Chapter Summary
Previously, Vash ousted Lois and Jimmy as Earthlings. Lois said the hell with League protocols. Vash laments about his lost arm. The four make plans to head to Ripmela and onwards to December.
Now, Vash shows Lois and Jimmy around Kasted while they come up with a plan to get to Ripmela. Jimmy finds his happy place playing with lil baby Thomas chicks. Lois kicks Wolfwood's ass playing poker. Eriks says farewell.
—L&P—
"What do you mean bus service has been suspended until further notice?" Vash whined to the station attendant the next morning. Lois, Jimmy, and Wolfwood stood off to the side as Vash continued to make a fuss.
The attendant seemed to be at his wits' end fielding these questions to annoyed travelers. "A bunch of those thugs hijacked the bus on this route after their gang got run outta town yesterday. Until another bus can be sent out from the depot, I don't know how long it will be."
"And how are we supposed to get to Ripmela if there's no bus service?" Vash asked, dreading the man's answer.
He shrugged. "Buy a car? Rent a Thomas? Wait for the next sandsteamer?"
"You expect me to ride a Thomas with one hand, sixty iles?! Are you trying to get me killed, Lou?" Vash wiggled the stump of his left arm at the man.
The man leaned back and raised his hands. A drop of sweat rolled down his cheek. "I'm sorry Eriks. I don't know what else to tell you."
Vash sighed and bowed his head. He shuffled back over to his friends to tell them the bad news.
Lois and Jim were dressed in some old clothes Grandma Sheryl had stored away that used to belong to her son and daughter-in-law. The Earthlings would've drawn extra unwanted attention in their spacefaring uniforms.
And once they hit the road, Vash knew he had trouble keeping a low profile. At least here, no one suspected who he really was.
"So, uh, everyone up to riding Thomases to Ripmela?" Vash asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
Lois and Jimmy just looked at each other, then back at him, and both shrugged. They obviously didn't even know what a Thomas was.
Wolfwood just glared at him with his arms crossed, an unlit cigarette between his lips.
"I'll take that as a no…" Vash mumbled, his shoulders drooping.
Wolfwood grabbed Punisher and his bag. "I'm gonna go get a drink. Come find me when you figure something out." He proceeded to leave the bus station with a curt wave.
"He's gonna drink at this hour?" Jimmy asked, looking at his wristwatch with a frown. Not that the time shown was synced up to the planet's time.
"That guy mentioned the sandsteamer. And you said something about sandsteamers last night, too. Is that our only option unless they get another bus out this way?" Lois asked.
"I suppose I can ask." Vash pivoted and strolled back over to the attendant. "Hey, Lou, when's the next northbound sandsteamer due in?"
The man replied, looking over to the board, "The Essington is scheduled for August 1st at 11 am and The Venus on August 13 at 2 pm."
"Ten days? C'mon, can't a guy catch a break? What about ones heading out of Ripmela?"
"The Bengal, an Orca-class, is scheduled this Wednesday at noon. If you can get yourselves that way by then. The next one isn't until the 31st."
Vash let out an exaggerated sigh. He trudged back over to Lois and Jimmy with a pout.
"Hey, it's okay, man. Nothin' we can do about it," Jimmy tried to console the upset Vash. "You could show us around until we think of something. Tell us more about this place. Liiike, what Thomases are?"
Vash perked up instantly, "I can do you one better. I can show you!" He spun Jimmy around with his right hand and gave him a gentle shove toward the door.
He led them over to the east side of Kasted City where the Thomas ranch was located on the outskirts of town.
One of the Thomas wranglers waved, seeing his familiar face as they approached the fence.
"Howdy Eriks. I like the new 'do. Looking sharp. You coming to get some work in today?" The forty-something-year-old brunette woman noticed he had company and nodded to the two. She wore a brown vest over a white blouse and dark pants with leather chaps and boots. A wide-brimmed brown hat shielded her face from the still-rising twin suns.
"Aw shucks, Becca. But, naw, just thought I'd show some family friends of Granny's around town. Kids are city-slickers. Don't get out much riding Thomases. Thought I'd bring 'em 'round," Vash replied, falling into the local drawl.
"Who's out there today?" he asked, looking into the enclosure.
"Hmm. Lesse." She turned and leaned on the fence, identifying the Thomases from afar. "Delia, Misty, Gilly, Bluebell, and Mara, looks like."
She made a few practiced whistles. The birds perked up and came jogging over.
As they got closer, Jim squealed with delight. He brought his camera up, taking photographs of the birds running gracefully.
Vash could hear him whisper to his friend, "Omigosh, Lois. Look! Blue emus!"
Both Vash and Lois chuckled at his excitement.
Lois also looked awed in her own way. Her eyes lit up subtly with the faintest smile growing on her face. When Bluebell spotted Vash, the Thomas stretched her long neck over the fence and bumped his shoulder with her head. Vash couldn't resist giving his favorite girl some head scritches.
"Ooh ooh. I want to pet the pretty giant birdies!" Jim tentatively raised a hand when Misty also reached over for head pats. Jim's smile took over his whole face, getting to pet an alien emu.
"They're very beautiful," Lois said, directing the compliment to the woman wrangler.
"Thank ya, hun. They're mighty fine hens if I do say so myself." Becca dug out a handful of feed from a pouch on her hip. The other three hens came over to peck at the food from her gloved palm.
"Oh, by the way, Eriks. Jessie is here dropping off some chicks from New Oregon. They got a sturdy line bred for endurance, and we wanted to add some to our stock. Why don't you head 'round back, say hi to Jessie, and show your friends the chicks?"
"I am not turning down a chance to see babies," Jimmy said, pushing his cheeks up with his hands at the offer.
Vash and Becca laughed. "Alright, thanks Becca. Can't say no to chicks." He gave her a wink. Becca just smacked a glove at him, rolling her eyes.
Vash led them around what was essentially a barn. He saw Jessie's truck and livestock trailer parked just off the side. He peeked in the dark interior of the barn, seeing the silhouette of a figure inside. They latched up a gate to one of the pens with a click, and he could see them heading their way and hear the light clomping of boots on the gravel.
Jessie, a tall, buff woman with long, black dreads and dark brown skin, glanced over and then seemed to do a double-take, seeing Vash just outside the barn doors.
"Eriks?" she asked, and then when she was certain it was him, she stomped over in three wide strides. She lifted him up in a big bear hug.
"H-hi, Jessie! Long time, ugh, no see!" he said, struggling to talk within her grip. His arms pinned to his sides and boots almost a feel off the ground. Jessie had a good few five inches on him.
When she plopped him back down, she rubbed his hair like one would to a little kid. "Eh, you know, it's a long way out here from New Oregon. Good to see ya, man. Where's that cute little sister of yours?"
"Probably somewhere causing mischief, the hellion," Vash replied dully, but they both laughed. "How long will you be in town? If I get a chance to swing back home, I can tell her you're here with the chicks."
"Ehh, I'll probably be here a couple of hours still. Gotta make a trip to Little Jersey later today and then swing back north, hitting Meldreck and Ripmela tomorrow evening before getting on the road to September."
Vash's smile curled up, and he hopped closer to his friend. "Ripmela? Uh, my friend, how much would we owe you if my friends and I hitched a ride with you?"
"Hm? Who—the three of you?" she asked, eyeing his two companions. "Gonna be a bit of a tight squeeze, but if you each buy me a beer, we can call it even."
"Uh, actually, there's four of us," Vash replied, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
"I suppose if two of you don't mind riding in the trailer with the Thomases," she shrugged. "And, of course, four beers," she added with a smirk.
"Deal!" Vash said. "Meet us at Jessop's Tavern when you're all done. We'll get you one of those drinks as an advance."
"My man," she said, patting him firmly on the shoulders.
After shaking on it, they spent the next twenty minutes cooing over the most adorable little Thomas chicks. Vash swore Jim almost died of cuteness overload.
—
Heading to the tavern, Lois said, "You do remember we have zero of your double dollars, right?"
"Hmmm. How's your poker game? Wolfwood is awful at poker but will never admit it. We could play a few hands. If you're any good, you'll have full pockets by the time Jessie's done her work." Vash grinned at his own scheme.
Lois grinned wickedly as well. "Oh, I am so down. Wolfboy won't know what's hit him." She interlocked her fingers, stretching out her hands and wrists.
Back at the tavern, they found Wolfwood right where they expected, at the bar nursing a glass of whiskey.
Taking advantage of his day drinking tipsiness, Vash somehow convinced his friend to play some poker like planned. Not expecting Lois's skills and unbreakable poker face, the priest was already down a good chunk of his pocket money after a couple of hands.
Jim just seemed to be enjoying their antics and banter. Although he didn't quite have their sort of luck, he was holding his own as best he could.
Wolfwood, the sour loser, accused Lois and Vash of cheating, but of course, the two claimed amazing luck. Wolfwood got up with a huff, ironically saying he needed both fresh air and a smoke. They all knew he just didn't want to admit he was rage-quitting and done losing all his money.
After one last round of poker, the trio headed out, but Wolfwood was nowhere to be found. So they ended up wandering around town a little more. Vash explained there wasn't a whole lot to the place, but he could tell they were intrigued by the way they constantly asked tons of questions.
They reminded Vash of someone or another, especially Lois, but for some reason, he couldn't place who.
And of course, 'Eriks' had to stop to chitchat and say farewell to just about everyone he passed.
After some time, Vash ran back home for one final goodbye to Granny and Lina. The Earthling pair had reassured him they were fine wandering the town more on their own and would meet him back at the tavern later.
—
Vash sighed, preparing himself for his final goodbye with his surrogate little family. Walking up the three creaky old steps felt like climbing a mountain.
He could hear Granny and Lina chatting from the dining area. He let the door clatter behind him to signal he was… home. The walk felt like traversing the sand sea on foot. When he stepped into the warm kitchen, they'd already begun turning around, alerted to his familiar presence.
He held Lina's gaze, her dark brown eyes lit up brightly. Her bright light shone through his darkness. He couldn't help but smile.
Yet, without saying anything, they must've known what he was about to say. Lina's eyes filled with tears and a sob escaped her.
The girl dropped the dish towel she'd been drying dishes with, and a plate clattered on the countertop. She ran over to him, leaping into his arms.
She'd grown so tall in just two years. He remembered kneeling to look her in the eyes. Now it only took a little bend in the knees. He wished he could watch her grow into a strong, whipsmart young woman.
Over her shoulder, Vash watched Granny dry off her sudsy hands and patter over as well. The woman wrapped all three into a warm embrace.
"Oh, Eriks…" Granny said, seemingly resisting the urge to say anything that could keep him from leaving. "We'll miss you so much, my boy." She stepped back, letting 'Eriks' have an extra moment with Lina.
"I don't think I would've been able to get back on my own two feet if it weren't for you both," Vash said, hugging Lina tightly, his chin resting on her warm hair. "In my weakest moments, you were so strong for me."
With that, the waterworks started quickly and took ages to stop.
Lina didn't seem able to say anything in return, but she latched on even tighter. He could feel how much she didn't want to let go. He was just glad the light was still so, so bright in her eyes, even full of tears.
"You'll always have a home here," Granny said, wiping a stray tear herself.
"Thank you. Thank you so much. Farewell, for now."
—
An hour or so later, Vash caught back up with the other three at the tavern. It seemed like Wolfwood found his way back at some point too. They'd gone back to playing some other card games, now looking bored out of their minds.
When Jessie finally pulled up her rig down the street and fell into a seat, they all ordered some food and another round of drinks. Her presence brought in a new wave of boisterous energy, and they all caught a second wind.
Vash and Lois chipped in to buy the woman some lunch along with the promised first beer. Vash actually introduced Lois and Jim properly this time in addition to Wolfwood.
They all made some more small talk getting to know each other a little. Lois and Jessie seemed to click, both getting just a little tipsy themselves.
Vash kept an eye on Jessie. As the designated driver, she couldn't get too crazy.
Jimmy seemed to enjoy pestering Wolfwood. But quickly learned that once you cracked his shell, he could give it right back. Twice as good too. Making fun of each other's outfits, about Wolfwood's habit of wearing sunglasses indoors, Jimmy's wackadoodle conspiracy theories.
It was nice seeing them have a good time. Vash felt a little better after that heartfelt goodbye.
Before it got too late, they all had their last drinks of the afternoon before they paid their tabs.
Vash volunteered himself and voluntold Wolfwood to ride in the trailer and offered for Lois and Jim to ride up front with Jessie. Wolfwood grumbled about the arrangement but didn't put up too big of a fight about it.
And finally, they were off to Ripmela, via a stop at Little Jersey.
—L&P—
AN:
BlueSynth, thank you, as always, for following along. I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying it! We're really diving into the next arc here; it's going to be a rollercoaster now. Stay tuned!
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Next Chapter 16: MONSTER
In Little Jersey, Lois dives into her investigation while in the next town, trying to learn more about Vash. Vash tries to de-escalate a situation, but things never go as planned...