed in frustration. "So much is so clear but other things I have to struggle for. I'm sorry I can't explain this to you."

"I wouldn't worry about it. It'll come back when you need it to." Liam rose out of his chair, placing it back against the wall. "Got any travel plans yet?"

Vash blinked at the change in subject but recovered quickly. "Not sure. I'll probably keep heading east."

"Too bad. Lex and I are going west or I'd offer you a ride. Guess you'll have to hitch along with those insurance girls then."

Vash's eyes widened. "They're still here?"

"Sure. That short one, Meryl, she's been checking up on you like clockwork every hour. You're surprised?"

"Yeah," Vash admitted. "A little."

"Don't be. Hard to find friends like that nowadays." Liam ambled to the threshold, re-wrapping his face before he stepped out. "Well, I've got to get going before Lex leaves without me. Try not to get arrested again anytime soon, okay?"

Vash smiled. "Will do. Good luck."

"Same to you."

And Liam was gone.

End part nineteen