----------------------------------------------Chapter 5---------------------------------------------------------
The Black Slayer
Answers
Jessica
dilly_freak7_7@hotmail.com
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(note: this is at van's camp, it's just not in any one's perspective)
Van was so shocked that he didn't move for a few seconds. When he snapped back into reality, he called off the men who had started to go after Jessica. Allen walked up.
Why did you call off those men? Didn't you realize that both of them were Zibach soldiers? They might tell their leader about our attack' Allen said angrily.
She said to call them off. Allen?' he asked.
What?' answered Allen, irritated.
Why is your shirt slit open? You're bleeding!' This would have to stop, Van thought. I have been surprised enough for a week.
Huh?' Allen looked down at his shirt and he was bleeding. I thought she only slit my shirt.' It was his turn to be surprised.
What was her name again?' Van asked.
Jessica' Allen answered.
I think I've read that name before.'
How? she's from the Mystic Moon.'
Wasn't Jessica some famous Draconian warrior? It's legend that she was the possessor of Iansha, the Dragon's Sword. Let's ask Dryden. He knows about that stuff.' So they walked over to the tent where Dryden was staying.
When they got inside, Dryden was buried' in a very old, very thick book.
Ahem.....Dryden?' Van asked cautiously.
Wha......? Yes?' Dryden answered.
Do you know anything about a Draconian warrior named Jessica? Or the Dragon's Sword?' Van said hopefully.
Let me see......' he said as he started flipping the pages of his book. Ah........yes. She was a famous warrior of Atlantis. She was said to have destroyed the Red army single handily. She received the Dragon's sword from the general Zofus, who died in battle defending the capitol of Atlantis. She was known for her fighting and flying skills, and fought only to defend and for justice. Her beauty was also well known. The sword chooses the owner, and only one worthy can hold it. The owner finds the next owner at the end of their life. The true owner is revealed by a mark that appears when fighting is introduced to them. The mark has never been recorded, so I don't know what it looks like. It was considered a real honor to be named for her, but her real name was never given to a child. Variations were used, but never the true name. The only way the name Jesia would appear again, was if the great warrior came back to life, beauty and the skills of fighting, flying, and justice incarnate. Or if a direct descendant worthy of it had the name. Why do you want to know?' he asked, finishing his little speech. Allen and Van looked at each other, sharing worried glances.
Van said,'A Draconian girl named Jessica just left the camp.'
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(note: it's back in Jessica's view, and sorry, i have to do this, dun, Dun, DUN!)
It was very cramped in Dalet's melef, but I didn't mind. Dalet seemed very aware of the fact that we were so cramped that I was almost sitting on his lap. It didn't take long to get to the vione. When we got there, Dilandau was waiting as I guessed, and his pose was like an angry parent waiting for the guilty child. My barely calmed anger flared again.
We landed and Dalet got out first. The rest of the Slayers were there and I guessed Dilandau wanted a public trial. He was smiling. I felt like I was of fire! I mean I couldn't control my quick anger. I jumped down from the melef. And stood there shaking, trying to control my face and my mouth.
Where have you been?' Dilandau asked.
Getting away from you' I said in the venomous whisper.
Since I can't hit or berate an equal officer, you are dismissed' he said, casually.
Since I am an equal officer, you can't dismiss me, either' I snarled. I hoped I was at least freaking him out, not doing what he says and all.
You aren't. You haven't proved it yet.' he sneered, apparently ready for this. I was so angry I felt like I could burn the place down. Instead of answering him, I jumped back into the melef but didn't shut the cockpit. I put up one Crima claw, and extended it about three feet right into Dilandau's face.
Don't ever, talk to me like that again' I snarled. If you do, well, let's just say you might not live to regret it.' I left the guymelef in that position and jumped out. The Crima claw was so close to his face that it was pressing into the skin of his nose, but not piercing it. Now I smiled. I whipped out my sword and cut the claw short, about a hair's width from Dilandau's nose. The removed piece fell to the floor at his feet as I pressed my sword into his throat.
I'll say this now, so none of you have to go through the same thing. I expect to be treated with respect, but if you grovel, you will suffer the same fate. If he lives past a week, Dilandau will do all the ordering around, and I will keep him in line. I have as much authority as him, but I will use it only for Zibach. One more thing, as Dalet can tell you, Van's forces are planning an attack. When, I don't know, and why, I don't know. They seem to be in search of something. I'll do my best, and I expect the same from you, to keep whatever they're looking for out of their hands.' I let my sword drop. Dilandau glared at me and I glared back, and the slightest edge of uncertainty entered his eyes. Dismissed' I said, not taking my eyes from his. My hair was covering my face some because of the wind, so I couldn't see him all too clearly, but I kept me eyes locked on his. When the other Slayers had left, he turned away from me and looked out at the world below the vione.
'When do I start guymelef training?'I asked.
Today. During afternoon training. Be here five minutes after training starts' he answered.
Thanks' I said as I walked away. When I got into my room, I laid down on my bed for a little while. About and hour later, I looked at my clock and decided it was five minutes after afternoon training. I got up and walked to the guymelef hanger and waited for Dilandau. He got there about three minutes after me. He pointed to one of the melefs, and I got inside. He told me not to close the cockpit. He stood on the the huge shoulder of the melef and told me how the melef worked, and what was what in the cockpit and what it did. He told me the basics of the Crima claw, which came with a flamethrower. *Sweet!* After about and hour, he said to get to the regular training and do some work.
When I got to the practice room, everyone but Dalet was fighting, since there were five Slayers. He saw me walk in and his face brightened before he saw Dilandau and stood at attention. The rest of the Slayers did too.
Stop that' I said. The Slayers looked confused, as well as Dilandau. I won't let you do that. It isn't right to let someone rule your life so much. And if anyone objects, they can answer to me or Dilandau' I smiled mischievously at the look on Dilandau's face. Get back to your fighting' I finished. For once, they understood. I went up to Dalet with a questioning look on my face. His answer was a smile as he pulled out his sword. I pulled out mine too and we got in our fighting stances.
He charged first and I blocked easily. I attacked, but he blocked. He attacked I dodged, and while he was recovering, I attacked and slashed his stomach. I didn't want him to get too hurt, so the slash was shallow. We went on fighting for a surprising five minutes before I knocked the sword from his hands.
You're getting better' I said.
Thanks' he answered. Good fight' he said, putting out his hand for me to grab. I did and gripped it strongly.
Good fight' I repeated. We dropped hands and Dalet left the room. I went back to mine and sat down for a little while. Someone knocked on my door about half an hour later.
Come in' I said because I didn't want to get up. It was Dalet.
Hey' he said. I sat up so we could talk. Everyone else is training' he said.
Still?' I asked. Do they ever stop?' We laughed at this exasperated statement. So do the Slayers do anything other than train? I mean, what are you training for?'
Well, I guess for the final battle between us and the forces behind the Dragon' he sat down next to me as he said this. Dilandau-sam-sorry' he said as he corrected himself. Dilandau thinks that we amount to nothing until we can beat him, at least Folken. But then, we'll never battle him because Dilandau thinks we're not good enough to' he finished. He looked thoughtful in a worried sort of way. He never talks to any of us except to give us orders. He screams at night sometimes, but when we try to do something for him, he punishes us. Most of the time, whatever we do upsets Dilandau, and he usually slaps us. He always slaps Gatti because he gives us the news, and it always seems to be bad' he said.
I guess he's never heard of the phrase don't kill the messenger'' I said to try and cheer him up. He only smiled. I leaned forward and hugged him, unexpected tears coming to my eyes as the realization of what had happened to me finally came into focus. I silently cried on his shoulder as he held me gently, stroking my hair. I was able to control my tears, at last, and I sat up again.
Thank you' I whispered.
For what?' Dalet asked.
For everything' I answered. And with that he got up and walked to the door. He stood there for a second and looked back at me. I met his gaze and smiled. He left.
I really needed to calm my nerves, so I got up and headed to the melef hangar. I jumped out of the vione and fell a long time. My wings exploded from my back and I opened them to stop my fall. I flew back up some and glided around for about ten minutes before heading back. When I got back up, Dilandau was standing there. I looked at him weirdly for a minute, and so did he, then I remembered that he wasn't supposed to know I have wings. I started hitting myself in the head and yelling at myself in my mind. *Baka!!!!!! He wasn't supposed to know!!!*
Where did yo.......'he never finished.
The vione shook, like it had been hit from the outside. Dilandau was thrown out of the fortress and I dove after him. I swooped under him, caught him, and flew back into the vione. I set Dilandau down at the door and landed. As I started running, I drew my sword, I knew there was trouble. I heard a noise behind me and turned to look. There were battling melefs in the hangar!
Dilandau! The hangar!' I yelled as I turned and faced a group of men led by the man whose life I had saved at Van's camp. By now, my wings had disappeared, but there was a trail of feathers leading to me. Oh well.
The group was almost to me. I readied myself for combat, but before I charged them, I saw the rest of the Slayers run to the hangar, unnoticed by the group of about ten men. I charged one of them and saw a sword flash toward another. *Dilandau* my mind said. I kicked the man in the head and effectively knocked him out. I drew blood from the back of the next man's head when I knocked him out.
We got through group shortly, and ran to the hangar. There were four battling melefs; two Slayers and two who I guessed were Van and Allen. We arrived just in time to see Van plunge his sword into the melef cockpit piloted by a tiring Slayer. The bloodcurdling scream that followed froze my heart. It was Dalet.
um.......it's different. I think i may have put to much fierceness in jessica. whadya think? tragic heroine? well, gotta jet! write and tell me what you think!
plz R&R!!
-Lil Pyro
