Chapter 4 - Eye Openers
By the start of the evening, they arrived at the small campsite they had planned on settling at. Colt and Fireball worked on putting up the tent and setting up the sleeping arrangements, while Elena and April unpacked their dinner. Meanwhile Saber Rider had started putting up perimeter sensors.
"You done Partner?"
Saber glanced back at Colt. Fireball was joining him at the picnic tables. Behind them the tent had been pitched, "In a moment." He turned and looked up at the sky and the trees that surrounded their site. He glanced down at the remaining sensors in his hands, "Steed." He called.
The mechanic horse trotted obediently over from where he was standing by Nova to where Saber stood waiting. Saber swung onto the horse's back and pulled the reins so that the horse took to the air. He circled the perimeter again and planted the sensors in the surrounding trees. When he was done he pulled out a switch and turned the sensors on. He looked down at the small display screen in satisfaction when he saw the nice little bubble around their campsite. Saber brought Steed back to the ground and dismounted.
"Time to eat, Saber." April called when she saw him land. She set the last plate on the table and sat down. She smiled when Saber reached the table and sat next to her.
"It looks like it might rain sometime in the middle of the night." Fireball informed them, "We should set up the tarps right after dinner."
"Hopefully you're wrong." April said as she cut her chicken, "It would be disappointing if the weather ruined our trip."
"Ah, what are you guys complaining about. We could play cards and stuff." Colt continued to eat, "It's just a little bit of rain Partners."
"We don't all share your views on rain Cowboy." Fireball exclaimed rolling his eyes.
"Hey do you think there are fish in that lake?" Colt asked pointing to the body of water with his fork.
"You got me."
"You can try it out tomorrow." April said, "Maybe we can have fish for dinner."
"Sounds great." Elena looked at each Starsherrif, "So who is the fisher from the team?"
Everyone except Saber Rider exchanged looks
"Well I am of course!" Colt pointed to himself.
"Since when do Cowboys know how to fish?" April asked curiously.
"What do you mean? Why I've been fishin since I was a wee lad."
"We'll see about that Colt. My dad taught me how to fish since I was a toddler. I was pretty good at it too."
"You're on Partner! The man who catches the most fish is free from doing the dishes for a week!"
"Deal!"
"You in Saber?" Colt asked glancing across the table to the Captain.
"I'll be the judge." He stated without looking up.
Saber Rider's participation surprised Elena. She lowered her head and resumed eating her dinner.
"Do you know how to fish Elena?" April asked suddenly.
"Actually, no."
"Great! I can teach you!" Colt said winking.
"Ok." She smiled, "Maybe I'll best both of you."
"Ohhhh!" Fireball and Colt exclaimed.
"Hey no Bonus points for the Princess Saber!" Fireball added.
"I'll consider it." Saber replied again without looking up from his plate.
Elena stole another glance at him. Was Saber Rider joking around with his team?
"What about you April?" Fireball asked.
"You don't want me to participate."
"Why is that?"
"Because you'll be doing the dishes if I play."
Colt and Fireball exchanged looks then burst out laughing. But when the Starsherrif in pink remained completely serious, they turned to their Captain.
"She has an uncanny amount of luck when it comes to fishing." Saber informed them.
"It's not luck." April stated.
Saber shrugged and continued to eat his dinner.
Fireball and Colt exchanged looks again.
"April's out." Colt declared. If Saber believed April would beat them, then he would believe him. There was no way he was going to risk having to do the dishes.
The subject of conversation glanced over at the Princess. When they made eye contact, April winked.
Elena smiled and looked up at the men who all had their heads down eating. Except Saber Rider.
The young leader was looking out towards the lake but turned to glance at her at that precise moment before turning back to his meal.
Elena turned to her food as well. Why did she have the strange feeling that Saber Rider had an uncanny sixth sense?
"So we can try the hike tomorrow morning, come back after lunch and go fishing." Fireball stated.
"Sounds like a plan." Colt agreed.
Elena was surprised that Fireball appeared to be taking charge of what was happening tomorrow. She would have assumed that the Captain, would be making these types of decision. She resisted the urge to look up at him. So she concentrated on cutting her food into small perfect pieces.
In the background she could hear Fireball and Colt discussing the best fishing methods. She only half listened as she occasionally looked up from her plate to look like she was listening to the conversation. Her mind in the meantime was going over her strange reaction to Saber Rider this morning. Was it like that with everyone that came into contact with him?
Elena jumped startled as an alarm started blaring.
She watched as all the starsherrif got to their feet with their weapons drawn.
"Sorry!" A woman came running towards them to grab a big golden retriever dog who was barreling towards them.
Saber Rider lowered his sword and reached towards his belt to turn off the alarm sirens.
"He got away from me. He's usually very good." The young woman exclaimed.
Colt walked towards her, "That's alright ma'am. He just knows good people when he sees 'em." The cowboy quickly pet the bouncing dog.
The woman smiled and looked up at the other people at the table, "You guys are starsherrifs!"
"Yes ma'am" Colt straightened, "I'm Colt, that there is Fireball, April, Saber and Elena."
The young lady studied Elena curiously, "Princess Elena? From Ireland?" She took a step closer.
Suddenly Saber Rider appeared in front of Elena, blocking the visitor's view of the Princess. His sword was drawn out but remained lowered.
"Saber?" Colt touched the gun at his side.
The young woman snickered, "There's no getting anything past you is there Saber Rider." The Golden Retriever next to her started to morph and barred his fangs as he started growling ferociously.
Fireball and April drew their weapons.
"Outriders." Fireball stated frowning.
Saber pulled a small disk from his belt and tossed it over the woman. With a small burst, a net came falling down over the 'woman' trapping her. The net seemed to tighten and conform to her shape.
"Arghhhh!" She turned to the creature beside her, "Get them!"
The animal rushed Saber, who side stepped and hit it over the head with the hilt of his sword. The animal whimpered, shook it's head and turned to Elena instead.
"I got this one." Colt tossed a small disk at the animal. The net deployed and trapped it in it's place. He looked towards Saber who nodded.
Colt pointed his gun at the outrider shaped as a woman, "Let's go. Call your thing..."
"This isn't over. I know where you guys are and I'm going to tell everyone." The outrider began laughing as Colt shoved the woman away from the campsite.
Fireball and April re-holstered their guns but Saber Rider waited until Colt and the outrider were out of sight before re-sheathing his sword.
Saber looked towards the remaining two people of his team.
Both nodded and immediately sat down to finish their dinner.
His eyes moved onto the Princess. She looked a little stunned but otherwise fine, "Your highness." Saber motioned back to her dinner.
Elena glanced at him briefly before turning back to her dinner. But she stopped and looked up when the young Captain moved away from their campsite and in the same direction where Colt had gone.
"What are they doing?"
Fireball shared a look with April.
"Colt is going to hold her prisoner." April answered.
"But can't they just vaporize?"
"They can. But that net we developed can keep them in this world."
"What is Saber Rider going to do?"
"He's probably going to make sure she is safely transferred to the Cavalry." Fireball responded.
"Do you think he's going to end our trip?" Elena asked studying the two remaining starsherrifs carefully. Both kept their eyes on their food.
Elena nodded, "Well it was nice to have a day out."
"What are you talking about? We still have a few more days to go!" Colt exclaimed walking back into camp and settling back at the table. He immediately dug into his food. After taking a mouthful he looked up to see three pairs of eyes staring at him, "What?"
"Saber hasn't cancelled the trip?" Fireball asked.
"Not that I know of."
April glanced at Elena with a smile.
"Must be our lucky day." Fireball stated and finished his dinner.
Elena smiled and turned back to her food.
They finished their meal and were in the middle of cleaning up when Saber Rider returned.
"Done?" April asked.
Saber nodded, "I'll take over, why don't you all wash up."
"You got it." Colt stated easily giving up doing the dishes.
April motioned for the Princess to join her, "Come on let's go check out the showers."
The Princess nodded and followed April back to the tent. She collected her things and sat down on her sleeping bag as April began methodically taking off her suit.
"You alright Elena?"
"Yes I'm fine." She smiled.
"Hey." April stopped what she was doing and looked at the Princess, "What are you thinking?"
Elena smiled, "How did Saber Rider know they were outriders?"
April laughed, "Is that what's on your mind?" She moved away and started collecting her things again, "We told you Saber's very perceptive." She turned about to see if the Princess was ready and saw her staring at her.
"Really?"
April nodded, "One of his many skills."
"Speaking of which," Colt's voice sounded from just outside the tent, "Patience is not one of my many skills."
Elena and April looked at each other and burst out laughing.
The Princess moved about the tent and quickly gathered her things before following April out of the tent.
"Sorry guys." Elena apologized.
"Just teasin missy." Colt winked. His intent had not been to hurry the woman but merely to stop the conversation about Saber Rider. He motioned for the ladies to go first.
Elena looked towards the picnic table where Saber Rider was methodically and stoically going about cleaning everything up. She quickly turned her gaze away and looked towards Colt, "So what exactly happened when you took the outrider away?"
"You're so interested in this!" April exclaimed laughing.
Elena blushed.
Colt chuckled, "You're my kind of Princess!" The washrooms came into view. The small wooden like cabin was well lit and was well maintained. Definitely camping luxury.
"So?" Elena looked at the cowboy.
"Why don't you and April wash up and we can talk about it after." He nodded towards the washrooms.
"I'm holding you to that cowboy!" Elena exclaimed as she turned and followed April inside the building.
"She's kind of feisty for a Princess." Fireball stated as the two men walked up the stairs and into the washrooms.
"You got that right partner." Colt pulled open one of the shower stall doors open and walked inside, "But she also has that combination of sweet innocence I like." He closed the small wooden door and began removing his clothes.
"She seems really comfortable with you."
Colt laughed, "Of course she is."
"You're so cocky."
"It's confidence Partner. Confidence. And confidence is sexy."
Fireball groaned and turned on his shower.
"Ok so what happened?" Elena asked as April and her joined up with the guys.
Colt chuckled. She had not forgotten, "Ok ok. I led the outriders a ways off then called Cavalry Command. Saber came by and relieved me."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"So the Cavalry picks up the outriders and what do they do with them?"
"They're kept in our world and questioned."
"What if they don't answer the questions?"
"We just wait."
"Outriders get really thirsty." Fireball stated, "Since they're mostly vapour, they really want water from us."
"So that's how you get information from them?"
"If they even answer. Some of them just evaporate." April replied.
Elena looked at each of them in surprise, "I didn't know that outriders were that... brave?"
"They're not." Fireball explained, "But sometimes they don't have information and because of certain circumstances we can't let them vapourise back to their universe."
"So in essence they die."
The three starsherrifs exchanged looks.
"It's ok. I understand."
They all turned to her.
"You do?" April asked unsurely.
Elena nodded, "It's for the greater good."
They walked into the campsite.
Elena looked about surprised. Where was Saber Rider? The picnic table was cleared off and everything packed away.
Steed and Nova neighed in welcome.
"Where's Saber Steed?" April asked the robo-horse.
The black and white horse pawed the ground then he turned his large head to look out at the lake.
The three Starsherrifs and the Princess looked towards the lake.
The floating dock was unoccupied and everything looked calm.
"Oh there he is." Fireball pointed to the left.
"Where?" April asked scanning the trees and the shoreline.
"In the water."
Elena sighted the body in the water, "Is it ok to swim with the sun going down?"
"He'll be out soon." Colt assured her and continued into camp to get some water. He hoped his buddy wasn't getting any cramps out there. He shook his head. Swimming so soon after eating. Definitely a gluten for punishment.
Fireball turned and went into the tent.
April stared out at Saber Rider a moment longer. She sighed and turned to head to the tent.
Elena watched the starsherrifs spread about the camp. She took a last glance at Saber Rider swimming in the darkening lake and went to join Colt.
"Want some?" The Cowboy held up his cup of water.
"I'm ok, thank you." She smiled and sat down as he drank his water. She studied him a moment, "You're watching his back aren't you?"
"I'm drinking water."
"Right." She crossed her arms on the table and watched him, "You're drinking really slow."
Colt laughed, "I'm savouring this quiet moment."
Elena smiled. She looked past him at the lake, "When we have peace, Saber Rider could take up swimming as a hobby."
Colt lowered his cup to the table and sat down, "He's not swimming because he likes it Elena. He finished his dinner when we went to wash up. He's swimming on a full stomach."
Elena's gaze snapped onto the cowboy a moment, "Right. I forgot that he hadn't finished eating when we left. Why don't you stop him?"
Colt turned in his seat so that he could look out at the lake, "I've tried talking him out of these crazy workouts. But it's something he feels like he needs to do. So as long as it doesn't hurt him..." Colt shrugged and picked up his cup of water to drink.
Elena looked towards the lake again. Saber Rider was pulling himself out of the water and onto the dock. She could see his silhouette glistening in the moonlight, "He's done."
Colt nodded and finished his drink, "Would you like some tea?" He asked as he stood up again.
"Sure, thank you." She smiled and turned to the dock again where Saber was pulling his shirt over his head and was starting towards them. She turned to Colt as he busied himself with getting the kettle ready, "So how did you choose to become a Starsherrif?"
"Actually I never had any intension of becoming a starsherrif."
"So what changed your mind?"
Colt chuckled, "I was a bounty hunter on a search actually and I stumbled upon Saber Rider and Fireball arguing over a Hotel room. Saber was on a mission of course, and Fireball had just finished racing in the Yuma Grand Prix. Saber was confiscating his room since they were full. I stepped in. So here the three of us were arguing over the one room."
"So what happened?"
"Fireball and Saber ended up sharing it." Colt chuckled, "Well Saber pulled his gun and 'convinced' Fireball to share the room with him."
"And you were a team ever since?" She asked laughing.
"Not exactly." Colt raised his head to look towards Saber Rider as his leader walked into the camp.
"I'll be back." The young leader stated as he walked pass them towards the tent.
Elena watched as he strode past them. His hair was wet and dripping down onto his shirt which was clinging to his wet body. He carried his sword and scabbard in his left hand. She looked back towards Colt, "So what happened?"
Colt removed his eyes from Saber and turned back to her. He put the kettle on the gas stove and sat down at the table again, "Well somehow Saber let it slip that there was a secret defence system called Ramrod." Colt frowned, "Strange. Saber doesn't slip up often. Anyway, we all went our own way. I was curious and went searching for this secret defence system. Turns out Fireball and Saber had gone searching for it too. We were attacked. Amazingly we worked quite well together. Ramrod needed a total of four people. Fireball and I were not Star sherrifs but they needed people to operate Ramrod and get it away from the Outriders." Colt looked towards the tent as his Captain stepped out and glanced at him before heading towards the showers. He turned back to the Princess, "Anyway, April revealed that she and Saber were part of the then secret Star sherrifs. They made Fireball and I an offer to join."
"Doesn't it take years to become a star sherrif?"
Colt nodded, "It does. But Saber deemed it an emergency." He smiled, "I think he knew after that first battle together that we could work well together."
Elena studied him curiously.
Colt met her gaze, "So that's how I ended up a Star sherrif." He stood up and went to pour some water into a mug. He dropped a tea bag in it and placed the mug in front of the Princess.
"Thank you." Elena smiled. She wrapped her hands around the mug and stared down at it.
"Hey you two." April said as she and Fireball joined them at the picnic table.
"Should we build a fire?" Fireball asked turning to Colt.
"I duno partner. I still think it's going to rain in a bit. Maybe we can just hang out in the tent and play some cards or something." He looked at the Princess.
She smiled, "Sure."
Colt turned to April who shrugged.
"Ok no fire." Fireball stated and sat down.
"So tomorrow, we'll hike up that mountain over there." Colt pointed to the a mountain peak. We'll get there around noon time, have lunch and head back down."
"And then you guys will have a couple hours to catch us some fish for dinner." April reminded them.
Colt and Fireball turned and sized each other up.
Elena laughed, "This will be interesting."
"Oh! here it comes!" April stated suddenly.
Everyone turned to her.
"I just felt a rain drop."
"Ok let's pack it up." Fireball exclaimed.
They all got to their feet and started packing the remaining items that were still out then gathered in the tent.
"That came fast." Fireball exclaimed as he zipped up the tent.
"Where's the cards Partner?" Colt asked digging through Fireball's bag.
"Hey, get out of there cowboy!" Fireball turned on him.
"What you got something to hide?" Colt asked grinning.
"No! It's the principle."
Colt rolled his eyes and continued to look through the racer's bag.
Fireball threw his hands up in the air and just sat down.
The separation in the tent unzipped open and the two ladies joined them.
"Found them!" Colt exclaimed holding up two decks of cards and taking a seat.
"Alright! So what are we playing?"
"I don't know any card games."
"Not to worry I'll teach you." Colt volunteered and came to sit beside her.
As much as Saber wanted to remain under the hot shower, he turned off the water and quickly toweled off. He couldn't afford to be away from the Princess and the team for long. He dressed quickly and went to brush his teeth before heading back to camp.
"It's me." He declared as he entered the camp even though he knew the starsherrifs could already confirm it was him approaching.
"We know." Fireball called as Saber unzipped the tent and reached for his bag. He stuffed his clothes in a plastic bag and draped his towel over his pack, "I'll be back."
They watched him leave again.
"He's probably going to check the perimeter sensors." Colt informed Elena.
"Oh." She looked down at the cards in her hands. The mood in the tent had mellowed out considerably after April was contacted by her father. She looked up at the famous team, "He looks ok."
April looked up and gave her a small smile.
"The reports could have been exaggerated." Fireball pointed out, "We all know how sometimes the slightest thing Saber does can blow up into a huge media frenzy. This could be like that."
Colt nodded, "He's got a point." The cowboy looked down at his cards. He hoped this was one of those cases.
They were silent once again as they resumed their playing. It was only when they heard footsteps approaching and they checked the monitor to see that it was Saber Rider that they all turned to the door.
They watched him as the door opened and he stepped inside. He took a quick look at them before zipping the door closed. He sat down to remove his shoes, "Something wrong?" He glanced at the small display of the perimeter monitor. They were all still watching him closely when he turned to look at them again.
"Weren't you supposed to show me something Saber?" April asked sternly.
She knew.
The commander had probably tried to follow up with her. He hadn't even given him a full day to ask her.
"We're not doing this now April." Saber stated and moved towards his sleeping bag.
"You never mentioned you got hit, partner." Colt said.
"It wasn't worth mentioning." Saber replied pulling out a book from his backpack and opened it to read.
"When you don't usually get hit it is." April retorted.
"April." he warned.
The young lady frowned, "Fine. Later."
"Let's get back to the game." Colt said changing the subject, "Deal Fireball."
"You got it." Fireball glanced at his leader one last time and started to deal the cards.
"So you think you have the hang of it now Elena?" Colt asked smiling.
"I think so." She exclaimed returning his smile.
They all turned to the cards they were dealt. Elena peeked up to look at Saber Rider sitting on his sleeping bag with his book. She wondered what he was reading. The cover was wrapped in a black leather protective jacket. She turned back to her cards. She couldn't believe that Saber Rider had been shot. From what the star sherrifs were saying they had never known him to get hit before. But he looked perfectly fine. Just a bruise he had told the Commander. Why was the Commander asking April to check if he wasn't confident in what Saber was saying? Could it be worst?
"Elena?"
She glanced up surprised.
"Your turn." Fireball stated.
"Oh I'm sorry." She took another look at her cards. She had not really set up her cards but to not appear like she wasn't aware of what was going on, she picked a low card and tossed it into the pile forming in the middle.
"So tomorrow, what time are we leaving?" Colt asked.
"Whenever we wake up." Fireball suggested.
"We have to set a time Fireball." Aprill shook her head.
"How bout we get up at eight and go from there?" Colt suggested.
"Sounds good." Fireball answered and April nodded as she studied her cards.
"Saber?" Colt called.
"Ok." came the reply without looking up at the small group.
"Ok, we eat breakfast, pack some lunch and then head out."
"Full gear." Saber announced again without looking up from his book.
"Right. Full gear." April repeated.
Elena avoided looking up at him. Her mind was still wrapped around the fact that Saber Rider had been hit. She glanced at the black and white suit of armour neatly piled at the foot of Saber Rider's sleeping bag. Her eyes swept over the suit of the other star sherrifs.
"Elena, it's your turn." April stated looking at the Princess.
"Oh. Right." She selected a card and placed it with the others.
"I think it's time to turn in." Saber Rider stated from the far side of the tent.
Everyone looked at him.
"It's still early partner."
"Everyone had an early morning and you will have another tomorrow."
"But we're all ok." Colt stated.
"Really?" Saber finally looked up from his book, "The Princess would already have won if you take a look at the cards that have already been thrown down." He turned back to his book.
The star sherrifs and Elena exchanged looks.
Fireball reached for the pile of cards and started re-distributing them in reverse order to see what everyone had tossed down.
"Elena! You could have won already!" April exclaimed laughing.
"Really? Oh no!" She laughed embarrassed, "Perhaps I do need sleep." She put down her cards, "Excuse me."
"Elena, I'll be over in a bit." April stated as the princess made her way to the other side of the tent. She nodded and moved to close the divider that would separate the ladies from the men. Her thoughts were still on the fact that Saber had been paying close attention to their game while appearing to be reading! How did he do that?
She went to her bag to pull out her pajamas.
"Ok Saber, show me." She heard April's voice order.
Elena smiled at the tone. It was definitely the tone of an older sibling talking to a younger one. She wondered what Saber Rider looked like when she spoke to him like that. She heard his voice, but it was too low for her to make out what he had said.
She began to change her clothes.
"It doesn't matter. Show me. I want to see."
"Hey! Don't look at me partner!" Colt chuckled.
"And don't bring me in this either April." Fireball added quickly.
There was movement and then the sound of metal. Elena figured that they had started putting on their suits.
"I'm waiting." April said.
Elena smiled and put away her clothing.
She froze when she heard April gasp and all sounds of metal being clinked together stopped.
"This is what you call not serious?!" April sounded angry.
"That's one nasty bruise Saber." Fireball exclaimed.
"That outrider really got you good Partner."
"Are you taking anything?" April asked softly.
Elena heard the leader's soft reply but again she couldn't make out his answer. Then she remembered something. She rushed to her bag and dug through it until she found what she was looking for. She grabbed the tube of pain relief cream and moved to open the separation.
"I'm sorry to intrude. I thought this might be useful?" Her eyes found a shirtless Saber's gaze immediately but she quickly broke the contact and looked at April.
The young lady smiled, "That would be perfect! Saber likes to use this brand too. Thank you." She walked over to Elena and accepted the cream.
When April turned back to Saber, the young leader had slipped back into his shirt.
"Saber!"
"It's time we all turned in April." The leader declared.
"But..."
"No."
Elena immediately sensed a change in Saber Rider's tone. He meant business.
Fireball and Colt immediately started dressing in their suits again.
"Fine." April huffed and started towards her and Elena's side of the tent. She passed the Princess the tube of pain cream, "Thanks Elena." She stated offering her an exasperated smile.
Elena simply nodded and looked back at Saber Rider one last time.
He met her gaze. His body tall and confident, shirt tails hanging loose and open baring his well defined abdominal muscles and chest.
"Good Night your Highness."
She bowed her head slightly and turned to Fireball and Colt, "Good night gentlemen." She retreated back to her side and shut the divider. April was already getting settled in her sleeping bag.
Elena put away the tube of cream in her bag and slipped inside her sleeping bag. She listened to the men settle down. Her mind on the dark bruise on the back of Saber Rider's shoulder. She had not been able to get a glimpse of it and she was almost certain that Saber had been consciously aware how his body was positioned to prevent her from seeing it. The image of him standing there with his shirt hanging loosely open came to the forefront of her mind again. Even injured he looked the perfect image of health. And proud.
She turned to face April, "How bad was it?" She whispered softly.
"It looks awful. I don't know how he can move without it hurting. He's good at hiding it." She sighed, "He's always been good at hiding things." She adjusted her pillow, "But he heals quickly."
Elena's brow crinkled. Hearing this little bit of information about the Legendary Saber Rider caused something to stir inside of her. She closed her eyes. Those intense blue eyes burned in her memory. How was she ever going to get any sleep? She turned over onto her back and tried to think of something other than Saber Rider.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Author's note: I had this written for a while and the story itself has become it's own monster. Sometimes a scene would come to mind and I would be excited and write it down. So now I have so many scenes that need to be linked together.
Thank you for reading. Reviews are appreciated :)