Disclaimer: Trigun is not mine.
Please note: Just like last time [ ] are telepathic thoughts. I'll [[ ]]
for the plant.
Lots of explanation here... Yes, I played merry hell with the Trigun
universe, but I did say this was AU. Besides, it could work...
Meryl was curled against the dull metal wall of the old ship. The plant bulb hung above her. She had come here automatically. She always retreated here when she was upset. It was just a calming place. Meryl took a deep breath, letting the soothing atmosphere wash over her...
[[Little sister, you are upset.]] Another wave of soothing reassurance. Meryl blinked. That wasn't Vash. [[It will be all right...]] It couldn't be the plant?
[Are you... talking to me?]
[[You can hear me now?]] A wave of delight radiated from the plant. [[Before you could only feel!]]
[What...do you mean?]
[[Before I could only reach you this way...]] A feeling of safety and warmth washed over Meryl. A familiar feeling- the way she always felt near the plant. [[Now we can communicate specific thoughts!]]
[No- we shouldn't- it's not safe!] Meryl stood up, panicked, thinking of what she'd done to Vash.
[[Of course it's safe,]] the plant radiated amusement.
[How do you know?]
[Meryl?! Where are you?] That was Vash. Meryl shrank into the shadows.
[[She is here, brother.]] The plant said. Meryl glared up at it for a second before Vash appeared. He grabbed her before she had a chance to move.
[Meryl, please.]
"Vash, it's not safe! I'm hurting you!"
[[How is she hurting you brother? You don't feel like you're in pain.]] The plant questioned.
[She thinks she is. Because of this]. Vash tugged on his hair and sent a quick burst of explanatory images at the plant. The plant responded with confusion.
[[But that is just part of the charging process. As long as neither of you are turning white, then it's fine. ]]
[Charging process?] Vash looked up at the plant.
[[You are feeding her your energy, as you were created to do.]]
[Sister, I am confused. I've never fed a human energy before. Why now?]
[[She is not a human. No more than you are.]]
[What?] Meryl gaped up at the plant. [What am I?]
[[You are like us, but unlike us, you have a specific function. We can create anything. You have only one function. To uncreate. ]]
[Uncreate? That doesn't sound good.] Meryl shook her head. [I still don't understand.]
[[You were created, like the plants, from a human base. We were created to help the humans when they found a new home. You were one of the ones built to protect them.]]
[Protect them? But then, I still don't...] Meryl shook her head.
[[Some of the people from Earth had been part of secret experiments. The same experiments that made us - but these were to make weapons. Living weapons. They were hidden among the others on board the ships. When the ships fell, no one was left who knew which ones had been the experiments and which the people. They interbred here with the humans.]] The plant explained.
[That does make sense,] Vash agreed thinking of some of the odd people he had run across in his travels- the Nebraska Family, most of the Gung-ho guns...
[So, we are... plants?] Meryl sounded a bit stunned.
[[Not exactly. You came after. You are a mix of plant and human and... an unknown factor.]] Vash grinned.
[So, the plants are not the top of evolution. That might shock my brother. So, Meryl is one of these experiments?]
[[Yes.]]
[Why didn't I know before?] She asked.
[[You had to mature enough to use your power and find your mobile plant.]]
[My mobile plant?] Meryl looked at Vash.
[[Yes. You are one of the ones that needs a power source. An easily movable one. So the mobile plants were developed to help you and those like you.]]
[We were?] It was Vash's turn to sound stunned.
[[Yes. I should know. My original home was the lab where they did the experiments.]] The plant sounded amused. [[Why do you think I have more of a personality than our sisters? I was one of the later models- a step before you.]] Vash sat down. He was quiet for a long moment. Meryl looked at him, worried.
[So, Meryl is charging up? For what? How do we know when the process is complete?]
[[Relax brother. She isn't going to explode,]] the plant said dryly. [[And you aren't going to give up all your energy and wither away. You two were created for long term use. Your levels will even out soon. ]]
[But then, once I'm charged...]
[[You'll be able to use that power. Your mobile plant has learned to channel his energy- but not well. You should be able to do the same. You should practice.]]
[I don't want to blow a hole in the moon!] The plant laughed merrily.
[[That's what I meant when I said not well! The mobile plants tend to just expend all that energy. You will be able to use it more precisely. I will help you.]]
[You will?] Vash asked her.
[[Of course, but not now. It's getting late and others are looking for you.]]
Meryl was curled against the dull metal wall of the old ship. The plant bulb hung above her. She had come here automatically. She always retreated here when she was upset. It was just a calming place. Meryl took a deep breath, letting the soothing atmosphere wash over her...
[[Little sister, you are upset.]] Another wave of soothing reassurance. Meryl blinked. That wasn't Vash. [[It will be all right...]] It couldn't be the plant?
[Are you... talking to me?]
[[You can hear me now?]] A wave of delight radiated from the plant. [[Before you could only feel!]]
[What...do you mean?]
[[Before I could only reach you this way...]] A feeling of safety and warmth washed over Meryl. A familiar feeling- the way she always felt near the plant. [[Now we can communicate specific thoughts!]]
[No- we shouldn't- it's not safe!] Meryl stood up, panicked, thinking of what she'd done to Vash.
[[Of course it's safe,]] the plant radiated amusement.
[How do you know?]
[Meryl?! Where are you?] That was Vash. Meryl shrank into the shadows.
[[She is here, brother.]] The plant said. Meryl glared up at it for a second before Vash appeared. He grabbed her before she had a chance to move.
[Meryl, please.]
"Vash, it's not safe! I'm hurting you!"
[[How is she hurting you brother? You don't feel like you're in pain.]] The plant questioned.
[She thinks she is. Because of this]. Vash tugged on his hair and sent a quick burst of explanatory images at the plant. The plant responded with confusion.
[[But that is just part of the charging process. As long as neither of you are turning white, then it's fine. ]]
[Charging process?] Vash looked up at the plant.
[[You are feeding her your energy, as you were created to do.]]
[Sister, I am confused. I've never fed a human energy before. Why now?]
[[She is not a human. No more than you are.]]
[What?] Meryl gaped up at the plant. [What am I?]
[[You are like us, but unlike us, you have a specific function. We can create anything. You have only one function. To uncreate. ]]
[Uncreate? That doesn't sound good.] Meryl shook her head. [I still don't understand.]
[[You were created, like the plants, from a human base. We were created to help the humans when they found a new home. You were one of the ones built to protect them.]]
[Protect them? But then, I still don't...] Meryl shook her head.
[[Some of the people from Earth had been part of secret experiments. The same experiments that made us - but these were to make weapons. Living weapons. They were hidden among the others on board the ships. When the ships fell, no one was left who knew which ones had been the experiments and which the people. They interbred here with the humans.]] The plant explained.
[That does make sense,] Vash agreed thinking of some of the odd people he had run across in his travels- the Nebraska Family, most of the Gung-ho guns...
[So, we are... plants?] Meryl sounded a bit stunned.
[[Not exactly. You came after. You are a mix of plant and human and... an unknown factor.]] Vash grinned.
[So, the plants are not the top of evolution. That might shock my brother. So, Meryl is one of these experiments?]
[[Yes.]]
[Why didn't I know before?] She asked.
[[You had to mature enough to use your power and find your mobile plant.]]
[My mobile plant?] Meryl looked at Vash.
[[Yes. You are one of the ones that needs a power source. An easily movable one. So the mobile plants were developed to help you and those like you.]]
[We were?] It was Vash's turn to sound stunned.
[[Yes. I should know. My original home was the lab where they did the experiments.]] The plant sounded amused. [[Why do you think I have more of a personality than our sisters? I was one of the later models- a step before you.]] Vash sat down. He was quiet for a long moment. Meryl looked at him, worried.
[So, Meryl is charging up? For what? How do we know when the process is complete?]
[[Relax brother. She isn't going to explode,]] the plant said dryly. [[And you aren't going to give up all your energy and wither away. You two were created for long term use. Your levels will even out soon. ]]
[But then, once I'm charged...]
[[You'll be able to use that power. Your mobile plant has learned to channel his energy- but not well. You should be able to do the same. You should practice.]]
[I don't want to blow a hole in the moon!] The plant laughed merrily.
[[That's what I meant when I said not well! The mobile plants tend to just expend all that energy. You will be able to use it more precisely. I will help you.]]
[You will?] Vash asked her.
[[Of course, but not now. It's getting late and others are looking for you.]]
