Disclaimer: I claim nothing of the Trigun series that is in this story; the things that weren't, however, are mine.

Note: Okay, yeah, if there's anyone here with a problem with profanity, then try to, like, not flame me because of ONE f-word down there . . . aight? We'll just say Kate has . . . terets? lol

Chapter 12. Joseph

Kate and Vash could feel the tremor caused by an unnatural angel arm even iles away from the town of Fondreake, but looking back and seeing nothing unsettled they decided it couldn't have come from Fondreake. But . . . where?

"Inepril . . ." Kate said after a few minutes. "They're in Inepril."

"Huh?"

"Joseph and Rath are in Inepril."

"But I thought Joseph was-"

"I figured he'd stay with Meryl, but he and Rath are the only other Plants able to use Knives's gun, and Rath wouldn't use it if his life depended on it . . . but I don't understand . . . it's unnatural, meaning you and Knives couldn't have done it, obviously, seeing as you're here and Knives wouldn't want to get physically involved . . . Cal's dead, I'm here, Alexander's human . . . that leaves Joseph and Rath, and Rath . . ."

Vash nodded. "I see what you mean. But Inepril . . . is so far away."

"Joseph and Rath fly- oh." Kate hadn't told Vash that they flew too.

"Anything else you want to tell me that I should know about?" Vash said as they began to walk again.

Milly whimpered and looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, as a bold stream of light hit her in the face. She could see Knives's shadowed figure framed in the doorway with his hand still held on the doorway. He made his way over to her, pulling her to her feet and leading her back through the door. She resisted as best as she could, but it really wasn't any use; either she was holding back from fear of getting her head blown off or Knives really was that strong.

He led her down some awfully twisted corridor and opened a door, leading her through there as well. On the other side, however, was nothing but miles and miles of sand and desert. He pushed her to cross the threshold and followed her. She glanced back over her shoulder and saw, to her surprise, a large craft that appeared to be a space ship, having crashed a hundred years ago. Most of it was buried in sand, but she could just barely make out the faded black letters that said SE. The rest was buried in the sand.

Kate and Vash were already half way to Inepril from the mountains of Fondreake when Kate suddenly turned back.

"What now?" Vash said, slightly irritated.

"I don't want to go. I'm going back to Meryl." Of course, Vash had no objections to someone going to tend Meryl, but he knew she wasn't the reason Kate was turning back.

"What's wrong?"

"I just don't wanna go to Inepril, okay? And you shouldn't either . . . it's not like they'll be there when you get there, anyway. The city isn't even populated anymore. Knives made sure of that. They were just blowing up the Plant, is all. We're supposed to be over there, but as you can see our plans got a little screwed over so . . . yeah."

Vash watched her walk a few feet before turning and walking beside her. It was about ten minuted back that Kate suddenly burst, "Oh damn, if I had my fuckin' wings!"

Shortly after her outburst they heard a very loud scream. They turned, looking away from Fondreake and the direction of Inepril.

"It's coming from the direction of Knives's ship," Kate said sourly.

"So then . . ."

"Yes, it's Milly."

"Then let's go!" They began to run, preparing for the sand dunes to come, when two figures dropped down in front of them.

"Nooo, you don't." They were holding Kate and Vash back, and through the thick screen of sand Kate made them out to be Rath and Joseph. Kate started shouting and swearing at them, but they didn't seem fazed. "Sorry, babe, but we got our orders," Rath said, picking Kate up by the armpits and bringing her into the air to fly her back to Fondreake. Joseph stayed behind with Vash.

"Rath, what is Knives going to do with Milly?" Rath was silent for a moment before saying,

"Torture."

"WHAT?! B-but, Milly's . . . she's, like . . . NO!"

"Nothin' I can do about it, Kate!" Rath said as Kate began to thrash about in his hands, demanding to be put down. "He's . . . tying her into a typhoon, so to speak."

"Is this to lure in Vash?"

"Partly . . ."

"And the other?"

Rath remained silent until they came upon the city once more, in which he replied, "For Meryl Stryfe."

"Vash, you gotta do me a favor," Joseph said pleadingly. Vash made an angry face.

"Why?"

"I . . . know this is against my orders and I deserve to die for betraying my master, but please . . . save Milly. She's a good girl, and Meryl's best friend, and Meryl would never forgive me if Milly died. I couldn't even live with myself if Milly was hurt worse than she already has been . . . both physically and emotionally . . ." Vash sighed and then smiled.

"You know . . . I was hoping you'd ask me this."

Author's Notes: Short, I know. Kind of stupid, wasn't it? ^_^ Not to sound desperate but . . . PLEASE review!!! I'm *sniffle* beginning to doubt myself :(