The one Jake called kid order his men to surround Jake and capture him. Jake didn’t resist as they threw him on the ground and tied his hands behind his back.

“Not so tough now. Your face is in the dirt. Bring him to the cells. He will spit out everything he’s got after I’m done with him.”

They took Jake to what appeared to be a transportation crate for a dog. As they opened the gate, they found the inside filled with faeces and it seemed that Jake wouldn’t be alone. In the crate there was a Yong female beast folk. She had reptile features such as some patches of her skin where scales, while other parts were more humanlike, including some features that Jake didn’t want to mention. Her hair was a beautiful scarlet colour with accents of blue coming through. The colour of her skin had patches of red that faded into black, the patches of red were located where her scales were. A big patch of scales that ran from underneath her collar bones, curving in-between her abundant chest then fanning out slightly. Once it exited from the valley, it slowly tapered to a point just below her navel. Jake was stunned at her beauty, possibly even rivalling that of Mary’s. Even in the state she was currently in, Jake searched through his storage, looking for some clothing that could cover the sleeping snake lady. But as he expected, there was none in his ring. “Throw him in with the snake, bitch. If he’s lucky, she won’t kill him.” The low ranking kid ordered before he left for the same building he had originally come from.

Jake was through on top of the snake lady as jake landed. Her eyes snapped open, her mouth opened up as her fangs dripped with venom.

“sorry for the intrusion. May I share some of this space with you?” Jake said as he smiled innocently at their predicament. The snake lady slowly closed her mouth then with a smile said, “sorry I didn’t know I would be having a guest or I would have cleaned up for you.”

Jake laughed before he saying “Jake Everval pleased to meet you.”

“Jake Everval, what does that mean?”

“That’s my name. May I ask what yours is?”

“Name, I don’t have one.”

“What should I call you then?”

“Well, the people that keep me looked up here just call me that bitch snake.”

“No, I will not be calling you that. How about this for a name, Jayne? It’s a good name.”

“I like it. Jayne Everval.”

“yer, wait Everval. That’s my family name.”

“Family name?”

“Yes, it’s a name that gets carried on from pedant to their children or sometimes given to a wife.”

“What’s a wife?”

“A wife is a title traditionally given to the female, and it is also someone you have decided to spend the rest of your life with.”

“Okay, I understand, so I shall be your wife then.”

“Um, that’s not how that works.”

“But you said a wife is a title given to female, and I just got a title.”

“Wait, you got a title?”

“Yes, it’s called the wife of Jake Everval, the demon of the past. So that makes me your wife right.”

Jake just lay there for a good ten minutes, not speaking or even blinking. Only once Jayne spoke did he move at all

“sorry Jayne, what did you say?”

“There’s people coming.”

“Oh.” Jake snapped the rope tying his hands behind his back, then took off his cloak, wrapping it around the beautiful snake. Before asking her if she could fight.

“No, not really, not in this form at least.”

Jake quickly asked what she meant by form. Jayne quickly changed into a red belly black. “How did you get here?”

“I don’t know. I remember being in a glass box, then I was out here in my human form.”

“Captivity.”

“What’s that?”

“Never mind. How about this then? If you can’t fight, then can you hide in my cloak? I will put it back on, then we can get out of here together.”

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“Okay.” Jayne hissed as she wrapped her way up Jake’s arm. Jake put his cloak back on and as the people arrived, Jake looked to see if there was anyone new. There were the usual five, but this time they were followed by three more one old beast folk lady and two humans of similar age looking as if they already had one foot in the grave. “There he is.” the kid said to the two old men that followed him Jake let out a sigh before saying to Jayne “I’m going to listen to what then got to say then if I don’t like it I will kill them all and leave.”

“Sound good to me husband.”

Jake coughed as his mind slipped into how he was going to get out of this whole marriage thing.

“Demon, we are here only for you to hand over your flying machine and any other equipment you have.” One of the old humans said,

“I’m not impressed.” Jake said, looking directly at the beast folk

“So you thought you could split us and not see any repercussions for it?” The lady said.

“I find it strange how people so inept could find himself in charge of a force of people who just want to be free to do what they want without being enslaved by the same people that they think are on their side.” jake was staring at the old lady the whole time on the back of her hand she had a slave mark. Jake had a filling. She experienced enslavement by one of these two old men not long ago. The old lady covered her face with her marked hand and said, “just comply and hand over what they want. It will be much easier on you.”

“Is that what you did?” Jake asked

“Yes, I sold my people to save myself.”

Jake had enough of this conversation and gave the gate a quick kick to see how strong it was. The gate shook, making the group of people jump back. The kid stepped forward and with what looked like a small trident jabbed it at Jake as it hit jake realised what it was as electricity ran through his body Jake just looked up at the kid as he slowly pulled his leg back then kicked it out blowing the gate off of its hinges and straight into the kids face Jake then teleported into one of the old men’s shadow and slit his throat slowly from ear to ear as he look at the rest of the group. “Kill him.” The kid ground out of his busted face. Jake quickly shifted to the next shadow as he stabbed the next man, followed directly by another, then Jake stopped for a second before popping out beside the old lady and said to her, “don’t worry, I won’t kill you yet.”

Jake then fired one grenade at the group, taking them all out at once, then Jake stepped out of the kids’ shadow and asked, “Jayne, what should we do with him? Jake’s sleeve moved as a snake struck out, hiding the one Jake called the kid in the neck seven times before she returned to her place in Jake’s clothing. He then walked over to the old lady, who was now kneeling on the ground. She was muttering to herself as jake got closer. He picked up what she was muttering. “What have I done?”

“Yes, what have you done? Don’t tell me you really have sold your people out. Because if that’s the case, I can’t help you.” Jake said, as he picked up the old lady. “Come with me you need to talk to your people and get them to leave tell them there is a safe place for them in my territory it is located in Victoria Australia at the foot of the Strzelecki ranges tell them it will be a hard and dangerous journey but once they make it, they will be free to do what they want they could even start their own settlement if they wanted.”

Jake walked with the old lady back to the place he was happily eating chicken drumsticks.

“Well, it’s time for you to tell them the truth.”

“My fellow beast folk I have done you harm for my own preservation and my last act for you will be to tell you that all tho your journey will be tuff but there is a place in this would for you. On the Australian continent in the state of Victoria, there is a place of safety for you at the foot-hills of a place called the Strzelecki ranges.” She stood there quiet for a good while before continuing.

“As for the reason, I cannot come with you. As I said earlier, I sold you all to the leaders of this camp and those leaders sold you to a group of creatures from the stars. You were all going to be enslaved and used, however, your master’s sore fit. But this man’s actions have granted you a reprieve from this. He is the owner of the safe zone I previously spoke of.” The old lady pointed at Jake.

“My name is Jake Everval, and in my territory you will be relatively safe, but there are rules. A council of five runs the settlement, not me. Four positions can be occupied by any citizen of the settlement; there is one position reserved for my representative. There is also a mercenary group where you could find employment, if that is your path. The settlement will be happy to take in any of you; this also includes any humans that wish to travel or those who have lost their way.” Jake said this before touching the old lady on the arm and flooding the slave mark with arcane energy, removing it. Then he just left the old lady standing there wondering what had just happened.

“Jayne, it’s time to leave. We have a long trip ahead of us and most likely a fight waiting for us when we get there. So what do you say? Do you still wish to continue following me?”

“I’m going to follow, no matter where you go or who you are fighting.”

“Okay if you're sure about this, but I must warn you, this ship of mine only has one seat.”

“I don’t need a seat.” The snake hissed.

Jake left the camp, then pulled out his runabout and began rearranging the engines. He removed the two broken engines and put the right engine into the centre. “This should get us to Europe. It will be slower, but I don’t have a choice in the matter.” Jake climbed up into the cockpit and began a systems check.

Warning bypassing engine safety parameters could be detrimental to the ship’s airworthiness. Would you like to proceed with the startup sequence yes/no?

Jake selected yes on the flight display. The little ship hummed to life, its single rear engine began creating up to its flight chamber pressure, then roared to life. He flicked the safety latch off and began slowly increasing the throttle till it started moving forward. Then he took off at a nice slow pace only once Jake was airborne and quite a good distance away from the camp did Jake crank open the throttle more, bringing it up to a stable 40% then Jake plotted a course and let the runabout fly itself. Jake laid back into his chair and said, “would you like to come out? I’m sure you could find a nice comfortable spot to curl up in.”

Jayne slithered out of Jake’s top and down onto his lap. “Once we get to our destination, I really need a wash and you could use one, to husband.” Jayne said

Jake may have been getting used to it because he didn’t even notice what she had called him. “Yer you’re right, maybe I should look for a nice hot spring or something. Ar, but if we do that, it’s going to take us longer to get there.”

“What a pity I could have used a nice wash and a sleep. I guess I shall just have to sleep.”