“She’s alive”
“What do you mean?” Nigel jumped at the possibility of Lucy being alive
“There are tracks outside the cave, it shows the signs of a body on the left shoulder – no bandit, or gunner, would carry a corpse all the way to Whiterun”
“Whiterun? You know where they’re going?”
“The tracks point towards there or somewhere nearby”
San-Kai joined in to the conversation, “It is too dark to travel, we should rest for the night and head off in the morning”
“What? We have to go now, she’s in danger!” Nigel whirled with confusion
Bjorn reassured his friend, “The gunner want’s her alive for a reason, we rest for the night”
“Fine” Nigel complied. “You make a good point, I know the man. He’s Commander Mark Collins; he always has a calculated plan behind every move”
San-Kai finalised the conversation, “It is settled, we will camp outside and go in the morning”
So the group headed outside the cave and began to set up camp, within minutes they had constructed two brown leather tents, a roaring campfire and a seat for Nigel to keep watch for the night. The wilds around them seemed so peaceful yet so dangerous, lush forests were interrupted by jutting mountains and forsworn camps littered the area – the Reach was indeed a dangerous province.
They decided against eating, the trauma of the day’s events somewhat disturbed their appetite. So the mage and the warrior settled down for the night, bidding each other a good night while Nigel settled down to guard, gazing off into the Reach.
As Nigel sat there, used to being somewhat bored, he found he was daydreaming – not uncommon. Yet this daydream was more of a daymare, Nigel found himself reliving the last talk he had with the Boss.
“I’m sorry Nigel, I really am – but it was necessary’
“Necessary?” Nigel spat at him. “I’m sure it was – just like it was necessary to turn me into a war machine instead of making me a normal human again!”
“And yet your enhancements made you a better combatant”
“A better combatant, maybe, but I will never be human again – you took my humanity and crushed it down into a metal augment”
“Necessary”
“You’re a monster; you killed them in cold blood just to get back at me”
“Disciplinary action needed to be taken, it was simply collateral damage”
“Collateral damage? You call the murder of two innocent people COLLATERAL DAMAGE?”
“You want me to be honest? Yes, I do”
“Go to hell”
The grey haired boss sighed and gestured to a nearby guard to take him away, “Lock him up, send Kellogg in a few days – if he still refuses to work for us then activate protocol 78”
Nigel simply glared at the man as the guards took him away..
“Nigel, you okay?” San-Kai gave him a concerned prod on the shoulder
Nigel was brought back to reality, the night had already passed. “Huh? Yeah I’m fine”
“Well we’ve packed up the camp already and you seemed in another world so I let you be, I was kind of worried – you ready to go?”
“Yeah, let’s go” Nigel got up as Bjorn and San-Kai walked off into the forests
So the group walked through the Reach: past lush green trees and cold grey mountains; past rushing rivers and bandit filled caves; over worn wooden bridges and under the bright blue sky; they walked into far horizons.
***************************
The workshop was still as dingy as ever, the Crossover was still shut off and the Creator and Calcelmo simply watched the screen playing footage of the group’s lives.
The creator spoke, “When will the Crossover be online again mortal?”
“As soon as possible, my lord” Calcelmo obediently replied
“It better be, if they get this kidnapping business over with the subjects are on the right path to discovering a wristband”
“But I thought you said there were no spares”
“I didn’t say that the Dwarves carrying them are likely dead and anyway, any Dwarf they do find will likely help them
“Why?”
“Once my plan is explained the Dwarves will know who I am, once they know who I am they will do everything they can to stop me”
“But, my lord, who are you?”
“The creator, the architect and the criminal” The creator replied vaguely
*****************************
They had reached Whiterun, Nigel gazed once more at the gorgeous architecture and it still took his breath away. The group planned to stay there for a while and ask around for Lucy; Commander Collins must have passed through here.
San-Kai and Nigel went on into the city to ask around for Lucy and Collins, Bjorn didn’t try entering the city this time; he was aware they knew of him. He simply met the guard’s watchful gaze and wants to ask the Khajiit if they had seen Lucy or Collins.
Ma’dran greeted Bjorn “Ah, Bjorn, this one is glad to see you again. It is somewhat ironic to see a Nord kept out like a Khajiit, no?”
“Hello Ma’dran, I have a few questions”
“For this one? I will be happy to oblige, ask away”
“Our friend, Lucy, has been kidnapped by a bandit. He wears rare green armour and has a weapon similar to a crossbow on his back – we think he passed through here”
“Lucy? The one on Skooma, no?”
Bjorn chuckled at the memory of Lucy’s first meeting with the Khajiit, “Yes, her”
“Let this one think, I think Ma’dran saw a man in green armour. He was dragging a girl behind him – By Sheggorath, it was Lucy! Why did this one not intervene?”
“It’s fine Ma’dran, we’re going to save her – did you see here he was going?”
“He was off that way” Ma'dran pointed. "Perhaps he was going to Valtheim Towers?" Ma’dran grabbed a few healing potions and some food, “Here, take these, I do not wish to see Lucy hurt – she made an old Khajiit smile”
Bjorn accepted the gifts, thanked Ma’dran and waited at the gate for Nigel and San-Kai; ignoring the wary looks from the guard at the gate. He walked right up to the wall and shouted over it in order to get the message to the other two without entering the city.
“Nigel! San! She’s in Valtheim!” Bjorn yelled over the wall as the guard stared at him, thinking he was insane
San-Kai yelled back, “Okay, we’ll get some info from the Companions!”
“Okay!” Bjorn replied as he walked on back to the caravans to relax while the others gained info from what were once his shield-siblings.
San-Kai pushed open the doors of the great Jorrvaskr and Nigel followed him inside, the place was truly stunning. A fire burnt brightly in the centre as various companions littered the table around it, weapons were strewn across the floor, mead was strewn across the table and a few were brawling in the corner. It was Vilkas that spotted them and came to welcome them.
“Ah, you’re Bjorn’s friends, aren’t you? What brings you to Jorrvaskr?”
“We’re here for information on Valtheim towers, our friend has been kidnapped and we believe her to be there”
“Valtheim towers, eh?” Vilkas looked concerned. “That’s a large bandit hideout, at least 15. How many are you?”
“Three: a warrior – Bjorn; a mage – Me and a, umm, crossbowman - Nigel”
“Should be good enough, there’s about 15 of them as I mentioned – a mix of archers and warriors. Watch out for the bridge as well, good few have died falling off it in combat – but it’s also quite useful…” Vilkas added with a sly grin
“Thank you Vilkas” San-Kai said as Nigel gave him a polite nod and they left Jorrvaskr, the dead Gildergreen an unwelcome sight as they left the mead hall. They walked down the steps and amongst the market stalls as they were just closing. San-Kai and Nigel walked out of the gates of Whiterun and joined Bjorn at the Khajiit camp- they would sleep all together with the Khajiit for the night and set off in the morning to find Lucy. The group settled down under leather tents while Nigel sat down and guarded them.
After maybe half an hour the entire caravan along with Bjorn and San-Kai were asleep, the snoring echoed throughout the plains. Nigel stood up and grabbed his laser rifle; he would strike now and bring Lucy back by the morning. He knew where it was and he knew how to get there – only he could deal with Commander Collins,
And only he would.
