Trigun Fanfic: The End

The End.

The Earth was dying. After all this time, after all we had done. The Earth could finally take no more.

“You’re sure of this?” The translator spoke for the representative from France. All of the men and women, representative of all the nations in the world, in the auditorium, looked like people facing their own human mortality for the first time.  In the back of the council room I could hear the hurried chatter of a few of the representatives.

“Positive.” I said. My voice boomed out from the microphone to reach every seat in the room. It took every ounce of will-power to keep myself from breaking down. The evidence was clear.

“Is there nothing we can do, Doctor Conrad?”  The Chinese Rep. stood up, her heavily accented voice wavered.

I shook my head. “I’m afraid we’ve long passed the point of no return, the planet in its death throes as we speak” The evidence was far too clear.

Suddenly the auditorium burst with voices, some shouting, some asking questions, some even beginning to pray to their respective Gods. I felt my lip quiver. If only my brothers could see me now, a grown man about to cry his heart out. But after long hours in the lab with my associates staring at the evidence for hours, checking and rechecking and then rechecking again, the fact of the matter was still sinking in. Our home world, the place that had sustained Humanity for thousands of years, was coming to an end. After a few minutes of meditative breathing, I put up my hand and asked for silence. The room came to a slow reluctant halt and I became the center of attention again.

“We have less than three decades before this planet will become virtually inhabitable. The rate of degeneration, if it stays constant only gives us 20 years to think up a solution before people begin dying off.” The pale faces before me just go paler.

The room erupted into shouts and yelling again; I sighed and closed my eyes. The face of my little son, Will, drifted into my mind. By the time he was my age this planet would be dead. Maybe in time, after the planet repaired itself, a new sentient species would evolve onto its surface and take better care of it than we Humans did. Lord knows we no longer deserved it fruits.

Opening my eyes I asked for silence once more. Once I had their attention, I began, “Ladies and gentlemen. I have not just come here with this terrible news. I have also come to you with a solution. This solution would require every resource of every nation on the planet. If Humanity is to survive we must eliminate borders and create a single organism from our combined strengths. In only this way can we possibly hope to see our species live on.”

I took a breath and met the eyes of man in the room. “We must create a fleet of space faring ships. Enough to hold the 7.5 billion people on our planet, and transport them across the stars. My associates and I are currently employing the use of our best satellites to locate star systems that could possibly support life. With these, we can search out a new home, a place for Humanity to start anew. I already have my best scientists and technicians working on the best course to take. All I need is you, and your nations’ support..”

A murmur shuffled about the room. The representative from the United Kingdom stood up. “Doctor Conrad, what you are asking is incredibly extraordinary. Are you even certain that what you propose is possible? We have just barely sent man to Neptune and suddenly you want to make a leap to such a… a grand undertaking as a fleet of starships to visit other stars?”

“We believe that it is indeed possible. With the right resources and the required manpower we could very well have a fleet of ships within fifteen years.”

The translator for the Saudi Arabian Representative spoke up, “What will power these starships, what could be powerful enough?”

I let a small smile twitch on my face, “We have various projects underway, in partnership with Japan and Sweden-” I nodded at the respective representatives of the countries in question “- in which we are working on some highly experimental energy producing agents. When completed these agents, these miniature power plants, will be far more powerful than fossil, nuclear, fusion and solar fuels combined.”

Chatter of disbelief started up before dying down again. Someone in the back of the room shouted out, “Why have we not heard of this before!?”

“As I said, this was highly experimental and until a week ago we weren’t sure it was going to be a success or blow us all up. And let me tell you ladies and gentlemen… this is a phenomenal piece of energy production, and if we want humans to survive… well… we now have the power to do it.”

Suddenly question were coming from all sides, people were talking back and forth about this whole thing.  The Earth was dying but we were moving on.

~*~*~*~

FOUR YEARS EARLIER

“Incredible.” I started at the diagnostic sheet in front of me.

“Isn’t it?” The man in front of me grinned, “And we wouldn’t even have it if it weren’t for my son stepping on that nail!”

I looked up at him, “Your son?”

Charles Lessig grinned again, then laughed, “Yeah the little guy was wandering around in the back yard and stepped on an old nail. I took him to the hospital for a tetanus exam, and shots. Was waiting for the doctor to come back from his office with a bit of candy for Jeffrey and … there she was. The little thing was only a few days old.”

I nodded, “Her parents?”  

Charles picked out a sheet of paper from inside a fold her was carrying, “Father disappeared not long after conception… mother died in child birth. The remaining family don’t want anything to do with her. ‘Put it up for adoption’ they said.”

I shook my head in disgust. My own wife, Marsha was three months pregnant with our first child. I couldn’t imagine abandoning her and the little unborn child.

I used my fingernail to slip the paper clip off the small bunch of photos. The child was truly amazing. In one she was starting right at the camera. I shivered.  Her eyes looked like some facsimile of the old alien myths. But instead of black they were a milky white, the pupil and iris nearly invisible.

I turned to the next photo and examined it. “What are these?”  I ran my finger along the slick surface of the photo right where the child’s back was displayed.

“Ah… ” he looked at the area where I pointed “Feathers. It appears that she has something similar to what baby birds have as far as wings are concerned. It’s really an incredible mutation, you’ll really have to see her up close and personal to really get the full impact… I mean… the energy that you feel around her… it’s amazing.”

I nodded, “And when can I get the meeting?”

“The adoption papers are being worked up right now. She’ll be in the lab in a couple hours.”

I nodded, “Thank you, Charles.”

He grinned again; he did that a lot, “No problem, it’s just so incredible to find gems of mutations like this.”

Charles left, with a wave and asked me to say hi to my wife for him, and congradulated me on my nomination to the U.N. Science Officer post. I stared down at the photos of the little girl, whom the nurses, as it said on my report, had dubbed ‘Angel.’       

After an hour had passed I put away my files and headed down stairs to bottom floor of the Kirksey Science Organization building where the genetics lab resided. I, Roger Conrad, was the head scientist of the KSO genetics lab. In the lab we were studying the cause and effect of various kinds of mutations in humans and animals alike. Angel would enter into a world of other muta-sapiens just like her.
On my way into the lab I checked in on one of the muta-sapien subjects, his name was Frank, middle-aged, homeless once but now resided in a little observation room in the genetics lab. His mutation was an incredible ability to “change” his epidermal structure to reflect light, in effect making him seem invisible.

“Hello Frank,” I said through the intercom, “how are you feeling today?”

“Peachey.” Frank rasped. His skin shifted in the light and he went semi invisible. The only problem with his mutation was his hair was left visible, unaffected by the mutation cells.

His hair floated in the air, disconnected, for a moment before being rejoined to his body. Frank stood up, “when you gonna let me see m’pastor?”

“Soon Frank,” I assured warmly, “Pastor Levin is busy this week at the State Penitentiary. You’ll see him just as soon as he’s available.”

Frank just grunted and went invisible. His hair, eyebrows and empty clothes migrated to the far wall where they rocked back and forth at the wall.

I shook my head sadly and continued walking. Frank was nearing the end of his life, unfortunately the mutation of his skin had caused an untreatable form of skin cancer to develop. After being told this, he insisted on weekly visits from a pastor. I was more than willing to grant this dying man his wish. His mutation had already given us wonderful insights into human genetics.      
   
A few halls and a room full of glass beakers later I entered into the examination room. There in a little crib was our new arrival, Angel.

The split-second that I entered the room I felt it. Energy was wafting off her. It was like standing near a K-16 Cold Fusion reactor. But this was no machine… this was a human. “Incredible.” I whispered to myself.

I came to stand right next to the crib. Angel, lay on her stomach, asleep, in only a pair of diapers. A blanket had been haphazardly pushed to the side.  

Gently I touched the little baby’s face. Her skin was a translucent milky white, and for some reason it had a faint glow. Then I stopped. Something had caught my eye. Looking down , closely at Angel’s back, right where the feathers came out I noticed dozens of tiny little dime sized skin packets between her shoulder blades. If I didn’t know any better I’d say they looked like human embryos.

The door to the examination room opened up. I turned to find Charles entering. He grinned, “So?  What do you think?”

“She’s incredible, you were right about the energy, too… it’s really an amazing mutation, I’ve never seen anything like it in my entire career.” I grinned with Charles, momentarily forgetting the odd formations on Angel’s back.

“Yeah, I know. I just got Rick and Sandra working on the energy thing… I really want to know how much she’s got in that little body of her’s.”

~*~*~*~

KSO GENETICS LAB WEEKLY CONFERENCE
MUTA-SAPIEN REPORT: ANGEL
THREE DAYS LATER

“So far this is what we have… Angel’s body currently contains the equivalent of fourteen K-16 Cold Fusion reactors in her body. This energy is compressed inside trillions upon trillions of conductors present in each blood cell. No doubt that this amount will increase as she gets older.

“Which brings us to our next subject: Angel is aging at an incredibly face pace. At the rate she is going, by this time next year she will look like a 12-year-old. Also, as Doctor Conrad discovered Angel has about three dozen embryos growing out of her back. We are not entirely sure why this is, but in time I’m sure we will come to an answer.

“As of yesterday we have been given full permission by the President to investigate the possible uses of this mutation. In anticipation of possible road blocks we have also been given full funding and permission to employ outside nations for technological resources.”

~*~*~*~

SEVEN MONTHS LATER
PROJECT ANGEL REPORT: EXCERPT

…

We have recently found out that the ‘babies’ growing out of Angel’s back are detachable at Angel’s will.

Doctors Lewiston and Redford managed to coax Angel to release one of the “babies.” The baby did not survive more than an hour but the Doctors agree this may be because of Angel’s young age.

…

We have discovered that Angel will discontinue aging at the age of two years old. The equivalent of a 24-year-old.

…

~*~*~*~

FIVE MONTHS LATER
  
“We could easily harness this power.” Kasumi said with a satisfied smile.

“Go on.” I pushed.

Kasumi pointed to the rough blue print that was tacked to the table in the work room of the KSO building. She pointed to the large part of the structure, that resembled a large light bulb. “In here is where a plant will reside.” Angel’s ‘race’ (also they were given the status of a race as it seems that she and the others of her kind are able to reproduce asexually) had long since been dubbed as ‘plants’ after a short time of calling them Human power plants.  “The plant will feed its energy out through these conduits, which will then be run through a converter and from there it will be connected to these cable, which are basically just modified universal electric ports, any electrical device can be plugged into them, with the right connector of course.”

“And this works?”

“We aren’t sure yet.. it will take some time to build the device and test it with Angel or one of her children.”

I nodded. Along with Angel we now had four other plants, who were being called her children, and were only around two months old and younger.

“Alright, let me speak with the president, and I’ll get back to you. If this goes well.. we may very well have a sustainable energy resource on our hands.”

Kasumi smiled.

~*~*~*~

THREE YEARS LATER

“3…” The technician at the switch board said over the comm. After three years of trouble, a world war that swamped our funding, and hundreds of technical problems we were finally getting ready to find out if all this work was for nothing.

“2…”

After the reports from various researchers had come in that the Earth was beginning to fade, some success was finally due. If this worked, maybe… just maybe we had a hope of survival.

“1…”

The technician flipped a switch.

The plant bulb in front of the two hundred plus scientists and researchers roared to life. The glow from Irena’s body increased as she fed compact energy into the conduits at the top of the bulb.    

And then the lights that had been set up to test the energy lit up and the whole room exploded with cheers.

I laughed and celebrated with my colleagues. Finally… success.

~*~*~*~

ONE DAY AFTER THE U.N. CONFERENCE

“Angel… I have a very big request to make of you.” I sat in front of her while she gently straightened out her feathers. She paused after a moment an looked at me with those milky eyes.

“I know.” She said. Her voice was an odd one. Odd to those who weren’t used to it that is. It sounded much like a thousand people whispering at once. It was unnerving to some people, but I found it strangely pleasing.

“Then… you know what I’m going to ask?”

“Yes.”

“And…?”

“Roger… my people and I will gladly help you across the stars. We have come to a consensus and believe this is the right course of action. For all of us to survive. We only ask for one thing.”

“And that is?”

“When we have reached a new home world and the people are settled, you will set us free, so that we too may live on as people of society as well.”

I bowed my head in thanks, “It shall be done. I promise.”

She smiled.

~*~*~*~

EXCERPT FROM A SPEECH BY THE SPOKESMAN OF THE UN SCIENCE DIVISION

…

The central processing units were built to look vaguely like the mythical angels of the Bible. Lets just say our scientists and engineers are very sentimental about our salvation. So not to worry all you folks, the plants are not sentient.

…  

17 YEARS LATER

“All citizens, please go to your designated bus stop and await transfer to you designated SEEDS vessel.” It was time… All humans were preparing to leave the world of their birth.

“C’mon, Dad, we haven’t got all day.” Will, or Bill, as he preferred nowadays, waved at me from the bus stop.

“I’m coming, I’m coming…” I growled. I had gotten old. And my movements weren’t as fast as they used to be. Strangely I had misgivings about leaving Earth. Marsha had died three years ago from cancer and I didn’t want to leave her all alone here.  I didn’t want to leave this place, this pretty brick house that I wanted to grow old and die in with Marsha. I looked back one more time the house and joined Bill at the bus stop with the other people of our neighborhood.

The bus ride to the SEEDS ships on the edge of town was oddly quite. Or maybe my hearing was starting to go, I couldn’t really tell.

I glanced at Bill. He was idly picking on his uniform a frown creased his mouth downwards. He was a smart boy. At 16 he’d joined up with the SEEDS project to become one of their youngest Plant engineers. Now at 19… or was he 20… I scratched my head trying to remember my own son’s birthday.  I shook my head, it’ll come to me sooner or later. Anyway… however old he was, he was about to become the second most important person in the operation and maintenance of the Alpha ship while we were on our journey across the stars.

I sighed and stared out the window at the halfway dead trees we passed. There wasn’t an animal in sight. The Earth would truly be dead when we all left.

Suddenly I realized that we were nearing the ships. The four ships that serviced the whole state of Florida loomed over us casting a slight shadow that the deadly gaseous clouds overhead didn’t already cast.

Marsha will be lonely.

Why shouldn’t I stay, I suddenly thought. I was old, I would only take up space. Even after the whole cold sleep was over I would probably only live for another five maybe ten years. Plus, others were staying. A small fraction of the human populace didn’t want to leave Earth. Some small geodomes were being built over large cities in anticipation of the ecosystem’s collapse.  Some of the plants had even volunteered to stay and power the cities.

I noticed the cemetery where Marsha was buried pass by.

Marsha needed me.

“Stop!!” I yelled out.

Bill jumped in surprise.

“Stop the bus!” I was half out of my seat.

“Dad, what’s wrong? Did you forget something?”

“Marsha..”

“Huh? Mom? Mom’s dead, Dad… don’t you remember?”
  
“Of course I remember! But… I can’t leave her. She’ll be lonely!”

“Dad…” Bill said sternly.

“Wi—ah… Bill… You must understand… I can’t leave her. I was meant to.. I need to stay with her.”

Bill only looked confused, but slowly he nodded as if he understood the deeper meaning and got up to ask the driver to turn around.

I hobbled up to the front of the bus and waited for us to return to the cemetery. I was not afraid to die. I’d lived a good life. I’d helped rescue Humanity from an untimely death. I felt that I had made my mark, and I wasn’t regretful.

The bus came to a stop, and as I got out and Bill gave me a hug, I said to him, “Tell Angel, that I said goodbye. And… remember our promise to her and her people.”

Bill nodded, “Okay… I’ll tell her.”

Bill gave me one last hug and then reenterd the bus. As it pulled away I waved to the people inside and then watched it disappear around the bend.

Suddenly tired I slowly walked into the cemetery and searched out Marsha’s grave. I knelt down next to it, ignoring the protests of my knees.

“Well Marsha. Looks like I’ll be staying.”

I lay down next to her grave and stared up at the sky. The haze of clouds blocked out much of the sunlight.

“Remember when we used to dream about visiting another planet, Marsha?” I smiled at the sky. “So do I.”

I closed my eyes, “Those were the days.”

I could remember the time we sat on the roof of my father’s barn and stared at the stars all night long talking about the future.

I could remember the first time I kissed her.

I could remember the first time we made love.

I could remember the look on her face when Bill was born.

Oh al the moments, the lifetime. Let’s share it together Marsha. Let’s remember.

I must have fallen asleep. Because I was woken by the far off noise of four SEEDS ships taking off into the sky, the rumble of the engines like distant thunder.

“Good-bye, Angel. Good-bye, Bill. I hope you find a new home world someday and live in peace.”