Chapter 1A VERY STRANGE ENCOUNTER

Jack always found nightfall in the jungle to be peaceful. That particular night was especially lovely because of the fall moon. Unfortunately, Jack had no time to admire the scenery. For the last couple of days someone had been following him..Although he had altered his direction a number of times he still did not manage to shake his persistent stalker. Whoever it was had gotten very close now and so Jack waited. As he starred into the flames of his dying campfire he could hear the footsteps behind him. One… two... three… Jack silently counted. The mysterious figure was drawing ever nearer. Finally Jack spoke

"Who are you?" he asked

"They call me Wolfe. As you've probably figured I've been tracking you for a while now so I'm going to have a seat to catch my breath, he said briskly.

Without waiting for Jack to reply he collapsed on the ground. During this period of awkward silence Jack studied the strange man's features.

He looked to be in his late thirties. He carried two large swords, a hunting knife and a number of guns .He wore a black vest. Tattoos covered his arms back and chest .He had olive skin with dark hair hanging loosely over his face. He had his nose and one of his ears pierced. His teeth resembled fangs and some of them were gold. His most striking feature was his eyes. They were bright green and seemed to glow.

After what seemed like hours, Wolfe finally spoke again.

"I used to work for Aku. In fact I used to be known as the Hand of Aku. I oversaw the building of his robot army and I was one of his Generals. Back in the day I was the most feared man on this planet. Then you came along and everything changed. You destroyed thousands of our robotic troops and as if that wasn't enough you also helped the scientists who were building them escape off planet. One day Aku sent me to wipe out a bunch of highland savages and because of the diminished size of the army I was outnumbered and outclassed. I barely escaped with my life. Aku of course didn't take this defeat lightly. He ordered me to be scourged and crucified. It was horrible I was stripped naked and tied to a post while two people flogged my legs back and buttocks. They used a leather whip which had iron balls and animal bones attached to it. It ripped out several chunks of my skin every time it landed on me. By the time they were finished the ground was stained red by my blood. Then they nailed me to a tree. I hung there in excruciating pain for what seemed to be forever. When I didn't die fast enough for Aku's liking he sent his people to break my legs. Shortly after that I died. I could literally see my ravaged body hanging from the tree as my soul ascended towards the heavens. It was bliss. Then I heard a voice. It told me that I had to go back because I had a task that needed to be completed. Then I came back to life. It was at about that time that I was rescued by a group of monks.

They nursed me back to health but my recovery wasn't easy. I was suffering from extreme shock, exposure and dehydration. My wounds had become infected and my arms were paralyzed. I was bedridden for three months. It was during this time that I took a good look at the person that I was and I didn't like him one bit.

I decided to change and it was at about that time that I started to get better. I never fully recovered though. I lost the ability to feel pain and I'm wearing a prosthetic leg. But none of that really matters though because now I know why I was sent back. I was given this second chance at life inorder to help you kill Aku., "said Wolfe Jack kept silent for a few seconds. He was stunned. He ciuld see the conviction on the other man's face.

"How can you help me?" he asked finally.

"My friends and I have devised a means of tracking Aku's movement, so even though he's always moving his palace around we know where he is,"

"Friends?"

"I'm talking about the rebels,"

Jack had heard rumors of a rebellion for some time but he had never actually seen any of its participants. His mind was racing.

"I know that you have a lot of questions but to fully understand what I am saying you need to follow me to their headquarters in the mountains,"

"When do we leave?'