This information was taken without permission of the owner so everything belongs to their respective owners. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Long ago in a distant land. I, Aku, the shape-shifting Master of Darkness, unleashed an unspeakable evil! But a foolish Samurai warrior wielding a magic sword stepped forth to oppose me. Before the final blow was struck, I tore open a portal in time and flung him into the future, where my evil is law! Now the fool seeks to return to the past, and undo the future that is Aku!” The frozen reach of the world is where the quest continues. A long plane of snow and ice and constantly blowing winds. Always a whiteout, visibility nigh but gone. Nothing lived for long unprotected in this harsh roof of the world where clouds of gray always swarmed, heavy with snow and ice to fall down onto the land and coat it all over again. A single frozen mountain of shadows marked the only percievable mass of real land in sight, the destination as pointed out by Atless map and directions scribed upon it. This is where the quest resumed as Jack and Seth sought out the truth of the Gems and the knowledge to use the unusable White one Seth carried with him. Demi, the dark and evil Gravity Demon, sat on air, on a pivot of his own twisted gravity, and watched the two he was so ungraciously bound to gear themselves up. Jack equipped a thick coat of furs he had acquired in his travels with the hood of a bears head over his head to protect from the cold. Seth wore a more sophisticated set of equipment, a thickened fur-lined leather coat and insulating coldwear underneath his moisture-resistant top. His pants fabric was padded and stuffed into his boots which rose up to the middle of his shins. His hair was within the hood of his coat to keep from swaying and potentially freezing in the breeze. Sure youre warm enough? Demi asked with a skeptical, low snicker of self gratitude. Jack and Seth both glanced his way and patiently divided up their Gems. We know not what this dark one does Jack said so it is to assume that we will not use it as frequently. Ill keep it in that case Seth said. Ive got more pockets than you...wait, do you have pockets? I have a pouch sewn into the inner hem of this coat Jack said. Thats a pocket then Seth said. Its really not much of a decision, is it? Which do you prefer, lightning or fire? Either way shall be fine Jack said. The fire Gem will be more of a hazard, I believe, if it is misused in this environment. I feel a certain affinity for the fire Gem, though. Take it then Seth said, holding it out. Jack took it in his fur-lined glove hand and stowed it in the side pouch inside his thick, white coat. Now, about coordination, how will we reunite if we get separated without alerting everything out here, if there is anything, to our position? Jack looked to his white fur coat and frowned at it for once. This is a bit troublesome Jack admitted. I have rarely traveled through such lands with company, so it was more useful for me to not be seen at all. I understand that Seth said. I suppose, if worse comes to worse and we are separated, we can always trust each other to use the Gems to find our goal and meet there. Of course Jack said. The Gems will always guide to each other. But for now, we shall travel side-by-side. I have been through such lands before. There are indeed creatures hiding in the veils of flowing snow, and very few with the whim to understand what they attack out of hunger and madness. Can you fight in that coat? Seth asked, staring at the thick linings of fur all around Jacks arms. Jack simply nodded and Seth confirmed his belief with a nod as well. Just get going already! Demi shouted as he stood on the powdery snow as if weightless. Jeez. How long does it take two self-proclaimed warriors to shut the hell up and get going? A year, maybe two!? GO already! And how will we signal you? Jack asked skeptically. Were sure as hell not finding our way back here Seth said. Even if you stay and wait we may never show up. Is that what you were counting on to get out of your contract? I can find the Gems Demi said naturally. Its a bond between demons, neh-neh-neh. If you call for me Ill come, but only call when youre ready to get moving to the next spot. If you dont have the Gem by then Im not bringing you back here, got it? Understood Jack said. Thank you for you assistance. Dont thank me Demi said. He swung his cape around his shoulders and disappeared as it wrapped around him into a spinning void of matter. He was gone completely and left the two men to their task of trudging through the snow in their thick boots, Jacks of natural leather lined with fur and Seths of modern design, sleek and flexible. They walked toward the far away shadow of a mountain, staying close at each others side, and soon vanished into the thick veil of constant snow. They crested over great drifts and dunes of snow together, staying on the compacted surfaces of snow or on solid patches of frozen ice so they wouldnt fall through the meters of snow that had gathered like fine, freezing sand all around them. Jack took a temporary lead as they neared a crest of solid ice that seemed to ascend straight up to a flat plateau. He made the effort to carefully climb by grabbing onto the notches in the ice and the natural sharp juts made from the constantly changing, harsh winds but still found it difficult in the constant battery of the wind and the naturally slick consistency of the ice wall to keep his ascent vertical. Seth outplayed Jack not by climbing but by somehow making a sheer vertical dash up the wall, pumping his legs so his knees nearly met his chest each time and reached the peak of the wall in a jump. Hurry it up, Jack! Seth called jokingly. The Ice guardian may not wait forever if you take the long way all the time! Jack grinned and kept at his regular pace, staying safe as he climbed the unstable surface and grabbing Seths waiting glove upon reaching the top. He was helped up and onto his feet again by the smug but charitable Seth, and then they continued on with a shared adventurous attitude. * * * After only a short leg of their travel Jack and Seth were impeded by a powerful storm of snow. They were blinded by white and forced behind a tall dune of snow together to outlast the biting, ravenous cold. They kept the great shadow of the mountain nearby so that when the deafening howl of frozen winds died down they could move out quickly to the next cover and proceed hopping between dune and dune and hopefully cave, drawing ever closer to their goal. Seth held his Gem to his eye and saw the beam of light still pointing in the same direction where the mountain shadow had vanished in the snow. Does this happen a lot? Seth asked, shouting over the wind. It will not last for long Jack said to dismiss his concern. At worst we will be delayed for only a few minutes while this squall passes through. The storm around this area is constant, and it keeps a regular force all the time, so sudden increases in intensity are very few at a time. Good to know Seth said. They waited out the surge of wind, which died down as Jack had said within minutes, and then moved as quickly as they could through leg-swallowing snow drifts. Jack heard the swelling of another fierce wind and rushed with Seth nearby to hide behind another snow drift. The blast of wind was quick to die down and leave them to advance. They sped across the powder plane and eventually reached a slick surface of ice that bulged up from under the thick blanket of snow. Jacks fur boots gave him traction enough to pass over it without noticing, but Seth immediately slipped and fell forward into the snow. He stood up and shook himself off, going from black-and-white to solid black again with Jack smirking under the cover of his bear-hood and thick wool scarf. They continued and reached what seemed to be a frozen, rock wall of icy blue. The winds picked up once again and both men had to hold onto the rock wall to keep from being blown away. Even so, their fingers were pried out from under the rocky juts and pointy crags. They gripped with their covered knuckles facing the strong wind and billowing snow until it finally died down and they got a good look up the vertical slope ahead of them. How fast can you seriously climb? Seth asked. I shall be fine Jack said. If you reach the top before me, find shelter from the wind and wait. I will find it as well. Got it Seth said. He got a running start and started running up the wall as an explosive head start. When his body was about to fall he pushed it forward and grabbed into the rock wall with his gloved hands and began climbing rapidly, moving the same sided arm and leg at the same time. Jack was slower and safer but still sped himself up as much as he could to keep Seth in his sight. Seth managed to reach the top first and took a knee to the ledge to wait for Jack. However, even now he could hear the coming of a storm as the winds began to howl in the distance. He looked around, squinting through the flying white snow, and spotted a blue, glowing hole in the side of a rocky face. A cave! Seth realized. He took no time to warn his astute and powerful friend and took flight directly to the cave. The snow on the elevated peak was only ankle deep and the ground was rough and without the perpetual cover of ice, but still frozen into a blue hue like the rest of the region seemed to be. The winds hit just as Seth entered the cave which howled loudly as the winds circled in and out of its mouth. The snaking white streams of snow swept across the level area just outside the cave with a blasting force, so fast that Seth could hardly follow them. He sighed and felt his body chill. He took up a flexible stretch from his bodysuit around his neck and brought it up around his mouth and nose. He was still able to breathe through them fine as the cold was the only thing halting his lungs at the moment. Jack, meanwhile, had to endure the hateful winds on the side of a sheer, icy rock face, stuck in place and unable to move against the fierce, frozen squall. He held his place as best he could with his fingers tight against the jutting precipice that hung from the vertical wall of frost. The snow dunes shifted in this sudden wind and a solid white cover swept over the base of the mountain where the men had reached. Jack refused defeat from the mighty gusts of nature and instead withdrew his sword from within his thick coat that blew into him powerfully. He stabbed into the wall with force enough to penetrate the frozen ground and used it to help him reach up to the next step. The winds died down but still howled loudly and pushed fiercely against him. Jack was determined in his goal and forced his body up and over the final ledge. On the flat and frozen blue shelf he was pushed aside with great force by the toppling winds and slowly slid away until he stabbed his blade into the ground. He held himself in place with that sword and endured the freezing wind whipping snow into his unguarded brow. Seth saw him as a thick tuft of blowing snow, or a mound of white ice, out on the plain he knew to be flat, and thats when he realized what danger Jack was in. What can I do? Seth wondered. If I go out there well both just be blown away, but if I dont do anything....no. Regardless, I know better than this. Its Samurai Jack Im worrying about right now. Hes survived alone against pretty much the whole world for years already while Ive only been fighting against one static enemy from time to time. Jack can handle anything. I just need to concentrate on advancing on my own..... Seth turned to the caves depths and ran to them. He brought out his Gem and lit his way with the shining beam of light that guided him ever into the mountain, and ever upwards. Jack, meanwhile, had lasted out the powerful gust and now stood in a much calmer wind that blew soft, big flakes of snow past him. He looked around and sheathed his sword ready to advance. His choices to make were a cave that was unreasonably dark and a ramp path made from the gusting winds and melting snow against an eternally frozen blue rock. Jack knew the pattern of the winds now. He had time until the next powerful squall to make great headway while the visibility was still higher than normal. He chose the open path and brought out his fire Gem to warm his frozen face as he advanced. A beam of hot light shone out through the Gem and pointed upward, right in the direction where the path led along the rocky side of the mountain. The traveler that he was, Jack walked up the path in a duteous march toward an unseen and distant goal... * * * Meanwhile, elsewhere on the mighty throne-world of Aku, and well within his sights, a force began to mobilize. The soldier in purple, a man named Claude, stood at the front of a line of men all armed with battle rifles with broad bayonet blades attached under the barrel. At his side stood a powerful looking, slender-waisted and haughty-hipped woman wearing an open karate gi with an arrogantly displayed bust under a feeble tank-top. Her hands were guarded by thick, fingerless gloves and her hair was done long down her back and tied near the end with a black ribbon. These two were at the head of Claudes apparent military force mobilized with the unending aid of Akus dominion over the lives of many men to capture and end the Samurai Jack, wherever he was. These two stood at the precipice of the fiery rock ledges in the demonic spire of Akus domain and awaited the great evil himself to come to them. The blistering fires kicked up on the walls and a shadowy tower ascended up from deep down below. Two red fires caught at its top and Aku turned full around to face the gathered crowd of his. He lowered himself and his giant face down to Claude and his consort with an army of gunmen behind. You have done well so far Aku declared to Claude in preparing to face the Samurai. You know how deep his trickery goes! You do not underestimate his blade, nor his cunning mind! You have adapted these men not only with the tools of destruction for all man, but with the means to fight the Samurai on his own level as he so often demands. And I see you have even managed to gain the company of another powerful warrior! Akus enormous hand reached up from the fiery blasting furnace down below and lifted the girl up by her black gi. Hey! she shouted, kicking her legs and swinging her arms. Aku brought her up close to his wide, circular eyes, and stared long and deep into her soul. All the while she thrashed and cursed the dark lord out. Get your spiky hands offa my only suit, you giant freak! Come on! Let me down before I decide your non-existent ass is worth kicking! Aku drew her away and held her just above the ground he picked her from, then reeled back with his other hand over his face laughing. BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! To think a mortal such as you could be of a challenge to me! What foolish bravery! You shall do well against the Samurai! Fools of a feather tend to fight together, they say, but when the flock is stirred by conflict a great fissure is caused! He dropped her down and she fell with a scream onto her butt. Claude only followed her down with his eyes and turned to her when she sat in an angered huff. She stood herself up and scowled at Claude for not helping out. I shall leave this to you Aku declared. To destroy the Samurai and bring peace to my world once more. I can only imply his position on this planet based on what I know from my many, many, MANY worldwide eyes. MANY of them have been shot down, in this region! Aku summoned up a map of the planet from the flames and pointed out the area where so many hovering monitor satellites had been disabled and destroyed over several night hours and into the afternoon of the next day. Claude memorized the location in an instant, just as the map was taken away. So howre we going to get there? the girl asked. Claude turned and spread his soldiers back out of the spire from whence they entered. Aku slowly descended with a sly, villainous smirk on his face as Claude moved out silently, all his body shrouded and covered by his armor, his broad cleaving blade holstered on his back perfectly. Well get a way Claude said, his voice partially masked by the helmets natural identity filter, the same as always. The girl nodded enthusiastically and took out a simple cell-phone which began auto-dialing. Ill get on this right now she said, holding the phone up to her hear. It rang for some time as she followed her leader down the path with springy steps and spry hops from rock to hop to keep at his side. Aku went back to his realm of darkness and belching fire with his chin, or the bottom of his mouth, rested impatiently on his balled fist. He grumbled and growled and went to stroking his fire beard slowly. There is something about those two he noted. Something strange about their souls. They are loyal....but I cannot see to whom in truth. And they are deep and mystically wide, not pools like many men, like the Samurai. Their souls are like deep-reaching lakes that hide unknown wonders beneath their shrouded waters...I cannot tell what exactly they are about, but I am sure, completely certain, that they will need to be watched.... With a wave of his hand he went to watching them both from all angles while a huge monitor centered in the middle of the hovering darkness was focused on static, searching forever for the elusive Samurai Jack.... Thank you for reading :)
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 08:54:23 +0000
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