Millions Knives (Stampede): Difference between revisions

The primary plot of ''Trigun Stampede'' is driven both by Knives's efforts to convince, then force Vash to assist in his plans, and by his desire to claim and control Vash's power so he can use it to make No Man's Land a paradise, with Independent Plants its sole inhabitants.

However, Knives's icy pragmatism and lofty attitude conceal selfishness, erratic outbursts of emotion, unwillingness to take responsibility for the harm he inflicts upon his loved ones, and a rigidly black-and-white view of the world that permits no nuance or dissent. Knives is fundamentally driven by fear, not only of what humanity could do to him or to Vash, but that Vash will abandon him in favor of humans, leaving Knives alone. Since any human could potentially be a threat, all humanity must therefore suffer and die. He cannot, or will not, understand alternative viewpoints and has developed a habit of trying to isolate Vash by driving off or killing anyone who gets close to him, of gaslighting Vash to undermine his self-worth, and of lashing out with physical violence should those manipulations fail. Though his anger with humanity's reckless and unsustainable destruction of the beings they need to survive - his own species - is justified, he has no issue adopting the same tactics himself with Vash or the Plants under his control. Knives takes their consent for granted, dismisses any resistance as foolishness, and is willing to strip Vash of his personhood and autonomy, as well as exploit the dependents for his own ends. When his plans are thwarted, Knives descends into incoherently shrieking, indiscriminately destructive fury, tearing apart whatever stands in his way or even himself.  

At heart, Knives is a frightened, angry and deeply traumatised individual, as well a perfectionist unable to cope when reality deviates from expectations formed without experience. He is sadistic, manipulative, controlling, and possessive, as well as prone to pushing blame onto those he harms for not submitting to his wishes. Despite his conviction and insistence that he's building a paradise for all the Plants, Knives's true goal is gaining Vash's utter devotion and a return to the carefree days of his childhood.   

Though Knives has yet to be depicted speaking to any other members of the Eye of the Michael, Elendira and Legato both regard him with devotion and Zazie with wary familiarity, but if Knives cares what they think he does not show it. He knows enough about Rollo, Tonis and Wolfwood to adopt their images manipulating Vash, and about Roberto and Meryl to target and wipe them from Vash's mind. He is protective of the dependent Plants and refers to them as his brethren, but treats them more as objects than people and is not depicted communicating with them in the way Vash does. He implicitly believes them to be soulless and without free will.