Disclaimer: Samurai Jack characters are the property of Genndy Tartakovsky and Cartoon Network.
Warnings: Upcoming torture.
Jack shivered as he journeyed into Shadydale Village. One of local taverns caught his attention and he headed toward it, only wishing to get out of the changing weather.
The bar room was crowded as the samurai entered, taking a seat in the center of the room. A waitress came by shortly to take his order and then scuttled off behind the counter. In the corner of his eye Jack could see her pointing him out to the barkeep whom nodded in turn. Jack took the opportunity to gaze more carefully about the room, observing everyone and their behaviors closely. The place was packed with different races of aliens as well as humans. Occasionally he would catch one or two leering at him, studying his features. The idea of staying in seedy establishment was less then thrilling to him but he was out of options. It was either here or out in the wilderness. Snow was dropping in small flakes outside the window.
"Here's your order of green tea sir," the waitress chirped.
"Thank you," Jack said.
The warrior sipped on the brew and cocked an eyebrow. There was an unfamiliar taste, somewhat coppery, in the beverage. He spat what he could back into the cup although he couldn't avoid swallowing a small portion of it. His gut instinct was telling him something was wrong and he took the feeling serious. Jack rose from his seat only to have a large hand grasp his shoulder and push him back in the chair.
"Hello there stranger," the male boomed. He stood at least seven-foot, red skin, and his seven other cronies appeared the same. "Leaving so soon eh? There's no reason for that. Please, stay seated and finish your refreshment. It costs far too much to waste. Perhaps my friends and I may join you, keep you company? My name is Turlow."
"I thank you for your offer but I must refuse," Jack said.
"Come, come, surly you are not in that big of a hurry to leave our small village are you?" Turlow asked. "Stay a bit longer. I'll order you another round of tea."
Jack's eyes narrowed. "Again, I thank you but I must be leaving."
"But you just got here a few minutes ago," another male said. "What's the rush?"
"That is my business and none of your concern," Jack answered.
He attempted to rise but was placed back in the seat by Turlow.
"My, my, what a rude creature you are," Turlow spat. "Maybe the cold weather has chilled you to the point of crankiness? Have some more tea to warm your insides."
The alien offered the cup to Jack, who pushed it aside.
"Why do you insist that I drink that refreshment?" Jack asked.
Sweat beaded on the male's forehead. "Just concerned about your welfare friend. The last thing I want is for you to catch a case of pneumonia and perish."
The urge to flee was growing within Jack. Something was amiss in the bar. In fact, every activity in the room had died down and all eyes were focused on him.
"I must be leaving," Jack insisted.
"I don't think so," Turlow snarled.
Before Jack could react the seven sets of hands snared on his body and flung him onto the table. One of the many hands griped his jaw while another groped his side, trying to take the sword. Jack thrashed against his attackers but there were too many to fend off. Turlow reached over for the tea and lowered it to the samurai's mouth.
"We didn't want things to go this way samurai," Turlow snarled. "We tried to be nice but now look what you have forced us to do. Don't bother looking around for help you won't get any. Everyone here knows your face Jack; it's posted all around the village." The male tried to force the tip of the cup into Jack's mouth and successfully slid some of the liquid inside but the man spat up the contents. "Ugh, now look what you've done! You got that blasted drink all over my shirt!"
"Why are you doing this?!" Jack yelled, attempting to jerk his head away. He cried out when gnarled fingers dug into his scalp and held him in place by yanking on his hair. "Release me at once!"
"Why do you think we're doing this?" another male snorted. "Our village is small, poor, in desperate need of money. If we hand you over to Aku he may reward us. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to be on his good side."
"You mustn't do this!" Jack screamed, flaying madly. "Aku will never reward you! He will only destroy your settlement after he gets what he wants! You must let me go! I hold the only key to Aku's destruction!"
The samurai gazed about the room in hopes of finding someone to aid him but the people looked away, shame clouding their faces.
"Please, don't make us laugh samurai," Turlow chuckled. "You are but one man and one man is no match for such a powerful demon."
"I can defeat him but you have to release me!" Jack pleaded.
Turlow sighed. "We're not a bad village; we're really not. Our village was once beautiful and thriving but that was before Aku's reign. Now it's crumbling apart at the hands of poverty. It's survival of the fittest in the world of today. We want to endure and you are our only means of survival. I'm sorry."
Jack glared at the cup in the male's hand. "So, you seek to poison me?"
"It's not a poison drink," the barkeep interrupted. "A herb that induces sleep was mixed into the tea. We would never kill you, samurai. You're worth far more alive or so we were told by the great Aku himself."
The cup was jammed into Jack's mouth and he clenched his teeth shut, not allowing a single drop to enter. Growling, Turlow plugged the samurai's nose until the man was forced unclench his mouth to let in air. The tea was then poured down Jack's throat and though he fought to spit it back up a large portion flowed into his belly. With kindled panic the samurai whipped his feet back and forth until several of the aliens holding him were kicked aside. Using his free legs Jack managed to knock more of the aliens off until Turlow was the only one holding him down. The alien was easily defeated, only requiring one punch to the chest that sent him sprawling. Leaping off the table Jack bolted out the doorway.
The wind was sharp as it smacked into his face. Snow was dropping from the sky at an alarming rate and the substance was all ready ankle deep. Although he knew he was not fully equipped to make his way through the wilderness there was no other alternative. The voices of the villagers were not far behind.
He moved as quickly as he could but the strong gusts were blowing in his face, making travel difficult. The side effects of the herb were starting; he could sense it. Dizziness was sweeping over him and his eyelids were starting to droop. He kept moving. A growing weakness was filtering into his legs, causing him to stumble and collapse into the snow. Using his hands and knees he treaded through the bitter cool ground. The urge to lay down was overwhelming. He kept moving until he could go no further; until he was lying practically listless in the rising bank of snow.
"Found him!" a voice called out.
Jack cringed as Turlow and the other villagers surrounded him. The samurai reached for his sword but someone ripped it from his side and tossed it into the snow bank. They made to grab him but a dark shape materialized from behind, soaring upward into the gray sky. The people gasped and ducked away at the ominous sight. The samurai's eyes narrowed at demon smirking down at him.
"Ah, a wonderful job you have done villagers of Shadydale," Aku beamed. "You have managed to capture my enemy, a task that many have failed in the past." The demon leaned over, intent on picking the samurai up but Turlow stepped in front of him. "What is the meaning of this intrusion?!"
"Ahem, I hate to bother you great Lord Aku but there is the matter of the reward you offered to us," Turlow said.
"Yes, the reward," Aku snickered. "Yes, I do believe only the best of payments shall come to you and your kind." He gazed at the run down houses. "You are a poor village, are you not?"
"Very much so," Turlow sighed. "Any help you can give us in return for handing over the samurai will be greatly appreciated."
"So be it!" Aku boomed. "I will aid you and your village by giving you a special gift!"
The villager's ears perched and smiles grew on their faces. They expected riches beyond their wildest dreams. Only Jack knew better.
"Please, you all must flee!" Jack weakly groaned. "Your lives are at risk!"
"Be silent insolent samurai!" Aku yelled. He turned back to the villagers. "I shall give you the gift of...eradication!!" The people went wide-eyed. The demon's form became even more menacing. "Did you really expect me to give, nay, waste my riches on such a pathetic bunch as yourselves? You people are worthless to this world and to me! All you do is take up land and waste abundant resources! Resources that I could be using for my own benefit! No longer will I permit this land or any other to be squandered by the likes of you. The land is full of filth such as yourselves and soon I shall cleanse all of it!" The villagers were backing away. "The only thing I will help you with is to die!"
At that moment destroyer drones entered the side of the village, smashing into the settlement. A great fire rose up on the side of the village and began to spread toward the other half. The people screamed in terror and retreated to the woods where they ran into another set of drones lying in wait. Their screams echoed into the valley and the snow turned red. The only sounds made now were scuttling drones and the crackling of the roaring fire.
"Finally, you are mine samurai," Aku sneered.
The demon extended his hand took Jack's frail form into the palm of his hand. The samurai made no effort to resist; there was no point in fighting in his weakened condition. Aku's face lowered to his until he could feel the fiery breath streaming across his face.
"All those people....." Jack moaned, shaking his head.
"Are dead," Aku scoffed. "Why do you care though? They betrayed you remember? Besides, there's plenty more of their scum in the world. A few killed here and there won't make a difference. After all, they multiply like cockroaches."
Jack shuddered at the clammy hand gently caressed his form. "Kill me and be done with it."
Aku's laugh rang out. "Now why would I do that my precious samurai? It will be far more entertaining to keep you alive. Without your sword you are completely at my mercy!"
Jack gazed down at the ground to find his sword lying in the snowdrift. A lone drone came along and grasped the weapon in its metallic jaw. Everything went dark then.
Jack groaned as he slowly rose to a kneeling position. The floor was cold under his palms and his vision was still clouded by darkness. A stinging pain was pounding inside his cranium, causing him to slump over on the cool ground. Lightly he rubbed the sensitive flesh around his skull to alleviate the agony but no relief came to him. All thoughts were hazy and he could barely recall what had previously taken place. His eyes widened when he sensed something else was there with him. He could feel eyes boring in the back of his head. Shivering he turned around only to find more pitch black. Then, the room lightened and a form became visible.
"Glad to see you are awake samurai," Aku said.
Shuddering, Jack clenched his eyes shut. He was trapped in Aku's lair and without his sword.
"Why have you brought me here?" Jack asked.
"I suppose I could give you an explanation to satiate your primitive mind," Aku replied. "I intend to torment you until you scream and beg for death but even then I will not grant it! No, samurai, I have suffered far too much at your hands to let you off so easy. You will live a long time in misery as I once did all those centuries ago! I will crush your spirit and demolish all hope within you!"
"I will never allow you to do such a thing," Jack yelled. "You will not break me demon!"
"We shall see samurai," Aku snickered. "We shall see."
To be continued....