42Samurai Jack the Sword Awakens
Chapter 5: Destinies and Prophecies; Training and Becoming a Warrior
The Caravan of the Army of the Samurai
Within the barrens of a long-slowly drying out forest, animals were doing their best to survive. Whatever few were left. Yet another example of Aku's never-ending need to destroy all that was good and innocent. As a squirrel was taking the only good acorn off the ground and near a living tree, the ground began to shake. And not an impact tremor, but more of a shaking earthquake. Suddenly, the little squirrel scampered up a tree, as a literal mobile Japanese home was driving through on seven monster truck wheels, and spewing out smoke from the four tail pipes sticking out of its sides, as more home-mounted vehicles drove to follow it, all in Japanese style.
The caravan moved on, like an armored convoy train through the trail that was forest and desert. The army of the Samurai was a rebel resistance of humans fighting against Aku. They stylized and based their training on Samurai Jack as best they could, as they based everything from stories of how Samurai Jack was trained. To this, they molded themselves in training in every known martial arts, combat styles, as well as educated themselves in every known languages, survival skills, medical and military training, as well as the philosophy of a samurai itself. Their equipment was power armor that gave them strength enhancement with their already-unbelievable combat prowess and stamina. And each samurai was equipped with a vehicle-alternate form mech, whether truck or common motorcycle.
The caravan was on tractor-wheel or tank-wheeled apparatuses and were as big as cities. Each building-sized vehicle was ranging from house to city-sized. From housing to armories, landing ports or home bases; the caravan was a state on itself, being mobilized and moving around, like the Hebrews who left Egypt and were as big as any nation. All engines powered by steam and coal, making it hard for Aku's forces to track them down, as they only tracked down digital energies.
In the center of the Caravan was an island-sized base, to which command centered everything. Around it were the battle vehicles, medical centers, and housing complexes. But behind in the rear, the caboose of the caravan, was a school-gymnasium car that ran on six tank wheels, which was the recruitment center, to which all the young orphans were to be 'recruited' into the new lives they were forced to be put in thanks to the Evil that was Aku.
Recruitment/Equipment Car
Training Hall
In the large room filled with training equipment left and right, all the children saved by the army were sitting in different groups. Most of the survivors of Neo Tokyo were sitting together while others from other settlements were in their own groups.
The only lone one was Mako who was sitting by himself looking deep in thought.
"Good day everyone. I hope you all had a good night's rest."
The new voice caught everyone's attention as they looked for the source of the voice. Before them was short being looking like a cross between a fowl and a man with crème feathers. He had a long mustache going down to his waist and had a pony tail that reached his upper back. He had a pair of spectacles over his old eyes, wore a red cloak that cover his feet, and held a walking stick that gave off a wise prescience about him.
Everyone looked in surprise at the talking bird as he looked at the group of confused children. "Now then, we have much to do today. So, we should begin immediately," the bird continued as he pulled out a scroll from his cloak.
"Did that chicken just talk," a random voice came from the crowd.
"No way! That's a turkey if I ever saw one," another voice came from the crowd
The bird man cleared his throat as he returned his attention to the children. "For the record children, I am a fowl, not a chicken and most certainly not a turkey," the fowl man responded to the children, "I am Master Virgil and I will be your teacher while you are with the Army of the Samurai."
"But why are we here," another voice came out of the crowd. He was a young boy around Mako's age, Asian in appearance, same build as Mako, but he had dark brown eyes, and had short, black hair in a butch cut, "Other than still being alive."
"Yes, I am getting to that, young Okajima," Virgil said as he moved in front of the groups with their attention on him, "Mind you, I've only had five thousand years to prepare this speech," he continued as he cleared his throat again. "Every person has a gift" Virgil began to explain to the children, "and in that gift, lies their destiny. All of you despite the misfortunate circumstances that befell all of you are the new heroes of this world. Chosen to follow in the footsteps of Samurai Jack in his mission and bring hope to the people in the fight against Aku.
All the children became surprised and shocked by Virgil's words. From mention of the great Samurai Jack to the objective they were about to be trained for.
"I am very wise," Virgil continued as he flipped a chalk board over with a schedule on it, "I and one other shall instruct you all of the ways of the samurai and to being heroes. Ones that inspire hope in the citizens of this world as the Samurai has done over the years."
Due to his massive disrespect to those he saw were beneath him, Baron huffed in silence. "Just great... We get courage training from a talking chicken," he whispers to his friends who snickered, "The talking meal's training is just what that cur-"
"HEY KIDS, YOU WANT SOME CAKE BEFORE WE BEGIN TRAINING!?"
From out of nowhere, a huge shadow like being with tentacles whipping all around appeared in front of Baron's group. In its hand, a large knife was held downward ready to stab the children. Its face was covered in shadows aside from a toothy grin filled with fangs and glowing demonic yellow eyes.
They all scream with a green haired girl hugging blue haired one who blushes while another girl hugs the non-affected Mako who didn't blush at all, but blinked in surprise on what he was seeing before him. Baron and his gang secretly pee their pants from fear.
The being came out of the shadows holding the knife normally while holding a cake and begins cutting pieces, "Come on, why don't you all have some cake? You can't start training on an empty stomach you know."
The being had the appearance of a yellow humanoid bipedal octopus. He was about 8-9 feet tall and possessed a large, bulbous head with a large smile that didn't seem to break, even when he spoke up, and small beady eyes. He had two feelers as arms, with two fingers each, and utilized the rest of his tentacles to walk with. He wore a black academic dress, a small black squarish academic cap with a yellow tassel, and a large black tie with a yellow full moon on it.
"Koro, in all due respect, I am attempting to steel these children for the path before them," Virgil spoke out feeling annoyed at how the calm atmosphere he had made was shattered by this new being's appearance, "Aside from comforting with your cake, the knife is not helping them very much."
"What do you mean? Everyone loves cake," he asked as he noticed the knife in his hand and realized that the kids weren't used to seeing an octopus man yet. "Oh, the knife. Apologies, Virgil," he said as he zoomed back to the door in a flash of wind and sound, surprising the kids with much shock at his speed. "I'll save this for the children afterwards," he said as he left the room.
The room was silent for a moment as everyone took in the human shaped octopus that previously stormed suddenly disappear just as quickly. Through the silence, two hands shot up. One belonging to Nagisa, and the other being Mako's. "Uh, Master Virgil," Mako began to say.
"Who or what was that," the blue haired boy finished asking.
Virgil took out a cloth and began cleaning his glasses, "That was Master Koro. Another teacher who has a habit of appearing out of nowhere," he answered the two while dealing with the stress he was feeling from that outburst, "He will also be teaching you while you are with the Army of the Samurai."
Both boys sweat dropped, as they both thought, 'Teach us what exactly?'
Suddenly, Koro returned again in another explosion of wind and sound. This time he was wearing a samurai helmet while wielding four chainsaw shaped swords in each tentacle, "KIDS, YOU WANNA SEE SOME OF THE GEAR YOU'LL BE USING ON THE FIELD?!"
All the kids screamed again. They were filled with so much fear that it felt like their hearts had jumped out of their mouths.
"Master Koro, please," Virgil exclaimed in anger getting the Octo Man's attention, "These children have been through enough recently without you adding more fuel to that fire!"
Koro stopped, as he took the helmet off, as even though his smile didn't fade, his voice rung with realization, "Oh sorry. What am I thinking?"
"You can't be serious! The chicken is one thing," Baron shouted, as he stood up, and pointed to both Virgil and then Koro, "But you expect us to learn from some kind of alien fre-?"
"How rude! I was born and raised on Earth, making me an Earthling! Thank you very much," Koro said while shaking his tentacles in anger and having an angry look on his face. "And as for my teaching skills, let's just say I'm here to help you out with phys ed on how to deal with opponents that are, shall we say… of the Aku-based variety."
The blue haired young man rose his hand, as Koro looked to him, and asked, "Yes, Nagisa?"
The young four-year-old stood up, and asked, "Um, what exactly do you mean by Aku-based variety?"
"An astute question, my boy," Koro stated, as he picked behind him a b-b gun, as he aimed it for his hand, "Take this gun for example, seems harmless as it only fires bbs. But…" Suddenly, he fired it, as his right tentacle was blown off, and fell to the floor wiggling around like a fish out of water. The kids jumped up and scooted away, but Koro calmed them down as he stated, "But it's loaded with anti-me bbs, which can physically harm me. However, if given enough time…" and suddenly, the severed limb regrew back from the stump, as the kids looked in shock at this, "Given a few seconds, I recover as quickly and regenerate faster than normal." His smile became foreboding, as he stated, "But I'm not the only being that has this ability. Aku possesses it. As future warriors of the Army of the Samurai, you'll be given the tough task of fighting an opponent that can regenerate much faster, as well as inhuman abilities. Not only am I a teacher that can give you knowledge and learn from it, but I will also be your target practice. Fight me as you would fighting Aku… or one of his demonic minions. If any and all of you will be expected to fight against evil, you must learn how to fight it."
The kids all seemed to take this in, but none more focused on this, as Mako, as he seemed determined to make the most of it as he could. But the mood was ruined, as Koro whipped all around them, as they now had in their hands a paper plate with a slice of cake on it, as Koro's silliness returned, "But before we get there, you must learn the proper tools and knowledge of the world to utilize said strategies and tactics. That and you kids need a good meal. If your minds and health aren't aglow with a full mind or stomach, then a teacher hasn't done his or her job. Dig in!"
Later On
Bunk Car
The Bunk Car was what its name was. It was a small island car vehicle with eight monster truck wheels, with buildings built to be dorms and bunkers. It was also where the younger cadets that had yet to be assigned to live until they were given a squad. There, Mako and Arthur bunked, though Arthur was on top bunk, as he looked out the window of the camp. Nagisa and the green-haired girl, named Kaede, were bunked separately, as well as others. Baron, given that he was noble, was given the suite bunk; the bunks for those of noble lineage, believing that they were the chosen ones to lead. It was what Commander Elektra, one of the founders of the Army of the Samurai believed.
Though Mako looked out at the night skies… uncertain of the future on this.
3 Years Later
Armory Car Station
The Armory Car station was massive and large, big enough to be an air carrier as it was on 15 hover station units that helped it hover above the ground. The building was smooth and armored, but inside was where the real treasure was located. Inside were conveyer stations that had motorcycles of different designs. Some of them transformed into large bipedal robots that walked over to refueling and reloading stations. Another corner were soldiers getting refitted for new weapons, both samurai and firearms, while armor was being repaired and recharged. They were being recharged on a port of their upper middle back where a fuel cell was being replaced. This was also the training place to show the cadets their basic skills in weaponry in the future, as well as to understand what they had. Which was what was going on.
There, standing at attention watching the scene fold before them in the Armory station, Mako and those of assigned units stood at attention. Mako was much older, eleven now, as were others like him. Arthur too, yet he was still plump as ever. Mako and the others were wearing black suit leotard spandex armor, with leather top armor as well. They all wore leg guard boots, with the outer part showing the black armor with buckles, and their feet wearing slipper-like metal toe and heel boots. Each one was differently colored much to each's choice. It was one of the only freedoms that the cadets/soldiers had: customize their armor, weapons, and their vehicles. Of which one of the instructors were showing them.
He was a man of thirty, Asian, and a dashing young man with spiky black hair and eyebrows and piercing dark eyes. He had a tall and muscular build. He dressed professionally in a black samurai suit, but with the armor part turned down, with black spandex and outer leather shell jacket and thigh pants, boots with a gun holster vest. He would have been best described as being 'cool' by any of the young or growing cadets. His name was Korasaba, one of the most talented and feared swordsman in japan, as was also one of the instructors for the cadets.
He was firing one of the guns at a mannequin wearing a gray suit of samurai army armor. He stopped, as the bullet shells fell to the ground, as he instructed, "Neo Titanium and Kevlar 18 body armor and helmet. Complete with respirators and a sealant for water submersion. Yours, when you make the cut."
He then picked up another gun, as he showed it to the cadets, "This is what we call the Lawgiver. It's a 25 round sidearm." He then put it down and picked up an assault rifle as he showed it folded and unfolded into an assault rifle and a sniper rifle, "This is the Death Dealer. An assault rifle carrying 55 rounds, and is capable of snapping from assault to sniper mode." He then put down the rifle, as he picked up the gun again, but went on through other firearms, including a shotgun and a magnum, "We also possess several other models, but each have mission-variable voice-programmed ammunition. For example…" he then pointed the gun at the wall, as he called out, "Signal flare." It then shot forth a flare at the wall, to which it lit up the room as the cadets, including Mako, shielded their eyes from the bright red light.
Korasaba put the gun down, as he sternly looked at the cadets, "Yours, 'if' you make the cut."
He then walked over to another table and picked up a katana hilt and handle with nothing on it, until he whipped it. It fully extended into a katana bade as he held it up to showcase, "Scimitar class samurai weaponry. The blades are collapsible to provide room, but when activated extends the blade and locks it in shape. They can come in a variety of styles and shapes, but they all possess the same feature: the blades are constructed from Vibram-Adamantium, making the metal indestructible and shock absorbent. Meaning in hammers, clubs, and other blunt weaponry, they have the destructive force of a tank and can shatter barriers easily. Though in blades like this one…" He sliced a pillar of onyx that was on display… and three slabs fell to the ground, "… are capable of slicing anything as the blade's density is no thicker than a molecule. Any blade is standard issue. Along with a collapsible bo staff for long range combat with a taser tip for other use."
He then put the sword down, as he walked over to two technicians working on a Bike Mech still in bike mode. The bike was slightly old as it was dusty and barely in good shape. The model seemed more like a muscle bike than a fast or armored bike. Korasaba then pointed at it, and explained, "Mark 4 Vehicle mechs, each one in a different default vehicle mode ranging from motor bikes to support vehicles. Each with onboard A.I.s to assist the rider, and equipped with mini gun cannons, missile launchers, and wheel spikes for either vertical and terrain ascensions or for combat use." He looked to the technicians, "Ready?"
The first technician nodded, "Yes, sir." And then powered up the bike.
It slowly began to transform into its robot mode, and towered over 8-9 feet, much like a certain octopus. It looked at the cadets with its lone headlight eye, as it spoke in a robotic toned but humanly friendly voice, "Hello. My name is OTTO. I-I-I-I…" But then the Bike Mech began to sputter and spark, as he sputtered out, "M-M-M-MALFUCTION. MALFUNCTION." He then shook and sputtered, as he fell flat on his back on the floor, shutting down.
Korasaba sighed, as he looked to the cadets, "Yours, if you can ever get it to work right."
The cadets all laughed at this, taking in the unintentional joke. Though there seemed to be only two that didn't laugh. Korasaba, for obvious reasons. And Mako, who paid astute attention to this, even after three years. He seemed to be the only one that took all this seriously at such a young age. Because he had a goal to make.
Korasaba then spoke up again, as he continued the lesson, "All of these things you see here are merely extensions of you. For that is what a weapon is: an extension of a warrior. You must learn to master yourself before you master these. At the end of the day, when you're all alone in the dark, the only thing that counts is what's in you. Your will to make what you want to happen. A samurai's will." He then paced around, as he continued, "And at times, you will be alone when you take up the sword and to uphold the ideals that is the code of the samurai. For most of us, there's only death on the battlefield. For the few of us that survive, there is always the proud loneliness of being a Wandering samurai. Even we must make that path, wandering the world, spending every chance we have taking justice to those who prey upon the weak and innocent. This is what it means to be a samurai. You all are capable of being honorable and courageous, but this is the commitment I expect when you don the armor and holster the weaponry. We die so that innocents don't, it's as simple as that. When you put on the armor and grab your sword, the life you lead stops being your own." The students were silent, as they allowed the seriousness of this speech to sink in, as Korasaba then finished, "But first, we need to get you up to physical condition before that happens. So today… we train."
An Hour Later
Rock Climbing Training
The training was simple for the group of kids to climb up a cliffside. The idea was to build up stamina and to quickly do it in record time. Though nobody included the idea of no ropes… or doing it over a molten lava pit. Some of the students were doing their best to climb up the rocky side, albeit they were sweating and panicking like crazy. Baron was having a rather easy go at it, as he used his two minions to pull him up; he had a rope tied around his waist as he climbed, while the other two were hauling him up like a sack of potatoes. Though there were those struggling; the blue-haired boy and the green-haired girl now at the age of 7, and both struggling. Arthur, still overweight and wearing a red and black getup similar to the others, while a dark tanned boy around an age higher than Arthur, a bit bulky, and wearing a yellow attire with a headband around his short black hair, as fear pierced his brown eyes too. Another boy was one with short orange brown hair with orange eyes, Asian Caucasian, and the same build as Mako, who wore an Orange getup similar to the other boys. And finally, there was an Asian girl with long blonde hair that reached her shoulders, green eyes, and wore a yellow and black attire like the green-haired girl.
The green-haired girl strained, as she bellowed out, "This… sucks!"
"Quit complaining, and just keep climbing," the blonde groaned, as she grasped another climbing ledge. "You wanna be fried by the molten lava? Then just suck it up and climb!"
The green-haired girl groaned, as she reached up to grab the ledge. But suddenly, the rocks underneath her gave way, causing her to fall down, right on the blonde girl. Then suddenly, the two collided in with the bigger kid, and so and so… until everyone was atop of Mako.
He struggled to even remotely hold everyone up at this point, feeling strain and strife. He groaned, as he managed to hold them up, "This… sucks!"
However, Mr. K came down on a hover platform, as he looked at Mako and taunted, "C'mon, Kid. Ditch the dead weight and get it over with. You'll never get far if you keep getting pushed down by the dead weight."
"Say what?!" both the blue haired and green haired girls shouted.
The big hefty one, aside from Arthur, panicked immensely, "Oh please don't drop us! I know technically we're weighing you down like this, but isn't it too inhuman to do that? You're not the heartless type…?"
As the big hefty one kept panicking to talk, Mako kept straining himself to push further up. The grip on his boots were slipping… until finally, the weight gave in, and they were all sent pummeling down to the lava below… until a yellow blur swooped in and scooped them up. Last thing they knew was that they were all gently set down on their feet, as their mentor, Koro, was smiling away, as he sighed in relief.
"Phwoo, that was a close one," Koro admitted. He looked to the recovering students in row, as he spoke up their names.
"Nagisa," he addressed the long haired blue-haired boy.
"Kaede," he spoke to the green-haired pig-tailed girl.
"Hunk," he addressed to the hefty Samoan boy.
"Rika," he said to the blonde-haired girl.
"And Hiroto…." He addressed the orange-haired boy. And then Koro gave the final results, "You are all officially dead."
They all lowered their heads, even as instructor Korasaba showed up, and walked over, as he explained, "You each barely pulled yourselves up. Although you were close, and slipped, it's a normal thing to almost plummet to one's death. But you failed because you couldn't find a way to get yourselves back up."
Hiroto interrupted, as he tried to ask, "But Korasaba-sensei, we couldn't have found a way up. We were falling."
"Except when cadet Mako managed to catch all of you by himself," the instructor stated.
"But you also told him to drop us," Kaede pointed out.
Rika nodded, as she looked to Mako, "You should have dumped us anyway. Would have passed if we weren't dragging you down."
"The reason why he wouldn't drop you was because he was the only one that passed," Koro pointed out. "None of you tried to push as he did. Even when the stakes were high and there was nowhere to go. He wouldn't allow his fellow teammates to die like that. In which, that's why he passed."
"Huh?" all the cadets asked, including a confused Mako.
"Being a samurai's tough," Korasaba explained, still maintaining his cool side. "In this way of life, you've got to push yourself. Go beyond physical limits. Not many can do that, except for those who push hard, and harder as it comes along. But physical strength isn't enough by yourself. You also need to rely on your teammates to be even more stronger than ever."
"A twig will snap on its own, but a bundle of twigs will be as strong as a trunk," Koro lectured. "You are more than the sum of your parts. To truly be unstoppable, you must be a team that works like a well-oiled and highly tuned machine. So… on your off-time," he then wiggled his tentacles around in a playful manner, while still maintaining a smile, "… Have fun! Bond. Form the threats of friendship in a tight-knit quilt!"
Everyone, including Korasaba, sweat dropped, as they said, "Um… okay?"
Korasaba arched an eyebrow at the octopus, as he asked "You sure you're not a kid?"
Later On
Lunchtime
Mess Hall
All squads and cadets were in line for their food service in the mess hall. The line was automated by robots, and were serving others a variety of what they were asked to be given. Arthur was up, as a robotic hand put on his plate a heaping plate of spaghetti and meatballs. He smirked, as he was about to go forward in line… but was stopped by Baron and his two goons as they towered at him. Feeling meek and not looking for a fight, he relinquished his plate to Baron, who smirked, "Thank you for your generous donation." And then handed the plate to his goons, who devoured it like animals.
Arthur sighed in defeat, even as Mako, Nagisa, Hunk, Kaede, and even Hiroto walked up. Kaede asked, "How can you just let them take your food like that?"
Arthur shrugged, "Nah, it's okay. Besides…." Suddenly, he face-vaulted into Mako's plate, and shocking everyone, ate the whole plate in 7 second slurps. Once he was done, he belched out, and smirked, "Mako always lets me eat his."
Mako smirked, while Hunk blinked, "That's a big appetite."
Mako nodded, "You guys have no idea."
Later that Night
Mako was asleep in his bunk with Arthur on the top bunk nearly sinking down on to him. Though when his clock hit 5 AM, Mako shot up awake, as he blinked, "Mom?"
But suddenly, a pair of hands and a blanket flooded above his head, and everything went black, but gave him time to cry out, "Hey!"
Once the blanket was taken off, Mako was out in the middle of a hallway, with other cadets his age and those of his pers, laughing at him. He looked down and saw that he was still in his pajamas. All of them laughed and pointed at the confused and bewildered boy. He looked around, even seeing a few of his bunkmates holding back their giggles and laughs. But only one of his fellow cadets were in the back, smirking. It was Baron. It was painfully obvious he had set this whole thing up.
"What's going on around here," someone shouted, causing all their giggling to cease, as they walked in.
Mako paled, even though everyone still laughed, as he sighed and looked grimaced, "Oh boy…"
Commander's Quarters
The place was neat and tidy; everything you would expect of a commander's office and quarters. Mako, who was still in his pajamas, was sitting down with his hands between his legs and his legs crossed, his head bowed down in shame, while he was being stared down by the one in the room towering before him, with her desk in between the two.
The woman was in her twenties, Asian, a slim and slender figure, with long black hair in a ponytail that reached down to her butt, brown eyes sharpened to a glare, and her distinguished feature was a mechanical right arm. She was wearing a white and black version of samurai armor but without the armor plating, with only a tight white leather jacket with two straps going across her chest, and her tail coat going down to her ankles. She was Elektra, the Commander of the Army of the Samurai, and she was also the cadet's headmistress.
She was currently putting out a cigarette, and looked down on the boy, as she spoke, "I understand these three years have been difficult for you adjusting. These latest pranks are no mystery to me."
It seemed the years that Mako stayed with the Caravan weren't an easy one. Baron and his goons had been making his life harder for things to come. And it didn't help matters as most of everyone was part of a noble lineage or had a huge social status. Apparently, others like him were just of 3rd Class citizens, and only used as cannon fodder. It seemed that most of the leading heads believed that nobility and royalty would save the world. This was brought on from the fact that Jack was a prince from the Fallen empire that he was rescued from. And that the Army of the Samurai believed it was their nobility that would bring about victory. In other words, kids like Baron were born lucky, a kid like Mako was only lucky just to be born.
"But it seems you're having trouble fitting because of your own fault," Elektra pointed out. "Get in with the status quo and know your place, Mako Hamato." She then put out her cigarette, as she sat down, "Now get out of here; I don't wanna see your sorry face again."
Mako bowed, as he got up and walked out, closing the door behind him. As he turned to the left heading back to his barracks, he saw Baron waiting outside for him, as he had his arms folded and smirking.
Mako just wanted to pass him and go, but Baron wouldn't let it as he smirked, and whispered loud enough for him to hear, "You should just quit. A fatherless outcast has no place of being a samurai."
But before he could figure it out, he was suddenly sent flying off his feet, and landed face first on the ground. In a quick flash, Mako had crouched and swipe-kicked Baron off his feet, sending him crashing face first. Mako stood up quickly, as he brushed his shoulder, "You should watch your footing. You might slip easy like that again." And walked back to his barracks.
Baron groaned, slowly getting back up, but glared with fumes right at the retreating form of Mako. "This means war, you nobody," Baron growled.
Years Later
Daughters of Aku Sacred Temple
The Daughters of Aku, whether out of mercy or dedication to their beliefs, made sure their efforts didn't outright kill them. A dead assassin is of no use to Aku. However, as if contradicting themselves, the more the seven grew up over the next decade, the more the cultists pushed them further, with deadlier trials and tribulations at every turn. As of now, the seven daughters were budding teenagers on the path to becoming grown women.
Their next major trial was one that tested their strength and agility to new heights, quite literally. A large chamber existed for the sole purpose of this exercise. The objective was to reach from one end of the great chasm to the other, jumping onto tall and large stone structures to reach across, whilst avoiding the pit of stalagmites and other sharp rock formations far below. The High Priestess stood on an observation platform, overseeing the training exercise.
As the sisters jumped across, Ashi slipped on the dust that settled on the summit of one of the rocks and fell, her heightened reflexes being her saving grace as she held on for dear life on a ledge. One of the sisters with wild spikey hair, Aki, who witnessed her elder sister's accident, took a leap to her position to lend her a hand up.
"Stop!" commanded her mother. All seven sisters stood in awe as the High Priestess leapt from her platform all the way next to Aki with consummate grace and skill. "The weak have no place with Aku."
Just like that, not even taking a second look back, the Daughter of Aku resumed her jumping and finished ahead of the others in record time. However, unknown to the Priestess, Aki looked back in worry for her sister, as she continued to go on.
That only left Ashi now.
No sacrifice was too great for the cult, and if they needed to cast out or sacrifice one of their own to appease their All-Father, so be it. The zealot looked down on her daughter as she dangled in place, reeling in fear of the danger below. She didn't share her daughter's concern as she thrusted the bottom end of her staff down on Ashi's exposed hand. Pain shot through her as her grip loosened.
"Are you weak?" the Priestess questioned.
Ashi's response was a sweaty, pained grunt.
She drove the staff into her hand harder, to emphasize her question as it caused more pain. "Are you weak?!" she repeated, her daughter's pained, silent crying whimpers were the only answer.
The Priested continued to twist it, the crunching of bones getting more and more audible, as she angrily asked, "ARE… YOU… WEAK?!"
Ashi screamed and launched herself from her vulnerable position, barrel-rolling in mid-air as she regained her footing on the top and finished her test, also in record time.
"Yes," the High Priestess mused, her smile grew from behind her expressionless red mask. "The Fire of Aku that he has blessed you with stirs inside all of you…"
The following week, their next trial awaited. This one would be a test of their reflexes and resourcefulness. Another chamber awaited the Seven Daughters' arrival. The torches and lights were blown out as the High Priestess sealed them inside. They remained in complete, pitch black darkness. They were tasked with navigating a labyrinth of caves, with twists and turns whilst being shot at with flaming arrows from their instructors high above them. It was a dangerous task, but they trained for this for several years by now. The danger meant nothing to them.
Their mother's voice echoed through the caverns, as she began the lesson "To defeat The One, your senses must be sharp."
A barrage of flaming arrows surrounded the adolescent trainees. With virtually little to no cover, their only option was to stay mobile. The sisters made jumps and leaps around the winding passages and walls, as the elevated position of the archers was always apparent, all thanks to the lit arrowheads they used.
The Daughters' vision improved in the dark over time, as they could tell what was a rock formation from a ledge, a dead end from a way out. While her sisters dodged and evaded the flaming bolts with ease, Ashi began to grow adept at catching the arrows and tossing them aside, dimly lighting a safe path for the others to follow, in a feat of impressive reflexes and skill.
The High Priestess was quick to take notice, as her interest soared, as the archers' frustration increased as they fired more and more sporadically. Aki and two of the other girls, a girl with a flip hair style, Ari, and one with a bowl bob haircut, Avi, were pinned down at the mouth of a small cave close to the exit, the fire from the arrows landing near them lighting up their position. In an unexpected move, Ashi jumped from behind them snatching a bolt from midair that was meant for Aki's head. Rolling on the ground as she landed, she threw the still flaming bolt as high and as hard as she could at the sparks of flame where her teachers stood.
The archer's porcelain mask cracked and split as her own arrow was launched back at her, between her eyes. Her body fell from her vantage point and was subsequently impaled by a sharp rock formation below. With the priestesses in a brief shock of the turn of events, Ashi gave the hand signal for her sisters to advance, all of them advanced to the finish line, none of them suffering as much as a scratch.
By the time the archers regained their composure, their students had already passed their test admirably. The sisters lay exhausted, some resting on the rocks, others catching their breath with Ashi smiling a devilish grin at her teachers and her mother who sat in an observation post next to the archers. This was the first time one of their own had lost her life in the service of training the Daughters of Aku, but her life was far from the last.
This show of unorthodox tactics impressed the High Priestess, as she rose from her seat and clapped in admiration. She then waved off the archers to clean up the mess and dispose of the body.
Walking away, her second in command, the Vice Priestess confronted her. "High Priestess, your daughters have killed one of our subordinates in a training exercise!"
"Yes, my aide," the High Preistess replied, with barely a hint of concern in her voice. "Her death will be the first of many, many who will give their lives in this noble cause we will endeavor together. The glory of Aku will rise us above all the rest of his subjects, as we will find favor in Him!"
"Truly what an honor, my Mistress," The Vice Priestess relented as she bowed. "These times with the Samurai have driven us to the extreme. Even with him missing for fifty years, his legend and memory still haunt our Lord All-Father. I feel as though he is preparing a strike against our Lord and Master," feared the Vice Priestess. "I advise we organize scouting parties to track the Samurai's movements."
"That we can agree upon," The High Priestess placed her hand on her advisor's shoulder. "The time to strike at him will come, but our preparation will require many more years of training for my daughters. Organize a few handfuls of your best to stalk him from the shadows, but the work of killing him shall be the duty of my own flesh and blood whom we will send after him."
"Yes, High Priestess. Aku will find us favor."
"Aku shall find us favor."
The High Priestess returned to the antechamber that held the idolatrous statue of Aku, and offered a prayer at the steps to the Altar. "Their time is almost at hand," she smiled. "Once they succeed where so many have failed, you will again honor us with your presence!" She bowed down before her God, believing he has accepted her offering of her own daughters as assassins to rid the world of Samurai Jack.
That Night
After their training, the Daughters were asleep in their chamber, all sleeping on the floor. There were no beds nor were there floor mats to even sleep upon. It was as if they were being trained as assassins but treated less than human. The High Priestess believed comfort would weaken and soften them to the point of failing. And as such, they were given less to no comfort.
All the sisters slept. Except for Ashi, who sat with her back at the wall. She looked at the wall beside her, imagining a window as the only means of viewing the world outside of the cavern fortress. She imagined what she saw in the crack that was sealed up that day; the world of green, blue, light and beauty. It was her only comfort in knowing as soon as her mission was over, once the Samurai was dead, she could be free of this one thing. But no matter what, it still felt empty, even with her sisters.
For a moment, Ashi slowly reached up with her right hand, and patted and rubbed her head. The feeling was still foreign to her, but it was warm. Though it didn't feel the same as it did years ago; it felt differently when the boy had done it for her. She felt warm, happy… and safe when it was him. It was the first time that such gentleness was given to her. And even now, she used it to calm herself or to give her comfort in this world that she lived in. her sisters, when they were awake, often found it strange for her to do such action as that. But it didn't matter to her, as she was still happy by the action. Though now, she thought about the boy that had shown such action to her.
She looked up at the wall, imagining that window again, and spoke to herself in question, "I wonder… what is that boy doing now?"
Next Chapter: The Sword Lost but Found; The First Steps…
Author's Note: I apologize if there wasn't much to show in the flashbacks, but I promise in future chapters, the training will be shown more in flashbacks. And for those of you who are wondering, yes Virgil is from Mighty Max, and the strange squid creature is Koro-Sensei from Assassination Classroom. I figured Virgil would be an awesome character for guidance and teaching and Koro-Sensei… well, the Army of the Samurai need somebody who's just as fast, tough, and regenerative as Aku to fight against.
Virgil: Kelsey Grammar (Because he's close to Virgil's voice as it gets)
