Flirting With Death - A Short Series of Aku Stories
---------------------------
It was a same, old day in Aku's tower of evil.
Inside the tower was the same, old frustration.
On the view monitor was the same, old Samurai Jack foiling Aku's same, old plans to destroy him.
Rather than be frustrated.........
......Aku was bored.
"Like clockwork," he muttered to himself, "I send a henchman to destroy Samurai Jack, even when he's my best, and he defeats them all like they were amateures. Hmmm....... Who should I send next?"
He looked toward the Employee Entrance in the Pit of Hate, and noticed a lot of onlookers duck out of view. Aku frowned, then thought out loud.
"What I need is someone with cunning, with courage, with a superior fighting style....... no, tried that already........ how about......"
A wicked thought formed in Aku's head, and his green lips turned up slowly in a sly grin.
"Yeeeees...... Instead of fighting the samurai..... I could have him tortured instead.... I can break his will in through physical and esspecially mental TORTURE! He will give up his quest to go back in time, and he'll be easy prey for anyone who wants to kill him! YES, YES, YES! HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!"
The henchmen were peaking through the doorway again.
"But, we can't do any of that...." one complained.
"I think I know one guy who can, but....." another thought.
All the henchmen looked at him, making the second nervous.
"Well, I think Aku-sama is talking about....."
"AND!" Aku shouted into his own chamber. "I know just the person for this job!"
The henchmen held their breath as Aku made a dramatic pause before announcing.
"From the lowest depths of the Pit of Hate......I summon my master torturer.......RANCOR!"
The henchmen shuddered, while the second one just shook his head.
There was a pause. Aku looked down the pit in confusion. All his henchmen came when he summoned them. Where was Rancor?
"I SUMMON, RANCOR!" Aku shouted again.
And again, no responce.
Aku frowned.
"Hey!" he shouted down the pit. "Rancor!"
"What?!" a reply snapped from the pit.
"Get up here!"
"What for?! I'm busy!"
Aku's frowned deeper.
"Take a break, and get up here!"
"Oh, alright......geez....."
It took a moment, but a very small figure was jumping from firey branch to firey branch before reaching a spot level to Aku's eyes.
Rancor was very different from the other henchmen. For starters, Rancor was a young woman. She had short purple hair with white highlights, onyx black eyes, and deep red skin. She wore a leather tank top, and black jeans. Ankle length boots were on her feet.
Another trait that made her different from the other henchmen: she was human.
"Rancor...." Aku begain, raising himself higher than her, "she who mans my torture chambers in the pit of hate......"
"It wouldn't hurt to pay me once in a while....."
"WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Rancor smiled.
"I said 'You flatter me so, Aku. Do go on.' "
Aku let it drop, and continued.
"......you know the limitations of the body and the mind......you know how to inflict great pain in all forms of life.......you are among my most intelligent of fighters....."
Rancor blushed slightly.
"Oh, stop." she waved her hand at him.
But Aku didn't stop there. He continued to describe her.
"......and when fighting, you are merciless......you are also of my quickest fighters, sacreficing strength for speed........you also think quickly in battle than most of my henchmen.........dare I add you are also the most attractive of my fighters....."
"No, I'm not marrying you, Aku." Rancor shook her head.
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I BROUGHT YOU UP HERE FOR!"
"So, what did you bring me up here for?!"
Aku grinned at her.
"Would you like another man to torture?"
"Yes." Rancor smiled.
"Another man to break and torment?!"
"Yes...."
"Another soul to cause pain and suffering?!"
"Yes...yes...."
"Another mind to inflict horrible mental damage....."
"Yes, yes......"
"Another paycheck on Tuesday?"
"YES, YES, YES!"
Aku grinned.
"Then use your talents to destroy Samurai Jack!"
".....no...."
Aku's flaming eyes went out in shock!
"........."
All the henchmen started laughing, and promptly shut up and disapeared when Aku glared in thier direction. Aku turned back to Rancor, who was fascinated in some dirt under her fingernails.
"All my henchmen obey every command I give them. But, you, Rancor.......why do you refuse to answer me?"
She looked at him through half open eyes.
"Listen, I'll obey you, Aku. I'll torture anyone you throw down the pit. I'll break the most brilliant minds to give you information. I'll bring you back the Scottsman if you ask. But not Jack.......I'm not going after Samurai Jack."
"Aaaaand......why not? Tell me....."
Rancor put her hands on her hips.
"Because I'll get my butt kicked just like everyone else." She looked down at the employee's entrance, and noticed everyone flinch and disapear from view. "They all fought Jack, they all failed, and you threw them all in my torture chamber where they learned their lesson. What's the point in going if I'm going to get whooped like everyone else?"
"But you won't fail!"
"Yes, I will."
"But you are among my best!"
"So was Demongo, and look what happened to him."
Aku frowned.
"Don't remind me. Now, go after Samurai Jack."
"Or else what?"
The henchmen winced.
"She's in for it." one whispered.
"She's flirting with death, talking to Aku-sama like that..." the second noted.
And sure enough, Aku was getting frustrated.
"Or else......I shall torture you myself."
Rancor laughed a little.
"Torture your star torturer? I'd like to see you try."
Aku reached his hand out to smash her into the platform. She ducked away, jumping onto another platform. Aku continued to swipe and smash his hand down at her, but she continued to dodge him with little effort. She started jumping away so fast that Aku lost sight of her. As he looked for her, she heard her laugh.
"I just had a thought." Rancor announced from somewhere above. "Why torture Samurai Jack when I could have fun torturing you?"
Aku shape-shifted into a bird, and flew up until he found Rancor. She was hanging onto a branch by her knees, arms crossed on her chest in confidence.
"Torture me? The great and unbreakable Aku?!"
Rancor smiled very wide.
"Well, there was one time I caught you in the bathtub...."
Aku went into shock again, then Rancor continued.
"......you transformed into the cutest, little rubber duck. I got a picture of you."
"YOU!" Aku roared, diving for her. She let herself fall from the platform to a much lower one which she grabbed with her hands.
"And there was another time," she called up to him, "you were sleeping in bed." She started laughing at the memory. "It's bad enough I caught you sucking your thumb...."
Aku transformed into a fierce looking panther......
".....but then you turned into a precious little teddy bear...." Rancor grinned. "I forgot to take a picture of that....."
Aku pounced for her, but she again jumped out of the way. Aku snarled at her.
"This isn't torture, this is blackmail."
"Here's where the torture part comes in." Rancor smiled, turning back to the employee's henchmen. "One thousand googleplex to the guy who brings me a picture of Aku the teddy bear!"
The henchmen started cheering and aplauding.......
.....then they ran for cover as Aku fired his eye lazors at them.
"GRAAAAAA!" Aku roared, changing back into his normal form.
"This is the kind of torture I like." Rancor nodded.
"So, go do it to Samurai Jack!"
"No." she shook her head. "No matter what I do, he'll somehow manage to whoop my butt like the others."
Before Aku could say anything else, a lightbulb turned on just above Rancor's head......
........and she got a great idea.
"Well......." she said, "I could be perswaded to go after the Samurai......"
"Oh?" Aku asked in curiosity.
".........after you make a bet with me."
"A bet? What kind of bet?"
Rancor walked to the end of her platform, and held her arms out wide.
"Torture me, Aku! I dare you to do your worst! If I cry for mercy, I'll go get that samurai of yours."
Aku laughed triumphantly.
"HA! HA, HA, HA, HA, HA! And that's all it takes?! I'll have you crying for your mommy before sundown."
"I promise you, it won't be easy." Rancor shook her head. "But, there's a catch."
"Hm?"
"Once you've done the worst you can do, completely out of ideas, and I'm still not broken........ I'll forget about the samurai and torture you instead, deep within the torture chambers of mine."
"Ha!" Aku snorted. "I've seen what you can do in those dark chambers, and I can withstand all your trials."
"Oh, then you haven't even scratched the surface of what I can do." she grinned. "So, is the bet on?"
Aku grinned.
"Yes."
They, shook hands.......
.......then Aku swirled into a vortex, pulling Rancor in with him.
They disapeared, leaving the henchmen whispering.
"What do you think will happen?"
"I dunno. Tough call."
"Maybe Rancor will break under Aku's methods......"
"Maybe Rancor will win......but what will she do to Aku......"
"And where can we get good seats to watch?!"
----------------------
TO BE CONTINUED!
---------------------------
It was a same, old day in Aku's tower of evil.
Inside the tower was the same, old frustration.
On the view monitor was the same, old Samurai Jack foiling Aku's same, old plans to destroy him.
Rather than be frustrated.........
......Aku was bored.
"Like clockwork," he muttered to himself, "I send a henchman to destroy Samurai Jack, even when he's my best, and he defeats them all like they were amateures. Hmmm....... Who should I send next?"
He looked toward the Employee Entrance in the Pit of Hate, and noticed a lot of onlookers duck out of view. Aku frowned, then thought out loud.
"What I need is someone with cunning, with courage, with a superior fighting style....... no, tried that already........ how about......"
A wicked thought formed in Aku's head, and his green lips turned up slowly in a sly grin.
"Yeeeees...... Instead of fighting the samurai..... I could have him tortured instead.... I can break his will in through physical and esspecially mental TORTURE! He will give up his quest to go back in time, and he'll be easy prey for anyone who wants to kill him! YES, YES, YES! HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!"
The henchmen were peaking through the doorway again.
"But, we can't do any of that...." one complained.
"I think I know one guy who can, but....." another thought.
All the henchmen looked at him, making the second nervous.
"Well, I think Aku-sama is talking about....."
"AND!" Aku shouted into his own chamber. "I know just the person for this job!"
The henchmen held their breath as Aku made a dramatic pause before announcing.
"From the lowest depths of the Pit of Hate......I summon my master torturer.......RANCOR!"
The henchmen shuddered, while the second one just shook his head.
There was a pause. Aku looked down the pit in confusion. All his henchmen came when he summoned them. Where was Rancor?
"I SUMMON, RANCOR!" Aku shouted again.
And again, no responce.
Aku frowned.
"Hey!" he shouted down the pit. "Rancor!"
"What?!" a reply snapped from the pit.
"Get up here!"
"What for?! I'm busy!"
Aku's frowned deeper.
"Take a break, and get up here!"
"Oh, alright......geez....."
It took a moment, but a very small figure was jumping from firey branch to firey branch before reaching a spot level to Aku's eyes.
Rancor was very different from the other henchmen. For starters, Rancor was a young woman. She had short purple hair with white highlights, onyx black eyes, and deep red skin. She wore a leather tank top, and black jeans. Ankle length boots were on her feet.
Another trait that made her different from the other henchmen: she was human.
"Rancor...." Aku begain, raising himself higher than her, "she who mans my torture chambers in the pit of hate......"
"It wouldn't hurt to pay me once in a while....."
"WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Rancor smiled.
"I said 'You flatter me so, Aku. Do go on.' "
Aku let it drop, and continued.
"......you know the limitations of the body and the mind......you know how to inflict great pain in all forms of life.......you are among my most intelligent of fighters....."
Rancor blushed slightly.
"Oh, stop." she waved her hand at him.
But Aku didn't stop there. He continued to describe her.
"......and when fighting, you are merciless......you are also of my quickest fighters, sacreficing strength for speed........you also think quickly in battle than most of my henchmen.........dare I add you are also the most attractive of my fighters....."
"No, I'm not marrying you, Aku." Rancor shook her head.
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I BROUGHT YOU UP HERE FOR!"
"So, what did you bring me up here for?!"
Aku grinned at her.
"Would you like another man to torture?"
"Yes." Rancor smiled.
"Another man to break and torment?!"
"Yes...."
"Another soul to cause pain and suffering?!"
"Yes...yes...."
"Another mind to inflict horrible mental damage....."
"Yes, yes......"
"Another paycheck on Tuesday?"
"YES, YES, YES!"
Aku grinned.
"Then use your talents to destroy Samurai Jack!"
".....no...."
Aku's flaming eyes went out in shock!
"........."
All the henchmen started laughing, and promptly shut up and disapeared when Aku glared in thier direction. Aku turned back to Rancor, who was fascinated in some dirt under her fingernails.
"All my henchmen obey every command I give them. But, you, Rancor.......why do you refuse to answer me?"
She looked at him through half open eyes.
"Listen, I'll obey you, Aku. I'll torture anyone you throw down the pit. I'll break the most brilliant minds to give you information. I'll bring you back the Scottsman if you ask. But not Jack.......I'm not going after Samurai Jack."
"Aaaaand......why not? Tell me....."
Rancor put her hands on her hips.
"Because I'll get my butt kicked just like everyone else." She looked down at the employee's entrance, and noticed everyone flinch and disapear from view. "They all fought Jack, they all failed, and you threw them all in my torture chamber where they learned their lesson. What's the point in going if I'm going to get whooped like everyone else?"
"But you won't fail!"
"Yes, I will."
"But you are among my best!"
"So was Demongo, and look what happened to him."
Aku frowned.
"Don't remind me. Now, go after Samurai Jack."
"Or else what?"
The henchmen winced.
"She's in for it." one whispered.
"She's flirting with death, talking to Aku-sama like that..." the second noted.
And sure enough, Aku was getting frustrated.
"Or else......I shall torture you myself."
Rancor laughed a little.
"Torture your star torturer? I'd like to see you try."
Aku reached his hand out to smash her into the platform. She ducked away, jumping onto another platform. Aku continued to swipe and smash his hand down at her, but she continued to dodge him with little effort. She started jumping away so fast that Aku lost sight of her. As he looked for her, she heard her laugh.
"I just had a thought." Rancor announced from somewhere above. "Why torture Samurai Jack when I could have fun torturing you?"
Aku shape-shifted into a bird, and flew up until he found Rancor. She was hanging onto a branch by her knees, arms crossed on her chest in confidence.
"Torture me? The great and unbreakable Aku?!"
Rancor smiled very wide.
"Well, there was one time I caught you in the bathtub...."
Aku went into shock again, then Rancor continued.
"......you transformed into the cutest, little rubber duck. I got a picture of you."
"YOU!" Aku roared, diving for her. She let herself fall from the platform to a much lower one which she grabbed with her hands.
"And there was another time," she called up to him, "you were sleeping in bed." She started laughing at the memory. "It's bad enough I caught you sucking your thumb...."
Aku transformed into a fierce looking panther......
".....but then you turned into a precious little teddy bear...." Rancor grinned. "I forgot to take a picture of that....."
Aku pounced for her, but she again jumped out of the way. Aku snarled at her.
"This isn't torture, this is blackmail."
"Here's where the torture part comes in." Rancor smiled, turning back to the employee's henchmen. "One thousand googleplex to the guy who brings me a picture of Aku the teddy bear!"
The henchmen started cheering and aplauding.......
.....then they ran for cover as Aku fired his eye lazors at them.
"GRAAAAAA!" Aku roared, changing back into his normal form.
"This is the kind of torture I like." Rancor nodded.
"So, go do it to Samurai Jack!"
"No." she shook her head. "No matter what I do, he'll somehow manage to whoop my butt like the others."
Before Aku could say anything else, a lightbulb turned on just above Rancor's head......
........and she got a great idea.
"Well......." she said, "I could be perswaded to go after the Samurai......"
"Oh?" Aku asked in curiosity.
".........after you make a bet with me."
"A bet? What kind of bet?"
Rancor walked to the end of her platform, and held her arms out wide.
"Torture me, Aku! I dare you to do your worst! If I cry for mercy, I'll go get that samurai of yours."
Aku laughed triumphantly.
"HA! HA, HA, HA, HA, HA! And that's all it takes?! I'll have you crying for your mommy before sundown."
"I promise you, it won't be easy." Rancor shook her head. "But, there's a catch."
"Hm?"
"Once you've done the worst you can do, completely out of ideas, and I'm still not broken........ I'll forget about the samurai and torture you instead, deep within the torture chambers of mine."
"Ha!" Aku snorted. "I've seen what you can do in those dark chambers, and I can withstand all your trials."
"Oh, then you haven't even scratched the surface of what I can do." she grinned. "So, is the bet on?"
Aku grinned.
"Yes."
They, shook hands.......
.......then Aku swirled into a vortex, pulling Rancor in with him.
They disapeared, leaving the henchmen whispering.
"What do you think will happen?"
"I dunno. Tough call."
"Maybe Rancor will break under Aku's methods......"
"Maybe Rancor will win......but what will she do to Aku......"
"And where can we get good seats to watch?!"
----------------------
TO BE CONTINUED!