Discalimer: I don ownie the Trigunnie.

Legacy, Kestrel's cousin belongs to aforementioned LegacyRBluesummers I did borrow her. J

Nova

Chapter 16: Confrontation.

Four Days Later

Knives

"Eehh, the damn distributor cap is shot." Vash was saying, "It's the end of this poor truck."

Vash had the hood of the truck up and was glaring down into the engine with a bit of a pout in his lip, "Why me?" he asked to no one in particular.

"You're Vash the Stampede."

Vash snorted, "Thanks for the vote of confidence, bro."

I smirked for a moment, then...

"Vash."

He glanced up at me, "What?"

"I want my gun back."

"Huh?"

"You heard me Vash, don't play dumb. I want my gun back. I want to be able to protect myself. We could have taken care of that situation four days ago easily if you would have just shot those creatures."

He kept staring at the engine, an expressionless look on his face, I saw his eyes shift to the three human women sitting in the shade of a nearby cliff. Of course he's worried about them. Why should I expect any less.

"I can't. I can't Knives. I can't allow you the possibility of hurting people."

"You don't trust me."

He sighed, and glanced at me, "I don't know."

"Dammit, Vash, if there's only you and those two humans with guns then all of us, including your human friends will die."

Vash slammed his fist down on the engine, "I know. I know."

"Please Vash, trust me. I won't hurt them."

Vash sighed again, "Alright."

"Where is it?"

Vash went around the side of the truck and reached under the wheel well, pulling out my gun.

"You taped it under the wheel well?"

"Well, tied actually."

I snorted, "Jeez Vash, all I had to do was look for it. That's an incredibly obvious place."

Vash smiled, "I know. But I'm warning you, Knives. You so much as threaten one of the girls with that gun and I will bury it where you will never find it."

I nodded and tucked the gun into my belt.

Kestrel

We were walking now, through a small canyon about twenty feet wide. Vash was having a very involved conversation with Meryl and Milly, I followed not far

behind them, and Knives followed even further behind us.

I glanced back at him for a moment. He stared at the ground, expressionless, occasionally glancing up at the rest of us. On one of these occasions I caught his eyes for a moment, and gave him a smile. His expression didn't change, he just stared at me, his icy blue eyes suddenly giving me shivers. I looked away.

What in the world could make a man so cold?

I slowed my trek and fell back alongside Knives.

"I was wondering if I might be able to ask you something?"

An almost inaudible grunt was my only answer. I took it as a yes and continued.

"I asked Meryl, and Milly but Meryl said I should ask either you or Vash, the thing is I wanted to know how Legato died."

All that I got from him was a slow blink and a slight narrowing of his eyes.

Then... "He was shot."

"Oh?"

"Your brother was on the verge of killing those two women. Vash had a choice, let him live and the two human die, or kill him to save them."

I looked down at my boots, "Oh, God, I had no idea that he..." I sighed, frowning, "My brother was a murderer. Jeez."

I felt a lump in my throat, "Why was he like that?"

"You humans are inherently corrupt, that's why. I'll never understand you. But it doesn't matter, Legato was happy to go."

"What, how do you know?" I breathed.

"I ordered him make Vash suffer. And that was the best way to do so."

"Make him kill someone?" I asked incredulously.

Knives smiled.

What was going on here? Why was this man so...

He ordered my brother to get himself killed by Vash's hand. I sped up and left Knives behind with out a word.

But I head him chuckle, as I left his side.

Why did he hate us so much?

And how in God's name did my brother come to work for

Knives?

None of this made any sense. The hate Knives seemed to have towards humans was unreal, I was under the impression that all Plants were inherently good

natured. But Knives' attitude...

I glanced back at him, he had a small smile on his lips, a pleased look on his face.

"I hope you can forgive me." Vash's voice said from beside me.

I shifted my gaze towards Vash who was walking besides me now, and gave him a smile, "For what?"

"For your brother. I didn't want to... kill him. I... I had no... I mean... I couldn't let Meryl and Milly die. I'm very sorry." He looked very sad about it, the hurt that had unexpectedly clenched my heart, deepened.

"It's okay. I guess. I went through most of my life believing he was dead. This changes nothing. Though, I can't say the same for my sister."

"Why?" he asked curiously.

"My sister was always saying she believed Legato alive, some sort of twin thing or something. She never gave up hope that one day he would return to us.

After a year, my father gave up, and so did I, but she... she would look up at the moons and say, 'He's out there, Kes', he's out there.'"

I felt a hot tear roll down my cheek, "I have no idea how she'll react to this. Hell, she may already know."

Vash laughed a little nervously, "She has powers like Legato's, right?"

"Telekinesis? Yes."

"Oh, man, I hope she'll forgive me."

I laughed, "Don't worry. She does have a bonfire temper, but she can keep her powers in check."

"Oh, good. Say, does every one in your valley have powers?"

"Uh, yes, they do."

"Like what?"

"Oh, jeez, there are so many. My father has a really neat power, he can manipulate the weather."

Vash's eye's widened, "Wow."

"And my cousin Legacy has telekinesis, like Legato and Aria. If we ever go to Lanoth, try not to get on her nerves, she can throw one nasty punch, even without her powers."

Vash's eye's widened even more, "Cool."

I laughed, "Heh, you --"

I was suddenly cut off by a shout from Knives, "Vash look!"

Everyone looked where Knives was pointing to see a humongous fire ball plummeting towards us.

It slammed into the ground, shaking the very earth beneath our feet.

I'd fallen with the impact, so once I regained my footing I got a good look at what had fallen before us.

A pod.

It creaked as it slowly cooled.

"What is it?" Asked Vash.

"I don't know," I said, "It's too small to hold those creatures."

Vash stepped a little closer and was about to touch the pod when steam hissed out of its crevasses. Vash jumped back as the pod split into four pieces like a

metallic flower blooming in spring.

The only thing in side was a series of tubular mechanisms. These tubes shifted positions on the base of the split pod. The tube in the center rose above

the others and then all of them began to glow.

Suddenly an image appeared above it. A hologram.

The thing looked exactly like the creature that had been chasing us, except that it was less muscular.

So little simaki, have you been enjoying my pets?

The voice was not really audible. But somehow said telepathically.

"A-- are you speaking to me?"

Who else would I be speaking to? You are Kestrel Milana Bluesummers, yes?

"Yes..."

Then I am speaking to the right person. it laughed, You haven't answered my question.

I felt all reason leave me at that instant, replaced by an incredibly incredulous feeling, "Have I been enjoying your pets?! You're the one who has been sending those things after me? Excuse me?! Your PETS have been driving my insane! I can't go home because of them, millions of people are dead because of them!"

No, little simaki, they are not the cause of their deaths. You are. Had you just consigned to your death then none of those 'people' would have died. Yet.

I felt a cold shock course through my body, "Who are you! Why are you hunting me?! What have I done to you?"

It chuckled. at least I think that's what it was. It is nothing that you have done yet, simaki. But you will do it someday. And I intend to destroy you before

that day ever comes along with rest of your pathetic planet.

The hologram suddenly died and I saw eight more fireballs heading our way. I knew instantly that these were not message pods.

I looked to Vash, "We have to run. Now."

"This way!" He cried. and all five of us ran after him.

I heard the impacts behind us but dared not look back.

All of a sudden the canyon path dead ended.

"Oh, shit!" Vash yelled.

I looked around frantically.

"There!" I cried pointing to a narrow opening in the rocks. A small cave.

A loud roar behind us left us no hesitation as we pushed through the opening. I pressed myself up against the wall of the cramped cave, literally squeezed between Milly and Knives, and suddenly the creature was outside the cave.

Luckily the creature was too big to fit through. It thrust it's claw inside the opening and swiped blindly, raking the air.

The claw receded for a moment then thrust back in a little deeper this time. A second joined the first and they began to claw at the rocks around the entrance,

trying to widen it and succeeding.

One thrust its head through, surprising Vash, who jumped backward into Knives. Now I could see all six of the creatures outside ramming themselves into the side of the cliff, making the small enclosure shake and crumble.

"Can we go back and further!?" Vash yelled to the back where Meryl was.

"No!" Meryl cried forward, "Wait-Oh shi--!" Meryl's voice cut off and them suddenly Milly was no longer beside me. I looked down just in time to see the very earth beneath me breaking apart.

I let out a shriek, and then suddenly I was no longer on solid ground. For an instant I was weightless in a free fall, and then almost immediately I was immersed in water. Bubbles slowly rose up around me, and the liquid illuminated in an eerie blue glow.

I choked out all my air and frantialcly kicked upward, breaking the surface

of the water with a gasp.

I was in some sort of cavern with a very large underground lake. The ceiling of the cavern glowed.

I looked around for my companions and saw them scrambling onto a small rocky beach.

I swan over and crawled up onto the beach/ When I glanced up, I noticed someone was missing.

"Where's Knives?" I breathed. Vash looked up, then back at the lake and gasped.

Thinking back now, I don't really remember thinking at all, all I can remember was tearing off my cape and kicking off my boots and diving back into the water.

I thrust my self downward, squinting through the murky water. I saw his hand through the darkness, and kicked downward until it was in reach. I grabbed his limp hand. He floated there his mouth slightly open and his eyes closed. I got around behind him and hook my arms under his, kicking upwards, my lungs were

beginning to burn from the strain. I kicked harder, slowly bring his weight towards the surface, and then I saw Vash swimming down.

Together, we pulled him from the water, dragging him up to the beach. I fell to my knees beside him and placed my hands over his chest, "He's not breathing!"

I began performing CPR.

Breathe, dammit, breathe! I cried out in my head.

Vash took over the compressions and I continued to breathe into his mouth. I thrust ever living ounce of my healing power into Knives, but even so...

I was losing him.

I never lost anyone I had healed, and I didn't want him to be the first.

"Breathe!" I cried out loud.

As if on cue he gasped and then choked out some water, he turned over onto his side and breathed in and out in quick but deep breaths.

I stared at his shaking body, and the corners of my lips turned up as I too slumped to my side. I felt my body go limp, and a small gasp escaped my throat just before darkness took me.

Ooog, Thankee to foo as always. Oh my I am SO sorry for the wait. I was viciously attacked by a case of 'writers block'. Evil thing it was too.

But over the course of it all I managed to write this thing in a paragraph at a time. And it has somehow resulted in my longest chapter ever. Weee!

I hope it was worth the wait.

I have also written a little back story on Lanoth Valley. It's in my Yahoo!Groups thingy. You can fiand a link in my Profile. And of course there are the pictures of Kes. Funny non of yuo have commented on them yet... *Unveiled hint*

Saroya: Yes Knives does rock does he not?

LegacyRBluesummers: Piccies are drawn. :)

Rainy-days13: Thas OK, and yes i was overjoyed at your reviewing the previous one. J

Desmonia: Here's your update! I hope it get to you soon enough.

Neptune Butterfly: HoYAH Spring Break!

El Hustino: I really don't know how long it's going to be, more and more things keep popping up in my head to add to it. We shell see.

Sepik: I'm so glad!

Rosebud : Oh my! A genius? You don't know how happy that make me feel to hear you say that. Oh amn and I am so sorry for this update being so belated.

Vashsp: ^_^