Author's Note: Here's another short chapter. A VERY short chapter. I threw this in so that when the story gets where I want to take it, you won't wonder how it got there. If you have suggestions on how to make this chapter better, email them to me. Thanks!
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When Nicholas D. Wolfwood, now Chapel the Evergreen, entered his master's trophy room, the lights were off. He tried in vain to see through the veil of darkness, but was forced to give up. "I'm here, Master," he called out into the room.
"Of course you have come, Chapel," the rich voice seemed disembodied. Chapel dropped down to one knee as his master's footsteps sounded. He passed his servant without stopping and walked through the door.
"You should consider yourself lucky, Chapel," the white haired man told the gunman as he started to walk down the hallway. "You are the only human animal on the planet that knows the location of this place. I found this ship nearly fifty years after humans landed on this planet; it had been deserted and all of the sleepers dead. It took me twenty years to get most of the electronics repaired, except for the destroyed control room.
The white haired man turned a corner then walked through another door. "It was here," he said, running his hand down a wall, "that Vash's arm was attached to Legato's body. It was here that Legato was taught the truth about plants, and it was here that he began to organize his Gun-Ho Guns for service. And this place will be here long after all of the spiders have been wiped off of the face of this planet."
Chapel simply nodded, not understanding either the reference to spiders or where his master was going with this. "Your will be done, Master," he said deferentially.
"I fail to understand," the taller man turned to Chapel, "how it is that you failed to kill Vash not once, but twice. All of the Gun-Ho Guns were killed for a single failure. How is it you don't deserve the same?"
Chapel the Evergreen dropped down to one knee again. "Whatever you give me, I deserve. It is for you to decide, not me."
The master's voice became almost friendly. "That is a good answer. That has saved your life.
"I have a new mission for you," he said turning to face the dark haired man and placing his hand on the back of his head. "You are no longer to kill Vash the Stampede. Instead, you are to make sure he comes to me. The two women who accompany him are not to enter this place, but Vash himself must. Do you understand?"
Chapel stood up and nodded.
The white haired man waved his hand dismissively. "Simply tell him that his brother is looking forward to seeing him, and he will ask you to bring him here. Now, go."
The servant was immediately out the door and on his way out to the desert.
Slowly, the master made his way back to his trophy room. With the lights up full, he slowly began looking around. His favorite mementos were placed around the room; whenever he felt anxious, he came here. If he was angry, he came here. Even when he wanted to relax, he came here. For some reason, this room made him feel better.
He smiled and poured himself a glass of wine. It was obvious why this room made him feel better. It underlined the futility of being human. He quickly downed the full glass, then threw the crystal object at the floor. The sound of shattered glass echoed throughout the room.
"After he gets here, I will do it," he said to no one in particular. "I will kill the spiders. Only the butterflies will be left. And this will be my Eden. Our Eden."