A/N: Some references to the episode where Jack faced Demongo.
Jack dug his back into the headboard of the bed, hanging his head underneath the outstretched arms clinging to his knees. The group around him was silent. Each one was too nervous to make a move since they recalled the last outburst with him. The Scotsman was the first to make a move, gently patting the warrior on the back.
"Glad to see you're awake laddie!" the Scotsman exclaimed. "You had us worried there for a bit!"
"Very much so," Connery piped in. "A fever overtook your body and left you in a comatose state for nearly six days. For a while there, it appeared as if you wouldn't make it but you managed to pull through."
"How fortunate," Jack mumbled, rubbing his temples. "I would like to see my sword, if possible."
A hush came over the room and the two Canines glanced awkwardly at one another.
"What is the matter?" Jack asked, shifting uneasily in the bed.
"It's pertaining to your sword," Rothchild stuttered. "We recently acquired the blade but it's not in mint condition, if you catch my drift. Are you sure you want to see it?"
Jack nodded.
The Canine sighed and nodded to Dryfus, who in turn nodded and left the small room. Minutes later he returned carrying a long object underneath a white clothe. The canine handed the bundle to Jack and the samurai gasped at the familiar feeling of cold steel from beneath. He yanked the sheet off and what he saw sent a wave of despair crashing into his heart.
The ebony handle was gone, leaving a jagged piece of metal at the end. The once sharp and shimmering steel had been reduced to a rusty, dull blade. His beautiful sword, the last item he held from his own world and time, had been desecrated just as he had. The weight of sorrow became too much and he handed the blade back to Dryfus.
"How can this be?" Jack sobbed. "That sword was created by....by...."
"I wish I could give you an answer Jack," Ringo sighed. "Somehow, Aku's minions were able to tamper with it. It was a good thing the blade was found so soon before any major damage could be inflicted."
"Ack, don't worry about it," the Scotsman chirped. "The sword is salvageable. All it needs is a new handle, a nice cleansing, and it will good again in no time."
The words gave Jack little comfort.
"It's hard to believe that so many lost their lives to gain this rusted piece of metal," Dryfus muttered.
"Hold your tongue you stupid mutt!" the Scotsman snapped, waving his fist in the Canine's face. "He wasn't supposed to know about that yet!"
"What?" Jack murmured, eyes widening. "There were people who lost their lives for this sword?"
The downcast faces were his answer.
"Who perished?" Jack inquired, gazing about the room. "Where is Guiness? Where is Angus?"
"The place that housed the weapon was heavily booby-trapped," Rothchild replied, taking off his hat. "None of them could contend with both traps and countless minions. It was amazing that Guiness and Angus escaped with the sword, especially with the severity of their wounds. They brought the sword back here but shortly passed on."
Tears began to weld in the samurai's eyes. "How many? How many lost their lives to free me and find the sword? Answer!"
"We don't know," Ringo choked. "Too many to keep count."
A sob rose in Jack's throat. "All those lives wasted on me?!" Streams of tears trickled down the samurai's chin and he was unable to control the rising sobs. "You should have never come after me! If you had just left me in Aku's grasp all those beings would still be alive! You should have let me die! Now I must live with all this bloodshed staining my hands!" He broke into incoherent babbles.
The Scotsman tightly embraced the samurai, attempting to calm him. Jack wanted to shove him away but he was too weak to protest. "There, there, none of that. It wasn't your fault with what happened. There was bound to be bloodshed no matter what. War is like that, you know. You're not responsible." He gave the shoulders a good squeeze. "We'll have that sword fixed up in no time and come tomorrow you'll be up on your feet for training."
Jack clenched his eyes shut. The thought of training wasn't too appealing at the moment. His body was still sore and he felt tremendously weak; drained body and spirit. There was a slight burning sensation around his legs and when he glanced down he noted how irritated the flesh appeared. Something else caught his eye. There were specks of the black ooze on the bed sheets. It made him uneasy.
"You better be cautious where you choose to train," Connery warned. "Aku's servants are ever vigilant and the demon is far more desperate to capture Jack then he was before. Be certain to watch out for that odd creature that's been lurking around too. I don't like the sight of it."
"What creature?" Jack squeaked, trying to control the lingering cries.
"Some creature, possibly a demon, has been hangin' around the hideout," the Scotsman scoffed. "Because of that blasted thing we've had to move several times to prevent bein' captured and it's not easy transferring a wounded man such as you. Whatever it is, it's obviously workin' for Aku."
"Yes, for the mean time we have alluded capture but we can't outrun that thing forever," Ringo sighed.
"Ack, it's nothin' to worry about," the Scotsman shrugged off. "Jack's back with us now and he'll be his normal self soon."
Jack snorted at the comment. He wished more then anything that he could be normal again but he knew better. He would never be the same.
He lay back on the bed, thinking intently about the dream. A section of his flesh brushed against a piece of the ooze and he jerked away, hissing in pain as it singed the skin. The group around him looked down in confusion but he ignored their stares, choosing to investigate the mysterious substance. The sight of it sent chills down his spine.
*
"Death Weaver, appear at once!" Aku roared, causing the walls of his castle to vibrate.
The demon tapped his fingers impatiently on his throne and ceased when he noticed a something dark lurking about the stone floor. Specks of the black mass slid along the floor slowly heading toward Aku throne and stopping a few feet away. The droplets of ooze interlaced and rose up from the ground to form a tall, feminine figure. Long claws hung limply at the demon's side with jagged spikes emerging from the elbows. Everything was nearly pitch black on her, save the thick scarlet hair that was tied in three ponytails, which rose up and down in a slithering motion, making it appear as if the hair were alive itself. The demon rose her head, pulling back a few of the thick strands to reveal a deathly white mask that clung over the hidden face. Glazed, emotionless red eyes glanced up at Aku.
"My Lord Master, you have summoned me?" Death Weaver inquired, bowing before the greater demon.
"Yes, I have beckoned you Bringer of Misery," Aku snarled, "because you have failed your mission in destroying what spirit remained of Samurai Jack. It was such a simple job that I appointed to you. Tell me, what events have transpired to make one of my most powerful minions fall short of her task, eh? I suggest that you make your answer a good one else you want to spend the rest of eternity suffering in the Pit of Hate."
"It was not my fault, Lord Master," Death Weaver answered. "Those pesky friends of his kept moving his body to different locations but I managed to catch up with them. I had the samurai on the brink of total annihilation when a foreign force intervened and renewed his vigor. It was extremely difficult to take him over with a force encouraging him to live and at one point it was far too overwhelming for me to finish the job."
"What force?" Aku interrupted.
"I could not say for certain," Death Weaver replied, "but whoever it was, they were drowning out the darkness in him and bringing back hope in his tainted heart."
"This is not good," Aku growled. "First, the blasted samurai escapes under my very nose and now he is regaining power. To make matters worse the sword has gone missing as well. The samurai will be up and causing me more mischief then ever."
"No, no, Lord Master he is far from doing that. The mission was a not a complete failure for I still hold a great influence over him. The pathetic warrior makes it so easy for a demon, such as myself, to invade his mind and create chaos. He is in such a weakened state that I can feed off of his anguish and make it grow to astronomical proportions in his decaying heart. Yes, strength may be coming back to him but it's only physical strength and he has no will to use it. All his mental stamina has been ripped apart. You broke him my great Master."
"That is all very good," Aku crooned, pleased with his accomplishment, "however, there is still a possibility that he could threaten my rule and this can not be allowed." He glared down at the minion. "I must find someone who can finish this task properly."
"Please, Lord Master, grant me one more chance," Death Weaver begged. "I am close to decimating what's left of the miserable samurai's soul. Just permit me more time and he will be destroyed."
Aku thought intently for a few minutes. "Very well, I will grant you more time but only because you are near to success. Be forewarned, though, Death Weaver that if you fail you shall suffer dearly. My mercy wears thin. Must I remind you of Demongo, those few years ago?"
"I fully understand the consequences though I doubt I will face them," Death Weaver laughed. "And you do not need to tell me of Demongo. He deserved his wretched fate. He was a weak excuse for a demon and he had no place here."
"You speak so hatefully of your own brother," Aku chuckled.
"I speak only the truth," Death Weaver responded. "I am nothing like my feeble brother. I shall not fail you." She hissed in a breath. "My sisters may be required to finish the task. I may need all the help I can get if that accursed force returns to aid the samurai. Will you permit me to call them?"
"Very well," Aku sighed. "Remember though, they will equally suffer if you fail." He growled lowly. "I wanted to keep the warrior alive a bit longer, to cause him more agony, but I see how things must be." A sneer formed on his face. "Make his last moments as painful as possible. I want him to leave this world only recalling excruciating pain and for him to be reminded of the one whom brought it to him." Another thought occurred to him. "Find the sword and bring it back to me. A weapon with the capability to vanquish me should not be free in the world."
"Yes, my Lord Master," Death Weaver bowed. "Who better to commit this act for you then the expert of anguish? I assure you, Lord Aku, that his death will be so unbearable that you will hear his strangled cries across the land! I also swear to bring back the samurai's dejected sword, tainted with his own foul blood and flesh!"
She turned to the pit. "Darkness, awaken from the pit and rise up!"
A similar demon, with the exception of ebony hair, materialized in the center of the floor.
"Carrion, awaken from the pit and rise up!"
Another demon emerged from the pit, bearing olive hair.
"Come, my sisters, we have work to do!" Death Weaver screeched. "There is a feeble body and soul in need of shredding!"
Aku's laugh rang throughout the chambers of his lair as the three demons vanished.
"Enjoy your freedom, my dear samurai, for it is about to end in misery!"
To be continued.....