(Author's Note: This part of the story will be told from Ace's point of view.)

The first thing I remember was wandering the streets of some city. I had no name, and I never knew my parents. I went by "Ace" because I was called that by people who would give me money. They would say "Here you go, Ace", and I figured that I might as well go by some name. I survived by stealing, swindling, and making people feel sorry for me so they'd give me food or money. I would do that for a couple of weeks, then sneak aboard a sand steamer to another town or city, and then repeat the process. It went on like that for ten years, but everything changed when I got to a town known as Synapse. It was a town whose main economy was based on mining. I decided to go and try to steal from the mining group that was stationed there because I heard they had mined some gold the day before. Let's just say things didn't go as planned. I made it as far as sneaking into the camp. Before I could look for where the gold was said to be stored, I was caught. I was taken to the man in charge, and I feared the worst. But surprisingly, the guy was understanding. His name was Joe Garnet, and he was a man in his early forty's, and he asked me why I wanted to steal from them. I told him about me and I said I offered to work for him if he wouldn't turn me in to the authorities. I couldn't believe it when Joe said that if I really wanted to, I could work with the mining group. No one had ever been that to me before, and I was surprised. The next morning, I met the rest of the group.

In the first team was Mikhail Ninorinsky, a big guy who was in his thirty's. He looked mean, but he was pretty nice. Funny thing about him was that he always had a flask of bourbon with him and he drank a lot, but I never, ever saw him get drunk. The second man I met was named Gabriel Altevo Ramirez. He was a funny man, and the second youngest person in the group at the age of twenty-five. Finally, I met Jack Landen. He was the junior member of the whole group at twenty-one years old, but he did his job well. The guys second team were Andy Cash, Josh Gannon, Philip Davis, and Leon Jensen, but I mainly worked with Garnet his team.

Garnet told Jack to keep an eye on me until I earned everyone's trust, and I could tell that Jack was not happy about that. He thought of me as a nuisance at first, but after a while he and I got along. Jack was the explosives man in Garnet's group, and he knew much about gunsmithing. Mikhail manned the earth mover, and Ramirez hauled all that stuff that was mined during the day. Jack was a great guy. He taught about explosives and I learned a lot about explosives and gunsmithing from him. He and I even shared the interst for the same gun. It was himwho told me about this oasis. We joked around, get supplies, and other odd jobs, and we became almost like brothers. I even got to take his last name as my own as well, and he gave me that zippo lighter I now have. Eventually, Mikhail and Ramirez grew to like me, and I did earn Garnet's respect and trust. They called me"Emerald and Diamond Eyes", because my different colored eyes.The four years I spent with them were the best in my life up to that point.

The mining crew moved around a lot, and we went to nearly two thousand sites all over this planet. We mined everything from diamonds to copper to iron. We all were pretty generous people, we donated some of our profits to the less fortunate, like orphans and widows. We didn't cause trouble, but there was one town, Walden, we all dreaded going to because some of the men there didn't like us, I never knew why. They called us scum and parasites and said we didn't belong anywhere, and they thought that miners like us kept rich people from moving to the town. We ignored them, but it was hard at times. One time, they tried to start a fight with Jack, but he pretended they weren't there and that pissed them off because Jack ignored them. They threatened to make sure we would never come back to Walden ever again. We had know they meant it.

It happened nearly three years ago on the last day were supposed to be near Walden. We had been packing up to move on to the next site, and Jack and I were loading some equipment, when we saw a strange man snooping around. We chased him off, and I checked the to make sure we were on schedule, when several explosions rocked the site. Then out of nowhere, men in trucks drove and started shooting. I saw Garnet get hit in the chest, and he was killed instantly. Ramirez was running when someone shot him in the back, and then another man threw a grenade that landed near him, and he was killed in the blast. Someone with a gatling gun corned Mikhail and mowed him down. Jack and I were trying to find cover, when a guy jumped from behind one of the earth movers and pointed a shotgun at me. Jack pushed me out of the path, and the shot got him in his right lung. It was all over in a few minutes, but it felt like a few hours. The shooters ran away, and Jack laid don the ground dying. The last thing he said to me was, "Ace, you've been like a little brother to me, and we've had some good times. Good-bye, little bro." And with that, he was dead. Other casualties were Andy and Leon. The time of the attack was six seconds, after six minutes, after six in the evening.

Those of us who remained went straight to the sheriff, but he told us he couldn't do anything since the attack was done outside of the city limits. We knew something and to be done, so we found out who was involved and we tracked them down. They had been the same guys who threatened us, and we found them celebrating their so-called "success". Celebrations were short-lived. We bought some guns and some explosives I made and we attacked their camp like they did ours. We surprised them, and managed to kill a couple of them right away. I was looking for one person, the man who killed Jack. I found him trying to load his shotgun and all I remember doing is pulling the trigger on my gun. I knew I got the guy with one shot, but I was so enraged, I kept on shooting. I spent the entire clip on the guy.

The next morning, Josh, Phillip, and I went our separate ways. I told them that only I would be held responsible for the attack. Rumors about the attack spread fast. They all told that one person did all the damage, and that was when I earned the nickname, "The One Man Demolition Team". I knew that there was a chance I would sought after, so I went to the nearest gun smith and had him craft an M19 Combat Magnum. After it was completed, I went off to find a new way of living.

One day, I was looking in the "help wanted" section, when I saw an ad for an explosives expect needed and I decided to apply. The next day, I met Miller. He liked the way I worked with explosives and hired right on the spot. I also told him about my gunsmithing skills. I then met Sphinx, Ivan, and two others men named Johnny and Stingray. It was okay at first, but after a few months, things went sour. I was always told to stay at the compound while everyone else left to do their work. To be honest, I thought they worked in demolition, like clearing roads or something like that. Some things started to worry me. Every time they came back from working, Ivan always had a new item with him. I asked him where he go them, and he told me he found them and it was none of my business. Sphinx was a total bitch, she always ordered me around. I always had to work on her gun when it got broke. Johnny and Stingray would harass me, and Miller told me to just to what I was hired to do. Miller and I argued nearly several times everyday. One day, I was told to come along on an assignment, and I didn't know what I was getting myself into.

Ivan, Stingray, and Johnny left an hour before Miller, Sphinx, and I did. We went to a ridge, and before I knew what was happening, a caravan was being attacked. Most of the people had already been killed, and Miller and Sphinx starting picking off those who were left. I was too shocked to do or say anything. When it was all over, everyone but me started to go through the vehicles and started to steal anything of value, and I finally knew where Ivan got all of his stuff, he stole from dead people. I stood a ways from them, still in shock, when Miller stood in front of me and pulled out a gun.

"Well my friend, this is where it ends." he said.

I replied, "I don't understand, sir."

"You did provide enough information of your specialty, but now because of some personal reasons of mine, we have to get rid of you." he told me.

"Did you have this planned from the beginning?" I asked.

"Yes, but don't take it personally." he remarked.

"But why?" I asked.

"Let's just say that the main reason is that you and I have a few differences that might complicate our activities. It's a shame to kill a person of your usefulness. Good-bye." he said with an evil grin on his face.

Before he could shoot, I pulled out my gun and fired. The bullet struck Miller in the arm, and everybody started to shoot at me. I managed to dodge most of them, but I got hit a couple of times. Someone fired an anti-personnel at me, but I shot it back and started to run. I heard a loud BANG! and then I heard Miller screaming and I glanced back and saw him with hand over one of his eyes, I guess that the anti-personnel had wounded him. I ran like the wind, and never looked back after that. I happened to look at my watch and the time was six seconds, after six minutes, after six in the evening.

I made my way to the nearest town. Once I made it to New Wichita, I searched for a place to hide. That was when I first met Mark Rose. Like he said, some men tried to destroy his bar, but all I did was take my gun out, and gave them a crazy-eyed look Jack showed me. They took off like roaches when a light is turned on. After formal introductions, Mark and I became fast friends. He even gave the poncho and sunglasses I wear now. I basically wanted to keep my eyes hidden from the world. That was when I became a drifter once again. I heard that Miller was planning to look for me, so I thought of a plan to get rid of him. I made an explosive and disguised it as a parcel, and had it sent to Miller's compound. I guess it did some damage, since I didn't see Stingray and Johnny at Crystal Vista. I kept moving for more than two years, never staying more than one week at any town or city.

One day nearly eight months ago, I was in a small saloon out in the middle of nowhere, and I heard two guys talking about a man with a cybernetic eye, along with a tall guy, and a woman sniper looking for me, I told them my name was Luke Hahn, and that I had heard that Ace Landen was handing for Dakota City. A few days later, I heard the city was half destroyed in a riot after a fight had started. I was grief stricken at what I had done, because my lie to protect myself made many innocent people suffer. I still haven't fully forgiven myself for that. I eventually made my way to Walsh own, and that's when I met you guys.

This was where Ace stopped his story. Vash, Meryl, Milly, and Kate all looks of amazement and pity on their faces.

"Wow, that story is so sad." Meryl said.

"Yeah, but I don't need you guys to feel sorry for me." Ace said, "I've gotten over most of it."

"Now after hearing that story, I can't believe what some of the rumors say about you." Milly said.

"Yeah, even I can't believe what they say." Ace replied, "Like the one that says I've slept with over fifty women. That's just funny. Truth be told, I am a virgin."

Vash' s jaw dropped.

Really?" he asked.

Yes, it's true." Ace said.

Ace looked over at Kate, whose eyes started tear up.

"I'm sorry, Kate." Ace said, "I'm sorry I caused so much grief for you. It was my fault that Dakota City was damaged and your father died."

"It's all right." Kate said, " I can forgive you. I never that knew you went through all that in your life."

She started crying and Ace went over and held on to her.

"There's no need to cry." Ace said, comforting her.

"I know, but you've had a rough life." Kate said, "And you're a nice person, you didn't deserve all of that trouble."

"No one does." Ace replied.

Later, everyone had fallen asleep. That is, everyone except Vash. For some reason he couldn't sleep. He decided to get up and go for walk. Suddenly, he heard someone humming. He went over to a ledge, and saw Ace sitting alone on a large rock, and singing to himself. Vash and Ace were almost alike, and Ace reminded Vash of one of his dearest friends. Vash decided he would talk with Ace and try to get to know him better.

"Once a year, say a prayer for me." Ace sang to himself, "Close your eyes, and remember me."

"Mind if I sit here/" Vash asked.

"Might as well." Ace said.

Vash climbed onto the rock and sat down next to Ace.

"Ace, you mind if I ask you something?" Vash asked.

"Sure, go ahead." Ace replied.

"Do you have ideals?" Vash said.

"Oh, yeah." Ace said, "I have a few."

"Me too." Vash said, "You mind if you and I talk and get to know each other better?" Vash asked.

"You read my mind." Ace said, "I was going to talk to you sometime anyway, and we have all night."

And so, Vash and Ace started their conversion.

TO BE CONTINUED...