Hellfire and Brimstone

by Agent-G

Written with Slickboy444 One year after Apocalypse is defeated things have calmed down, but the Hellfire Club decides to make the lives of the XMen pure hell, and that's just the beginning. Jott, Romy, VinceEmma, Wandurt, LoganOroro and Kiotr.

70. Slayer's Story

Mark C: Yep Hank and Sage have made some headway and that was a touching scene, I think Slayer does feel a bit better after that. If they can stop Selene you'll have to wait and see and yep up next Slayer bares his soul to them.

Kaliann: Yep but I think the adults just didn't want to think of them having sex, nope that thing about Phoenix was just something that could come about in a sequel or something.

Winblades: Yep Slayer's past is coming up, and thanks for that it will mean a lot to him.

Aaron: Yeah it is a big burden he lives with and you finally get to find out what it is in this chapter. Well Emma is a bit emotional at the moment with everything. Well Selene might have found out cause one of the demons told her from the fight. My fault for not saying so I guess I forgot.

Craaaaazy: Selene is an actual character from Marvel comics if I ever use an OC I always made a disclaimer for it.

Doza: Sorry but we're entering an angst fill part of the story. With all the romance going on we had to switch it around. Yeah I can see that as well with Angel, they are the brooding types aren't they? Yep you'll need your tissues handy and this is actually Slickboy writing his past not me.

Jenskott: There will be no Phoenix in THIS story I didn't say anything about any possible future stories that will come after this fic. Yep you know Hank would despise Sinister for what he does. Cool, Selene being scary is what I'm trying to go for.

GothikStrawberry: No the Phoenix is just a possible future story. Yeah I think those two are cute together when they're doing work.

The Uncanny R-Man: Yeah Hank can guess but he feels better not knowing. No Phoenix in this fic just a little nod of what could happen in the future. Yeah Slayer's past isn't pretty.

ViciousAssassin: Jean won't become the Phoenix that was mainly what could be a future fic. Yep Selene really knows how to be evil that's for sure. I'm not sure why Slickboy wrote that part as to why not all the New Mutants were there.

Sparky Genocide: You're right about the chapter, and I'm glad that Vince/Emma patched things up with him too.

Thanks to: X00001, Simba317, Quillian, band20, coldqueen

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AN: This entire chapter was done by Slickboy and I think he deserves a big hand for this one. He's been wanting to do this for a very long time and I'm glad that through this he's able to write Slayer's origin story.

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Hellfire and Brimstone

CHAPTER 70: SLAYER'S STORY

Jack Robinson – Slayer

Listen to my story…Let my all seeing eye guide you down this long hard journey. This is not for the meek…This is not for the faint of heart. This is my life…It is a sad tale of endless suffering, loss, and sorrow…But it is also one of honor, renewal, and faith. It is something that has haunted me every waking moment of every single day…Tormenting me to no end. I am my own worst enemy…I am my own greatest weakness. But despite this…I fight on. I bear great power and great responsibility with the gifts and curses I wield. I am a warrior…I am a fighter…I am a lost soul…Forgotten in the shadows of time. And it all started with my birth in small inner city hospital in the heart of San Francisco…

"Time of death…3:31 AM," said a middle aged doctor as he pulled a white sheet over the pale face of a nameless woman.

"Looks like that bleeding was too much for her," said a young female nurse in a solemn tone as she held a wailing newborn baby in her arms.

"The bleeding was only one of many factors…" said the doctor as the coroners rolled the body off for an autopsy, "According to her charts, she lost the will to live after her husband died. She stopped eating…Stopped sleeping…Didn't take very good care of herself even though she was pregnant."

"Any next of kin for the baby?" asked the nurse as she wiped the damp face of the infant child.

"Unfortunately no…" said the doctor as he marked a few things off on his chart before making his leave, "Near as I can tell, this kid's got no family. So I guess that means social services will have to take him."

"Social services huh?" said the younger woman, looking back down at the newborn with a hint of sorrow in her tone, "Well, with the way things are in the public sector now, I can only guess how hard it's going to be for him."

"I know, I know…Poor kid," said the doctor, taking one last look at the infant before stepping out, "God only knows what he'll have to go through now…But I have a feeling that he's going to be in for a rough haul from here on out…"

My mother died giving birth to me…My father died only a month before that in an Earthquake. I had no family, no home…Nothing. It's a title that I've never been able to escape and regardless of how my life has changed…That one simple facet of my life remains one of the biggest burdens on my soul.

Having no parents was hard enough…But being a ward of the state in a corrupt and decayed inner city system wasn't much better. I happened to be unlucky enough to be born at a time when many of the social services within the poor parts of San Francisco were hit by hard times because of major cuts to welfare programs, so the place I grew up in wasn't too uplifting to say the least. The plumbing was lousy, there was no heating or air conditioning, the beds were tattered and torn, and I had to share a room with five other boys.

It was a cold, bitter world to grow up in. The people who ran that place didn't care about kids…All they cared about was getting in and getting out so they could get to better jobs within the civil sector. There were some nice people…But they usually ignored me because I was such a recluse and considered from day one to be a lost cause.

What they didn't know, however, was that there was a major reason why I was the way I was…And it all had to do with my dreams.

'Jack…Jack can you hear me?'

A young boy tossed and turned in his hard, tattered mattress in the cool air of the night as he groaned and gasped at the feeling of a strange voice calling him deep within the recesses of his mind. Time and time again, he tried to shut it out…But it was no use. This…This thing wouldn't leave him alone. It just kept calling him…Reaching out to him.

'Jack…I know you can hear me,' said the voice, causing the timid young boy to breathe in short gasps, 'We are connected…I am a part of you…You know it's true.'

With another ragged gasp, young Jack Robinson's movements became increasingly erratic as he kept trying to ward off the mysterious voice. But try as he might, nothing was working. It was as if this…Whatever it was…Truly was connected to him. And he could not escape.

'Jack…'

"WHO ARE YOU!" he finally yelled, shooting up in his bed in a cold sweat.

"Hey!" came a loud voice from down the hall, "Get back to sleep you little shit or I'll come in there in knock you the hell out!"

The dreams never faded in the slightest…They only grew more vivid over time. Some of my earliest memories were of these dreams. And they were always the same…Centering around a deep and powerful voice that kept calling me and calling me. I honestly don't know if it was reaching out to me or if I was the one reaching out to it…But whatever it was, I wouldn't learn it's true significance until much later on in my life.

And needless to say, a kid who wouldn't stop dreaming had a way of alienating many prospective parents, so my chances for adoption were lousy at best. I saw how those people looked at me…And I had no other way of looking back at them other than with the look that I was cursed with…Forever conflicted by my own mind. It was a brutal cycle of living day to day in a rundown orphanage eating cheap food and getting taunted and teased by other kids who thought I was weird. But when I look back on it…I can't say I blame them. Those dreams had a hell of an impact on me…But eventually, they became the least of my worries.

I'm not exactly sure how long I was at that orphanage, but I think I may have been around seven when some weird guy came into the orphanage one day looking for healthy young kids and I just happened to catch his sights. And honestly…If I'd have known even a fraction about that son of a bitch that I know now, I'd have run away right then and there. But it wasn't like I had a choice.

"Hey there little boy…" said a tall, imposing man with a long flowing beard and a cold hard gaze, "Looks like you're coming home with me…"

Looking back up at the strange man, young Jack Robinson noticed a strange look in his eye. He wasn't sure what it was…But it made his skin crawl in a way that nearly caused him to lose his lunch. But despite this, he remained silent as he took the older man's hand and followed him out of the orphanage.

What I saw in that man's eyes was merely a prelude for what was to come. Turns out, he was a part of an underworld gang that was rising in power and strength throughout the inner city. They were heavy into drugs and the sex trade…And thanks to the wondrous power of corruption and bribery, they managed to get little orphans like me to sell into the sex trade. And if I didn't do what they wanted me to…They'd beat the living shit out of me.

"That the kid?" said a seemingly normal looking man dressed in a business suit as he stood in an alley with a darkly dressed gang member, looking over a line up of some young boys and girls, some of which were as young as eight years old.

"Who, the one with the blonde hair?" said the gang member, his tone cold and zombie-like, "Yeah, that's him. He's a popular choice. Doesn't really talk much, but I guess you could consider that a bonus. He's a little on the pricy side…But trust me, he's worth it."

Young Jack Robinson tried not to look either men in the eye, but it he didn't want to show any defiance because he knew they would just beat him again if he did. He was still recovering from his last beating…Which probably would have killed him if they hadn't stopped when they did. But no matter how much they beat him, he refused to give in…He refused to surrender himself to despair. He wasn't quite sure why…But just kept pressing on…Even if it meant doing sick things like letting pedophiles and perverts touch him in unholy ways.

"I'll take him…" said the man in the suit.

"A fine choice my good man," said the gang member as he accepted his payment of a sizeable roll of cash, "Hey Jackie boy! Come here…You've got a new job."

By day, they gave me shelter, clothing, and a bed to sleep in…By night, they sold me like a pet to anybody willing to pay the price. They made me do things that just made me feel so dirty…So sick…But it wasn't like I had a choice in the matter. I did as I was told, and I was taken care of. The conditions were a major step up compared to the orphanage, but it was still like a prison to me. And after being bounced around a few areas, it began to take it's toll on me…And eventually, it got to the point where it was just too much. I had to run…I had to get away.

"GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE SHIT!" yelled a darkly dressed gang member as he chased after the fleeting Jack Robinson, chasing him down and alley and towards the crowded streets.

His voice hardly registered in the young ten year old boy's mind. All he could think about was freedom…Of getting away from this horrible way of life. He couldn't take doing this anymore…Being sold like an animal to whoever had the money. He could only take so much…He could only go on for so long. Now finally…He could feel it…The rush of freedom so close, yet so far. It was a wonderful feeling the likes of which he had never felt before. It was the first time he had ever really felt such things, but he had to get away first.

"Damn it!" cursed the oversized gang banger as he tripped over a few trash cans that Jack had pushed over as he ran further and further towards his freedom, "Jack! You little prick! Don't you run from me! I'm coming for you!"

But his words could not stop the young boy…For years of abuse had finally boiled over and now he wanted out. And once he broke out of the alley and into the streets, he disappeared into the crowd, the sound of the angry gang member growing fainter and fainter as he immersed himself in the sea of people…Finally free from his life of abuse.

"Free…I'm finally free."

It was a great feeling…Finally getting away from that horrible gang. I thought I'd seen the last of them, but that would later prove to be a fatally wrong assertion on my part. But in retrospect, things did get better for me after I ran away. I was unwilling to go back to the orphanage, so I stuck to the streets…Immersing myself in the shadows in order to avoid both the authorities and the gangs.

It was a hard life. I was pretty much forced to steal in order to sustain myself and I grew pretty good at it thanks to my young, nimble form. But I always went out of my way only to steal only what was necessary and never hurting anybody in the process. Now normally, that's not the case when it comes to distraught runaways…But I remember having this strange drive within me during that time…This drive that felt linked to that dream I kept having. I didn't know what it was at the time, but it seemed to guide me during that difficult time…Helping me to survive without crossing certain lines. I'd eventually learn a lot more later on…But it's during this part in my life, I encountered the most powerful and profound force that would forever affect me in every conceivable way. And that force came in the form a beautiful, wonderful, kind young girl named…Layla.

With a batch of stolen bread in hand, young Jack Robinson scaled the fire escape of an old run-down apartment building. It was a popular place for homeless people looking for shelter and Jack had stayed here many times before. And with enough food to last him for a couple of days, he planned to lie low for a while. But little did he know that upon entering through the third floor window that he had entered through many times before…There was already a presence there…One he never could have anticipated.

"What the…" the eleven year old boy began as he stumbled into the usually unoccupied room.

Suddenly, he heard a slight gasp from the corner near an old mattress that he set up a while back. And upon closer inspection, he saw two figures occupying the area…One of which was a sickly looking young boy who looked to be about seven or so years old and the other was that of a beautiful young girl that looked to be around his age with blonde hair, blue eyes, and ragged clothes that had seen better days.

"Please…I'm sorry, I didn't know this room was yours," said the girl in a voice that sent shivers up and down young Jack's spine.

"Hey, it's okay…No need to apologize," he said quickly as he bent down so that he was at the same level as the young girl.

Immediately, after hearing his words, the young girl seemed to calm down as she took in the appearance of the young boy before her. And as she came out of the corner and into the faint light gleaming in from the window, he got a better view of her face and almost instantly…Young Jack Robinson was captivated by what he saw.

'Wow…' he thought to himself, 'She's…Beautiful.'

The fear quickly faded as a slight smile formed on the young girls face…A smile that gave him goose bumps all throughout his body. She seemed to see something in him…Something that nobody else had because as she looked back at him…She just kept smiling. It was a sight unlike anything Jack Robinson had ever seen before…A sight that actually made him feel…Warm inside. He was at a true loss for words…Completely and utterly flabbergasted by what he was seeing. And he probably would have stayed that way had the young girl not broken the silence.

"Who are you?" she asked him, her tone warm and welcoming.

"Jack…Jack Robinson," he answered instinctively.

"Hi Jack…I'm Layla."

"Layla…" he found himself repeating, such a name resonating very strongly within the deep recesses of his mind.

"It's nice to meet you," she said, still smiling, not showing any malice or apprehension…Something of which Jack was not used to, "I take it you sleep here too."

"Um…Yeah," he answered, feeling a bit awkward for reasons he couldn't really explain, "It's not much, but it still makes for good shelter…Especially for this time of year."

"Yeah…I know," she said, shifting her gaze back towards the bed where the younger boy was sleeping, "I heard about this place and I needed somewhere for me and my little brother, Eric, to stay. He's sick and…Well, I'm doing what I can, but he's just so weak and…"

There was a hard strain in her voice as the smile on her face fell at the sight of her sick little brother. It was a sight that Jack didn't like seeing…A sight that was truly hard to look at. But as he looked back down at the food he had in hand…A smile soon came to his face…Something which was definitely a rarity for him. But in the presence of this strange young girl…None of that seemed to matter as he made his way over towards the young boy.

"I'm sorry to hear that…" said Jack as he opened up the bag of bread, "But…Maybe I can help. I have some food."

"Food?" said Layla, her stomach letting out a deep growl, "You mean real food?"

"Yes…Enough for all of us," said Jack, casting her a warm smile, "Here…Take some. It looks like you and your brother need it more than I do."

Such an act once again brought a smile to the young girl's face…A smile that made young Jack's heart skip a beat as she took a couple of slices of bread and some dry goods he had stolen from a supermarket. And watching her tend to her brother, hearing her gentle words of a assurance to the sick young boy gave him this feeling that he couldn't quite put his finger on…But it was a feeling that was quite welcome as he knelt down beside her to help her out.

"Wow…Thank you Jack," she said, smiling back at him with a look that would have stopped time itself.

"You're welcome Layla…"

She was the sweetest, kindest, most beautiful living thing I had ever seen before in my life. I was only eleven years old…But even then, I knew that she was special…She meant something to me…And she would pretty much become the center of my world for the next four years.

I learned that she and her little brother, Eric, were born to a schizophrenic mother and a drug addict dad who used to molest her on a regular basis. Eventually, after her mom committed suicide as a result of not taking her medications, she took her little brother and ran away. She always told me that if she spent another day with her father, both she and Eric would have been dead because he was always so irrational and violent because of drugs.

And to make matters worse…Her little brother, Eric, was sick and dying of Leukemia. He was so weak…So pale all the time. He was never able to eat much without puking it up, he was always having coughing fits that would go on for hours, and he would constantly run fevers. It was a sad…Sad sight to anybody who saw it…But even though he was so sick, Layla would always smile when she was around him. She would hold his hand, tell him stories, and sing songs to help him feel better. And even though Eric was so weak…There weren't many instances where he wasn't smiling thanks to the presence of his big sister.

We all became fast friends and I began doing what I could to help them. I stole food, medicine, and clothing for us and I helped them both get around on the streets. And in turn…They gave me something I never had before, but had always wanted…Friends. Layla was so kind…So warm…And I just…I couldn't help but turn to her whenever times were tough and I felt as though I couldn't go on. I still kept having those dreams, but around her…They didn't matter. Around Layla…Nothing mattered. I was happy…It was the only time in my life when I can honestly say that I was happy.

"Jack…Jack, are you okay?" said a young, thirteen year old Layla as she shook Jack awake from another one of his vivid nightmares.

He was tossing and turning again, sleeping on the hard wooden floor of an old shipping plant deep within the inner city with only cardboard as a mattress and towels as blankets. The voice kept calling him…Reaching out to him. It was overwhelming his mind…Until finally, he couldn't take it.

"No…Stop!" he yelled as he shot up from his unconscious state.

"Jack…Jack, it's me…" said Layla, quickly pulling him into an embrace as she heard his labored breaths, "It was just a dream…That's all…It was just a dream."

Upon hearing her warm voice and her gentle touch, Jack felt himself calm down considerably. He took her hand within his and gave it a firm squeeze, casting her a gracious glance…For he doubted that he could ever have managed such things without her.

"Layla…" he said, still sounding quite tired and overwhelmed by his dream.

"Shh…" she whispered in a soft tone, lovingly holding him in her arms, "It's okay, Jack…I'm here."

It was all he needed to feel another smile spread across his face. And as he looked back into those beautiful blue eyes, his heart warmed and his tortured soul was comforted as he hugged her back…Thanking whatever higher power there was for blessing him with such a true angel.

Layla…Meant so much to me. She was there for me when I needed it most. She would hold me when I was scared…Comfort me when I was troubled…And sooth me when I was in pain. I know we were both so young, but…I'm not afraid to say that I was in love with her. I knew she was the only one for me. She was so kind, gentle, and loving that…There really are no words to accurately describe how she made me feel.

We helped each other…And we both helped Eric. His illness didn't get any better, but he managed to persevere over the years and we all were like a family. We moved from place to place…Walked the streets side by side…And did whatever we could to survive. They were truly happy times…Even though we were on the streets and had nothing, we really were happy…For we had each other and that was enough.

The four years I spent with Layla and Eric were the best years of my life. It was a time when my dreams were manageable, the streets were kind to us, and we managed to survive. It was hard at times, that much I can't deny…But it was all worth it in the end whenever I saw that loving smile on her face.

I hoped it would go on forever…I hoped that it would never end. Layla was my world now…My reason for living. But it all came crashing down on one fateful night that I'll never forget no matter how long I live or how hard I try. Because of all the things I have suffered over the years…They all paled in comparison to what happened that one night that would forever destroy the happiness I once felt.

"Come on! It's just this way," said a fifteen year old Layla as she led fifteen year old Jack, who was helping the tired and sick Eric along the way.

"Wow, slow down Layla…We're coming, we're coming," said Jack, trying to keep his balance as Eric kept leaning on him for support.

"Ow…Jeez, my legs are killing me," complained Eric.

"Don't worry, Eric," assured Jack, "We're almost there."

"I hope so…I don't know how much longer I can keep tripping over my own feet."

Finally, they arrived at their destination and Eric was allowed to rest his tired legs. And almost immediately, they found out why Layla had been so excited about this place.

"Wow…Not bad," said Jack as he took in the overall layout of the area.

"Yeah, I came by here during our last food run," she said proudly as they stood before what seemed like a mountain of wooden crates beneath a high sky-lit ceiling, "I checked it out and it's been abandoned for three years now. And some of these crates have some supplies in them so we should be able to hold up here for a good long while."

"And just in time too…" said Jack as he opened up one of the crates to find some fresh blankets, "It's been getting pretty cold out and an open place like this is much easier to stay warm in."

"Yeah! And on top of that, it's right near the docks so you can watch the sunset right under the golden gate bridge!" she continued, sounding quite enthusiastic about their new 'home.'

"You and your sunsets…" muttered Eric as he rested against one of the crates, "They're all the same if you ask me."

"Hey! That doesn't make them any less beautiful to watch," argued Layla, casting her brother a dirty glance.

"Well we'll have plenty of time to check that out tomorrow," said Jack as he gathered up some food and laid it out on the floor, "But for now, I think we should rest up."

"Yeah…Lord knows I need it," said Eric, his eyes already drooping.

"Well don't fall asleep like that," said Layla, quickly coming to her brother's side and helping him up, "Let's find you something more comfortable to sleep on."

Then suddenly…Just as Layla and Jack were helping young Eric to his feet, they heard a strange noise echo back towards the entrance from where they had come. Instinctively, they all fell silent as they heard a plethora of footsteps echo through the area. And after a few tense moments, they heard voices as well.

"Hey! Somebody's here!" said one of the voices, "This door was supposed to be locked!"

"It must have rusted over," said another, "I thought I told you to replace it! We can't have other people dealing here. You know how Felix feels about people infringing on his territory."

"Yes, of course…" said the first voice, sounding almost mechanical in a sense, "In that case, let's do a clean sweep of the area. We can't have anybody knowing about this place or else our deals around here are shot."

Jack, Layla, and Eric quickly went into evasion mode as they both helped Eric up and tried to find a place to hide. They knew these guys were bad news because that name, Felix, was one that pretty much everybody in the inner city knew to some extent. While they weren't exactly sure who he was, they knew he was a powerful gang leader that was said to have a near supernatural control over his members. They were well known for their cruelty and efficiency…That much Jack could attest to because they were the same gang that sold him into the sex trade. And now that they were here, they had to avoid them or face the grave consequences.

"Come on…Come on, this way!" urged Jack under his voice, trying to help the weak and limping Eric down towards a small nook in between crates.

"Ugh…Damn…Can't keep it…Steady," grunted Eric, gasping for breath as his balance became increasingly erratic due to his weak legs.

"Just hold onto us, Eric…" urged Layla as she helped her little brother into the shadowy area, "It's okay…We just have to hide and stay completely silent."

The air grew thick with tension as the three homeless kids struggled to conceal themselves. Then suddenly…Eric collapsed in their arms and caused several small boxes to fall to the floor, causing enough commotion to catch the ear of one of the gang members.

"What the hell…Hey guys! Over here! I think I heard something!" one of them yelled as he quickly followed the source of the noise towards the area where Jack, Layla, and Eric were struggling to hide in.

Immediately, the three youths fell to the floor and began crawling along the grimy surface in an effort to stay concealed. Jack and Layla kept trying to move Eric along, but he was just so weak. Eventually, the gang member finally entered the area and began scouting around. And as soon as they saw him through the cracks of the crates, the three homeless youths froze and stayed as still as statues.

"Don't make a sound…" whispered Jack, staying close to Layla as she clung to her little brother, silently praying for their safety.

They watched as the armed gang member, who looked to be in his early twenties scanned the entire area carefully and thoroughly. He wore the distinctive black clothing of Felix's gang and had that same cold look in his eye that was so distinctive of each and every one of their members. Jack, Layla, and Eric could only watch and wait…Hoping that he would leave soon. But for some reason, he just kept scanning the area…Not satisfied with not finding anything.

Finally, he looked as though he was about to move on. For a moment, the tension began to lift…Then suddenly, the sick young Eric let out a labored cough that he was unable to contain. Jack tried to cover his mouth…But it was too late, for the ever vigilant gang banger had heard it.

"There you are! Guys! Over here! I found them!"

"RUN!" yelled Jack as he and Layla quickly got Eric back up onto his feet and tried to make a break for it.

Eric was still coughing, unable to stop. But they couldn't worry about that now…They had to run. They could hear the large, imposing man running after them through the narrow walkways, but they kept going…Pushing themselves as hard as they could, taking several twists and turns in an effort to lose him. And for a moment that seemed to work as the pursuing gang member began to grow disoriented.

"GOD DAMN IT! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!"

Looking back, it seemed as though they might get away. One of the exits was just up ahead. They just had to get there first.

"Come on…Come on…We're almost there…" said Jack, doing his best to help Eric.

"That's it Eric…Come on, you can do it!" urged Layla, clinging to her sick little brother with all her might.

Then suddenly…Just as the exit seemed within their grasp, three fully armed gang members suddenly emerged from concealed areas behind a couple of crates and ambushed the three youths.

"GOTCHA!"

"NO!" yelled Jack as he suddenly felt a pair of powerful arms restrain him while he watched two others take Layla and Eric.

"JACK!" yelled Layla as she struggled to fight the powerful grip of the stronger, older man that now had her in his grasp.

"SHUT UP!" yelled the member holding Layla as he kneed her in the gut, causing her to keel over.

"No…Leave her…Alone," coughed Eric, now a tired heap on the floor.

"Fuck you kid!" said the member who had been pursuing them as he and a couple of others finally caught up, "Get up!"

"He…He can't," gasped Layla, her voice now brimming with fear and concern as she watched the imposing men hover around her, Jack, and Eric, "Please…Don't hurt us. My brother he…He's sick. Please let us go! Please…"

The strain in her voice was hard for Jack to listen to as he kept struggling against the assailants, but their grip was just too strong. It was as if they had some kind of weird strength that couldn't be broken. He tried and he tried…But it was no use. He was helpless…Unable to do anything as he watched the one who had been chasing them pick up the weak and tired Eric.

"Well, well, well…Lookie what we have here," said what looked to be the leader of the group, "A couple of street rats…And here I was thinking that maybe a couple of rivals found out about this place and were looking to infringe on our territory."

"No…Please, we'll leave," begged Layla, "I promise you, we'll go and we'll never come back! Please…"

"Oh I'm afraid I can't do that…" said the leader as he looked back towards the restrained young girl with a cold glare, "You see…Felix is very adamant about keeping his dealing spots a secret. Anybody who knows about them, rival or otherwise, is classified as a threat to him. And if you're a threat to Felix…You might as well already be dead."

His cold words caused Jack to let out another round of struggle in an attempt to break free…But again, he was unable to fight the hard grip of the cold, sinister gang.

"Let us go!" shot Jack, "We've done nothing! We were just looking for a place to sleep!"

"Well you picked the wrong place kid…" said the leader ominously in response, "And you're going to pay the price for messing with Felix…"

Then suddenly…In a show of swift cruelty, the leader took out a knife, grabbed Eric up off the floor, and slit his throat in a fowl, bloody act that horrified both Jack and Layla. The sick little boy…The little boy who had done nothing to anybody…Had just been heartlessly killed in an act of cruelty the likes of which neither youth had ever seen before.

"NO! ERIC! No…Oh God no…" cried Layla as she heard the final gasps of her little brother as he fell motionlessly to the floor.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" yelled Jack, enraged that they would do something like that to a sick little boy.

"Shut up, kid!" yelled one of the members restraining him, hitting him hard upside the head with the but of a gun and causing him to keel over.

"Jack!" cried Layla, tears already welling up in her eyes at the sight of her dead brother

The innocent blood of the weak young boy flowed onto the dirty floor now…His motionless body a sheer testament to cruelty. The sight sent Layla into a fit of wailing sobs and tears…For her baby brother, the sick little boy she had spent her life protecting, was dead…And there was nothing she could do about it. He had never hurt anybody…He was just a sick boy dying of cancer. And they killed him…These heartless zombie-like beasts killed him. But they weren't done yet.

"Strip the little bitch…" ordered the leader as he looked back down at the young girl with a cold, hungry gaze, "Let's show her how Felix punishes those who cross his path."

"NO! LAYLA!" yelled Jack, immediately trying to come to her aid.

"Shut up boy!" yelled the two gang members restraining him, once again hitting him over the head with a gun, "You'll get your turn…Until then, you're gonna watch, you hear? You're gonna watch us fuck this bitch until she bleeds!"

They…They were so brutal…So heartless…So full of venomous hate. And they held me…They held me right then and there as they raped her. They did it right in front of my eyes…They made me watch every last second of it. I kept trying and trying and she kept calling out to me, crying for me to help her…But I couldn't do it…I was too weak. Her pained screams still echo within my mind today. They were so hard to listen to…So painful to take in. It was as if her very screams ripped at my very soul.

There…There was nothing I could do. Even to this day, I can see her face…So clearly. The tears in her eyes…The look on her face…The great unending sorrow. She kept crying and crying…Screaming and screaming…Begging me to help her. But I couldn't…I failed her. And because of that…The most beautiful girl in the world…The only girl I ever loved…Suffered so much and died at the hands of such cruelty that I will never forgive myself for what they did.

"Layla…" gasped Jack weakly, tears streaming down his face as he watched them defile the beautiful young girl's body, "Layla…"

"Jack…" she managed to gasp weakly, her naked body now covered with bruises, welts, and streaks of blood.

She had cried so much that it was almost as if she had run out of tears to shed. She was in so much pain…So much sorrow. And there was nothing Jack could do about it. She was suffering so much…Yet she was still crying for him…Reaching out to him. But it wasn't enough…For the cruel gang members who had so brutally raped her were going to make sure that she never cried another tear.

"Not bad little bitch…" said the leader as the last of his men finished raping her as she now lay in a naked, bloody heap on the floor, "You could've made a nice ho…But I guess it's too late for that. Now…You die."

"Jack…" she said in a barely audible tone, looking back at him with so much pain in her eyes.

"Layla…" cried Jack, tears streaming down his face.

Then…In one final bang…The leader of the gang shot the beautiful young girl who had brought no harm onto the world directly in the heart…Ending her innocent life right before the eyes of the young man who had loved her so much.

"NOOOOOO!" he cried, lunging forth, but was only hit on the head within another gun.

She was dead…Layla was dead. The sweetest, kindest, most caring living creature on the face of the planet…Was dead. Her innocent life and that of her brother…Taken in a show of unyielding cruelty the likes of which seemed too evil to be real. And for Jack Robinson…A part of him truly died at that moment.

"So much for the bitch," said the leader as he now turned to Jack, "Now it's your turn kid…And don't worry, we'll make sure you see that little slut of yours again real soon…"

His cold words were like raw venom to young Jack Robinson. They stirred within him and anger, hate, and rage the likes of which he had never felt before. They killed Eric…They killed Layla…And the sight of their dead bodies was enough to provoke within him a power that had long been dormant within the recesses of his blood.

"You…MONSTER!" yelled Jack as a sudden burst of strength flowed within him and he broke free from the iron grip of the assailants.

Then…Before any of them could react, Jack's body was engulfed in a bright blue halo of light. A look of raw, unbending rage dominated his face as he glared back at the monsters who murdered Layla and Eric. Such an act greatly shocked the bewildered gang members as they scrambled to stop him.

"WHAT THE FUCK! KILL HIM DAMN IT! KILL HIM!"

But it was too late for them…For there would be no escaping from their crimes. Jack didn't know what was happening or what was going on. But all he knew is that he was immersed in this great new power. He could feel it…A rush of great strength surging through his body the likes of which he had never felt before. The gang members were about to shoot him, but before they could, the glowing light that had engulfed Jack's body suddenly shot out bolts of energy that tore through their flesh like a hot knife through butter.

"RUN!" ordered the leader, "LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!"

But they could not run from their punishment…They could not run from their crimes. They attempted to flee, but they were all cut down before they could take two steps by the mysterious power that had engulfed Jack Robinson. All he could think about was Layla…And how they had made him watch as they raped and killed her. And now…He was paying them back for their crimes…And he had no qualms about it.

When the last gang member fell to the floor in a bloody heap, the glowing around Jack's body finally faded as he suddenly collapsed to his knees, suddenly overcome with a feeling of weakness. He wasn't sure what had just happened…But at the moment, he didn't think about it. All he could think about now was Layla.

With the stains of tears dominating his young face, he sauntered over towards the dead body of the beautiful young woman that had done so much for him. There was no more life within her…No heartbeat, no breath, no anything. The smell of blood, tears, and semen hung strong in the air as Jack collapsed by her side, gently taking her bruised and battered body in his arms and looking back down at her motionless form with a great sorrow that consumed him in every conceivable way as he let out great sobs of pain and loss…For Layla, the love of his life…Was dead.

"Layla…Layla please…No…Please no…Layla…Layla."

I don't know how many tears I shed at that moment…Holding Layla's dead body in her arms. My dormant mutant powers had manifested to save me…But they were too late to save Layla. It hurt…So much…To watch the girl I loved so much die right before my eyes like that. The sorrow…The loss…No words could possibly describe it.

I knew there was no saving her…No hope. I wrapped her body and that of her brother's up in blankets, taking one last look at the only real family I had ever known…And I laid them both to rest in the San Francisco Bay. It was a full moon that night…And the Golden Gate Bridge was so beautiful in the distance. I knew Layla would have wanted something like this…So I let her spirit go…And again, I was all alone in the world…Doomed to forever live with the memory of this horrible act.

Over the course of the next two years, it was all survival again…Only this time, I went on with no hope…No soul…No reason to smile ever again. I found that with my mutant powers I could tap energy and use it for strength, agility, and firepower. And I wasn't afraid to use any of it in order to survive. I was so bitter…So angry…So lost. The world had taken everything from me…I had nothing…I had nobody. I had been blessed with the love of an angel…Only to have it taken away from me in one foul swoop. So naturally…I was a pretty dark kid. Anybody who got in my way, I wasn't afraid to fight. I was always angry…Never smiling and never laughing.

But despite this, I still remained steadfast in my ideas as to right and wrong. I wasn't sure why but…I would eventually find out soon enough. Because two years later…All the dreams, the sorrow, and the loss would come to ahead in one final act.

"GET HIM! STOP HIM GOD DAMN IT!" yelled a group of Felix's posse as they chased Jack down the docks, pushing themselves through the brisk night air.

The area had been glowing with the power of Jack's energy bursts. He had once again used his mysterious powers to steal another batch of supplies…Only this time, he just so happen to hit a place that had been paying protection money to Felix and naturally, they were after him to make good on their payment.

"Fuck you!" yelled the seventeen year old Jack as he kept returning fire, even though he kept draining his strength with each blast.

The chase went on for what seemed like half an hour and two of Felix's boys were injured by some of Jack's blasts…Yet still, they continued to pursue him. It was amazing that anybody could keep up, but something just kept driving them…Something that seemed almost inhuman. Jack kept frantically firing back, but the more he did it, the weaker he became. He kept pushing himself, but it was finally starting to take it's toll. Cops and authority figures he could easily avoid…But Felix's boys were just in a league all their own.

"Over here! I found him!" yelled one of the members who had caught a glimpse of Jack in the moonlight.

"Shit…" cursed Jack, feeling deeply short of breath as he tried to get away.

Then, as he attempted to make his way down towards one of the piers, he was suddenly cut off by what looked to be some reinforcements. Immediately, he tried to return fire…But all the energy he had exerted earlier had finally caught up to him and he found himself unable to fight back.

"No…Not now…Why now?" he struggled, his voice weakened from all the exertion.

He kept pushing himself, but he was going well beyond his limits as Felix's boys closed in on him. He tried to make it down the pier, doing everything in his power not to pass out or stumble. He tried to reenergize himself, but he couldn't focus due to his fatigue. His use over his powers had always been antiquated at best and now it was finally coming back to haunt him.

"We got him!" said one of the armed gang members as the two groups converged on the pier where the tired and battered Jack Robinson was struggling to maintain his balance, "Kid…I don't know who or what the hell you are…But you've been really trying Felix's temper!"

"Oh boo hoo…Does that mean he's not going to send me a Christmas card?" scoffed Jack, managing to fire another bolt, only to miss by half a mile.

"You've got guts kid…That much I'll give you," laughed one of them, who bore a thick beard and seemed to be leading them all, "Not a lot of people steal from Felix and live to tell about it."

"Guess that makes me special…" grunted Jack, rising to his feet in defiance.

"Shut up! You're just a piece of lousy street trash! You're nothing more than a fucking flea to Felix! And crossing his path once is crossing his path one time too many…And now it's time to pay the price."

Jack struggled to fight back, but was drop kicked easily by the bearded leader as he was now standing on the edge of the pier with nowhere else to go. He managed to return to his feet…But he was too weak to fight. He was outnumbered, outgunned, and boxed in. There was nowhere left to go…Nowhere left to run. This was it…He had gotten too overconfident and now it was finally catching up with him.

But despite this, his gaze remained stoic and cold. He had lost the will to live long ago and he could care less if he died. Hell, he'd welcome it at this point. He was sick of this…Living with all this sorrow and pain…Forever cursed with unending dreams and memories of Layla. And if this was how it was going to end…So be it.

"Any last words, kid…" said the leader as he pointed his gun directly at his heart.

With a cold glare, Jack didn't flinch in the slightest. It was the end of the line for him. Seventeen years of life was finally about to end. He had known nothing but suffering these last two years since Layla's death. He had been running from it…Wanting to get away. But try as he might, he couldn't stop. There was no escaping the past…And now it seemed that there was no escaping the future either. He had lived a hard, tortured life…And it was time for him to go.

"Layla…" he said, wanting that to be his final word in the world of the living.

Then, with three deafening shots, the gang leader unloaded three bullets directly into Jack's heart…Causing him to fall back into the icy cold waters of the San Francisco Bay…Leaving him no hope of survival.

Now I have to admit…I was ready to die that night. Hell, I was ready to die long before that. But I guess I finally got my wish. I took three bullets to the heart and let the San Francisco Bay that I had laid Layla to rest in take me. I remember vividly…Those last few seconds of life. Everything was so cold…I could feel the icy waters around me, mixing with my blood. I didn't fight it…I didn't even want to fight it. I let it take me…And at that very moment…Jack Robinson died.

I guess I should consider myself lucky in some ways…For now I know what happens after you die. I saw it…I felt it…I experienced it. I went down that same tunnel of light that everybody goes down eventually. I embraced death…I wanted it so badly. I wanted to see Layla again. But little did I know…There were much greater forces at work as my soul suddenly changed course and I ended up in a place few souls before me ever ventured.

"Jack…Jack…Come to me," said an all too familiar voice as the soul of Jack Robinson drifted towards the light at the end of the tunnel.

"You…I…That voice," said Jack as he found himself entranced by the brilliant light, feeling strangely drawn to the voice that he had heard in his dreams for so long now.

"Yes Jack…Your time has finally come. You may have died…But your work in the realm of the living is not done yet…Not by a long shot."

Then suddenly, Jack felt as though he was yanked right out from his present course…Almost painfully so. But before he could react, everything suddenly went black.

Growing up, I never thought I was that special. I was a nameless, faceless, orphan who had too many bad dreams. I had long had so many questions about who I was and where these dreams came from…But it was only as I died and my spirit was taken to an enchanted place that I was finally granted the answers I was looking for. And what I found out was more than I had ever imagined.

When Jack came to, he found himself standing in a place that was not at all familiar to him. He was tired, weak, and confused. He was supposed to be dead…That much he was certain of. But was this really death? It sure as hell didn't feel like it.

Looking around, he found himself standing in the shadow of a great and beautiful structure the likes of which few mortals dead or alive ever got a chance to lay eyes upon. Jack's eyes widened with wonder…For it truly was a sight to behold. It looked to be a temple…A truly massive temple that was more like a mountain rather than a structure. In the sky above him, there was a picture perfect sky laced with beautiful stars and celestial objects of unparalleled beauty. He could see meteors, nebulas, and brilliant streaks of light that were just so beautiful that he couldn't help but be captivated by them.

In addition to the starts, there were also a maze of these majestic orbs of light that seemed to move like fireflies in and around the temple and all throughout the sky. They were all the colors of the rainbow, flashing and glowing with such beauty and grace. Everything around him was so vibrant from the stoned road he was walking upon to the grass that seemed perfectly kempt in vast fields around him. It was truly a sight to behold…A sight of unparalleled wonder to the young man.

Then suddenly, he was brought out of his strange daze by the sound of the voice.

"Jack…Please, come in."

"Who…Who are you?" said Jack, not knowing who or what he was talking to.

"All your questions will be answered soon my boy…Please, come to me."

Feeling so strangely drawn to the mysterious voice, Jack began to make his way into the vast temple…Ascending the massive stairs and slowly making his way towards the large, imposing entryway.

Upon entering, he was once again bombarded with the sheer richness of the interior. All around him, there were statues, riches, and priceless treasures. They all seemed to have this strange, warrior undertone…As if this whole temple was constructed around them. Some of the statues didn't even look human…But they were definitely fighters of some sort.

It was just so big…Bigger than any place he had ever been in before. It was like a great hall built by some divine hand. Everything was so beautiful…So peaceful…Yet Jack continued to press forward towards the heart of the temple, slowly making his way to the altar. He wasn't sure what was guiding him or where he was going…But he could feel it…This presence drawing him in with undeniable power. He didn't know how, but he knew he was somehow linked to it…It felt as though it was a part of him.

Eventually, he managed to find what seemed to be center of the whole structure…And there he saw an imposing figure sitting before a large, golden shrine meditating and chanting mysterious words in a language that was completely alien to him. He wasn't sure why, but this figure seemed…Familiar to him. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew this…Whatever it was. And as he drew nearer and nearer…He was suddenly stopped cold as the figure rose and turned to face him, casting upon the young man an enigmatic, yet welcoming glance.

"Welcome Jack Robinson…I've been waiting a long time for your arrival."

The figure was huge in Jack's eyes…At least a foot taller than him and bearing a broad, imposing frame. And covering his entire body was a vast and elaborate show of armor that looked like a mixture between that of a samurai, a medieval knight, a Spartan warrior, and several other features he couldn't even begin to identify. His face was shrouded for the most part, but he could clearly make out a calm and collected face and a pair of warm, kind eyes. It made him feel…Strange inside. Looking at this thing was like looking at part of himself in a ways. He wasn't sure why, but he knew it…This thing was connected to him in a manner that he couldn't explain.

"It was you, wasn't it?" Jack found himself saying, "The dreams…The voice…It was you."

"Indeed…" said the figure with a smile, "From the moment you were born…I have been reaching out to you…And you have been reaching out to me. Your mortal mind may have been conflicted by it, but now that you are dead…You can finally know the truth."

"Truth…What truth?" said Jack, wanting to so desperately find the answers that had so haunted him.

"That you and I…Are linked. We are part of the same whole. You…Jack Robinson…Are an essence of my being…A moral manifestation of me and my strength. I have long waited for the time when a being such as you would come into the world…A being that could finally make his way here to this most holy of places. And now, after so much waiting…The time has finally come. A new champion of Bushido is finally upon us…"

"Bushido?" said Jack, growing all the more confused, "What are you talking about? What is this place? Am I dead? Is this Heaven? Is this Hell? What's going on here!"

"Jack…You need not be weary…For this is a place of peace," the figure said calmly, "You are currently standing within the Temple of Great Warriors…A structure built by the first spirits of the warrior that fought with honor and valiance throughout the cosmos. And I am Yoshinto…The holy immortal entity and collective spirit of all warriors, past and present alike."

"Yoshinto…" said Jack, still so confused by all this, "But…Why…Why am I here? I thought I died."

"Oh you did, Jack…But you are neither in heave nor hell," said Yoshinto as he approached the young boy, "You are in a place in between…A place where great warriors come who have followed the way of the warrior with honor and truth. It is as old as life itself…And you are one of the elite few who get a chance to truly take in this majestic place."

Now Jack was really starting to get freaked out here. It was enough that he was dead, but to learn that he was so cursed that he couldn't even die right. It was really starting to weigh heavily on his system, but Yoshinto wasn't done yet…Not by a long shot.

"I sense you are confused…And that is to be expected. But come…Let me show you something that might help answer a few of your questions."

Not having anything else to go on, Jack followed the mysterious holy figure down a seemingly unending corridor into a chamber that resembled some sort of shrine or dedication, more like that which one would find in a monastery. And in this shrine was a large, golden statute of a proud figure…But it wasn't so much the size or the material that impressed Jack…It was the face that truly captured his imagination.

"Hey…He looks like…Me," gasped Jack as he took in the features of the face and body.

"And he should…For he is one of your many proud ancestors that wielded a sword with pride and honor. This statue is a shrine to the first warrior of Xiaolin…The ancient and mystical Chinese art of combat. He is but one of the many proud warriors that mark your bloodline."

"Wait…So you mean to tell me these people are my family!" exclaimed Jack.

"Indeed young one…And believe me, you have plenty. You may not have been aware of it, but your mother was descended from a noble woman back in Japan during the Tokugawa era that gave birth to several proud samurai and your father had roots going all the way back to the knights of the round table and the Roman legions of Julius Caesar. So in a great sense…You have the legacy of a warrior written within your blood."

Such revelations were a lot to take in for young Jack Robinson. Sure he never knew much about his family, but he was a street kid from San Francisco…How could he be the descendent of so many great warriors.

"No…No, that's impossible!" he exclaimed.

"Is it really so hard to believe, Jack?" inquired Yoshinto, "Were you not the least bit curious as to why so much of your family was dead? Were you not the least bit curious as to why, despite the absence of parents or nurturers, you remained adamant about what was right and what was wrong?"

Jack didn't have a response for that, for it just made too much sense to him. But still…It was so hard to believe that he, a piece of street trash, had this powerful legacy written within his blood.

"You have the spirit of a warrior Jack…A spirit unlike any other before or ever since. All your suffering…All your sorrow…It has hurt you, yet despite your losses, you manage to hold onto it. That alone speaks volumes for your strength."

"Strength? STRENGTH! What do you mean strength! How can you call something like that strength! All I ever did was suffer! I couldn't help myself…I couldn't help the people I loved…I couldn't do anything! And you're telling me that's strength!"

"Of course, Jack…After all, you did manage to survive it all until the bitter end," answered the warrior spirit calmly, "And with your ascension to this enchanted realm, you finally have a chance to fulfill a purpose that has been eons in the making."

"Purpose! Damn it, I don't want to fulfill a fucking purpose! I'm sick of this…Sick of running! I just want to die…I want to see Layla again!"

"I understand you're sorrow, Jack…"

"No! You don't understand shit! I don't care how powerful you are or how all knowing you are, there's no way you can know how much it hurts! You can never know!"

"Ah…But that's where you're wrong, Jack. For you forget…I am a part of you…And you are a part of me. We are linked…Linked in a way that goes beyond the capacity for understanding. I felt your pain…I felt your sorrow. Every breath, every tears, every loss…I felt it in the utmost. Look me in the eye my boy…Look me in the eye and tell me that I do not speak the truth."

Jack did just that…And as much as he wanted to tell this…This thing off, he just couldn't do it. The look in those eyes…They enigmatic, enchanting eyes…He couldn't deny it…He couldn't discount it. Yoshinto truly had felt it…And it was because of this, he knew that this was not a lost boy…No, this was a true warrior in the making.

"Yoshinto…" said the young man, sounding so distraught and confused, "What are you asking of me? Why am I hear?"

The warrior spirit simply smiled back down at the young man as he waved his hand and a wave of light consumed them both, engulfing both their forms in a warm, gentle aura.

"The world as you know it is a wondrous and complicated place, Jack. Yet at the core of it all, there exists two realms…The real world and the spirit world. One world is one of which the natural forces of the cosmos guide creation, life, and evolution. The other is one in which magic, soul, and spirit pervade over all. One for life…One for death…Yet both eternally linked to the souls of all living things. And within both these realms…There exits darkness and light…Truth and lies…Good and evil. And in order for each realm to function, these forces must be balanced in order to preserve harmony. And it is we warriors that do just that…Forever fighting to keep the forces of darkness at bay and preserving the power of light and good for souls both living and dead. Through skill, strength, and magic…We ensure the ongoing survival of the universe as a whole…Safeguarding life in all it's sanctity. And as an immortal embodiment of this spirit, it is my job that warriors of all kind continue this fight…Upholding the principles of honor, compassion, and kindness to others while fighting in the utmost against the forces of darkness. Yet as with all forces, an immortal being must have a mortal balance…The energy of which is always there, but merely lurking…Lingering…Waiting until that one momentous occurrence when life manifests divinity…When mortal manifests as immortal…When the gap between two worlds is bridged. And after so much waiting and preparation…It has finally happened. A child born with the proud legacy of many warriors…A hope for both reality and spirituality…And above all, a champion of both realms that can help preserve the balance between darkness and light."

Such words resonated so strongly within young Jack Robinson as he felt the light around him, filling his spirit and soul with such a rush that it was like being born again. He could see it all right before his eyes…The proud sacrifice of his ancestors…The power and strength of a warrior…And the magic and mystery of both worlds both divine and earthly.

"You…Jack Robinson…Are that child. You…Are that champion. I have waited so long…For the chance to come face to face with my mortal manifestation so that we may one day truly become the link that will unite both worlds. You have the spirit…I have the power…And together, we are champions of Bushido...The embodiment of power both physical and magical. And now…We can finally take this last step…"

"Step…What step?" asked Jack, lost in a sense of awe as he felt this powerful link with this spirit consume him.

"The step to turn you into the ultimate warrior…The step that will truly make you a champion. You have power written in your genetics…The power to tap energy from both the physical world and the metaphysical world. It is a power granted to you by the gifts of evolution. As a mutant, you have the power…But as a warrior, you will have the skill. Alone, you can fight darkness…But together, we can overcome it."

"Overcome it…" said Jack, still so weak with uncertainty and so pained from years of sorrow, "But…I…"

"It is not a demand, Jack…" said Yoshinto, "This is not fate…There is no such thing as fate. This is merely the culmination of something so much grander. And because of this…You are left with a choice to make. On one hand, you leave this place and you will never come back…You will go the regular path of a normal soul, leaving behind the chance to help both heaven and earth, the living and the dead, and possibly dooming both to the onslaught of darkness. Or…You can stay here and continue to suffer…Learning from me the skills, strength, and knowledge of a warrior and a mystic. And whatever choice is made, it cannot be unmade. You have a gift and a spirit that no mortal can ever hope to match. I can only be linked to one mortal…I cannot hope to give to anybody else that which I can give to you. But again…It is not my choice to make. The choice is yours and yours alone…Stay here, learn, and continue to suffer…Or leave, ascend, and leave the realm of the living and the dead to a world of uncertainty."

Jack Robinson was left with a choice that no living being had ever had before. Here he was…A street kid from San Francisco…Standing in the present with the immortal embodiment of the warrior spirit…Left with a choice to become something he didn't have the faintest clue over. He wanted to see Layla again…He didn't want to keep on suffering. But still…What good would he be doing her memory if he didn't do something to leave his mark on the world? Would he just be a passing shadow? A mere forgotten memory?

And even if he did get to see Layla again, what if such a choice would lead only to more suffering in the end? What if it would only cause more pain to people who didn't deserve it? Young Jack Robinson couldn't bear such a burden on his already tattered soul. He missed Layla so much…But at the same time, he had the duty…No, the honor…Of his ancestors in his hands.

He wasn't sure which choice was right…In a ways, neither of them was really right when he thought about it. They both carried so much risk…So many possibilities. But the more he thought about it…The clearer it became to him. He knew what he had to do…Even though he didn't want to. He wanted to be with Layla…But he had unfinished business in the world of both the living and the dead. And if he had this power…This responsibility…Then it was his duty to honor that gift. If for anything…For his tortured soul.

"Yoshinto…" he said, rising forth to face the immortal being despite his unending weariness and uncertainty, "I choose…I choose to stay. I…I want to become a warrior."

The immortal being couldn't help but smile, for it was a decision that truly showed the strength and spirit of this boy. And because of this, he was all the more certain that this truly was the mortal vessel he had been waiting so long for.

"Then come with me Jack…Let me show you the way of the warrior."

From this point on, time kind of stopped for me. I'm not sure whether or not this realm even had time come to think of it. I'm pretty sure it didn't because everything that happened there was not affected by time in any way, shape, or form. I can't exactly tell you how long Yoshinto trained me…Hell, I can't even tell you how long I was there. I didn't age a day that whole time…And every waking moment was spent training.

I learned how to fight…How to fly…How to cast magic…How to wield a sword. I learned fast because being a part of Yoshinto gave me an edge no other warrior before me ever enjoyed. I was still forever bound by my mortal limits…But thanks to the power and guidance of my master and spirit, I became something that went beyond the capacity of a mere human…I became something else entirely.

My pain…My sorrow…My loss…It helped fuel my determination to become stronger, faster, deadlier. For the first time in my existence, I didn't feel weak…I didn't feel worthless. I felt like I could take on anything…From pickpockets to the greatest evils imaginable. I learned everything I could…I gained knowledge no mortal being had ever gained before. And by the time it was all over, I was ready to finally complete my choice…And to this day, it is a choice I will forever remain uncertain of.

"Jack Robinson…I am so proud of you," said the immortal warrior spirit as Jack stood before the altar in the center of the great temple.

"Thank you master…" said Jack with a respectful bow.

"You have grown so much…Gone is the poor, malnourished boy that arrived here initially. Now…You are a master of the sword…A master of the magic…And a master of Bushido. I know Layla would be so proud…"

"I couldn't have done it without you sir…" said Jack, managing a warm smile at that.

"But now that you have the knowledge and skills…That leaves but one final step."

Then, from the altar, Yoshinto picked up a glowing, crystalline object. It looked like a small pyramid…But it shined with the white light of a thousand angels. It was a piece Jack knew all too well…A relic that embodied divine power and knowledge, not unlike the fire of Prometheus. And it is through this sacred object that the final commencement of his road to being a warrior would finally come to an end.

"Rise up my mortal vessel…" said Yoshinto as he held the relic high, "Stand tall, stand firm, fly straight, and most importantly…Never forget what you are and that which you embody. You are a warrior…You are a fighter…A keeper of light. The forces of darkness shall have no power of your will…For you are forever bound by the warrior code. You fight not for victory, peace, or justice…"

"I fight for honor…" finished Jack, knowing this saying all too well.

That only made Yoshinto smile even more as he held the relic high and prepared to cast the final spell.

"And as the mortal vessel of my immortal spirit…You shall hence be granted the sacred gifts of divinity. The all seeing eye of the gods…The foresight of heaven…It shall be yours to wield as you see fit in your fight against evil. And from your pure, noble chi…You weapon of honor shall be forged and wielded as a part of your very being. And this I grant to you…With the authority of my divinity…And through the link of our spirits. And from this moment forward, I henceforth bless you with the all seeing eye."

Then, from the relic, Jack felt himself engulfed in an aura of great energy. It filled him to the very depths of his core, along every last fiber of his being. His spirit, his soul, his very essence…United with the power of the holy. And upon his eye, formed a sacred symbol of the divine…A symbol that could see through the lies and deceptions that inundate the world…Stretching beyond the boundaries of time and space.

And from this light, he could feel a piece of his chi being wretched from his very being and pounded under the sheer force of divinity into a sacred blade of purity, power, and honor. From the bright shimmer of light, the powerful blade formed in his hands and he gripped it firmly with pride as he felt the power of the eye overtake him.

His skills, his magic, and his spirit all melded into one as he let out a powerful yell that echoed all throughout the temple. The symbols atop his hands for which he cast his magic through glowed brilliantly as his body was suddenly covered by a shell of armor that was laced with mystic symbols, conveying to all the power of a warrior and the embodiment of light.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he yelled as he felt his power meld with his spirit, forever linking him to the way of the warrior and the immortal spirit who had shown him the way.

When the light finally faded, he was in full armor, holding within his hand the sword for which he would fight the forces of darkness with. He could feel the power of the all seeing eye, the simmering force of his magic from within intermeshing with his mutant powers. And when it was all over…His journey was finally over…He was a warrior.

"It is done…" said Yoshinto as he looked proudly upon his mortal embodiment.

"Thank you, Yoshinto…I am ready," he said, knowing all too well what was coming next.

"Yes…I know."

"You may not have told me, but I figured it out pretty quickly…I was going back, wasn't I? From the moment I made my choice, I was going back to the living world."

"Indeed…" affirmed Yoshinto, "I know that it is a world that brings you so much pain…So much sorrow. And as a mortal man with immortal power, I will not deny that you will be forever limited by your own flesh and blood."

"Yes…I've grown somewhat used to that," said Jack in a solemn tone as he put away his swords and prepared for what he knew was coming.

Yoshinto cast his mortal disciple one last encouraging glance…For even in the face of facing the world that rejected him, he would not falter. This was his choice…This was his gift…This was his curse. And as a warrior, he would see them all through till the bitter end.

"It's been a great honor…Jack Robinson," said Yoshinto as he bowed to his student one last time.

"It has been an honor for me as well…" said Jack, respectfully bowing back, "I promise that I won't let you down master. I won't let you, my ancestors, or Layla down…I will do whatever I have to…I will fight whatever I must…I will preserve the balance between darkness and light…Between Heaven and Earth…Between good and evil. Even if it means suffering even more than I already have, I promise you…I will see it through."

"As I know you will, Jack…" said Yoshinto as he stood back and let a purple mist engulf the young warrior, "Take care, my mortal medium…Never forget, I am a part of you and you are a part of me. Stay strong, fight hard, and don't ever give up…Don't ever surrender. No matter how much pain you feel or how many losses you endure. Never forget the way of the warrior…Compassion…Honesty…Integrity…And above all…Honor."

"Honor…"

And with that final word, Jack Robinson disappeared from the Temple of Great Warriors…And began his journey back to the world of the living to carry out the fight he was now so dedicated to…For his ancestors…His master…His love…And his honor.

It was from there, I returned to the world of the living. Not much time had passed since my death. I later estimated that it was only a few months even though it felt like a lifetime. I had a new resolve…A new purpose. And from the icy waters of the San Francisco Bay, I rose again…Ready to carry on the fight against the forces of darkness.

And in the spirit of honor…I took the fight directly to someone who had terrorized my life and my loved ones for too long.

It was outside a large, imposing building in the heart of San Francisco that a lone figure still wet with the icy waters of the Bay came slowly sauntering towards the area with one target in his mind…Felix. The mythical madman that had terrorized the gang world of the city for so long was still running strong, not to anybody's surprise…But on this night, it would all come to an end. Jack Robinson would see to that.

There were several armed guards outside the building, each of which bore an imposing semi-automatic machine gun. They all did their rounds with the stoic look of zombies, but now Jack knew why that was and he was determined to put a stop to it.

"Here I come Felix…This is for Layla."

Using his powerful magic, he cast a spell to turn himself invisible. And with his all seeing eye to guide him, he zeroed in on each guard. They remained zombified, not showing any real will of their own, which made his job that much easier because their movements were so predicable. And armed with invisibility, he was easily able to take them down one boy one with an effective take down maneuver, using a powerful karate chop to hit nerve clusters right around the neck.

And once the outside sentries were down, he proceeded to make his way inside. He could see with his all seeing eye that the ground floors were heavily guarded…So naturally, he avoided them by using his two katanas that Yoshinto had given him to scale the front wall up to the third floor. There, he cast a spell to enter his mist form and seeped through the window. And almost immediately after he formed, he caught something with his eye.

"I knew it…" grunted Jack as he saw the truth so clearly before him, "Felix you son of a bitch…You actually decided to fuck with darkness."

It made sense now…The zombified followers, the cruelty…Everything. Whoever this Felix guy was, he was using dark magic to further his power and wealth. And Jack was going to put a stop to it no matter what. He knew the source of the darkness thanks to his eye and began to zero in on it. It was at the top floor in a building swarming with zombified guards. And as he made his way into the hall, he made careful note of the security…Some of which was standard, some of which was magical. And thanks to his powers, he avoided both.

Along the way, he came across three armed guards…But neither of them had a chance to react as he hit them with a paralyzer spell, hopefully severing Felix's control as well. One of them just happen to have a key card, something Jack knew would come in handy as he made his way to the elevator. And with a few quick checks and a some careful timing in the pattern of the guards' movements, he managed to get into an elevator. There, he used the key card to ascend to the top floor. And for the most part, it was going smoothly…That is, until the door opened and he stepped right into a swarm of guards.

Thankfully, he saw this coming and managed to make a quick move, jumping atop the elevator and wedging himself on the ceiling.

"What the…" said one of the elite guards as he entered the elevator.

Suddenly, he felt a presence above him and quickly looked up…Only to see a fully clad warrior looming right above him, ready to strike.

"Light's out pal…" said Jack as he delivered a heavy blow to the head, instantly knocking him out.

With his agility to guide him, he quickly made a mad dash through the upper floor. But the sudden activity on the elevator seemed to hint of his intrusion and several elite guards began to scramble, eventually converging just outside of Felix's office.

"God damn it! What the hell is going on here?" ordered one of the elite guards who had the distinct privilege of guarding Felix himself.

"I don't know, there was activity on the elevator and a couple of sentries aren't responding to reports."

"Well then the security system should have picked that up, shouldn't it?"

"It should have…But it didn't. I don't know what the hell is going on, but I think that Felix ought to…"

"Wait!" shot the main guard, cutting him off in mid sentence, "Listen…"

The platoon of armed guards fell completely silent as they listened intently…Able only to make out a few faint noises of bodies hitting the floor. They readied their weapons, not sure why the alarms weren't going off or why they weren't hearing any shots. Once again, there was silence…Then suddenly, a deafening bang shattered the heavily reinforced doors, nearly knocking a few guards off their feet before they were able to make out the intruder.

"Hello boys…I've got an appointment with Felix," said Jack in a low, yet determined tone.

"Motherfucker! Shoot him!" yelled the lead guard.

The sound of gunfire rang out through the halls, but Jack countered by using his katanas to deflect each oncoming bullet with speed and agility that seemed too fast to be human. Several stray bullets downed a few hapless guards before they finally stopped. But their insane loyalty remained strong as they stood poised to charge the young warrior.

"GET HIM! DON'T LET HIM GET TO FELIX!" yelled the leader.

They all charged him, but armed with his katanas, Jack tore into them with great speed, skill, and determination. He never felt such a rush before…Using the power he had been blessed with to take down the minions of evil. It felt as though he actually had purpose…He actually had meaning…He wasn't some worthless hunk of street trash. No…He was a warrior.

"NO! STOP HIM!" yelled one of the frantically loyal guards.

But it was no use…Jack cut them down like slabs of beef with his katanas, severing limbs and disemboweling would be attackers. It was only a matter of minutes before the final guard fell…And when it was all over, nothing left was standing in his way.

"Felix! I'm coming for you!" yelled Jack as he put his katanas away and made his way towards the heavily fortified doors.

He could tell that a locking mechanism had been initiated…But it was a mechanism that was doomed to fail as he used his powerful magic swords to slice cleanly through the hinges and deliver onto the heavy frame a single, forceful kick that caused the heavy structure to fall right to the floor. And once he was in…He was met with a most underwhelming sight.

"No! Stay back! Stay back!" yelled a rather meek looking man with a pale face and all black clothing.

He was holding in his hand a glowing red amulet which he seemed unusually obsessed with. Jack quickly recognized that as the Medusa eye…A relic of fairly strong black magic that could reek plenty of damage if put in the wrong hands, but nowhere near as powerful as other relics.

Jack had to admit…He was expecting more. This guy looked scrawny enough to beat up with one hand. He was just a guy who came across some power and let it consume him. He was now soulless, heartless, and immeasurably cruel as a result of the darkness and this was the man who had been behind the sex trade that tortured him so much and the death of Layla.

"Felix…" said Jack as he approached the meek middle aged man with his sword in hand, "I can see that the legend hardly lives up to the image."

"I'm warning you man!" yelled Felix, now breaking out in a cold sweat, his eyes glowing a slightly reddish color as he held out the glowing relic as if it were a shield, "Stay back! Or I swear, my god will come here and kill you!"

"I got news for you pal…You already killed me. But I'm back…And I'm here to end your reign!" shot Jack as he prepared to deliver the final blow.

"You…You can't! I am protected by the forces of darkness! I am power! I am riches! I am everything!" he spat, half maddened by the darkness that had consumed him.

"Where you're going…Everything will get you nothing."

And with one swift blow…He stabbed his sword directly through the darkened heart of the deranged, soulless man. The power of the sword, penetrated the evil…Causing his eyes to glow bright red as the force that had been keeping him alive suddenly vanished, leaving only in it's wake a pile of mere dust and bones. The relic did not protect him as it always had. This time…The power of light had finally caught up with him. And Felix was no more.

Looking down at the evil relic that had driven this man to such cruelty, Jack let out a deep grunt…For he had done it…He had avenged Layla's death. Taking the heinous object in his hand, he cast a spell that sent it into the gap between dimensions where hopefully, it would never be used again.

But with Felix dead…It left him with something else to think about. Layla was gone…Killing Felix hadn't brought her back. When he died…He wanted to see her again so badly. But now, here he was…Once again amongst the living. So how would he move on? How would he ever get past this horrible memory of that moment when he failed the woman he loved?

He knew it wouldn't be easy, but for her…He'd do what he had to…For his honor, his anscestors…Everybody in both heaven and Earth. But before he began this journey, he made one last final offering.

On a deserted dock under the bright light of the full moon in the shadow of the Golden Gate bridge, Jack Robinson stood upon the very pier where here had laid Layla's body to rest along with that of her brother. Looking out over the water, he felt tears form in his eyes…Remembering all the joy she had brought him. He was all alone in this world…No friends, no family…Nothing. He was a nameless face once more…Forever cursed to live in the shadows.

But looking out over the river, he made himself a solemn vow as he reached into his bag and pulled out a small lotus flower and let it sail into the cold waters as a sign and a symbol for this new world he now found himself in. And as he looked out over the bay, he found himself standing strong…Holding firm…For this was his life now…And he was going to see it through to the bitter end.

"Yoshinto…Layla…Thank you."

There was so much darkness…So much evil. The forces of darkness are so great that you can't even begin to imagine their power. And though me, a regular street kid from San Francisco, the forces of light have a champion to help carry on the fight and preserve the balance. This is my gift…I am a mutant, a warrior, and a mystic…The embodiment of the immortal spirit Yoshinto. This is my curse…I am a loner, a wanderer, a lost soul forever doomed to contend with the memories of my greatest failures. And from all my experiences…All my losses and triumphs…I remain steadfast in my dedication to the way of the warrior. I am Jack Robinson…Champion of the forces of light. And I am…And shall forever be…Slayer…The ultimate warrior.

NEXT UP CHAPTER 71: REACTIONS