Derrick tilted his head down to the side,<strong>"I wouldn't go for your weapon. I didn't get a look, sounded like a sword or a machete. Either way, you'd have to get in close. Close quarters combat? You have no chance."</strong>However his expression softened as he sighed deeply.<strong>"If I wanted? I could make you give up everything, believe me. I could break you in ways you never imagined, wade into your outpost and lay waste to everything there...but I'm trying not to be that person anymore. Jasmine deserves more."</strong><br/><br/>Walking slowly towards her, he kept his hands visible.<strong>"Look, I don't intend to drag her along on this mission. I want to see my daughter though, she deserves to see me face to face. I could do any number of things, but I won't. If I feel your people are up to snuff? I will allow you all to continue providing shelter...until my business here is wrapped up. But you &amp; I aren't leaving this forest unless you take me to see her. I don't trust you enough to allow you to leave without me, so take me to Jasmine? You have my word, there'll be no violence. That's the best offer you're going to get..."</strong><br/><br/>This woman cared for Jasmine, almost like a mother. Possibly more than her own mother had, she was willing to die for her. That is a large part of why she was still alive. He looked into her eyes for a moment without a word. Was she going to accept his deal? Or was he going to have to resort to old tricks. He really didn't want to, he was fighting every instinct he had. He'd been conditioned to be the worst kind of monster, Jasmine though? She'd saved him from that, the responsibilities of being a father had for those short glorious years made him human once more.