AN: This chapter borrows heavily from my one-shot fic, 'The Pawn.' However it should be noted that the chapter below is NOT a direct copy of my original one-shot. There are differences. The one-shot inspired this fic, then I tweaked it to fit within this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun; I do not own Meryl, Vash, Knives, Legato or any other character from the Trigun universe. Yasuhiro Nightow and Young King Ours own the copyright to Trigun and all the various characters therein. If you want to give money to someone for these wonderful characters, give money to them.
Double Helix
chapter one
~ plans within plans ~
He smiled cruelly as he read and reread the report obsessively, staring at the perfectly typed letters and the neatly spaced words of Ms. Meryl Stryfe's latest report. The starkness of black on white was mesmerizing as hope blossomed in his heart once more. Nothing felt quite as satisfying as a plan solidifying into reality.
The concept of using a Homo-sapien to fulfill the needs of his people felt more like righteous vengeance with each passing day. Once the anger and disgust drained away, Knives was able to rationalize the proposition with greater efficiency. He still didn't like Conrad's suggestion, but the ends would justify the means and that was all that really mattered.
As the days bled into weeks, Knives' opinion began to change. Where once he saw the women in Vash's company as a hindrance, he know saw them as a blessing. It was as though fate itself was aiding him in his plans. Still, the women brought too much baggage with them. Baggage that could jeopardize his plans if not properly dealt with. Knives could not allow himself to forget that. Vash was the greatest obstacle to his goals and could not be taken lightly, either. Knives was confident that his younger brother would most certainly try to stop him, but in order to do that he would have to come home.
That, in itself, could be the best gift of all if Knives properly prepared for it. Perhaps Vash could be made to understand... perhaps he would even help...
Knives' eyes crinkled as his smile grew. Their reunion was long overdue and much work still needed to be done. It was far too soon to feel confident just yet. Time was working against him. The situation still required a level of delicacy that could only be handled by him. He couldn't trust anyone else to carry out his plans without his direct supervision.
Raising the report closer to his face, he inhaled its scent deeply. He could have sworn that he could detect the human female's delicate fragrance there, but he knew logically that such a thing was impossible. Even for him. Still he focused on that imaginary scent as he let his mind churn with thoughts of genocide and liberation. Everything was coming together, with any luck his plans would be in motion within the next few months.
Eden was finally at hand.
"S-Sir, would you like me to send... someone else?"
His thoughts interrupted, Knives glared at the offending human angrily. The old man was intelligent enough to back up a few steps, fall to his knees and apologize profusely for having spoken without first being spoken to. Panic radiated from the old Bernardelli's mind and Knives was certain the old man would die from fright.
Weak and pathetic humans, so easily broken and manipulated.
Knives felt the anger slowly drain out of his being leaving only satisfaction in its wake. He desperately wanted to kill the man, to run him through with his knives and feel his blood gush... but now was not the appropriate time.
"No," he replied sharply, his voice clear and strong. A shadow of a smile playing about his lips, "I have other plans."
A quick motion of his hand, and the cowering human found himself relieved to simply be dismissed from Knives' presence. He crawled soundlessly and awkwardly out of the room leaving the master to ponder once more the disgusting, self-serving nature of Homo-sapiens.
From the darkness behind him, Knives felt the stirrings of a slightly confused and questioning mind gently whisper across his awareness, a fluttering. It was no surprise. He turned his face slightly toward the questioning and spoke. "It is time for us to move forward with the seedling. I need you to collect some data for me."
"Master?"
Knives ignored Legato as he stared distractedly into the timeless world seeking insight. With this new knowledge about the women in Vash's company additional plans would have to be formulated while some old ones become adjusted.
"The women with Vash have some interesting potential." Knives murmured distractedly, his eyes still focused on the flutter of movement behind the glass. "Especially Ms. Stryfe." Turning his attention back to the stark contrast of the pages still held within his grasp, Knives smiled. The dimensions of the pages multiplied before his eyes as he stared into its depths.
"Master?" Legato asked, confusion evident in his tone. "How can I serve you?"
"I need you and Hornfreak to visit the Red Dune Labs. I want you to destroy the facility, but before you do I need you to locate Rem Saverem's file and biological samples for me."
Legato immediately bristled at the mention of the woman who once served as foster mother to Knives. His mind already screamed the question that his voice was barely able to whisper, "Why Saverem, Master..?"
Knives gave him a sharp look. "Do not question me."
Yellow-eyes disappeared behind lowered lids as Legato bowed his head in submission.
"Have Bernardelli sent in," Knives said, turning his attention back to the angel floating behind the wall of glass. He pressed his hand against the glass, fingers splayed wide. The angel within responded in kind and a warm glow surrounded them both, gently bathing Legato in the golden light. "I have a small job for him to perform one last time."
• • •
Eyes sparkled with delight behind a veil of blue-black hair. They crinkled, taking on an almost friendly quality as Legato's grin deepened. His Master was so wise, so glorious, so perfect.
The lab technicians lay bleeding and disemboweled at the foot of his coffin, their freshly mangled corpses oozing a plethora of rancid fluids. It was a beautiful and wholesomely satisfying sight. He studied each corpse with intent, memorizing every detail, every smell, and every strangled gurgle.
The cacophony of the Hornfreak's saxophone echoed down the once sterile corridors to ring happily in his ears. Instead of the sweet sound of bodies being torn apart, Legato could only detect the high-pitched sound of glass shattering and the distinct rumble of concrete breaking apart and disintegrating.
The first stage was nearing completion.
Take me to the west wing, Legato ordered.
The pallbearer moved soundlessly as it pushed Legato's coffin out of the room, leaving the scent of intestines and bodily fluids behind them. Thoughts of ice cream and chocolate filled Legato's mind and his stomach growled immediately in response. Dessert sounded delicious to him right now.
Florescent light flickered impatiently, creating a strobe effect throughout the corridors. The occasional moan, desperate plea or animal-like whimper entertained the devout plant-worshiper as he swiftly moved through the building. Legato smiled joyfully at every tear-filled eyed that peered in his direction before causing an artery in their brain to explode or suddenly crushing their lungs. It would be wasteful to let these things live; there was no point in leaving the task only half done.
Omniscience suddenly flooded Legato's mind, Stop, his eyes darted about the room excitedly, matching each physical detail with the psychically obtained map stored within his mind. This is the place. Go through the next door to the left.
The coffin moved accordingly and soon Legato found himself in a very cramped, closet-like room. Filing cabinets as tall as a man stood side by side from one end of the room to the other, eight in all. Each one coated with a varied layer of dust giving a subtle hint to the frequency of visits, and each one clearly labeled. Open cabinet five, the drawer labeled S-Sh. Locate file folder Saverem' and read it to me.
A gnarled hand reached out and carefully pulled the drawer open. It fingered painstakingly through the files for several minutes before pausing and turning its head slightly toward its master.
Legato quickly supplied the answer. Saverem, Rem. Middle initial, K'
The pallbearer began its search once more, pausing once only to confirm that it had indeed found the correct file. The appropriate file removed and the drawer shut, the pallbearer turned to face its master fully before opening the file and reading the contents.
Saverem, Rem Katherine.
Project Seeds, Special Ops, Science/Biological Division. Junior Level Plant Bioengineer.
Identification Number: 410-293-9233-5
Security Level: 5
Born: Osaka, Japan
Legato rolled his eyes impatiently. He already knew all the basic information about that Jezebel. It was inconsequential. Look for something about cloning or ovum harvesting. Seek out any information about her contribution to the embryo banks.
Pages turned quietly as the requested information was carefully sought after.
Vanilla ice cream would be wonderful for dessert. Or perhaps sherbet? No, ice cream and sherbet were far too messy for his likes these days. Cheesecake?
A soft rustling of paper caught Legato's attention and he peered anxiously at his pallbearer. Quickly summarize it for me, please. I'm hungry.
Sixteen ova removed for In Vitro Fertilization. Fifteen successfully fertilized.
It paused and raised its head slightly in question. Do you wish to know the names of the sperm donors?
Not at this time. The file will be coming with us along with her biological samples. Continue.
It lowered its head and continued reading. Fifteen successfully fertilized and twelve successfully frozen into cryostasis during Project Seeds' migration from the Earth. Five were removed from cryostasis for implantation into surrogates after planet fall. All five embryos brought to term.
Legato let his tongue slide over his lips. Master had been correct. Jezebel did have children polluting His planet. At least five little abominations were running around. Or five adult abominations...
When were these embryos implanted? the cripple asked.
The pallbearer quickly skimmed the file. The first two were implanted in the 65th year after the Great Fall. The last three were implanted in the 105th, 128th and 135th year after the Great Fall.
Does it list the names of the surrogate mothers?
Davis and Ryoushi in the 65th year, the pallbearer read, Mouko in 105th year. Tanaka in the 128th year and Moloch in the 135th year.
Moloch?
It simply repeated the individual names, Davis. Ryoushi. Mouko. Tanaka. Moloch.
In an instant, the pallbearer was on its knees, an unseen force constricting its air supply and bending its flesh. Moloch! That is not possible! Tell me her given name! What is her given name?
Kesla. The pallbearer continued to crumble calmly under Legato's psychic assault. Neither panic nor fear radiated from its being. It simply twisted and bent unnaturally in pure submission to his rage.
Legato seethed, his breath hissing out between clenched teeth. That's not possible.
A broken, child-like whine escaped from Legato's graceful mouth as tears stung at his eyes. He blinked them back stubbornly, felt his body twitch unintentionally within the binds of his coffin, and feared a seizure coming on. A loud snap filled the room as one of the pallbearer's bones finally gave way. That's NOT possible!
A second snap; a third. Blood slowly spread out across the floor, already blackened with death.
NO! THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE!
• • •
'If I survive, a new pallbearer will have to be created for me,' Legato mussed into the darkness.
He was not afraid. The numbness had engulfed him. It was the same type of numbness he learned to embrace when he was a child. It was an oasis in the cacophony, a buffer. When the noise became too much for his young mind, he would will the numbness to encircle him. It wasn't until he was personally called into Knives' service was he experienced true freedom from the constant psychic drone of millions of human minds.
The numbness surrounding him now was like a familiar friend. He felt a bittersweet gratefulness for its presence. It dulled the pain and made hazy his thoughts, but still he could not escape the sound of his own blood thrumming through his veins. The blood linking him to her.
He never hated himself more. If Knives killed him, it would be most merciful.
To think, he was even more tainted than her. She had the benefit of three generations of dilution. Legato had no such comfort.
Even so, the yellow-eyed servant was glad to witness Knives' plan beginning to come together. The fact that Stryfe was a descendant of Saverem and friend of Vash meant she was his weakness. She would do as the Master wished and break the rogue Angel easily, even if she was wholly unaware and unwilling.
The Master's wisdom and foresight was unfathomable. Legato wondered if Knives had been following the bloodlines infected by Rem all along. If that were the case, then he would probably already know about the Moloch bloodline. Perhaps Legato's genetic relationship to Rem Saverem wasn't an offense to Knives after all. Perhaps Legato was still useful.
The soft sounds of footsteps coming toward the room interrupted his wishful thinking. Legato straightened up as best he could and waited for his entrance.
Hearing the movement stop just beyond the door, Legato bowed his head deeply and closed his eyes. His act of reverence and the loving tone of his voice carried his message of absolute loyalty to his Master, "My Lord." Another set of footsteps stopped just behind Knives. Legato open his eyes and did little to hide his animosity from his voice. "Eleandra."
"I have heard some interesting things." The Master's even voice resonated from behind him as the plant began to circle Legato's coffin. The cripple craved to see Him, to look upon His beauty, to study His expression, but Knives was unwilling to grant him that blessing. "Tell me what you found."
Legato closed his eyes again and willed his voice to be strong. "The Hornfreak destroyed all of the embryo and ovum cryostasis storage containers at the Red Dune Labs. I went in search of the files you requested."
"You found them."
It was a statement, Legato knew. The Master was already aware of what they had found. He was being tested, he was certain.
"Yes. We recovered Saverem's files and brought back samples of her DNA." Footsteps once again echoed in the room as Knives walked to his desk. "Four of her embryos are still unaccounted for, but we have solid leads as to where they are being stored. We also recovered all the files on the known donors and the surrogates."
Knives sifted through the photographs on his desk. "I see." He glanced casually at Legato, "I also saw that Moloch was listed as a known surrogate." Cocking his head to the side, Knives smiled knowingly. "Isn't that your mother's maiden name?"
A reflexive swallow and a tremor rippled through Legato's body. "Y-yes."
"Isn't that an interesting coincidence? Wouldn't you say?"
The hairs on the back of Legato's neck stood on end and he felt dizzy. "I— I never... my mother never said she volunteer." He paused, his eyes wide, "I am a Bluesummers!"
The corner of Knives' mouth quirked upward at Legato's discomfort and obvious shame for a delicate second as he poked carelessly at the pile of photographs. The expression disappeared quickly into a stony mask once he found what he needed and deftly pulled two pictures from the pile.
"I have learned that life is full of many unexpected surprises." The free-born plant tapped the edge of the pictures against the desk and smiled broadly at Legato. "I have heard many rumors and stories over the years. I called for you because of some of those rumors, but this was an unexpected surprise."
Legato watched with rapt interest as his Master began to circle him, an introspective look upon his features. A trickle of sweat found its way from Legato's forehead to his cheek causing him to wish he had use of his hands. Knives footfalls fell heavily upon the floor as he slowly approached his cripple, completing his circular path. As he stood directly in front of Legato, he held up one of the photographs for him to see. "This is your biological mother, Legato. And this," he held up the second photograph, "is your cousin... more or less."
Knives smiled and turned the photographs around so he could look at them himself. "My dear brother would be surprised to learn about your family history... and hers." He studied Legato's face for a moment. "You do not seem to be very pleased."
Disbelieving yellow eyes searched His sacred face. 'Not pleased?'
"I do not wish to be related to that... that beast!"
Knives tsked and walked back to the desk in the corner of the room, depositing the photographs in their proper place. "That's no way to speak about your family. It can't be helped."
Legato clenched his jaw angrily, loathing the thrumming sound of his blood pounding through his veins. Her blood.
"I hate her!"
Knives smiled faintly as he began circling around Legato's casket once more, letting the silence of the room seep into the human.
"Do you know why I sent you and Midvalley to the Red Dune Labs?"
Legato paused as he considered his Master's question, suddenly feeling very uncertain. His mind felt like it was slowly being crushed under a great weight and thinking clearly was becoming increasingly difficult. He forced himself to quickly go over the events of the day, matching them up against the orders he had received days before.
He accomplished what he was sent out to do... didn't he?
"We were sent to destroy the embryo and ovum storage facilities and all related documentation," Legato said, brows furled, "We were to leave no survivors..."
"You killed your pallbearer before you had a chance to read the entire file for yourself," Knives interjected.
"Y— yes..."
"Do you know why I seek out Dr. Conrad's insight and experience into Plant biology and DNA?" Knives asked, "Do you know why I had him perform those tests on Vash all those years ago?"
"To discover your full potential," Legato said simply.
"Correct, but it was more than that. I had to understand why Tessla, Vash and I were the only ones able to exist beyond the glass. Why are there not more like us? Conrad doesn't know. No one really does. We are an anomaly."
"You have ascended into the divine," Legato quickly supplied.
The free-born plant smiled, amused. "Homo-sapiens created the first Plant; you know that."
"God created Man." Legato whispered to himself, letting his eyes close as he quoted the passage reverently. "Man angered God because he wanted to be like Him and God turned away from Man, leaving us in misery and sin. So Man, instead of repenting and atoning for their sins and seeking divine forgiveness from the Most High, set about to create their own servants to worship them. God blessed their creation to spite and curse Man and They ascended into the divine..."
"You believe that crap?" Eleandra interrupted, not bothering to hide his impatience and disgust.
"Blasphemer!" Legato roared, causing his coffin to pitch slightly forward in his rage. "You have no right to serve the Master!"
Eleandra sneered and took a few quick steps toward the living corpse, death reflecting in his eyes.
"Quiet!" Knives' angry glare stopped the transvestite in his tracks before turning his attention to Legato. "Who gave you permission to speak? Was I finished?"
A bowed head and a broken voice, "P— please forgive me, Lord."
Knives glared at the humans. The two of them together always brought forth frustration for him, but their destructive talents were a necessary component to his little army.
"The text of your faith is correct though," the plant observed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Man did create us to be their servants, to be their tools. We were to be a highly complicated battery with a humanoid body and sealed within a glass bubble because they purposely made us incapable of surviving beyond that bubble."
Knives sneered, "In essence, we became their self-made slaves. However, they never expected our kind to rise above their intentions. They never expected us to evolve from what they first wanted us to be. We were not supposed to think and reason, to feel. They never even considered the idea that we would become sentient."
"Therefore," Knives continued, "Tessla, Vash and I are the first free-born plants. The only free-born plants. There should be more like us, but the maggots interfered. Their experiments and oppression have retarded the natural process. They have effectively sterilized over half of my kind."
Legato opened his mouth to speak, but Knives cut him off, "Of course, they never expected that our energies would in turn mutate them."
Silence filled the room as both humans absorbed Knives' words. The free-born plant waited, watching their expressions.
"Humans with close contact to Plants become mutated?" Legato asked.
"To an extent," Knives clarified, "Though many of the mutations are not seen until offspring are produced."
The wheels were turning in Legato's mind. "Saverem... her offspring...?"
Knives grinned, a sadistic gleam shining in his eyes. "You were sent to the labs to obtain Rem Saverem's medical information and samples of her DNA. Dr. Conrad is currently testing that DNA. If Conrad's hypothesis is correct, the great-granddaughter of Rem could be of great use. She may be able to help my kind return to the true path of our evolutionary process."
AN: In case you are wondering about the significance of some of the names, here is a quick explanation:
Ryoushi: Japanese for hunter, huntsman cough huntress? ^_~
Mouko: Japanese for fierce tiger
Moloch: A lizard OR in the Bible, the god of the Canaanites and Phoenicians to whom children were sacrificed
Sure, I picked the names because of their meanings, but not every name is significant to this particular story. I just liked the sound of some of the names...