Jackie: 'frowns' No reviews from Kawaii. Did I loose ya, babe?

The little chickens are doing well. I'm keeping them in a pen indoors so they won't get cold. So are the dogs, the cat, the goats, the mice, the snake, the fish and the chinchillas.

DISCLAIMER: In case you've forgotten. I don't own Trigun.

Chapter 25:

The reception was a big hit. By the third refill of toasting glasses some people had given up and where now toasting with entire bottles of champagne. When the dancing started, almost no one stayed off the dance floor for long. Vash watched the crowd, waiting for everyone to take their eyes of them. Soon, very soon, he and Meryl would make their escape. He held her hand the whole time, waiting for the coast to be clear.

Just as they were headed for the double doors a series of explosions went off outside. The party immediately halted, and in seconds Knives and Nick were standing to either side of Vash. Mira had already gone to her babies and was hovering over them to shield them from danger. Millie and Meryl had found her side almost as quickly as she had gotten there. Vash started to the doors but the doors exploded inward throwing the trio backwards.

Vash, Nick, and Knives stood coughing out the dust that had flown in with the explosion. As the dust in front of them cleared a form of a woman appeared. Knives took in a shuttering breath.

"Monique," Knives ground out.

"My lord," She cried, "I knew they must be keeping you against your will from us. I am here to rescue you."

"I don't need rescuing," Knives said sternly as he walked to her, "I am dissolving the…"

Knives looked around at the guests and remembered that none of them knew who he and Vash were. He grabbed Monique by the sleeve and drug her out after saying, "You really over did the fireworks. I know I had I wanted the show to be big, but do you think you and your company could leave the town in one piece??? Nothing to worry about folks! I'll handle this!"

Knives drug the woman outside and out of view. Vash turned to the guests and said, "Wow, we're NEVER going with lowest bid entertainer ever again. We asked for a fireworks display, not a bombardment! I'd better go help my bro!"

Everyone but the girls chuckled. They knew all too well that this wasn't planned. Nick walked over to the girls and tried to reassure them.

"I'm sure Knives can handle Monique," Nick said, "Remember the gung-ho-guns worship him."

"I'd still like to see what is going on," Mira said gathering an infant on each hip.

"Me too," the insurance girls said at the same time.

Before Nick could stop them the girls were out the door.

Outside……….

"That's right," Knives said, "I am dissolving the gung-ho-guns. I have no use for you anymore. I seem to have… miscalculated the worth of your race."

"But it can't be!" Monique cried, "You're not wrong. We're slime, and you are a superior being!"

"That's enough, Monique, it's over," Knives scolded.

Monique stared down at her feet. Her Fire red hair and black cowgirl hat concealed the expression on her face. Her tan duster swayed softly in the breeze and her hands twitched slightly over the many explosives tied to her hips and thighs. She smiled sourly and said, "I understand… You've been brainwashed!"

Just then a rumble sounded from behind them and a huge flat bed truck with a large covered payload appeared seemingly from no where. Driving it was Allegro, a green-haired young man, with white eyes. He was yet another of the gung-ho-guns.

"I apologize, in advance," Monique said, "For any discomfort you will feel, My lord."

The cover dropped revealing a small version of the plant bulb. This one was different in some way. It had a weird glow about it and had additional circuitry all over the face of the glass. Knives took a step back and said to Vash, "Run… RUN AWAY!"

Knives and Vash turned on their heals and started to run, then a blue light enveloped them. They were frozen in their tracks. Monique smiled and said, "We will help you,

My Lord, we will make you yourself again."

Mira and Meryl jumped out from where they were hiding, leaving the children with Millie behind a piece of rubble. Mira was the first to speak.

"Unhand my husband!" Mira roared.

"Your what?" Monique asked in a disgusted voice, "You brother has taken a human mate, My Lord?"

"Yes, and so has he," Mira answered, "Meryl here is Vash's wife, and I am Mrs. Knives Millions. Now UNHAND MY HUSBAND!"

"No," Monique breathed out, "It's worse than I thought! What did they do to you???"

The light changed and the brothers disappeared, reappearing inside the glass bulb. Apparently the transfer had knocked them out. Monique growled and said, "Disgusting wretches. We will return when our master is well again, and then you will pay for this blasphemy."

Monique jumped into the truck, and Mira ran after them. She could not reach the truck in time, and would have been run over if Nick had not shown up and pulled her to safety.

"Man that was close," Nick breathed, "Knives would have had my head if I let you get smashed."

Mira stood silently and went to her screaming babies. They never liked it when their father had to leave to go to the store; she guessed that they equated this situation to that one. She cradled them each on one hip and started numbly walking down the street. She had a look of pure fire in her eyes.

"Wait!" Millie cried, "Where are you going?"

"I'm dropping the children off with a babysitter," Mira said flatly, "And then I am going to get my husband back."

Though no one knew if Mira had ever held a gun, the fierceness of her voice left little doubt that she was serious. Meryl yelled after her, "HEY! They have MY husband too ya know!"

Nick and Millie glanced at each other and sighed. Nick rubbed his head and said, "Well, let's go get armed, honey."

"Yes, dear," Millie chirped.

………………………..

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