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sasorikigai · 4 years ago

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Asks: 21 OTP/Pairing questions || @sonxflight || accepting

1. If you had to change the pairing’s very first meeting, how would you change it?

To be frank with you, I don’t recall their first meeting thread at all, but I think it was amicable and polite to say at the least? Which is more than expected when I think of MK11 Hanzo’s more mellowed, subdued and much more approachable to Jack, who is always courteous and polite. If I didn’t love Hanzo’s redemptive arc in MK11 so much, it would’ve been neat if they met when Hanzo is still Scorpion, with Quan Chi’s darkest sorcery still binding to the demons of his vice and Jack attempting to breach through and instill some senses in hellspawn spectre, even if it takes an ass-beating to do it (just as Grandmaster Hasashi did to Scorpion in MK11).

2. What song fits your pairing the most?

This is the morning of our love It's just the dawning of our love

I feel you Your heart, it sings I feel you The joy it brings Where heaven waits there's golden gates And back again You take me to And lead me through oblivion

Depeche Mode - I Feel You

I think this song is their inevitable, unparalleled connection, the fact that they love each other so much so that they feel intrinsic gravitation no matter what verse they are in. And there just are too many reference to sex and orgasm, so my heathen ass had to choose it.

3. What is your favorite AU/prompt idea/trope for your pairing?

Driven by Suicide; Whatever the reason, (a guilty conscience, the world is simply too much to bear, self-hatred, whether reasonable or unreasonable, or simply having seen some really weird shit,) a character may be driven to commit suicide. This may be as little as pondering their existence or as much as holding a gun to one's head. Most times, the character will have second thoughts, or will be talked down by a friend, but in shows where Anyone Can Die, the character may go through with it. In any case, this is a powerful way to underscore the desperation of the character.

In a backstory, being Driven To Suicide can illuminate both of their dark and tragic past. On desperate occasions, this can be a happy ending, but only if a majority of the viewers agree, and this is very rare. In some cases, the reason for suicide may not be depression, but honor, as it is obviously more common in Japanese works (aka hara-kiri). This trope was prominently displayed in where Hanzo is an Immortal Scorpion (my verse iv) and where he is a half-demon (Hanyo). It also goes along with the ending of 47 Ronin, where they commit honorable hara-kiri after the order and justice had been served with their daimyo.

4. Do you prefer canon ideas or do you have your own headcanons for them?

Not applicable, for Hanryou is a crossover ship, so we have our own headcanons built around their relationship, no matter what verses. But I’d like to think that it would be neat if I can have Hanzo somehow end up in Jack’s world (just like Scorpion ends up in the world of DC in Injustice games and meets Superman, Batman, etc. as he confuses Sub-Zero for Batman lol) and meet Samurai Jack in that way. I’d have to do much more research, as I am not as familiar with Samurai Jack lore as you probably are with Mortal Kombat, but that can certainly happen in the near future!

7. Favorite headcanon trope/idea? (Your own or someone else’s)

This one I wrote a while ago regarding half-demon verse (x) and your HCs regarding Hanzo’s death in various verses, as I am one hell of an angsty masochist who cannot be helped (x).

8. Least favorite headcanon trope/idea?

How about none? I treasure all of our headcanons, because clearly we put so much time and effort coming up with them and we are also dedicated and utterly invested. Dare I say, the most passionate and dedicated I’ve ever been with canon x canon crossover ships ever since I started to RP since 2015.

9. Favorite aspect of them/their relationship dynamics?

They seem to have this soulmate vibe where I always feel Jack/Ryou would look into Hanzo/Scorpion’s eyes and not only see darkness that everybody else sees, but Jack as as selfless, empathetic and sympathetic, certainly much more than most others do, and see beyond the steeled and intimidating shell. I definitely think Jack/Ryou saw that Hanzo carried a storm within his bones, one that contained both chaos and calmness. Look too closely and he could catch the lightning peering through his veins. Closer than that, and he could see every suffering, strife, and struggle Hanzo had ever faced pinned together in cracked armor… For Hanzo Hasashi managed to carry the weight of it all, though. He was a paradox, and each other’s soul felt pulled toward one another because Hanzo too, understand through the sentiments and his own experiences of being so much more than mere human.

10. Least favorite aspect of them/their relationship dynamics? (Can be headcanon)

Less of their dynamics/headcanons and more of Hanzo’s canonical tendencies stemming from MKX comics and a bit in MKX story mode (although in his tower ending, it was non-canonical), but his high penchant for suicide ideation due to chronic and severe depression. He did want to atone for his sins, because he was more or less complicit for Shinnok’s resurrection (the fallen Elder God whom Quan Chi was attempting to resurrect. Quan Chi is the pasty motherfucker who not only killed Hanzo’s family, but the Shirai Ryu in its entirety. AKA he is Hanzo’s architect of suffering). I think his tragic past and gravitas of his mannerisms make who Hanzo Hasashi is and also makes him exceptionally complex and dualistic in regards to his past (Hanzo Hasashi vs. Scorpion, with dramatic differences in their morality and view towards the world).

11. If they aren’t a canon pairing, how would you get them together?

For now, I think the modern setting (either on this blog or over at @acquitatis) or finding the middle ground with our main (canonical), immortal Scorpion, and half-demon verses is working more than well enough. Even when we both have their respective settings, I’d like to think because they both are Japanese, and most definitely are traditionalists and extremely proper and polite when they are amicably spoken to. Or even combining our preexisting verses and creating a reincarnation AU for both, as they would be reborn in an entirely different setting, comes across one another somehow (a simple gravitation or through other means, personal or professional) and build their relationship that way.

12. If you had to take them and plunk them into another fandom, what fandom would that be? Why?

Any kind of historical games or movies (preferably Japanese or anything Asian) would work best for him. I would really like them to travel to other Asian countries, mainly South Korea (because that’s where I hail from and I am exceptionally familiar with its history and differences between China, Korea and Japan) and obviously China, because I also write as Kuai Liang. I used to write with a muse from Netflix’s Kingdom (which is a historical/zombie-like apocalyptic drama that’s really popular, and if you want to see traditional Korean stuff with exceptional cinematography and acting, and if you love anything gory and zombie, contagion-like movies, I highly recommend it). I love any historical dramas and movies such as The Last Samurai and 47 Ronin, and even that setting could work for both of them.

13. How hard is it write/draw your pairing? Scale of 1-10.

8/10. I will have to admit, it does require a special set of mind because of the nature of their ship being crossover, I have to take some extra time visualizing what their interactions will unfold, but then not too difficult also in that I am by now intimately familiar with how your Jack/Ryou come off in your characterization and I think our writing meshes pretty well together as well.

14. Is there a pairing that you think rivals them?

I sincerely don’t think there is any unparalleled crossover ships, because they’re harder to stick to compared to canon counterparts and even non-canon ships within the same fandom, since not a lot of people are familiar with Mortal Kombat and its less than perfect and perplexing and confusing lore.

15. Which character of the pairing do you like more? (Would you ever pair yourself with them?)

I obviously love Hanzo more, or else I’d have Samurai Jack as my muse XD so I’d have to be subjectively biased on that regard. As much as I love Hanzo Hasashi with all of my heart, I don’t think I can handle too much stress and worry that comes with being involved with him in any way, because I am a worrywort and highly sensitive person myself and my heart would just fucking shatter seeing him suffer with amalgam of undiagnosed mental struggles (mainly PTSD and depression) and I would never know how to comfort him properly when he starts to have nightmares and night terrors. In that regard, and how patient, intelligent, sagacious and genial Jack is, and knowing that he would never die, maybe he’s a better partner than Hanzo is? Idk.

16. Which character of your pairing would be the one to break up with the other? Why?

Neither, they both are one of those people who take romantic/sexual relationships seriously, and such trust and devotion is sacred and unbreakable to them. Without them, there would be no way they will ever get into a relationship of any kind.

17. Are they relatable as characters or as a pairing?

To be frank, I think they both have relatable qualities as they struggle a lot with real mental issues like depression, self-doubts and insecurity, always internalizing and ruminating to do better, to serve better for people who they love and needs to be protected.

18. Did you once/ever dislike one/both of them?

Nah, Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion is my all-time favorite Mortal Kombat character, hands down and I used to watch Samurai Jack to learn English when I was in middle and high school (which was A WHILE AGO). I don’t remember too much of particular episodes, but I always did admire Jack’s complexity, how he’s able to find humor and scintillating light in the end of the obsidian, seemingly impervious tunnel (one of my favorite episodes being Jack hiding all the fake swords to get back at Aku and Jack fighting Shinobi - Warrior of the Night - because that was so artfully and exceptionally done), thus always retaining his optimism, despite the grim circumstances which he so often faces.

19. On an estimate, how many posts have you made about them?

Haven’t really counted, but I’d like to think that I either reply to our threads or answer any headcanon or meme replies at least 4-5 times a week? I’d like to believe that’s a lot, and I could probably do some more, but knowing that we’ll continue to keep coming up with refreshing and spectacular ideas for our boys to endlessly suffer.... so yeah. I’d like to up the game and think about them more, because I absolutely adore them as ship.

20. What made you decide to ship them?

As I always do, romantic/sexual shipping wasn’t in my intention when I approached for your Samurai Jack. Since he is one of the characters I hugely adore and even before I familiarized with your remarkable portrayal of him, I knew Hanzo and Jack would mesh well, specifically with MK11 Hanzo, in that they both are such exceptional warriors with heart of gold, and have triumphed and endured so much trials and tribulations, and keeps going because they are exceptionally protective of their people.

21. Favorite genre for them? (Angst, fluff, etc.)

ANGST ANGST get me on the angst train! Hanzo and Jack/Ryou just seem to SCREAM angst because of their respective struggle and trials with existentialism, and despite their clear differences, they are two good-hearted individuals who seemingly have inherited a cruel world as their worlds had been ripped from them, as they were used to the life of peaceful and painless nothingness without tribulations. I also have a huge soft heart for anything wholesome, just them taking an easy day and relax in each other’s arms, just talking, doing nothing substantial except enjoying what life could offer without any stress. They could simply take a walk around the neighborhood or even Hanzo’s Fire Gardens, have a picnic, or train together and take naps together.

#breathing iron and rust (outofkombat)#✗ the ineffable testimony of spawned hellfire (scorpion)#✗ seeking reconciliation with his own humanity (iii)#✗ ugly syllables of conjured vindictive crimson (modern au)#✗ hellfire fibrillating beneath his skin (iv)#✗ everlasting embers gone wild (half-demon verse)#(relationships; samurai jack)#(geez this took long but you get the idea)#sonxflight

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ao3feed-mchanzo · 6 years ago

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Between Our Two Lives

by primalrage

A Samurai/Cowboy Historical AU - The 20th century is approaching. The new Emperor of Japan has turned the country upside down and young Hanzo Shimada, once in line to be the next lord of Hanamura, has now been stripped of his title and his sword. Instead, he and his brother Genji are sent to America, where they will spend a year immersed in Western culture. However, a train robbery gone wrong leads to Genji being terribly wounded, and Hanzo must rely on the kindness of a young outlaw Jesse Mcree. Together, they trek across the Wild West towards the safety of Overwatch, a cattle ranch where Jesse knows Genji can be saved. Hanzo finds himself suddenly immersed in cowboy culture, grappling with his sense of lost identity and with the powerful feelings he inexplicably has for this young American who is as wild as the unforgiving landscape.

Words: 4470, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Overwatch (Video Game)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: M/M

Characters: Hanzo Shimada, Jesse McCree, Genji Shimada, Ana Amari, Fareeha "Pharah" Amari, Brigitte Lindholm, Torbjörn Lindholm, Soldier: 76 | Jack Morrison, Reaper | Gabriel Reyes, Elizabeth Caledonia Ashe

Relationships: Jesse McCree/Hanzo Shimada

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Historical, Cowboy AU, Meiji era AU, Attempt at Historical Accuracy, Wild West, Japanese Rope Bondage, Samurai, Japanese Culture, Japanese Mythology & Folklore, American History, Young Hanzo Shimada, Young Jesse McCree, Young Jesse McCree/Young Hanzo Shimada, Everyone is younger, Overwatch is a cattle ranch AU, not going to lie, this was low key inspired by Red Dead Redemption 2

from AO3 works tagged 'Jesse McCree/Hanzo Shimada' http://bit.ly/2D0pzvi via IFTTT http://bit.ly/2D0pzvi

#mchanzo #fic #ao3feed #overwatch #jesse mccree #hanzo shimada

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seyaryminamoto · 7 years ago

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I think the best place for a Thor style redemption for Azula is in the mythical (mostly because I'll never have the patience to write it) Azula-is-sent-by-the-spirits-to-a-world-where-the-Water-Tribe-is-the-aggressor AU. Think of it as Samurai Jack Season V for Azula. Of course, Sokkla happens (though this is quite different from real-world-Sokka).

I am sorry for not being too knowledgeable on Samurai Jack, but I didn’t have cable back when it was airing… ergo I have little to no idea of what Season V was like because I barely know the first seasons, to begin with :’D

But if it’s similar to what you mean, not bad. I’ve had many asks about this setting, I’m still trying to really figure out how it works, but it’s definitely something that gives food for thought. Azula forced to be on the other end of the spectrum, dealing with the consequences of existing in a nation that’s the direct enemy of an authoritarian regime, hellbent on destroying everything in its path… It certainly would give our Princess pause, and make her reconsider her nation’s actions, and procedures, over those past 100 years of war.

Alas, this is something worth pondering a lot. But yep, it definitely is a good setting for the Thor-like redemption for Azula.

#anon

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snow-slayer · 8 years ago

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Never Better - Samurai Jack Fanfiction

Here’s a completed first draft (It doesn’t follow the season 5 of Samurai Jack because I started writing after episode 3 aired).

Summary: Most robots he fought stayed dead once they were cleaved in half. Now Jack is faced with a choice: get as far away as he could from the assassin or team up with Scaramouche and Neliah, the woman who rebuilt Scaramouche, to destroy the largest beetle drone factor in the area, assuming they can find it.

“Never Better”

“Stand down.” The robot merely laughed at the threat. Trying to command the eight foot tall assassin was a woman hardly five feet tall and weaponless as far as Jack could tell. She hardly seemed concerned, standing with both gloved hands tucked casually into her pockets.

“Didn’t think you’d see me again, did you, Sammy baby? I’m not so easy to kill. Now I’ve got a second chance and I’ve never been better, babe!”

“I said stand down,” the woman repeated flatly.

“Relax, babe. I can take him.” He drew the sword on his back, giving it a few test swings as Jack drew his gun, aiming it at the center of Scaramouche’s chest. Suddenly, the robot grabbed his head, the sword falling harmlessly to the ground, followed shortly by the robot himself.

“Uhh, babe! Stop!” he moaned out, rolling to his side and bringing his knees up to his chest. Jack cast a glance at the woman. He saw her left hand move slightly within the confines of her pocket. Slowly, the robot regained his composure, dragging back to his feet. He sheathed his sword and shook his head.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you. We’re still … working things out.” Scaramouche had retreated, still caressing his head with one hand as he muttered under his breath. “The name’s Neliah.”

“Jack.” He cast an eye around their campsite. He had seen their campfire as he was traveling, leaving his bike to investigate on foot. As he had drawn near, he heard the familiar voice of Scaramouche, whom he thought thoroughly destroyed.

“Nice to meet you in person. Only heard terrible things about you, of course.” She shuffled closer to the campfire, rotating the meat on the spit.

“Why don’t you ask him to stay, babe? I’m sure he’d love to hear all the things you’ve done. Like all the people you’ve hurt and all the weapons you’ve helped make. Makes me look like a kitten, babe.”

“You are welcome to share some of our rations, if you’d like.” Jack accepted the invitation, if only out of fear the robot would get out of hand. He took a seat several feet away from Neliah, listening to the fat sizzle on the plump rodent cooking.

“I needed fire power. That’s why I put him back together, if you were wondering.” Jack cast another glance towards the robot who had begun pacing by the tent.

“Won’t let me kill anything, Sammy baby. Can’t see why she wants to torment me.” He tapped his head and forced a look of mock sadness.

“I added a few safety precautions until I can do a full reboot and remove the assassin program.”

“Nothing to remove, babe. I was made this way.”

“What are you planning?” Jack’s hand inched towards his gun as Scaramouche finally meandered closer to the fire.

“I’m tracking the beetle drones manufacturing plants. The largest one is said to be out this way.” She pointed towards the east. “I only have a general location. We’re going to destroy it to slow down production in addition to destroying their newest weapon creation. There have been rumors circulating that there’s a new mind controlling device in production which could potentially work on robots and humans. If it gets completed, that will give Aku or anyone who gets there hand on it unlimited soldiers. They’ll be soulless shells that follow his every whim.”

“Wouldn’t you know, babe? Must have been fun making the prototype,” Scaramouche laid on his chest, feeding anything that would burn into the fire.

“I don’t have the power or resources to do it on my own. There are a few towns between here and there, so I was hoping to gather some materials to make some explosives.” Neliah took the roast off, offering it to Jack so he could take half. After he pulled off a portion, Neliah took the stick back, tearing chunks off with her teeth.

“It’ll still be just you, babe, on your little quest for redemption. They’ll see Aku’s most favorite assassin,” he proudly gestured to himself, “and call me a hero when I tell them of your plan. Besides, what’s to motivate me? I might just stand there and take in the scenery as they pummel your body full of bullets.”

“How far along is production on the weapon?” Jack posed hesitantly.

“They’re supposedly testing in the next month.”

“And how far away is the factory?”

“I don’t know. I’m guessing a week, maybe a week and a half.”

“I would be willing to join you to destroy the factory.”

The sun stabbed them in the eyes as they crossed the empty plains. Jack felt more on edge, having only had two hours of sleep. The robot talked all night, mostly degrading Neliah, only stopping when one of the plates used to piece him back together came undone and Neliah forced him into stasis to make the repair. She mentioned that she could wake him, but Jack did not protest when she decided to let his system cool down for a few hours. Still, Jack slept fitfully, not knowing enough about Neliah to trust her, but fearing the worst if he left. Scaramouche was deadly, and Jack knew all he would have to do is sneak up on her and steal the device that was keeping him at bay.

Pacing Neliah on her own bike, he kept his eyes on Scaramouche. The robot was chained to the back at Jack’s demand, yelling over the motor. Jack thought he looked bored. Occasionally, they would meet eyes, Scaramouche making lewd gestures or giving him bedroom eyes. Jack came to appreciate Neliah’s patience. In the distance, a town finally appeared on the horizon. Jack watched as Neliah angled towards it. They came to a stop on the outskirts.

“Desolate. Looks like the beetle drones ravaged this place. There’s no carnage. Not much of anything.” Neliah had dismounted, staring down the baron streets. The buildings were still standing, although they looked wind buffeted and unused. Scaramouche had already begun strolling down the main street as soon as Neliah freed him, commenting the he would have done better, especially with his tuning sword.

“Good thing he lost it,” Neliah turned to Jack, giving him a wink before she followed after the robot. Jack kept pace with her, forcing himself to take smaller steps so as not to overpass her.

“You can go on ahead. I’m a bit on the slow side. Bad joints and such.” Jack nodded, trailing the robot, who periodically swept inside a building to explore the interiors. After two hours of wondering, and countless complaints of the humans taking too long, they returned to the entrance empty handed.

They traveled east again, the sun at their backs. The beginning of another forest provided the camping location for the night. Even with Scaramouche’s constant chattering, Jack managed to catch a few creatures to feast on. Neliah pulled out a can of oil from her bike, which Scaramouche scarfed down in seconds. Crumpling the can when it was drained, he threw it at Neliah as she began cooking. He flashed Jack a grin, pacing the perimeter of their campsite. Scaramouche bored of talking to himself after an hour, taking a seat next to Neliah.

“What’s wrong, Sammy baby? Do I make you nervous? Do I make your skin crawl?” Jack eased his hand from the gun hoister, slowly chewing on the roast as he kept his eyes on the robot. Scaramouche’s grin split across his whole face. Faster than Jack could get to his feet, Scaramouche had grabbed Neliah’s left arm, flinging her away a few feet. He was on top of her, tearing at her pocket and rolling away.

“How stupid can you be, babe?” he laughed, holding up a small remote to show off his spoils. “You thought a little shock collar could keep me at bay?” The remote was crushed in his massive hand, the pieces crumbling without any repercussions to him. Neliah had risen to her feet. Jack had drawn his gun again, taking a few steps towards the robot. He noticed that Neliah had her left hand facing him, as if requesting him to stay still.

“You don’t want to do this.”

“Oh, trust me, babe, I’ve been waiting for days for this opportunity. You thought that Jack here would protect you and you let your guard down. I’m going to enjoy this, babe. Au revior.” He drew his sword again, not an ounce of hesitation as he stepped forward. The sword was raised above his head as he prepared to strike the killing blow. His face went blank, the blue eyes vanishing as his mouth opened in surprise. A black substance began leaking over his lower lips before he began to scream.

Neliah walked over to his fallen form, pulling a device from her back pocket, which she touched to his temples.

“I’m sorry. I had to incorporate a failsafe should the remote be destroyed. Unfortunately, I cannot control the duration of the pain on this one. It will fade when you stop attempting to murder a sentient creature.” The device in her hand seemed to help, as Scaramouche stopped convulsing so wildly, his cries of pain fading a notch.

“I don’t want this, babe.” His voice had lost the arrogant edge Jack was used to. “I don’t want to be like this.”

“I know,” she sighed, “I know, Scaramouche. When we finish the mission, we’ll find a lab and I’ll remove the fail safe and give you a full reset. I’ll take out the assassin coding, too.”

“So I can do what I want, babe?”

“Yes, I’ll let you make your own choices. I promise.” A wave of the black burnt smelling substances tumbled of his lips again as he let out another cry.

“Please. Please … make it stop, babe.”

“I’ll put you back in stasis. Keep fighting the impulse.” Making some adjustments to the tool, she touched it to his temple again, the whining of the machine and his pained cries fading. She brushed the dirt from her clothing and returned to her seat by the fire.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little startled. Glad to see the failsafe works.” She let out a hollow laugh rubbing her own temple with her hand.

“Why did he sound so different?

“It’s the original coding coming through. The assassination program seems to falter when he’s in severe pain. It doesn’t last though. He’ll be back to the new normal in the morning.”

“He’s still a murderer.” Neliah sighed, letting out another shaky laugh.

“He’s the only family I have left.”

“And you put him back together.”

“I know. He can’t control the programming, but it’s no excuse. I’d say I feel guilty, but that’s only half the truth. I’m no better than him.” They picked at the remnants of dinner as the stars drifted lazily across the sky.

“What do you mean by saying he’s your family? Did you build him?” Jack couldn’t help the accusatory note that was creeping into his voice.

“I helped, yes. I guess it was … twenty years ago, give or take. I was about ten. Not really old enough to be a lab assistant, but I was anyway. My family’s been building robots for years. My grandmother perfected the personality chip with the first successful usage in X9. My father started working on the next phase.”

“They worked for years trying to build a circuit board that would allow robots to feel pleasure and pain. The theory was that it would create a reward and punishment system. Except they had trouble creating a motherboard strong enough. They fried so many machines trying to induce basic physical pain and pleasure. Finally, they built Scaramouche.”

“His circuits held up to the initial pleasure test, something that the others hadn’t. For a while, I guess it was nice for him. They’d experiment for hours, inducing simple pleasures. A hug, gentle currents of electricity, stuff like that, although I’m sure it became … more erotic later on. My father was … well, eccentric’s putting it nice. I was spared this viewing, thankfully. Then the second half of the experiments began after about six years.”

“Pain,” Jack guessed. Neliah nodded slowly, casting an eye to make sure the robot was still asleep.

“It changed him. I used to know him before, and he was alright. A little too talkative, a little too hands on, but he wasn’t like this. Every day, for twelve years, the house would be filled with his screaming and pleas. They would leave him strapped into a table for days on end, administering different types of shocks and recording the results to build others like him.”

“Why not just leave out the pain?”

“Because you don’t learn if there’s no pain. You can’t get better without it,” Neliah whispered, tilting her head down. “So they tortured him, or worse, took him from one extreme to the other to see how he faired. When they gathered enough data, he was so resigned. This eight foot tall powerhouse was reduced to nothing but sulking the halls and trying to avoid everything. Eventually, they reprogrammed him, repressing the original coding and adding a killer’s instinct.”

“Are there others like him?” Jack demanded.

“No. That was my first act of rebellion. I destroyed the research. They never have and never will make another one like him.”

Jack must have looked exasperated, as Neliah mouthed the words “I’m sorry” the first time they made eye contact. Scaramouche had reverted back to the way Jack had always known, but seemed more content to push the boundaries a bit. He made nastier comments, came a little too close for Jack’s comfort, and was generally annoying. Neither human said anything, as it only seemed to provoke him further when they requested him to calm down.

“Are we ever leaving, babe, or should I just sit down and rust to death?” He plopped down next to Neliah as she ate breakfast. “Or are you waiting for a little something special to start your day?” The robot started to lean towards her, his waist inching to a forty degree angle with the ground as his head rested on her shoulder. “Although I don’t mind watching if you like Jack better than me, babe. Don’t see how you would like the ragged beard, though.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m ready to head out.”

“You’re missing out, babe,” he hinted with a sneer. Neliah leaned forward, letting the rest of Scaramouche’s weight pull him towards the ground. He snarled as he sat up, beating the dirt from his side. “That was cold, babe.”

The day was uneventful. Jack wondered if they were even heading in the right direction as the crossed the endlessly repeating terrain. The worry about Scaramouche overpowering Neliah also weighed in his mind. She had no defenses against him. All three were well aware of the fact, although Neliah did not seem too concerned. She casually drove, one hand on the handlebars, one tucked in her pocket, hardly a care tainting her expression. Even Scaramouche leaning on her shoulder and running his metal tongue down her neck did not faze her.

They stopped for the night, Scaramouche volunteering Neliah to gather the firewood. Jack set up the tents as Scaramouche reclined against a tree. He periodically shouted out some orders, quite content to not lift a finger. Neliah made several trips, dropping off an armful at a time.

“Could you move any slower, babe?”

“If you want to eat, there’s oil in the side compartment. No need to wait for us.”

“Poor Sammy baby is wasting away to nothing!” Jack scowled into the small fire he had started, warming his hands as the blaze grew. Neliah was coming back with the fourth load when Scaramouche started following her. He planted a solid kick square on her back, forcing her forwards onto the small load she had collected. Jack jerked his head towards them, waiting for the pain to overtake Scaramouche.

Nothing happened.

Jack was slightly overwhelmed. He was fairly sure he was competent to deal with one or the other, but was struggling with both. Neliah woke up, immediately dragging herself to the edge of camp where she was violently sick. Scaramouche had made his way over to watch, close enough to laugh at her discomfort, but far enough to keep his shoes clean.

“What’s the matter, babe? Got a little case of morning sickness?”

“Might be food poisoning,” she got out between waves.

“Uh-huh. Sure, babe. You keep telling yourself that. Jack ate the same thing as you.” He cast a glance down at Jack, his eyes lighting up a shade brighter as he realized who had done the cooking. A scalding laugh erupted from him.

“Oh ho ho, babe,” he belted out a laugh. “Seems like Sammy baby doesn’t like you either! He already killed me once, and now he’s trying to off you!”

“You didn’t look well last night,” Jack commented softly. “You were trembling all night. Perhaps we should rest today.”

“Oh no! I don’t think so, babe,” Scaramouche growled. “I am not sitting all day in the middle of nowhere. It’s already been a week that I’ve had to endure her insufferable company.”

“He’s right. We should keep pressing forward. We don’t have the luxury of waiting.” Jack glared at the robot as Scaramouche beamed. After a light breakfast, they were on their way again.

Jack noticed the black line on the horizon first. He motioned for Neliah to stop. With a nod, Neliah understood.

“Beetle drones. Well, maybe it means we’re getting close. Looks like it’s your time to shine,” she elbowed Scaramouche.

“Ah, but you forgot, babe. I can’t kill anything. Guess I’ll just sit this one out. You can borrow my sword,” he smirked.

“I said you can’t kill sentiment creatures. These have no feelings. They just move forward, destroying everything in their path. You can destroy these.” A knot formed in Jack’s stomach at the sight of the devilish grin.

“Unchain me, babe.” They continued on to the line of approaching drones. Scaramouche dismounted with a graceful leap towards the drones. Swiftly, he began running towards the approaching ranks, sword leading the way. Neliah pulled to a stop, pulling her own gun from a compartment under the bike seat.

“Can’t say I’ll be much use, but I’ll take care of the stragglers.” Jack took his own electric staff, powering it up before riding in behind the carnage Scaramouche left in his wake. He took out the ones that challenged him, noticing that the line was converging into a circle around him and Scaramouche. After a few minutes, he pulled out, noticing the ranks were significantly less in number. He could not deny that Scaramouche’s tactics were efficient. The robot would not let himself be surrounded, jumping high in the air and using the beetle drones as spring boards. He would take out several at a time with a single swing of his sword. Jack backed out to where Neliah had remained parked. She placed a well-aimed bullet through a few that strayed from the group, mostly watching.

As the number diminished to the last twenty, the humans watched as Scaramouche taunted the last few. He’d let them get close, hacking off only a leg or two before he would jump away unscratched. He strolled back, swinging his sword absentmindedly when the last drone had fallen. The blue eyes bore into Jack, seeming a little bit brighter and a lot more reckless.

Scaramouche’s boasting did not last long when they reached the new campsite. He began walking erratically, nearly dragging his right leg when he took a step. At first Jack thought he was merely mocking Neliah again until he heard the change in tone of voice. He was still bragging about his success, but it was losing the edge rapidly. He dropped the fire wood he was collecting, slowly lowering himself to the ground.

“Help, babe. Help … me.” Kneeling, he looked over to Neliah, his metal lips trembling. She came over, her limp more visible as she tried to move faster.

“On your back. Jack, can you bring me the medical kit under the bike seat?” Both men complied, and Neliah undid Scaramouche’s belt, pulling his coat open. Jack returned with the medical kit, taking a step back in surprise as he saw just how human Scaramouche looked.

“What’s wrong, babe? You want a piece of me?” Scaramouche laughed, the harsh noise cutting off suddenly as a confused look crossed his face. “Sorry … no.” Getting over the momentary distraction, Jack’s eyes moved to the root cause of the problem. The plates holding the leg in place had started warping, the leg separating unnaturally from the hip piece. Wires were visible, sparking periodically.

“I’m going to leave you awake for this, because I want to make sure you can still move your leg when I’m done. I’d hate to patch it and have to rip the patch out later.” Scaramouche started to groan something angrily, but snapped his jaw closed and nodded.

“Jack, if you could hold the joint together,” she gestured to the two places she wanted pressed together, “Watch the sparking. It’ll probably hurt you move than it’s already hurting him.” Jack complied, turning his head away in embarrassment. The soldering tool brought a harsh cry from Scaramouche when it made contact, but he stifled them as Neliah realigned the plates and added a third to secure them.

“Alright, see if you can still move your leg.” Scaramouche lifted his right leg off the ground, rotating his foot to make sure all the circuits still functioned. “Good. I’m going to bolt these on. It’s going to hurt, but it’ll just take a minute.” The robot nodded, the blue fading as he closed his eyes. Neliah took another tool from the kit, giving one last warning before she bolted the corners of the new plate.

Jack found himself wincing with Scaramouche’s yelps. True to her word, Neliah had finished within a minute, putting the tools back in the box. Scaramouche’s hands were balled into fists, a thin trail of the black and burnt oil sliding out the corner of his mouth.

“Can you still move your leg?” The robot did not answer nor move. Finally, he raised his leg a couple of inches off the ground before letting it fall. Neliah sighed in relief, pulling his coat closed and securing the belt. She crawled over to his head, finally letting him drift into stasis.

Scaramouche came to a few hours later, raining insults on Neliah’s repairing skills. After four hours of not receiving a single comment in return, he finally bored, laying down by the fire. He was feeding twigs into the flame, but would pull them out and flick the burning pieces towards Neliah. When even that failed to bring about a satisfactory reaction, he rolled away and laid down next to the bikes, still muttering.

“We should probably get some sleep,” Neliah suggested. Jack glanced at her, noticing she was trembling again.

“I have an extra blanket if you need one.”

“Oh no, I’m fine. Probably just a little worn out.” They wandered over to their respective tents. Jack did not sleep. The silence was too troublesome, considering Scaramouche was not currently in stasis. He could even hear Neliah’s deep breathing in the tent next to his after an hour. It was not too much longer until his suspicions were confirmed.

A wave of night birds fluttered away from their location. Scaramouche’s cry of pain reverberated around the woods as Jack bolted from the tent. The robot was still near the bikes, the control panel on Jack’s bike now sitting on the ground. Several tools lay nearby, now useless as Scaramouche could barely control his body.

“Two minutes. You need to think about what you’ve done,” Neliah called out. Scaramouche screamed for help, eyes appearing to flicker wildly as he tried to focus on anything. After the two minutes were up, Neliah made an appearance, kneeling by his head, the trusty tool in hand. She started by lessening the pain.

“Even if you’re not directly trying to kill someone, the failsafe will activate if it’s your intention,” she explained softly. The robot was begging for it to stop, even begging for death. Neliah increased the power, cutting the pain significantly as the pleas silenced, only broken by the occasional moan.

“Will you still fix me when we destroy the plant, babe?”

“Yes. I promised I would.” Scaramouche went to say something else, instead divulging a mouthful of the black oil. He turned his head to the side as the foul liquid ran out of his mouth.

“Do you trust me, babe? Do you trust what I’ll do?”

“I trust the old you.” This seemed to quell the robot for the moment.

“Please make it stop, babe. I won’t … I won’t sabotage the bikes again.” Neliah agreed, putting him into stasis again. She stood slowly, wavering as she finally got to her feet.

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yeah, just tired. Not to sound too spoiled, but I do miss having a bed.”

It was a mistake the second the words left his mouth. All parties knew it.

“Leave her alone.” There was dead silence for three long seconds before the robot cackled.

“So you’re the father, Sammy baby! You’ve fallen low!” Neliah had finally gotten ahold of herself, fighting down the next wave of nausea as she took the water Jack offered.

“You did kind of walk into that one,” she mumbled as Scaramouche continued his taunting. They headed out after a rushed breakfast, the motor drowning out Scaramouche for the most part. Neliah started veering left, towards another town that had popped up on the horizon. Like the other town, the streets were desolate.

“Is this Alnicomaodd?” Neliah tried to make out the worn letters by the front gate. “If so, this is an old mining town. There’s bound to be some good explosives here.” They spread out, Scaramouche heading to the far end of town, Jack taking a middle section, and Neliah looking at the nearby buildings. They worked towards the center of town. Scaramouche approached them with a box in his hand and a smile on his face.

“Boom, babe. I found the dynamite.” He sat the box on the ground gently, opening the lid and showing it with a sweep of his hand. Neliah peered in, noting they were still in the protective packaging so the ride would not jostle them and set off the explosives.

“I’ll carry them back to the bikes,” Jack volunteered quickly.

“What’s wrong, Sammy baby? Scared I might drop them?” Scaramouche backed away though, letting Jack take the box. The three headed back to the bikes. Scaramouche would walk a few buildings ahead, and then circle back, offering his version of encouragements. Jack noticed that Scaramouche had slowed down to Neliah’s pace. He too slowed down, should another conflict arise.

“They’ll have the weapons and the next model at this rate, babe. Allow me to help.” He grabbed her right wrist and went to pull her forward. His hand curled into a fist, the back of Neliah’s hand falling unnaturally against his. Scaramouche stopped walking, his features confused. Jack eye’s darted back from the snapped wrist to Neliah’s blank expression. Rather than just releasing her arm, Scaramouche pulled it straight up slowly. At the height, he rotated it unnaturally, finding no resistance.

“Would you kindly release my sleeve?” Scaramouche opened his fist, watching as the material feel straight down. Neliah used her left hand to tuck the fingers of the glove at the end of her right sleeve back into her pocket.

“Babe, where’s your arm?”

“Got infected, so I had to remove it.”

“When, babe?”

“Couple months ago.” Neliah continued walking, finally catching up a few steps to Jack. He turned back in the direction he was walking after casting one last look at Scaramouche who still had not moved. The two walked slowly, finally hearing the mechanical noises of Scaramouche as he caught up behind them. Scaramouche grabbed Neliah’s waist and tossed her effortlessly over his shoulder. He made an offhand comment about her still taking too long, but his concentration was elsewhere.

“What’s this, babe?” Jack watched as Scaramouche wrenched something small out of Neliah’s hand. Even with her arm extended, she could not reach to the top of his head, let alone whatever Scaramouche held above his head. Uninterested in her demands, he glanced up, reading off the label of the pill bottle.

“Oxyquartines. Wow, babe! How’d you manage to get the good stuff? Take two by mouth per day? Nobody takes that much, babe. How’s it going to impact yours and Jack’s child?”

“Give it back!”

“Aw, are you in pain, babe? These aren’t even yours, unless you changed you name, thief.”

“I had to use an assumed name. I can’t really waltz in anywhere using my real name, now can I? They’re no use to you anyway.”

“I might feel a little something if I grind them up and mix them with my oil. Might dull the pain that you love to put me in, babe.”

“Please, Scaramouche, please return them.” Jack watched as satisfaction flashed across the robot’s face.

“Are you begging me, babe? You’re not very good at it.”

“Yes,” she conceded, “I’m begging you. I need them.” He had lowered the bottle so it was just inches above her fingertips.

“Begging’s done on your knees, babe.” Jack’s hand was on the gun handle. He was not sure where he intended to step in, but if it was going on the path he thought, then he planned to make his move soon. Neliah slowly went down to her knees, leaning her head against the hip joint they had repaired. Her eyes remained glued to the ground.

“Please give them back.” Scaramouche let out a harsh laugh, finally lowering his arm.

“You’re probably right, babe. Can’t use them anyway.” He casually tossed the bottle a few feet away, which Neliah went scrambling after. Jack assumed she took one, trying to better secure the bottle in an inside jacket pocket. She sat with her back against a tree, bringing her knees up to her chest and burying her head with her remaining arm. Scaramouche gave them ten minutes of peace to finish breakfast before he began rushing them. Neliah made her way over, blocked by Jack on her way to the bikes.

“Are you –”

“Fine. Yes, I’m fine. Never better.” She brushed past him, not even bothering to put the chains on Scaramouche as she mounted and headed east. Jack was sure to keep an eye on them, hardly watching the landscape. Both were hard to read, Scaramouche almost looking contemplative while Neliah had kept her expression even, still masterfully driving with one arm.

They drove all day, but the trees were sparse as the sun lengthened their shadows. Even as it grew dark, they pressed on. Jack was a bit nervous watching the pair. Neliah’s bike would waver a bit on the trek. After a while, he felt her glare piercing through him and kept his eyes forward. A sigh of relief escaped him as another town finally appeared on the horizon. They gunned towards it, two dust clouds trailing them.

“I’ve been here, before,” Jack murmured. The feeling of returning to an old battle ground haunted him as they each took a flashlight and went to see if there was a secure building to rest in for the night.

“That looks like a lab, babe.” Scaramouche pointed at the round building. He hauled her off her feet and over his shoulder as he headed in the direction, Jack needing to run to match the pace. Kicking down the door, Scaramouche let himself inside, groaning as he saw the interior was mostly destroyed.

“Exdor’s old lab!” Jack finally realized.

“You know Exdor?” Neliah’s demeanor perked a bit. “Well, knew him, at least. He’s been dead a few years.”

“It’s been a long time, but I knew him. He helped me destroy the Ultra-bots.”

“Kind of liked him, myself,” Neliah smiled, talking over Scaramouche’s comments. “Started working against Aku. He was a legend. Wished I had gotten a chance to meet him.”

“Let’s go, babe. This place is useless.”

“Now, now. Don’t be so hasty. You know how scientists like to have their back up lab.” Scaramouche froze in his trek back to the door. He dropped Neliah, hurrying to the perimeter to start looking for a secret door. Neliah made her way back to Jack. He saw the dilating of her pupil, but could not make it as she stumbled over something and hit the ground.

“Found it.” Scaramouche was over in a second, on his knees searching for a way to get the trapdoor open. He found a handle, jerking it up only for it to break off in his hands.

“Maybe there’s a key, or we –” Jack’s suggestions were interrupted as Scaramouche got a hand hold and ripped the entire door off of its hinges, flinging it behind him. He jumped down the stairs, Neliah and Jack wincing as his metal body bounced off the narrow walls with loud, metallic thuds. Both headed down the stairs carefully, ducking under the low archway.

“It’s got all the amenities, babe,” Scaramouche called up, notably excited. Jack entered the hollowed out room, shielding his eyes as Scaramouche shown the beam in his face. All sorts of tools he did not recognize lined the walls, pieces of metal, nuts, bolts, and screws littering the floor.

“Does the generator work?” Neliah posed the question as she took the last step. Scaramouche wondered over to the far side, looking at the control panel. He pressed a few buttons and pulled some levers, but the machine stayed quiet. Knocking on the fuel tank produced a hollow noise.

“So we’ll keep our eyes open for fuel in our travels.”

“There might be something in town, babe.”

“Feel free to look around, but I’m not taking out the fail safes until after we destroy the plant. That was the deal.” Scaramouche growled about that not being fair, instantly snapping his mouth shut when Neliah suggested that she did not have to perform the procedure at all if he did not want to wait. He slunk back up the stairs, heading out in search of fuel.

“Should we go back up to ground level to sleep?”

“Here’s fine. He can’t block the exit without the fail safes activating.” She found some folded up blankets, tossing one to Jack before spreading the other on the desk. “Besides, we might actually get a little sleep if he spends all night looking for fuel. He’ll be looking a while since he didn’t even see the extra containers under the desk.”

“It’s almost noon. Let’s go, babe!” Scaramouche dropped his armful of metal objects before sweeping his flashlight around the darkened lab.

“Noon? I feel like I’ve only slept for a few hours.”

“Too bad, babe. Here, I found this.” He picked up one of the cans and hurled it at her. She let it hit her chest with a dull thud and a groan. Finding a flash light, she looked at the can.

“This expired like ten years ago. Thanks, though.” In the darkness, Jack watched as Scaramouche rolled his eyes, unable to see the rest of his expression.

“What about this one, babe? Or this one?” he threw can after can at her. She shielded her face, letting them hit her or the wall. After five or six, he stopped, nudging the pile of metal to see if there were other consumable goods among the partial cans of fuel.

“This ones probably okay,” Neliah popped open the lid, sniffing the contents. “Yeah, this is good. Thanks, Scaramouche.”

“Good, let’s go, babe.” Neliah found another can which had not yet expired, tossing it to Jack. He opened it, taking an exploratory sniff and gagging.

“It smells bad, but the taste is pretty good.” Jack took a bite.

“What is it?” The texture was slimy, but tasted like a combination of beans and poultry.

“You don’t want to know.” Scaramouche had marched up the stairs, impatiently tapping his feet at the top. They ate, Jack leading the way up the stairs.

“The sun’s barely up,” Neliah remarked, glaring at Scaramouche.

“My bad, babe. I can’t tell time.” A knowing grin spread across his face as he led the way to the motorcycle, grabbing Neliah on the way. Jack wished that he would stop throwing Neliah to the ground when they reached the destination, but held his tongue. Scaramouche sat in the driver’s seat, hands on the handle bars.

“As much as you want it, I’m not riding in your lap, so slide back.”

“You’re making me motion sick, babe. And you drive too slowly.” Jack hoped his face didn’t show the disappointment when Neliah did not protest. She grabbed his waist and hauled herself on behind him. Scaramouche drove significantly faster, and Jack hoped his bike would be able to keep up. He glanced over to see how Neliah was faring. The robot was shouting, although Jack couldn’t make it out. Neliah met his eyes, nodding towards Scaramouche and rolling her eyes.

The manufacturing plant did not reach up to the stars, but it might have stretched around the world as far as Jack could tell. Neliah was explaining the layout of the plant, describing their best route to get to the main machines in the center of the building and start the destruction there. The ends were mainly holding facilities for the drones to send out in batches.

“The longer we can go without setting off the alarms, the better. They’ll have every beetle drone on us if we do. Doesn’t matter if they’re half built or fully functioning. We get the dynamite into the machines, set the fuses, and then we have two minutes to get out.”

“Easy, babe. Watch the motorcycles.”

“I’m coming in with you both.” Scaramouche’s protests were louder than Jack’s, so she addressed them first.

“While I appreciate your selfish concerns, how are you going to turn the machines off while fighting off the drones and manufacturers? If you don’t, you’ll never get the dynamite inside safely.” His face fell.

“How do you except to shut the machines off, babe? You can’t just waltz in any better than we can. In fact, it’s probably worse than us, babe.”

“I’ve worked on them before. I’ve also destroyed them. I know how they function. Why do you think I’m running us through the control room rather than just barging in the front door? There’s less alarms and we can move a little slower. If we can take the control room, we can put the emergency locks on the holding locations so we only have to deal with a few. You two can hold them off, and I’ll get the machines stopped. I’ll expect you to get me on the way out if you want me alive.” Scaramouche made a last scathing remark before he took the box of dynamite from Jack’s bike and headed towards the building. Neliah assured them security videos were not used, since it was in such a remote location. Mounting the building in two easy leaps, Scaramouche left the box on the roof as he came back to collect Neliah. Jack followed them up. As Neliah has explained, they found the roof access, Scaramouche leading the way as Jack carried the box, Neliah walking behind him, gun in hand. Scaramouche destroyed the simple hall monitors. Each time one appeared and was destroyed, the three would freeze and wait thirty seconds to see if an alarm had been activated.

They reached the hall leading to the control room. Scaramouche peered around the corner, declared the hall empty and kept going. He reached the entrance to the control room first, tilting his head as he looked in. Letting out a harsh laugh, he proudly declared it was empty.

“No. They wouldn’t do that.” Neliah walked past Jack, who had set the box down to rest a moment.

“Well, looks like you were wrong, babe,” Scaramouche scoffed, gesturing to the room as Neliah approached. She stepped to the far wall, glancing at an angle at the doorway.

“Get away! It’s a –” Neliah jumped backwards as metal arms stretched out and latched onto Scaramouche’s arms and waist. His eyes were wide as he looked back for help before being pulled into the room.

“Guard the box!” Jack demanded as he sprinted past Neliah, his own gun drawn. He starred into the room, seeing it empty. The hologram shimmered as the next set of arms reached out. Jack side stepped them, rolling into the room. Immediately, his gun exploded in his hand with a beam of energy.

“What a trio! A rogue assassin, a fallen scientist, and a mad samurai. I’m not quite sure which of you is worse.” Before Jack stood a tall robot dressed in a green suit with gold trim. Although not quite as tall as Scaramouche, he was a foot taller than Jack and twice as wide. His left hand had been forced into Scaramouche’s chest, oil dripping down his arm from the four finger holes he had punctured through the metal chest plate. Scaramouche writhed against his bindings, teeth clenched as he refused to vocalize the pain the other robot was causing.

“I thought about sending the drones in after you all as you destroyed my security bots, but I knew you were headed this way. It’s much more fun to finish you off in person. I’ll be back for you, Neliah!” Keeping the gun trained on Jack’s chest, he removed his fingers from Scaramouche and touched a button on the control panel behind him. The door latched shut.

“So who wants to die first?” He shoved his fingers back into Scaramouche’s chest. Scaramouche’s sagging frame tensed up again. Although his eyes were open only slits, Jack could tell they were becoming dull.

“I’m … on your … side, Voltiare, babe.” Scaramouche choked out.

“Is that so? Then you would have already disposed of the Samurai.” Scaramouche was trying to explain the failsafe, but couldn’t get the words out. What few words he managed made it clear the pain was overriding the assassination code again.

“I think I’ll start with you. You were only good as a punching bag, anyway. I don’t know why Neliah took any pity on you. I would have scrapped you like the good doctor’s original plan once research was complete, but she begged for you to be spared. Probably converting you into an assassin was not the idea she had in mind, although she paid dearly for her interruptions. Such a pity all the results were lost.” Jack held his ground, discreetly trying to glance around the room for anything he could use to his advantage. The green clad robot watched him intently, not even looking at Scaramouche as he tortured him.

“So tell me, Jack? What made you stoop to working with two murderers? Surely you don’t condone that kind of behavior.” Jack said nothing.

“Ah, or do you not know about Neliah? She used to be a force to be reckoned with, although I’m quite surprised she’s still alive. I was lucky to land a job here before she snapped. Left the Xander family lab in ruins. All the work of generations past: gone. All the new inventions and new models: destroyed. Her family: dead.”

“I suppose that’s better for you, though. She took out Aku’s leading scientist, so now all we have left are the drone makers. They’re a bit bland, always rehashing the same thing, maybe adding a leg, making it bigger, but it’s all the same.” Jack finally trained his eyes on Scaramouche, needing to focus on something. The robots eyes had disappeared, his hat displaced to the floor from one of the times he thrashed his head. A steady stream of black oil spewed from his mouth, dripping down the front of his coat. Jack began tensing, planning to make one attempt at an attack.

The opening door behind him was all the diversion he needed. Voltiare fired as Jack dove to the side, leaving a searing wound in his shoulder. He fired again at the opening door before his head exploded in a stream of sparks and oil. Neliah laid on the ground, breathing heavily as Voltiare’s body slowly collapsed, his hand finally sliding away from Scaramouche’s chest. Holding his right shoulder, Jack took the few steps to her, and pulled her to her feet.

“Took a few more minutes than I hoped to get the door open.” She tucked the gun away and stared blankly at Scaramouche for a while. He did not move. Swearing under her breath, she picked up the lifeless body of Voltiare, letting it lean on her as she slid the fingers back into the hole.

“Help me hold him up.” Jack took her spot under the body and kept the hand in position as Neliah adjusted her tool. She jammed it into the neck where his head used to be, twisting it to find the right position.

“Please work,” she prayed, staring up at Scaramouche’s lifeless face. A faint whirring started, increasing in sound as Scaramouche moved his limbs and head slightly. He came to with a robotic gasp, spraying the black liquid over Neliah.

“How are you feeling?” she posed. Scaramouche’s eyes appeared and he opened his mouth to speak. Instead, his body went limp again, the whirring fading.

“No, no, no, no!” Neliah wrenched the tool to the side, the circuits in the severed head sparking at the increase of electricity. “Come on!” Scaramouche began to move again. He finally groaned, raising his head.

“What happened, babe?”

“This energy vampire took too much out of you. I’ve reversed what I could, but you’re going to need a recharge.” She pulled Voltiare fingers away, Jack throwing the body to the floor and exiting to get the box of dynamite secured in the room. When he returned, Neliah sealed off the door behind them, scanning the control panel for a way to free Scaramouche. She found the release. Jack helped pull his fallen body towards the control panel, Neliah assuming there would be a charge station nearby which would have satisfied Voltiare’s appetite. She discovered a few tools and opened up the top of Scaramouche’s jacket. Jack stared down at the four finger sized holes, seeing that they had gone about three inches into the metal. Neliah was working to get the movable cover plate off, struggling a bit with only one hand. She pried it up enough to attach the wires inside. Scaramouche made a strange noise between a purr and a hum, his eyes flickering rapidly as a soft smile crossed his face. She studied the holes, but determined they would not provide too much trouble until she could properly fix them.

Neliah was scanning the monitors silently. Below them in the main room, the workers went on obliviously. She was frowning.

“I think I can clear the room with an alarm, but it will send in the drones.”

“It will protect them,” Jack assured her.

“We’ll wait five minutes after I set the alarms, which will give them enough time to get out. Will you be ready in five?” She nudged Scaramouche with her foot.

“Babe, I was ready ten minutes ago!” The confidence and arrogance had returned.

“You were dead ten minutes ago, but okay.” She pulled the alarm, seeing the lights flash in the room below them. On the monitors, the works fled towards the sides. Scaramouche pulled the protruding wires from his chest, reaffixing the chest plate and closing the jacket. Neliah was working to halt the mindless machines, typing in the algorithms to get them to stop. When the movement had stopped, she gestured to the windows in front of her.

“The room’s yours.” Scaramouche dove through the glass of the control room. Standing in the shattered remains, he held out his hands and looked up. Jack took the risk. He dropped the box, holding his breath until Scaramouche caught it, dropping to a knee to prevent bring the box to a sudden stop. Jack followed him out, each taking half of the ammunition and affixing it to the machines. The first of the drones were entering the room, Neliah shooting what she could from her lookout in the control room.

“Fuses lit, babe! Let’s get out of here!” Scaramouche jumped back to the control room, grabbing Jack’s hand when he followed and yanked him forwards. Jack led the way as Scaramouche hauled Neliah over his shoulder and took off behind him. On the roof, Jack slid to the edge, taking a deep breath before he hurled himself over. Scaramouche was behind him, hugging Neliah towards him as the first explosion rocked the building. The shockwave sent them hurtling forwards. Jack hit the ground and rolled to his feet. He glanced back. Scaramouche had used as much of his body as possible to shield Neliah, hitting the ground hard. Uncurling himself, he stood up as if unfazed, jerking Neliah back over his shoulder and running. Another explosion rocked the building, further crumbling the middle section. Stealing another glance back, Jack could see the workers hurrying out the sides, having been spared from the blast. He was pleased there was not a wave of drones hurrying after them.

Scaramouche readjusted Neliah in front of him, speeding away on the motorcycle. Jack chased after him, finding that his bike had enough power to catch up. Scaramouche had his right arm securely across Neliah’s chest, eyes glued forward as they navigated back to Exdor’s lab. Jack could not tell if she was conscious or even alive.

Night was falling fast when Jack finally noticed movement from Scaramouche’s passenger. She reached over to pull her right sleeve and secure it in her pocket. Scaramouche continued to hold her tightly, lest she fall at such speeds.

Jack could hardly keep his eyes open as they finally approached the decimated town. Not needing to sleep himself, Scaramouche kept racing through the night and the morning. They pulled to a stop in front of the lab. For once, Scaramouche sat Neliah on her feet roughly, but it still failed to produce the preferred results. Neliah crumpled to the ground.

“I don’t think your leg is supposed to bend like that, babe.” Scaramouche nudged her foot, nearly at a ninety degree angle from her leg.

“Thanks for your observation.” She tried forcing it back with one hand, starting to get it straight. Jack knelt beside her, swallowing the bile in his throat.

“What can I do to help?”

“Just grab it and twist it back into something that looks normal. I just need my shoe to be parallel with the ground.” Jack reached out, touching the mangled limb gently.

“Please, let me know if I am hurting you.”

“You won’t. It’s just a metal frame.”

“Your foot too, babe?” “I’ve made do without.” She raised her right pants leg a bit, showing off the metal rods that were connected to the shoe. They extended further up her leg, although it was impossible to tell how far up her leg they ran. Jack adjusted the metal so her foot looked normal. She shoved herself up, taking a few experimental steps.

“Yeah, that’s good. Thanks.” They followed her inside, Scaramouche finally taking the lead as he headed down the stairs to the lab.

“Alright, babe. What do you need to get the failsafe out?”

“Relax. Pull up that table and get comfortable. You’re going to be there a while.” Scaramouche rolled the table from the side and moved it to the center of the room, shining his flashlight at the ceiling to make sure he was centered under the light.

“Should I put the fuel in the generator, babe? I’ll get it started.”

“Just lay down.” Scaramouche halted mid-step. Without another word he followed the order. She stepped up to his head, taking his hat off and laying it on the desk.

“I’ll get Jack to help me with the prep. You can just enjoy a long snooze.” She touched her tool to his temple for a few seconds, putting him into stasis.

“What do you need me to do?”

“Nothing right now. I need sleep. As soon as I get a few good hours under my belt, I’ll get started. Here,” she passed him the tool, “If he stirs just touch it to his temple on either side and he’ll be out for another three or four hours. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt him.” She curled back up on the desk, wrapping the blanket around her.

“Don’t wake me unless it’s an emergency.” Jack heard the pill bottle rattle a few times before she went quiet. Jack renewed the stasis three times before Neliah awoke with a groan.

“I needed that. Did you get to sleep any?”

“Yes, a few hours here and there.” Neliah stood and stretched, leaning under the desk to push out the extra fuel cans.

“Let’s get the generator running and shine some light on the matter.” Jack took two of the cans and crossed the short room, pouring the fuel into the tank. Neliah stood at the controls, replicating the actions Scaramouche had taken, receiving an electric hum. The bulbs in the ceiling flickered before finally coming on, bathing the room in a pale yellow glow.

“You don’t have to stay. Personally, I would recommend getting as far away as possible. I can get the failsafe out since I put it in, but I’ve never worked with the coding. I don’t know if I can get him back to the way he was. There’s a good chance he’ll come out exactly the same as you know him, minus the failsafe.” She gathered tools from the desk, Jack offering his hands to carry what she needed as she looked through.

“I will stay. I do not approve of reviving a murderer, but I know you want to honor your promise.” He took the tools and laid them out on the table Scaramouche was on.

“It’s nice to see someone understands my dilemma, too. Thanks, but I think you should still leave before the full reboot and restart. You’re the only one that can stop Aku. There’s not much more I can do to help your cause.” She touched her specialty tool to Scaramouche’s temple once more to insure he was in stasis. From the new selection, she found a tool to start removing the plates on his head.

“You could come with me. I will make an exception for him if you can remove the assassination coding.”

“I know he won’t want to, if all goes well. He probably just wants to do something simple, perhaps performing. I’d go, but I’ll just be deadweight.”

“What will you do?”

“You know, I haven’t really thought that far. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d make it this far.” She had the plates removed from the top of Scaramouche’s head. Turning her head up to the low ceiling, she let out a sigh.

“The fun begins.” Jack watched, assisting where he could. Neliah was lost in concentration for most of the day. She had become quite adept with one hand, as far as Jack could tell, carefully rearranging wires and removing tiny parts of hardware that would be lost lest someone breathe too heavily.

“Alright.” Jack jumped, having been dozing in the silence. Neliah only chuckled, which morphed into a dry hack at the lack of sustenance. “Going for the reboot. Should be about three hours. Care to share one last meal with me?”

“The offer is still available,” Jack reminded her.

“I’m going to politely decline. We’ve already slowed you down. If I’ve managed to get rid of the assassination code, I’ll get him back to civilization so he can at least talk to someone. I’m sure I’ll find a small repair shop or something that will take me.” Now able to see, they looked through the cans Scaramouche had originally found, finding one more that Neliah deemed edible. She popped the lid off, pulling out a six inch slab of meat about an inch squared.

“What is this?” Jack asked as she tilted her head up and ate it.

“Canned food is a lot better if you just don’t ask questions.” Jack pulled one out, studying it for a moment. It had scales, and looked similar to a fish. A small bite assaulted his mouth with a sweet earthy tone flavor. He took another, the two finishing the can in a few minutes.

“That was good! I am curious to know what it was.” Neliah let out a small chuckle.

“Lung of toladipus.”

“He’s at 95%. You need to get out of here.”

“Will you be alright?”

“Sure, I’ll be fine. There’s really only a few scenarios. One, he wakes up and he’s no longer an assassin. Two, he still thinks he’s an assassin, but I shoot him in the knee, knock him out, and try again. Or three, he kills me.” Jack hated the odds, but bid her farewell and good luck. He climbed the stairs, silently moving to the opposite side of the top stair when he reached the ground level and laying flat on the ground. He drew his gun, ready should Neliah’s handiwork fail. All was silent for what felt like an eternity.

There were several small metallic clangs that sounded like the tools falling, followed by a larger thud and a robotic noise of confusion.

“Babe?” Jack sighed, allowing a smile to cross his face.

“I’m here. How are you?” Neliah’s voice shared the same glimmer of hope.

“I feel like my head’s been put through the compacter, babe. It’s fading though and … there’s nothing else there. Feelin’ a little empty, babe.” There was a long pause. “But in a good way! It’s just me, babe, if that makes any sense.” Neliah responded, but Jack could not make out the words. Scaramouche’s voice dropped the next time he spoke, the entire conversation reverting to indecipherable words. Jack was about to call down to make the same offer to Scaramouche, but he heard one last phrase. The words were in French, but he picked up the word for ‘love’ before two gun shots rang out.

Jack stifled a gasp so as not to give away his position. He resumed the stance, waiting for the robot to appear. Heart pounding in his ears, it took a while to hear the faint pleas.

“I’m sorry, babe. I’m so sorry.” Jack was not quite sure robots could cry, but he had no other word for the strange noise drifting from the basement lab. He waited nearly ten more minutes before silently making his way around the trap door to the stairs. Peering down, he could see Scaramouche had his back to the stair well. Soundlessly, he descended.

Scaramouche had his arms wrapped around her lifeless body, one holding her head against his chest, the other around her back. Her body had been pulled into his lap, and he rocked them both slowly, apologizing softly. The robot stopped moving when Jack touched the gun to the back of his head.

“You killed her.” A shutter seemed to run through the robot.

“You don’t understand, Sammy baby. She was in so much pain! Do you know how long she’s been suffering, babe?” His question was more of an accusation.

“We could have found her help,” Jack growled, finger twitching on the trigger.

“No, babe. There was no help. She was dying.” He gingerly brushed the hair out of her peaceful face. “No doctor could cure her. Her father tortured her with some sort of chemicals. She survived, but her body is disintegrating. Those pills she was taking … they’re what you give to someone who’s dying to make them comfortable, babe. You don’t just get those prescribed! She had a doctor friend somewhere who must have pitied her. Even if I let her live, she only has enough for one or two more days, then it’s pure agony until we find another place. But for what, babe? She had a few weeks left, at best, she said.”

“Her arm’s gone, half her leg’s gone. You can tell her other leg’s going. She’s lucky she still had full use of one hand, babe! I mean … I’m lucky that …” he trailed off. “Her organs, too. She was falling apart in front of us, lying through her teeth, baby. She … she made sure she had enough pills to operate on me. That ‘morning sickness,’ babe? That was withdrawal when she skipped the second one for a few days. I d-didn’t even see it until … Babe, I just kept making it worse. I couldn’t stop myself! And then … she fixed me.” Jack had lowered his gun, stepping around the robot so he could see him eye to eye. Scaramouche still had his head leaning on the top of hers. Blood covered the robot’s hand on her back.

“Did she ask you to kill her?” Jack’s voice waivered. Scaramouche shook his head.

“I offered, babe. She would never do that to me. She … she said better me than let someone have the s-s-satisfaction.” Scaramouche let out another sob before his eyes flared open, angry.

“She didn’t deserve this! All she ever wanted was to learn and build things. Happy things, babe! Not monsters … like me. She wasn’t like the lot of them. She wanted me to be safe … to be happy … and babe, I could have been. We were going to get away before they reprogrammed me. I wouldn’t have killed, babe, but I could wield a sword. With her sharp shooting, we could have made it. Could have, babe … and I ruined it. They told me they had wronged me, and wanted to make it up. Said they would remove the pain function and wipe my memory of it. Lies, babe. They lied to me! They just reprogrammed me, suppressing the real me with the assassin program. They let me watch as they tortured her, testing all the new chemicals. The assassin loved every minute.” Had Neliah been alive, she might have yelped at the tight squeeze Scaramouche pulled her in.

“They sold me to Aku after a while. Said they didn’t need me anymore, babe. Not long after I left, I heard they had … well, Voltiare isn’t a liar. Sammy, baby, you gotta believe me. She was good! She wouldn’t have done it if there was another choice!” He was sobbing again, rocking gently.

“Come on,” Jack touched his shoulder. “Let’s give her a proper burial.” He nodded, rising slowly, holding Neliah tight. He followed Jack up the stairs and into the night.

“She would have been happier here, babe. She would … She’d have been alive still.” The last half came out bitter. Scaramouche wondered around the lab, finding a location that satisfied him as Jack went in search of a pair of shovels. He returned nearly a half hour later, finding Scaramouche on the back of the lab near a burnt tree. Neliah was still hugged against him. He glanced up when Jack stepped closer, planting a soft kiss on the top of Neliah’s head before he sat her down gently.

They dug without speaking. When the hole was deep enough, Jack climbed out. Scaramouche stood in the pit for a few more moments. He pulled himself out, picking up Neliah, and lowering her into the fresh grave. His metal fingers brushed the hair from her face and smoothed her clothes. Jack was inclined to believe Scaramouche’s story, seeing as Neliah looked peaceful, even in death.

“Would you … like to say any last words?” The robot shook his head. He pushed the first shovelful of dirt back into the hole, then turned and began walking away. Jack smelt the burnt oil as he hurried past, disappearing on the other side of the building.

Jack let a single tear roll down his face as he finished the deed. He whispered a pray over the grave, wiping the dirt from his hands as he went in search of Scaramouche.

The robot had not gone far, sitting on the ground by the front of the lab. The black oil had left new stains on the front of his jacket along with Neliah’s blood. Jack sat down next to him, wrapping an arm around his waist.

“Neliah said you wouldn’t want to, but you are welcome to join me.” Scaramouche let out a hollow laugh.

“She knew me, well babe. Only one who ever did. You know why she had that little tool, babe? She made it for me, after they would experiment on me. Knew I would be better off in stasis on the nights when the pain was too bad.”

“Is there something I can do for you?” Scaramouche just shook his head.

“I have your other sword, if you want it back,” Jack added.

“Keep it, Sammy baby. I won’t need it any more. Take what you want from her bike as well. I’m done, babe.” Jack waited until the sun rose before he stood and spared a last farewell. Scaramouche raised his hand in a single wave as Jack mounted his motorcycle and continued north to whatever fate awaited him.

#Samurai Jack #Scaramouch #Scaramouche #tw: torture #tw: violence #fan fiction

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samuraijackredemptionau · 1 year ago

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Proof is in the pudding lmao

Demongo has baby teef

Just a fact

(Drawing consistantly? Never heard of it.)

#samurai jack #demongo #samurai jack au #samurai jack redemption au #headcanon #shitpost #baby teeth #haha what's consistency #my art

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samuraijackredemptionau · 2 years ago

Photo

Ah, what better way to introduce the visual part of this AU, than with a shit-post! Fr tho, trying very hard to emulate the style rn. Goddamn, rear 3/4 views are STILL hard af to do for me. Based on the part of my theory post that Jack and Aku are half-brothers.

Original art by @colliholly. Gotta love the funky lil trash man!

#samurai jack #samurai jack au #samurai jack redemption au #aku #meme #shitpost #jack has yaoi hand syndrome i stg lmao #lineless is hard but rewarding

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samuraijackredemptionau · 1 year ago

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Aku Color Theory

Aku can mimic human skin colors by using pointillism; placing varying amounts of microscopic green, red and white dots over the entirety of his body.

Up close on a micro scope you could see the illusion, but with the naked eye it creates the optical illusion that he has a human skin color. Use black instead of white for a darker skin color, or use both white and black for a medium effect.

He could do this with other colors do, such as pairing red dots with white dots to appear pink, white and black for grey, etc.

#samurai jack #samurai jack au #samurai jack redemption au #aku #headcanon #theory #color theory #pointillism

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samuraijackredemptionau · 1 year ago

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Jack and Demongo both have NO ASS, and really big chins twins fr

#samurai jack #demongo #samurai jack au #samurai jack redemption au #shitpost

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samuraijackredemptionau · 1 year ago

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This ship is NOT canon to the AU! The AU relies too heavily on the "half-brother theory" for the ship to work.

But I love this ship too much, so I had to do something with it for pride month.

(APD stands for Aku Police Department)

#samurai jack #demongo #samurai jack au #barbie 2023 #barbie meme #barbie and ken #pride month #jamongo #samurai jack redemption au

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samuraijackredemptionau · 2 years ago

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My Samurai Jack Theories (perfect for the AU)

(Points in time for reference)

Big bang - 13.8 billion years ago Aku's accidental extinction of the dinosaurs - about 65 million years ago When Aku gained sentience - 1603-1867 (We'll say roughly 1700 because it's not specified) How long he was trapped in a tree - 8 years after sentience Time period of the future - 4700

Sources: Google and this video as reference

•What if Aku isn't evil, but just heavily misguided, and ill-informed?

•Good and evil, right and wrong, morals in general, and even time are just social constructs, and completely subjective. You'll never find two people with the exact same moral standings in the universe. So, If Aku was "pure evil", he'd have to be made out of every persons subjective definition of "evil", including all of the conflicting definitions. Aku would've devolved into a black hole by now and swallowed up the whole universe. But he hasn't, so he isn't.

• Aku has existed since shortly after the "Big Bang" (give or take like five minutes as shown in "The Birth of Evil" episode). Aka the creation of the universe. He popped into existence as a shapeless, formless entity. So his creation was not directly caused by the "Big Bang", as he was not created at the same time it happened. Instead he appeared moments after the fact. I think there's a possibility that something greater created Aku, and sent him into the world for some purpose. Purposefully right after the big bang. His creator, parental figure (from a human standpoint) or his God, if you will.

• Who is to say the three gods (Ra, Odin, and Rama) truly know if Aku is "evil" or not? They don't, they just saw something they don't understand, and called it evil because it was different. Humans/mortals use words like "demon", "evil", "monster", and "magic" to describe things that they don't understand. The god's seem to be no different from the humans they've modeled after themselves, in this case.

In "The Birth of Evil" episode, they too refer Aku as a being of "pure evil". Because they don't know what Aku is, never seen anything like him before, he COULD'VE done something to harm them or the universe. So, they decided they had to strike first before Aku did. Such broken logic, because you could say that about ANY new person you meet. That doesn't mean you have to punch every stranger you come into contact with, right on the spot!

"DIFFERENT MEANS EVIL!", they said.

I think this song explains this point pretty well.

• No one, not even Aku is sure of what he is exactly. To Aku's knowledge, he is the only being like him in the whole universe. Something, someone, entirely new. He's never even thought of the possibility that he might have a creator (other than the Emperor), let alone seek them out.

Every being Aku has come into contact with has deemed him "evil", before they even got to know him;

The 3 gods; Ra, Odin, and Rama (When Aku was still a non-sentient being).

The Emperor right after he, albeit accidentally, gave Aku sentience.

And even Jack.

• Aku was never given the chance to choose and forge his own destiny. Much like jack, Aku's destiny was predetermined for him. Aku's destiny to be "evil", given by the gods and the first mortal he ever met (Emperor). That he was meant to just be this big, dark entity that could do nothing but be evil, Like it was all he was, and would ever be.

While Jack's destiny was to destroy Aku, a destiny he inherited from his father, and his father got from the Gods. Jack's father got to live out and forge most of his own destiny before he "had" to fight Aku, at least. Jack never got that chance. That choice to choose and forge his very own destiny, just like Aku. He was instead forced to leave his home, to train for 17 years, for a fight he never had a say in.

The emperor only got the order to kill Aku because the God's were too lazy to finish the job that they started. If they really thought Aku was the great threat that they like to say he is, then they would've went down to earth and destroyed Aku the moment they found out that he was still alive. But they didn't, because they don't. They like to think of it as a game, I believe. They don't respect the mortals, they see them as lesser beings that they can do with whatever they please. Odin in particular is a good example of that, based on his lore (which is very well explored upon in God of War Ragnarok).

They're just bored as hell, and wanted something to play with, to pass the time. That thing being both Aku and Jack's whole fucking bloodline, with no care to how it would effect them. Oh no, the Gods could never be asked to care about mortals, ThEy'Re ToO GoOd FoR tHaT~.

So, because of the ill-informed decisions of the Gods, the misinformation that Aku is "pure evil" spread to the mortals. So, when the emperor told the very freshly-sentient, and impressionable Aku that he is evil and should be destroyed, he took that to heart. His non-sentient form retained the words from the God's telling him that he is "pure evil", so when he heard it from the Emperor as a sentient being it just reinforced the notion that "being evil" is what he's truly meant to be, which it's not.

So of course Aku began acting evil, if you call and treat someone like a monster, they're gonna eventually act like one too! He's a versatile stew of possibilities! How dare the God's limit him to being one thing because of their own fucked up prejudice?!

This does not excuse all of the bad things Aku did, of course. He has become "evil" overtime, after playing the "evil villain" card for so long he's become so detached from emotions and morals. In fact, he's done many MANY inexcusable and unforgivable things in the past 3100 years (between the 1700 Edo period and future year of 4700), but it gives a good reason for why it happened the way it did.

• No one knows what Aku is, Aku doesn't even know what he is. But I know what he can do. He can change. He can make things right. He doesn't just have destructive powers, he's shown to have both constructive, and resurrection powers as well. He doesn't use them often, but they're there. In the "Jack and the Zombies" episode, Aku has shown that he can resurrect the dead...mostly. Also, in season five, he completely reconstructed Scaramoche. Proof of his constructive powers, a power that is stereotypically a "good" power to have. He could theoretically undo all of the deaths and genocide that he's committed, if he continued testing the limits of his constructive and resurrection powers. He could be able to rebuild all of the destroyed cities and homes of his past victims, and even fully restore the bodies/lives of the victims he killed! The souls would be lead back to the proper bodies (don't think about how traumatizing it'd be to have been ripped from your ancestors in the afterlife to live again in the span of a few seconds).

The mental scars would still be there from their pasts with Aku, but they'd be alive again, at least. This wouldn't automatically make Aku a hero or forgiven of all past transgressions, obviously. It would be the equivalent of a child cleaning up their own mess that they've made, seems obvious to do so right? But how many villains can you say have done at least THAT much? Not many. Aku would definitely be doing a lot better than many other villains out there.

• If Aku was told by an outside source that he could forge his own destiny instead of following one that someone else had decided for him, and all of the reasons/evidence that he's not what everyone said he is, he could be who he really is. Not this "evil" facade that he felt like he has to be, that he felt like was all he was. Perhaps it could be Jack? Or maybe even another part of himself that could gain the enlightenment of these theories, like Demongo!

• Aku struggles with complex emotions and morals. Yes, he has the basic "human" emotions down, such as; happiness, anger, sad, and bored etc. We see him expressing these basic emotions throughout the entire series. Though, he doesn't seem to grasp the more complex "human" emotions, like; love (in all of it's forms), and what it is to care. These are just nearly, if not completely, lost on him.

There are fleeting moments where he seems to have a smidgen of care for someone. As seen in season five when Jack get's very angry as the last time portal is destroyed, Aku warns jack to be careful, as excessive anger can lead to a heart attack. But the feeling leaves as quickly as it arrives. He won't allow himself to feel the stronger emotions, most likely because he doesn't understand them (and that he thinks an "evil" being shouldn't feel those kind of emotions). Morals are just nearly, if not completely lost on him as well. I can't think of a single moment where he had any sense of morals. Which would make sense, he was never taught to have morals. Never taught what should be "right" and "wrong". So, of course he'd have no understanding of what morals are, or even should be.

• Aku isn't using shapeshifting to it's full potential. Yes he has his animal-like forms, his humanoid forms, and even changes specific parts of his body into tools or objects to fit his needs. With shapeshifting, you can transform into anything and anyone (both real and fiction). But, the part that everyone always forgets about shapeshifting is that you can be anyone and anything that's NEVER existed before. That will never exist, only in the machinations of the mind. His imagination is his only limit. In theory, based on what we've seen from the "Jack and the Zombies" episode, Aku could very easily kill Jack with his shape-shifting powers alone.

• Aku pulls his punches in every fight with Jack. Except for the "Jack and the Zombies" episode, where we get a good taste of Aku's true power. He pulls punches because he has fun fighting (or sparring in Aku's pov) with Jack, and also partly because he fears the power of the sword (because it is literally a sliver of the gods, the only beings in the universe who can harm/kill Aku). The only thing stronger than Aku is the gods themselves.

He bares the weight of ruling an entire world on his shoulders every day of the week, not to mention trades and other negotiations between other planets. Except for one day a week, or at least bi-weekly, he takes a day off to "fight" with Jack. His only source of true fun throughout the work week. So of course he pulls punches, he draws it out so the fun doesn't have to end. He admits that Jack is a "formidable foe". But even with the sword, Jack is still only human. Just a mortal. No matter how strong or skilled Jack is, he still suffers from the human condition of dying very easily (because us humans have so many "instant kill spots" on our bodies). To ensure that the "closest-thing-to-an-equal-sparring-partner" Aku has, doesn't die, he has to pull punches. Harming Jack just enough so that he can never completely win against Aku, but won't die against Aku either.

There are times where Jack nearly wins fair-and-square against Aku, when he truly catches Aku by surprise. In episode 1 Aku didn't expect to ever see the sword again, so he didn't prepare accordingly for that fight and nearly died because of it. Another example would be in the "Jack and the Gangsters" episode. Aku didn't expect Jack to be with the Mafia boys when they were delivering the sapphire. So, yet again, Aku didn't have time to prepare properly for the fight with the sword and nearly died again. (Thanks to my friend for pointing out the surprise factor in their fights! They don't have a Tumblr so I can't link 'em.)

• Aku likes animals, or prefers creatures that are non-sentient at least. Based on the "Jack and the Warrior Woman" episode, and the "Jack and the Swamp Wizard" episode. Aku seems very relaxed, and even kind/docile towards animals, as he happily mimics a large snakes tongue flecks. Evidently, throughout the series, he seems to leave most wildlife/nature alone. Many forests and jungles still stand in Aku's future, barely touched, where in our world we barely have any left. It would seem that Aku does not bother these animals/creatures for the most part, because they bare no threat or harm to him (seeing as they aren't sentient). He seems to know a bit about the wildlife that inhabits earth as well, evidenced again in "Jack and the Warrior Woman".

• Jack's real name is most likely Shinichi. In "The Birth of Evil" episode we see a rooster on a leash, who's owner has evidently named Shinichi (as he calls out to the chicken multiple times with this name). This rooster lives in Jack's homeland, fallen into the same puddle of Aku before he became sentient. This is the only time in the entire show that we ever hear a male Japanese name being said. What's more, there's an entire episode dedicated to Jack being turned into a rooster, "Chicken Jack". Coincidence? I think NOT! The name of the episode alone could be a hint that the roosters name from "The Birth of Evil", and Jack's name are one in the same! "Chicken Jack". Chicken = Jack. Think about it~.

• Aku and his minions from the "Pit of Hate" are essentially one in the same. The "Pit of Hate" is just the residual puddle of Aku from "The Birth of Evil" episode. When Aku took his new form when he gained sentience, there was still some of him left over in that hole. He later named it the "Pit of Hate". He has complete control over the puddle of himself, evidenced in the episode itself.

Yes, we know that the puddle is leftovers of himself, but why didn't all of him form as one being when he got sentience? Why was some leftover? Did he subconsciously know he would need more of himself at a later point? Or is it a sort of instinctual defense mechanism? If the main Aku is destroyed, the pit of himself would still be there. He could reform from that puddle of himself, in that case.

As for his minions, not the robots or any of the hired people, the one's that were created from the "Pit of Hate" are literally just diluted versions of himself. Take Demongo for example, he has some of the same powers that Aku has; he's able to shoot beams of power/lightning from his hands, can levitate at will, and can resurrect the dead (when jack frees all of the warriors essence/souls they are shown to be completely restored and alive again). He even has a similar, if not the same, personality to Aku. Wanting to become more powerful and have complete control over others.

The minions are made of the same source material as Aku, again since the "Pit of Hate" is him. Of course his minions wouldn't have all of his same powers, what ruler would want their minions to be just as strong as they are? It would give them a chance to rise up against him, and Aku doesn't want that, he likes to be seen as the most powerful being. As shown in nearly the entire show.

• Technically speaking, Jack and Aku are half brothers. (as well as the "Pit of Hate" minions, because Aku and them are one in the same.) Aku possibly has a creator, based on the fact that the time of his creation and the "Big Bang" are not 1:1. He was created like five minutes after the fact, while everything else was created at the same time. coincidence? I think NOT! not to mention this creator made Aku non-sentient, for some reason.

Jack's father (the Emperor) gave Aku sentience, albeit accidentally, when plunging the poison tipped, sun flamed arrow into the Primordial Ak-ooze(tm). Aka the puddle of Aku we see in "The Birth of Evil" episode. Accidental or not, this still makes the Emperor partially responsible for creating Aku, other than Aku's unknown creator of course. The Emperor gave Aku a higher state of living/being that he could not have otherwise had without the Emperor's help. It could be seen the same way as having an "accident child". accident or not Aku is still technically the Emperor's son (from a mortal standpoint). Not by blood, but by the principle of what makes a parent/creator.

So, again not by blood but by technicality and principle, that would make Jack and Aku half brothers. Both Jack and Aku were made by the Emperor, but they both have different "mothers". (quotations because we don't know the gender of Aku's god, if they even have one.)

• From a human/mortal standpoint, you could say that Aku's "Pit of Hate" minions are Aku's family. His siblings, more specifically, because they're all made of the same material. I say siblings, and not his children, because children would mean that the minions are half of him and half of someone else (like the seven daughters of the priestess from season 5, for example. Those are his true children). Though Aku hasn't shown to acknowledge this familial standpoint between him and his minions, it's nice to think that's essentially what they are. Identical siblings as well, when you remember that the minions are just him.

•Aku might be able to subconsciously hear and feel all of his "Pit of Hate" minions thoughts and feelings. Considering that they're all the same person, it would make sense that the main source material (Aku) would be able to do so. I think he just pushes it all to the back of his mind though, especially any conflicting viewpoints from other parts of himself that he doesn't like (aka minions that aren't visibly as hostile as he is towards mortals).

And that's it! I'll update this post if more theories arise, or if I need to add/change words on existing pieces of this post.

I've recently found out that @jaku-the-askblog had a post with very similar theories to mine. I've followed her for a few years, but hadn't read her theory post until very recently! Thanks to her posts layout, I was able to format my theories into something visually digestible, rather than a large wall of text lmao. I also used one of her images from her post because I LITERALLY could not find anything else that fit.

Check out her theory post here. She has great stuff on her ask blog! Her main blog @abby-something is great too!

It sucks though, she made that theory post SIX years ago, and her last post on the blog was 3 years ago. Talk about being late to a theory party, I really wanted us to bounce theories off of each other~ TT_TT

#samurai jack #aku #headcanon #theory #theories #samurai jack au #samurai jack redemption au #god these theories have been knocking around in my head for like 2-3 months now.#wow this took so long to put together #my mind is so broken ahhh

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