I've got a pretty good turnaround time on these things. Of course, having said that,
something's bound to go horribly wrong. But until then, I'll peck away diligently at my
keyboard.
Disclaimer: Beware, excessively long-winded explanations in the first part of the chapter.
Disclaimer's Disclaimer: It gets good after that.
Rise of the Silver Stars
Chapter 11: The C.P. Mark III
"You've got a number of options open, but it all depends on how you hold it. The trigger's always the same, except for the side compartments which open when you squeeze these plates."
His audience listened with rapt attention as they bounced over the dunes. He had just started his instruction on the use and maintenance on the remodeled Cross Punisher, so it would be a while before he could get some much needed rest. All that, of course, assumed that he'd be able to get to sleep with Millions Knives all of four feet distant. If what Vash had written was true, and he had no reason to think otherwise, then the person driving the truck was the one who really deserved Vash's reputation. He didn't look that dangerous, except for those eyes- if he had been a customer, there was no way he'd ever get a Frank Marlon Special. But there he was, driving the truck on through the dunes and keeping entirely focused on the somewhat worn path ahead.
Vash sat beside his brother, listening to the broadcasts on a little headset. He had the volume up way too high, as the tones could be clearly heard even through the small rear window opening. How he had avoided going deaf like that was beyond him, but at least it was a distraction from the other constant sound of gum being chomped on. He must have a whole machine's worth in there. At least it was comforting to see him like that- between the radio, gum, the leg on the dashboard, and the arm hanging limply out the window, Vash looked the very image of relaxed. He'd need it too. Things would be busy in Inepril, so best rest while you could- which of course brought him back to his instruction and the hopeful sleep that would follow.
"The rockets were easy to modify. All I did was pull out the explosive rounds and replaced them with flashbangs. Instead of using explosive force, flashbangs mostly generate intense light and a shockwave, blinding and stunning anyone near the detonation point. This could include you, so don't try them point blank. They're still semi-guided by the reticle, which should make them a lot more accurate. It's hard to get old tech like that launcher. Try placing one between those rocks coming up."
Milly, as she insisted on being called, raised the Cross Punisher up and placed it on her shoulder at his guidance. The launcher end slid open and the sight dropped down. Right then, she looked quite intimidating squinting through the sight and crouched on one knee. A moment later, she tugged the motif that doubled as the trigger and the rocket sailed off in a lazy curve to land right between the rocks. He blinked as it detonated, still seeing the flash through his eyelids despite the distance involved.
"Great shot Milly!"
She let the cross dip down as she turned to smile at him, bringing up her free hand to rub at her eye. "That was bright!"
"You're not supposed to watch it detonate. Remember to at least blink when it hits."
A small pop interrupted him. Vash had turned around, and was watching them with one eye. He blew a bubble that didn't get very far before bursting and flapping back on his nose. He finally heard Knives speak.
"Do not do that again. We desire to avoid attention, not attract it."
Ah well. At least Knives had actually addressed them, the silent treatment was getting old.
"No worries there. Once is plenty, ammo like that isn't cheap."
Back to Milly. "Now then, I pulled out the machine gun entirely, and replaced it with two new weapons. You've already seen the net launcher in action, which is just as well since it's only useful at long range and you can recycle the ammo. You've only got five rounds in there and repacking the rounds is a pain, so it's not something you can use constantly. There are a few spare rounds in the ammo case, but even just reloading will take a minute."
He tapped at a few spots on the weapon that granted access to the ammo chamber within, then took the saved net and showed her how to repack it into the tube that normally held it. After just one cycle, she took over and packed the rest of it perfectly. He shook his head and chuckled. For all her simple air, when she wanted to learn something she learned fast.
"The short-range counterpart for the net launcher is in the side compartments where the handguns used to be. There are only four guns total now, since they're bigger than the old ones."
She made the gunrack slide out and it ratcheted the guns out, ready to be grabbed. "Bolas!"
"So you're already familiar with them?"
"Yes, my big big brother got one for me when it was time for me to learn to defend myself, since I didn't want to hurt anyone. I haven't used it since I got my stungun just before going to the big city."
"Great! I can skip this part and go on to the final use. It's the other item I stuck in to replace the machine gun, and it's a rather unusual one at that. Ever heard of a Polo Sticker?"
She shook her head. "Eh, it's not surprising. It's an old model and was widely regarded as taking too much effort to use for the effect. Only collectors and a few lawmen still have working ones, though ammo can be bought at most any general store fairly cheap. Of course, that's only because its ammo isn't a bullet. It's a sort of glorified glue gun, effective to about twenty-five yarns depending on how you angle it. As such, the ammo is simply a can of type 5 glue and a can of compressed air. I had one, and there was just enough room in there to gut it and stick it by the net launcher. It's a bit hard to describe how it works, so just flip it over from the net launcher and let it fly at something. Pull and hold the trigger."
Milly did just that, twisting the Cross Punisher around. The flap for the net launcher closed, and the sticker popped open. She pointed it towards a large stone pillar we were passing, and shot it for about three seconds. A foamy ribbon arced over to splash on the rocks, leaving a fair mess across the rockface.
"It bonds almost instantly, and until it dries it's a few hundred times stickier than gum. To get loose, you have to wait for it to dry then break it off. That's why some lawmen still use it- it immobilizes the target without harming it for up to three hours. Of course, you have to keep it away from the face, but other than that it's quite safe. Cleaning, however, is quite a chore, especially if you wait too long. You need to pour solvent in the barrel and shake it around for a few minutes to keep it clear, and it would occasionally dry in the main tubes which are practically impossible to clear. Luckily, I managed a solution- the solvent is in there too, just give it a tap right here to purge the whole system. Might have made the Polo Sticker a lot more popular back then."
A few more taps and he showed her how to change out the 'ammo' for that portion of the gun. He then had her do a complete run through of the whole-arsenal-in-one gun, and was surprised when she did it all correctly on the first try. Fast learner when motivated, indeed.
"Well, I guess that about takes care of it. There's just one more thing, then I'm going to take a nap since Vash couldn't let me sleep earlier."
The aforementioned party grinned, then somehow started to blow a separate bubble from between each tooth. Nice trick- if you were a kid. He just shook his head, smiling none the less. If there was anyone who knew all about living life, it had to be that man with the fading pink bubblegum. He turned back to Milly.
"I already know that you like it, but I'd like to know just why you do. It's okay if you don't answer, but I am curious."
Her expression furrowed a little as she thought, then she started speaking while watching the passing dunes. "Well... It's complicated. There are really a number of reasons. I suppose the best one is that I can use it, which is something I've felt was really important for a very long time now. Another one is that it's not every day you get the very best gunsmith in the world to help you."
"World's best gunsmith? I'll admit I've got a few skills and a lot of folks want my guns, but I don't think I'm the world's best. Hell, maybe I'm the world's worst..." Bad memories surfaced and he turned melancholy.
"Don't you dare think that Mr. Marlon!"
Woah, where had that come from? He opened mouth to respond, but before anything could fall out she launched ahead.
"Nicholas once told me it was heavy because it was filled with mercy. I eventually found out what that mercy was, and it made me terribly sad even though it was a part of him... Any gunsmith could have fixed it up, but only the very best could have removed that mercy and instead...instead..."
Her anger had abated, and now she was starting to cry. One of her hands reached over to brace herself against the Cross Punisher. Then she looked up at him, and he could see the tears, and a bit of a runny nose, but that was where his expectations stopped being right and were completely turned upside down. The rest of her expression wasn't sad at all, but contained a joy so deep and powerful that it was making her overflow. Her next words changed the way everything looked.
"...instead filled it up with Hope."
"Lub-dub..."
If his skill with crafting guns had brought about that kind of joy, if even for just one instant...
"Lub-dub..."
Then she was right. Who else could do what he had just done?
"Lub-dub..."
The sky looked bluer than he could ever remember seeing it. The land around wasn't brown anymore- it was a composite of billions of tiny crystals, each one creating a myriad of points of light.
"Lub-dub..."
His customers would often give him a bonus for the quality of his work. Good words, referrals, often something simple like a sum of money. Some were more creative.
"Lub-dub..."
Vash had made him come back to the world and exist again.
"Lub-dub..."
And now Milly returned to him the dreams he had lost so long ago.
"Lub-dub..."
He could hear his own heart, pushing the blood through him with every beat. This was the feeling of life, of being alive!
"Lub-dub..."
If Vash and Milly were working together, that dream of a world of peace and equality, his long lost dream...
"Lub-dub..."
...had a really good chance of becoming real. And it'd be better yet, since they had none other than him, Frank Marlon, the world's best gunsmith, to help them along.
"Lub-dub..."
¤ ¤ ¤
He wasn't entirely sure what to do. When Milly starts to cry, getting her to stop again usually takes more effort than healing one of his ailing sisters. At least he wasn't on the front lines this time, thankfully Frank was her focus for now. The gunsmith stood up in the back of the truck, no doubt going to try and shut off the waterworks.
"Well, put it that way, and I guess I am. Thanks a bundle Milly. Now for that nap, I am really...¤yawn¤...tired."
And with that, the gunsmith was back down and already starting to snore. He froze in mid chew, and the massive gumwad fell right out of his mouth. How could that hitchhiking bum of a gunsmith go to sleep on him now? However, Milly dried up on her own just seconds later, so he wasn't stuck with a teary Milly.
Unfortunately, his gumwad was now stuck to Knives' leg. He groaned as Knives started up another round of chewing-out over their mental link, making his headache flare up again. "/How can someone shout telepathically anyway?/"
"/Perhaps if you spent more time developing the abilities you were given and less time finding more of your insufferable pets, you would KNOW!/"
He just groaned again as the truck hummed along, rubbing his pulsing head.
Heh, I had actually planned for it to be a much different chapter, but one thing led to another and I think it actually works pretty well as a stand-alone at this point. Of course, that means there's still one more chapter to go before Meryl returns to the stage. Don't worry, I sent her a care package to tide her over.
Wolfwood: You sent her a tin can!
Legato: I found it most entertaining... I even drew a picture that brings me such joy. ¤holds up a crude drawing of a forlorn Meryl banging the tin can against the tiny air vent bars, and a little doodle of Vash in Inepril crying his eyes out over where she could be¤
Back to guard duty you two! NOW!
Reviewer Responses
Sorian: You forgot the other 27,732 times that weren't shown in the show.
SapphireWhiteTiggress: And what an upgrade it is, as you've probably just read. I'm really sorry about the leg, so take this beta test "Hug-me Meryl" doll. We're still trying to figure out what happens when you hug it more than three times- all other beta testers stopped responding.
kitsune: Heh, well, the dark times are still a good ways off. As for Frank, don't worry, I can mostly assure you that he'll probably not die!
Yma: I got that general impression from the past horde of reviews. Knives didn't get much screentime, but you can be sure there was plenty of noise if you were tuned in.
Disclaimer: Beware, excessively long-winded explanations in the first part of the chapter.
Disclaimer's Disclaimer: It gets good after that.
Chapter 11: The C.P. Mark III
"You've got a number of options open, but it all depends on how you hold it. The trigger's always the same, except for the side compartments which open when you squeeze these plates."
His audience listened with rapt attention as they bounced over the dunes. He had just started his instruction on the use and maintenance on the remodeled Cross Punisher, so it would be a while before he could get some much needed rest. All that, of course, assumed that he'd be able to get to sleep with Millions Knives all of four feet distant. If what Vash had written was true, and he had no reason to think otherwise, then the person driving the truck was the one who really deserved Vash's reputation. He didn't look that dangerous, except for those eyes- if he had been a customer, there was no way he'd ever get a Frank Marlon Special. But there he was, driving the truck on through the dunes and keeping entirely focused on the somewhat worn path ahead.
Vash sat beside his brother, listening to the broadcasts on a little headset. He had the volume up way too high, as the tones could be clearly heard even through the small rear window opening. How he had avoided going deaf like that was beyond him, but at least it was a distraction from the other constant sound of gum being chomped on. He must have a whole machine's worth in there. At least it was comforting to see him like that- between the radio, gum, the leg on the dashboard, and the arm hanging limply out the window, Vash looked the very image of relaxed. He'd need it too. Things would be busy in Inepril, so best rest while you could- which of course brought him back to his instruction and the hopeful sleep that would follow.
"The rockets were easy to modify. All I did was pull out the explosive rounds and replaced them with flashbangs. Instead of using explosive force, flashbangs mostly generate intense light and a shockwave, blinding and stunning anyone near the detonation point. This could include you, so don't try them point blank. They're still semi-guided by the reticle, which should make them a lot more accurate. It's hard to get old tech like that launcher. Try placing one between those rocks coming up."
Milly, as she insisted on being called, raised the Cross Punisher up and placed it on her shoulder at his guidance. The launcher end slid open and the sight dropped down. Right then, she looked quite intimidating squinting through the sight and crouched on one knee. A moment later, she tugged the motif that doubled as the trigger and the rocket sailed off in a lazy curve to land right between the rocks. He blinked as it detonated, still seeing the flash through his eyelids despite the distance involved.
"Great shot Milly!"
She let the cross dip down as she turned to smile at him, bringing up her free hand to rub at her eye. "That was bright!"
"You're not supposed to watch it detonate. Remember to at least blink when it hits."
A small pop interrupted him. Vash had turned around, and was watching them with one eye. He blew a bubble that didn't get very far before bursting and flapping back on his nose. He finally heard Knives speak.
"Do not do that again. We desire to avoid attention, not attract it."
Ah well. At least Knives had actually addressed them, the silent treatment was getting old.
"No worries there. Once is plenty, ammo like that isn't cheap."
Back to Milly. "Now then, I pulled out the machine gun entirely, and replaced it with two new weapons. You've already seen the net launcher in action, which is just as well since it's only useful at long range and you can recycle the ammo. You've only got five rounds in there and repacking the rounds is a pain, so it's not something you can use constantly. There are a few spare rounds in the ammo case, but even just reloading will take a minute."
He tapped at a few spots on the weapon that granted access to the ammo chamber within, then took the saved net and showed her how to repack it into the tube that normally held it. After just one cycle, she took over and packed the rest of it perfectly. He shook his head and chuckled. For all her simple air, when she wanted to learn something she learned fast.
"The short-range counterpart for the net launcher is in the side compartments where the handguns used to be. There are only four guns total now, since they're bigger than the old ones."
She made the gunrack slide out and it ratcheted the guns out, ready to be grabbed. "Bolas!"
"So you're already familiar with them?"
"Yes, my big big brother got one for me when it was time for me to learn to defend myself, since I didn't want to hurt anyone. I haven't used it since I got my stungun just before going to the big city."
"Great! I can skip this part and go on to the final use. It's the other item I stuck in to replace the machine gun, and it's a rather unusual one at that. Ever heard of a Polo Sticker?"
She shook her head. "Eh, it's not surprising. It's an old model and was widely regarded as taking too much effort to use for the effect. Only collectors and a few lawmen still have working ones, though ammo can be bought at most any general store fairly cheap. Of course, that's only because its ammo isn't a bullet. It's a sort of glorified glue gun, effective to about twenty-five yarns depending on how you angle it. As such, the ammo is simply a can of type 5 glue and a can of compressed air. I had one, and there was just enough room in there to gut it and stick it by the net launcher. It's a bit hard to describe how it works, so just flip it over from the net launcher and let it fly at something. Pull and hold the trigger."
Milly did just that, twisting the Cross Punisher around. The flap for the net launcher closed, and the sticker popped open. She pointed it towards a large stone pillar we were passing, and shot it for about three seconds. A foamy ribbon arced over to splash on the rocks, leaving a fair mess across the rockface.
"It bonds almost instantly, and until it dries it's a few hundred times stickier than gum. To get loose, you have to wait for it to dry then break it off. That's why some lawmen still use it- it immobilizes the target without harming it for up to three hours. Of course, you have to keep it away from the face, but other than that it's quite safe. Cleaning, however, is quite a chore, especially if you wait too long. You need to pour solvent in the barrel and shake it around for a few minutes to keep it clear, and it would occasionally dry in the main tubes which are practically impossible to clear. Luckily, I managed a solution- the solvent is in there too, just give it a tap right here to purge the whole system. Might have made the Polo Sticker a lot more popular back then."
A few more taps and he showed her how to change out the 'ammo' for that portion of the gun. He then had her do a complete run through of the whole-arsenal-in-one gun, and was surprised when she did it all correctly on the first try. Fast learner when motivated, indeed.
"Well, I guess that about takes care of it. There's just one more thing, then I'm going to take a nap since Vash couldn't let me sleep earlier."
The aforementioned party grinned, then somehow started to blow a separate bubble from between each tooth. Nice trick- if you were a kid. He just shook his head, smiling none the less. If there was anyone who knew all about living life, it had to be that man with the fading pink bubblegum. He turned back to Milly.
"I already know that you like it, but I'd like to know just why you do. It's okay if you don't answer, but I am curious."
Her expression furrowed a little as she thought, then she started speaking while watching the passing dunes. "Well... It's complicated. There are really a number of reasons. I suppose the best one is that I can use it, which is something I've felt was really important for a very long time now. Another one is that it's not every day you get the very best gunsmith in the world to help you."
"World's best gunsmith? I'll admit I've got a few skills and a lot of folks want my guns, but I don't think I'm the world's best. Hell, maybe I'm the world's worst..." Bad memories surfaced and he turned melancholy.
"Don't you dare think that Mr. Marlon!"
Woah, where had that come from? He opened mouth to respond, but before anything could fall out she launched ahead.
"Nicholas once told me it was heavy because it was filled with mercy. I eventually found out what that mercy was, and it made me terribly sad even though it was a part of him... Any gunsmith could have fixed it up, but only the very best could have removed that mercy and instead...instead..."
Her anger had abated, and now she was starting to cry. One of her hands reached over to brace herself against the Cross Punisher. Then she looked up at him, and he could see the tears, and a bit of a runny nose, but that was where his expectations stopped being right and were completely turned upside down. The rest of her expression wasn't sad at all, but contained a joy so deep and powerful that it was making her overflow. Her next words changed the way everything looked.
"...instead filled it up with Hope."
"Lub-dub..."
If his skill with crafting guns had brought about that kind of joy, if even for just one instant...
"Lub-dub..."
Then she was right. Who else could do what he had just done?
"Lub-dub..."
The sky looked bluer than he could ever remember seeing it. The land around wasn't brown anymore- it was a composite of billions of tiny crystals, each one creating a myriad of points of light.
"Lub-dub..."
His customers would often give him a bonus for the quality of his work. Good words, referrals, often something simple like a sum of money. Some were more creative.
"Lub-dub..."
Vash had made him come back to the world and exist again.
"Lub-dub..."
And now Milly returned to him the dreams he had lost so long ago.
"Lub-dub..."
He could hear his own heart, pushing the blood through him with every beat. This was the feeling of life, of being alive!
"Lub-dub..."
If Vash and Milly were working together, that dream of a world of peace and equality, his long lost dream...
"Lub-dub..."
...had a really good chance of becoming real. And it'd be better yet, since they had none other than him, Frank Marlon, the world's best gunsmith, to help them along.
"Lub-dub..."
He wasn't entirely sure what to do. When Milly starts to cry, getting her to stop again usually takes more effort than healing one of his ailing sisters. At least he wasn't on the front lines this time, thankfully Frank was her focus for now. The gunsmith stood up in the back of the truck, no doubt going to try and shut off the waterworks.
"Well, put it that way, and I guess I am. Thanks a bundle Milly. Now for that nap, I am really...¤yawn¤...tired."
And with that, the gunsmith was back down and already starting to snore. He froze in mid chew, and the massive gumwad fell right out of his mouth. How could that hitchhiking bum of a gunsmith go to sleep on him now? However, Milly dried up on her own just seconds later, so he wasn't stuck with a teary Milly.
Unfortunately, his gumwad was now stuck to Knives' leg. He groaned as Knives started up another round of chewing-out over their mental link, making his headache flare up again. "/How can someone shout telepathically anyway?/"
"/Perhaps if you spent more time developing the abilities you were given and less time finding more of your insufferable pets, you would KNOW!/"
He just groaned again as the truck hummed along, rubbing his pulsing head.
Heh, I had actually planned for it to be a much different chapter, but one thing led to another and I think it actually works pretty well as a stand-alone at this point. Of course, that means there's still one more chapter to go before Meryl returns to the stage. Don't worry, I sent her a care package to tide her over.
Wolfwood: You sent her a tin can!
Legato: I found it most entertaining... I even drew a picture that brings me such joy. ¤holds up a crude drawing of a forlorn Meryl banging the tin can against the tiny air vent bars, and a little doodle of Vash in Inepril crying his eyes out over where she could be¤
Back to guard duty you two! NOW!
Sorian: You forgot the other 27,732 times that weren't shown in the show.
SapphireWhiteTiggress: And what an upgrade it is, as you've probably just read. I'm really sorry about the leg, so take this beta test "Hug-me Meryl" doll. We're still trying to figure out what happens when you hug it more than three times- all other beta testers stopped responding.
kitsune: Heh, well, the dark times are still a good ways off. As for Frank, don't worry, I can mostly assure you that he'll probably not die!
Yma: I got that general impression from the past horde of reviews. Knives didn't get much screentime, but you can be sure there was plenty of noise if you were tuned in.