CHAPTER 22

Brother's Path

It was late evening as the group gathered just outside Wynona. The sandworms had dropped them off nearby.

Stryfe was once again in command of herself and, for a moment, she frowned in thought. Then she said, "The sandworms are going to take the bomb out to a remote location in their tunnel system. Someplace not even sandworms travel to much. Then they'll fill in the tunnel. Humans won't find it there."

"Good," Knives said. That was probably the best solution they could hope for. "And what about you. You'll know where the sandworms are hiding it, won't you?"

"No, I won't. I'm parting ways with Yazto right here and now." Stryfe heaved a deep breath.

Thomspon leaned in and whispered, "Do you want me to hold your hand again?"

"No. I'm okay."

Thompson took her up in a bear hug anyway.

"Oof! Milly! I don't need you to- Oh! Oh gross, gross, gross, gross, gross!"

A small worm slipped from her ear and plopped onto the ground. Doublefang yelped and jumped away from it.

For a moment, they all stood staring down at it. Then a large, bright blue butterfly fluttered into the center of the group. It alighted on the worm, picked it up in it's thin legs, and carried it away.

They all stared at it a moment as it fluttered into the distance. Then Doublefang said, "Well... that was a bizarre ending to this adventure."

They went into town, all of them eager for a quiet, restful night. Livio carried Beth on his shoulders as they went down the street. She broke the silence as she looked behind them and gasped. "Look! It's so pretty!"

The whole group turned to look. It was indeed pretty. The two suns were setting. The first was half-gone against the horizon, looking like molten gold. The other also glowed golden orange as it followed the other. There were enough clouds to paint the sky with strokes of color. Blue, purple, pink and orange lay in brilliant brightness. The trio stood a moment in silence to take it in. There wasn't always a lot of good to be said of living on a desert planet, but there was one definite perk: with a wide open sky and two suns, some of the sunsets could be breathtaking.

That's funny, Knives thought to himself. I feel so... peaceful. He wasn't sure that he had ever felt such calm before. It felt good, and he relished it a moment.

They all watched until the second sun was low enough that the display of colors had faded. Then they turned back toward the hotel.

As Knives and Doublefang walked side by side, the latter broke the silence. "Hey, uh... I... I guess in the morning, I'll be heading home to December... I don't know if we'll run into each other again."

"Yes, I suppose so." Knives was unsure how he felt about that. Part of him was relieved. The thought of time alone to himself was very welcome after everything that had happened. But for some reason, the thought of never seeing Livio again made him unhappy.

"Hey, um... here..." Livio pulled out his wallet and began looking for something inside. "Here's a business card for the orphanage. I mean, I don't think you'll need an orphanage or anything. I just mean that there's a phone number on it. I mean, it's a number you can use to call me. I mean... Look," he said, "I don't really know how to say this, but what I want to say is this: If you ever get to thinking too much about the past, and too much about Vash, and you start feeling too low... you call me, okay?"

Knives took the card, looking at it thoughtfully. "What good would that do?" he asked.

"I don't know," Livio admitted. "I don't think I'm really all that great at this sort of thing, but... in the least, we can both be miserable together, and I think that might be slightly less bad than being miserable alone."

For some reason, that was reassuring to him. "I'll keep that in mind."

As they reached the front doors, Livio said, "One more thing."

"Yes?"

"If you're ever, you know, bored or anything... You could always come out on a bounty hunt with me. I wouldn't mind having a partner once in a while."

Knives looked at him very thoughtfully.

Log Entry:

I have a lot to think about.

And yet, for the first time in a long time, I feel... good.

I have my sisters back. That is such an enormous relief to me, and I count their love as a precious gift. The first thing I would like to do, now that this is over, is to go and visit all of the plant domes and speak to them. If they want nothing to do with me, then I will understand, and let them be. But if there's a way for us to be reconciled, then I want that very much. I still feel that reaching out to them is potentially an awkward and uncomfortable thing, but I now know the risk is worth it. It is good to have my family back. It's good not to feel so alone.

And it didn't escape me that my sister said it was Doublefang who set this in motion. I owe him a great deal. I will certainly be seeking him out again in the future to repay the debt.

And speaking of Doublefang, after working together with him, Stryfe, and Thompson, I think I've finally gained a little insight into my brother. I think I understand now, why he was willing to fight for humans. It was because he knew people like them.

I'm hesitant to believe that all people are like them. Most, I'm sure, are still ignorant and selfish. But the few like them... My plan was to kill all of the humans, but perhaps Vash found it worth saving all of them just for the sake of saving those few. I can understand that.

I also wonder about Vash's desire to serve humans, even if it resulted in trouble and harm for himself. Right now, I look back on what I've just done, and I realize that this is the first time I've truly accomplished a goal. My sisters and my brother's companions are all safe and well, and I've done something to further ensure the safety of others. The feeling I have at that thought... it's difficult to describe. But it's good and strangely peaceful. Did Vash feel this way? Is this what kept him continually working for the good of others, even at his own expense?

Did he feel this way after defeating me and then ensuring my safe escape from Octovern? Was this what he felt in his final moments, as his life slipped away? I remember now... in his very final moment... he asked if I was alright. I said I was. And he smiled... and then he was gone.

Love, companionship, the peace of knowing you've done something good... is that who you were, brother? Is that what your life was about? Love and peace?

I feel as though there truly had been a chasm between us. And now, for the first time, I am setting foot on the other side.

Several months ago I set out with the goal of understanding my brother, and I was right when I laid out my plans to do so: the key to understand Vash lay in walking my brother's path.

This is the NLBC evening news. I'm Meryl Stryfe.

In news today, there's been a small flood of outlaws being brought to justice. Some of the towns that were abandoned during Knives's attack have since become used as hideouts by criminals of various kinds. However, an effort has been made to begin cleaning out some of those towns. The December City sheriff has been a driving force behind the effort, as his city boarders some of these towns. He has said, though, that he owes much of the success to the anonymous bounty hunter in the area, who has recently been accompanied in some of his hunts by a partner, who is also remaining anonymous.

In other news, after the recent attack by sandworms on Native Republic forts, scientists have decided to investigate the species. Those who witnessed the attacks claim that sandworms are far more intelligent than otherwise believed, and were aware of the civil war and attacked with purpose, although their motives are not yet clear.

And our major story tonight, after a little over a month of civil war, the Native Republic has surrendered. They were unable to compete with the superior numbers and equipment of the Earth Federation. There has been word from captured Native soldiers that the Native Republic had some kind of secret weapon, giving them hope of success. However, plans for that weapon fell through. What type of weapon it might have been or what went wrong has not yet been verified.

More on the details of the Native Government's surrender after the break.

The End.

Author's Note: I want to give a very heartfelt "thank you" to everyone who has read this. I enjoyed writing it, and it makes me very happy that others have enjoyed reading it.

To all of you,

Love and peace!