Kaska

*Twang* "Hah! That got him!"

Dave sighed. He knew what was happening of course but it was important to play his "part" in the altered Berzerk "story" Harley and his team had cooked up. "What do you idiots think you're doing?"

The mercenary soldiers of the Band of the Hawk pointed at the figure on the road dropping their crossbows. "That's him! That big bastard who slew that even bigger bastard! He's gotta be a mercenary with a full purse now for taking that guy down! We can rob him, take it and get some payback for missing out."

Dave smirked. "You really are fools." Even from here he could see Casca- no, Kaska and her big sword. "You better not... you can't handle him and you'll just make trouble Griffith."

"Bah!" The hot heads said mounting up. "What do you know about it?" They spurred their horses to ride down and confront and harass Kaska on the road. Blinded by greed and foolish pride.

Dave chuckled. "I know more than you'd think," he whispered taking just a moment to watch as Kaska got her fateful introduction to the mercenary band. Things played out similarly to Gut's introduction to The Band of the Hawk.

Even from here he could admire her and see her beauty. He knew it well... he'd helped shape and create it after all. Casca from Berzerk was now Kaska the Orcess. As big as Guts and stronger than him as she took his place as the protagonist in her story... but that also meant someone had to take her usual place... and that's where he came in. And right now, in the story Harls had worked out, he had to go tell Griffith.

He looked at their version of Griffith as he walked that way. He looked almost exactly the same except Harley had written him as an elf or half elf with those pointy ears. And Harls hadn't changed much about the rotten little monster. Dave felt a sudden irrational desire to hurt him. Even though it hadn't happened yet... knowing how badly he'd eventually betray them all... how he'd even try to pathetically use him later.

Griffith looked up at him with those cold piercing eyes. "Something wrong?"

For Dave this was going to be the hardest part of the scenario Harls had worked out. Sure taking Casca's old role was going to have it's absolute suck moments for him. He was going to have to get hurt. He was going to have to need rescuing from situations. Worse he was going to have to fend off rapists as well as fight for his life. Even harder he'd have to act pretty coldly towards Kaska in the beginning setting up for the more friendly rivalry and relationship down the road. It was quite likely he'd see quite a few of these "virtual" comrades die pretty gruesome deaths... but the hardest part for him was going to be this. He needed to be, or at least pretend to be, devoted to Griffith when even this virtual replacement made him sick.

He swallowed and smiled sickeningly. "Yeah... it's that big guy. The mercenary swordsman! He's on the road and the others are being damn fools!"

Griffith gave him a funny look. Dave hoped he hadn't made a mistake... "You'd better go help them then."

Dave nodded seriously. "Yes, Sir." He ran towards horse and mounted quickly. Time to go 'save' that idiot Corkus and then need saving himself.

Kaska swung her sword but another crossbow bolt thunked into the ground infront of her. Another rider appeared. He shouted something at the other guy and cuffed him on the head. The former opponent slunk away as fast as they could.

The newcomer turned her direction and dismounted. "Sorry about that. They're pretty good for the most part but we do have a couple of damnable fools in our company. They lost out on this job are feeling sore about it." He tossed his purse of coin at her feet surprising everyone. "I don't suppose you'd let it go? Go your way and heal up and you'll have no more trouble from the Band of the Hawk."

Kaska meanwhile kicked his pouch away and charged in. "It doesn't matter to me. A battle is a battle once it's started!"

He smiled grimly and drew his blade. That was the difference. He was taking Casca's old role, Kaska was taking Gut's... but they were still themselves. Kaska, though tempered a bit by Guts backstory instead, was still going to be a bit of a hot head.

That was the thing in using the neural technology and the program he'd helped create to "rewrite" a characters background. Even something like this, swapping a character from secondary lead to protagonist, which sounded simple, really wasn't. Kaska would act similarly to Gut's story with the proper motivations and background... but she was still Casca underneath it all. Those inherent traits were still there.

There were two ways to use the technology. The first was simply to slam the rewrite in there forcibly. A total re-write. But that required a long-time, both for the writer and editor team as they had to be extremily through about every little detail but also the owners approval process and then the length of time it took in the machine.

And then there was this. A much looser structure to allow a freer and more natural development to take place. Certain key things were scripted certainly and set in stone but they were allowed to develop a bit organically. The subject could have a bit of agency within their story. Develop towards those scripted events a bit more naturally perhaps. But the trickier the situation the more they required a guide getting to the next plot point. Which was a doozy, especially in this instance, because-

Dave barely ducked under her swing with her big great sword. She wasn't just strong... she was fast! She was better than Guts. All his strength and more, combined with her sped! He needed to use every advantage he could because there weren't many. Right now his main advantages were her larger size and inexperience. That wasn't much... especially since he didn't want to mortally wound her-

He barely dodged to the side of a killing blow from Kaska's two-handed sword. He scored a light hit and her helmet came off and heard the men cheer their commander but he didn't pay them much mind. It was a shallow wound. He saw the surprise on her face as she grunted and he looked into her eyes stating what he already knew. "A woman?" She narrowed her eyes. This was serious. It would be bad to get killed or maimed by Kaska.

He had the wind knocked out of him a bit as she kicked him with a powerful leg growling, "Stand still!" He'd barely gotten his sheild up and it dented from the blow of her powerful leg. She wasn't Gut's and he wasn't actually Casca. They had to do things their own way.

He sprang back up and rushed in. Kaska swung her sword to cut him down as he raised his splintered and dented sheild in front of his face. She'd take his head clean off! Her powerful arms bulged and the sword struck the shield cleaving right through it!

But Dave had ducked even lower and her blade had narrowly missed his arm and had only caught the very top of his helmet tearing it from his head. He ran his sword into her shoulder, nicking his ear badly in the process on her blade. Kaska's many wounds were catching up to her and Dave needed to sieze this chance. He kicked her sword hilt from nerveless fingers.

In the original story Guts started to "beat" Casca but loses to Griffith when he intervened and then gets inducted into the Band. But there was no way of knowing how far Griffith would have to go to beat someone stronger than Guts. Would he kill Kaska if she proved too troublesome in this early stage? He was a bastard... and Dave didn't want her to get as close to the jerk... hell, he didn't want to be close to him. "You lose to me... now yield."

Kaska's eye's grew wide. "I lost? No... too fast..." she whispered meeting his eyes in shock then growled. "Not yet!" She snatched up her sword with her good hand, savagely swinging her blade. Dave tossed aside his ruined shield, blocked and parried as she drove him back... and then Dave choked up his grip on his blade. He started fighting back ferociously. They both bared their teeth at one another grinning ferociously at one another... and then a spear landed between them.

The man start cheering. "That's it! The Captain's getting involved now. It's all over."

Dave frowned. He didn't want things to go Griffiths way. "We're not done! This is our fight! You ordered me to handle it. I can take her."

Griffith looked at him with those cold eyes. "And now I order you to stand aside."

He gave Kaska one last look before turning away. "I understand."

Kaska blinked. She had started to enjoy that fight... and it seemed like her opponent had too. Why? Why stop? "No matter," she gripped her sword and faced off with the newcomer. "I'll take you on too!"

Dave walked away. Someone handed him a towel. He looked up to see Judeau. Pippin was behind him carrying his ruined shield and helm. "Too bad... it was just starting to get interesting. Some good betting was going on but I was confident you could take her eventually. Would've been some easy coin. Oh well. No one's betting against Griffith, obviously."

Dave wiped at his face with the rag. "I wish... I wish he hadn't stuck his nose in this time."

Judeau and Pippin looked at each other in surprise. "David... you never go against Griffiths orders."

He shook his head. "I'm not going against them now either... I just... wish he'd stayed out of it. It was just getting good... I could have taken her!"

They smiled. That was a first. "Of course you could, "Big Bro"!"

Dave chuckled and smiled at the nickname... but there was nothing to feel good about as Griffith struck Kaska down quickly and predictably then proclaimed his intention of taking her into the Band. Dave frowned. He knew what was coming next but he wouldn't let Griffith have his way this time.

He quickly clapped his hands. "You heard Griffith. Tend to her wounds and injuries... and take her to my tent... She's lost too much blood. I'll keep her warm."

Griffith looked surprised. He looked up at Griffith. "Something wrong?"

Griffith shook his head. "No... you read my mind, just a bit is all. She's too valuable to lose... t-"

Dave nodded. "I shall tend to her to the best of my abilities. Sir. That is my duty."

Griffith blinked. He interrupted him and said what he would have again. "Yes... quite... See to it." He rode off.

Dave started snapping orders at the surprised mercenaries. "What are you standing around for! Get me a stretcher immediately! Judeau, I want clean bandages and water sent to my tent! Extra blankets too! Pippin can you make that broth I taught you? Good, man! Start on that when we get to camp. She'll need sustenance and warmth to replenish blood and help fight off the chill..."

Kaska shivered. She was being touched. *Don't touch me!* she thought. *Don't you dare touch me!* She could hear the mocking laughter of the people who had tried to mistreat her in her past. Her "father"... some petty noble. She couldn't trust anyone. That's how the world was... not just for women but mercenaries as well. So it went double for her. Couldn't abide their touch. She was so tired... heavy... "cold..."

She felt someone touch her. They tucked her arm closer to her body. Underneath something heavy. They tried pouring something from a spoon into her mouth but she coughed... *Don't touch me,* she thought as she felt them clean her... and then she felt lips. Lips touching hers. A mouth upon her mouth gently prying it open. And then warm fluid. Trickled into her mouth bit by bit. She swallowed. The other person repeated the process over and over. Feeding her gently with hot nourishment.

When they stopped she felt the covers over her drawn up. Someone was getting under them. *Don't... touch me...*

They nestled in next to her, wrapping themselves around her. They felt so warm. So naked. So... male! "Don't..."

"Shh... you've lost a lot of blood," gentle fingers stroked her brow. "Rest. Sleep. I promise..." a hand took hers and squeezed gently. "You're safe... I won't let anyone take you... no man, monster... not even ****."

"Touch... me..." she whispered.

Dave nodded and making sure his sword was near at hand and wrapped himself even tighter around Kaska. "I've got you... I'll never let go..." He felt her hand squeeze his back just a little. Sure she was a big muscular, beauty and sexy as hell... but right now she was just a person who needed help. His help. Help he wanted to give her. He'd help her however he could. She didn't lnow it, and that was fine, but they were going to get her a good story this time!

Kaska relaxed a bit. Her nightmares drifted back. Whoever he was they'd chased them away. He'd keep them at bay. Keep everything and everyone away. Just the two of them. They were the only things in this world of gentle darkness and shared warmth. They were enough. *Is this heaven? This is what a gentle loving touch is. Would my parents have touched me like this... if they'd lived? If someone had cared?* She'd found it at last. Something she hadn't known she was searching for. "Never... let go..."

"Never let go," David told Kaska.

It took her over two days to recover before Kaska could open her eyes. "What the-"

"Hey... you," said a voice next to her. "You're finally awake."

She recognized the face of the man she'd fought before. He was naked and getting dressed. "What-?"

"I have other duties to attend to," he said pulling his pants up. She blushed. She'd seen naked people before. Many times infact. That was the mercenary life. But something was different about looking at him. He stepped in to boots and grabbed a shirt and threw it over his shoulder. "There's clean water in the bucket and that towel there is clean. You can wash yourself further now if you like. I had your clothes washed. They're just behind you." He lit a lamp and smiled just a bit. "I can't spend all day being your nursemaid." He strode out of the tent.

She blushed. She checked herself. Someone had bound and tended her wounds expertly. Done a good job of keeping her clean too. She worried that she'd been taken advantage of, but while her injuries were still painful she didn't feel like she'd been violated or used and there was no evidence to the contrary.

David started seeing to the business of the camp. Giving orders and checking on his men and the horses mostly. He saw Kaska exit the tent and start having a conversation with Judeau. Judeau bringing her up to speed. Explaining things. Things progressed naturally and as expected from there. Griffith talking with Kaska like he'd talked with Guts in the story.

"Commander?"

Dave blinked. "Sorry about that. Got distracted. You were saying, Gaston?"

Gaston was one of the raiders under his command. "It's fine. I was saying the horses are looking good and I've got the men working on their marksmanship."

Dave smiled and nodded. "Good they need it. We're not a bunch of heavy cavalry knights. We need to be able to strike quickly and decisively. Able to switch between melee and ranged attacks. Especially when executing raids."

"Yes, Sir. I'll see that it's done," he acknowledged then hesitantly asked. "What do you think... will she join us?"

*Yes,* Dave thought but shook his head. "It's possible. Griffith's talking to her now..."

Gaston nodded. "You don't like that?"

Dave blinked. "What?"

Gaston smiled slightly. He had a very honest face for a mercenary. "You're frowning, commander... almost scowling. Is it that you don't like her... or that you don't like her talking to Griffith?"

Dave gave him a look but Gaston smiled. He knew how much David cared for the Band and the men all respected him the way he treated them. He demanded their very best but treated them like family. "I... like her fine."

Gaston nodded. "Ah, so she's your type! Yeah, I figured as much. You don't generally go around wenching with the others. Griffith neither. There'd been a few rumors starting that, well you know." He shook his head. "But I knew better. Griffith... who knows? But not you! We've all seen how you look at ladies... but you only ever look. Almost no second glances. But you can't take your eyes off of her. I'd be nervous too if Griffith was talking to the girl I fancied, I-"

"Gaston," Dave said lowly and giving him a hard look... but then smirked. "Anyone ever tell you that you talk and joke too much when you're nervous?"

Gaston laughed and sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Aww... you know me too well! It's this new team idea. I'm nervous about serving under someone other than you."

Dave smiled as they checked over the tack together. "We've been pretty successful and the Band has grown. We need to start splitting up into smaller groups. It makes sense if we get a few more members to split the Band into three. Some who'll follow under Griffith, and some under myself and then a third bunch. That'll make the different types of jobs and actions we need to take in operations more fkexibke in our options. Griffith still hasn't figured out who yet... but they'll likely be inexperienced. That means the junior officer will have to make up the difference. You're the best of them."

Gaston smiled. "Thanks... no idea who? I hope it's not Corkus like the rumors are saying..."

Dave raised an eyebrow. "Not likely. You all are worse gossips than a sewing circle. Who's spreading that rumor?"

Gaston grinned and winked. "Who do you think... Corkus, obviously!"

They both laughed. "Of course! He wishes! I highly doubt that'll happen and the redivisions probably won't happen for the rest of this campaigning season... but yeah if not, the next then after that we'll likely have to make some changes... assuming we don't all end up dead, of course."

Gastin chuckled. "That's our commander. Always the optimist!"

They both laughed.

A crowd gathered as Kaska and Griffith had their "duel" the only way she'd stay was if Griffith beat her. Dave wanted to step in... he wasn't Casca and Kaska, while she'd always had the potential to be his and Griffiths equal, wasn't Guts. Their relationship was going to be different no matter how things went. Just like the Bands dynamic was subtly different with him and Griffith then it was when it was Casca and Griffith.

But ultimately he let it play out. It was her story, not his. She needed this event... and it played out pretty much exactly like the story. It was still exciting to watch and it almost looked like Kaska was going to beat Griffith for a moment there. Dave smiled. He'd truly made her exceptionally strong! But she was still weakened from the prior battles. Griffith won finally by dislocating her arm. After that it was all downhill from there. Just like Guts found out, it was hard to swing a sword with an arm that was disabled. It was a good reminder that strength wasn't everything.

But he stayed vigilant and waited through the evening. And sure enough it was another scene playing out. Corkus and his flunkys were gathered outside Kaska's tent. Technically it was still his tent. Ploting to kill Kaska and dump her body. Dave smirked. He knew, like Guts had, Kaska was waiting for them sword in hand. Time to do his part.

"You better not do it," he said simply, stepping out into the torchlight.

"David," some of them whispered and took hesitant steps back. "Why not? We can be rid of the girl," Corkus asked.

Dave crossed his arms. "Even in her current condition she's far beyond your skill level."

Corkus spat. "I think I'll take my chances."

Dave smirked grimly. "And you'll die. Go run along back to your tent like a good dog, Corkus."

"Huh?" Corkus asked angry at the condescension and irritated at someone interfering in his schemes. "David, why do you want to save her? Oh... I see what's going on here."

"What was that?" Dave asked his hand nearing his blade.

Corkus leered. "You lay down beside her for the past two nights. She's actually surprisingly pretty faced for having orcish blood. But with that overly muscled mannish body? There's been some rumors making the rounds since you never partake of the wenches. Now you found a manly beauty to top you and you have feelings for her. Do you want her to strap on a-eep!"

Dave had drawn his blade as fast as lighting and had it against Corkus's neck. "If you say or I even hear anything like that ever again as a rumor, I'll have your head. Even if I have to ride to the ends of the earth. Understand cur?"

Corkus immediately had his hands up. "H-hey, I was kidding! Only a jest! See? Heheh... calm down!"

Dave stared him in the eyes. Not even angrily... just coldly. He'd cut Corkus down like he'd approach any disgusting job. Just taking out the trash. That was how it had to be in a mercenary company. Sure the rumors and insults were annoying. But the authority was all that mattered. That and Kaska didn't need this wretches attention right now. She was a member of the Band. Time to start solidifying that immediately.

Corkus swallowed and nodded je took one slow cautious step back before telling his flunkys, "Come on... let's go!" They quickly scurried away and Dave sheathed his steel.

Kaska pushed open the tent flap and stepped out. "Well... it looks like I owe you double now. I suppose I should at least thank you." She sounded slightly testy. Probably miffed at having a potential fight broken up... or more likely... testing him?

Dave knew the line Casca would say to Gutz... but that wasn't him. He had the part and the role and he'd play it his way.

"I didn't do it for you," he said. "And I didn't do any of what I did under orders either. I did it for me. Understand? My decision. All of it was my choice and I wanted to do it... and I also did it for the Band. That's my ulterior motive. Most are a good bunch. We may not always get along but we'll always damn sure have each others backs. Almost like a family. People to watch your back and who trust in you to watch theirs. Even when you're separated you do your best for them because you know somewhere out there, they're doing their best for you. Griffith wants you because you're special. He's 'funny' that way. He "collects" unusual and special people. I want you... for all of us. If you can't see the benefit of that? Of a place beside me- beside us? Then you don't actually have a place here no matter what Griffith says." He tossed her a bottle of wine and half a loaf he'd been bringing. "I'd think about that if I were you... if I don't see you in the morning girl, I'll assume you decided to slink off in the middle of the night and be very disappointed."

"My name..." she said. "My name is Kaska. You could at least use it and not "girl"!"

Dave smiled looking her in the eye in the torchlight. "Alright," he said much softer and tenderly. "Kaska... I'll remember that. My name is David, Kaska."

Kaska watched him turn and wave over his shoulder casually as the young man strode off into the darkness. His words were so different from Griffiths demand. He simply expressed his desire for her... *to join them!* she blushed.

"Oh what is wrong with me?!" She wondered aloud uncorking the bottle and grabbing the loaf of bread she'd been given. She took a bite and washed it down with wine. "No wait. Hold up... he saud "a place beside me" before quickly adding "beside us"... beside me, eh?"

She thought about the last time she'd been beside him. Judeau, Pippin and Ricket had told her all about it... not that she couldn't guess.

She knew who had taken such good care of her. Treated her wounds. Lay with her to keep her warm and **** at bay. Touched her gently. Feed her broth and water and medicine by mouth. Held her close and told her-

"Never let go," she whispered into the night. Her heart hammered thinking about warm bodies and lips and words in the dark. "David."

Dave blinked getting out of the machine. "Ugh, it always feels so..."

"Weird?" Harleen asked. "Disorienting and discombulating?"

Dave nodded and went to touch his ear... but Harley slapped his hand. "I only just did it while you were under. Don't touch it!"

Dave nodded. "She's damn good. Honestly even that young version of herself... she's an even better swordswoman than I thought-"

"Is that supposed to make me "Not mad" now that you got a scar from crossing blades with her?"

Dave smiled and looked down at Kaska touching her scars. Some that he'd given her. "Maybe not... but it makes me feel a bit better."

Harleen sighed. "Yeah, yeah ok. I get it's important to you."

Dave nodded. That was the other down side of using the machine that way. While the experiences might be 'artificially constructed' that didn't make them any less real. Because that's what they were. They existed for both of them as if they were real events... because as far as the brain was concerned. They were.

He brushed her hair with his fingers. He touched her lips. Ran his thumb across the cute little tusks that just jutted up. He'd kissed these lips to feed her... he wasn't like Casca was but even still... he wanted- "Harls did you mess with the settings?"

She swallowed but smiled and shook her head smiling. "Nope," she said honestly. They'd already been set the eay she wanted them to be. "Why did something feel weirder than usual? You know it's probably because you went "off script" in a few places."

Dave sighed and nodded smiling. "Yeah. My bad. Sorry 'bout that..."

Harleen shrugged. "You're the boss and the "customer" this time. It's your prerogative. You only changed minor stuff. Honestly I expected a bit more."

Dave chuckled. "Yeah. It was a struggle not to get into it with Griffith... but he'll get what's coming to him later. He hasn't done "wrong"... yet." He blinked. "How are we on time?"

"Not bad but everything else will have to wait until later," she said knowing that the sense of time percieved was different in a virtual neural link. "We got twenty minutes before we open for business."

Dave sighed and nodded. "Feels like I just pulled an all nighter. I'll go splash some water on my face and grab a drink. We're open for business!"

[David Stark Pepper Tinker Bell Harley Quinn Melfina VSD02C Princess Hilda R. Dorothy Wayneright and Kaska

Will Return In

At Work & At Home

Coming Soon]