The Dishonorable Trade
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Trigun characters except those of my own creation.
A/N: Thank you to Jade Tiger4 and MskyDragons for your reviews!
Vash leaned his head against the car seat. He was bound hand and foot at the moment. Vince was driving and whistling a nameless tune. Vash thought about Meryl and Milly and wondered if they were all right.
"Of course they are," he chided himself, "Meryl and Milly can take care of themselves."
The thought did not leave him comforted. Vash lifted his head and asked, "Where are you taking us?"
Vince stopped whistling, "That's no concern of yours."
"Of course it's a concern of mine. You're about to dramatically change the lives of myself and my friends."
"There's no point for you to worry about that. Your own life is no longer in your hands."
Vash sighed as he leaned back, "So, I guess there's not point in trying to appeal to your sense of morality than, is it?"
Vince laughed, "What morality?"
Meryl was craning her neck to look at the car behind them. She wondered what Vash could be saying to Vince. That man had a heart of stone, Meryl could see it in his eyes.
"Meryl," whispered Milly, "What are we going to do?"
"Hey, no chitchat back there, got it?" Mike snapped as he swerved to miss a rock.
"Little girl, I wouldn't be worrying about your friend back there. You just stay occupied with yourself," Logan said without turning his head.
Meryl glared at him, "Don't we have the right to know where we're going?"
"No," Logan's tone gave no room for more questions or comments.
The two cars soon approached a caravan. It gave Milly a start. Was it the same caravan where she and Wolfwood encountered Moore and Julius? No, it was a different caravan, but it had the same advantages. It was a caravan, therefore, it was always moving, never in the same place for very long. Perfect for slave traders.
Mike and Logan drove up to some security guards. After a conversing for a few minutes, they drove through with Vince in tow. They pulled up to two large trucks. Mike and Logan got out and let Milly and Meryl out. Meryl gave a start when she realized that Vash was standing next to her.
"Are you two alright?" Vash asked her.
"Yeah," Meryl whispered, "But what are we going to do?"
"I need to do something about this, so I'm going to stay. I can get you and Milly out. But I need to stay," Vash whispered.
"No, if you're staying, then I'm staying," Meryl snapped, "Besides, I can't let them get away with this atrocity."
"I'm with Meryl," Milly piped up, startling Vash and Meryl, "We can't let them get away with this!"
Vash grinned, "Alright, I think we're going to be separated, but that can work to our advantage. We have to find a way to set those people free."
Mike noticed their little huddle, he shouted, "Hey! You three! What do you think you're doing?"
"We're just exchanging pleasantries, that's all," Vash said calmly.
Mike was not impressed, "Alright, smart ass, we need to separate the three of you."
Logan and Vince came over and Vince roughly grabbed Vash. Vash gave the girls a knowing look and went with Vince peacefully to the first truck. Logan and Mike took Milly and Meryl to the second truck where they found other women and children chained together.
Meryl gave a stunned look, "Oh my...."
Wolfwood was riding his bike toward a nameless town. He had been following leads on a caravan that was involved in slave trading. At first he thought it was the caravan from which Julius and Moore came from, but he had found out that the caravan had stopped the human cargo business when Julius was "killed" by Vash the Stampede.
Wolfwood was becoming frustrated. Conveniently, no one could tell him anything useful about what has been dubbed as the "ghost caravan". They were all afraid, which Wolfwood could understand, but come on people, stand up for yourselves! Wolfwood sighed and went into a bar and ordered a drink. He was on his third drink when he heard a familiar voice.
"Mr. Wolfwood? Is that you?"
Wolfwood looked up and gave a start. It was Julius and Moore.
"What a coincidence," he said, "I was just thinking about you two. Why don't you sit down."
Moore and Julius sat down and Moore asked, "How's Milly doing?"
"Last time I saw her, she was doing fine," Wolfwood said, smiling.
Julius grinned, "She's a funny lady. By the way, what brings you here?"
Wolfwood grimaced, "Well, unfortunately, nothing good. I'm trying to locate the infamous ghost caravan."
Moore and Julius exchanged dark looks, Julius said, "We've been trying to follow any news about it, too. They specialize in human cargo," Julius practically spat out the last sentence.
Wolfwood nodded, "I know. They took a little girl from my orphanage."
Moore shook her head, "Oh, no. Those slave traders are heartless," she looked over to Julius who nodded. She added, "I think we can help you. Mind you we only have a little information."
Wolfwood accepted gratefully, "Thank you, whatever you have will be great."
After they left the bar, they started over to the town's satellite. Wolfwood looked surprised.
"A village this small has its own satellite?"
Julius grinned, "Yes, and Moore and I both got jobs here so we can keep track of things..."
"Such as the patterns of slave traders," Wolfwood finished for him.
"Yes. Moore and I decided we couldn't ignore everything's that's going on just because we got away. Besides, you, Milly, Mr. Vash and Miss Meryl really helped us out, even though you could have ignored it, but you didn't," Julius smiled gratefully.
Moore and Julius led Wolfwood up to their office. Apparently their job was to gather information for the deejays. Wolfwood found that they uncovered all sorts of things. Some of which, he, nor they, really wanted to know. Finally, Moore dug out their files on the slave traders. This explained Moore, was a "pet project" of theirs. They spent time after work on it because they were busy finding information for the satellite deejays. Sometimes, their files got lost amidst the other files.
Two hours later with coffee in their hands, Wolfwood, Moore, and Julius were sifting through the information. Wolfwood stood up and stretched, than he lit a cigarette.
"Well," he said puffing away, "Apparently they do return to some of the same towns. The town where Natalie was abducted, the people seemed indifferent, it's something they've seen before."
"And are probably to afraid to do anything about it," Moore said thoughtfully.
"But how often do they return to the towns? I mean it's called the ghost caravan for a reason." Wolfwood stubbed his cigarette angrily into an ashtray.
Julius said, "Maybe it's not always planned when they go. I mean, look at this," he indicated to the files on the floor, "It seems sporadic and unplanned."
"But they wouldn't be that careless, would they?" Wolfwood asked, "This is big; bigger than your caravan. Could there be something we're missing?"
"Wait a moment," Moore said slowly, "Of course! There are a lot of unmapped and unnamed villages. Especially in this region! Most of these towns wish to remain anonymous for one reason or another. What could be more perfect for slave traders!"
"Of course," Julius said, "They most likely don't want the Cavalry to take notice of them, so they don't file reports of abduction."
Wolfwood took out another cigarette, "Good, now we're getting somewhere. Is there any way we can find the next unnamed village?"
Julius said, "We can help you there. It's 30 iles north by northeast."
Wolfwood looked surprised, Moore and Julius grinned. Moore said, "We checked out several nameless villages before settling here. Here, I'll pinpoint the villages we've been to."
Moore and Julius gave Wolfwood a bit of departing advice, "Don't ask too many questions. If you have to ask questions, be direct and assure them that you'll leave quickly. It also wouldn't hurt if you give them money either. So, here's some money we've been saving up." Julius handed the money to Wolfwood.
Wolfwood protested, "I can't! You need that money more than I do!"
Julius shook his head, "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be here and be free. Besides, there's a little girl to think about. No arguments!"
Wolfwood grinned, "Thank you for all your help. I'll see you again."
Moore said, "When you see Milly give her our regards!"
Wolfwood revved up his engine and took off, leaving Julius and Moore waving.
To Be Continued
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Trigun characters except those of my own creation.
A/N: Thank you to Jade Tiger4 and MskyDragons for your reviews!
Vash leaned his head against the car seat. He was bound hand and foot at the moment. Vince was driving and whistling a nameless tune. Vash thought about Meryl and Milly and wondered if they were all right.
"Of course they are," he chided himself, "Meryl and Milly can take care of themselves."
The thought did not leave him comforted. Vash lifted his head and asked, "Where are you taking us?"
Vince stopped whistling, "That's no concern of yours."
"Of course it's a concern of mine. You're about to dramatically change the lives of myself and my friends."
"There's no point for you to worry about that. Your own life is no longer in your hands."
Vash sighed as he leaned back, "So, I guess there's not point in trying to appeal to your sense of morality than, is it?"
Vince laughed, "What morality?"
Meryl was craning her neck to look at the car behind them. She wondered what Vash could be saying to Vince. That man had a heart of stone, Meryl could see it in his eyes.
"Meryl," whispered Milly, "What are we going to do?"
"Hey, no chitchat back there, got it?" Mike snapped as he swerved to miss a rock.
"Little girl, I wouldn't be worrying about your friend back there. You just stay occupied with yourself," Logan said without turning his head.
Meryl glared at him, "Don't we have the right to know where we're going?"
"No," Logan's tone gave no room for more questions or comments.
The two cars soon approached a caravan. It gave Milly a start. Was it the same caravan where she and Wolfwood encountered Moore and Julius? No, it was a different caravan, but it had the same advantages. It was a caravan, therefore, it was always moving, never in the same place for very long. Perfect for slave traders.
Mike and Logan drove up to some security guards. After a conversing for a few minutes, they drove through with Vince in tow. They pulled up to two large trucks. Mike and Logan got out and let Milly and Meryl out. Meryl gave a start when she realized that Vash was standing next to her.
"Are you two alright?" Vash asked her.
"Yeah," Meryl whispered, "But what are we going to do?"
"I need to do something about this, so I'm going to stay. I can get you and Milly out. But I need to stay," Vash whispered.
"No, if you're staying, then I'm staying," Meryl snapped, "Besides, I can't let them get away with this atrocity."
"I'm with Meryl," Milly piped up, startling Vash and Meryl, "We can't let them get away with this!"
Vash grinned, "Alright, I think we're going to be separated, but that can work to our advantage. We have to find a way to set those people free."
Mike noticed their little huddle, he shouted, "Hey! You three! What do you think you're doing?"
"We're just exchanging pleasantries, that's all," Vash said calmly.
Mike was not impressed, "Alright, smart ass, we need to separate the three of you."
Logan and Vince came over and Vince roughly grabbed Vash. Vash gave the girls a knowing look and went with Vince peacefully to the first truck. Logan and Mike took Milly and Meryl to the second truck where they found other women and children chained together.
Meryl gave a stunned look, "Oh my...."
Wolfwood was riding his bike toward a nameless town. He had been following leads on a caravan that was involved in slave trading. At first he thought it was the caravan from which Julius and Moore came from, but he had found out that the caravan had stopped the human cargo business when Julius was "killed" by Vash the Stampede.
Wolfwood was becoming frustrated. Conveniently, no one could tell him anything useful about what has been dubbed as the "ghost caravan". They were all afraid, which Wolfwood could understand, but come on people, stand up for yourselves! Wolfwood sighed and went into a bar and ordered a drink. He was on his third drink when he heard a familiar voice.
"Mr. Wolfwood? Is that you?"
Wolfwood looked up and gave a start. It was Julius and Moore.
"What a coincidence," he said, "I was just thinking about you two. Why don't you sit down."
Moore and Julius sat down and Moore asked, "How's Milly doing?"
"Last time I saw her, she was doing fine," Wolfwood said, smiling.
Julius grinned, "She's a funny lady. By the way, what brings you here?"
Wolfwood grimaced, "Well, unfortunately, nothing good. I'm trying to locate the infamous ghost caravan."
Moore and Julius exchanged dark looks, Julius said, "We've been trying to follow any news about it, too. They specialize in human cargo," Julius practically spat out the last sentence.
Wolfwood nodded, "I know. They took a little girl from my orphanage."
Moore shook her head, "Oh, no. Those slave traders are heartless," she looked over to Julius who nodded. She added, "I think we can help you. Mind you we only have a little information."
Wolfwood accepted gratefully, "Thank you, whatever you have will be great."
After they left the bar, they started over to the town's satellite. Wolfwood looked surprised.
"A village this small has its own satellite?"
Julius grinned, "Yes, and Moore and I both got jobs here so we can keep track of things..."
"Such as the patterns of slave traders," Wolfwood finished for him.
"Yes. Moore and I decided we couldn't ignore everything's that's going on just because we got away. Besides, you, Milly, Mr. Vash and Miss Meryl really helped us out, even though you could have ignored it, but you didn't," Julius smiled gratefully.
Moore and Julius led Wolfwood up to their office. Apparently their job was to gather information for the deejays. Wolfwood found that they uncovered all sorts of things. Some of which, he, nor they, really wanted to know. Finally, Moore dug out their files on the slave traders. This explained Moore, was a "pet project" of theirs. They spent time after work on it because they were busy finding information for the satellite deejays. Sometimes, their files got lost amidst the other files.
Two hours later with coffee in their hands, Wolfwood, Moore, and Julius were sifting through the information. Wolfwood stood up and stretched, than he lit a cigarette.
"Well," he said puffing away, "Apparently they do return to some of the same towns. The town where Natalie was abducted, the people seemed indifferent, it's something they've seen before."
"And are probably to afraid to do anything about it," Moore said thoughtfully.
"But how often do they return to the towns? I mean it's called the ghost caravan for a reason." Wolfwood stubbed his cigarette angrily into an ashtray.
Julius said, "Maybe it's not always planned when they go. I mean, look at this," he indicated to the files on the floor, "It seems sporadic and unplanned."
"But they wouldn't be that careless, would they?" Wolfwood asked, "This is big; bigger than your caravan. Could there be something we're missing?"
"Wait a moment," Moore said slowly, "Of course! There are a lot of unmapped and unnamed villages. Especially in this region! Most of these towns wish to remain anonymous for one reason or another. What could be more perfect for slave traders!"
"Of course," Julius said, "They most likely don't want the Cavalry to take notice of them, so they don't file reports of abduction."
Wolfwood took out another cigarette, "Good, now we're getting somewhere. Is there any way we can find the next unnamed village?"
Julius said, "We can help you there. It's 30 iles north by northeast."
Wolfwood looked surprised, Moore and Julius grinned. Moore said, "We checked out several nameless villages before settling here. Here, I'll pinpoint the villages we've been to."
Moore and Julius gave Wolfwood a bit of departing advice, "Don't ask too many questions. If you have to ask questions, be direct and assure them that you'll leave quickly. It also wouldn't hurt if you give them money either. So, here's some money we've been saving up." Julius handed the money to Wolfwood.
Wolfwood protested, "I can't! You need that money more than I do!"
Julius shook his head, "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be here and be free. Besides, there's a little girl to think about. No arguments!"
Wolfwood grinned, "Thank you for all your help. I'll see you again."
Moore said, "When you see Milly give her our regards!"
Wolfwood revved up his engine and took off, leaving Julius and Moore waving.
To Be Continued