Stupid FF.net.

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Knives held Ace in his lap, trying to comfort the child. She just sat there and sobbed and shook, and he didn't know how to make things better for her. He wanted to, he ached to, but what are you supposed to say to someone who almost threw their life away for nothing? He sat there and whispered, "It's ok," over and over again, feeling useless. He couldn't make her stop shivering, long, body-wracking shakes that never seemed to end. They just went on and on and on, and he couldn't hold her close enough to stop them.

He looked up from the girl, looking for Kiley and hating her at the same moment. Maybe she could help, but he didn't want it. He felt like he was always looking to her to fix things, to make things better. Him, expecting a human to make things better. He knew that if he dwelled on that thought he would grow rather disgusted with himself, so he pushed it away for the moment.

Actually, though, it was her fault that he had to keep looking to her. If she had only taught him how to do those tricks of hers, then he wouldn't need her. So the fact that he could not help Ace when she needed it most was all Kiley's fault. He glanced up glare at her, and caught his brother looking under her shirt, his woman looking on.

A sudden rage suffused him. "What do you think you're doing," he hissed.

"Did you see where she got shot?" he asked as he dropped her shirt.

"I was a little more concerned with Ace," he said dismissively. "I'm sure she's fine."

Vash looked at him oddly. "She was shot here," he said, pointing at his stomach. "But there's no wound there."

Knives shrugged. "So?"

"So?" echoed Vash. "She was just shot! How did she do that?"

"It's another one of her little tricks. Nothing to get excited over. I'll be able to do that, too. In a little while. When she finally gets around to teaching me." He scowled at her, conveniently forgetting that he had pushed to learn other things than healing.

"What is she?" asked Meryl.

Knives glared at her and she blanched. He hid an inward smile, glad to know that the female was still afraid of him. "She's an alien."

He watched his brother's face. First, surprise so obvious that it was comical. Then a double take, as he looked at her, then at him to see if he was serious, then back at her. Next, a serious expression. Following, his hands reached out and touched her; stomach, arms, legs, shoulders, breasts. Then he winced, after Meryl hit him on the head again. Knives could never figure out why he put up with such treatment.

"Meryl…"

"Don't even start. No excuse will work this time." She glared at him. Vash cowered comically for a moment, then looked at his brother. His mien grew entirely serious, showcasing his ability to change moods like quicksilver.

"Technically, we're all aliens here. You and me, especially, since we weren't born here."

Knives sighed. "You know that wasn't what I meant."

"Tell me what you did mean, then."

"She's from earth."

Vash's eyes widened. "Really? Does that mean more ships are coming?"

"No. She's not from our earth. She's not from this dimension at all, properly. As I understand it."

"What? How did she get here? When? Where?"

"Who and why, Vash? You sound like a damn essay."

"I know who," he replied sullenly.

"When was a few months ago. Where was in my ship, in one of the maintenance corridors. How… she says she died, and that a being she calls Dream Dancer brought her here."

"Died?"

"That's what she says."

"How did she die?"

"Suicide."

Vash pulled back a bit. "Hmm. Why… why did she end up here? With you?"

Knives shrugged. "No reason I can fathom. Someone must just have a twisted sense of humor."

"But… how does she do those things?"

"She says she's a modified human, a Genalt. She was an assassin, and then a paramedic." He said this offhandedly, dismissively, but he watched Vash's expression carefully. His brother moved away from Kiley, putting some more space between them. Knives made sure he didn't smile.

"Assassin?"

"That's what she says. Killed ten thousand, in some war or another."

"A little thing like her?"

"She's tougher than she looks," he said wryly.

"But that tough? I mean, that's a lot of people. Did she do it all at once?"

"She says it took her ten years. Then she quit."

"Quit?"

"She says it was boring. She wanted a real challenge."

"Killing people was boring?"

"That's what she said."

Vash moved a little farther away. "You always seem to meet the most interesting people," he said neutrally.

"I had nothing to do with this one. She fell in my lap."

"So why are you out of your ship, then? Did you come out to get Ace?" His attempt to change the subject was painfully obvious, but Knives let it pass.

Knives scowled again. "No. That woman escaped and then I was chasing her. Then she refused to go back to the ship and teach me what she knows."

"So rescuing Ace wasn't planned?"

"No. But I'm glad I did. No plant should be treated the way she was when I found her."

"This is a bit confusing," Vash whined.

"Everything is confusing for you."

"Hey!" interjected Meryl. "He's just as smart as you are." She started out defending him hotly, but her voice trailed away to almost nothing when Knives glared at her again. She visibly regained her courage and glared back, but he could see her hands tremble. He smiled icily at her, then turned his attention back to his brother.

"Still want to look under her shirt?"

Vash's eyes narrowed. "What? Jealous?"

"Not in the least. I just thought you liked your women all pure and pacifistic. She isn't either."

"I guess that means she's just right for you."