Chapter5
-Rhez-
Rhez jumped up on the railing and leaned out over the side of the sand steamer. "Shit kid, be careful!" Someone yelled to him. He ignored them as some of the others tried to break down the door. Eventually they would get it, but who knew how much time they had left. Rhez leapt off the side of the sand steamer, catching hold of a window ledge and swinging in hard, smashing through the widow. He rolled into the room and popped up to his feet, drawing his knife as he did so. He kicked in a door and moved out into the hallway. Rhez ran up the stairs and made his way towards the control room. He stopped outside of the door and listened.
"Alright, it's locked in place. If we get out of here now this thing should go flying off that cliff in five minutes or so." "Good, get the bags and let's go… this was a freakin disaster and I wanna get the hell outta here." Rhez took a step back and got ready.
One of the henchmen opened the door and stood there. "Well what the hell are you waiting for man?" The henchman slowly turned around, showing that his throat was slit. "Shit!" The leader yelled and began firing his rifle. Pumping the lever action and sending shells flying. The henchman came stumbling forward into the shots and was shot several times. Rhez pushed the henchman towards the leader, and threw his knife at the other henchman. The knife stabbed into the man's forehead and he stumbled back against the wall and slid to the ground. The leader hit the dying henchman away from his and fired at Rhez. The kid rolled forward, narrowly avoiding the shot. He pulled the knife from the henchman's forehead and threw it in one smooth motion. The knife hit the leader near his fingers and he screamed out in surprise as his gun went flying away. "You little bastard!" He screamed and held his hand. "What is your name?" Rhez said calmly. "What? Why you wanna know my name you little shit?!" He yelled. "Answer me, are you Vash the Stampede?" The man laughed and pulled a pistol from behind his back. "Yeah sure kid, I'm Vash the Stampede." He fired the pistol, but Rhez ducked the shot and closed the gap between them in a split second. The man hardly had time to react as Rhez kicked the knife up into the air, and grabbed it. He slashed once, slicing through the man's wrist and nearly cutting off his hand. "Fuck!!! Fuck, my hand! My hand!" he screamed and stumbled backwards, holding his hand. Rhez put the knife away and picked up the man's rifle. He pointed it at the criminal and cocked it. "Why are you here, and why do I know your name?" The man scrambled back, holding his bloody hand. "Fuck off kid, I aint Vash the Stampede I swear!" Rhez frowned and tightened his grip on the gun. "You just said that you were Vash the Stampede… and now you're not?"
"Shit kid I was lyin!" He yelled. Rhez gritted his teeth and slowly squeezed the trigger. "You piss me off… Die." He blew the leader's brains out all over the control room window and tinted the room red. There was movement behind him, the sound of footsteps. Rhez spun and cocked the gun, sending a shell flying. Some of the passengers rushed into the room screaming, but stopped when they saw Rhez. They looked around the room, than back to the kid in front of them. Rhez lowered the gun and slung it over his shoulder by the strap attached to it. "I'll be damned! The kid actually did it!" They all started laughing and cheering as one of them pushed past and went to the steamer's controls. He pulled a few levers and turned the boat-like steering wheel. "We're safe, the steamer is back on track!" he exclaimed. "I can't believe that you actually did it kid! By the way, you gotta name?" Rhez smiled and nodded. "Yeah, my name is Rhez." He said.
He was sitting back in his room a few minutes later, staring out the window again and watching the desert go by. There was a knock at the door and it opened up. "Hi there, Rhez was it?" It was a woman in her thirties, and a little girl stood behind her. "Oh, it's you." Rhez said as he saw the little girl. "Yes, my daughter said that you helped her before… and the captain of the steamer said that you were the one who killed the bandits…" Rhez looked at her and thought about it. "I… killed them? Yeah, I guess I did." For some reason up to that point he hadn't even thought about it, that what he had done was killing. It had felt so different from what he had done in the bar. The woman bowed and held out a metal box. "Here, please take this as a token of my appreciation. It's been in my family for generations, it's one of a kind!" He reached out and took the box, it was heavier than it looked. "What is it?" He asked. She smiled and bowed again. "Why don't you go ahead and look? I thought that it might be of better use to you than it would to me." He opened it up and looked in the box. It was a gun, a huge black and gold revolver. It was very sleek, and seemed to be too advanced for this place. He looked up and thanked her. "It's very nice." He said with a smile. She bowed again and her daughter mimicked her. The sand steamer reached its destination shortly later, and Rhez was ready to go on his way.
-Stran-
"O Lena Vash push's his way threw the crowed of people. As Vash approach's Lena's body he slows down hesitatingly taking the next few steps. Now standing over her body tears shake loose off of his cheek from the impact of his knees hitting the ground. The crowed goes silent As Vash begins to cry uncontrollably. Vash cradling Lena in his arms rocking forward and back berries is cheek into Lenas forehead hugging her so tightly and whispering to her "It's ok your in a better place now I'll find out who did this my dear sweet Lena its ok." And begins raining tears down upon the poor dead girl. Stran walks up behind Vash and lays his and on Vash's shoulder "I'm… I'm sorry brother." Stran
pause's for a few moments then pats Vash on the front of his shoulder turns away and walks out side "Were awfully sorry Eriks. We tried everything we could there was a brief moment of hope for her but it faded as quickly as it and come." Vash stood up hold Lena in both arms grasping her like a mother dose her first baby child he quietly exit the inn not saying a word not crying not sobbing it was as if he was a blank canvas. Vash continues to walk into town, the people inside the bar begin to cry again as if the could feel his pain. Following closely behind Stran remains quiet knowing that trying to talk to him would be no good so he Stran just continued to follow along silently. After walk all the way threw town and out the other side Vash finally stops. "This is where she lived I want to let her grandmother see her one last time before I put her body to rest. Stran opens the door with one hand while still grasping Lena with the other. Upon entering the house Vash set Lena on the couch and headed for grandmas room "knock knock" Vash taps on the door, after a few seconds Vash push's the door open slightly "Grandma it's me Eriks." Vash opens the door a little wider and steps in. He looks around the room and spots the old lady in her bed. Vash walks over and taps her on the shoulder very lightly." "Grandma" Vash shakes her shoulder. His head knew the truth but is heart wouldn't let him accept it. Tears built up around his eye's again taking a few deep breaths Vash kissed the old women on her cheek and whispered into hear ear don't worry I'll fix everything you'll see I wont let this happen again. Vash stood up and walked out the room shortly after he returned again this time carrying Lena. He laid the girl in the bed beside her grandmother and made the same promise to her sweet dreams girls I'll never forget you. Vash walks over to the nightstand and grabs the oil lap on it. Unscrew the lid Vash begins to empty the lamps contence on the floor around the bed. Walk toward the door Vash turn and drawls his gun. The humanoid typhoon close's his eyes and takes a moment of silence before pulling the trigger and igniting the fluid. Out side Stran hears the gun shot and runs into the house taking a spilt second to look around the room he sees an orange glow coming from one of the rooms. "Vash" he screams and runs into flame engulfed room. "What the hell are you doing Vash!" "There dead both of them are dead the old women had nothing left to live for." "I'm sorry Vash but we've got to get out of here"
Stran and Vash the stampede walk out of the burning house heading back to the inn "We have to find out who did this." "I know Vash I know"
Back at the inn Vash walks back in and begins intimidating questioning everyone "WHO WAS IT" Vash screams at the groveling towns folk. "We don't know weve searched the entire city and turned up nothing, closest we can figure she skipped out on the sand steamer." "It was a girl." Vash says to himself that can't be right "Where was it heading!?" "It was on its way to (---) it left maybe and two or 3 hours ago" Vash turns around to Stran and hands him a piece of paper go to these co-ordinance you'll find a crater in the center of the crater dig down about 3 iall's and bring me the chest." "But Vash… we've never been separated before." "Its ok Stran your strong and fast I have faith in you bring me the chest I'll be in (---) when you get back." Vash turns and runs off into town. "Welp here I go all on my own yep I'm all grown up now here I go all by myself ." Stran looks side to side. "Damn you Vash I don't wanna be on my own You BAAASTTTTTAARRD!