Journey Begins

It has been almost an hour and Ami started to feel exhausted. Scaramouche even needs to save his energy. The two knew the three won't tire down. The best way to do next is to retreat.

And that's what they did.

Ami and Scaramouche left the battlefield and into the woods.

The three dark men watched them flee and they find it funny. The gunslinger commented, "She's not using the gem Does she know what it can do?"

The swordsman suspected something. "She doesn't have it. The other one does."

"Hey!" The gunslinger noticed the spearman disappeared. "Where did he go?"

While the two were yapping, the spearman was a man of action. He doesn't talk until it is over. And his retrieval of the gem is not yet over. He pursued the two through the forest and conquered every obstacle that on his way. His spear cut down trees and rock like paper and clay, making his path easy for him.

Ami and Scaramouche did everything they could to avoid him. But with his spear, they have no place to hide. They just run.

"I'll distract them." The android said.

"No." Ami said. "I cannot leave you here."

His titanium chest suddenly opened and released the red gem from his heart. He gave it to her and said, "Go to you sister, Ami. Promise me you'll go-"

"NO!" She cried. "I can't just- I can't..."

Scaramouche smiled, "Alright. Just go right ahead. I'll catch up."

Ami knew he was lying. "I will not leave you."

"Then we die together and your sister will never know what's coming for her. Is that what you want?"

She took a moment to think about it and learned he was right. "I can't lose you." They have been together for almost a year but she lost track of it that it felt like forever for her. The android wiped out her tears and told her to save it for later. No more words can translate what she's feeling right now but she did what her heart told her to do.

Ami embraced him and gave him a kiss. She felt his cold metal lips and his warm breathe that makes him alive. Unfortunate, he could not feel her lips. He only feels what he could see and what he see was her affection to him. After that, she bid goodbye and ran to her sister.

Scaramouche was left speechless but happy to know that he did something good.

The spearman managed to catch up and saw the android hiding. "You think you can hide from me."

"Well, babe... I'm just nervous. Sometimes I get a stage fright."

"Stage fright?"

"Yeah." Scaramouche pulled out his flute. "One last performance."

The cube sits on the vault under the palace. Its power is still unknown to them. The prince called for experts to analyze the object. Meanwhile, Ashi has a lot of questions in mind. She lied on her bed and can't stop thinking about what the cloaked man said.

It is like a warning. Or a command.

She wondered. And wondered.

Until she remembered what he specifically said, She chose you. Who is he talking about?

The cube?

The cube chose me?

Ashi sat up and remembered his words. "I'll have to leave." If she stays, she will just endanger the people in the palace. Whoever comes looking for the cube will bring death and destruction to the people around her especially to her husband. Ashi doesn't want that to happen.

As she made her decision, she removed her garment and put on her usual dark suit just like before. She has to find a way to get to the vault. She called her six handmaidens and told them what she will do. They were handpicked and trained by Ashi to be her servants and subordinates no matter what the situation is. They're always loyal to her.

Once she told them the plan, they execute it perfectly.

They took down the guards of the palace vault and Ashi simply opened it and took the cube. She and her handmaidens flee from the scene with no blood spilled until she reached the corner of the hall and was discovered by the prince and his guards. "Ashi?"

"Shit..."

Quickly, she threw a smoke bomb and disappeared along with the handmaidens.

Upon seeing her in the dark garment, he knew she did something. "Oh, no... you didn't-" He alerted the guards about what she did. He told them to stop her but don't harm her.

It would be difficult for the men when they're good at taking down enemies quickly. An arrow to the head was easy but stopping someone without harming them is a bit of a challenge. If they ever harm the princess that disobeyed the prince's command, they would be marked as a traitor. The only option was to tackle them down and knock out the princess.

The imperial guards dropped their bows and faced the princess and her handmaidens in a hand-to-hand combat.

Ashi was blocked by ten men who prepared to fight them. She easily took them down and her handmaidens helped her. Some of her servants were taken down and dragged away. Ashi looked up and saw the large palace gate closing. She turned and saw the puzzled samurai with the expression that said "What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry, Jack." She said as she called her followers to boost her up.

And so they did, they made a formation and boost their leader up to the wall and she managed to escape the palace with the cube on her hand.

Her handmaidens were captured and taken to their cells. The samurai prince watched at the mess that she created. "It was suppose to be her birthday. Her birthday. Why would she leave just like that?"

The imperial guard responded. "Maybe she's conflicted at everything around her." He then commanded his men to lock her servants in the interrogation cell where they'll ask them what she's planning. Unfortunately for the samurai, these women would never talk unless Ashi allowed them to speak. The imperial officer asked for orders from the prince. "Sir? What are you orders?"

The samurai took a moment to think about it. Ashi did this for a good reason but she should've told me about it. He thought. "No. I'll do it."

"But sir, without you, the palace will be unguarded. Your father- the emperor has not been himself. We need someone who leads the people in case there's danger coming."

"Then I'll leave unannounced." The samurai said. "You'll be the only one who knows this. Never tell anyone about me leaving the palace walls. Never tell my father I'm gone. Keep it a secret, noble warrior."

The Imperial Guard was surprised by the prince's choice.

The samurai removes his imperial robe and back into his white attire. He retrieved his sword from his chamber and started his pursuit for Ashi.

The performance ended with a blast.

However, it did not do much to stop the spearman. Scaramouche was left weakened and beat as he blew his final breath and dropped his flute. His battery was low and his vision going dark. All the android can see next is nothing.

The spearman approached the dead android and stabbed his head for good measure.

Then the swordsman and the gunslinger followed and noticed their companion has already finished his first kill in the trip. "Great. You could've give us some action."

He did not answer him. He simply cleaned the spearhead, removing the dirt and splinters.

The gunslinger analyzed the androids body and noticed on the chest area. He saw an empty compartment. "He hid the gem inside of him. His companion must've got it."

"Obviously.' The swordsman said. "No need to tell us that. What do you think? There will be a moment that she left the gem nearby and we thought she had it?" He started to think for more possibilities.

The gunslinger found Ami's tracks and continued their pursuit.

But then, out from the blue, the cloaked man emerged on their path. His full red eyes glared at them and exclaimed. "You cannot journey no more! The cube has chosen its new protector!"

Without any word to respond, the three attacked the stranger like he's just annoyance that blocks their path. The cloaked man managed to evade their attacks at ease. For that encounter, the swordsman, the gunslinger and the spearman knew their facing a formidable foe.

Ashi managed to leave the empire and head to the woods. The sky got darker and poured rain. She kept on running and running through the deep forest and felt the cold atmosphere that the rain can bring. She remembered the days she trained with the High Priestess, her mother. She remembered her mental breakdown as a child that eventually turned her into the monster that her mother wanted her to be.

It was her destiny to kill the samurai.

But her destiny changed when she learned the truth. "Jack..."

Then lightning struck right in front of her and stopped her on her path. Ashi looked up at the grey sky and the rain continued pouring.

It was a sign from above. It could be. As she turned around, she found an abandoned farm. She took it as her temporary shelter during the rain. She searched the house and noticed no sign of struggle. The people who lived in the house must've left and moved to another land.

Ashi found an old blanket and used it to dry herself up. As she watched the rain pouring on to the dead farm field, she saw dark reflections that resembled her sisters and herself training to become killers. She kept recalling what her mother said to her that she was born just to kill.

Exist to kill.

Exist to be the monster like her father.

Ashi felt nothing at that time but right now, she felt loneliness. She just listened to the rain and let the sadness wrapped around her.

She's lonely.

Alone.

Afraid.

"I should've left." She said, realizing her mistake. "I should've told him about it."

"You don't need him to make decisions." A voice spoke.

Ashi was surprised when she heard it. "Who was there?" She pulled out her weapon, preparing herself for any surprise attack. "Come out where ever you are!"

"I'm right inside your pocket, idiot." The voice replied.

Ashi quickly slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out the golden cube. The object started to glow brighter and brighter.

"Isn't that your name? Ashi?" The cube spoke to her.

She was left speechless when she heard the object talked. "What are you?"

In return, the cube answered. "Dilek is my name."

=X=