CHAPTER 9

Somewhere in a windy, fog-laden sea were Julie and young Boog aboard a warship.

Seeing his future daughter looking out at the sea's vastness, young Boog walked over to her. "How's the view?"

Julie had a thin, almost unnoticeable smile. "No sign yet of the mystical barrier you mentioned."

The cybernetic-armed commando chuckled. "Oh, you'll know it when it comes." He then leaned against the railing, looking out at the cold waters.

"How're you feeling?"

"For the first time in a while, in control. I got tossed into the deep end of a crazy world of gods and monsters. But now, knowing my future, I feel like I've finally come up for air. Those bad things that happened to me . . . I mean, will happen to me? Like Samurai Jack said, it's gonna be different. Isn't it good news?"

"The things that happened to my Dad. That trauma he suffered. It's why my parents met. They fell in love while he was in recovery." Julie walked a couple steps away. "If they don't happen, you and Mom may not meet. I may never be born."

Young Boog walked over to his future daughter, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Julie, I can't pretend I get all that cosmic time stuff, but I do know you are here for a reason. You're not just some random accident."

"I hope so."

Not too long after their conversation, the father-daughter duo found themselves coming to the ruins of some island, a sickly almost sinister green mist surrounding the rocks and sea before them. They sailed past withered old husks of ships that wrecked on the rocks ages ago, including old statues and an old pagoda-style archway they passed under.

Julie then spotted and recognized a familiar Dragon-headed insignia. "Walter Wolf's island!"

Young Boog took a deep breath. "Here we go again."

The cybernetic-armed commando and his future daughter walked around the island—or more like a "ghost island," if anything else (or whatever else). They soon found themselves walking through the dilapidated palace, before coming across some hanging skeletons dressed in what appeared to be Shaolin monk garb.

The two walked onward into what looked like the arena.

"When I was here for the tournament," young Boog explained, "there were people everywhere." He then spotted the sitting skeletons of more monks. "These guys looked a lot younger. Seems like only yesterday. . . ."

"Guess after Walter died," Julie figured, "the place did, too." She took out one of her trackers, not getting any readings. "Nobody's home. So much for needing stealth. Should've brought the whole squad."

"Kinda hoping Samurai Jack's wrong about the Well of Souls. I don't wanna be here longer than we—"

Just then, a beeping sound came from Julie's tracker. "Multiple contacts!"

Young Boog readied himself. "How many?"

"Two! But one of them's circling us real fast!"

They found themselves being circled by the revenant Razor. As the fast super fast revenant came in closer, young Boog managed to get a punch in, which stopped the former before straightening himself out. The revenant Mary then walked up behind the two heroes.

Revenant Razor growled. "Eris knew Samurai Jack would send someone here."

As he and his future daughter stood ready to fight, young Boog whispered to her. "Give me ten seconds with that guy"

With that said, Julie walked up to revenant Mary, while young Boog walked over to revenant Razor.

Revenant Razor snickered. "Boog. We were partners under Freakshow's command. You'll join me again."

Young Boog shrugged almost in a confident way. "Got the wrong Boog. I haven't been a revenant. And I never will."

And so began the fight. Much like his past/younger counterpart, revenant Razor was undoubtedly fast (as seen before, of course). However, young Boog was more than prepared for him. What he lacked in the revenant's super speed, he made up for in constitution, though his cybernetic arms helped as well.

After knocking out the revenant, young Boog dusted his hands. "Times are changing, Razor."

Meanwhile, Julie was having a harder time with revenant Mary, as the latter was winning. She then spun her staff around before sticking it in the cobblestone.

"Rise in Pitch's name!" shouted revenant Mary, raising the skeletal monks from the dead before facing the father-daughter duo. "You'll not disturb Eris's work."

"Disturb?" glared Julie. "Try ending."

Young Boog angrily pointed at the still-standing revenant. "You're done messing with the Well of Souls."

Revenant Mary raised an eyebrow. "You're not as strong as you think, Boog. As I recall, Jasmine made quick work of you."

Julie cracked her knuckles. "I've got Kimiko's BFF."

Young Boog was putting the hurt on the skeletons, to which he made quick work of before dusting his hands again.

Julie steeled herself against the green-clad revenant. "Like, I hear Past You deserves respect. But the version I see? Not so much."

Revenant Mary glared. "Spare me your pity, Earthrealmer."

The fight against the revenant Mary was tricky, considering the staff and the boomerangs she had to dodge, but Julie was able to take her on after putting more than enough hurt on the former.

After incapacitating her opponent, Julie looked down at the green-clad revenant. "Like, pity's all I got for you." After Young Boog ran up to her, she looked at him. "Enough dancing with the dead. Samurai Jack said the Well of Souls would be underground."

Young Boog motioned his head. "Follow me."

They entered a dark cave, still lit by torches and candles. Skulls littered the floor.

"Are we in Francis's lair?" asked Julie.

"Yep," confirmed young Boog, "but thankfully minus Francis. Walter kept me locked up here, back at my first tournament. Never thought I'd be back. . . ."

"Remember where our Well of Souls might be?"

"Couldn't tell you. I was pretty beat up. It's all a bit hazy."

After some time of walking (enough time for young Boog to snack on a Woo-Hoo Bar), the two found what could be the Well of Souls. Though considering the glowing green pillar of souls rising up through the ceiling . . .

Julie tilted her head. "I'm guessing that's it."

Young Boog noticed something in the middle of the pillar's base. "That crown. Five bucks says it's Eris's."

"It's drawing souls from the Well."

"There's no way that thing's unguarded. Let's grab-and-go before whoever's on duty gets back."

Just then, Steelbeak appeared before them. "I never left."

The two found themselves ambushed by the shadowy Wraith's shadow clones, only to lose to them—before being held by three each.

As the cybernetic-armed commando and his future daughter, Steelbeak snickered evilly as the two heroes were held down by his shadow clones.

"Who are you?" Julie scowled.

Steelbeak taunted. "A deathly shadow. In life, and death, I am Steelbeak."

"And I should know who that is?"

Young Boog growled at the dark specter. "Foghorn's evil twin. Barnyard Dawg ripped out his spine. Left it in a heap upstairs, in Walter's old throne room."

Steelbeak glared. "An event the New Era will wipe from history."

Young Boog glared. "Hang on Julie, I got it." After defeating the shadow clones, making them dissipate into nothingness, he roared at his evil opponent.

As young Boog squared up against him, a growl in his throat, Steelbeak taunted. "Shere Khan is weak. He took your arms but did not finish you."

Young Boog glared, but smiled. "Got that right. I'm just that tough."

First a revenant, now young Boog found himself facing a Wraith—probably the most dangerous of all. Even though he failed in his first fight against Steelbeak, young Boog was able to take him on (and his shadow) with full vigilance.

After slamming him a couple times on the ground, young Boog looked down at Steelbeak with a smirk. "Time's up, punk! Guess Shere Khan's not the only one who's weak."

With Steelbeak out of the way, Julie was able to fight off the shadow clones holding her down and finished them off the same way as young Boog.

The cybernetic-armed commando motioned his head for Julie to follow. "C'mon. Let's get that thing and get outta here."

As she and young Boog walked up to the Well of Souls, Julie was about to take Eris's crown from its place.

"Julie, wait!" called out a voice that sounded like Boog.

In fact, it was Boog (present-day), walking out of the shadows, a conflicted look on his face. There was also something different about him. . . .

Young Boog was taken aback at seeing his future self. "Mind. Blown."

Julie gasped. "Dad? How'd you get here?"

Young Boog squinted an eye and pointed at what was different about his future self. "I'll give you one guess."

"Dad, your—your arms! Those look like Eris's design. What are you doing?" Julie was perplexed.

Boog paused, somehow looking even more conflicted. "Giving you the life you deserve."

"How?" shrugged young Boog in an exasperated way. "By destroying the universe?"

"Restarting it, not destroying it." He then looked at his daughter. "Being a revenant. The years I lost, the things I did. Your Mom held me together. But I was never the father you needed."

"You're talking nonsense, man. You raised a fine daughter. She's one heckuva soldier."

"She shouldn't have been a soldier!" snapped Boog, but in both an angry and a sad way, before placing his hands on his daughter's shoulders. "I never wanted you out there, taking those risks, Julie. If I hadn't fallen apart, you wouldn't have felt the need to enlist."

"That's not why I do it, Dad!" Julie protested, breaking away from her father.

"Please. Give that crown to me. I don't want to hurt anybody."

Julie shook her head, taking a step back. "That is seriously messed up. . . ."

Young Boog placed a hand on her shoulder, similar to back at the warship. "Hang back, kid. I know I wouldn't want to fight my Dad." He glared at his future counterpart. "How 'bout we keep it between me, myself, and I? Never thought I'd stoop so low."

Boog growled. "You don't know how bad it gets. Losing your arms was just the beginning."

"I know you suffered. You still do. But you don't betray your unit, and you sure as heck don't betray your family!"

The fight between the young Boog and the older Boog was on. Equally matched in strength and skill, it was almost a stalemate of a fight. However, young Boog pressed forward (albeit somewhat reluctantly) and was able to knock his future self off his feet.

Looking down at his knocked-out future self, young Boog sighed. "There's gotta be a way to make things right."

Julie ran over to her incapacitated father and checked his pulse. "He's out, but he'll recover." She then looked at her father's younger counterpart. "How're you?"

"Trippin'. You?"

"Ditto." She stood back up. "We can't leave him. Let's get him and the crown out of here."

Now back outside, Julie and young Boog were both holding up present-day Boog as they walked, while also carrying Eris's crown.

"If I never come back here," said young Boog, "it'll be too soon."

Julie stifled a snicker in agreement. "I heard that."

Suddenly, Valerie came down from the sky in a ray of bright light. "Mortals!" She then landed in front of them. "Surrender Eris's crown and the elder Boog. No harm will come to you."

Julie shook her head angrily. "No deal. We know you betrayed the Elder Gods, Valerie."

"Eris must restore the balance that Samurai Jack destroyed. Can you not see, he's the devil in these matters?"

Young Boog cocked an eyebrow. "At least he's the devil we know."

After they set present-day Boog down gently, Julie whispered. "Can we take an Elder God?"

Young Boog smirked. "Sara beat Pitch."

"Only because she and her dad are born with crazy magic powers."

Young Boog looked down at Eris's crown strapped to Julie's belt and winked. "Maybe we have our own magic."

"Stand down," said Valerie, "please. Resistance only ensures your suffering."

Julie took the crown from her belt, as young Boog tried stopping her.

"I can't let you do—" started young Boog.

Julie cut him off. "I'm not discussing it." As she put on the crown, she nearly doubled over before controlling herself.

Valerie shook her head. "Your mind is too frail to wield Eris's weapon. For your own safety, remove it!"

"It's not time for safety. It's time for action."

It was mortal versus Elder Goddess, and it was Julie's turn now. Valerie might be able to control nature, but Julie had the crown of Eris—something much more powerful—before giving the Elder Goddess a beatdown, followed by a low sweep to her feet and ending the fight.

Julie smirked. "Eat your heart out, Sara Possible."

Julie tried to take off the crown, but she wasn't getting anywhere. Young Boog approached and easily removed the crown. Apparently, the most powerful artifact had no impact on the mind of an ordinary girl.

Valerie picked herself up. "You were warned. Mere mortals cannot control the Crown. I did not wish to harm you. But now you have forced my hand. . . ."

She slammed her hand against the ground and created an earthquake, causing it to crack open. Julie fell into the abyss and barely grasped the ledge. It was around that time present-day Boog finally woke up.

Watching his future self standing there, young Boog was fed up. "The heck are you doing!?"

"Give me the crown," Valerie called, "and I will spare her."

"Don't! Don't give it to her! GO!" pleaded Julie.

"Her life is in your hands."

Boog pleaded. "Nobody here wants to hurt anyone. Now, please. Don't let it happen to our girl."

Young Boog looked at Eris's crown, then back at Julie struggling. "Dang it!" He then threw the crown to his future self.

Boog caught the crown in his hand, before angrily facing the Elder Goddess of nature. "Now bring Julie back."

Valerie then telekinetically helped Julie out of the abyss and closed it up.

Julie looked at her frowning father. "Dad? How could you do it to me?!"

Boog shook his head. "I'm not doing it to you, Julie. I'm doing it for you. I love you." He then walked over to the Elder Goddess.

Valerie nodded her head once. "Eris awaits our return."

Julie and young Boog watched as his older self and Valerie disappeared in a cloud of sand.

There was a moment of silence before young Boog helped his future daughter up. "C'mon. The fight isn't over."

Back in Eris's domicile, Valerie presented the crown to its owner.

Eris walked over and took the crown. "This will bring us our deliverance. Thank you, both of you. I sense apprehension, Boog."

Boog hung his head low. "I'm not usually surrounded by so many friendly faces."

"We are unlikely allies, united for a common cause. Worry not. Omi, Kimiko. Are the armies assembled?"

Revenant Omi bowed. "They're en route. Kimiko and I will see, personally, they arrive as planned."

Eris smirked. "Excellent." She then placed the crown on her head. "So many souls! So much time! As my strength gathers, the New Era draws ever closer!"

At Barnyard Dawg's dojo, Sara and Raimundo walked alongside the thunder god.

Samurai Jack looked troubled. "The report from Julie. Her father's actions have compromised our situation gravely."

Sara sighed in disbelief. "I know I can't—I can't believe he did that."

"I understand he's troubled," Raimundo stated, "but still. I didn't think he would join Eris."

"Even if we locate her Keep," said the thunder god, "Eris's power now likely exceeds the might of our combined forces."

A reluctant thought occurred to Sara. "Maybe we should rethink using Pitch's Amulet."

"What? No!" protested the yellow-and-black-clad Lin Kuei. "If we do that, we'll be back to square one—if not worse!"

Samurai Jack shook his head. "We cannot, Sara Possible."

Sara protested. "I've seen what you can do with it. You held off the entire NetherRealm army. You weren't even at full strength."

"I dare not risk the temptations of its dark power. Even now it calls to me. . . . Despite Eris's advantages, we must attack as soon as we know the Keep's location."

"It's been hours since we heard from the Grandmasters. What's the plan if they don't come back?"

"They must, or else hope is lost."