Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun or its characters. Any other characters in this story are mine.
Authors Note: OK this is my first fic, so reviewing would be helpful and appreciated. This story has actually been going on in my head for a year or so now; it just took reading the stories on this site (and finally finding the time) to write it. I hope you enjoy!! ^_^
* * *
Ever since the war started. Life has become Hell. Since America started it. Life was good. I had great friends who were all into anime, though no one was into Trigun as much as me, and school was school so it was OK. In any case, the country's "War on Terrorism", really has become a war, involving every country on ever continent. When it started, every able-bodied person, no matter if they were 12 or 60, was drafted into the Navy, Army, or the Special Corps.
I was separated from my family and friends and dropped into the Naval Corps. There, you identity became your first name and a Number, imprinted on a dog tag with sex, blood type and age only. The one thing that we were allowed to have in the way of personal items, was another, blank dog tag, on which we were allowed to engrave a small saying or favorite symbol. I chose the yin-yang: to remind me that there are two sides to everything. Wars, ideas, perceptions and above all, people.
In any case, after 4 years in the Navy, 4 years of blood, sweat, training and killing, at the age of 18, I was "promoted" to the Special Corps (or "Psycho Squad" as we like to call them). That's where everything went wrong. (Promotion my white ass) We were being sent up in the newest hi-tech combat/tech shuttle to investigate reports of Al-Qeda spy satellites, when we picked up an anomaly on radar…
"Jason, what the Hell is that thing?"
"I don't know, I'm still analyzing it."
"Well analyze the damn thing faster, please. I would like to know if our lives are in danger or not."
"Would it matter?"
"No. Still gonna blow it up."
"Psycho."
"Look who's talking."
"Touché. I got it. It's a Taliban surface to space missile. Looks like they don't want us finding that satellite, cause its on direct route to hit us."
"Hmmm… ok, so just blow it up with a missile of ours."
"Can't, even that far away it could blow us up. Plus we're not equipped with that kind of artillery."
"Our country is cheap. So, how long until we're crispy?"
"42 minutes and 13 seconds."
"OK, since blowing up would ruin all of wonderful hair- styles," they all laughed. We all had the same exact buzz-cut, "lets find an escape route. Nicolette, take care of that please." She nodded and giggled as she got to work. We only had to wait a few seconds.
"Nicky, scanner picked up a wormhole 10,000 miles to the northeast of our position. But that still puts us in direct line with the missile. "
"How long to reach it?"
"1 hour regular, 40 minutes with the boosters."
I nodded and looked at Jason. He turned from his monitor to look at me.
"Missile while hit in 41 minutes and 7 seconds"
"OK, Richard, reposition the shuttle 90 degrees to the right and go for it."
"Warp speed ahead, Captain!" He dodged my fist and laughed.
"Don't even start.", I growled.
The boosters turned on, which created a gentle hum that resonated throughout the whole of the ship. Slowly turning in the zero gravity cockpit, I vaguely wondered where the wormhole would take us. The spinning also reminded me of a scene in Trigun, of Vash spinning in that little room…
I looked at my crew-team of 4. Jason, our analogist on radar and weapons; Nicolette, the only other female on board besides me, was at the scanners and maps; Richard, on navigation ant piloting; Raoul on Tech support; and me, Nicolae as strategist, commander and all around boss-person. Looking out the window, Jason decided to ruin my good mood.
"Problem."
I sighed. "When is there ever NOT a problem? Fine, what is it?"
"The missile is equipped with an A-I program. It also has a *28mm Panzer laser cannon. It can fire when it gets within range, so it won't have to catch up. That, and it sped up when we turned on the boosters, so we can't out run it. It's steadily gaining on us."
"Shit. What's the range on the cannon?"
"150 meters. It'll be in range in 17 minutes. Two shots could breach the hull, and one shot can take out the engines. But, it only has 4 shots"
"Hmm… Nicolette, how long till the wormhole?"
"20 minutes."
I spun slowly in my spot, trying to think. Someone informed me that we would reach the hole in 18 minutes and missile would be in range in 15 minutes.
Fine, I'll deal with that when the time comes.
I pulled out my dog tags from beneath my tank top and rubbed the yin-yang, and old habit. But, I also did something I hadn't done in years; I prayed. I asked God, or who ever controlled our fate, to let us reach that wormhole and make it through. To go someplace where no one knew us, and we could start over our now almost pointless existences. And maybe even find happiness and, dare I think, love. I chuckled at that last bit. Who in their right mind would love any of us?
A resounding crash woke me from my thoughts. The warning lights flashed crimson as I looked around.
"What happened?"
Raoul looked up from his monitor, "The left side of the hull was hit. One more and the hull will break open."
"Everyone, buckle into your stations and put on the oxygen masks. Nicolette, how much time till the wormhole?"
"14 minutes."
"Damn, the missile shouldn't be in range. We should still have 11 minutes."
Nicolette gave me a reproving look, "Regardless of the time we should have, its here now."
I sighed, knowing that what she said was true. But, what am I going to do? What am I going to –?
Another crash rent the air as we heard the metal scream. The wall closest to Jason started to pucker out, and Jason… God, no!
"Jason, your strap!" I screamed to be heard above the metal.
The wall sucked out. We all hung on to our consoles out of reflex. But Jason, without the strap, he didn't have a chance. He wouldn't even be able to survive on the oxygen mask.
Realization crossed his face as he was pulled out.
Seconds later, the emergency hull repair system closed of the hull. I didn't have time to waste on tears or regret; the rest of had to live.
"Nicolette, take Jason's place. Patch into the radar and weapons systems and overlay the two programs. That should make 'em more accurate."
I moved Richard into Nicolette's seat ant got to work on transferring the maps from Nicolette's station to mine, so I could steer the ship better.
7 minutes until the wormhole.
The right side of the hull was hit, right as I finished my patchwork, too close to the engine for comfort. Again, the missile fired, but this time, I had control of the ship, and spun to avoid it. I looked over at Nicolette and saw that she had the Missile locked on target.
"Why aren't you shooting it?"
"These are close-combat shooters. No good at this range."
" Damn. How close are we?"
"We will reach the wormhole in 5 minutes. The missile is out of ammo and has not enough fuel to return to earth. It shall hit in 2 minutes."
I was starting to worry. Then I had it.
"Raoul, transfer all power to the boosters for a quick jump. That should put us right outside the wormhole's pull of gravity."
He nodded. The pressure in the ship built up noticeably, but was broken suddenly by the burst of energy from the boosters. The stars flashed by in almost continuous lines, like an out of control disco ball. We reached the wormhole in 50 seconds, but instead of going on thru, we hung suspended in the dark mass of stars.
"Raoul, what's going on?"
"Checking… uh oh, when the 3rd shot hit the right side of the hull, it nicked the fuel lines. Jumping wiped it all out. We're stuck."
"Wonderful." I rolled my eyes.
Nicolette spun her seat to face the back of the ship.
I looked at her, confused by her sudden move. "What are you doing?"
"Getting a more comfortable position to fight this thing.
Richard, who had taken up residence behind me, decided now was a time to give his two cents on this already macabre day. "It'll reach in 35 seconds."
"Is there no way we can reach the wormhole now?"
Richard shook his head. "It'll hit in 28 seconds."
Nicolette, who had watching, turned back to her console. A fiendish grin came over her normally placid features. Her eyes were alight with the fires of war.
"Fine. But if we are to die, I'm gonna make this a absolutely beautiful rendezvous!"
I looked at her. What she said, it made me remember something. I started to laugh at the thought. "You sound just like BDN!"
She ignored me. But Richard looked over at me. "Who's BDN?"
I shook my head. "Never mind."
I looked around at everyone and smiled. "It's been great knowing you all."
Everyone nodded and smiled back. No one cried. There was no need.
"5 seconds to impact."
5…
The wormhole's gravity pulled us in closer, but it made no difference.
4…
We gathered around Nicolette, letting her know we were with her till the end.
3…
I held my yin-yang, praying that if there was an afterlife, it would be better than this war-torn existence.
2…
A grim smile came to my features. So much for "Love and Peace."
1…
Nicolette lashed out with the close-combat lasers. A last ditch effort to die fighting, to die with honor. Our last defiance against a world where honor was laughed at and those who had it died early on.
0…
And the world turned white with agony and heat.
* * *
So what do you all think? (Oh, and FYI, the *28mm panzer laser cannon, I made that up.)
I hoped you liked it. Don't worry; the title will make sense later on. And yes, the rest takes place on Gunsmoke. The next chapter will be up soon. ( I hope) **evil grin**
Later days!