Chapter 4
I followed Vamp to a small campsite. This must be where the bandits that he wants to get rid of are. Luckily it was lit up by the campfire so I could see everyone clearly. Thank goodness, means I won't make a fool of myself trying to help.
"So this is where the bandits hideout is?" I asked Vamp curiously.
"Yeah. Normally they are here. Could have sworn I heard them here earlier when I asked if you could fight." Vamp said as he looked around curiously.
It didn't really look like they were doing much, just mainly telling each other jokes and showing off weapons. Although one of them was talking about the small town nearby.
"We should tell the boss that we should hit the town next. It's loaded with tons of money and other things as well. Such as beauiful maidens." One of the bandits gushed to another.
"Knowing the boss he'd get all the maidens while we just get other crap." The other sighed.
I looked back at Vamp and spoke, "So what exactly are we suppose to do and when do we do it?"
"Well, I could be the decoy. They know my face. I suck at fighting, but these guys are worse than me. I have very little trouble taking them down. I cant beat their leader though. So they instantly go and grab him. When he comes out, you take him down from a distance. Using a tactic like that should fling the camp into a rage, and have them all come at me. Take down as many as you can, and I will do the same." Vamp said as he drew a diagram of the camp in the dirt with his claw.
"Ive been here many times before, so I know the lay out of this place well."
I watched carefully as he drew out our plan, I couldn't help but look at his face every now and then with a happy smile. Something about him just made me seem happy, I guess it's because he's actually depending on me to help him.
"Alright, I'll do as you say. Now then," I held my bow and got my bow ready. "let's make sure these bandits bother no one else anymore, shall we?"
"Yeah. Do refrain from killing shots of course. We dont need to be kicked from the party and labeled as murderers."
"Of course, Elves don't really kill anyway." I answered him.
I waited for him to go down into the camp so I could see my chance. I personally hoped nothing would go wrong which would cause me to miss or shoot him. I was very nervous but took a deep breath and stood silently.
Vamp walked down into the camp, and the moment one of the bandits noticed him, he cold cocked him on the side of his head with his metal arm. "Hey guys. I bet your glad to see me again! Better get your leader because none of you chumps can beat me."
"I-It's him again! Quick! Go get the boss before something else goes wrong!" One of the bandits shouted to another.
The bandit started to run to the leaders tent when I released an arrow causing it to pierce through his leg, making him fall to the ground.
"Uuuaaaaagh!" He shouted and held his leg in pain.
I focused my bow on another bandit and did the same except this time with his arm. I repeated the process until Vamp reached the leader.
"Hey big guy! I think I might finally be able to beat you. Why dont we take this outside your tent?"
The leader came outside of his tent, he was pretty big compared to me and he had so much armor on that he could be a knight himself. He pulled out a claymore and stared at Vamp.
"You dare come back to my camp?! You must have a death wish lad." He angrily shouted at Vamp.
"Death wish? Maybe. Too bad I still run circles around you. Get rid of that armor and you might be able to kill me."
The leader laughed and spoke, "Don't make us kill the poor lassie you have in the bushes over there." He snapped his fingers and out came multiple archers pointed and me.
I stood silently still and ignored the archers, still shooting down the other stray bandits.
"Speka, stop shooting for now." Vamp ordered me.
Why does he want me to stop? I see the archers. But we need to rid the bandits. I bit my lip and responded. "Roger." I stopped firing my arrow but kept my bow at the ready.
"You're a smart lad to listen to us. Now hand over all your things along with the lassie and we'll let you go." The leader snickered.
"Not happening bud. You see, I can't let her get hurt. But you never stated what I had to do before giving my stuff up. And I think I'll let this arm of mine take over, if only for a little bit."
Vamp sat on the ground, looking like he was meditating in the middle of the camp.
The leader of the bandits grin slowly turned into a face of worry. "Wh-What are you doing lad!? Knock it off right now!"
I watched Vamp, for I had no idea what he was doing. It seemed as if he was just sitting there. Was he giving up? Thinking? Or maybe he was tired? I did wake him up after all. Although I had faith in whatever he was doing.
Suddenly he stood up, eyes dull, both arm and sword at the ready. "Combat systems, fully engaged. Host name 'Vamp' has been fully put to sleep. Now proceeding with detainment of all threats in the immediate area."
The leader panicked and called for his remaining bandits to take out Vamp. Each bandit charged at him with full strength, trying to do the best they could against him. Eventually the archers who had their focus on me then focused on Vamp and started shooting at him.
This gave me the perfect chance to take down those archers while they were distracted. I slid behind a tree and started taking out the archers, glancing back at Vamp out of worry for him.
I was already fighting off 3 bandits at a time, and using them as a shield for any arrow that did get close to me if I hadn't jumped out of the way already.
"Priority target is bandit leader. His morale will be broken if the camp is taken out. Proceeding with current course of action."
I ran down from my hiding spot a down into the camp with Vamp. I used some of the self-defense I had learn to take down remaining bandits. When I looked at the bandit leader he seemed terrified.
"N-No! Mercy! We yeild! We won't come back!" The bandit leader pleaded, backing up slowly.
"Plead for mercy: Denied. Will detain bandit leader by brutal force if necessary. After goal has been achieved, must look over subject 'Speka' for any possible injuries."
He's worried about me even though I was safer than him? This man truely is something I'd never thought to encounter. Worrying about me when he was in the head of danger. I smiled to myself.
"I...I won't let you have your revenge!" The leader shouted and drew his claymore. He charged Vamp, swinging it heavily.
Vamp lifted up my metal arm and stopped the blade with one hand.
"Revenge is not my goal. I am the being inside the arm, who my host thought could defeat you. Normally, when unleased, the combat system is made to kill any surrounding enemies. However due to my host's willpower, I am only able to operate because he willed it. As such I must follow his commands. And his command is to make sure subject 'Speka' is unharmed and that you and your camp are brought in. If not for his personal peace of mind, then for everyone you have ever hurt and plan to hurt."
The leader struggled to pull his sword away from Vamp's arm but failed. He released the sword and pulled a dagger from his back pocket. "WE WILL NEVER BE TURNED IN! NEVER!" He screamed and threw the dagger past Vamp and towards me.
Vamp's head turned to follow the dagger, but because the sword was in his hand he failed to grab it and stop it.
"Speka!" Vamp shouted.
I readied myself and when the dagger neared my face, I swung my foot upwards, kicking the dagger by the handle into the air and drew my bow soon releasing an arrow into the dagger, flying back towards the leader and stabbing him in the shoulder.
Vamp flipped the sword around in his hand and brought it to the leader's neck.
"Cease and desist immediately, or I will force my executioner program to engage."
The leader held his hand up in pain and defeat. "We...yeild." The leader's voice sounded broken and low. His other fellows passed out on the ground before him.
I pushed my hair behind my ear and made my way towards Vamp.
"That was pretty amazing with what you just did right there!" I smiled.
Vamp turned to me. "You are subject 'Speka'. Are you unhurt?"
"Yes I'm alright. Are you okay? You have a might power there in your arm."
"You are currently speaking to that power. Vamp himself is ok, although he will be a little more withdrawn after this. Now I must ask you to strip off your clothing."
My ears perked up after hearing that and I could feel my face become hot.
"P-Pardon me? Stirp my clothes off?" I asked to be sure that's what I heard.
"Yes. I must make sure that there are no wounds below skin level as well, and clothes obstruct my scanner."
My face burned even hotter than before.
"A-Alright...I trust you..." I swallowed slightly and started to remove my clothing.
I couldn't believe that I did a mission for Wally's lab, fell into a man's house, took out bandits, and am now stripping in front of said man.
"Speka. Not here maybe?" Vamp says as he point to the bandits looking at me.
I stop just as I am lifting my shirt over my head and look at the bandits. I feel as if I have just died inside.
"E-E-EEEEEEEEHHH!" I screamed and pulled my shirt back down.
"You PERVERTS!" I shouted and kicked one in the head and kicked dirt at the others.
In one smooth motion, Vamp lifted me up and sat me on his shoulder. "If any of you bandits follow or attempt to escape, I will hunt you down and kill you. Stay in place."
I blush at the sudden movement of being placed upon his shoulder. I can't believe what I almost did. What type of person am I?
Then he turned to me and looked up. "There is a little isolated clearing not far from here. Lou is already on the way, as I have already sent a message via a comm that was added to my being a few days ago. We will take the time they are getting here to make sure you have no wounds."
"Alright. Although I'm pretty sure I don't have any wound." I rubbed my head.
Vamp stared at me silently. "We must be sure though. Vamp would we depressed if you had any sort of wound at all. For you privacy, I will be blocking images of your body without clothing from transferring to him."
"I don't have much worry of him seeing that but I just thought that it wouldn't be his fault if I had wounds. He was out there in the midst of battle while I was on the sides." I wrapped my arm around Vamp to gain better support.
"Oh? You dont mind Vamp seeing your naked body? When I said clothes, I meant all of them. And as for him being in the midst of battle, it wouldn't be much different then be- Oh, it seems like if I talk about that more than I have, he will force me back into the dormant state, damn the consequences."
"No I wouldn't mind, Elves tend to bathe in open areas such as ponds and lakes so many are seen naked. It wouldn't bother me really...and it sounded as if you were going to say before." I tilted my head slightly.
"Very well. I will send the images of your body to Vamp then. And I cannot go further on that topic unless you suddenly want to fall to the ground on top of Vamp. He is not normally strong enough to do this, so putting me to sleep would make his knees buckle under us, and then Vamp hitting the ground. The way the knees would buckle would put Vamp on his back, and you would land on his face most likely."
I swallowed slightly at the thought of me falling on top of Vamp. It sounded like something very embarrassing. I covered my face imagining that image.
"A-Are we almost there?"
"Yes. In fact, we are here." In another smooth motion, I set you down onto the ground and started working on my arm. "Please remove all clothing while I configure into scanning mode."
I nod and start to remove my clothing.
