chapter 9 - Closer then ever

Chelsea POV

Ben held me close as we entered another chamber.

"You guys can relax." Jade smirked, she ran over to a beam of light. We joined her, her eyes looked at the small box in admiration.

"That worthless box is the treasure!" Ben asked, which recieved a punch from Jade. he rubbed his arm, glaring at her.

"This the box Sparrow used to defeat Lucien...right?" I asked, thinking back to when she told me about the game.

"Yep!" She grinned "A device, created by the ancients, as used by the old kingdom rulers themselves!"

"You just quoted the game...didn't you?" I looked at her.

"Maybe." She smiled, carefully she picked up the box. Jade and I found ourselves in front of Theresa.

"Well done, activating the seal showed what you could be. reaching the box shows what you already are." Theresa said, Jade mouthed each word. "I saw that." Theresa told her.

"That's why I did it." Jade answered, Theresa vanished and we returned. Jade put the box away, light surrounded all of them, they reappeared in front of Samual the librarian

"Blessed index cards, your really are heroes!" Samuel gasped " This is cause for great rejoice, Albion has heroes again. If I can ever be of any assistance, I would be happy to help." We left the academy.

"What next?" I asked

"There are two tasks left. Chelsee, you help around town, get people on our side, hopefully, they will share the little they have with the dwellers." Jade said "I'll deal with the mercenaries."

"You'll get killed!" Ben told her

"Well seeing how there are 4 of us... Ben can help me, Swift can help you Jade." I smiled weakily.

"Whatever... I need to earn some money first..."Jade wondered off.

"We should meet up with Walter... tell him our plan." I said, the soldiers nodded.

Jade joined me, Walter, Ben and Swift in the pub. She had a sword, Pistol, but what she was wearing was what caused us to stop and stared. Jade looked at us confused.

"What are you wearing?" Ben asked, Jade looked at her clothes and smirked.

"Fitting for the occasion. Female mercenary outfit. The only other decent outfit is the female highway man one. But that didn't suit me at all." Jade explained, she looked at the mercenary behind us. "It will save me getting his clothes off him."

"Ho..." Walter began but stopped himself, he turned to Swift "Make sure she doesn't kill herself."

"Hey, I don't need a man to look after me!" Jade glared

"It will only be for this quest Jade. You told me about Saker, and I never did like the sound of him." I said

"Fine!" Jade sighed, Swift had to get into 'Jimmy's' mercenary outfit. Ben and I watched them leave Brightwall.

"Do you think they will be OK?" Ben asked

"Well, Swift is one of the best soldiers and Jade can be as stubborn as a mule at the best of times." I said " They will be fine."

"So, what are we doing?" Ben asked

"Dealing with quests around town. I known just the one to start with." I headed back towards the academy, Ben followed behind. I smiled, Being here was going to be fun!

Jade POV

Swift and I walked in silence. This was so awkward...

"Are you going to remain hostile the whole journey?" Swift asked

"I am not Hostile, just unsociable." I answered, it fell silent again.

"Chelsea told us a lot about you." Swift said

"hmmm." I nodded, then stopped.

"What's wrong?" He asked, I pointed to the mercenary base just down the hill. "Oh." I began feeling unsure, fighting skeletons is one thing, but fighting other people and killing them... that was another thing all together... I had only began to feel this way since being shot...Swift and I headed down.

"I am glad you came along Major..." I muttered

"Why? I thought you didn't need a man to look after you." Swift looked at me.

"In truth, I have more of bark, then a bite." I said "I don't know if I can even do this."

"You are just full of surprises aren't you." Swift answered.

"I guess." I muttered. We reached the gates, the gate keeper looked down.

"Hey Jimmy, back from killing some dwellers? And who's that?" He grinned down at me, I frowned.

"Keep your eyes to yourself." I glared,

"Yeah, whatever. In ya come." The gate opened. Once out of sight from the gate keeper, I took the majors arm.

"This way." I pulled him allong the path.

"Are you sure?" Swift asked, I stopped and looked at him.

"Yes, I know my way through the camp, in the first part, if we ignore them, they will leave us be. The second part of the camp will notice you're not Jimmy and we'll be attacked." I told him.

"Will you fight though?" Swift asked

"I don't know..." I looked down.

"Then, you concentrate on getting us through the camp, I'll fight the mercenaries" Swift smiled, I smiled too and nodded. "So, forward?"

"Forward." I smiled and led the way.

I led Swift through the camp, he kept the mercenaries at bay. We soon stopped out side the final gate.

"So, Saker's behind there?" Swift asked

"Yes, He fights with his fists. Sometimes he throws a cigar bomb." I warned him "I'll try and stop his men joining in."

"OK. Let's go." Swift nodded, we entered, Mercenaries stood around, laughing and jeering.

"Well, you've left quite a trail of bodies. You're not Sabine's dwellers, that's for sure." Saker threw away a cigar. "The strangers are mine." It began, Swift fought Saker whilst I used inferno to keep Saker's men at bay.

(Time for amother point of view.) Ben POV

I glanced at Chelsee as we headed up the mountains. Our final quest was to find a missing girl.

"Are you even listening?" Chelsee asked, I stopped.

"Er..." I looked at Her with a sheepish grin. She rolled her eyes

" As I was explaining, there are a going to be a lot of wolves, I will be leaving them to you." Chelsee said

"Of course, Princess." I answered, she looked at me questionly. "It's a perfect nickname." Chelsee rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. Get in there Ben! I kept an eye on Chelsee. I knew she was from another world and everything, but I think that was what fpdrew me to her. She was mysterious in many ways, I often found myself wondering what her world was like, what her life had been like.

"We're here." Chelsee and I stood before a cave, a girl's cry echoed from inside. I drew my rifle with a nod.

We entered, Chelsee led the way, nothing came at us and we found the girl, Chelsee calmly explained who tyhey were to the girl. I frown, I had a feeling we were being watched. "Okay, Ben." I looked at her, she was holding the little girls hand "Lead the way." She smiled

"Of course, my ladies." I smiled, the little girl giggled and began chatting away to Chelsee. I stopped, the girl fell quiet and Chelsee placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Ben?What's wrong?" She asked, as if to answer her question, wolves crept from the shadows.

"Ah! Scary monsters!" The girl cried, Chelsee hugged her as I began to shoot down the wolves.

On the way back to Bright wall, we were attacked by more wolves, but we finally reached a safe path

"Mommy!" The girl ran to her mother.

"Thank you, I am forever in your debt."The mother smiled and hugged her daughter, they headed home together.

"I love a happy ending!" Chelsee smiled

"I believe everyone loves a happy ending." I told her, she laughed and nodded. I loved her laugh.

Swift POV

I fell back, I had heard a lot about Saker. Jade had let a few of Saker's men through, but she did try to keep most of them at bay.

"Look out!" Jade yelled, before I could turn, I heard a clang of metal against metal. I looked back, Jade had drawn her blade for the first time and was using her strength to hold back a mercenary's blade.

"Are you okay?" I asked

"I...I think so..."Jade strained "Keep an eye on Saker." I looked back just in time, I grabbed Jade's arm and pulled her out of the wah, just as a cigar bomb exploded in the place they had been standing. The mercenary who had locked blades with Jade was blasted apart. Jade looked almost horrified , she took a deep breath. "Thank you major." she smiled

"If I win, you'll be mine, hero!" Sales grinned, I was about to reply, but Jade stood before Saker, her hands balled into fists. Her blade still in hand.

"Do you really think I will let that happen?"Jade growled, I was surprised. She was really surprising at times. Jade swung her blade at him, her sudden attack allowed her to cut across Saker's face. I pulled her out of the way to avoid a punch from Sales. We worked together after that, but I had the last hit.

Saker fell to his knees.

"Stop , you've wkn . Do what you will. Kill me, or let me live. The choice is yours. We'll leave the dwellers be, that's a warriors promise." I looked at Jade. She slapped Saker's face, then held out her hand. Saker took her hand and we helped him up. "Thank you, my men will never forget this. Let the strangers go."

We left the camp, Jade sighed and fell to her knees.

"Are you okay?" I asked, she gave a weak smiled

"Yes, relieved..." She took a week breath, her shoulders were shaking.

"You were brilliant, for you first taste of real battle." I told her, she nodded, I helped her up and we headed to Brightwall.