Double Helix

chapter twenty-two
~ congregation ~

The xenon had no effect on him anymore, though Vash still pretended that they did, even in front of Gwen. During the past few days, Vash had noticed a change in both Knives and Conrad, though neither one mentioned what was going on to cause such a change.

It worried Vash to see them both acting so preoccupied, especially Knives. Conrad seemed anxious while Knives seemed worried. Vash was tempted to ask his brother what was going on, but kept his mouth and mind closed in order to prevent his twin from discovering that he was far more alert and cognitive than he should be. Vash didn't want Knives or Conrad to figure out that he had developed a tolerance to the drug before he had a chance to come up with a successful escape plan.

Vash floated in a meditative silence as he constructed a map of his environment in his mind. He had acquired clues about his surroundings from his own observations and talking to Gwen and Knives over the past few weeks.

Four floors surrounded the bulb. The bottom floor was where the plant chamber was and through the plant chamber, access to the plant core could be reached. The computer Knives most frequently used was also located in the plant chamber. Residential suites and medical facilities were located on the second floor. Vash was certain that Meryl's suite was on the floor directly above the plant chamber. The third floor housed additional medical and research facilities. The fourth floor was at ground level and Vash still hadn't quite figured out what Knives kept there.

Vash remembered from his fight with Knives outside the compound that there were solar panels lining the roof of the complex. Solar energy powered most of the Geoplant's needs. Gwen, in fact, supplied every little energy to the compound. Still, Knives trusted her with a very important task. It was her job to keep him in.

She was the power source responsible for keeping Vash's side of the bulb tightly locked and secured.

Escape from the core would require Gwen to stop powering the chamber for a few minutes or for the circuits leading to the security mechanism to be disabled or destroyed. Loss of power to the plant chamber and core would result in the locks being forced to reset, which would make them easier to force. Vash knew he couldn't do anything to the circuits from inside his prison, so he would have to go to the power source.

Gwen.

• • •

"You picked an exciting time to become part of the Body, Miss Jacobs!"

"Yes," she said with an enthusiastic grin. "I know!"

"It must be providence," Keegan noted sagely with a pleased expression on his face. "I suspect we'll be seeing many new converts in the years to come."

Milly nodded and continued to smile at him. Despite the warning looks Wolfwood kept throwing her way, Milly could not help but to like Keegan. He reminded her a lot of her eldest brother with his friendly smiles and warm eyes, except he was much older... and much shorter. Then again, not many people were as tall as her brothers were. She was the second tallest girl in the family and her shortest brother was still almost a half-foot taller than her.

What Milly really liked about Keegan was his enthusiasm. He seemed to enjoy talking with Milly very much as he had been tagging along with her and Wolfwood since he kept her from stumbling in the tunnel. She knew Wolfwood was wary of him, and Milly knew she should feel wary of him as well... but for some reason, she didn't. He was sincere, though misguided.

"You're feeling a little... overwhelmed, aren't you?"

Milly smiled at the concerned tone in Keegan's voice. "Yes, I suppose, a little. There just seems to be so much going on at once around here."

"But it is an exciting time, Sarah," Wolfwood cut in, making sure that Keegan did not forget about his presence. "A new day is upon us."

"Amen to that!"

Milly smiled and nodded, too afraid to say anything for fear of giving them away. She wasn't used to biting her tongue and it made her feel even more uncomfortable.

Keegan's grin somehow grew wider, and he winked at the pair. "Well, I think this is where we part ways. You can purchase some supplies over there," he said as he motioned down the street. "Prices are going to be astronomical. More people turned up for the birth than originally expected so the cost of everything has tripled. And just in case you are wondering about where to stay for the night, there is an Inn a couple blocks back that way, but you won't be able to get a room. Most people are sleeping on the street tonight."

Wolfwood smiled at Keegan, "Well thanks for your help. I appreciate it."

"Oh, no problem. Try to get some rest tonight, we have a long journey in the morning."

Wolfwood's smile faltered for a split second at the mention of a journey, "Sure thing. See you tomorrow then."

Keegan embraced Milly suddenly, causing her to worry that he might feel her gun. When he pulled back from her he smiled broadly, "Welcome to the family, lass." With that, Keegan walked away, leaving the pair in relative silence as they watched him disappear into the crowd.

"Let's get what we came here for," Wolfwood said quietly as he grabbed Milly's hand and started to lead her down the street.

As they wove in and between groups of people, Milly leaned close to Wolfwood and whispered, "You don't like him."

"I don't trust him."

Milly's lips quirked downwards, "He seems like a nice man."

"He certainly seems that way."

Milly remained quiet as they continued down the street. To both sides of her, she noticed people staking out a spot of concrete or flat rock as their own as they pulled out their blankets and prepared for the night. Keegan wasn't kidding when he said that most people were going to sleep on the street.

"What journey do you think he was talking about?" Milly whispered as she smiled down at a young girl sitting next to her mother on the sidewalk.

"I think they're going on a pilgrimage tomorrow morning," Wolfwood whispered back.

Milly's brows rose. "Really?" she asked. "Where will they go?"

As Wolfwood guided her around a young family inspecting a corner of the street as a potential sleeping spot, he leaned closer to her and said, "Canaan most likely, or close to it."

Milly didn't immediately respond to what Wolfwood said. She grinned instead, her lips curling upwards and eyes crinkling around the edges. She then pointed down the road at nothing in particular and Wolfwood looked at her askance. It was then that he realized someone he did not recognize was walking right behind her and paranoia flooded his veins.

"Maybe we should find a good place to sleep for the night," she said, eyes bright and mouth still curved into a grin.

He smiled back. "You think that area looks good?"

"Yes," she said. "Maybe we could sleep next to the General Store there? We should check, don't you think?"

Wolfwood readily agreed and they adjusted their coarse to head toward the store. They were both relieved when the man who had been walking so close to Milly had wandered away, seemingly unaware (or unconcerned) that he had been invading their space. Still, it was good to put some distance between themselves and the growing crowd of people looking for a place to bed for the night.

As Milly appeared to inspect the dusty sidewalk next to the store, she whispered, "Why Canaan?"

Wolfwood sighed and rubbed the back of his head, "These people regard Meryl in the same light as the Catholics revere and respect Jesus' mother, Mary. As far as they're concerned, Meryl is going to give birth to a god."

Milly paused, considering. "So... this pilgrimage is like when the wise men visited the newborn Christ?"

"Exactly," he said. "So keep your ears open, we might be able to use this to our advantage."

Milly nodded but said nothing. Her focus was directed on the display in the window of the General Store. She glanced at Wolfwood and gave a small smile, "Do you think they might have pudding?"

The question made him grin - not just because of the silliness of it given their situation, but because of the good memories it invoked. He already knew that the store did not carry such a product. They specialized in general supplies and ammunition, but it was clear that Milly wanted to go inside and look and he had no problem letting her.

"Let's see," he said as he followed her inside.

The store had seen better days. The growing crowd of plant worshipers had done a fairly thorough job of cleaning out their inventory as there were very few items on the shelves. Even so, Milly seemed to enjoy the minor distraction as she browsed the shelves. As she drew near the front counter, she looked at the shop owner and smiled. He knew the man to be gruff, at least with him, but he always seemed to soften a bit when a woman was present. When he didn't return Milly's smile Wolfwood felt the hairs on the back of his neck begin to rise.

"I don't think they have what we need," he said, reaching to take hold of her elbow. As his fingers brushed her coat he heard a shuffling of movement behind them and the distinct click of the cylinder of a revolver snapping close. Then the door to the shop swung shut with a dull thump.

Four large men took up positions behind them and locked the door, effectively preventing an easy escape. Two more men stepped out from the back of the store and stood behind the front counter. All of the men were armed, but only one of them had drawn their gun. He kept it pointed at the floor, but Wolfwood knew immediately that they had walked into a trap.

"Well, well," drawled the shopkeeper. "If it ain't Chapel tha Evergreen. We've been waitin' for you since you was spotted jus outside the cliffs. It's been a long time, huh?"

Silence descended upon the small general store as all eyes continued to stare holes into the man the shopkeeper was speaking of. Wolfwood recognized him from previous visits, but never spent much time talking to him. In all the years that Wolfwood had been coming to Corinth to get the ammunition he needed for his weapons, he never once took the time to learn the man's name. He found his attitude and brusque speech to be annoying and often Wolfwood's only desire was to leave the store as soon as possible.

"What you be doin' here Chapel, servant of Lord Knives?"

"What do you think I'm here for?" Wolfwood asked with a condescending tone. "There's no reason for me to come to this shit-hole town unless I need ammunition for the cross-punisher."

The shopkeeper laughed. "O' course," he said snidely. "But we have some questions first."

Wolfwood lifted his brows in mock surprise. "You do?" he asked. "Well, please continue."

Milly looked at him with uncertainty shining in her eyes, but he ignored her. Now was not the time to appear weak or hesitant. He was a Gung-ho Gun and he would remind them of that.

"There be some rumors 'bout you," the shopkeeper said. "Rumors no man here takes too kindly to. And you brought a strange woman with you. She ain't one o' you and she ain't one o' us. And she's carrying."

"Only a fool travels Gunsmoke without a weapon," Wolfwood said. "She is with me. That is all you need to know."

"Tha' ain't ta point!" The shopkeeper stepped around the front counter and stood directly in front of Milly. "We don't know her," he said. "We don't like strangers. Especially heretics brought here by a traitor!"

Squaring his shoulders, Wolfwood smirked but said nothing. This seemed to only enrage the shopkeeper more.

"We're loyal to Lord Knives," he said. "Are you?"

The question hung in the air for barely a second before Milly pulled her gun and pointed it at the shopkeeper's head. The cold determination in her eyes made Wolfwood's heart twinge sadly in his chest, but he knew better than to let that show. Instead, he took a half step forward and peered down at the shopkeeper.

"She is with me," he repeated.

"Not afr'd ta die," he said. "Prove ya'self!"

Reaching into his coat pocket, he said, "I was sent by Master Legato to assassinate any threats to the impending birth and to infiltrate the heretics. Lord Knives himself ordered me to protect and guide the Lost One home." Withdrawing the jagged half of an ancient earth coin, Wolfwood held it up for all to see.

"You know what this is, don't you?" he asked.

Whispers filled the room at the sight of the coin half as people stared at it wide-eyed.

"It looks like you do," Wolfwood remarked as he replaced the coin half back into his pocket and then reached into his coat and withdrew his handgun. Milly automatically lowered her weapon as she watched him curiously. The room fell into silence once more as he aimed it at the shopkeeper, who stood stock-still and expressionless as the barrel stared at him from only a few feet away.

Head bowed and eyes closed, the shopkeeper whispered, "Forgive— "

One shot rang out, marking the end of the shopkeeper's life and an uneasy silence filled the room. Milly didn't gasp or jump when the shot was fired and Wolfwood felt a sense of pride for her well up inside of him.

"Any one else wish to question where my loyalties lie?" he asked. The silence stretched out and Wolfwood holstered his weapon. "Good."

The men guarding the entrance stood still for a moment longer, then one finally had the sense to unlock the door and back away. Now that they had been reminded of his status as a Gung-ho Gun, they were quick to make room for both he and Milly.

"There's a room upstairs," someone said. Wolfwood turned to see a young man standing just outside of the doorway leading to the stockroom. He motioned behind him and continued, "And a bath... you're both welcome to it."

Wolfwood reached for Milly and carefully guided her past the body of the shopkeeper as they followed the young man into the stockroom and up the stairs.