Trigun Stampede (2023): Vash the Stampede: Roots and Flowers

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Information on the biology and appearance of Vash the Stampede in Trigun Stampede (2023).

Table of Contents

Back Roots

After Knives penetrates Vash’s back with his knife tentacles in “To A New World“, he makes his “initial connection” with Vash. This triggers the release of a mass of dark, plant-like roots from Vash’s back, presumably from a gate point on his back that mirrors the gate point Knives uses to create the knife tentacles.

Knives takes control of Vash in "To A New World". Eight knife tentacles penetrate Vash's back, and a mass of roots grow from Vash's back. — Knives takes control of Vash in “To A New World”. Eight knife tentacles penetrate Vash’s back, and a mass of roots grow from Vash’s back.

Knives appears to be able to control this first mass of roots, directing them to penetrate the dependent plants around them in the tank. When the roots connect, the dependent plants flash magenta around the root.

Vash's roots penetrate the closed healthy plants in Knives' tank in "To A New World". — Vash’s roots penetrate the closed healthy plants in Knives’ tank in “To A New World”.

As Knives delves into Vash’s memories, blue pulses of light flash along the roots, leading from Vash to the dependent plants.

Vash's roots pulse with blue light in "To A New World" — Vash’s roots pulse with blue light in “To A New World”

Foot Roots

As Knives moves deep into Vash’s memories, manipulating away everything from after The Big Fall and reaching 87% sync, a second mass of roots begins to grow from Vash’s ankles and feet. These roots grow down and then out from the bottom of the tank, spreading into the observation area and then beyond it.

A second mass of roots grows from Vash's ankles and feet in "To A New World" — A second mass of roots grows from Vash’s ankles and feet in “To A New World”

The second mass of Vash's roots grows down in "To A New World" — The second mass of Vash’s roots grows down in “To A New World”

The second mass of Vash's roots quickly fills the floor in "To A New World" — The second mass of Vash’s roots quickly fills the floor in “To A New World”

Conrad asks Knives if he is controlling the second mass of roots. Knives simply assures him everything is fine, and resumes his takeover of Vash’s mind, telling him to release his power. It’s unclear if Knives is in control of the second mass of roots, or if it is some instinctive, unconscious act on Vash’s part, or a combination of the two.

The roots grow with incredible speed, and even while Knives’ efforts stall, the roots have grown to completely cover the lab and spread out and down into the city below.

The second mass of Vash's roots covers Knives' tower in "To A New World" — The second mass of Vash’s roots covers Knives’ tower in “To A New World”

The JuLai police attack Vash's roots in "To A New World", to no effect. — The JuLai police attack Vash’s roots in “To A New World”, to no effect.

Purple Geraniums

After Vash’s portal gate opens, flowers appear on the roots and bloom open. The flowers are purple geraniums with glowing blue stamens. The purple petals are dotted with blue specks like a starry night sky. These directly relate to the red geraniums that Vash associates with Rem, and which symbolize his memories.

A red geranium symbolizes Vash's memories in "High Noon At July" — A red geranium symbolizes Vash’s memories in “High Noon At July”

Vash's roots bloom with purple geraniums in "To A New World" — Vash’s roots bloom with purple geraniums in “To A New World”

Purple geraniums cover Vash's roots in "To A New World" — Purple geraniums cover Vash’s roots in “To A New World”

Root Monster

With the portal to the higher dimension open, Vash’s roots grow enormous and spread over JuLai, crushing everything and everyone in their path.

Vash's roots grow massive in "To A New World" — Vash’s roots grow massive in “To A New World”

Vash's roots destroy and kill in "To A New World" — Vash’s roots destroy and kill in “To A New World”

Vash's roots cover buildings in "To A New World" — Vash’s roots cover buildings in “To A New World”

Vash's roots cover JuLai in "To A New World" — Vash’s roots cover JuLai in “To A New World”

This leads to the formation of a giant root monster in the shape of Rem that completely covers JuLai.

The Rem root monster forms over JuLai in "To A New World" — The Rem root monster forms over JuLai in “To A New World”

The face of the Rem root monster in "To A New World" — The face of the Rem root monster in “To A New World”

Wolfwood watches from a distance as Vash's Rem root monster towers over JuLai in "High Noon At July" — Wolfwood watches from a distance as Vash’s Rem root monster towers over JuLai in “High Noon At July”

Vash's blooming roots cover JuLai in "High Noon At July" — Vash’s blooming roots cover JuLai in “High Noon At July”

An overhead view of the roots and JuLai in "High Noon At July" — An overhead view of the roots and JuLai in “High Noon At July”

Heart Light

In “High Noon At July“, when Vash begins to recover his memories, a red light appears over his heart. A matching red light appears over the heart of the Rem root monster.

A red light appears over Vash's blackened heart in "High Noon At July" — A red light appears over Vash’s blackened heart in “High Noon At July”

A red light appears over the heart of Vash's Rem root monster in "High Noon At July" — A red light appears over the heart of Vash’s Rem root monster in “High Noon At July”

Retraction and Crystallization

After Vash awakens, he pulls his roots back, retracting them completely. According to Conrad, Vash refines the mass on a molecular level, breaks it into countless particles, smaller than air, and crystallizes it. The result is the Energy Cube.

The Rem monster roots retract in "High Noon At July" — The Rem monster roots retract in “High Noon At July”

Vash pulls in the mass of roots in "High Noon At July" — Vash pulls in the mass of roots in “High Noon At July”

Vash crystalizes the roots in "High Noon At July" — Vash crystalizes the roots in “High Noon At July”

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Compare Canons: Manga: Vash the Stampede | Stampede: Vash the Stampede | 1998: Vash the Stampede