Trigun: A Cruel Endless Wasteland

Chapter 3: Encounter

The long night had passed and everyone was sleeping, the city of Vanaverd was almost at a standstill having just only a few drunks and late tavern owners cleaning outside their bars. It was a usual scene in the large city at this time of the day, as the sun was rising and starting to lift in the sky by the hour, the city gradually came to life as it reached further into the day.

Reaching further into the morning, there was suddenly a number of screams and shouts coming from the city entrance, a rusted loud worn car making it's way deeper into the city. More people were now shouting and a few gunshots were sounded, echoing between the close buildings as a large laugh came from the car, which had now stopped outside a series of different buildings. Which happened to be the hotel that Vash, Wolfwood and the others were staying in.

"Alright, listen up you maggots?! Our boss is hungry and he wants some breakfast!?" shouted one man, as he slowly lifted himself up from the insides of the car, standing holding a large custom-like revolver aimed toward the sky.

At this point, Wolfwood managed to pull himself upright and started to scratch his head mumbling, "What….what is it now…can't a priest get any sleep around here? Hmm…gunshots…" he slowly stood from his bed and pulled the small curtain aside gazing out down toward the car. The car itself was old, rusted very worn and was barely able to carry the five large men inside it.

The groups of people that happened to be now out on the street were stopped due to these unknown strange men, as one of the older men shouted out toward the car. "What do you want…! Breakfast?! And who's yer boss?!".

The man growled and kicked his foot repeat-ably off one of his associates heads in frustration, shooting his gun off more-so now into the air, aiming it at the old man. "Are you trying to be funny OLD MAN!? HAHAHA! Your such a joker! Memory goes in age after all! We are just a small number of the Dumstrum's Wasters! And our boss wants his breakfast?!"

"Well he c-cant have it! Us people here work to hard, just to hand out free food to thugs like you…especially thugs that cant even get their own food!" the old man shouted back to him in protest, nervous about what could now happen in the situation.

The tall man in the car smirked as he pulled back the hammer on the revolver as he smirked a little. "Well I guess, then today's not your lucky day, old timer!"

"Darn it! I need to do something!" said Wolfwood, as he turned his head for a moment to look for his weapon, as then a large smashing noise was heard he then turned back to see what had happened, hearing a familiar voice. "What?!".

Wolfwood gazed from his now fully open window to see Vash having already jumped through it yelling twirling his way down toward the car full of men. "Yaaar Aiiiieee!!" screamed Vash as the tall man standing up in the car aimed toward him and shot, his gun resulting in a repeating clicking noise, signalling that the gun was empty as he screamed back at Vash in fear.

"Aghh!? Stop you fool!", suddenly Vash landed on top of him, kicking and screaming managing to kick out one of men in the car and disarm the other man to his side, having already taken out the man under him temporary. One of the men grabbed Vash's arms and the other tried to hold him down, the entire car shaking as Wolfwood stood and watched on, head resting in one of his palms, watching the situation.

Soon after Meryl and Milly came bursting into Wolfwoods room, "Wolfwood! Did you see what Vash done!" said Meryl worryingly as Wolfwood turned back to her and smirked a little as he shrugged and turned back.

"He'll be alright…he's done this before I'm sure…" said Wolfwood, watching on intently, laughing some to himself. Milly turned to Meryl and grabbed her shoulder, pulling her back toward the door.

"C'mon Meryl we can still help Mr. Vash if were quick!" stated Milly as she turned running now, having Meryl following her, as they both readied themselves making out the door only to see that Vash had the situation under control.

"What…how'd he…" Meryl said in confusion, seeing that Vash had both the men that had attacked him, whining and begging to be let go, as he had gripped each of their wrists and pried them back to a aching point.

"Vash are you okay?!" shouted Meryl, as Vash turned his focus from the men toward Meryl and let go of one to wave as he was suddenly smacked across the hand and tipped from the car as the remaining men started the car and made their way quickly in retreat toward the city exit, having many people scream and shout after them, throwing what they could toward them.

"Ouch…my head..." Vash said, rubbing the back of his head gently, as he looked up to see Meryl and Milly offer each a hand to help him up to his feet. "Hey, thanks…those guys sure were fun…I mean that was easier than expected, Haha!" Vash finished with a gentle chuckle.

"You idiot! What were you doing, you could have gotten yourself killed?!" Meryl yelled at him as she smacked him against the head lightly.

"Yes Ma-Ma!" Vash answered, yelping as he was then struck by Meryl against the head, "Aiieee!!" He gripped his head again.

Milly laughed loudly as she stopped and wiped a tear from her eye, "Meryl was just worried Mr. Vash, but your okay now…!" Wolfwood walked from the hotel, his hands in his pockets a cigarette sitting between his lips, staring toward Vash as he smirked lightly, standing next to them.

"Well done, Vash…y'know breaking the hotel owners window and all" Wolfwood said, as Vash grumped at him not happy with what he said, as he stood up next to him.

"Well, it was a distraction…y'know so that the old man wouldn't get shot, but I'm sure you knew what I was doing? Eeeh?" Vash put a catty face on, starring at Wolfwood.

"Yeah, I guess your right…" Wolfwood shrugged and turned his head hearing a voice talk toward them. Wolfwood narrowed his eyes, unsure what to think of this new person.

The tall large man, wearing a white suit with fitting trench coat, coated in decoration of crosses and other holy symbols, standing at a tall height of seven foot almost taller, wearing a white hat also and carrying a large bolt rifle at his side, having long grey hair, beard and moustache. Smiling down toward them, having a few people gather closer some of them bowing their heads and praising him with compliments.

"Who, is he…" said Meryl to Milly, as Milly was blinking unsure of what to even think, as Wolfwood turned fully looking toward him and smirked just a little, as he spoke out to him.

"I'm guessing…you're a believer of god too?" he said, raising an eye looking to him, as Vash walked up between Wolfwood, Milly and Meryl as he looked over the man.

"I've…I've seen you before…" Vash stuttered as he narrowed his eyes, trying to think of where and when. As the older man replied to him, sounding rather well-travelled and experienced with sociability.

"Yes, son…you've probably seen me around before I'm sure of it…" He smiled to Vash and turned to Wolfwood and lowered his grin back to that of a unhappy man. "Believe in god…yes of course I do, I'm guessing that your also a man of the cloth, even though it's hard for me to believe such a thing…" he stated looking over Wolfwood.

Wolfwood narrowed his eyes, rather annoying at the fact he was insulted openly, "A guess? Well it was quite a good guess, and what's that suppose to mean…? Your holding a weapon too!" he yelled.

"Heh, I may be holding a weapon, but my cause is righteous! My name's Novato Escalon, I'm the travelling silver sword of god…and I just arrived here to see that a brave young man had managed to do the work of god for me this time…" he smiled and patted Vash's shoulder in triumph.

"Well it was nothing really, Haha! Just doing my part or something…" Vash laughed nervously as Meryl interrupted. Novato turning to his side to see the small woman ask in certainly.

"Excuse me, are you THEE Novato Escalon? The man that's saved quite afew villages and towns from thugs, gangs and ruthless bounty hunters?!" said Meryl in a curious voice, having Milly standing behind her.

"Yes, that's correct Miss…" Novato responded as he smiled gently, seeing that his reputation had not faded.

"That's great, we've got someone who can help us get rid of the gang here! And he's got a guaranteed reputation! So we'll succeed!" Meryl said happily, as she was wanting to do things officially this time. "I've got to write my report and send confirmation back to Headquarters!" she stated.

"That's fine, please go on back to the hotel and relax, let me handle this… maybe the other gentlemen would like to accompany me to the assignment office to sign up to rid the world of another plague?" Novato said smirking over towards Vash and Wolfwood. After other people citizens cheered and roared in happiness seeing that the Cities problem may actually be sorted once and for all.

"Well, its benefiting a few matters…and other things…I guess…maaaan…" Vash said, complaining as he walked on after Novato, as he looked back at Wolfwood.

Wolfwood sighed and slapped his face as he sighed followed by a shrug, "I suppose, it is my priestly duty.." He walked behind them, his hands sliding back into his pockets, as all three made their way to the assignment office to take the role of riding Vanaverd of it's gang problem.