Warrior
Wynnona
I could taste the blood in my mouth as I spit it out, clenching my fists. The man advanced on me, a murderous look in his blood red eyes. The girl stood back, keeping an eye on the group behind me. This asshole is just asking for it. I wait for the guy to be a couple steps from me when I spring up onto my knees, grabbing a handful of sand and throwing it into his eyes. He shouts as I charge to my feet, kicking him in the stomach and tossing a punch at his face. My knuckle connects with his temple hard, knocking him right out.
The girl starts to advance on me quickly. I track her movements as I try and reach for the daggers I tend to carry with me. Damn me for forgetting to put them on this morning I curse myself mentally when I find nothing there. I duck under the girl's staff as it swings for my head. I hook my leg behind her back leg and grab the ankle of her other leg, sweeping her feet and knocking her on her to the ground.
I stand and get into a ready stance as she stands back up, charging for me again. This time, her staff morphs into a sword. I back up away from her avoiding the rapid, promising to be deadly, swings of the blade. I feel my back hit the cool metal of my ship. Crap! I mentally shout.
I reach up and grab the girls left hand. I smash her wrist into my knee and the sword falls from her grip. I twist her wrist behind her back and push her front up against my ship, my chest pressing against her shoulders to cage her in.
"Unhand me you fiend!" She shouts.
"Who are you?" I ask in a sharp voice. The others come over to join me, the twins hiding behind Brett.
"She's one of this planet's inhabitants." Zelanna says as she comes out from hiding behind Brett.
"I'll kill you all if you don't unhand me now." The girl threatens, fighting against my hold. I am, however, stronger than her.
"That's enough of that." I sigh as I hit her in the side of the head, knocking her out cold. I look at the four people staring at me, a million questions they want to ask. The two twins come over to investigate the girl as I turn to look at Brett, getting ready to bounce some ideas off him. Keya gets up to join us, something I'm thankful for. I'm about to speak when something behind them catches my eye.
The guy from earlier that I thought I knocked out charges at us. I'm too slow to stop him from grabbing hold of Keya, pulling her out of our reach. He's got a silver knife to her throat. Instantly I pull the gun, pointing it at him.
"You wouldn't want to hit your friend." The man speaks. I glare harder at him. I can see the green stone on the book light up from the corner of my eye.
"Just let her go." Brett tries to reason with the guy. He continues to back away from us. I can see blood bubble from Keya's neck where his knife is pressed against her neck. My anger rises at the sight, but I keep my cool, trying to figure out how to resolve this situation.
"You trust me right doll?" I ask Keya in a soothing voice, almost motherly. She gives me a slight nod, her hands shaking, her eyes shining with pure fear. The light from the book keeps glowing, brighter, and brighter. One of the twins reaches up and grabs it, Zelanna easily hidden behind Brett's large frame. She pulls out the book, staring at it. The man is distracted enough by this that he doesn't pay attention to me anymore. I smirk, seeing my opportunity right away.
I fire the gun, aimed perfectly at his elbow. He drops the knife, releasing his hold on Keya. Right away she runs to us. I step forward towards the guy, gun still raised. In the corner of my eyes I see Brett grab Keya, pulling her behind him protectively.
"You bitch." The man cursed at me as I got closer. He reaches for his knife, but I'm faster. I shoot him in the hand causing him to cry out. I notice a marking on his arm. The same one from the ship that attacked us earlier.
"I've been called worse." I give him an evil smile, shoot him in the head. I holster my gun once I'm sure he's dead, picking up his knife. It's a beautifully decorated butterfly knife. Silver handle with a deep red metal I've never seen before. I hear a groan from behind me before I can examine the knife further.
I turn and see the woman I had knocked out starting to wake up. She sits up, rubbing her head. I start to walk closer, prepared to fight her off again. Her eyes open and land on the book, staring at it with an emotion I can't quite place.
"Is that?" She says out loud, but it seems more like she's asking herself. "You must be the warriors of legend. The ones that have been told to free us all from the great evil." I look at her as if she has two heads. When I get to the group, I put my hand out to Zelanna. Quickly the twins figured out I'm the leader of sorts. She hands me the book without a word. Brett instantly pulls off my bag and gives it to me, keeping his arms protectively around Keya.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, but yes we're here to stop Needledrop." She looks at me in awe as I speak, fixing the straps of my bag and putting the book back into it. The green stone has stopped glowing at this point and has returned to black.
"You must come to my village!" She exclaims, rushing to her feet. "My people have waited millennia for you. They will host a celebration for you." She continues on and on. At some point I stop listening.
"I think a party would be nice." Keya says softly as Brett fusses over her. I look at the twins, my instincts telling me to trust them. That, and Star has perched himself onto Rochet's shoulder.
"You two stay, watch the ship, and get her up and running again." I tell them both. They nod before running off, Zelanna pulling her steampunk like goggles over her eyes as they get to work. I turn back to look at the red-haired woman. She's grabbed her weapon, allowing it to morph into a necklace. "Lead the way to this village of yours." She nods, taking the lead. Keya walks beside her, chatting away. I stay behind, sticking by Brett and keeping a watchful eye out.
After about an hour of walking we come across a small village of people. The light in the sky is starting to disappear. A large fire is set up in the center of the village. The warrior announces us and in no time, music is playing, and people are dancing.
"This is amazing." Keya squeals with a smile. Brett makes a whole dramatic scene of asking her to go dance with him as I sip at the drink I was given. It tastes like whiskey with chocolate in it and smells like jasmine. I just hope it is alcoholic. I need a drink after everything that's happened. I take a seat at a small table, one strap of my bag wrapped around my ankle, watching Brett and Keya dance together to the intricate music.
The people of the village play instruments I've never seen, producing sounds I've never heard. It's calming, lulling me into a bubble of safety. The night drags on, not many eventful things happening. Keya tries to drag me to dance with her, but I refuse. Dancing was something Papa and I shared, something I wanted to continue sharing with just him. It was our special thing and I haven't danced since he died.
I scan the area, taking everything in. the three of us stick out like sore thumbs compared to the natives. As I look around, I spot a flag blowing in the soft breeze. Looking closer I see a symbol, the one I've come to associate with the enemy. Calmly I stand, moving towards Keya and Brett with my bag over my shoulders. I get to them, leaning in close.
"We have to go." I tell them, subtly motioning to the flag. They both recognize the symbol, nodding as they follow me. We make our way out, leaving completely unnoticed. We walk back, chatting amongst ourselves. We're almost back to the ship when I hear someone shouting. I turn to see the red-haired woman from earlier.
"Stop where you are!" I tell her, raising my gun to her.
"Wait please." She explains breathlessly. "Please take me with you."
"You're Needledrop." Brett accuses her.
"Had I told you that I was, would you have listened to what I have to say?" She accused right back. "I don't agree with them. Needledrop took my family from me. I want them brought to justice for what they did to me." She explains. "I want to help you."
"I trust her." Keya says after a beat of silence.
"Fine." I grumble, putting my gun away. "But if you betray us, I will personally tear you limb from limb." I warn her coolly. She nods before joining us, a large smile on her face. We arrive back to the ship, chatting away again. I learned that the woman's name is Oriana and that she was one of her village's strongest warriors. When we get back the twin's smile, greeting us. Star runs over to us, jumping into my arms. I snuggle him close as he purrs into me.
Once we are standing close to the twins the green stone on the book starts to light up.