AN: *author rises from the rubble* I'm alive!

But what's that purple light…*peering through hole made by self* …Oh poo. *author gets hit by purple plasma-ball*

*Tori steps through the hole* No one calls her 'Jadie'.

Except you, Tor. *Jade steps through behind her, grinning.*

Sorry to the nth for the longer than intended delay, I have no excuse or explanation, only guilt. Do enjoy this 6300+ word monster of a chapter… it should appease some, a faster next chapter will appease the others. :{) …hopefully.

So last time Jade and Tori had a lovely little discussion with Irot and Edaj andhere is the next day… Just Friday and all its normality.


Tori awoke to a wonderful feeling of peace, for she had one of the best night's sleeps of her life and was not being awoken by her sister or anyone, or anything else. Irot was happily asleep above her head and the sun was still hidden by the early morning. Truthfully Tori wasn't even mad that he didn't listen to her, her mood was just that good. Smiling she looks over to her window and notes the severe lack of sunlight and thinks to herself, 'I guess I reset my internal clock from waking up so early so often.'

Irot simply yawned as he readjusted himself, flicking his tail over her head and across her eyes…wordlessly and thoughtlessly saying he didn't want to talk yet. Yawning Tori finds herself in agreement with the little reptile and snuggles down a little further into her warm nest.

…Then realizing something she shoots her eyes open and can see, despite her knowing full well it's still very dark in her room. She scans the room and can make out everything as if the light was on… though everything lacked it's usually coloring in favor of a low orange hue.

"I'm either dreaming or this is yet another gift of my new blood." She closes her eyes, 'Will the surprises never cease.' She tries to go back to sleep but keeps opening her eyes to see if she can still see in the dark… and every time she does she still can see.

Eventually she elects to simply get up and get ready for her day.

While she was in the bathroom brushing her teeth she decided to try something, so she switched off the light… and she could still see. She then looks over in the mirror and sees her eyes are no longer brown or even human, but instead deep orange dragon's eyes. The image of those eyes set in her head startles her at first, but she very quickly gets over it as she starts admiring the alluring orbs…

"But I don't understand."Tori was perplexed because she could clearly remember, 'I've been in darkness and couldn't see, even after the contract. How...?' But she is drawn from her thoughts by a knock at the door startling her, nearly jamming her toothbrush into the back of her mouth.

Pulling it free she swiftly rinses it off and spits before she flips on the lights and swiftly double-checks to make sure her eyes are normal again before opening the door, revealing her sister standing there with a bewildered look on her face,

"What were you doing in there with the lights off?" Not appreciating being startled Tori answers with bite,

"I had a serious bowel movement and the darkness calms me." Trina takes a step back and raises her hands in front of her,

"I did not need to know that." Tori pushes passed her dearest sister with a Jade-esk tone,

"Then maybe you shouldn't have asked." Not liking being talked down to Trina tosses back,

"Next time I won't." Tori wordlessly continues to her room, not sure if she was still upset with Trina for surprising her or amused at her being flustered…. 'Maybe I got a little Jade in me after that conversation last night…' Entering her room she catches Irot smirking at her, without casting a thought her way he then rests his head back on his coiled form.


Despite the understandable and numerous similarities between Jade and Edaj there was at least one tiny little thing that was very obviously different, Jade couldn't stand waking up early whereas Edaj couldn't stand sleeping late. And with this difference ingrained in her mind it was not a surprise to Jade that Edaj was already up… and in fact the one responsible for her waking up before she would ever want to.

The only real good thing about the time that her tigress chose to wake her at was that it was before the sun's damned rays pierced her room, so Jade was not accosted by that annoyance. However that wasn't really a sufficient consolation prize for waking up to a tiger cub staring down at you with impatience blaring from her eyes.

Before Jade could even comment on the odd location of the large cub, Edaj's voice graces her mind, 'So… is there any chance we could go to the park again?' Her tone is rather eager as a tail is swaying in an almost wagging like motion behind her.

Taking a moment to register what she was being asked Jade finally asks,

"…Really?" In truth she took Edaj to the park because she thought she was merely a supernatural tiger, not a sentient tiger with a mind to rival her own. So she never really expected the cub to ever want to return to what the d-knight considered a demeaning location for one of her intelligence.

However Edaj had a very different thought on this, 'Yes, really. You get to leave this room and stretch your legs, so may I inquire as to why I can't do the same?' She then looked down at her expectantly.

Jade was yet again caught rather off-guard, but this time it was the logic of Edaj's argument that had her a bit at a loss for words. …But she did eventually muster,

"Because you're a war-tiger, not a kitten." Unfortunately that was pathetically flimsy in the mind of her chest-heater still sitting atop her, 'If you really feel that way then I'll simply have to live up to my breed.' The look in the tigress's eyes would have concerned any…and in this case Jade was no exception. Slightly nervous she asks,

"W-what's that supposed to mean?" The slight stutter delights Edaj as she smirks, 'You're smart, I'm sure you'll figure it out.' Before kneading her claws on Jade's neck then leaping on the wall and ascending to the ceiling, just to showcase the limitations of her confinement. In her wake she left eight razor thin marks in Jade's skin, marks so thin that blood only escaped when Jade rose flexing her torso enough to draw a few drops of blood.

Wiping away the scarce amount of life elixir Jade seriously considers another outing with her soul-form before a few drops of blood were merely fond memories of a safer time before Edaj started displaying her naturally darker side. The thought sent a shiver down her spine as she settled on getting up and preparing for the day ahead.


After finishing up getting ready to leave for the last day of school for the week Tori descends to the living room to find her sister wearing an oversized raincoat, which was ordered in such haste that Trina had forgotten to specify the size… so the rep, whom she had been insulting, decided to give her a supersized version of the designer piece as his revenge.

Of course Tori had to ask,

"Why are you wearing that?" The wild design of deep green thorny vines twisting about the entire article seemed far more akin to something Jade would prefer, if it wasn't a raincoat that is… though the white roses in bloom did contrast the black that was the base of the background. Apparently some actress had released it after a weird dark-eco phase…Trina didn't seem to care as long as it was 'in' somewhere she was wearin' it. But instead of informing her sister of this she simply states,

"Because it's supposed to rain today." Walking over to the door and opening it Tori reveals a beautiful day in the making and smugly offers,

"But it's sunny without a cloud in sight." Looking up to the heavens and their severe lack of puffy or even wisped white Trina informs,

"Yeah, but Rick Snow says it's going to rain." Sighing deeply Tori considered the Columbian immigrant who decided that he wanted to forecast weather once he got to this country,

"The guy chose the last name Snow for a southern Cali weatherman. He's not exactly the guy I'd take weather advice from." Of course the man had an 86% accuracy rating, 13% higher than any other in the Southwest, so Tori may have been wise to not judge a book by its title.

Trina was fully aware of the man's knack for reading weather patterns and coolly offers,

"We'll see." Before she heads out to the car, with Tori behind her, somewhat amused by the thought of Trina wearing the large awkward coat while driving… which she did actually do.


Standing just outside the front door Jade inhales deeply taking in a unique scent on the air,

"Smells like… rain." Then she turns around to fetch an umbrella… and is greeted by her stepmother handing her Tori's clothes,

"Don't forget your girlfriend's clothes." Completely forgetting their conversation from the previous day Jade is taken aback by the concept of the clothes' owner, Tori, being her girlfriend…which hits harder because the thought of Tori asleep wrapped around her crosses her mind. The strange feeling of having someone providing that level of intimacy without really trying, and more importantly not having her wanting to kill said individual crawls throughout her body…but is interrupted by a voice purring, 'And she isn't your mate?'

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts and the smugness of the cub, Jade accepts the articles from her stepmother…though the delay in any form of reaction causes the woman to inquire,

"Are you alright, Jadie? You look a little red…and kind of anxious." Noting the slight flush on Jade's cheeks and the twitchiness she was now displaying. Shaking her head again Jade declares,

"I'm fine! Just a weird thought about a…" She stops herself from revealing more than necessary and finishes with,

"…it's nothing. Thanks for washing these." She casts an automatic smile as she motions to the clothes in her hand.

"…No problem, Jade." Jade's stepmother had never once been thanked by her stepdaughter and was genuinely surprised by it occurring now, but she was not one to ask why when it was better to simply shut up and smile, as Jade would surely put it.

Grabbing an umbrella with her freehand Jade disembarks the house altogether…as her mind went into freak-out mode,

'What the hell was that? Did I just thank her? Did she…wait she called me Jade…why did she? …Fuck! What's happening to me?' Jade's already feeling crazy, so the last thing she thought she needed was a wiseass answer from Edaj…but that's what she got,

'If I had to guess….Tori.' The self-assuredness was rather thick, which prompted Jade to bite internally,

'Nobody asked you!' Then Jade began to think about the best way to turn this situation from her issues with her mother and apparently Tori to something that will hopefully sate the tigress,

'…And if you stop the weirdness I'll take you to the forest, so you can run about like an idiot.' The d-knight could feel the eye-roll worthy tone that the cub replied in,

'I'll ignore being referred to as an idiot if you promise me that you'll enjoy your date tomorrow.' One should not be able to feel a smirk that smug…but Jade did and actually considered her answer as she slid into the driver's seat,

'….I thought that was a given.' Letting her own tone carry the smirk she was wearing. Edaj lets a genuinely joyful tone carry a,

'Have a nice day…with your mate.' Jade's face fell into a bit of a sneer as she pulled out of the drive and hurried off to school, 'How the hell is Tori an answer to why I thanked my dipshit stepmother?' Then she actually thought about how simply the answer really was and just how well it worked, '….Oh, god…I was distracted because of Tori, a freaking again! I can't keep getting caught up thinking about her…better yet I could stop thinking about her when she's not directly in front of me, how about that genius?' Luckily she was stopped at a stop sign when the realization of what she had just done hit her, because she dropped her head to the steering wheel and groaned,

"Good lord, I'm asking myself questions as if I expect an actual answer…" Raising her head she reasons,

"I need to take a nice little break from this and clear my thoughts without anyone else to hear them." She began to consider exactly how she would accomplish this little feat as she drove on to school with rain beginning to fall from the already darkened sky.


Andre walked up to Tori, who was digging around in her locker, asking,

"Tor, some rain huh?" Commenting on the downpour that was still soaking the earth.

"Yeah…" Tori answers a bit grumpily as she closes her locker revealing her soaked person. Of course the dripping water ending in a pool at her feet should have given him a sign of this fate, but regardless Tori was drenched. She was completely and utterly waterlogged, with her hair clinging in clumps along any surface said clumps could stick to.

"You didn't catch the weather?" He asks as tries not to laugh at her appearance. Sighing she answers,

"Yeah, I just don't believe a guy who picked the name Snow." He offers cautiously,

"He's usually right, you know?" Before Tori could retort Jade declares,

"Wow. Vega, do you not know what an umbrella is?" As she saunters up while at least trying to fight her laughter…but unlike Andre she really wasn't trying too hard and let a few snickers out. Huffing the brunette bites,

"Yes, I'm perfectly aware. But that doesn't do me any good now though does it?" Motioning to her person's still very wet state.

Momentarily stunned by how adorable Tori looked when she was both angry and drenched, Jade is unable to bite back with a sharp retort… Instead she offers,

"…Is it weird that I have a change of clothes you can use?" Rather kindly as she forces the undesired thoughts out of her head…hoping in vain to never think them again.

"Depends on why you have them." Despite their new friendship Tori fully expected Jade to at least mess with her every now and again, for that was who Jade was after all. So it was completely within reason for the d-mage to need to take at least some precaution.

However Jade smiles and casually offers,

"Please think about earlier this week and get back to me." This sends Tori's brain into hyper drive to figure out this little hint…and luckily it doesn't take long for her to remember Jade showering at her house,

"…You're kidding?" The d-knight rapidly answers,

"Nope. Washed and ready…and in my car, so here and here." While handing the slightly confused brunette her umbrella and keys. Fighting off her confusion as to why Jade needed to include 'washed and ready' in her answer, Tori accepts both items and fires a Cat like,

"Thanks, Jade!" With a hint of amusement in her eyes Jade feigns indifference as she dismisses the other girl to her task,

"Whatever, now don't let too much water in when you fetch your property." Tori's joy at not having to wear either soggy clothes or the school's extras prevents her from noticing the 'your property' part as she merely says,

"Got it!" Before heading toward the parking-lot.

Unlike like Tori, Andre had picked up the fact that Jade obviously had the other girl's clothes, so he coolly asks,

"Do I want to know…or do I really want to know?" Tossing in a little innuendo with his smirk. Sighing Jade states,

"No…and not a word! Got it?" While glaring at him. Much to her surprise he chuckles,

"Yeah-yeah, fine…but can I say that I prefer shrimp to fish at the reception." Admittedly it takes Jade a second to put together what he was suggesting, but once she does she glares more intensely with a lovely tracing of insanity,

"I still carry scissors and am very much Jade. Just because Tori and I have this friendship thing..." But her little scare tactic is interrupted by him nodding lazily,

"Uh-huh, 'friendship', sure, I believe you. Still want shrimp." Then he walks off before she can berate him further, leaving her there with this terrible thought, 'Tori's making me soft…'


Later in Sikowitz's class Jade rather bluntly inquires about the state of the Halloween production, which she already hates for being a twist, so her tone was far from friendly,

"So are you going to tell us what the performance will be about or is this going to be an improv thing?"

Fully expecting Jade to be Jade Sikowitz was hardly offended or surprised by her attitude, but her question did provide him with an intriguing concept,

"…Interesting thought, but no. We will have a proper play to celebrate Halloween…it's just difficult narrowing the selection." He had such a massive plethora of potential stories to twist that he wasn't exactly sure where to begin, though he had already cast out the ones that had already been parodied or twisted.

He is brought from the list starting to form in his head, by Tori remarking,

"You might want to hurry it up, or we will be doing the improv thing." Not being mean, just reminding him that time was ticking and they would still need rehearsal time. She had been way too happy in her very dry and lovely scented change of attire…even tossing a few smiles at Jade for the gift of comfort, which the d-knight tried to ignore, regardless of the little smile she unconsciously returned each time.

He makes a declaration,

"One can't rush excellence." Then faintly adds,

"…but yeah, I should hurry up on this one." Before changing the subject to an acting exercise, which was going to star the ones who only reminded him of his daunting weekend task.


Gracefully surviving the challenge of having to via for the affection of an invisible hamster named Norman…truly odd… they easily flew through the rest of the day without even the slightest hint of odd or abnormal. Ultimately they ended up at a certain statue and…

"No weird costumes?" Jade directs toward Charles, merely wearing his standard expedition garb.

"Nope." He states simply. Slightly disappointed he didn't correct her or retort with some witty remark Jade asks more theatrically,

"Any lessons on history or knowledge of who you killed that we should know about?" He merely shrugs before tossing out,

"Not unless you want me to regale you of my various misadventures." Finishing with a smirk. …At that moment Jade felt like he had somehow tricked her with no effort into asking him to actually tell them a story… and she wasn't sure what her own answer was going to be. She hated when other people bored her with their personal crap, but this was a dragoon/hunter with century plus of wild and damn interesting tales to tell.

Luckily she didn't have to decide as Tori swiftly asked,

"Well, actually do you think you could please tell us about dragoon night-vision?" This question generates a very curious look on Jade's face, which Tori doesn't catch as she's looking at Charles's expression of deep thought, hoping he'll have a nice simple explanation.

"….Well, it's rather obviously a gift of the ole blood o' dragons. But why now is most likely your inquiry, correct?" He asks casually.

"Yeah." Tori nods, so he starts,

"Well, it's simple. Your bodies are still adjusting to your new cellular structure. Not everything happens at once, some things take a little longer for your bodies to incorporate into standard operations. There will be a few others… but nothing that you'll actively notice, merely minor physical adjustments." Placing a rather careful trust in the man for the last part Tori turns to Jade and rather joyfully asks,

"So what do you think about having night-vision?"

"It seems cool…but not that big a deal." Jade tosses out lazily, seeming very unimpressed by this…but of course she was actually pretty thrilled at the prospect. Tori pouts,

"Killjoy." Jade counters,

"Cat." Her over excited attitude could really only match one person and Jade called her on it, inciting a wide-eyed and horrified Tori to demand,

"Take that back!" Jade turns away grinning,

"Not on your life." Smiling to herself when Tori barks,

"Jade, I am not like Cat!" Turning to look Tori dead in the eye Jade smugly states,

"I disagree. You are very much like Cat right now." Sneering Tori starts,

"…I…" But is easily interrupted by Charles, feeling very much like the spectator in an easily escaped argument,

"I'm just going to step out for a bit…" Neither seems to initially notice the absurdity of his statement…but as they're staring at each other it clicks and they look over to him. With an amused look on his face Tori looks away and offers,

"Sorry." Feeling more than a little embarrassed at wasting his time while messin' with Jade.

Noting that they most likely didn't have anything else to formally discuss, seeing as their aside was rather pointless he smiles and offers,

"Have a nice weekend." Then raises his right hand in a half wave.

"You too?" Tori wanted to wish him the same as is standard edict would dictate, but given his stone prison she's not comfortable with the return so it's much more of a question. He merely laughs before providing her with,

"I'll be fine, over a century and a half of memories to relive, remember?" Then winking as he breaks the connection significantly earlier than normal.

9Dread9

Standing before the statue barely any time after convening the council Tori looks over to Jade,

"So that was weird?" The sheer bluntness of the d-mage's statement has Jade snickering, before she finally moments a more substantial answer…only partially aided by Tori glaring at her,

"Yeah, I guess your thing was all we really had to ask about…unless you can remember anything else that we needed to inquire about?" Jade simply stares at the girl expecting her to answer the inquiry with an 'oh crap I forgot about the…' or maybe a 'there was this weird thing this morning…', but alas Tori's mind cannot drudge up a topic, much less one worth their mentor's time. So she simply shrugs and moves off with Jade behind her shaking her head.

Despite having been turned into mythical living weapons of a trans-dimensional god (in reality a Seraphim) only a week prior Jade and Tori were already developing a routine for their trips to the Bulltermark with their friends…this did hurt their ability to fully explore their half-blood enhanced capabilities, but Jade's understandable reluctance with revealing their secret kept them on this path. So today's training and research was becoming standard; Cat and Robbie remained in the study…well Cat did venture into the living room and kitchen when things got a little too dark for her liking. Robbie stuck to filling his head with anything he could; partially to correct any false lore he had learned over the years, but also to learn new things about the world hidden just out of sight.

Beck preferred to work on physical training as opposed to weapons, but he said he would eventually workout a balance between the two, yet for now he was contempt with improving his street fighter-esk style. Since he had no formal style to fall on in terms of hand-to-hand engagements he did what he could with what he had, which was already starting to show some promise…but he really needed a pro to guide him. Regardless of this he kept at it because he was absolutely determined to become capably enough to protect Jade… pity it was such a pointless endeavor.

Andre was much the opposite of Beck, because he was thoroughly enjoying trying to become a capable marksman or at least a heavy weapons support agent. He's not what one would call a gunophile by far, however he did like the idea of not waiting till the baddie was right on top of him before he killed it…so it was really only logical that he took to firearms. And to be honest he was proving that he could do a fine job of nailing a target at range, especially since 'almost' most certainly did work with grenades.

Tori and Jade had no problem alternating between any of the above options. But on this day they had decided to simply enjoy the simple pleasure of reading with Robbie and Cat…or rather Tori did some reading with Robbie while Cat and Jade made it a point to relax and watch a few cutesy movies by Cat's request. …it would seem Weston has a rather wide net of what many would consider classic movies, even the animated ones.

Returning from the kitchen with a glass of lemon tea Robbie takes full notice of the girls sitting on the couch and the particular movie they had just started watching,

"Shouldn't you be doing something?" Directing his question at Jade, because doing so to Cat would have been both pointless and unnecessary… (Yes, it was indeed such a frivolous act that it garnered synonyms to help describe just how needless the action would have been.)

Not even bothering to remove her eyes from their half-hearted gaze at the screen Jade answers,

"I am. I am very happily watching the Tiger Queen with my friend Cat." Motioning to Cat with her hand, which generates a smile from Cat as she looks over to Robbie. This, given his brazenly obvious infatuation with the ditzy redhead, causes Robbie to start with a bit of a stutter,

"I-I-I…" Shaking his head he clarifies his original question,

"…I mean training to hunt wise?" Still not looking at him Jade rolls her eyes and sighs,

"Relaxing a little won't hurt…besides I'll be back to it next week and the week after and so on." Rolling her hand in the air as if to display to endless wheel of time rolling on. Before he can raise another question Tori, now standing in the doorway to the study, asks him,

"Are you really going to argue with Jade?" A thin smile plays across Jade's lips at the interference the brunette is providing. Cat takes notice of the curious little smile and the one that brought it into being, but makes no point to speak about it. Though since she's already reforming her thoughts on Jade's love life, this minor discovery adds to the 'not with Beck' pile… and that pile's starting to get much bigger than Cat original thought possible.

After a moment of thought on Tori's words Robbie finally surrenders,

"…No, that would be stupid." Garnering a quip from Rex,

"About time you learned something useful." Which in turn brought a different kind of smile to Jade's face, in turn merely confirming the nature of the previous smile for Cat's data piles.

Ultimately Tori takes a place on the couch beside Jade and the three girls watch the rest of the movie as Robbie and Rex return to the study, much to Rex's displeasure. As they enjoy the true classic Cat takes as much time to watch the movie as she does to take notes on the other two watching it. Her findings are only reinforcing her new assumptions of her friends' new dynamic. Of these findings what had surprised Cat the most was not the sheer level of physical contact that Jade allowed once Tori and her right beside each other, but the fact that she herself initiated at least half of it with her former nemesis. And the real kick in the backside was that Jade's wasn't really focusing on it, or forcing it for a joke or to tease, but it was happening naturally as they watched the movie side-by-side. If Cat didn't know better, and she was starting to doubt that she did, she'd say they were either best friends or…dating, and she really wasn't sure which was more odd, or adorable.

9Dread9

The day ended truly unremarkably… save for the 'I told you so' dance Trina preformed much to Tori's displeasure. But then again that was Trina being Trina, so it could still be considered normal or unremarkable. Regardless, Tori retired to her room without much from Irot other than a few teases about her morning thoughts about Jade's influences on her…of course he used a little more sexual innuendo, but the message was still roughly the same: She's in your head… but also in your heart. Tori simply rolled her eyes and went to sleep as Irot wondered how difficult it would be to do to Tori what Edaj is doing to Jade…

Jade had a near picture perfect experience with Edaj, who was already beaming at her opportunity to run at top speed up a tree. The elation was effortlessly being transferred to Jade, generating a mixture of joy herself and disgust at such an unchecked display of happiness. Edaj merely stuck out her tongue at the last bit when it graced her mind courtesy of her human companion. The childish action did make Jade feel that maybe there was a chance that Edaj wasn't as fierce as she had previously shown…that thought was dashed when the cub's expression abruptly shifted to one most diabolical accompanied by a warning, 'You better not be having second thoughts about our little trip.'

Now fully reassured that her soul given form was the most terrifying thing she was ever going to meet Jade fell to sleep with the information that her unholy terror of a beast was now her guard-cat,


Standing behind the elegant figurehead, based on a young woman who most likely hailed from the realm of the far east, of the Jade Empress Captain Oliver questions his advisor on their progress,

'Are we close to our destination, Mr. Cole?' Mr. Cole inhales deeply taking in the cool morning air before nodding,

'Aye, we be getting closer…I can feel the isle on the wind.' And indeed a slight shiver ran up his spine as they neared the mystic island that the young captain sought. Delighted at this Oliver turns to face the aged sailor,

'Excellent, then the sword will soon be mine.' But Cole feels an odd compulsion to warn the young captain that this task may not be as easy as he believes,

'It's one thing to find the island, another altogether to reach the camber and your sword.' Laughing Oliver states,

'A few traps shouldn't be that hard to avoid, especially with you here, Mr. Cole.' Sighing Cole re-informs the man of the problem with that assumption,

'I have never been inside the island, only upon its shores. As I have told you, Captain Oliver.' Still smiling like a fool the captain dismisses this as important,

'Yes-yes, I'm aware, but still having one who served with one who can bypass them should afford us some guidance in bypassing them.' Surrendering to the fact that Oliver was most likely already picturing holding the blade in his hands Mr. Cole remarks,

'I will place my best effort into it, for I know the consequences well.' Captain Oliver merely smiles as he turns to find Valentina. Leaving Mr. Cole with his thoughts, 'I do hope that your plan has more than faith guiding it "Weston".'


Having already been nearly five weeks since Lady West's abduction Captain Vegaria, having received more than a few lessons in swordsmanship from her masterfully skilled first mate, was rather curious as to where they were headed exactly since they had lost their prey,

'Where are we headed exactly, Mr. Harris?' She wasn't actually expecting the man to answer her, since he had yet to do so until now…mostly because he was so focused on teaching this novice how to properly handle a blade, fire a gun, command a deck of sailors, and a myriad of other captaincy duties, that he didn't have the time to explain that they had a means of tracking them beyond this one ship. …though in earnest he was also training her with the concept that she wouldn't always know everything she needed, and she had to be able to handle that effectively.

But this time he does answer,

'Unfortunately, I received this message, Captain.' Handing her the note he continues,

'It's from Captain Weston…and he believes their destination will be… The Vault of the Gods.' Noting her look of confusion he starts by clarifying where the Vault was,

'It's on an island on the North African coast, outside the Pillars of Hercules.' Before he can resume she interrupts with an unexpected question,

'And inside this vault?' For he had been expecting her ask how he had gotten the note or why her predecessor thought that was the destination…not letting his surprise show he answers effortlessly,

'A rumored weapon of great power." This of course sends her mind into a flurry questions of what kind of weapon would be powerful enough for this one captain to risk having an entire fleet on him and whether or not there could even be a weapon of such might…then there was the abduction and finally,

'What do you think they're planning?' Keeping his eyes on the sea ahead he replies,

'It could be a trap, but why not just finish us while they had the chance… It…it feels terribly wrong, ma'am.' Then turns to reveal to her the genuine worry in his eyes. Considering his words, all of them, Vegaria turns to face the sea,

'Regardless we must rescue Lady West.' Affirming sternly as she faced their heading, and thinking just as much so, 'None shall stand between me and Lady West. None!'

'May I ask why she is so important, ma'am?' Mr. Harris fully noted her demeanor and fervor were only so potent when she was speaking of Lady West. I takes her a moment to answer but she finally states,

'…She's my charge, I was hired to get her to the Americas, so I shall do what it takes to achieve that. Pirates and sea monsters be damned!' Looking over to him she tosses a smile graced with more than a bit of her previous passion. Returning the smile before he turns and begins walking away,

'Understood, ma'am. I would kill to recover the woman I loved too.' Turing away from her departed second, Vegaria simply stares at the sea, 'Does everyone know…and not care?' For at this era it was considered a rather nasty sin, but it would seem that the Blood pirates truly don't care…


Not a day after their brief discussion Mr. Cole finds himself standing beside Captain Oliver still aboard the Jade Empress, now anchored just off the coast of their destination. Oliver takes in the mostly sand and rock covered isle with almost no vegetation to speak of,

'Ah, so this is the Island of the Gods?" Obviously disappointed by its less than spectacular appearance. Mr. Cole merely nods so the captain orders,

'Let's proceed to the entrance with haste.' For the sooner he was off the island with the sword the better. Nodding again Cole then relays his order to the landing party in waiting,

'Move out!' As the men, almost all of them seeing as more than expected were lost in the assault to tempt the Maria Rae to pursue, are scrambling to the row boats Oliver looks over to his redheaded witch of a first mate,

'Ms. Valentine, keep an eye on the prisoner, but no playing…' But as he's about to board his boat he turns and offers with a smirk,

'Not before me at least.' Providing a wicked grin of her own she nods,

'…Such fun we shall have. Good luck and don't dally, I have some control but I doubt it will last.' Smiling even wider she turns to take a more direct guard over her new charge…


AN: *Several hours later a man looks down at a person sticking out of the rubble* Are you alright?

*Looking up the author most likely has a concussion for the man looking down looks like…* Ice Cube?

*Author passes out immediately*

Note: So it would seem Ice Cube is in all the Fridays after all. x{D …(sorry, I couldn't help myself)…

DS: The end is very near. Sorry to those of you who like the dreamscape, but since Jori in the real world is nearing, the dream will no longer be required…but there are still a few treats ahead, and surprises none will guess. Mahahahahaha …though I could continue the dreams as a separate story, I suppose. *pondering*

PS: I have this story called Go West, Young Vega…and if any of you are readers I would appreciate a vote on my poll about Caterina's love life. Thanks for your time. :{)

NC: One of Two 'Dates' or preferably a much better title about Sunny and Tori's morning sparring while Jade does a little training and finding out a little more about the Bulltermark. Then Chp 47 is Jade and Tori's date… though I doubt either will be quite as long as this chp was. :{D

-May Dread watch over you-