AN: Well hell. Another chapters come and gone.

Sorry about taking so long for this. But between delivery pizza's and my website I haven't had much time to write.

Oh yes…VISIT MY WEBSITE!! I command thee to do this.

Especially since I'm now paying 9 bucks a month for the damn thing.

100-plus.com

Remeber that addy kiddies…better yet, add it to your favorites.

Well anyway…to the story.

Enjoy

Knives finally stopped the car. Looking around he tried to remember if this was the place. It was hard; after all he had only seen it once (being asleep when they visited it a second time).

It looked right, even though all the tracks had disappeared. Knives narrowed his eyes; there really wasn't much to judge by. There were only a few rocks, and a lot of sand dunes. However Sand dunes changed shape and size every time the wind blew, so they were not reliable landmarks.

One the same note that also made rocks undependable, since they could be buried or uncovered by those same winds and sand.

Navigation was difficult and dangerous on Gunsmoke for humans.

But for Knives, who had 'other' ways of seeing things, it was made only difficult.

Finally convinced he turned in his seat.

"Millie wake up. Wake up we're here."

Knives shook Millie trying to wake her. When she didn't respond, even with a moan of protest he frowned.

"Millie?"

He reached out…suddenly his hand stopped, hesitating just inches from Millie's face.

She didn't want to kiss me earlier. She's disgusted by me. I'm disgusted by me. I was going to force her. That's the way of a low level trash. Not a superior being like myself.

He wasn't sure if he had a right to touch her after that. Especially since she rejected him once already.

Knives frowned harder, his eyes becoming deep pockets in his face. He face was pinched in indecision, skin drawn tight over bone in guilt and self-loathing.

Finally he reached out and touched her cheek. Instantly his eyes popped open.

By the gods! She's burning up!

Granted he didn't know what a humans normal temperature was…but he was sure it wasn't this. She was literally hot to the touch.

"Damn it damn it damn it!"

He muttered to himself as he then noticed something he hadn't before…but should have! He had been so worried about her ribs that he had overlooked the gunshot wound she had on her arm. He lifted her arm a little and cursed again.

Just like he thought. Blood had seeped through the bandage and had thoroughly soaked the S.E.E.D.S uniform she was wearing. It wasn't enough blood to be dangerous. But he had a feeling it wasn't blood lose he should worry about anyway.

Infection.

That was what he was guessing.

Knives frowned harder as he looked around the desert. He knew, according to Millie that a vast space ship lie under his feet.

Looking around, he could see no sign of it.

"Millie! You have to wake up!"

He shook her harder.

"You have to call to the ship!"

Hissing in anger he gathered Millie into his arms and lifted her up and out of the car.

What could he do? If Millie didn't wake up, then she couldn't tell the ship to let them in. If the ship didn't let them in then she wouldn't get better. He knew absolutely nothing about human medicine. There would be nothing he could do to help her.

"PROJECT SEEDS!"

He screamed out into the desert.

He listened carefully, however the ship did not respond.

"SHIT! Wake UP!"

Knives kneeled down, half lying Millie in the sand. Gently he slapped her cheek trying to get her to wake up.

She moaned and slowly opened her eyes.

"Momma."

She whispered obviously not knowing where she was.

"Millie…"

Knives spoke quickly not knowing how long she might stay awake.

"Call to the ship. Tell it to send the elevator up!"

"I had a strange dream."

Knives looked at her in near panic. What the hell could he do? The ship wouldn't respond to anyone but her! She had to tell the ship to let them in.

"Listen to me. Look at me."

He grabbed her chin roughly and forced her to look at him.

"Tell the ship to let us in."

Millie blinked at him. Through his grip on her chin he could feel the heat of the fever. It was an unnatural heat and way way too much for a human he was sure.

Finally Millie spoke again.

"Fine…whatever he said."

Knives winced. He wasn't sure if the ship would obey that command.

"HEAR THAT PROJECT SEEDS. SHE SAID TO OPEN UP!"

Suddenly the ground underneath them shifted. He could hear metal parts grinding and humming to obey.

Wonder how much power is left?

It couldn't be much. Especially if the main plant had been in hibernation for over a hundred years. Hopefully though the med room was still operational.

If he remembered right, the bots in there could cure about anything in less than an hour.

Finally the elevator broke the surface of the sand. Knives hefted Millie into his arms again and made his way into the square box.

"Down!"

He said harshly, and the elevator obeyed.

A little while later, 3 hallways, a dead end, and 8 doors that needed Millie to say open to, Knives finally got her to the med room.

The second he walked into the room with Millie in his arms, he was swarmed by Bots hanging from the ceiling.

"Put her on the table."

The head MB (Med bot) ordered crisply.

"What's wrong with her?"

The MB didn't answer as a blue light went over Millie's body to scanner her.

"Besides the 3 cracked ribs, bruised kidney, and a broken wrist? A class B infection of the gunshot wound to her arm."

Knives stood back feeling out of place as more bots came hushing in and around Millie.

"Can you do anything?"

He asked feeling extremely guilty. He had known about the ribs. But the kidney and wrist were news to him. He felt a stab of pain at the thought that he had caused it.

"Of course. Two rounds of antibiotics should take care of the infection. Kidney shouldn't need anything but time to heal, and heat fusion for the ribs."

Knives winched at the word heat fusion. He remember THAT particular almost cure all for broken bones. He had to go through the procedure three times in the year he had lived on the ship. What it was, was basically they pointed a laser at the site of the breakage. They heated the bone until it literally melted and then super cooled it to mend the bones. The laser did not affect skin or tissue at all. So no surgery was needed.

"What about the wrist?"

The MB pushed a button and a 3-D hologram of Millie's hand and bones came up. The bot pointed to one of the bones.

"The lunate, and triquetral bones are fractured. These are very small and delicate bones Knives-sama"

Knives glared at the bot for being noisy and not getting to the point. He also vaguely wondered how the bot knew his name.

"So in other words, no heat fusions. There would be to high of a risk of fusing the wrong bones together and causing her to lose all motion of her wrist and fingers. We do this the old fashioned way. A cast."

Knives frowned. Granted Heat Fusion was extremely painful (in his humble opinion) but to be in a cast?

"How long?"

The Bot again didn't answer right away as it studied the hologram.

"Maybe two months. Possibly shorter."

Knives nodded.

"Do it then."

The bots didn't need to be told twice. In fact they had already been giving her medicine to prepare the heat fusion before he had said anything. He highly doubted they would stop even if he told them to. Not that he would tell them.

Med Bots were funny that way. They were a lot more independent than most robots. After all they had to make life or death decision about the care of their patients.

"Sir? If you please go into that room to clean up and change. Afterward I shall want to look at those cuts on your neck."

Knives reached up to feel the cuts. He had totally forgotten about them. He winced slightly at how tender they were. Now that he thought about it, they hadn't even been cleaned. He was at risk of infection as well.

So instead of arguing like he had planned Knives nodded and disappeared into the room the bot had gestured to.

Knives closed the door behind him.

Only when he was out of sight of Millie and the bots did he allow himself to relax a little. He pressed his back against the door, leaning heavily against it.

God what had he done? Why had he done it? It wasn't like him to forget things like that. He had literally forgotten he had even met Millie. That just wasn't right.

I hurt her. I almost raped her.

He shuddered as the feeling of nausea, that hadn't stopped since the incident, rose sharply.

Never again.

He thought harshly to himself. He would never again lose control like that. He would never hurt Millie!

He wouldn't.

I wouldn't.

Finally somewhat at peace with himself and his new conviction. Knives started to strip out of his bloody clothes. Looking at his coat, he was surprised at the amount of blood.

No wonder Millie turned away.

He wrinkled his nose at it and dropped the coat into a basket. Hopefully the laundry services still worked. He had no problem wearing other clothes, but he preferred the clothes that Millie had given him.

Once he was naked (:)….he stepped into the shower. Instantly cold water blasted from the showerhead. He yelped in surprise but stayed under long enough to rinse out his hair and get the blood off his skin.

He didn't stay in one second longer than was needed.

Apparently the water heater isn't working.

Shivering he grabbed a towel that was hanging by the shower.

Now that he was clean, Knives could actually smell the copperish stench coming off his clothes from the laundry basket.

He sneered in disgust at it. Next time he killed, he wouldn't do it so messily.

Quickly he rummaged through several cabinets that contained clothing.

He picked out a pair of jeans and a dark blue sleeveless shirt that had the words 'Project Seeds' printed across the front.

He went back into the med room.

"Ah Knives-sama done already. Please sit here and I shall have a look at those cuts."

The Main Med Bot 'bustled' over to him. How something hanging from the ceiling could bustle was beyond Knives. However the bot managed to do it very well. He eyed the metal creation of humans with distrust.

He had had several incidents, which had lead to a med room visit as a child. So he had developed a rather hearty dislike for the overly cheerful and usually obnoxious bots.

"How's Millie?"

He asked as the bot cleaned the wounds with a sterile cloth soaked in saline solution.

Before the bot answered it sprayed an anti-bacterial onto the words causing Knives to hiss in pain.

"The master will be fine. In fact she is awake now if you would like to speak with her. She has been asking about you."

Knives winced slightly as the robot dressed the wound.

Finally the damn bot let him up. They had apparently moved Millie since she wasn't on the table he left her.

Knives glared at the metal 'Doctor' before going over into the next room. He felt himself relax slightly as he saw Millie sitting up awake and without the pained haze in her eyes. Amazing what a few drugs could do to a human.

"HI Knives."

Millie giggled sounding very cheerful, even more than usual. That with a slightly gazed look in her eyes convinced him they had given her something 'OTHER' than antibiotic's for the infection.

"What did you give her?"

"Dopamin,"

One of the assistant bots supplied helpfully. Knives moaned…ok…so he had a drugged up Millie on his hands.

"Are you Ok?"

He asked slowly.

"YA, I feel GREAT! I don't even feel…uh…anything. I'm am completely and totally numb."

"Is that normal!?"

Knives asked, his voice rising slightly in alarm.

The bot went over and examined Millie. It spoke in an obnoxious soft and cheerful 'do not worry' female voice.

It made Knives want to shot it.

"Her tolerance is lower than calculated considering her weight. However it shouldn't be a problem Knives-sama. I'll give her something so she'll sleep until it wears off."

Millie didn't even flinch as the bot stuck her in the arm again giving her more drugs.

After a moment, when the bot had left Millie gestured for him to come closer. As he did so, she suddenly grabbed him, and with the same surprising strength she had shown so long ago, yanked him down.

Knives eyes went very wide, as her lips met his in a crushing kiss.

"That's to make up for not kissing you before."

She whispered not letting him up. Knives half draped over her bed, didn't really have the leverage or the will to fight it.

Millie wrapped her arms around his neck. Holding him to her as she nuzzled into the crook of his neck.

"I was so sad when you left me. Don't leave me again Knives."

He looked at her in surprise as tears started to course down her cheeks. He tried to sit up, but Millie had a firm grip around his neck.

"I love you Knives."

The breath caught in his chest, as time itself seemed to suddenly stand still.

"I love you. Isn't that silly of me."

Knives didn't say anything as he stared at her.

Millie smiled too drugged up to even realize what she had said. She didn't even know the true weight of her words.

"I told myself not to be so foolish. That you would hurt me in the end. But it didn't matter."

Millie yawned, the medicine the bot had given her to sleep starting to kick in.

"I love you knives."

Millie's head dropped to her chest, her iron grip on his clothes easy up.

I love you knives.

-------

Meryl tapped the table in the sand crawler nervously as she waited for them to catch up to Millie and Knives.

What the hell was that girl thinking! I can't believe her! Grrrrr…she's such a BAKA! I can't believe she would willingly go alone with that thing!

Meryl totally didn't mention, even to herself that she had left her best friend alone with that thing for over a week. She didn't bother with this because, one Knives was wounded and unconscious at the time, and two, well….she felt very guilty about it.

She was sure something big happened. And she didn't just mean the time he tried to kill Millie.

Something other than that happened. And what that 'meant' scared her to death.

Knives was interested in Millie. He went looking for her with us. Why would he do that? There has to be a reason.

I know there's a reason.

The only thing was…she didn't know. It was on the tip of her tongue. On the edge of her mind what was happening but she just couldn't grasp it.

"Meryl?"

Meryl shot Vash, who at the moment was sitting across from her on a comfy looking chair couch thing, a glare. He cringed at the angry look.

"Never mind."

He mumbled unhappily.

Meryl didn't give him a second glance as she continued to drum on the table.

Jesus how much longer.

Finally Vash cursed loudly and in less than a blink he was by her side.

Meryl squeaked in surprise.

Gods above she hated when he did stuff like that.

Ignoring her look of death he grabbed her hand keeping her from tapping it and sat beside her.

"Calm down Meryl. You're making me nervous."

"You should be nervous Vash! Millie is alone with your crazy brother!"

Vash frowned.

"Meryl, you heard what he said. He can't kill anyone."

Meryl gave Vash an unbelieving look.

"You actually believe HIM!"

Her voice had risen in pitch and volume. These were not good signs for poor Vash.

"Yes…"

He grudgingly said despite her look.

"Knives would not lie to me. He will not hurt Millie."

Meryl shook her head.

"I don't believe him. Something is going on, something bad. And it involves Knives."

"He's changed Meryl. I can sense it. I sensed it when he was so angry that one time. There were more than just his words. His words were angry…but there was more to it."

Meryl gave Vash a disbelieving look. But didn't say anything.

She really didn't want to fight with Vash again. And this conversation was a sure shot to get them both angry and yelling.

Meryl still believes Knives to be a monster. But if she said that then Vash would defend his brother. Defend that thing despite all the terrible horrible things he had done.

"I don't understand you Vash."

Meryl sighed as she took back her hand. Turning sideways, she faced away from her husband.

"I remember the night you woke up after being forced to kill Legato."

"Meryl what…"

Meryl shook her head, silencing him. She knew what he was going to say anyway.

What did that have to do with anything?

She knew Vash inside and out…except when it came to his brother. It was then Vash become something, or someone different.

"I heard you're screams. You're pained screamed that had nothing to do with the wounds on your body."

Meryl continued, still not looking at Vash.

He forgives his brother for so much. For killing that Rem woman. For crashing us on this god forsaken plant. Who truly knows how many Knives had killed in his time. A person can do a lot of damage in a hundred and thirty years.

Meryl shuddered feeling cold. A type of coldness that only the thought of Knives and the monster he truly was behind the mask that looked so much like the man she loved truly was.

"You killed on man. And it nearly drove you crazy. Yet…yet how many has Knives killed? Hell how many did he make Legato kill Vash?"

Vash opened his mouth then shut it again. Those were things he thought about a lot…but didn't want to face.

"Entire towns…empty."

Meryl turned around, looking hard into Vash's eyes.

"Entire lives ended. Families shattered…"

Meryl swallowed hard.

"He's nothing but death Vash."

"No."

Vash blinked…tears springing into his eyes.

No…

But looking into Meryl face. He saw her conviction…the truth of what she saw.

When she called Knives a monster she meant it. But not a monster like Steve had thought. She wasn't calling him that because of what he was.

She was calling him that because of what he had done.

"Vash. You know…that if it was anyone else you would have hated them for just a fraction of the pain Knives has caused."

"No."

He whispered.

Dear Lord, why wouldn't she stop? Why wouldn't she just leave him alone?

He loved his brother. Knives was changing. He had felt it through their connection.

"His ticket is always open Meryl. He can change. He can start over."

Meryl's eyebrows drew together.

"And what about the people he slaughtered? Do we just forget about them?"

"He said he couldn't kill anymore. He said he wouldn't hurt Millie."

Suddenly a loud crackle startled them both.

Vash looked sheepish as he remembered he had tried to get some music from the radio earlier. However he hadn't been able to get a signal at the time.

"Sorry."

He muttered as he reached over to turn it off.

Suddenly Vash froze, his hand on the knob.

The volume was to far down for Meryl to hear. But Vash could…

Tears startled to roll down his face.

"No…no…no."
He whispered as he listened.

Meryl…a grim look on her face reached over and placed her hand over Vash's. She then slowly turned it, turning the volume knob of the radio up.

Over the radio, a mans voice spoke, the radio hissed and sizzled so it was hard to catch what he was saying…but…

"…. bodies, found in the plant. Brutally….dered. Campell and Johns, two worke….at the plant."

"No."

Vash whispered quietly.

"It was Knives wasn't it."
She didn't have an 'I told you so' expression on her face. Instead she was very sad. Swallowing hard she put a hand on Vash's shoulder.

Looking down Vash shrugged the gesture off.

"We don't know that. We don't know that."

Vash leaned forward and turned the radio off.

"Just because it happened in the plants main room."

Turning Vash looked deeply into Meryl's eyes. What he saw was the same sadness he felt. The sadness that things might never work out, no matter how hard he tried.

The sadness created by the knowledge that in the end his brother would probably hurt him again. The sadness…in knowing there was nothing he could do.

Vash closed his eyes tightly and suddenly launched himself into Meryl's arms.

Tears streamed down his face. Choking him of words and even coherent thought.

He's killed again. Two people are dead because of him. I know it.

He lied to me. And if he lied once, what about Millie. Is she dead now? Will she die?

Rem…what should I do?

Knives walked out of the infirmary.

His mind was utterly and absolutely shocked to the core.

He just couldn't comprehend that Millie said that to him.

I love you Knives.

Knives swallowed hard, his hands clenching at his side.

He couldn't focus. He could hardly see to walk.

What had posed her to say that? Granted she was drugged up. But…

But…why did he feel so, so.

Hell he didn't know what he felt. It had been like being electrocuted, only it wasn't painful. Something had felt like it jumped and exploded in his chest.

Fuck what am I doing.

Knives shook his head as he made a left at the third door.

He needed to go get Millie's stuff out of the car. He didn't need to do this.

There was nothing to this. She didn't really mean those words.

She was high on drugs the bots had given her.

She didn't know what she was saying.

Knives frowned… if that thought was supposed to make him feel better? Why then did his heart clench so painfully?

He finally made his way outside. He watched as his feet sank into the ground, causing the grains of sand to roll down the slight hill he was walking down.

The burning heat of the suns, and the dry stale air, actually for once made him feel better. He didn't feel as enclosed or trapped.

Just him and the open desert.

Knives closed his eyes titling his head toward the suns. A stiff breeze ruffled his hair slightly, and caused his clothes to stir.

I love you Knives.

His cheek twitched.

I love you Knives.

I love you Knives.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Knives suddenly screamed out into the desert! With a violent motion that caused some pain from the gunshot wounds he had gotten not so long ago (only two month? Felt like longer to him) he chucked the only thing on him that he could throw…his gun, out into the desert. He screamed as loud and as hard as he could, just trying to dislodge the words from his mind. They kept repeating themselves in his head. Like a broken record never ending with the torturous and traitorous feelings they caused within him.

"WHY WON'T YOU FUCKING LEAVE ME ALONE!? I HATE YOU BITCH!!!"

Knives fell to his knee's cursing Millie, her family, her parents, and even the circumstances that had allowed her spider parents to meet and procreated children.

He hated her, he wanted her. He couldn't get her off his mind.

He was going to let her live with him until she died of old age. He was going to let her live in Eden.

"What am I doing?"

Knives spoke out into the desert.

"Before Millie I had never looked at a human."

He had never even thought of touching one in a sexual manner. And then…here comes this tall overly cheerful spider, and she somehow…she somehow wiggles her way into his soul.

"I'm a butterfly ensnared in a spider's web."

But the thing was, Millie wasn't a spider. She was human, but not a spider.

"I've been through this before. I continue to think the same things, running myself in circles. But I can't figure it out."

Knives let himself slump onto the sand.

It was hot, itching and uncomfortable. But the sensations were a welcome since they took his mind a little off the human sleeping down below.

"I bet Vash would laugh his ass off if he knew about this."

Knives chuckled softly. He could almost imagine Vash's face at the shock that Knives had allowed a human to get close to him.

"She said she loves me."

Was that so bad?

Knives blinked, his head tilting to the side.

Was it so bad? After all he didn't have to return the feelings. And humans were more likely to have sex with a person they loved.

And that was what he really wanted in the end…right?

All his feelings for Millie were lust based. That was his entire reason for letting her live. He was attracted to her.

He wanted to be with her. To know her in the ways only lovers could know each other.

Humans with deep emotions could be controlled could be manipulated. He had learned that from Legato. He had taken that humans hatred and self hate, and turned it into something he could use.

Knives smiled.

He would do the same with Millie. And after all the humans were dead. He would take her to Eden with him and his brother (and of course his brothers pet) and he would wait out until Millie died of old age.

Knives sighed as he closed his eyes and relaxed.

A calm nothingness settled on his soul and mind.

Everything just kind of went pale and dim around him. He smiled thankful for a solution the problem that was Millie.

He blinked his eyes unfocused as he stared up into the sky.

Now what did I come up here for?

Knives tried to think but everything was so fuzzy. He couldn't seem to focus. He felt himself start to drift into sleep.

No…not sleep, unconsciousness.

This isn't right.

He frowned trying to fight out of the calm shell he had fallen into.

He was vaguely frightened by the strange feelings coursing through his body.

He eyelids droops down, they felt so heavy. He just wanted to sleep.

No, wake up. This isn't right. Something is wrong.

His mind screamed at him. But his body wasn't responding.

His side hurt. So did his wrist.

Knives twitched dragging his arm underneath him and trying to stand up. His body felt so heavy. His muscles didn't seem to want to move or respond.

What is wrong with me?

Closing his eyes Knives concentrated…and slowly the feeling of sluggishness and drowsiness ebbed away.

Finally after a few more minutes he was able to stand up.

I came out here to get Millie's stuff.

He remembered now.

Stumbling over to the car, Knives grabbed her bag and slung it over his shoulder.

He tried not to think of the strange episode.

He had almost passed out back there. Only his extremely stubbornness had kept it from happening.

He didn't want to think about what had happened. He was actually a little frightened by it.

It might have been a reaction to the death of the plant here not long ago.

Knives forcibly shoved all thoughts of what had happened away. Instead he looked through the car looking for more of Millie's things.

He picked up the black box he had noticed before.

What's this?

Knives eyes narrowed as he looked over the slightly heavy square.

This doesn't look like something Millie would have.

He didn't know what it was, but it was obviously lost technology. And it was also literally drenched in the power of a plant.

Not the normal power they let out for machines and stuff. The real power…the power from inside. Which meant…the box had been inside a plant bulb. And not long ago either.

"Maybe…"

Knives breathed out softly as he turned the box over.

Maybe she picked it up from the ship before. But how did she get it…a  plants real power is deadly to a human.

Knives frowned as he judged the amount of 'radiation' coming off the box.

"In fact…"
He whispered to himself.

"Just being around this box should have made her violently ill."

Knives turned the box over, looking for any way to open it. It looked like it might have something in it.

He ran his sensitive fingers over the edges. He could feel some very shallow grooves. Pressing down against them slightly Knives yelped startled as the box moved.

One side clicked and turned.

Knives turned the box over.

There's only one plant this could come from really. This has been taken out of an active plant recently.

Knives swallowed hard, as he press on another groove. Another side shifted.

This must have come from my mother. My plant mother.

Finally he pressed the final groove and the box opened.

Knives gasped as a searing light exploded from the box.

Deep within himself his felt a part of him awaken and surge forth. He eyes were open but unseeing. His mouth open but no words came out.

His muscles were frozen in place.

He couldn't move…couldn't think…couldn't even talk.

But he could scream.

And moments later the only sound in the desert was the anguished screams of a tortured soul.