Part 4: The Scion Of Sin


He could feel something welling up inside of him, a vague feeling he could not recognize. It flowed through his mind and body alike, almost as if it was probing him, deep inside in places even he couldn't recognize. It stirred emotions and thoughts deep inside of him, thoughts and emotions he wasn't sure he liked... thoughts and emotions... that were... dark.

Jack's eyes shot open and he sat up in the small makeshift bed, instantly alert and confused. He could still feel the thoughts turning in his mind, the dark feeling twisting in his stomach. He put one hand on his forehead and panted softly, trying to clear his mind. Still they persisted however, and his gaze was drawn to the side where Keela was asleep in her own makeshift bed. They were supposed to reach the Century Station soon where the next Scion was, so they had decided to get some sleep in shifts. It was Reggoth's turn to keep an eye on things at the moment.

He pushed the thin blanket off of him and crawled across the metal floor toward the sleeping woman, his hands shaking. He stared down at her in a mixture of eagerness and reluctance, not even sure why he was acting this way. He knew he should move back... but the feeling in his mind would not let up.

Fortunately the ships intercom began to buzz before he could move any farther, waking Keela with a start. Jack yanked his hand back as she sat up, looking up at him with an odd look on her face. Neither of them said anything, Keela instead reaching up to activate the intercom.

"Yeah, what is it?" She asked.

"We're approaching Cyrus Station. We'll b'there in thirty minutes." Reggoth's voice came back.

"Acknowledged..." Keela turned off the intercom and looked up at Jack, who had his head bowed.

"I apologize... I do not know what came over me..." He told her.

"Don't worry about it, I can feel it too... the Scion of Sin... even all the way out here I can feel his power corrupting my mind." She pushed herself up on the bed, looking over at Jack wondrously. "But you... I thought your sword made you immune to the scion's powers."

"I thought so as well." Jack replied thoughtfully. "Yet it would seem I am not anymore... this troubles me. Could the scions be getting more powerful?" The samurai asked.

"I don't know, that is a good question. One we should try to answer once we get to the station, before we confront the scion." Keela said, standing up and stretching out the kinks in her muscles. "Come on, let's head up to the bridge, before this control makes us do something we'll regret." She turned and left the makeshift bedroom with Jack right behind her, holding the hilt of his sword worriedly.

"I assume y'two feel it too." Reggoth told them, looking back at them from his seat in the pilots chair. "It's gonna b'hell once w'actually get t'the station, opportunities all around for distractions."

"We'll do what we must." Jack told him, walking up to watch the screen. A giant space station floated almost serenely against the blanket of space around it. Jack could feel the energy radiating from the center of the station, invading his mind, body, and indeed, even his very soul. It was a terrible feeling, but he knew it wouldn't end until he had destroyed this scion.

"Jack... once we get there, there are a few things you have to know." Keela said, turning to meet the samurai's gaze squarely. "People do things on that station... evil, corrupt things even to others, taking advantage of them and hurting them... but don't try to help them. Everyone living there is corrupted completely by the scion's power, and even the victims won't hesitate to stab you in the back right after you free them."

"I see." Jack nodded. "A wise warning, I suppose the only way to help anyone here is to get rid of the scion's influence once and for all." He looked out the front screen again, watching as they neared the station.

"Alright, everyone take a seat. We're going in for a landing." Reggoth announced. Jack and Keela quickly took their seats and strapped themselves in while Reggoth guided the small fighter down toward one of the airlocks on the side of the station. He radio'd into the control tower that they were looking for a vacation spot, since this was officially just that.

They flew into the hangar bay, filled with dozens of other ships already set down. The small fighter flew into one of the few empty docking bays and set down gently, the door on the side opening automatically. There were several other pilots scattered around milling about their own ships, but nothing that looked too threatening.

"You two remain here while I investigate." Jack told them, heading toward the door. He was halted in mid-stride by Keela's hand on his arm, holding him back.

"I'll come with you." Jack turned to look back at her, looking into her eyes. He could see her fighting just to keep herself under control, fighting some urges that were slowly eating away at her self-control. Jack shook his head and put one hand on her shoulder, that little contact sending an electric thrill through his body.

"Stay here, my sword protects me at least marginally, but it does not protect you. I will be fine, I give you my word." He told her, staring back into her eyes with enough confidence and firmness to calm any fears she might have had. Keela nodded and moved back, pulling his hand off of her shoulder. Whether this was incidental or intentional Jack couldn't tell.

"Just be careful, there are a lot of killers and... worse things out there." Keela reminded him. Jack nodded and smiled back reassuringly before he turned to leave the small ship. He walked down the small platform, then across the metal panels toward the entrance to the station proper. Some of the pilots gave him a curious glance, but none bothered him.

The main chambers were full of merchants and vendors lining the walkways, selling anything they could get their hands on. Some sold items that they even claimed were stolen from others, while others sold what looked like alien body parts. The samurai paused as he took in the sights. He'd been prepared for corruption and trickery, but not these blatant displays of cruelty and heartlessness.

Finally the samurai made himself move forward, walking amid the various vendors and artifacts for sale. Even those browsing the stalls acted more like dogs scrounging for things they liked than men, doing whatever crossed their mind at any given moment. More than one fight started for no reason but the price of a given item. Jack wanted to intervene and stop the madness, but he knew he wouldn't last long trying to stop everything that was happening here.

"Hey buddy, want a ride?" Jack whirled when he felt someone tugging on his robe. A wrinkled, hunched over alien stared up at him, holding a little girl by the arm beside him. She stared up at Jack with a blank look on her face, wearing little more than a thin paper gown. "Just twenty teracins, no better deals or cuter rides around here." The alien told him.

Jack stared down at him, feeling his blood boiling. He knew he should just leave, getting rid of the scion was top priority and doing that would help get rid of people like this... but he could not walk away from something like this.

"Let her go..." Jack demanded in a hushed whisper, staring down at the alien.

"Hey no reason to get like that, I'll even give you a discount if you want." The alien replied reasonably.

Without a word Jack drew his sword and slashed downward, slicing off the arm that had been holding the girl. The alien screamed in a rage and leapt to his feet, standing far taller than one would have thought from the aged looking figure.

"I said, let her go." Jack repeated, holding the enchanted blade at his side as he stared up at the massive figure. Several of the other vendors stood and began to wander over from their own booths, looking upset and bringing their own weapons to bear.

"Arrogant, worthless, impudent, foolish little pachton!" The alien screamed angrily, bringing it's other surprisingly large arm up above its head. "I'll crush you like a worm!" It swung its fist down in a wide arc right on top of the samurai, but he leapt to the side to avoid the strike, rolling into a defensive crouch a few feet away.

He gasped in surprise and pain when the little girl he'd just freed stabbed his sword hand with a small dagger, making him drop the blade reflexively. She grabbed the hilt of the blade and turned to run off, taking his sword with her.

"Hey, wait!" Jack started to pursue, but several more combatants lunged at him from all sides, bringing their own fists, claws, and weapons around to strike at him. He dodged backward, deflecting a few punches with the back of his arm before he leapt back, landing on one booth with a thump when he hit the wood. He grabbed one of the vertical poles on the side and kicked the bottom, freeing it.

He twirled the makeshift staff in his hands, ignoring the pain of his wound as one of the aliens lunged at him. He leapt from the booth over the alien, slamming the staff into the back of its head as he came down to the ground. He didn't wait to watch it hit the booth before he whirled, deflecting several more strikes from others.

He slammed the side of the staff into the alien's lance, carrying it over him to jam it into the chest of another alien that had been coming up behind him. He slammed the butt of the staff into the first aliens stomach, doubling it over before he slammed the center of the staff into his head, sending him tumbling to the ground.

He whirled the staff above his head, sweeping it around him in wide arcs periodically to keep the rest of his attackers at a safe distance. He brought it down quickly when a smaller alien tried to lunge with a knife. The piece of wood slammed into the side of his head, sending him to the ground while several others tried to capitalize.

Jack used the staff like a pole-vault to leap over one of the aliens, whirling to sweep one alien's legs out from under him before the samurai backed away from the hostiles, keeping the staff moving in front of him. He turned to sprint away from them suddenly, clutching the staff in one hand, but several of his opponents lunged after him again.

Jack leapt from booth to booth, disrupting things all around to the point where everyone seemed to be fighting with everyone else. Whenever one of the aliens would take a swipe at him Jack slammed the staff into their head or used it as a prop while he planted a solid kick in their face until he reached the other side of the main chamber.

He stopped and whirled, taking out those few pursuers that managed to get through the crowd before he turned to look out over the brawl he had started. The entire room was engulfed in a wild melee, with everyone trying to main everyone else. He didn't see the little girl in there anywhere, she must have made it out before he started a riot.

The adrenaline in his body seemed to keep the effects of the scion at bay for now, but he had to find that girl and his sword before it became too strong for him to ignore. He turned away from the brawl and hefted the staff to his shoulder as he left the room, searching for the girl with his enchanted sword.
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Keela sat in the seat Jack normally took behind the pilots and copilots seats, hugging herself though she couldn't fight off the feelings that kept sweeping through her. Her entire body was tingling, her mind aflame with ideas and thoughts that she knew she didn't truly want. She tried to concentrate on anything she could, but still the urges crept back.

She looked up when Reggoth walked back in from the back, carrying a few drinks from his personal cooler. She could see he was struggling with the same feelings he was, fighting them back with less success than she. She was nervous around him, and at the same time excited in ways she knew wasn't natural for her. She didn't know how long she could take this.

She looked up at the radar in the cockpit when it picked up an incoming signal, moving toward them quickly. "Reggoth, what could that..." She was cut off when something slammed into the side of the ship, sending both its occupants flying against the wall.

"Whatever it is, it isn't friendly!" Reggoth exclaimed, pushing himself away from the wall and lunging for the controls. Keela jumped in the copilots seat just before another wave slammed into them, toppling the entire ship over onto its side. The left wing was bent back with the screech of metal on metal as it tore into the floor. Keela and Reggoth were thrown against the wall again, lying on it as the thing kept rolling.

"We have to get out of this ship!" Keela exclaimed, pushing herself to her feet and running for the door, which was now on the bottom. She tried to kick it open, but it was flat against the ground. Something slammed into the other wall above them, punching the metal inward.

Finally the thing punched through the metal and dropped into the ship with them, landing on its feet in a crouch and looking around at them. It didn't look like a minion of Aku, or anyone with any kind of security detail. It was likely just a thief, but one who was very good at what he does.

"Get out o'here you behemoth!" Reggoth yanked a laser pistol from his belt and opened fire, striking the thing in the chest several times. It roared angrily and lunged at him, swinging one massive fist.

"Reggoth!" Keela screamed. Reggoth tried to move, but the creature was surprisingly fast for all its bulk. The massive fist slammed into Reggoth's stomach, carrying him back against the controls, embedding him within the twisted and mangled steel of the control panel. Sparks flew every which way as he looked down at his body, embedded within the twisted steel.

"God damn... can't die s'suddenly... without a fight..." He tried to push himself up from the console, but another blow drove him even deeper into the mass of steel with an exclamation of pain. The massive fist closed around him and pulled him back, flinging his practically limp body toward the front windshield of the fighter. It plunged through the glass, slamming into the cold metal ground outside, unmoving.

"No! Damnit!" Keela backed away slowly as the hulking form turned toward her, raising one fist toward her. She couldn't see any escape route, and no way to avoid the massive hand. She would just have to pray.
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Jack walked through the almost mazelike hallways, following the light scratch in the metal plating where the girl had dragged the enchanted sword. It was obviously too big for her to carry properly, and the enchanted blade was able to cut a light scratch in the steel despite simply being dragged over it. The samurai turned a corner, barely leaping back before he was cut in half with his own blade.

"Stop following me!" The girl howled, straining to swing the sword again in a wide, clumsy arc. Jack stepped back without difficulty, dodging every swing the girl could make. Finally she managed to heft the sword back and bring it down in an overhead swing in a strike that would have cut the warrior in half right down the center.

The samurai put his hands up and caught the blade between his palms, holding it up in front of him. He lifted his hands up, hefting the light little girl up off the ground with it since she refused to let go. She squirmed in mid-air trying to break free, but he held the blade fast.

"Let go! It's mine fair and square, let go right now!" The girl yelled angrily.

"Why are you doing this? I just freed you from your enslavement." Jack shook the blade to dislodge the girl, who fell to the ground with a thump. She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest indignantly, glaring up at him like he'd just cursed her.

"Freed me? You cost me one of the best jobs I've had here, do you know what kind of money idiots pay just for the thrill of doing something they shouldn't?" The girl shot back.

"I see what Keela's warning meant when she said even the victims are subject to the scion's powers." Jack slid the sword back in its sheathe at his side, leaving one hand resting on the pommel. "Tell me, do you know your way around this station?"

"Psh, no, I've lived here my entire life with my eyes shut." The girl rolled her eyes, smirking.

"Can you help me get back to the hangar bay without going back through the main corridor again? I need to speak with my companions." Jack asked.

"If you got to the main corridor from your hangar, you must have been in docking area 6. I wouldn't worry about your ship, it's probably scrap by now, and the crew dead." The girl told him.

"What are you talking about? Why do you say such things?" Jack demanded incredulously.

"The Poriscin, a giant who serves the scion that lives on this station. He keeps people the scion doesn't like out of the station. Or if they get on, he makes sure they don't leave." The girl replied, almost not seeming to care one way or another. Jack walked up to her, towering over the little girl who just continued to stare up at him with defiance shining in her eyes.

"Can you help me get back to my ship and find my companions?" He put one hand on the girls shoulder. "Please."

"Give me the sword when we find them... and we have a deal." The girl bargained, holding up one hand. Jack stared down at her, his eyes narrowing in worry and concern.

"Very well, but we must get back as soon as possible." Jack took her hand and shook it, sealing the deal between them.

"Great, come on, we can use the aeroducts." The girl walked up to one wall and tapped on the piece of metal, listening intently. When she found one with a hollow sound she slammed the palm of her hand against it, bending the metal inward to reveal a small ducts that led deeper into the wall.

"What is your name?" Jack asked politely.

The girl looked back at him with a small smirk spread across her lips. "Sarah. Now are you coming or not?" She asked, turning to crawl into the duct before he could respond. Jack followed her into the narrow passage, crawling through the ship right behind her for what felt like an eternity. Finally they emerged into a small chamber with a desk set up in the middle and chairs arranged around it.

"Ssshhh!" Sarah demanded, crawling out of the hole and signaling for Jack to stay put. She got up and ran over to the door, opening it a crack and peeking through before she gestured for the warrior to join her. Jack crawled out of the duct and walked over to her calmly with his hand on the hilt of his sword. "The hangar is down this hall and to the right, but if the Poriscin is around we won't make it through the door."

"We will have to take our chances, it is obvious by now that the scion knows we are here, and that is my fault for starting a riot. I cannot let them be hurt because of me." Jack told her seriously.

"Stubborn... alright come on... follow me." Sarah slipped through the crack in the door and looked both ways before darting down the hall, her light step barely making a sound over the metal plating. The samurai followed her just as silently, his light step making only a soft clanking sound against the hard steel floor.

Sarah ran up to the door and thrust it open, barging inside. She skidded to a halt just before she could slam head first into a massive hulking figure. "Oh f*ck me..." She murmured fearfully, taking a few steps backward. Jack ran in behind her, staring up at the figure. He could see he had someone clutched in the palm of one hand, a body he recognized.

"Keela!" Jack stepped forward, drawing the enchanted blade from its scabbard and dropping into a fighting stance. Sarah gaped at him in surprise, grabbing the sleeve of his robe.

"Are you nuts? You can't fight that thing!" Sarah told him.

"I cannot let it take her." Jack said, holding his ground as the giant lumbered toward him, glaring down at him threateningly. Jack raised the blade in front of him, his gaze flitting between the giant's face and Keela held unconscious in one massive hand. Sarah shook her head and turned to run out into the hall away from the thing without another word.

"Outta my way." The giant demanded, bringing one fist up threateningly.

"Put her down, she has done nothing to you." The samurai demanded, hefting the blade up in front of him. "It's me the scion would truly want, not her. So come try to take me." The giant stared down at him, then looked down at the unconscious woman in his hand. Without warning he flung Keela at Jack, sending her arcing through the air dangerously.

Jack slid his sword into its scabbard and leapt into the air, catching her before she could fly past him and hit the wall. While he was occupied however the Poriscin shot its fist forward, slamming it into both of them while they were defenseless. Jack's back slammed into the wall in the hallway with a sharp gasp of pain.

He knelt down painfully and put Keela on the steel floor, looking up at the giant as it lumbered toward him again, bringing one massive fist back. Jack leapt into the air and drew the enchanted sword again, bringing it around in a wide silver arc. The giant halted its own blow to let the blade streak by before it brought its other fist around.

Jack whirled and slashed again, slicing off two fingers from the hand that was heading toward him. The giant roared in fury and brought its other fist around, but Jack leapt over it, lunging for the head with his sword lowered in a striking position. Before he could bring the blade around he felt a sharp stabbing pain in his side, throwing off his concentration.

The giant brought its fist back, backfisting the warrior with enough force to send him flying against the steel wall. He hit the floor with a gasp of pain, looking down at his side. There was a small dagger embedded in it, one that looked strikingly familiar. He looked up at Sarah standing down the hall watching him, still poised to have thrown the dagger.

The samurai shook his head and tried to drag himself to his feet, but the Poriscin slammed another fist into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him and sending him to the metal floor again. His entire body was wracked with stinging pain, unable to move or think properly. The last thing he saw before he blacked out was the little girl watching him with a victorious smile on her face.
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"So I get the reward right? I did lead him to the Poriscin." Sarah's voice cut through Jack's pain filled mind, the first thing that had been able to for a long time. The samurai opened his eyes and raised his head to look around. He could see the little girl standing in front of what resembled a throne, but there was nobody occupying it.

[Of course child, the one who captures the warrior gets the reward.] A soft, almost feminine voice leaked into Jacks mind, as well as the mind of the little girl. [You've done very well.] jack looked over as a pair of shadows moved into the room, carrying two bags between them. Sarah grinned when she saw it, rubbing her hands together. [They will help you take it back to your dwelling, now leave us be.]

Sarah started to follow the shadows out of the room, but she stopped and turned to look over at Jack, realizing he was conscious. "Hey, can I have his sword?" She asked.

[Aku wants it.] The scion replied, though it was still nowhere in sight. Sarah sighed in disappointment, but turned to leave with the shadows without another word, shutting the door behind her. Jack tried to follow, or move at all, but he found his legs and arms were bound by some dark substance or energy, he couldn't tell which.

"You have tainted her with your powers, you will not get away with it." Jack said defiantly. Even as he spoke he could feel his stomach beginning to twist and turn more violently than ever, his mind being turned upside down with thoughts and urges he'd never imagined.

[I didn't have to taint her, warrior. It's the nature of sentients to desire, it's what sets them apart. Desire power, physical things, lust, it's all the same... and it's always there.] Jack looked up, staring in surprise as the dark, pulsing figure of the scion climbed down upon a tendril of dark power. Its shape was almost like that of a small frail female torso perched at the front of a spiders abdomen, the six legs nimbly climbing down the rope in front of him. Its gleaming red eyes bore into his, practically turning his heart inside out with feelings and urges.

"No... you're wrong..." Jack replied, his entire body shaking with the force of his resistance. "People are good, they do not hurt others so wantonly." He glared up at the scion as it reached the ground, walking up to him. "Unless they're under the control of an evil one."

[Can you be so sure? How many bounty hunters have you encountered, warrior? A dozen? Two? All of them with one thing on their minds... their own pleasure.] The scion put one clawed hand on his cheek, her claws digging into his flesh lightly. [Money can buy many things... but I can give you so much more. Aku wants you dead, but I think you could be a great help to us.]

"Evil... will NEVER win over righteousness..." Jack insisted, not looking directly at her now. He stared straight ahead at the wall beyond, his eyes never wavering despite the struggle in his heart and mind.

[What about you?] The scion asked innocently, looking over to Jack's side. [What about her?] Jack looked over to see Keela strapped up by a set of dark tendrils similar to the ones that held the samurai up. The scion leaned in close to him, her voice in his mind little more than a whisper. [Do you want to know why it feels like my power sways you despite your swords protection?] She asked him softly, her voice tantalizing. [Because I had nothing to do with it. It was your own desire, your own lust that drove you.]

Jack remained silent, his eyes cold and hard, trying to block out everything that was being said. [You can have her, and anything else you desire... and you desire much I can tell.] Jack clenched his eyes shut, his entire body shaking as the sweat poured from his brow. [All sentients do, it is nothing to be ashamed of, all you have to do is take what you want. It will bring you so much more happiness and satisfaction than this pointless war you wage against my master.]

"I may have desires..." Jack admitted, opening his eyes to glare at the scion with a death glare. "But I will never succumb to them... and I will never succumb to you." He stared at her for a long time, in a contest of wills neither could ever hope to win. Neither would ever give up.

[A pity, then I suppose it's plan B.] The scion brought one fist back to backfist Jack across the face, jerking his head to the side painfully and rendering him unconscious in a single blow. He tried to retain his senses, but he found he couldn't fight the darkness that crept over him.
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Sarah smiled contentedly to herself as she watched the shadows lug her newly gained fortune into her personal quarters on board the station. She'd been making her own way on this station as long as she could remember, taking what she could get her hands on by any means necessary. It wasn't the most comfortable life, especially with some kinds of customers, but she lived very well for her trouble.

"Hmm... what should I buy first?" She grabbed a handful of small coins and smiled. This little bit alone could have kept her fed for a week, the bags meant she was set for life. Still, she couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like to have that warrior around for awhile. He was practically fearless, an incredible fighter, and very, very handsome.

If only the scion didn't want to keep him for itself. She might have wanted to hire him as a bodyguard or a closer companion. It wouldn't do to fret about it now though, the scion would kill him and she would never have to worry about it again.

Why should she let the scion have him though? Why should she give up the samurai, she was the one who managed to lure him into a trap after even Aku himself could never succeed. She deserved to have him under her wing, she'd earned that right. Plus she now had enough money to hire an entire army if she had to, she could take him back.

"Time to take this station under MY wing." She said to herself, grabbing several handfuls of coins and jamming them into her pockets. She would need a lot of soldiers if she was going to try to fight through the scions army, but she knew from the rumors going around that only the warrior himself could destroy the shadows and the scion. She would just have to arrange that too, why not, she could do anything.
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A fierce, throbbing pain permeated Jack's consciousness, wracking his entire body. He couldn't move his body, he was too weak and still held down by the dark energy bonds that had been holding him since his capture. Even his mind didn't escape the pain, the scions powers tearing into his consciousness, threatening to tear apart every shred of decency and honor he had built up within himself. He refused to give up, but the more he struggled the more painful the fight became.

A strangled scream erupted from his throat as he squirmed on the floor, pulling at the tendrils of power that bound him. He didn't know how long he'd been there, a couple days, a week maybe. Or maybe just a few hours, minutes, seconds, it didn't really matter. All he knew was his determination to not let evil win, he would not give in to the Scion of Sin...

"Jack." He opened his eyes, looking through a feverish haze up at a figure with pale blue skin above him. Keela's pure white skin reflected the little light there was, almost giving her a kind of glowing essence around her. Her ocean blue eyes stared into his as she brushed the fingers of one hand against his cheek. The touch felt cool against his feverish skin. "Jack please tell me you're okay, I've been so worried."

"Keela..." Jack whispered in a daze, struggling to make his eyes focus in the dim light. He felt her hand stroking his cheek, her body shifting as she knelt down closer to him. "Are you... well?" He asked urgently.

"Yes, I'm fine Jack, I've come to help you..." She knelt down even closer to him, her face mere inches from his, smiling in a gentle, almost loving way. "Don't worry, I promise I'll free you, no matter what..." Her face neared his, her lips inches from Jacks own. He gulped and tried to clear his eyes, feeling that temptation twisting in his stomach and mind at once. Her lips were so close, comfort was coming toward him, it would be so easy to kiss her, and take his happiness... heaven after this hell...

"No!" In one burst of strength he shoved her back, though not very far since his hands were still strapped down. He screamed in pain as the surge roared through his body and mind even more viciously than before. He struggled against his bonds, his eyes shut tight against the pain. He ignored whoever was in the cell with him now, he refused to give in... he would sooner die than give away his honor for some physical desire...

So he lay on the floor, writhing in agony made even worse by the knowledge that he could end it at any time by just taking his desires to heart. It would be so easy, happiness could be his, everything the deepest, darkest parts of his heart could want... but instead he lay in pain. Fighting himself, a more vicious opponent than any other.
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The silence seemed palpable, as if one could cut it with a knife as a tall, stalwart figure crept through the installation. His left arm ended in a stump only an inch down from the shoulder, and he moved with a heavy limp on his left leg, but he moved with all the silence of a morning breeze. He swept up to the entrance of the prison cells. He knew where it was after spending the last several days gaining intelligence.

He pulled a gun from its holster at his side and kicked the door open, opening fire the moment it was out of the way. The gunshots rang through the air like lightning crashes, several bullets finding their mark. The guards fell to the ground limp before they could even realize what was happening. He lowered the gun to his side, not really caring. He wasn't a killer, but he'd gained a lot of new abilities in the last few days.

He put the gun in its holster, walking over to the control panel behind the desk to open the cells in the next room. He went into the back and walked between the cells, looking for one particular prisoner.

"Keela, you coming?" The gruff voice asked, even harsher than it had been just a few days ago. Keela sat up, staring up at him in stunned, but pleasant surprise.

"Reggoth!? What are you doing here!? I saw that thing kill you... didn't it?" She exclaimed, leaping up to exit the cell, almost as if she expected it to lock itself again.

"Almost." Reggoth looked down at the missing stump of his arm, then back up at Keela. He knew he looked different, being thrown through a windshield would wreak havoc with anyone's complexion. Thank God for advanced medical technology. "Come on, w'have t'find Jack. There are already friends looking for him, but I want t'find him first if w'can. W'still have t'pick him up, after all."

"Of course... do you know where he's being held exactly?" Keela asked worriedly.

"Yeah, it seems Jack managed t'make a friend just in the few minutes h'wandered free." Reggoth shook his head smirking. "Don't know what it is about the guy, people just like him. Come on." He turned to head down the hall as fast as he could with his limp. Keela hurried along behind him, helping him when it looked like he would fall. They couldn't leave Jack here, no way in Hell.
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Sarah didn't worry about the security cameras she knew were monitoring her progress. Most denizens of the station were too scared of the scion to act out against it, but most of them didn't know Jack was here... and most of them didn't know where the sword was kept. Being young and a girl had its advantages, especially in a place where the forbidden was sought after. She had access to many things, including information, that nobody else did.

She walked confidently through the halls, once in a while checking the small mechanical map she had strapped to her wrist. Her newfound wealth allowed her to prepare well, she had a satellite she bought recently to monitor where she was and where everything else was. She could even call in her small army of mercenaries from here. She would have preferred more time to prepare, but she didn't know how long the samurai would be kept alive.

She pushed open the door to the weapons storage locker, where the local authorities kept weapons that were deemed to powerful for the general public to be trusted with. The sword was somewhere among them, but the guards turned to stop her when she entered.

"Hey kid, why don't you get out of here huh? Go see mommy." The guard taunted her, taking out his pistol to pretend to polish it. Obviously they weren't very fond of people, as if anybody on the station was.

"Gee, sorry misters, guess you got lost, I'll help you find your way." Sarah replied, sounding as sweet and innocent as any girl her age. The guards thought about that for a minute with puzzled expressions on their faces. When they looked back down at her she already had a gun pointed at them. "You haven't found Hell yet, I'll show you the way." She pulled the trigger several times, the bullets plunging into the guards and sending them to the floor, limp.

She put the gun in its holster and walked up to the rack behind them, looking up and down for the white gleam of Jack's blade. Finally she found it and wrapped it in a blanket she'd brought for just that purpose. She slung it over her shoulder and turned to leave, leaving the guards lying on the ground. It didn't matter if they were found, it wouldn't happen before the scion was gone and she was in charge.
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He could feel the wetness of a cold rag being pressed against his forehead. It felt wonderful, relief from the bitter agonizing heat and pain that wracked his body. He knew this was no disease however, but the scions power fighting to push its way into his mind. He could hear Keela's voice talking to him every now and then. She kept trying to kiss him, but each time he pushed her away, and each time the pain came back, worse and worse.

He opened his mouth and greedily drank in the moisture when she let a few drops of water fall onto his mouth. His mind was a flurry of random thoughts and images, his body twisted and useless from the sheer force of the pain. He barely took note of her putting the rag down and lowering her lips toward his again, whispering into his ear lovingly. He knew the moment he let her kiss him, he would be overcome by his desires and the pain...

"Stop it... stop..." Jack pushed her away again, his resulting scream echoing off of the steel walls like a wild animals howl. He clawed at the metal floor, arched his back, anything to try to lesson the pain. He knew there was only one thing though... and right now, he was almost beyond caring about his pride or his honor.

"Please Jack, stop hurting yourself... I love you, you know I always have." Keela's voice told him as she knelt down toward him again. He didn't resist, he was too weak both physically and mentally, he could not fight anymore. Her lips moved so close to his he could feel her breath on his cheek, feel her hand snaking around his torso.

The door crashed open and three people marched in, two lifting guns while the other just stared down at Jack in concern. "Jack, are you okay!?" It was Keela's voice... but wasn't she standing over him?

"Ragh, I hate interruptions!" The Keela who had been about to kiss him stood up, clenching her fists angrily. Her eyes flashed crimson red, her skin fading from Keela's pale white to pure dark energy. [I'll kill all three of you and then finish making Jack my own, personal, slave.]

"If he's anybody's slave he's mine! I found him first!" Sarah's voice shouted back indignantly.

[You intend to take him, you traitorous little pipsqueak? You and what army?] She demanded.

"This one." Sarah reached down and pressed a button on what looked like a watch on her wrist. They could all hear the sounds of battle and combat coming from outside the room, for the moment still outside the complex. "They'll be here in only a few minutes, your defenses are very weak for one of Aku's perfect minions."

[I don't need defenses.] The scion raised one clawed hand in front of her, summoning several shadows, which rose from the metal plating in front of the three would-be heroes. "You'll all be dead either way, whether by human hand or my hand!" She exclaimed.

"I don't think so!" Reggoth pulled his pistol and aimed at the shadows, but he stopped when he felt a rush of wind flowing past him fro behind. He turned around slowly to see the giant from before behind him, summoned by the commotion. "Son of a b..." He didn't have time to finish when he was punched in the face, sending him hurtling across the room.

"Jack, get up!" Sarah unwrapped the bundle and hurled the gleaming blade toward the warrior. It slammed into one of the dark chains that bound him, interrupting the flow of power and disintegrating all four chains. Jack looked up at the sword, but he was still too drained to get up and wield it.

[No!] The scion tried to grab the blade, but her hand burst in a shower of dark power, accompanied by a pain-filled shriek. She lunged back, holding the stump where her hand had once been. [That sword! No matter, I can still kill YOU!] She lifted her remaining claw above her head, glaring down at the fallen samurai, but Keela tackled her to the ground from the side.

"You want to steal my face you manipulative little witch!?" She screamed, trying to slam her fists into the scions head. The scion simply thrust her away and climbed to her shadowy feet, watching her shadows surround Keela. "Can't fight me yourself now huh!?"

Sarah leapt away from the door and ran over to the side of the room, pulling her gun and aiming it at the giant by the door, and any of the shadows that dared to venture too close. The bullets didn't seem to have any impact on any of them, bouncing off or flying through harmlessly. She cursed herself silently, pressing the button on her watch again.

"Oy..." Reggoth stumbled to his feet, clutching his head. He reached down and removed his gun from its holster, raising it to aim it at the giant as it advanced on him, not even feeling Sarah's attack. "You want a re-match you blindsiding bastard? Come on!" He opened fire, watching as his own bullets bounced off of its thick skin harmlessly.

Everyone was thrown off guard when Sarah's reinforcements came pouring into the room, plunging into combat with the shadows that littered the room and the giant. Instantly the entire crowd was plunged into an uncontrollable melee between the humans and aliens, and the shadows. Still the attackers didn't have a chance, they couldn't even hurt the shadows.

"Uhn..." Jack grunted in pain as he pushed himself over onto his stomach, reaching up toward the hilt of his sword. He screamed again when he felt the scion begin to tear at his mind again, ripping into him without any intent to change him or seduce him, she was out for blood now. He screamed from the depths of his throat and fell to the ground again, curling up in a ball on the steel floor.

"Stop it!" Keela screamed, dodging through the shadows that attacked her to throw herself at the scion again. The scion gripped her throat and pushed her away again to hold her at arms length, her clawed fist crushing the pale woman's throat. Jack watch this from his position on the floor, then tried to get up again, reaching for his sword.

[Forget it warrior, you will never get it!] The scion tore into his mind again, drawing a blood-curdling scream from him. Still he didn't stop or back down this time, he screamed a howl of fury and pain as his hand inched even closer to the blade. His very soul felt like it was being torn to pieces, shredded beyond all sense of recognition until, finally, his fingers closed around the hilt of the enchanted blade.

Pure white power surged through him, cleansing him of the dark influence of the scion as he leaned against it, the power fading into his body. He panted with the strain of simply climbing to his feet, keeping his eyes closed as he stood. He pulled the blade of the sword out of the steel ground and held it before him, raised to fight. When he opened his eyes he was staring straight at the scion.

"Enough games..." The samurai said, moving toward her. Several shadows lunged at him from either side, but one swipe from the blade tore each of them in half before they could land a blow. The scion backed away from him, still holding Keela in front of her.

[Poriscin! Kill him!] The Scion of Sin commanded, pointing at the samurai. Jack whirled in time to see the giant barreling through the crowd, crushing and tossing aside shadow and man alike in its haste to get to him. Jack turned and held the sword before him, waiting patiently until the giant prepared to strike.

The samurai leapt into the air without warning, startling the giant out of any assault it may have attempted to make. He sailed through the air with his sword poised to strike, flying toward the giants' head. In one swift slash that fight was already over. The giants body tumbled to the ground, crushing several figures under the weight.

[Stay back warrior, I will kill her!] The scion exclaimed as Jack turned toward her again, moving toward her. "Do you really want to see her head separate from her body?" The scion clamped one hand around Keela's throat, tightening her claw warningly.

"You will not kill her." Jack told her, still holding the sword in front of him. "You will face justice for your crimes." He hesitated when the scion twisted her claw slightly, jerking Keela's head to the side with a grimace of pain.

[Justice... or revenge? You are as evil as I, your heart is dark, why won't you admit it!?] The scion asked. Before Jack could respond something whizzed by his ear from behind him, flying with unerring accuracy toward the scions hand. A tiny dagger plunged into the dark ones hand, not enough to do any real damage, but the pain and suddenness made her loosen her grip.

Keela whirled, slamming her elbow into the side of the scions head and throwing herself away from the dark woman. Jack lunged the second his path was clear, bringing the silver sword up to bring it down on the scion. She raised her arms protectively, and shrieked in pain and fury when both were severed, sending tendrils of dark power scattering throughout the room.

Jack landed and stood before the scion, who glared up at him hatefully from the ground. "Do you see what happens when evil reigns?" Jack gestured back toward Sarah, who had thrown the dagger that had freed Keela. "It turns in on itself and brings about its own downfall. I may have dark emotions, but I am led by the side of righteousness, and from it I will never stray."

[Curse you samurai...] The Scion of Sin growled, sounding very much like the ancient sorcerer from whom she'd been born. Jack raised the sword above his head without another word and brought it down, cleaving the dark form of the scion in half. She let out an almost animalistic scream as the dark power surged forth into the room. When it finally dissipated the shadows, and the body of the giant, were gone.

"What... what's going on?" One of the mercenaries scattered around the room asked, looking around. He looked down at his hands to see a gun held in them, looking confused and bewildered.

"They don't remember anything..." Keela commented.

"After living under the scions shadow, they were under her complete control. She never realized however that some may become even greedier than she thought, and try to overthrow even HER." Jack looked over at Sarah, who didn't look as confused as the others, but just as thoughtful and almost wondrous as she stared down at her hands. "Evil turns in on itself, and ultimately, it is destroyed by its own hand."

"That's three scions down." Reggoth told them, walking up to them. He had several wounds covering his body. He looked over at Jack and Keela with a confident glint in his eyes. "We're on a role. I think w'should b'able t'find some way off o'this ship, should w'go ahead and get going? Let these people rediscover themselves?"

"Wait a little while." Jack said, surprising the other two. Without another word the samurai walked over to stand behind the little girl, who was sitting on the floor, staring down at her hands with an almost blank expression on her face. "Are you okay, young one?"

"What... what am I feeling...?" Sarah turned around to look up at him. She had tears welling up in her eyes, her hands shaking violently. "I have a... a feeling in the pit of my stomach... and my heart..." She closed her eyes and gulped, lowering her head to her chest. "When I think of... of everything my life has been... and my parents..."

"I think, what you are feeling... is remorse." The samurai put one hand on her shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. "The scion never let you feel regret or pain for the misdeeds you all have done over the years... it must be unbearable." Jack looked her in the eyes, wiping one tear off of her cheek. "But remember... you are the reason you're all free now."

"Remorse..." Sarah wiped at her eyes, looking down at the floor. "After everything I've done... what am I supposed to do now?" She asked.

"I do not know... but I know that whatever you do, you will be a pure heart now." Jack patted her hair and smiled comfortingly before standing up. "You will be fine, I promise." Jack patted her head one more time before he turned to walk back toward Keela and Reggoth, who watched him with curious gazes. "Come, we should find a new ship." They turned to leave, with Sarah staring after them thoughtfully.
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"Well, anyone have any ideas?" Keela asked, staring up at what remained of the small fighter they had come in on. It was completely useless after the giant had gotten through with it, a twisted heap of metal nobody would be piloting anywhere ever again.

"There must b'a way t'get another ship." Reggoth said.

"Perhaps..." Jack said, staring curiously as another ship floated toward the hangar they were standing in. It floated into the hangar section and set down, the door on the side opening up slowly. They waited until finally Sarah poked her head out the door, looking down at them. "What are you doing up there?" Jack asked.

"I... want to give you this ship... and go with you." Sarah walked down the ramp and walked up to them, putting her hands behind her back. "I don't have much experience or... anything like that... but I have a whole lot of money left over from the raids and the ship..." Sarah said.

"You should stay here, we still have to face the Scion of Sorcery and Aku himself." Jack told her seriously.

"I can't stay here... there's nothing here for me..." Sarah told them seriously, sighing. "Besides... I have to rethink my entire life... I need to figure things out... and I think you can help me... Jack..." She stared up at the samurai with a pleading glint in her eye. Jack stared back down at her, casting a sidelong glance at Keela and Reggoth before answering.

"As you wish... I give you my word I will do everything I can to help you." The samurai told her. Sarah smiled up at him and took his hand, smiling broadly. Keela stared down at her a bit strangely, but the warrior took no notice. He knew what was going on, but he would deal with it in due course.

"Come, we should move on. The people here need to move on with their lives, and we must move quickly to stop the final scion." Jack announced, turning to head into the new ship. Sarah followed still holding his hand while Reggoth and Keela followed behind them. They all knew this would not be easy, and things would only get more difficult from here on out, but maybe, they could give a girl a new chance at life.

THE END