Leiko: Tales of a Bounty Hunter
As Told to Laura McDaniel

First Kill

[Author's Note: When I returned home from the bar that night, Leiko's words were still fresh in my mind, so I had no problem writing down what she had told me. However, to be safe, when I returned to meet her the following afternoon, I carried a small audio recording device in a pocket of my hooded black cloak. Even though I was genuinely interested in hearing what the woman had to say, I felt a bit uneasy around her, which is why I still wanted to keep myself hidden.

I found Leiko sitting on stool at the bar, staring idly into space. This time, she was wearing a solid red bodysuit and the only weapons she had hanging from her black belt was a double-barreled shotgun and a scabbard holding what appeared to be a dagger. She had told me that Aku had given her that day off, so I assumed that was the only weaponry she carried when she was off duty. I turned on the audio recording device and then sat on the empty stool to her left. She shot a rather irate glance at me before she started talking.]

Oh, so now you show up? I've spent the entire fucking morning waiting for you, you know. Of course, I don't know why the hell I bothered. I must've been pretty drunk when I started talking to you last night, but I came 'cause I did say I'd be here and 'cause I don't have anything better to do. I really hate days like this, you know.

Anyway, where was I? Oh, yeah, I was telling you about how I first got started bein' a bounty hunter. I think I left off right when Lord Aku told me to get that Theron guy. Well, since it seems you're not gonna talk, I guess I'll just have to start there.

Like I think I mentioned, Lord Aku opened a cave entrance in one side of his lair and told me to go pick out which weapons I wanted to use when I was hunting Theron. I don't really remember what I took because I really had no idea what any of that crap was at the time. Well, sure, I've learned tools of the trade since then, but at the time, I was pretty clueless 'cause I'd only used a few handguns and hunting rifles before. But, I remember I took a couple of guns and a rather sturdy dagger with Aku's head carved in the handle. Heh. I thought it was pretty cool. I still carry it, actually. Wanna see?

[Author's Note: Without thinking, I nodded in reply to the question. However, when she reached for her scabbard to pull out the knife, it suddenly occurred to me that she might have actually meant that as a euphemism for killing me! My hands started shaking for a moment, but I managed to keep them still when she handed the dagger to me. I could tell she sensed my apprehension, though, because she smirked.

I took the dagger and turned it over in my hands, careful not to touch its sharp blade, which appeared to be about 12 inches in length. The handle was made of a black stone that I could not identify and it was intricately carved with the head of Aku. His eyes were made from two tiny red crystals that looked like the same gems Aku's slaves were constantly mining. The style was somewhat primitive, indicating that it had probably been carved ages before Leiko got her hands on it. I would have liked to keep it long enough to have some experienced archeologists examine it (perhaps those dogs I'd heard about), but I could tell that Leiko really wanted her dagger back, so I handed it back to her, not saying a word.]

Impressive, isn't it? Lord Aku told me it was carved many years ago, back when he first reemerged from the darkness and first began his reign. It was hand-carved by some of his first slaves. He said that the slaves that mined the jewels the dagger's eyes are made of might've been mined by the royal family of the first country he took over, but he can't say for sure because he wasn't responsible for keeping track of all of them. Still, I say the possibility is damn impressive! It just shows how powerful Lord Aku really is.

[Author's Note: I thought that piece of information was interesting as well. Could Jack's own family have mined the gems?]

Anyway, back to the story. As soon as I chose my gear, I went back outside the cave, stood before Lord Aku and said, "I'm ready."

"Are you certain?" he asked. "Theron might be ignorant and disrespectful, but I am certain he will be able to put up a fight."

"I'm ready to take whatever the hell he gives me. I don't really like that guy."

"Oh? Did he give you a hard time as well?"

"Yeah...He kept on calling me 'little lady' and crap. I just hate it when people talk to me like that! I am not a little lady!"

Lord Aku grinned such a grin that he only grins when he's thinking terribly evil thoughts. I'd describe it better if I could, but I just get the chills thinking about it, so I'll just leave it at that. Still, you'd know it if you saw it. And then he said, "Well, you have left that decision in the hands of the all-powerful AKU!" and started laughing in that evil way he does.

He just laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and the sound echoed so damn much that the rocky ground beneath me began to shake. Next thing I knew, I started sinking through the floor! I looked up at Lord Aku with what he later told me was one of the most pathetic expressions he'd ever seen. I thought he'd just thrown me into The Pit of Hate! However, I was quite relieved when I touched down in a forest clearing. I heard Lord Aku's voice in my head, like telepathy or something, and he said, "This is where you must search for Theron." I thought it was no big deal and would be remarkably simple. After all, I had gone hunting on numerous occasions because I had to feed myself somehow when my damn irresponsible parents wouldn't and I usually hunted in a forest near my city. However, Aku's voice spoke again, saying, "Now, let us heat things up a bit!" A ball of flames appeared in front of me and then started floating around the forest, setting many of the trees on fire. "Good luck...little lady!" Aku's voice called. Then, I heard that laughter again. Damn, that was scary! But I knew what I had to do. I had to put that Theron jerk out of his misery and please Lord Aku.

I left the place where I'd been standing after carefully scanning the area and finding a safe path through some of the trees. And by safe, I mean relatively safe! Flames were leaping everywhere and the smoke stung my eyes so much that I could hardly see where the hell I was going! I walked right into a flaming tree branch but I was lucky enough that just one of my sleeves caught on fire. Don't tell Lord Aku I said this but I damn near cried! It wasn't just the smoke in my eyes, either. I was fucking scared! I already told you I was just 16 at the time, so I was really just still a kid and I haven't been scared since!

[Author's Note: At this point, even though I was intent on being silent in Leiko's presence, I said, "Hmm, is that so?" after which I promptly covered my mouth. I did not speak again, even when she taunted me about it.]

All right, so you can talk! Why don't you say something else, you bitch? Are you questioning me? Are you questioning my competence as a bounty hunter? Hmm? ARE YOU QUESTIONING ME?

[Author's Note: At this point, she drew her dagger and her yelling seemed to attract the attention of everyone in the room. Apparently uncomfortable about being watched like that or else embarrassed by the way I cowered from her instead of fighting her, she thrust the dagger into the bar in front of her instead of stabbing me. She lowered her voice before speaking to me again, but there was obviously still anger in it.]

Let that be a warning! I don't know who the hell you are, so I'm not going to hurt you...this time!

[Author's Note: At this point, she returned the dagger to its scabbard and seemed to calm down again]

I'm sorry about that. I'm just too damn drunk, I guess. Yeah, that's it. I'm too damn drunk. I've been in this goddamn bar all day, waiting for you. I already said that, didn't I? Right. OK...back to the story.

Like I said, one of my sleeves caught on fire, and I won't repeat how I reacted because I regret saying it the first time. Luckily, the fire was small enough that I was able to put it out just by blowing on it. I continued on my way, hoping that Lord Aku didn't somehow see my reaction to that.

I thought I'd have to hunt a while for Theron, but as soon as I got past a few trees, I found myself in a clearing.

And there he was. Curled up like a baby and sobbing his eyes out! All traces of my fear were gone from my mind because it was clear to me that he didn't deserve to live.

"Please don't shoot me!" he pleaded. "Bring me back alive! I'll be yer servant forever if ya take pity on me me!"

"I am not the one you should be trembling before!" I shouted, kicking him firmly in the nose. "You angered Aku. You should beg his forgiveness!"

"I will never do such a thing!" he bellowed. He looked up at me with the saddest expression on his face, and I could see that blood was beginning to ooze from his nostrils.

"Why ever not?" I asked. I lowered myself to his level and looked into his tear-filled eyes and hissed, "You're scared of him, aren't you?" He didn't say anything, so I grinned as I straightened myself up again. "You should be! After all, Lord Aku is the most powerful being in the universe, but that is why he deserves respect and unwavering commitment." Drawing one of my guns, I said, "He obviously dislikes you, but he left your fate in my hands. I plan to deal with you in the best way I know how!" I cocked the trigger while he covered his face with his hands as if that would help him. He was so fucking pathetic that I pitied him! You heard me! And it was far too easy, too. I mean, he just gave himself to me, just like that! I thought about asking him to run to make it more interesting, but I thought that'd be wasting my time. And Lord Aku wouldn't like that. So I thrust the muzzle of my gun against his skull...and FIRED! I was such a goddamn wimp that I turned away while I shot, but it was done. Blood ran from his shattered skull and I could tell that he was no longer breathing. I kicked over his limp carcass and watched the blood ooze from him. And I smiled. Killing that bastard felt so damn good. The only problem was that I didn't know how to get him to Aku. I mean, I'd fallen through the goddamn floor, after all! I placed one of my feet on Theron's lifeless body and called, "AKU! I have done your bidding, my lord!"