[Leaving Phoenix City] Natasha Chapter 35 A Jade Colored Past The words by passed her ears and went straight into her heart. She actually expected Locke, one of the famed Warriors of Balance to react in such a way, however imagining and then actually experiencing it were without a shadow of a doubt two different things. She took a step back, almost stumbling, from the impact of the words. For once, the great Admiral Natasha Getsahl was at a loss for words. Had it been just about anyone else, she would have had the poor bastard hanging by his throat from her right hand. However this was not just another someone. This was Locke Cole, one of the Warriors of Balance who brought down the Empire, and destroyed the vile Kefka. Finally, she looked up at the Treasure Hunter, right into his eyes. Natasha didn't know what kind of look it actually was, but it wasn't one that would be considered happy, not by a long shot. "Admiral, would you please excuse our guest and I for a few minutes?" Banon asked. "Of course," Natasha said, with her fix still on Locke's eyes, the hatred there of the one word that seemed to separate her from being an equal in his eyes. However that look of anger from the dashing young man changed to another look as she broke contact. "By your leave," she continued, "I will go prepare for our departure." "By the Gods..she looks just like..." murmured to himself as he followed the path of the beautiful Admiral. His mind just turned to a page in the history book that was his memory. One of his happiest memories. Those eyes, those beautiful eyes. He had gazed upon them before. Shock would not begin to describe his disbelief. "Good," Banon said, smiling at her. He knew the pain she was feeling. He didn't know the pain first hand, but he could tell by looking at the way she walked away that she was not the same Admiral Gestahl that he appointed to lead this mission days before. He also knew that Natasha's ears were very keen, so he had to wait until he thought she might not be able to hear the conversation. Of course it was only a guess, chances are she could still hear every word. "I know what you're going to say," Banon sighed, "And if we still lived in the oppressed world that we lived in years ago, the Gods know that I would believe you. However I must speak in her defense." Locke, still stunned at what his eyes just saw, snapped out of his trance, "Banon you know I respect you and everything you've ever achieved..." "I know," Banon replied, "And when you hear me out, you'll not only respect my choice in a military commander, but you'll respect the commander as well." "First I want to know something," Locke gazed back over at Natasha, who was not off in the distance, "I want to know why she looks like..." "I'll answer all your questions," Banon didn't mean to interrupt, but he did, "However right now please let me speak in her defense. She's done so much for me, and the Returners, I believe I owe her at least that much." Locke nodded. "Yes, she is the daughter of Gestahl, and the rightful heir to the throne of Vector," Banon started his defense, "However she has surpassed that. When I met her, she went by her own name. Natasha Chase, I believe it was. She had no idea of her origin. The poor girl has been an orphan for over 20 years now, not knowing anything about who she really was. However once the truth was brought to her, its brought her nothing but pain. She now, indeed, does go around by her last name, not worried about the consequences for what it might do. For that, I am very proud of her." "So she's not really what one would call an ‘Imperial Princess?'" Locke asked. "Not really," Banon answered looking over at her, wondering if she was picking up this conversation or not, "However she is the Princess, even if she doesn't walk, talk, or act like one. She wasn't made for being a Princess." "You make it sound as if she was manufactured," Locke twisted his lip. "If there were more than one of her, I'd say you're right," Banon continued, "However she's one of a kind, the only one there is." "So are you, so am I, so is everyone else, Banon," Locke commented. "But you, me, and everyone else were not made in a laboratory to be the perfect warrior," Banon answered, "The good Admiral over there cannot say that. She's the product of the first and only experiment to create the perfect warrior. Physically, she's practically superhuman..mentally is a different story. Finding out that her father was responsible for the destruction of the world as we all knew it years ago, did not play well on her mind. "I see...." "I find myself more and more amazed by her every day," Banon continued, "Her mind is full of secret battle plans, blue-prints of everything the Empire ever created during the Emperor's rule." He then pulled the fire grenade from his pouch, "Look at this. What does this look like to you?" Locke took the grenade into his hand and examined it, "I have no idea, Banon. Some type of weapon?" "Remember the period before Magi-tek?" "Indeed." "Remember the use of FireBombs?" "This is no FireBomb," Locke smiled, "Its too small, and there's no fuse..." "That's because she took the schematic in her head of the FireBomb and renovated it," Banon smiled back, "Its not only smaller, and does not require lighting, but its also more powerful. I was amazed at her ingenuity." "Who would have thought that a beautiful woman like that..would be so deadly," Locke commented. "You saw her fight, did you not?" "Indeed," Locke replied, "It was like nothing I had ever seen. She seemed to know what the thieves were going to do before they did. She almost makes killing into a work of art." "Rightfully said," Banon said, "Her attack on the Giant of Bab-Il was a completely devastating victory for us." "SHE lead the attack?" Locke turned, "I thought you would have been on command during such an important battle." "I didn't need to be, my boy," Banon smiled, "She is the commander of the military, you know." "So she's physically perfect, and a terror on the battlefield," Locke summed up, "This only backs up my point that she could go haywire and..." "She has not been exposed to that, Locke," Banon said, "However while her father was a maniac, her mother was not. I believe that you've already figured that part out, though." "She looks just like Terra if that's what you mean," Locke said, then suddenly put two and two together, "You mean Natasha and Terra both have the same mother?!" Banon nodded sagely, "Madonna, yes. They both look just like their mother...its uncanny." Locke didn't say anything, he didn't know what he could say to that. About that time, Natasha started back over to their position. "I should have guessed," Banon smiled, "She was listening to us the whole time..." Locke stood there looking at his old friend, "She has?" "Yes, m'boy," Banon turned his smile to Locke, "She's not a fool by any means." "I didn't say she was," Locke answered. "I'm glad to hear that," Banon countered. By this time, Natasha was close enough to them to put on the appearance that she really wasn't listening to their entire conversation. It wasn't something that she advertised, her ability to pick up on a conversation with those ever so perfect ears. It was always in her best interests to keep some of her talents to herself, just in case. "We'll be ready to go in a few minutes," Natasha said to Banon, tossing a much more relaxed glance at Locke this time, she had time to regain her composure. "Glad to hear it Nat," Banon smiled. "Furthermore, sir, I am prepared to step down as Admiral of the Returners," she stood at attention, putting on a good show for the Warrior of Balance. "Step down? As in resigning?" Banon tossed her a questionable look, "Whatever for? You're one of the best military...." "Because I believe that there is now one here who deserves the title and the honor more than I, sir," she cut him off, not on purpose, but it was sharply. "I see," Banon figured it would be best to play dumb in this situation, "This person being?" "Locke Cole, of course, sir," she didn't move from attention. "Now wait a second, I never said anything about..." Locke started. "Well, do you really feel that way, Nat? I mean I really don't want to lose you as you are, the soldiers really respect you and the council is also starting to like you more," Banon continued his conversation with Natasha, almost acting as if Locke wasn't even there. "Don't you think I should...," Locke tried to start again. "Indeed I do, Banon," she responded, keeping her attention focused on Banon. "I don't," Locke said. "I won't force you to lead, Nat," Banon sighed, "So, if that's the way you feel.." "Do either of you think I might get a say in this matter?!" Locke grunted. "Something you'd like to add, Admiral Cole?" Natasha asked. "Don't call me that!" Locke huffed, "I never said anything about you stepping down. I was merely questioning Banon's choice as a leader. Obviously he knows more about you than I do!" "So you have no objections to Natasha as my Admiral, Locke?" Banon asked. "None at the moment," Locke replied. Natasha smiled in her mind. She had been listening in on the entire conversation, but one thing she didn't possess was the power to read minds. Banon did seem to convince Locke that she wasn't an evil person, but to this test proved that point. However gaining his respect would be an entirely different matter. She changed the subject quickly though, "Banon, the young woman you hired also disappeared." "Jade?" Banon clinched his teeth, "I had a good feeling about her too." "Don't let it get you down, Banon," Natasha smiled, "I'm sure she's all right." "I am as well," Banon replied, "I wonder what she's doing." "Perhaps we'll never find out," Locke said, not really knowing who this mysterious Jade person was, but figured it would be best to express his opinion. "Perhaps," Natasha sighed, "Somehow, I just doubt that. She was far to anxious to tag along on this trip. Do you think it would have something to do with the late Daemon, Banon?" "Could be," Banon shrugged, "Let's just get back to Mobliz. The Empire was more than hospitable to me, and I believe its my turn to help them out." "Agreed," Natasha smiled, she really wanted to get home. Home...what a word. She had never really used that word much in the past. Mobliz was not only where she lived and worked, it was her home. **************************************************** The chocobo ride had been going on for a few hours now. Locke and his lady friend had taken up a conversation with Banon in the back of the group, and with the trampling of chocobo feet every second, picking up what they were saying would be hard. She didn't even try though. This conversation was really none of her business at all, while the conversation earlier did. She suspected that Banon knew about her ability to listen like that, but she never asked him. Mostly due to the fact that if he really didn't know, then she would blow the cover she had with it. It was always good to keep a trump card in your hand. However something else caught her attention. Something very familiar to her. The smell entered her nose, and she placed it with his source immediately. It was the aroma of a rush free metal polish. Something that if they were in Mobliz wouldn't set her off this way, however she did experience the smell one before while they were gone. It was in the presence of the assassin Jade. She immediately turned to her cohorts and called them to a stop. Once the chocobo trampling drew to a close, she could hear a struggle of some sort. "Simpson, please escort Banon, Mr. Cole, and his lady friend to the ship. You're not far away from it," she said, "I have something to deal with before we go." Banon turned his eye to his Admiral, "Nat, what is going on?" "Jade," she answered, "She's around here." "I see," Banon replied, "And you're going to find her?" "Yes, I can smell the metal polish she uses on that gauntlet of hers," she answered, "Regardless other little disappearing act back there, she is still under the employment of the Returners, and I don't think its in my best interests to lose a person." "I see," Banon mirrored. "Don't wait up for me," she laughed. **************************************************** "This is your big chance," Ferrier said, "You know you've always wanted to join back up with us, and here is your chance. Come with us." "I said I wasn't interested," Jade spat, "I have other things, much more important, than hang around here with the likes of you." "I'm sorry you feel that way," Ferrier answered. Jade was rather confused at this second. Ferrier and his posse, the Spades, were a bunch of cut throats. They did just about everything from theft, to murder, for a price. Jade used to run around with them back in the day, however a while back she decided it was not in her best interests to continue working with them. Ferrier took offense to her going AWOL, but it wasn't something she cared a whole lot about. She made her choice, and it would just have to have been good enough for him. Obviously it wasn't. "Look, Ferrier," Jade said, "I'm on my own now. If you want to hire me, then you have to pay, the same as everyone else. However I no longer work for free. If you have business for me, talk. If not, then leave!" "Well, since you are reluctant to shack back up with us, I guess we'll have to silence you," Ferrier snickered, "I promise you, I didn't want it to come to this. I always liked you." "You can still like me," Jade snapped, "And if you like me that much, you can pay for my assistance." "I'm afraid I can't do that," Ferrier snapped his fingers, revealing seven, no eight Spades around him. "I thought you always carried eleven with you, Ferrier," Jade said, knowing his inner workings. "I see you remember the way I do things," he nodded, "All the more reason to silence you. However if you must know, three of my boys were killed in the raid of the Returner camp I sent them on. Now if you'll kindly lay your weapons down so they can kill you easier." "Well bring it on," Jade smiled, taking a defensive position. "Your over-confidence is your weakness, girl," Ferrier laughed, "Go ger her, boys." "My my my," a voice came out as the Returner Admiral leapt beside Jade, "All eight of you boys picking on this one poor little girl? Looks like I'll have to even up the odds a little." "I don't need your help!" Jade snapped. "I don't care if you need it, Jade," Natasha replied, "You're coming back to Mobliz, and the boat's waiting." Jade swung her left leg at Natasha, only to have it dodged, "I said I didn't need your help!" Ferrier roared in laughter, "As much as I hate to break up this cat fight, I am a very busy man. Spades, kill them both." Natasha drew her sword, only to have it kicked away by Jade. The Enygma Blade sailed through the air into the dirt about ten meters away. "No weapons," Jade snarled, "Fight to win, not to kill." "You're a real help, Jade," Natasha replied. The fight started. The first Spade went right after Jade, who caught him with a palm thrust in the chin, following it up with a back spin kick to the knee, dropping him immediately. The second one followed the attack up with a double axe handle shot, which connected to Jade's back side, which sent her down to one knee. Natasha cut off his attack by head locking the Spade and dropping him face first into the ground. By this time the first Spade rebounded enough to attack Natasha with a kick to the stomach. However the Admiral caught his leg and leg whipped him to spin around. Just as he made a complete 360 degree turn, she caught him with a haymaker that sent him spinning through the air, unconscious before he even hit the ground. Spade numbers 3 and 4 were attacking Jade, each armed with knives. As they sandwiched in on her, she side stepped the dual attack, nearly causing the two to stab each other. However they pulled up short, both patting themselves on the back for not continuing. The celebration ended, though, when Jade clapped their heads togther, sending them both down. Spade five caught a knee lift to the sternum from Natasha before she lifted him over her head and power bombed him on her knee, then following it up with another slam to the ground. Spade six caught a spinning heel kick from Natasha as he attempted to attack as she completed her display of power. Jade took her gauntlet and upper cut Spade four, breaking his nose, sending him down. Spade three, however, kicked her a good time in the back, and followed it up with a series of right and left rabbit punches. Jade fell over, brandishing her leather whip as she fell and snapped it around the Spade's ankles, then pulling it to send him down. Spade six had rebounded from the kick Natasha hit him with, and pulled bastard sword from his side. However by the time he pulled it out, she had already hit him with side cresent kick, sending the blade flying. She then pulled him into a waist lock and suplexed him over, crashing the back of his head into the ground. Spade seven attacked Jade as she put her whip back away, clubbing her in the back with a fine oak club. Jade went down, in pain. Jade rolled away into the clutches of Spade three, who picked her up in a full nelson, holding her for Spade seven's attack. However when he swung the club, Jade leapt up, causing the shot to catch his friend in the gut. Jade, still in the full nelson, wrapped her legs around Spade seven's head before she slipped out of the full nelson, flipping backwards sending Spade seven into three, head first. Spade eight was the biggest of the bunch, in fact, he was pushing six foot ten, easily. Natasha gingerly walked over to the Spade and took a defensive fighting position, awaiting the attack of the big monster. His first move was a spinning back fist, which he followed up with a low kick. These were easily telegraphed, however, and he found himself on his back soon after, not really knowing how it happened. Spade seven got up from the head scissors move that Jade had hit him with and ran right into a big boot, right to the mouth. He fell over, bleeding from his mouth. By this time, Natasha had finished off Spade number eight with a similar power bomb type maneuver that she used earlier, only this time she spun him around by his legs instead of following up the first power bomb on the knee with another. She spun him around five or six times before letting the Spade go, sending him flying through the air, crashing some ten meters away. Jade squinted her left eye, still in pain from the club shot to the back earlier. Ferrier looked frightened. "I can't believe you beat them all," Ferrier gasped, "All eight of them!" "Now will you leave me alone?" Jade panted. "Lei, I will never forget about this, you will pay for your division of loyalties," Ferrier spat. "Yeah yeah, whatever," Jade replied. Ferrier then disappeared. Natasha walked over and picked up the Enygma Blade and sheathed it at her side, "You want to tell me what that was all about?" "Not really," Jade replied, now sounding as if she really wasn't hurt, however she was still favoring her injuries. "I did save your bacon back there, Jade," she replied, "You can put on the face that you had everything in control, but you know that if I hadn't been there, you could have been killed." "Maybe," Jade shrugged, "Perhaps it was my destiny to die back there." "Not while you're on my pay roll," Natasha answered. "Never the less, you did help out, I guess," Jade said, "How much do I owe you?" "Why don't you tell me what it was all about, and we'll call it even," Natasha started to walk with Jade back to the chocobo she had tied to a tree. "Ferrier and his Spades were my old gang," she responded, "I used to steal and run jobs for them. However I parted ways with them a while back, and I guess Ferrier is still rather steamed about it." "So that's why you didn't want me to kill any of them," Natasha asked, "Because they were your friends?" "Some of them were," Jade said, "But honestly I don't think that was the case. I figure they have as much right to make the choices that I did during my stay with Ferrier." "Good point," Natasha replied, "So who is Lei?" "I am," Jade snarled, "That's my real name, Lei Jade." "I learn something new everyday," she snickered. "If you tell anyone that, I will kill you, Gestahl," Jade snapped. Holding back from letting her confidence in her abilities take over, she responded calmly, "I don't think you have anything to worry about, Jade. I wouldn't gain anything from knowing your real name." Jade didn't answer. ‘In any case, we've got a boat to catch, so let's hurry up."