A Samurai Jack Fanfic by
Laura McDaniel
Into the Pit
When the monks finally removed Jill's last bandage, the scar the wound had left was still somewhat pinkish. It completely encircled her waist and branched off slightly in four places where each of the octopus's tentacles had ended. The monks really wanted her to stay longer for further monitoring, but it was clear that even the deepest wound to her body could not break her will. As soon as they would let her, Jill dressed in her samurai clothing again, including her short tunic that the monks were miraculously able to repair and clean, and strapped her sword on. "Come on, when are we going to go?" she asked as she excitedly stood in front of the monks for further instruction.
"Easy there, Jill!" Ichi exclaimed. "You're acting like you're going to a party instead of into the bowels of the Pit of Hate!"
"I know here enthusiasm is difficult to understand, kind monks," Jack said, "but she has proven that she understands her own abilities well enough that she won't do anything foolish."
Ni nodded in agreement and then said, "Well, first, we've got to make sure you can get through the Pit of Hate entryway," Ichi replied. He made a small wooden jewelry box appear in midair and slowly opened the lid. "In this box is about the only technology we keep on hand, and it is not something we have yet the desire nor need to use, but we were certain there would come a time when it would be useful."
"Mortal humans do not have our power," Ni added, "and even though we do not allow ourselves to come in contact with many, this is something that we decided we could take into account when there is the need."
Jill looked into the velvet-lined interior of the box. There were two high-tech looking watches inside with tiny LCD screens. Jill quickly put one of the watches on and gazed at the tiny screen. "So, what is it for?"
"It serves only a few basic functions," Ichi replied. "First of all, prisoners who are sent to the area of The Pit of Hate that those from Kemui City are sent to are given bracelets so that the various robots that work there can identify them. Their programming isn't very complex, so they don't actually need to see the bracelet; they just need to sense its signal. In fact, most of the robots have poor optical sensors, so they can't see them."
"So, this gives off the same signal as the bracelets the prisoners wear?"
"Exactly."
"And what else does it do?"
"It will alert you when somebody from your Kemui City is nearby," Ni said. "The prisoners each have their own numbers and part of it interprets where they're from and how long they've been there. We will have to check the Pit of Hate database to see what number the prisoners from Kemui City to be assigned, but once that's done, the watch will interpret the signals from the prisoners' bracelets so you can find the ones you're looking for."
"Can we free anyone else?" Jill asked.
"I would not advise it," Ichi replied. "This is risky enough. Freeing a larger quantity of prisoners will probably attract the attention of Aku, and you don't want that, do you."
"No, no I don't," Jill replied in a slightly disappointed tone.
Jack wanted to tell Jill that he was more than willing to face Aku if that need arose, but he'd already said that this quest was really Jill's, and that he was simply aiding her. He bit his lip and tried to change the subject by apprehensively taking the other watch from the box. "I am uncertain how to put this on, let alone use it properly," Jack said.
"Well, hopefully you won't have to use it much. You'll need it so we can get in, at least," Jill stated. "Here, let me help you with that." She carefully took the watch from Jack's open hand and strapped it on his left wrist.
Jack eyed the tiny black gadget on his wrist curiously and then pressed a few buttons just to see what it would do. It let out a rather loud beeping sound. Covering his ears he asked, "How do I make this thing stop, Jill?"
"I don't know!" Jill responded. "Ichi, Ni, San...what do I do?"
"Just press the clear button!" Ichi replied. "We'd do out ourselves, but even when we keep technology around, we try to refrain from touching it as much as possible."
"Oh..." Jill said. She quickly took Jack's hand again and pressed a small red button marked, "CLEAR."
"Thank you, Jill," Jack said, putting his arm down again. "Perhaps I should refrain from touching technology as well!"
Jill laughed, "I'll try to do the button-pushing for you, Jack, when there is the need. I actually never owned any technology of my own since Aku attacked, but I've worked for all kinds of people and have learned a few things about computers. Is there anything else I need to know about this watch?"
"If you press the 'HOME' button, at any time, it will send us a telepathic message and we will open a portal that will return you to your village," Ni said.
"OK, I understand," Jill said. She turned to Jack and asked, "Are you ready to go?"
"I was going to say that I am if you are, but I know you are." Jack replied.
Jill smiled. "Then, will you show us the way, kind monks?"
"Yes," Ichi replied. "We will open the portal to The Pit of Hate office complex from here so we can verify where the prisoners you must save are."
"Um...The Pit of Hate has an office complex?"
But before the monks could answer Jill's question, they began chanting so quietly that neither Jack nor Jill could understand the words. They put their hands together, fingers touching slightly, and a small sphere of light formed between their fingertips. As they moved their hands apart, the sphere of light grew wider until it formed a large portal. "Step through," Ichi said softly.
Jack and Jill looked at each other, waiting for one or the other to speak, but there was nothing to be said. Jill gathered her courage and stepped through the portal, followed by Jack and then the monks.
The group emerged behind what appeared to be a large filing cabinet. Jill peered around the corner and noticed that, sure enough, they were in what looked like the reception area to a large office complex. After noticing that there was some kind of female demon sitting behind a desk, she whispered, "OK...so we're in an office complex. But what the heck does this have to do with The Pit of Hate? In fact, how do I know it has anything to do with The Pit of Hate?"
"Look to your right," Jack whispered.
Jill turned to her right to see the main entry door to the office complex. Over it was a large, flashing neon sign that proclaimed, "THE PIT OF HATE." Jill turned back around and whispered, "Well, I guess that's a good enough answer for me. So, what now?"
"You need to access that computer. You should be able to access the main database from there," Ichi replied. "Once you have, enter the name of somebody you knew and come back here with the corresponding number."
"But how am I going to get back there?"
"Seeing that there's a female on duty," Ni replied, also in a whisper, "distracting her shouldn't be difficult. San, would you do the honors?"
San nodded and pointed a finger in the direction of the desk. A small, framed picture of Aku appeared in front of the demoness. She squealed with glee, "Ooooh, Akuuuuuu! I could stare at your flaming eyebrows all day!" She hugged the picture tight and rolled her office chair into a corner, away from the computer. She proceeded to pet the picture and whisper to it.
"There," Ichi said, "that should hold her attention long enough."
"Well, here goes nothing," Jill whispered. She crawled over to the desk, careful that her sword nor her geta made any sound. She slipped in front of the computer, and even though she was right next to the demoness, the creature was too busy with the picture of Aku to notice. Jill rolled her eyes and then glanced at the computer screen and noticed it had a rather straightforward menu on the screen. Following the directions, she pressed "4" on the keyboard to search for a specific prisoner. Instinctively, she entered the name of her mother, Chiyo Okugi. "Searching..." the computer screen read while it searched the database. Finally, it returned:
Name: Chiyo Okugi
Gender: Female
Crime: Failing to honor Aku
Number: 5716-598123
Quickly applying a mnemonic device to the number, Jill crawled back to the monks.
"What is the number you got?" Ichi asked.
"My mother, Chiyo Okugi," Jill replied, "is number...um..." She went back to the mnemonic and said, "The hive in heaven is sitting in the sun with some sticks and..." She scratched her head, "The other part of the number...um...Yes, the hive is in line at the gate, burning in the sun, next to a shoe, in a tree."
"What was that?" Jack asked, not all together quietly.
"Shhh!" Jill and the monks said.
"I got it," Ni said. "In that case, 5716 is the sector number your mother is in and 598123 is her individual number, so you and Jack need to enter the first number in your watches because any other prisoners from Kemui City will have that number. Err, hit the 'Signal' button to do that."
Jill nodded and entered the number in her watch. She then took Jack's hand to enter the number on his watch.
"I still don't understand how the monks got a number out of that nonsense you told them," Jack whispered while she typed in the number.
"Hooked on mnemonics worked for me," Jill whispered back. Then she turned to the monks and nodded to them to indicate that she was done.
"Good," Ichi replied. "Now, as I predicted, you need to go to Chamber Number Five, otherwise known as Pit of Hate World. There is no major risk of physical danger, but watch your minds since it's designed for brainwashing."
"Um...OK," Jill responded.
"We could probably get there from this complex, but the odds distracting all of the employees here long enough to get through aren't good enough. We'll just create a portal here. Since you won't have far to go this time, it won't take long for us to form it."
Again, the monks all put their fingers together, but they didn't chant anything this time. "The two of you have to go through alone now," Ichi said, once the glowing portal was finished. "We can't continue with you any further. But remember, any time you want to return home, any time at all, press that button. But don't press it unless that is really what you want to do."
"Once you get through the portal," Ni added, "show your watch to the robot at the gate, and it should let you through. But, once you are through, you will have to find a way to blend in with every one else..."
"We will deal with that once we get there," Jack replied.
Jill bowed respectfully before she went through the portal. "Thank you for everything, kind monks. I will remember you always."
"As we will you," Ichi whispered.
Quickly, Jack and Jill stepped through the portal together. They were immediately transported to the front of a large metal gate that was being guarded by a rather primitive looking robot. The robot sensed the signal on the samurais' watches and bleeped, "You have clearance to enter. Welcome to Pit of Hate World!"
The large gates opened and both Jack and Jill were completely confused by what they led to. It was even more bizarre than an office complex.
Jill remarked, "This can't be right..."