Thanks so much to all of you who actually reviewed this time around, especially you guys who have been doing it consistently. I hope you enjoy this chapter (it's one of my favorites).

Kenta Divina: You had some great questions. I'm afraid my answers won't satisfy you, though. As far as how the Gung-ho Gun that raises the dead (he has a name, it comes up later) does his work, well, I haven't really come up with a scientific explanation. In my mind, it's just a mystery, an enigma, like why Dominique has that eye, or how Leonof can control puppets. Nearly nothing is revealed about the Gung-ho Guns and their pasts, and I intended for this guy to be the same way. So it's up to your imagination. And why does he do it? Well, why do any of the Gung-ho Guns do it? Sorry, but he really just isn't a character I meant to explore or analyze, he's more of a plot device. I know, I know, that really doesn't help.

Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun or any of its characters.

LIVING MEMORIES

-A Trigun Story-

Chapter 13: Birthright

"Excuse me? Excuse me, miss? Are you okay?"

"Is she alive?"

"I don't know."

"No, please . . . don't take me back . . ."

"Oh my gosh! She's still alive! Somebody, get some water over here!"

"How long do you think she's been out here?"

"A week, at least."

"And she made it?"

"She's got a strong will, that's all I can say."

"Mom! Mom, she's gone!"

Milly looked up from where she stood outside of the hotel. "What's wrong, Michael?"

"Frey's gone!"

Alec moaned. "Not again."

"I'm over here!"

Everyone glanced to the source of the voice. Something was coming at them from down the road, moving at a fast pace and blowing up a cloud of sand behind it. Frey yelled, bringing the motorcycle to a sharp halt and nearly tipping it over. She looked at Wolfwood, shaking her head at him and breathing heavily.

"I swear I'll never get the hang of this thing," she muttered between breaths. Then she winked. Wolfwood smiled, nodding in the approval of her decision. Michael took note of the short exchange, but said nothing.

"Oh," Milly said, smiling, "well, are you ready to go?" Frey nodded. She began to climb off of the motorcycle, but Wolfwood shook his head.

"No you don't. You're staying on that thing. Michael can drive." Frey stared at him, appalled that he would even suggest it.

"I don't think-"

"You don't have a choice," he interrupted. There's not enough room for you in one of the cars." Frey glanced past him at the two cars. One was Sloan's. There was room for five people in it. That probably meant Carly, Sloan, Aidan, Milly, and Wolfwood. Then there was the one Vash had driven. Most of the car's back seat was taken up by the Cross Punisher. That left three seats, one for Meryl, one for Vash, and one for Alec. Wolfwood and Michael were the only ones that could drive the motorcycle, too. There was no way Sloan was going to let Aidan ride it, and Alec and Michael would never ride together. And the 'adults' that would actually consider riding it were probably all in on Wolfwood's scheme anyway. Frey glared at him.

You're disgusting.

He shrugged.

The cars were finished being loaded, both with luggage and people. Frey noticed that Alec and Aidan seemed somewhat reluctant to get into separate cars. She smirked. Something had happened. Aidan would never hear the end of this one.

"Hey, Bro. You got some room in your hospital for another patient?"

"Who?"

"This girl."

"What happened to her?"

"I was bringing a busload of people here to September, and we found her in the middle of the desert."

"And she's still alive?"

"Yep. She's needs attention, though, as soon as possible."

"I can do that."

"Frey! I can't believe you just did that!" Alec glared at her in disgust as she swallowed the chicken she had just swiped from his plate. She shrugged.

"Hey, a girl's got to eat."

"That's what your plate is for."

Frey just stuck out her tongue, grabbing another piece.

"Frey!"

Vash watched their playful banter melancholily. Four days had passed since they had left Cerin City. Getting away from the site of a massacre had put everyone in generally higher spirits, but they all knew that they couldn't keep on going like this forever. For him, Wolfwood, Milly, and Meryl, it had been just like old times, as short-lived as it was. And it was even better to have the rest of the family along. But they had to split up soon. Knives wouldn't wait for them to be done reliving the past before he struck again.

Frey and Alec had been rather down, too. Sure, now they were teasing each other and messing around, but Vash knew it was probably just to get their minds off the current situation. When they had arrived here, Alec and Frey had immediately headed home, to the hospital where they lived with Alec's grandfather, the doctor. To their surprise, however, their home was abandoned. Not even a note had been left in the doctor's absence. He had left without a trace, and no one in town had any idea where he had gone.

Vash was shaken out of his thoughts as a handful of spaghetti hit him in the side of the face. He glanced at Alec, who had a horrified look on his face.

"I-I was aiming at Frey . . ."

Vash calmly picked up his napkin and wiped the food off of his face, most of the table watching him and barely suppressing their laughs. Then he slowly lifted his glass and emptied its contents on Alec's head.

"Oh, you're gonna get it."

The table erupted. The rest of the bowl of spaghetti ended up on Aidan's head, and Milly pouted as Michael grabbed her fourth pudding cup right out of her hand and chucked it at Wolfwood. Sloan was the only one to excuse himself and leave the table, disgusted with the juvenile behavior. They looked ridiculous. Vash was screaming like a banshee. Milly was furiously collecting all of the pudding she could find, not wanting to sacrifice it for the fight. Aidan was covered in red sauce, as was almost everyone else by now. He shook his head. It was pathetic.

"Hey Sloan, come join us!"

"Not on your life," he muttered, ignoring Vash. Vash shrugged and turned around to rub a handful of ketchup all over Meryl's face, who responded by screaming and hitting him on the forehead with an egg.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!"

Everyone froze, suspended in mid-duck or throw. The manager of the restaurant stood by the table, fuming.

Frey smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. My fault."

Muttering under his breath, the man roughly shoved a mop and bucket into Frey's hands.

"Get this place cleaned up now," he stressed, his face still a dangerous shade of red. Then he turned on his heel and disappeared through the staff doors. Frey's face reddened, though not in anger, as she saw how ridiculous they all looked, besides her. She had psychically deflected most of the assaults on her, and while the others complained about it being unfair, she was grateful she had done it. She spent the whole time they were cleaning themselves off mopping and scrubbing.

Vash sunk into a large chair in he and Meryl's hotel room. The whole group had gathered there, still almost giddy from the earlier food fight. He sighed, deeply satisfied. Everything was so peaceful now. Wolfwood and Milly couldn't look happier. The same was true for Frey and Michael. And watching Alec and Aidan was hilarious as they stole glances at each other when her parents weren't looking.

It was as if nothing could disturb their small sphere of happiness. Everything was perfect. Then Vash sat up.

"Hey Wolfwood, do you feel that?"

The priest nodded quietly. "Yeah, it's weird, like some kind of weird deja vu." He paused, and the rest of the room grew silent as they sensed something pass between the two. Their faces were disturbed and contemplative. Then Vash's eyes widened.

"Oh no."

He bolted out of the room, Wolfwood at his heels.

"Vash!"

Meryl stood up, frowning, and ran after the two of them. Milly followed, though her countenance held more concern than anger. The rest glanced at each other, shrugged, and followed them.

Vash and Wolfwood were running to the east part of town. Meryl quickened her pace, yelling at them from behind. Vash glanced over his shoulder.

"No!" he shouted, waving his arms at them to turn around, "Go back! It's too dangerous!"

Meryl gritted her teeth and kept running. "I'm not called Derringer Meryl for nothing, Vash," she muttered, though he couldn't hear her. Vash groaned at her persistence, suddenly seeing again how she was able to keep tabs on him back when they had first met. He said something to Wolfwood, and the two of them skidded to a halt. Vash grabbed Meryl by the shoulders as she reached them.

"Meryl, please, stop following me. I just don't want you to get hurt." The hurt look in her eyes was almost too much for him to bear. No matter what he did, he couldn't completely protect her from pain. In fact, he thought, inwardly kicking himself, he was usually the cause of it.

Meryl's eyes fell. "The last time you ran off like this to fight something dangerous and told me to stay behind, without even telling me what it was, I-" she stopped, clenching her fists and tensing. Her voice clearly gave away the fact that she was crying when she spoke again. "I-I didn't see you again for five years." She looked up, her eyes swimming with tears. "I don't want to be left behind again, Vash."

Vash looked as if he had been shot. He shook his head slowly. "Meryl, I promise I'll come back, okay? Just please take everyone else and get away from here as fast as you can."

At seeing the reluctance and pleading in her eyes, he leaned down and took her in his arms, allowing her to cry on him. Then he softly brushed a strand of her short black hair away and whispered in her ear.

"It's Legato, Meryl." Frey, who was the only one close enough to hear the exchange, froze.

Meryl looked up at him in shock. She didn't even consider doubting him, even though Legato had been killed by him nearly two decades ago. She couldn't disbelieve the look in his eyes.

"No Vash, you can't . . ."

Vash didn't answer. He just looked at her sadly, then turned to run again, his fingers slipping slowly and reluctantly from her own. He hesitated, still watching her, then finally turned, motioning to Wolfwood that it was time to leave Milly, too. Then they were gone.

The two women stood there for a few moments, blankly watching the trail to possible death their two men had just taken. Meryl took a deep, shaky breath.

"Look everyone, we have to get away from here as fast as we possibly can, get back to the hotel, get the cars, and pack everything. Come on." No one questioned her. If she had been deterred from following Vash, being the most determined of them all, they weren't about to question her. Only Frey remained as the others all turned to run in the opposite direction.

Michael turned when he realized she wasn't there. He ran back and grabbed her by the sleeve, trying to pull her along after him. He couldn't even get her to budge. Stepping in front of her, he took her by the shoulders and began to gently shake her. She was snapped out of her daze and looked up at him. Her face was deathly pale, her eyes wide.

"I'm going after them, Michael."

"What?"

"I'll explain everything later, but I've got to go after them." Michael almost protested, but then saw that it would be futile and only nodded.

"Alright. But I'm going too."

"No, Michael-"

"Frey."

She looked into his eyes. The bright blue orbs were strong, decided, showing no sign of fear or unsureness. She sighed. "Fine."

"Where am I?"

"Oh! You're finally awake!"

"Who are you?"

"My name's Alec. Who are you?"

"I-I can't remember . . ."

"Don't worry. My grandpa said you might be suffering from amnesia, but you'll regain your memory soon. We'll take good care of you here."

"You mean I can stay?"

"Of course."

". . . really?"

"Dad! Slow down!" Sloan skidded to a halt, looking back impatiently at his trailing daughter. Aidan placed her hands on her knees, leaning over and breathing heavily.

"Dad, Michael and Frey are gone." The calvary man groaned, the truth being confirmed to his eyes.

"I'll go back." It was Meryl. "Milly and I will go find them. You guys just keep going. Wait for us near the outskirts of town. We'll be there soon."

"No. You heard Vash, it's too dangerous. I'll go."

"Listen Sloan, you don't understand the gravity of this situation. You have to get out of here now. Milly and I have more experience with this kind of stuff than you do. And I promise we'll hurry, okay?"

Sloan hesitated. "Are you sure?"

Meryl nodded.

He sighed. "Just hurry." Meryl smiled, thankful for his trust in her. She grabbed Milly by the arm, who followed her without protest. Sloan, Carly, Aidan, and Alec watched for a few more moments, until they were gone, then continued in their endeavor to escape the city.

"Do you remember anything about where you came from yet?"

"Yes."

"So? What's your name?"

"Frey."

"That's pretty. Where are you from?"

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"Frey! Hold up!" Michael dodged another screaming person and managed to catch up with her. People were swarming past them in masses, all of them terrified and many screaming. Michael grabbed a passing woman by the arm.

"Excuse me Miss, could you please tell us what's going on?"

She looked at them as if they were daft. "You mean you haven't heard! Vash the Stampede is here! He's going to kill us all!"

Michael smiled. "That's ridiculous. I know Vash, and he would never-" the force of Frey's elbow digging into his side cut him off. The woman pulled herself free from him, her eyes reflecting even greater shock, and disappeared.

"What was that for!"

Frey rolled her eyes. "These people want to see Vash dead, Michael. You shouldn't go telling them that you're affiliated with him."

"Oh."

The pair continued weaving their way through the crowds, ignoring the shouts they received to turn around.

"What is Vash up to?"

"He's probably using his 'daily massacre' speech again."

Frey raised a questioning eyebrow. "His what?"

"He's done it before. He uses it to clear out large amounts of people quickly. But the last time he used it was before . . ."

"Before what?"

Michael shook his head. "Never mind."

"Hey Alec, have you seen my other earring?"

"What earring?"

"You know, the red flower ones. One of them is missing."

"Sorry, I haven't seen it. Where did you get those, anyway?"

"My father gave them to me, a long time ago."

"Oh. I'm really sorry, Frey."

Vash plopped down on the bench next to Wolfwood, sighing. The crowds were finally gone. Wolfwood lit a cigarette.

"You know, you looked absolutely ridiculous out there."

Vash shrugged. "If that's what it takes . . ."

"So what do we do now?"

"Now we wait."

I don't understand why you bother yourself with saving them. They'll all die eventually anyway.

Vash leapt to his feet and immediately looked up. Standing on the roof of the building in front of them, watching them closely with his evil ochre eyes, was none other than Legato.

The cigarette slipped from Wolfwood's mouth to the ground.

"What are you doing here?" Vash demanded, his voice tight.

Wolfwood could only imagine what Vash was experiencing at the moment. Here was the only man Vash had ever killed. He had regretted it from that day. Now his regret was removed, but that still left the problem that Vash's brother's top minion stood before them, somehow raised from the dead.

Merely picking up what belongs to me.

"She was right," Wolfwood whispered, his eyes never leaving Legato's, "he did come."

"What?"

Wolfwood shook his head and stood. "Nothing. I'll explain later."

The slightest of smiles fell on Legato's lips as he heard Wolfwood's first comment.

And it appears as if she's saving me the trouble of looking for her.

Both men on the ground immediately tensed. In the silence, the two nearing voices were impossible to miss.

"Vash . . . Vash! Where are you!"

"Vash! Dad?"

"No Frey, DON'T!"

Frey and Michael appeared from behind the nearest building. Wolfwood watched them in horror. Vash, however, just continued watching Legato. Frey and Michael, ignoring the warning from Wolfwood, followed Vash's gaze.

Frey's blood instantly ran cold.

"Who is that?"

"Legato," Frey murmured under her breath, her voice burning with hatred and her eyes glowing with rage.

Michael glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, about to question how she would know something like that, but stopped when he saw the look on her face. He glanced back up at the man on the roof. He was surprised to discover that Legato was watching him now. His eyes locked on the piercing yellow ones, eyes that seemed to penetrate all the way through his very being. He couldn't look away.

Slowly, Legato outstretched his hand toward Michael. Frey practically growled. What is he planning? He's going to hurt Michael. Something bad is going to happen . . .

"Stop Legato! Don't hurt him!"

Legato's hand paused in mid-air. His deadly gaze shifted from Michael to Frey, who now stood, black Long Colt in hand, shaking. She took a deep breath to calm herself, then steadied the gun so it was pointing straight at Legato. The shiny black metal was heavy in her hands, unfamiliar.

Vash had stopped breathing, his eyes wide from the force of the blow. Frey was holding his brother's gun. Knives' gun.

"I-I don't understand . . ."

Legato dropped his hand indifferently, his face displaying a barely discernable crooked grin.

"Perfect."

The top of Knives' gun flew off, landing a few feet away from Frey and Michael. Michael glanced at it, then at the blinding white cylinder that had been revealed in the gun. He found himself unable to speak. It was emitting enormous amounts of light, too much. Yellow bolts of electricity sparked around it, making him fall back a step.

"Frey, no!"

Vash was the only one to react, running forward and grabbing Michael. He dragged him away from Frey, then threw him over his shoulder, he and Wolfwood running for all they were worth away from her and Legato.

Michael wouldn't go easily, though. He kicked and struggled against Vash, screaming at Frey once he had regained his voice.

"Frey! No Vash, stop! We have to help her, we have to . . . FREY!"

The gun was beginning to expand, spreading like liquid metal up Frey's right arm, her fake arm. The arm with the power of a plant.

Michael cringed and clenched his eyes shut as Frey's terrified screams filled his ears. Then he, Vash, and Wolfwood rounded a corner, and she disappeared from his sight.

The gun eventually enveloped her entire arm, creating another huge and intimidating gun of some kind. She watched helplessly as Michael, Vash, and Wolfwood disappeared, abandoning her. Thin red lines began to carve their way across the gun, looking like thin red veins against a charred weapon. Then an area near the barrel of the gun opened, revealing within it a large yellow sphere of energy. It began to glow brighter, and Frey screamed even louder as she sensed that it was about to fire. She had no control at all, and the pain was excruciating.

"STOP! Stop it, please! LEGATO!"

Our master wishes you to take this with you.

The words flashed across her mind like lightning. Her eyes widened. Those were the words Legato had said to her when he had given her the Long Colt.

Knives was planning this! He knew this was going to happen! He knew I'd stay, she thought, meanwhile collapsing in defeat, he wanted me to kill them . . .

She watched powerlessly as the angel arm fired, engulfing the city in a bright light and destroying everything in its wake.

Please let everyone else be okay, she prayed, please.

"Oh my gosh!"

"Aaah! What are you doing in here!"

"D-did you just move that table . . . with your mind?"

"Uh, yeah, please don't tell the doctor!"

"Tell me how you did that!"

"I'm sorry Alec, it's not something that can be taught."

"Darn it."

Milly and Meryl stopped dead in their tracks, eyes wide. A huge dome of white light was expanding over the east side of the city.

"Vash . . ." Meryl whispered disbelievingly, "it can't be."

Milly shook herself out of her shock, having enough sense to grab Meryl and run in the opposite direction since the light was still spreading.

"No, not again . . ."

"It's okay, Meryl, he'll be fine."

Meryl allowed herself to be dragged along by the larger woman at first, staring blankly at the huge dome. Then something inside of her snapped.

"No! Vash!" Without warning she pushed herself away from Milly, turning to run towards the light again. Milly practically tackled her to the ground to stop her.

"No Meryl! There's nothing you can do! We have to get out of here!"

"I don't want to lose him again, I don't want to lose him . . ." she trailed off as tears began to run down her cheeks. Milly took advantage of the opportunity and lifted her again, beginning to run away. The fact that Michael and Nicholas were there too briefly flashed through her mind, but as she glanced at the struggling and desperate figure of Meryl, she knew where she was more needed.

"It's okay Meryl. They'll make it."

"So that's it. That's my story."

"I, I don't know what to say."

"I told you it would be a lot to swallow."

"Frey, I'm so sorry, I had no idea-"

"Don't worry about it. It's fine."

"Are you going to be okay?"

"By the look on your face you would think I'd be the one asking that."

"Very funny, Frey. But honestly, if you ever need anything,"

"I know, I know, you'll be there. Thanks Alec."

"Anytime."

"Oh my . . ."

"What is it?"

"Get in the car!"

Carly, Aidan, and Alec turned to follow Sloan's gaze, only to see the eastern half of the city surrounded by a dome of pure light.

"What is that!" Alec yelled over the noise of crumbling buildings, his hair whipping against his face with the strong wind.

"Just get in the car!"

He, Aidan, and Carly obeyed, watching the light in shock as Sloan floored it and took them away. Alec reached down and squeezed Aidan's hand reassuringly. She smiled weakly at him, then spoke in an unheard whisper.

"Oh, I hope they're safe."