Chapter 5

At The Gates of Eden

They were late leaving the camp the next day due to the hangovers that BDN and half his men were suffering from. Vash also tended a rather sore head, but to his credit he did not whine about it as much as usual.

They all piled into several large but rather rickety vehicles, Knives being sure to sit as far away from BDN as possible, and drove off across the desert. Eventually, in the distance, the strange, almost upside-down structure of Sky City came into view. As soon as they could see its massive form upon the horizon the vehicles stopped and they were ushered out.

'This is as far as we're gonna take you,' grunted BDN, 'we aren't too well liked in that city, as you can imagine.' He studied the group hard, as if considering something, 'I don't know what family you're from,' he said, addressing Vash and Knives, 'but they must have been damn good, because you shine out like nothing I've ever seen. From now on consider yourselves Unofficial Bad Lads. You've got my favour, feel free to cross my territory any time, I promise that while I'm chief you and your friends will be safe from us. So long as you don't cross us, that is. That happens and we take you down, got it?'

'Thanks,' said Vash, grinning, Knives just nodded.

With this BDN climbed back into his vehicle, started the engine and rode off into the desert. Soon he and all the Bad Land Boys were lost from sight.

'Incomprehensible,' murmured Knives under his breath, Vash's grin simply widened.

'Well,' he said at last, 'we'd best be going, it's a three hour walk to Sky City.'

'Wait a minute,' protested Meryl, reaching into her bag and drawing out several rolls of clean bandages, 'you're not moving from this spot until I've re-bandaged your wound!'

'Aw come on Meryl,' protested Vash, his voice taking on a whiny tone, 'I'm fine! And we'll be at Sky City in no time, they'll be much better at patching me up!'

'You know the dangers of infection out here Vash,' replied Meryl, stretching the bandaging in an almost threatening manner, 'the last thing we need is infection to go along with that illness. Take your shirt off now and don't whinge.'

'But Meryl I… um…' Vash began to blush, 'can't Knives do it?' he said, lamely.

'Quit whining,' Meryl growled, 'it's not as if we haven't seen you without your shirt plenty of times before.'

'Ma'am is right,' agreed Millie happily, 'I remember when we were looking after you, after Legato… we saw you naked all the time!'

Her words only made Vash turn an even deeper red and be began to slowly move backwards, a panicked look upon his face.

'Oh please!' sighed Meryl, 'stop being such a baby! Take off that shirt and allow me to dress your wound before I take matters into my own hands!'

'No way! Knives?' Vash looked desperately towards his brother who, after a seconds worth of consideration, shrugged and gave a 'don't get me involved in this,' kind of expression.

'Millie?' growled Meryl.

'Yes Ma'am?'

'The patient isn't being cooperative. You know what to do.'

'Yes Ma'am!'

'No!' yelled Vash, making one last backwards dash before Millie pounced on him. There was a moment of struggle as the large woman tried, and succeeded, to pin down the gangly gunslinger.

'Knives!' yelled Vash desperately, limbs flailing, but his brother only smiled sartorially and watched the show.

Meryl slowly advanced, a roll of bandages held firmly in her hands, a look of determination in her eyes.

'Help!' shrieked Vash, 'help! Knives, I'm your brother, how could you be so cold! Help me! I'm being stripped against my will! Rape! Rape!'

'You're really over reacting about this,' said Meryl, 'it's only your shirt, now shut up or I'll put this,' she waved the roll of bandages, 'in your mouth.'

Vash clamped his jaw shut, though he continued to whimper and struggle.

Meryl bent down and began to undo the shirt buttons, popping one after another. As she did so her eyes slowly widened and Vash's struggles ceased, now she had seen, he had no reason to continue.

The short insurance girl's large grey eyes gazed in shocked wonder at his chest. His pail skin was now… covered in feathers. Soft, downy white feathers clung to his flesh, hiding his scars, they seemed to glow and shine in the suns light.

'What are they?' Meryl whispered, awe struck.

'They look like Plant Angel feathers,' said Millie, also spotting them, 'I saw one once, when I was very young…'

'That's because they are,' said Vash, softly, 'for some reason this… disease is activating my Plant side. I don't know how or why.'

'Is that why you didn't want us to take off your shirt? To hide this from us?' Meryl's voice was hard and stern.

'Yes,' replied Vash, sadly.

'Idiot,' said Meryl briskly, as she started to bandage his bullet wound, 'you should have told us, we're big girls, we could have helped more and…'

There was a pause, Vash thought he saw something glisten in Meryl's eye, 'and…' the shorter woman continued, 'I thought you trusted us.'

Vash opened his mouth to say something but, for some reason, the only words he could say were, 'I'm sorry.'

Eventually the short woman finished bandaging the wound. She stood up, 'come on,' she said, 'let's get moving, the sooner we're at Sky City the better.'

………………………………………………………………………………………

The journey which should have taken three hours took five because Vash had to constantly stop and rest. The disease was wearing on him worse than ever and no one, not even Knives, had ever seen him this weak before.

Unusually, however, he didn't whine or complain that much, something for which Meryl was very grateful. She was well aware of how much of Vash's 'complaints,' existed to put other at ease or push them away, he was perfectly capable of handling pain and exhaustion in reality. Apart from the inherent irritation at putting up with such pathetic whinging, to hear him try to put on a façade, any façade, to hide his condition more would have been too much. She felt a dreadful hollowness in her chest as it was, like someone had sucked all her internal organs out. Her mind, always veering towards the logical had made some very simple and very horrible calculations.

If the illness was somehow making Vash's Plant side come out, effecting his Plant abilities, causing him to lose control, then there was a chance it could effect his Angel Arm. And if that was activated again, even at low levels, then…

Meryl squeezed her eyes shut, seeing the globe of energy that decimated Augusta. She couldn't let that happen again, not as a good Insurance Agent, not as decent human being. But… what if that meant… what if to stop Vash she would have to…

No; she could never hurt him, surely. Yet, if that was the only way, if it became a choice… what would she do? What could she do?

Her disturbing musings were interrupted by Millie, 'look Ma'am' she trilled, 'there is someone up ahead!'

Sure enough, looking up, Meryl saw a man dressed in well worn, but somewhat strange, clothing. She recognised it as the style the people of Sky City tended to wear, though it looked a lot more ragged than the stuff she'd seen last time she'd visited, shortly after the city had fallen from the sky.

Their visit then had been a short as they'd not stuck around long, though Vash had been a mess from grieving about that man… what was his name now? Bruce? Brian? Something like that anyway. At the time Vash had been too concerned with causing more trouble for them, wanting to get away as fast as possible before any more of the Gung Ho Guns followed him and wrecked still more destruction upon his home.

The man they were facing now held some sort of plough and was scratching in the sand, preparing it for planting. Even Meryl, who was hardly an expert on the subject, knew that there was little chance of it working. Most GunSmoke soil had to be specially prepared and watered before the hardiest of weed would even think about growing there.

'Hello,' she called to him, 'I'm Meryl Strife and…'

She didn't continue for she realized that grubby man's attention was not upon her or Millie, instead he was staring fixedly at Vash and Knives, Vash in particular. His jaw hung open and his eyes were as wide as moons.

'Um,' said Vash nervously, putting on his widest grin, 'hi! Uh… you're a McMillan? Right? I'd know that nose anywhere… say, do you know Jane or Marty? I-'

He didn't get any further for at that moment the man dropped his plough, gave a shrill scream and ran off, towards the city.

'Well,' commented Millie, watching the retreating dust ball, 'that wasn't very friendly.'

Vash sighed deeply and gave a resigned shrug, 'I suppose I should have expected this,' he murmured, 'the last time I was here…'

'Still, you can't be blamed for that,' said Millie, 'they should be happy that you're back, they are your family after all. It's mean of them to do that.'

Vash opened his mouth, as if he was going to say something, then shut it again, settling for another shrug.

'Well,' he said at last, 'let's get this over with, perhaps it won't be so bad…'

………………………………………………………………………………………….

They didn't have to wait long, they'd hardly made much distance towards the city before several members of the populace decided to come to them.

About five trucks came speeding across the desert and, as they approached, it became evident they were stuffed full of people, all with various items of weaponry. Vash's heart sunk further down into his chest, this was most certainly not a good sign.

The trucks stopped a few meters away, sending up massive sprays of dust. Various men jumped out and the one who appeared to be their leader, a tallish man with short, jet black hair(1), came striding towards them. His brow was set into a deep frown and he kept a gun strung across his back in addition to the revolver currently dangling from his hand.

'Mr Vash?' he stated as much as asked.

'Yes,' replied Vash, doing his utmost to be friendly, 'um… it's nice to be home, who are you? I don't think I've seen your face before...'

The man seemed to ignore his question, 'who are these?' he demanded rudely.

'This is Meryl Strife, Millie Thomson and…' Vash hesitated, he'd not thought about this part…

'Eriks,' put in Knives swiftly, 'Ericks… ah…' now it was evident he was struggling for a second name, as even his adopted moniker of 'Bluesummers,' would be known and feared here, 'Wolfwood,' he settled for at last. Vash's heart, which had previously been residing somewhere in the bottom of his stomach, nosed dived into the soles of his feet. Of all the names to choose…

'Ericks Wolfwood, eh?' murmured the man, his dark eyes narrowing, 'well,' he continued, 'whoever you are, please, all of you, turn back. You are not welcome here.'

'What?' asked Vash, trying to keep his voice level. He'd expected difficulties, true, but he'd thought that he, at least, would be allowed in, or certainly be allowed to visit the Doctor, 'but it's me! Vash!'

'I know full well who you are,' snapped back the man, 'we all do, how couldn't after what you did?'

'He didn't do anything,' said Knives, his voice cool but ridged with unspoken anger, 'it was the actions of the Gung Ho Guns which caused your city to fall from the sky.'

'I know that,' growled the man, 'I was there! Vash might not have caused the destruction directly, but it was he which attracted those demons here, he was the ultimate catalyst for the incident. Who do you bring with you now, Vash?' he sneered, turning towards the gunslinger, 'what rabid dogs now follow your trail? Will they be let loose on our women and children also? What is your story this time, why have you come crawling back to us? Lost another limb?'

Knives actually growled at these words and took a step forward but he was stopped by Vash's out stretched arm.

'Please,' said Millie, before Vash could say any words of his own, 'please let Mr Vash in, he might not look it right now, but he's very sick!'

The man laughed harshly, 'what did I tell you?' he cried, addressing the men behind him, 'it's as before, he only returns to us when he wants something, and there's always hell snapping at his heels!'

'That's mean!' protested Millie sharply, 'what kind of family are you, if you won't look after each other!'

The man opened his mouth as if to say something then shut it, he turned away, for the first time looking vaguely guilty.

'Sir,' said Meryl, 'if you won't let Vash in… perhaps the Doctor could come out… or perhaps one of us could enter? If I came in by myself I might be able to describe Vash's symptoms to this Doctor and-…'

'No!' said the man, snapping out of whatever compassion he'd felt, 'we've had enough of outsiders trying to steal our technology and take advantage of our good will. No more! Now return to the desert, turn back! You won't get any help here!'

'Don't you get it you imbecile,' rasped Knives, his fists clenching, 'he's sick! He needs you help!'

'Step down,' growled the man, raising his gun threateningly, 'I don't care if he's bleeding to death on the door step, he's not coming back in!'

'You stupid, microscopic, diseased vermin of-'

'Back off now,' the dark man was practically yelling and there was a clatter of clicking as the other armed men raised their guns, 'or we'll fill you full of bullets!'

'I'd like to see you try,' Knives hissed, his hand moving towards his own gun.

'No!' cried Vash desperately, hoping to somehow defuse the situation. As it happened he needn't have bothered.

There was a soft humming above them all and a shadow past over the sun. They looked up to see an amazing contraption, a silvery, flying disk. And standing calmly upon it was a small, shrivelled, dark skinned man leaning upon a cane. It was the Doctor.

'Now now,' he called in a friendly, if somewhat high pitched voice, 'there is no need for violence or threats, what happened to manners there? Eh?' he turned towards the only other passenger on the disk, a middle aged woman who was working the controls, 'bring us down Lana,' he instructed her and the disk slowly descended until it landed softly in the sand.

The old man stepped off the disk and hobbled towards them, a gentle smile creasing his face. Vash found himself grinning also, the sight of this man soothing his soul beyond measure.

There were very, very few people alive upon the face of GunSmoke whom he knew, and who knew him, as well as The Doctor. Knives was one and so was Meryl and Millie at times, but The Doctor was his oldest friend.

One of the only humans to have been part of some of the Genetic Experiments that took place upon earth, the Doctor (who's true name was known by only a few and very rarely used,) was even older than Vash himself! (2) He had been instrumental to Vash's acceptance and growth within human Sky City community and though Vash had never had any sort of older male relative, he always found himself considering the Doctor as some sort of kindly uncle. A father figure even, at times.

Vash grinned, 'Doctor!' he said.

'Hello Vash,' replied the Doctor kindly, 'it's good to see you back so soon. For a while I thought it might be another five years,' Vash blushed with embarrassment and guilt over this mild jibe, 'but anyway,' continued the Doctor, 'I'm glad to see you home at last. Rex, men, please put away your guns, you hardly need them.'

'Don't we?' growled the dark haired man, who was obviously the one known as Rex, 'You remember what happened last time! You remember what he brought with him! You remember the havoc, the chaos, the destruction! Don't tell me you've forgotten!'

'No Rex,' said the Doctor smoothly, 'of course not, I never will. I also remember a man, your great grandfather, Karl… what was it he was convicted for now… ah yes. Murder, wasn't it? Though he claimed it was in self defence. And, looking back, I recall how many people said he should be put to death for this crime. But one young man, a tall, spiky, blond haired youth, said that wasn't right, pleaded for mercy. The court gave him that mercy so, twenty years later, that man was let free from confinement and rehabilitation and allowed to start a family. That's what I remember, Rex, perhaps you should recall it too.'

Rex had once again cast his eyes down, his gun drooped in his hand, 'I don't know,' he muttered, 'I just… I don't want to see a repeat of what happened before… I couldn't stand that…'

'Of course not,' soothed the Doctor, patting his arm with one withered hand, 'but don't worry, that will not happen, I'm sure we've all learned the mistakes of our past.'

He did not look at Rex as he spoke these words but, instead, towards Vash and the others and, Vash noticed with some alarm, his eyes were fixed especially on Knives. Vash had a feeling that the false name would not stand long, if at all, under the Doctor's shrewd scrutiny.

'So,' he said, smiling that friendly but inscrutable smile of his, 'who are these nice young people you've brought with you this time, Vash? And what happened to that dark priest?'

Vash looked away, the words stuck in his throat… Wolfwood…

The Doctor sighed, reading his expression, 'I see… that's how it is. I guessed it would end like that, he who lives by the gun…' another deep sigh, 'I'm sorry for your loss, Vash. But tell me, who are these new friends of yours? They look vaguely familiar I must confess, I think I met the two lovely ladies just before you left, correct?'

Both Meryl and Millie blushed at being referred to as lovely ladies, Vash introduced them quickly and the Doctor nodded and smiled at both.

'And he?' he asked, gesturing towards Knives who was standing rather stiffly, his face neutral.

The Doctor looked towards Vash as he spoke and the gunman felt those kind, brown eyes rake his soul. The pseudonym of Eriks Wolfwood wouldn't last a second against the sharp Doctor and, besides, he could not lie to him.

'This…' he took a steadying breath, 'this is Millions Knives Bluesummers, my brother.'

A lot of things happened at once then. Knives' head eyes focussed on Vash, glaring at him angrily. Screams and shouts exploded into the air, the small band of men around them went berserk. Many simply ran away shrieking, dropping their guns onto the dust and fleeing as fast as they could. Some even fainted, or else fell down onto their knees, shaking and sobbing with fear. Those that remained, however, once more drew out their guns and started firing wildly. Rex was amongst these and would have been shot down himself, by his own men, had not Vash the presence of mind to swing his leg out, tripping him up and saving him from a badly aimed bullet to the head.

He, meanwhile, started firing off his own gun, trying to disarm their hysterical attackers, Meryl and Millie were doing similar but Knives, whilst he had drawn his gun, had yet to fire a shot. He had the presence of mind to know that any sign of real aggression from him would not help the situation at all.

Indeed, the only person who had been relatively unfazed by events was the Doctor who stood calmly amidst the pandemonium, smiling as bullets whistled past and over him.

Then he frowned slightly as one stray missile punched a neat, round hole in his hat. The Doctor very rarely frowned and Vash's blood ran cold, this was not a good thing.

The small old man opened his arms outwards and in a loud, deep and quite different voice from his usual tones, he yelled, 'stop!'

It was as if the voice of god had spoken for all the men, without exception, ceased firing, though their guns remained out and at the ready.

The Doctor took a deep breath and, slowly, hobbled towards Knives who raised himself from his defensive crouch and put his gun back into its holster. He looked down upon the small man, as if trying to match his gaze.

'I thought I knew you from somewhere,' said the Doctor, smoothly, 'it was about twenty seven… twenty eight years ago, as I recall… you were a young technician… or you claimed you were though I thought, at the time, how odd it was I'd never met you. I have a good memory for faces, usually. That was you, wasn't it?'

Knives frowned slightly, obviously searching his own memory, 'yes,' he said at last, 'it was a few months before the July Incident. I was trailing Vash, trying to find where he was, what he was doing and so forth. I discovered Sky city, made up a fake identity and did some investigating.'

Vash's eyes widened, he'd not known about that… he must have been planet side when it happened.

'As I recall,' continued the Doctor conversationally, 'there were several murders at the time… your work?'

'Most probably. I'm… sorry to say I find it hard to keep track.'

The Doctor nodded and gave a tiny smile, 'well then, do you intend to repeat the experience? Do you still wish to destroy all of humanity?'

'No.'

The Doctor's expression remained fixed, he turned towards Vash, 'is what he says true? Has he changed at last?'

'I think… yes, yes he has,' replied Vash, wishing he sounded more certain, 'he has changed and he won't kill anyone, he promised me.'

'How do you know he won't break that promise?'

Vash blinked, he'd not expected this, not from the Doctor. He was well aware that he was somewhat naive at times, but he'd thought that his word would be good enough. Did this mean that not even the Doctor trusted him any more? He felt a horrible, sinking sensation in his chest… it wasn't as if he didn't have good reason to distrust him, he had been almost directly responsible for a lot of death and destruction…

The Doctor turned back towards Knives, 'this man,' he continued, 'is a demon, he's caused great sorrow and death, not just towards this community but towards many, many people on Gunsmoke. How am I to believe that you are to be trusted?' the latter was directed and Knives, who stood motionless.

'I understand,' he said at length, 'that you don't want me in Sky City. I respect that, but will you at least let my brother in? He's ill and requires help and…' there was a pause, 'and,' Knives continued, 'I think you are he only ones who can give him that help.'

There was a pregnant pause and then, slowly, the Doctor's smile widened.

'Right then,' he said, a little briskly, 'we'd best be getting off to Sky City, the sooner we can diagnose this illness or ailment the better. Everyone aboard the hover disk, I'm sure our young lads are perfectly capable of making their own way back.'

Rex, still spitting sand from when Vash had tripped him up, looked stunned, 'but sir…' he gasped. The Doctor ignored him.

He beckoned to them as he hobbled back to the disk, Vash, Meryl and Millie followed him but Knives stayed behind. He hitched his travelling sack upon his shoulder and made to start walking away, but was stopped by the Doctor's shrill voice.

'Come on Mr Knives,' he called, 'hurry up!'

'But-' said Knives, for once sounding somewhat astounded, 'you'll allow me in your city?'

'Well is there anyone else around here called Knives? If there is I'd like to hear about it.'

'Um… no,' said Knives, quickly recovering himself and jogging quickly over to the disk. The middle aged woman driving it looked less than happy about his presence but worked the controls anyway.

As the disk spun up into the air Vash grinned, it was good to be home.

(1) Not that it's at all relevant to the story, but for some reason I imagined this guy looking pretty much like Roy Mustang out of Full Metal Alchemist. He's so cute!

(2) Yes, I have cannon to back me up to some extent. If you look in the flash-backs in the final episode the doctor seems to be in all of them which means he must be VERY old. Why this is I'm not sure, so my explanation might sound hair brained, sorry… it's not my fault!

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NEXT TIME: Vash is examined, the girls look after him, Knives even has dinner with Jessica. What could go wrong? No… seriously… what could go wrong?