Trigun is owned by Yasuhiro Nightow.

The night before

After the women had showered and settled, Nick produced a list of the guards and their rounds. The area that the sisters had escaped from previously was still rarely guarded and open to the knowing thief. The guards passed by that exist once every six hours. More then enough time to get in make a mess and get out. Meryl estimated no more then twenty minutes to half an hour to get to where the samples were stored. After that they would need to be out of there faster then ever. The guards around the sample room were numerous and the toughest ones. They needed to be in the pipes within three minutes then stay in the pipes and follow them down. That was the trickiest part. The pipes ran everywhere, and there was a high possibility that they might get lost. But as long as they stayed on target and didn't make too much noise they would be fine. Meryl hopped that they could be out of the pipes and on to safe turf in and hour.

"Well then, I guess that's everything for now, right short girl?"

Meryl nodded numbly, her eyes focused on the complex pipelines. She was going to memorize it if it was the last thing that she did. It was her assignment, after much debate, that she lead them through the pipes. She was not only the smallest but when it came to balls she had what Stella didn't. They had set out who was where in their little train through the pipes, Meryl, Vash (because he didn't want anyone else looking at Meryl's backside), Millie, Stella, Nick then last was Knives. They wanted to keep the two that hated to kill and didn't really have a good shot in the middle.

Knives stood abruptly and shook the table startling Meryl out of her trance. Vash had been conversing with Nick on which weapons to bring and which ones to leave behind and didn't notice the stressed look on Meryl's face. Their escape lay solely on her slender shoulders and she needed a break. Her eyes had begun to look haunted and her hair lay flatly against her face, instead of the bouncy weightlessness that it normally was.

Meryl looked up at Knives and he nodded his head slightly. Meryl sighed and let her head fall. Of all people Knives had faith in her, and for that she was grateful, she had done nothing to warrant such high praise but she was happy all the same.

"Come Stella. We need to sleep." Knives took Stella by the arm and raised her off the bed. She mumbled and nodded her head, and taking one last look at Meryl was whisked off to bed. Nick had paid for three rooms where they would be close and keep to themselves.

Vash noticed this and looked to Meryl. He was struck by how wasted she looked and smiling over to Nick picked his mate up and cradled her in his arms. "Knives is right. It's late, and Meryl's bone tired. We'll see you in the morning."

Nick nodded and settled his own woman into bed. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow and Nick soon followed.

Knives and Stella were fast asleep as well; by the time Vash had opened the door to his room and settled Meryl on the bed. Meryl was still semi-conscious and she watched as Vash undressed himself then herself. She had begun to do it herself but she found that her fingers were like rubber covered in cellophane. She couldn't get a grip on anything and she fumbling over her own fingers.

Vash noticed this and went to help her. "Don't worry Meryl. We'll get in get out and everything will be alright."

"Are you sure?" she slurred, Meryl understood what Vash was saying but in her exhaustion she couldn't fathom how she thought this idea to be a good one.

Vash nodded and looked up at her from the floor in front of her. "I know it will because there is no way that I am loosing you after only having you for this short time. I want kids remember Meryl? And you promised me dozens of them!" Vash smiled disarmingly and gently pushed Meryl into the bed. He soon followed after making sure the door was locked. He curled up behind her and rested his head in her hair.

The last thing Meryl said was, "I only agree to six…not dozens…"

Vash smiled into her hair, 'that's what you think' and then he too succumbed to slumber.