Chapter 2
Rudy and Jack stood in the main meeting hall of the rebel base. They were studying a floor plan of Overlord's "Castle"
"Here is the throne room," said Rudy pointing to it, "now down at the end of the hallway there is a metal staircase that leads down to the holding cells. Kim has got to be in one of them."
"Getting the cell door open isn't the problem," said Jack, "It's getting to the cell that is going to be a challenge.
Rudy nodded,
"You're not kidding," He said, "Overlord's got guards on every floor and double that in the hallway outside the holding cells. And those guards are his best trained and most heavily armed outside his personal bodyguards."
Jack was about to answer when he suddenly became aware that he was being watched. Glancing over his shoulder he saw a small blue- eyed curly blonde girl watching him from behind a corner. She couldn't have been more than six or seven. And she was clutching a ragged looking doll in her right hand.
Rudy looked up and saw where Jack was looking and smiled.
"That's little Jenny Lynn," he said, "she hasn't talked to anyone but Kim since her mother died two years ago."
Both of the men were immediately surprised when they realized that Jenny Lynn was coming straight toward them. She had the look of a kid who wanted to ask a question, and it seemed that her desire for an answer was winning the battle with her shyness.
Jack dropped to one knee so she could look him in the eye. She walked up to him and whispered in his ear.
"I want Kim back, are you gonna get her?" Jack smiled a rare smiled
"Yes, don't worry little one, Kim will be back before you know it. I promise." He said.
Jenny smiled and dropping her doll put her arms around Jack's neck in a sweet innocent hug. Jack hugged her back gently. Then he let her go and she grabbed up her doll and scampered away.
Rudy noticed tell tale moistness in Jack's eyes and smiled to himself,
"So," he thought, "This battle hardened loner has a heart after all."
Jack stood up and turned to Rudy.
"I'm impressed," said Rudy, "You are the only person other than Kim who's ever made friends with that girl that fast."
Jack quirked his head to one side as though an idea had come to him.
"I think I know how to get into Overlord's castle," he said
"How," said Rudy
"Only two kinds of people get past that front gate," said Jack, "People who've come to buy water and those who work for Overlord."
"What are you getting at?" Rudy asked
"Overlord's men have never seen my face, so all I have to do is show up there acting like a run of the mill mercenary looking for a job."
"Yeah they might take you into see Overlord or they might just try to Kill you,"
"That's a Chance I'll have to take." said Jack
"All right," he added, " it's probably the best plan we've got, but once you're inside how are you going to get to the holding cells? One wrong move and the whole place will come down around your ears?"
"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," said Jack. Rudy nodded. For a moment Rudy looked like he was going to say something and then thought better of it.
"Rudy," said Jack as he sat down in a nearby chair and began to clean and polish his sword, "if you have something to say then say it."
"I was just curious," said Rudy.
"About?" Jack replied
"Why it was so easy to convince you to help me," said Rudy, "I expected it to take much longer to convince you to help me, I was even worried that the gold I brought wouldn't be enough to interest you."
Jack sighed,
"Let's just say that I have my own personal score to settle with Overlord and leave it at that," said Jack, "this rescue mission just provides an extra chance to bend the old buzzard out of shape."
"Old Buzzard huh," said Rudy quirking an eyebrow.
"Yes I was being kind," said Jack, "there are kids present."
"I'll go to Overlord's place first thing in the morning," said Jack, rising from the chair and re-sheathing his sword. "Until then, I bid you good night." With that Jack turned and walked off down the hall to the room he had been given.
Later that night Jack was tossing and turning on his cot. Every so often he murmured in his sleep.
Suddenly with a cry he sat bolt upright in a cold sweat. Once his head cleared, he lowered it into his hands. A shiver ran up his spine, a shiver so violent that it caused a visible shudder in his shoulders. Suddenly Jack heard footsteps approaching. Rudy came into the room.
"Jack, are you okay? What happened?" said Rudy
"It's nothing," said Jack, "just a nightmare that has plagued me ever since I was a kid."
"Do you want to talk about it," asked Rudy, "I'm told that I'm a pretty good listener."
"No thank you," said Jack, "It's very private and personal. I may be ready to talk about it someday but not yet."
Rudy nodded.
"Well when you are ready you know where to find me." Said Rudy and with that he turned and headed back to his room.
Jack got up and splashed some water of his face. He stood looking out the window for a few minutes then went back to bed.
The next morning found Jack walking into the Overlords compound, the walled in area that surrounded his hotel. Jack suspected it had once been the hotels parking lot. In Jack's pocket he carried a pendant that Rudy had given him. According to Rudy Kim had made it for him when she was nine years old. Rudy handed it to Jack before he left that morning saying to show it to Kim and she would listen to him.
At first Overlord's men were stunned that a man with a sword on his back would walk in there so boldly. Overlord was seated in his throne room talking with Frank and planning to raise the price of water again that morning. Kim was sitting there chained to the platform the throne was on. The throne was actually and old leather recliner with a few blanks covering it. and the platform was just some thick boards that were laid across the framework that used to be the foundation of the stage.
Suddenly the silence was broken by the sound of a fight outside the great doors, as Overlord called them. The air was punctuated with the sound of blows landing and steel on steel. Suddenly the doors were thrown open and one of the guards was thrown into the room. He landed on his face in the center aisle. A split second after he hit the floor, Jack appeared dragging two more by their hair.
Stopping about halfway down the center aisle directly in front of the "Throne", Jack bashed the two men's heads together and they slumped to the ground.
"I don't know what you pay these guys, Overlord," he said, "But it's too much." Frank was indignant,
"You've got some nerve showing up here like this," he raged, "Why I've got half a mind to_,"
"Shut it, Weasel Face!" snapped Jack interrupting him, "I'm talking to your boss!"
"Why you," snapped Frank, drawing his duel short swords "That's it, I'm going to_,"
"Shut it, Weasel face!" snapped Overlord.
"Yes sir," Frank mumbled flopping back into his chair. Overlord turned back to Jack.
"I'm impressed by your little demonstration," he said, "I take you're interested in work." Jack nodded as he brushed off his hands and stepped over the unconscious forms of the two guards.
"Well," said Overlord, "You're obviously good with your fists but I wish to see you use that sword with my own eyes."
Overlord turned and nodded to Frank. Frank nodded back but didn't move. Over lord rolled his eyes.
"Hey mud for brains," snapped Jack, drawing his sword "Now you can fight me!" Frank jumped up swords in hand. He Charged at Jack throwing every combo he could think of but jack dodged or parried every attack. Frank whirled around after his last attack had been deflected and lunged with both blades. To his surprise Jack wasn't there. Suddenly Jacks blade flashed down at blinding speed and the blades of swords clattered to the floor.
Overlord started clapping.
"Very good," he said, "I think we can do business together young man."
"But he broke my swords," said Frank whining like a little boy telling on one of his siblings.
"Frank," hissed Overlord walking over to Frank and grabbing him by the scruff of the neck, "Will you shut up about the swords you big baby; the sword-maker can make you a hundred more. Besides did you notice the color of the handle of this guy's sword? It's white! If this guy is who the stories say he is- and it sure looks that way, we have got to get him on our side."
While the Overlord was busy berating Frank. Jack took the opportunity to look at the pretty blonde girl that was chained to the platform. He wondered if this girl could possibly be the girl that he was looking for, but before he had a chance to find out, Overlord turned to him.
"What would you consider satisfactory terms to work for me, Young Swordsman?" he asked. It was at this point that Jack had another idea. The way this girl by the platform reacted to what he was going to say next would tell him if she was the rebel girl that he was looking for.
"Well," said Jack matter- of- factly, "I met the rebel leader today and he offered me a thousand gold bars and twice that in gold coins to work for them. Of course if you could make me a better offer.
Jack glanced at Kim out of the corner of his eye. She was so mad her face was turning red.
"Oh yeah, thought Jack, "that's got to be her."
"I'll double that offer," said Overlord, "what do you think of that?"
"It's certainly tempting," said Jack, then he turned and looked square at Kim, "Perhaps I need a little nudge to make up mind."
Overlord caught his innuendo and grinned,
"Sure thing," he said, tossing Jack the key to the chain around her ankle and motioning toward what used to be the stage door, "I'll even throw in my bedroom for a little privacy."
Jack grinned back and nodded. Then pasting a leer on his face he walked over, grabbed Kim and slung her over his should in the fireman's carry and walked toward the doors.
"I should warn you," said Over, "That's one wildcat hasn't quite been tamed yet."
"That's okay," said Jack, "I like rough housing," with a grin he disappeared through the doors and into Overlord's bedroom.
When he got into the room he dropped Kim onto the king sized bed. She was on her feet in a flash. She struck a fighting stance as Jack's hand disappeared into his pocket.
"I swear if you so much as try to_," she stopped short when she saw what Jack had pulled out of his pocket. It was the pendant she made for her Father. Surprised eyes met smiling brown ones as Jack whispered.
"Rudy sent me."
To be continued….
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