THE ENDING YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!!! And please review!!!

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CHAPTER TWELVE: EMIGRATION (cont3)

"Knives, that's sweet of you." Still grasping his hand in her own, she tucked his wrist under her chin and strained to focus. Concentrating this much, she could almost make out his facial expression. "But you're lying. No matter what agreements we've tried, for you to spare the humans, you'd never honor a single one."

He pulled his hand from her grasp and sighed. "So then...No?"

Vanessa shook her head. "I'm leaving with Vash."

Knives chuckled, glancing over her shoulder at Vash, whose chin was dangling open. "I'm not about to let that happen. You're staying with me, to fulfill your duties to the race."

"And if I stayed, and Vash left, you'd spare the ships?" she asked, a clever smirk emerging upon her lips. "No, you'd kill your only brother along with them, wouldn't you."

Hiding shock with offense, Knives frowned. "No, I wouldn't."

"Yes, you would. I saw it in your mind," Vanessa whispered, waiting for him to realize the truth. "I saw everything."

Knives gulped. He gently traced a scar line from the corner of her eye to her chin. So THAT's what she was doing, not committing suicide...

"I'd hate for Vash to find out, though," she whispered softly. "It would break his heart to know that his only brother doesn't care about him anymore...Finally resolving to cut him down should he stand in the way of your goals...Which he is."

"Unfortunately, yes. I've lost the ability to love a brother so blinded by lies and false compassion," he admitted. "My choice is inevitable – Vash will die if he boards or stays. Regardless, you're coming with me."

Shaking her head, Vanessa sighed impatiently. "Well, that's no plan! You know, if I stay, and you attack those ships, I'd throw myself in the way. I have a penance to fulfill, don't I, Vash? Those humans will be killed only over my dead body."

Knives shook his head with more confidence in response. "The first place we're going is that basement, where I'll use some of those anesthetics to render you unconscious for the duration of this rescue ship nonsense. You'll miss the entire display, but you'll live. Now, I'd appreciate it if you'd stop wasting breath, and come with me," he added, grabbing her hand urgently.

Vash stepped forward again. "Let her go, Knives!"

"What, is my timid little brother going to blow me away? Join reality, Vash. Any action you make is futile," he called over his shoulder as he began to drag Vanessa away.

Vanessa planted her bare feet square in the sand and fought his pull. "You can't use those drugs on me! Trust me, you can't!" she insisted, less in fear than in certainty.

Knives stopped tugging her and turned to scowl. "I can and I will."

"I love Vash," Vanessa snarled, tensing against his touch. "I'm going with him, whether you like it or not, because it's the only logical option you have."

Behind her, Vash let a muffled roar of frustration.

Seeing the hurt in Knives' expression, Vanessa continued. "You know why I love him and not you? Because of your superiority complex. Because when you kiss me, it's bitter and cold, while Vash's kisses are as pure and sweet as he is. That sick pride and bloated ego of yours will prevent you from becoming anything better than his evil twin."

Gritting his teeth, Knives whirled to face her, squeezing her fingers tightly in rage. "Take that back...Before my anger leads me to wield violence against you," he threatened, drawing his left hand into a fist and lifting it before her face.

Vash flew at Knives, wrenching his hand from hers, narrowing his eyes furiously. "I'll shoot you again, if I'm driven to it, Knives!"

Vanessa rushed between them, causing Vash to step back. "No one's shooting up, blowing up, or slicing up anybody, or anything! And nobody's preventing those ships from a safe homecoming. If you two fight, I'm going to get in the way and mess things up, so just give up. Both of you. Step back, Vash. There's no need for hostility."

Attempting to argue, Vash did as told and kept a keen eye on his brother.

She took a deep breath and continued. "Let me talk, I have something important I-"

"You lost the right to speak the moment you uttered those things!" Knives hissed.

"Vanessa, we've got to stay," Vash argued, placing his hand on her shoulder. "As much as I hate to say it, we have to ensure..."

"Go ahead and board!" Knives stated, eyebrows lifted as his voice assumed a calmer tone. "It would sadden me, but if I must, I will destroy the two of you along with the humans."

"So easily...You've decided that I, too, am expendable, huh?" Vanessa muttered.

Knives nodded solemnly. "Betrayal after betrayal, insult after insult...I will not forgive such morose, delusional brats as you. Board the ship. All sinners will pay...I'll cut the two of you down as I would any other thieving parasite."

"No you won't," Vanessa replied earnestly. "Hate us all, but there's one you can't destroy..." Taking advantage of this vulnerable moment, she grabbed Knives' hand roughly and held his palm against her stomach.

Knives stood agape, frozen in surprise, as was Vash.

"For this you will have to spare everyone," she continued, squinting to judge any response he may give. "I think it's a girl. I think we'll name her Tessla."

Vanessa let her hand fall away, but still Knives touched her abdomen, feeling for the independent heartbeat within.

"A full-blooded plant," she added softly. Turning her head to Vash, she added with a smile, "I thought they were crazy when they told me, at the checkup...but it's true. You're going to be a father, Vash, just like you wanted!"

Vash suddenly relaxed, and he shut his mouth.

Turning back to Knives, Vanessa's voice became gentle and soothing. "As the first one born of a plant angel, Tessla was wrongly killed by the humans. As the first second-generation plant child, our Tessla should be allowed the chance to breathe and live, don't you agree? You couldn't kill Tessla...could you?"

Knives' gaze fell, and his arms lay limp at his sides.

She reached to him, hugging him softly, the first truly felt embrace she ever gave him. "We have to go raise our children with other children. You stay here. Tend to the plants and make the Eden – I'll bet some of our children will want to return here one day. If the humans are too harsh, they'll need an alternative. We'll tell them about you, their Uncle Knives who would take them in should they need him. The three of us - we'll work to make them happy no matter what, okay?" she whispered blissfully, drawing back to see his expression.

Knives frowned. His skin felt cold and itchy all over. This was the checkmate he hadn't allowed himself to expect. This was the key to sabotaging his plans, to reduce him to a mere observer of an accursed emigration.

His heart broken, he could only let a weak smile. So she wouldn't love him. And she never would. But perhaps one day her children might. Perhaps...

"One day the Eden will be complete, then," he surmised, glancing into Vash's wide eyes before turning to leave without further incident. They watched him slink away from the human vermin and the only sentient members of his race; stealing into the desert alone, the abandoned plants his only solice.

Letting an obvious sigh of relief, Vash squatted to rest in the sand beside Vanessa. He scratched the back of his head and began to chuckle nervously. "That was the most clever...Wow, with acting that good and a lie that perfect...You know, you just saved everyone!? And it was so much easier than-"

"Are you calling me a liar?" Vanessa turned to him and put her hand on her hip. "That was the truth. At the check up, the lady said I'd healed. They tested me, and I'm pregnant. Really, I am! It's not something I'd thought could happen...but..." Her voice suddenly quieted, and she looked to her feet nervously. "Not exactly the way I wanted to break the news."

Vash felt his throat tighten. He wanted to yell something extremely loud, but restrained himself. Looking at her as if she were a semi and he were a deer, he inhaled, deep and long. Finally breaking out of his shock, he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face between the folds of her cloak and began to weep.

Vanessa knelt to hug him as he sobbed. "Um, Vash? Are you crying because you're upset, or are you happy?"

Lifting his face to show her a quivering-lipped smile, he nodded. "Couldn't be happier."

Together, they stumbled, giggling because no words seemed necessary, to the ships' main ramp. Luggage in tow, they held out their IDs and boarded. Hours later, they were gazing with wonder a starry galaxy, and the tiny speck Gunsmoke became - a mere memory of a planet in the distance.

THE END...

...But...This story doesn't just end there! Wanna know what happens next?

SEQUEL: DISAPPOINTING MARTYRS, story ID # 838354

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