Ch7 Unexpected Allies
Jen woke up. Then looked round him he was back in bed in his bedroom. He sat up. Moms was sitting by his bed.
“Hi Jen,” said Moms a sad smile on her face. Jen spoke up. As he looked around, Jen was getting a terrible sense of daja vu.
“What happened?” Jen asked. Moms smiled.
“You saved two kids lives from a fire,” Moms went on. “Don’t worry Jen – they’re OK – burned, but -- OK. You on the other hand are in rough shape. You hit your head rather badly, you got a mild concussion on top of the burns you received.” Jen pushed past his uncooperative teeth.
“How did you find me?” He asked
“Well, I was finishing up the potatoes when I saw J.Bot running, bolting out of the house. I put my knife in my belt and ran after him. I took a wild guess that you were in some trouble, that J.Bot was alerted by your watch. I used my phone to get ahold of Dads to follow me. When we got there the shed was in flames. J.Bot with my and Dads help got you out. we brought you back and put you in bed. Jenny’s making a fuss about having to do your work as well as hers and taking care of the kids on top of it.”
“I’m not surprised. Tell her that she’ll soon have an army of darkness that she can teach to do evil .” laughed Jen.
“Well, here.” Moms handed Jen some pills and water. “Well, Jen I’m glad you’re feeling better . I have things to do so get some sleep I’ll be back later -- but is there anything I can get you?”
“No thanks moms I’m just going to sleep.” Later Jen woke to check on the kids and do what he could.
Over the next few weeks the kids were getting better. Jen did what he could on the farm then on the way back to the house he walked into the dining room to find the whole family sitting. The family was hugging and crying. Jen looked at them Paused. Jen said. “Who…” then realized “died?” Jen ran up the stares dawn the hall to the bedroom door. Jen looked at the bed.
Jen snapped awake. With a start he had his gun out he scanned the room it was just a nightmare. He holstered his pistol and put his belt on. It seemed that he had been sleeping. He looked around for a clock and he couldn't see one, so he checked his music player’s clock. It had been a half hour since Jerra had walked off to the bathroom.
Jen got to his feet and walked slowly around the apartment. The bathroom door was ajar. He slowly pushed it open then his eyes opened. Jerra was sitting on the toilet head bowed, a hypo injector in her hand.
Jen kneeled by Jerra to inspect her. It looked like rigor mortis had set in but oddly quickly.
Jen knew that rigor mortis was caused by a chemical change in the muscles after death, causing the limbs of the body to become stiff and difficult to move. The thing was, it usually sets in about 3-4 hours after time of death. As Jen thought this over, he picked up the hypo. It smelled like diavileen. The only thing that puzzled him was diavileen. Was not a base narcotic? . It was an actual med but it was one that the empire did not allow to be used or sold. It had some hallucinogenic affects about as much as eating a little too much horseradish all at once. It also took a lot to OD on it…like trying to OD on pot. Maybe it was a different med. He put the hypo in her lap, said a few words then walked out of the bathroom. Jen shook his head. He didn't blame Mark for her death -- it wasn’t his fault she died. Jen went to get his pack, thinking why do people poison themselves like that? Life is so fleeting already.
Suddenly, the door opened catching Jen off guard. Tim O'Hara walked in, and then glanced at Jen wide-eyed . Jen grabbed his revolver from his belt Jen had his gun trained on Tim.
Jen said, “Hands above your head and keep them where I can see!” Tim put his hands up in an “I surrender” gesture. With his gun still trained on Tim. Jen patted him for weaponry. He came up empty. Jen checked again--came up empty again. “All right”, said Tim, stepping back. “What are you here for, Tim?” Jen asked.
Tim spoke up in a surprised voice.
“Oh, so you have heard of me.” And with a happy smile, he lowered his hands and stepped forward to shake Jen’s hand. Jen yelled, “Hands up, keep the foda away!”
“Well, guess what? I come in peace.” As he said this, he did a Vulcan salute with both hands. “Live long and prosper, man. Anyway, I was going to ask you the same thing, youngling.” Jen pulled the safety off. Tim tensed “Just visiting a friend. Man, What did I ever do to… Tim paused “hey, wait a minute! You're that boy from a day ago what was it Tim looked at the floor pursed his lips Its on the tip of my tongue what was it? Andy…angry… oh that’s Wright. Honjen. Tim smiled yes that’s write! Oh by the way Sorry about hurting you, last night mate.”
Jen stepped back to sit down on the couch but kept his eyes--and gun--trained on Tim.
“Shut up and I'm not your mate.”
You sold the medicine to that piece of gos se!” Tim replied, “I'm not fond of him myself but pretty harsh words, you know.
But why such a hard rap?”
“He tried to rape her,” said Jen.
“Where’s Jerra?” said Tim, with a tang of fear in his voice.
“She's dead—and do you know who’s fault that is?” Tim’s eyebrows went up “I don’t know…yours?” “No yours!" "She died because of you!” exclaimed Jen. “The medicine she got from your man killed her. She OD’d! She's…dead in the bathroom.”
Jen glowered “She's dead because of you. Tim, you fought for independence. You have turned.” Tim frowned.
“Lets skip the part about the connection between fighting to keep my home and go straight to the part about selling medicine. I sell things that the empire does not want the population to have. Air in a can for instance. Air in a can has gases that can make you stoned. Yet it is very useful for cleaning computers. Jen interrupted
“That dos not matter!”
Tim rolled his eyes and ended with a bland expression.
“You still killed her.” Repeated Jen. Tim seemed to relax.
“So she's dead, is she? Well she looks pretty lively for a dead girl then.” Tim said, moving his head to look over Jen’s shoulder.
“Geez, is that pedantic or what? I would say nice try, but do you think I'm a complete back birth? That's the oldest trick in the book. “ Snapped Jen.
“yup… And don't I know it!” said Tim.
“But it still stands, Jen.” A female voice came from behind him. “Tim is not lying”
“Hi, Tim. I see you’ve met Jen.” The voice wasn’t squeaky anymore. Jen turned his head and his mouth dropped open. Jen brought the gun up to Tim’s head and screamed, “Jerra, get out of here! I’ll hold him back—I’ll catch up!” “
“No need,” came the reply.
Jen’s head turned. “He’ll kill you if you stay!”
“No, he won’t…” Jerra went to the fridge then came back with two beers. She underhanded one to Tim, who caught it and popped the top with his right hand.
Jen’s brows furrowed as Tim sat down on the couch, putting his feet on top of the coffee table. Jerra went over, pushed his boots off the table and sat down beside Tim. She tried to open the beer without success, and then handed it to Tim. Tim popped the top and gave it back.
“So, Tim,” she asked, “how was the trade?”
“It went well,” Tim replied, “although I think mark is getting a little overconfident. He threatened to get the goods directly from Vladimir. --Which he can do. What about you?”
Oh, I was there and I agree I think that mark is getting a bit high in the head. I think it’s time to get another buyer.”
“Yes, I heard.” Tim replied. “I’ll have to find a better middleman to sell to…”
Not understanding, Jen yelled, “Will someone tell me what the Govno is going on? I want some answers!”
Tim didn't even look up from Jerra.
“…To what I saw he had some good muscle. How did you get away? “The normal way by gift of superior effort I extricated my self.” Tim smiled. You’re amazing--and that's why I hired you. By the way, what's up with the kid? He a friend of yours?”
“No,” replied Jerra. “Why? Do you know him?”
“Just a bit…” said Tim, “but that's beside the point. Why is he here?”
“Well, Tim…he got in the way of the job, like he knew what was going down. I wanted to find out who he was and what he was doing here. From what I understand, he thought that you and the boys are criminals.”
“Obviously,” said Tim. “As they say, one man’s enemy is another man’s freedom fighter--so in that, he would be right.”
Jerra gave a “come on” expression. “Tim, you know what I mean.
“Yes, and I know what you mean. Did he tell you anything else?” Tim asked.
“Yes,” answered Jerra. “Because of the fire back at old Charlie’s mansion, he doesn’t have a home anymore.” Tim frowned.
“I don't remember twitchy finger potty mouth over there from Charlie’s place the only ones I remember war the boy and girl Tim posed…then under standing came over his face. “Oh, I get it! Ouch!” I mean…Ouch!”
Jen lowered his gun and put it back in its holster, feeling rather stupid. “Before you get back into your conversation,” Jen asked, “I'd like to know what's happening. Please.” Tim and Jerra stopped talking and turned to look at him.
“Ask away.”
Jen paused. “What just happened?” he asked.
“I'm a smuggler.” Tim replied. “I bring medicine, food and…comfort that the Empire won’t.”
“Yes I guessed that.” Said Jen exasperated. Jerra looked at Jen.
“You want us to answer your questions.”
“Sorry,” said Jen.
“….And I'm an independent contractor.” Jerra added. “I'm a spy. I make sure that the people who buy the drugs will treat their customers with respect.”
“What about the drugs you sell?” Jen continued.
“Mine are mainly the same as yours.” Tim answered. “I do smuggle narcotics but most of the time, it’s actual meds. Jerra was born on another planet. Each planet is different then others some have lower gravity some have nutrients that others don’t. So the air and water has nutrients that Io doesn't have, and this—. “He held up a pack. “--is concentrated diavileen.”
“I still don't understand.” Jen muttered.
Tim closed his hands. “OK, how about this. Are you familiar with Vlad Dracul….Dracula?”
“No, I'm afraid not,” said Jen.
Tim’s brow furrowed as he continued, “Um…on Old Earth, he got the reputation of a blood-sucking fiend. As the story went, he needed blood to keep his flesh whole--that's not the whole story, but you get the drift. “You mean it erupted Pernicious anemia due to vidimen B12 deficiency.” Said Jen.
“Right. A diferent disorder, but if she doesn’t keep up on the right meds, her skin will become…distorted. I don't know about you, but I wonder why the Empire would want to mess up a pretty face like this. He tenderly pinched Jerra’s cheek. “Anything else you want to ask?”
“Only one,” Jen said. “Why were you not scared of me shooting you, earlier, Tim?”
Tim smiled. “Why don't you find out? Try it.”
Jen took his gun out of his belt and pointed it at Tim. “Are you sure about this?”
“Try it.”
“OK,” Jen said, uneasily. At the last second, he changed his aim. Jerra winced as Jen shot the floor—and suddenly felt a charge of electricity surge through him. Vertigo clutched him as he collapsed. Jen woke up to find water up his nose and someone slapping his gorram face..!
“I'm awake, Tim!” he splutted. “Knock it off! Why didn't you tell me?” Tim stood up and plopped down on the couch as Jen got into an upright position. Jerra had her hand on her face and was shaking her head.
“So…anything else you want to know?” Tim asked
“What about if you can take Jerra out on a date?” Jen blushed, and then fainted again. When he came to, he said, “Tim, knock it off--and don't do that again!” Jen got to his feet and took out a flask from his pack. After he took a drink to steady his nerves, he muttered, “So…a force field and taser field, right?”
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Tim Jerra and Jen turned an angry voice say. Well get the door dawn. Jen recognized the voice. “But its locked.” another voice said “well then use your head!” There was the sound of soft hed hitting the hard door. A wale of pane the door gave and a big goon fell in thru the open door flat on the floor. The men from the abandoned office came through the door—Mark and his prods. Mark smiled. “Well. Well. Well. Isn’t this a nice surprise.” “I came for one and found three!” he exclaimed. “So, you've been conspiring with these people! I'm here for my pay--and as a bonus, a double crossing snake!”
This time mark had a mechanical eye. It seems that Jens knife had caused optical damage
Mark took his Glock out and aimed it at Tim.
“You all know what I’m going to do thigh the question is how.” he laughed evilly. “All have you dieing for a year. Dogs on earth are going to hear you scream
Fist I’m going to…”
Tim interrupted yes yes your going to make us watch the its alive marathon
“Mark we have a little business with these guys, so you can wait.” I’m busy
Mark was taken aback he froze shocked at the thought that some one would tock back to him. Mark glowered burning with anger.
Jen said, “Nice Eye were did you get it?”
“I’ll kill you for that!” snapped Mark. “Jen,” Tim answered, “I'm trying to do business here. Please don't make him angry…”
Sorry Tim.
Mark lifted his sidearm to shoot Jen. As he raised his palm, Jen said, “I would not do that if I were you.” Mark fired--and Jen yelled out zamok hariku As Mark dropped to the floor, the thugs watched him fall…then stared at Jen. Mark’s prods stiffened and looked at Jen’s dark gaze. A half-smile drifted to his face as he opened his palm, revealing a bullet. As he showed it to the goons, he said, “If you want to stay alive, then leave--or suffer the fate of your leader.”
Two of the men ran out the door just before the two remaining men looked at each other and fainted.
Jen doubled over in laughter. “Jeezum-pete, how stupid can they be?
Well…what next, Tim?”
Tim looked at Jen. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Jen looked at Tim confused then smiled. “Maybe. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Jerra looked at the two. “It’s not likely that they’re allergic to sulfa drugs and theirs an anti-toxin in this one.”
Tim looked at Jerra. “What color will it turn them?”
“What color do you want?” Then Tim started singing. “Its not easy being
green!” Jerra took the hypo injector and exchanged the chamber and piped up . spending each day the culor of the leafs and she started humming the rest
Tim with a impish glee went over to mark and pulled down Mark’s trousers.
Just before Jerra prepared the sulfa drug. “Black in the syringe, but green in the body, love these medically repurposed dyes!”
Tim said “Ok Marky show me some frogs legs.”
“Well, they are better off than Kermit.”
Tim went in to the voice of a little green pointy eared Gnome
“Yes hand up your ass you would like not hnmmmm!”
Jerra removed the injector.
“im that’s Yoda.”
They repeated the proscess with the other two.
“Well…what next, Tim?”
“I think we should vacate the place before they wake up, “Tim replied. “Jen, are you coming with?”
“If that's all right with you...?” Tim nodded. Jen picked up his pack and grabbed all the food they had in the fridge. Tim had a beat-up hover car and Jen added his pack to the bike’s trunk.
Jen followed Tim out of the town to a new camp, but he didn't get a very cordial welcome, which was to be expected. In time, the Yojimbos warmed up to Jen, except for one man who always kept a hand on the butt of his gun.
It was the man he had thrown the soup onto last night. He met the Yojimbos almost all said hello back except Kai.
When Jen said hello to Kai, he just frowned and spat his chewing tobacco onto the ground as a reply. Then started to course under his berth in japans. Red marks covered by honey on his neck and chin were the soup had scalded him he also had a bandage on his arm were most of the soup went which most likely had the same treatment. Jen decided to leave Kai alone. He talked to all of the Yojimbos. There were about thirty in all. After general conversation, he took a walk around--he spied Tim, who was sitting under the stars.
Jen went over to sit down beside Tim. “So, nice night. Quiet.” said Jen Tim replied I would regale you with a tale of the time I went to earth and stood outside to look at the stars and that the lights war to bright and the smog so thick that you couldn’t see them. but you’d know I’d be lying.
“Yes.” said Jen besides from the fact that earth has had no atmosphere for about for hundred years.”
“I thin stuff vacuum” Jen smiled “yes low vitamin content.” Said Jen. Tim laughed.
“Tim, do you have any family?”
“Yes, of course I do” Tim replied. “All the Yojimbos are my family.”
“Tim You know what I mean.”
Jen gave a rather good impression of Jerras earlier expression “Tim you know what I meant.”
“Well I still have a brother. My brother lives back earth side. I'm pretty share he's still alive I haven't seen his death on the waves. I’d know if he died. He’s all the biological family I have left that I know of.”
“What about you, Jen?”
“I had my step mom and step dad. I never knew my father--my father died in the war and my mother remarried. And when I was 7, she left.”
“Why did she leave?” asked Tim.
“She got into an argument. I honestly can’t remember why she left. I stayed with my stepfather and his daughter. Dads married again--she was nice. When I was young, she gave me a robot playmate that she had built. She was a master of robotics; she had her own company. Triple Moon Robotics, which expanded into Triple Moon Supplements, but anyways…the odd thing about it was that only J. Bot, my toy robot, ever had problems.”
“Problems? Like what?”
“He’d get what I call the C3PO glitch,” replied Jen.
“What does that mean?”
“He’d start talking like a blasted robot from the old sci-fi movies and whenever I tried to fix J. Bot, it didn’t work. He still has the glitch. said Jen
Tim, took out his pipe and packed it full of pipe weed from a little leather pouch. After he lit it with a wooden match, he took a few long pulls on the pipe…then saw Jen looking at him. “Oh, have I forgot my manners? I'm sorry.” Tim said, as he offered the pipe to Jen.
“No thanks, I don't smoke,” said Jen.
“Suit yourself.“ Tim took another pull on the pipe. “Are you sure? It’s not very strong, said Tim as he proffered it to Jen.
“Oh, all right,” Jen relented as he took the pipe. When he inhaled, he expected smoke--but what he got was steam! the steam buried in to his lungs like stepping in to a steam room his eyebrows went up and the hair on his arms stud up. Jen took another hit then handed it back as something took effect. Everything seemed to slow down and the things in his life seemed less urgent. He felt both calmer and clearer. As Tim took another toke, he smiled.
“Tim! Tim!” exclaimed Jen.
“…Yes?”
“Tim, before I join the Yojimbos, I’d like to know a few things! What were you doing stealing in my father’s field?”
“I wasn't stealing! We paid for the corn we took a few days before.”
“What were you doing at the house?”
“It was burning—we were checking for survivors. We didn't find anyone, so we went away.
Why?” “There were two kids in the house!” Said Jen “They accused me of killing their parents, so I had to leave my own home…a little sooner than I wanted to.” “Why war you living.” said tim. I was going to escape the draft and move around. They can't draft you if they can't find you, right?”
“I understand completely,” replied Tim. “I volunteered so that you and all the rest of the world wouldn’t have to…but as you can see, it didn't work out so well. But, I was doing something that I believed in--not because the government wanted me to. I fought so the I and the world wold be free to take any narcotic I like, to wield any weapon I like, governments only muck up the works
I'm still fighting. I'm not going to give up and my life has been harder for it. Some people say that uniting everyone under a single banner will eliminate the need for war? Hogwash! That’s called a single party government, fascism. I’d rather fight to be my own master that is what I strive for. Even if that meant I had to buy my own ammo and weaponry, the local people would give us food and ammo. Sometimes they would give us lodging, just like the Mongols. When they conquered most of the world they brought lower taxes and better healthcare. If the local people don't want you there, they will strike back with anything they can muster. Jen replied, “So they’d reply this is my land I know its unfertile marsh land but its mine. I have a large attraction to it so can take it from my and my family’s cold dead fingers.”Tim nodded “well close enough more like they burn the fields and then sow the field with salt to turn it to sterol ground. Leaving nothing to there invaders. That’s the big factor that decides who will win the war. But I think wear off track.
You asked who are the Yojimbos modeled after.
Very well. Have you ever heard of William Wallace?”
“I can’t say I have.”
“William Wallace was a Scottish rebel who led an uprising against Edward Longshanks…but I'm getting ahead of myself. When William Wallace was a young boy, his father and brother, along with many others, lost their lives trying to free Scotland. Once he lost another of his loved ones, William Wallace began his long quest to make Scotland free once and for all, along with the assistance of Robert the Bruce. William Wallace began to be a thorn in Edward’s side. I try to be the same as Wallace and I also borrow from the Ryu.
“Ryu?” Jen looked perplexed. “What are Ryu?”
“You might know them as ninjas.”
“Ninjas?” Jen huffed. “You mean the old assassins from samurai movies?”
“That's a misconception,” replied Tim. “Ninjas weren’t assassins. They were, for a lack of a better word, They were farmers with extra skills. You might have noticed that all their weapons are basically farm tools.”
“No, I didn’t” said Jen, in disbelief.
Tim raised his voice as he explained. “Oh, yes! All of them, honest!”
Jen gave Tim a you-have-got-to-be-kidding sideways glance. “Ok, I’ll bite. What were nun chucks?”
“Nun chucks were used to as thresher, separating the wheat from the chaff--they just shortened one end.”
“And sickles?”
“Jen, you should know the answer. They were used to cut the wheat.”
“Throwing stars, then?”
“Shuriken, to use the Japanese term, were two-sided knives. You would use one side and when it became dull, you would take the handle off and attach it to the other side and use the blade that was counseled the handle cover the other edge.”
“Grappling hook?”
“Jen, I'm surprised. A grappling hook is something that you'd still see today. It was used for pulling trees down, along with other logging jobs.
All the weapons were farm tools, in fact. I carry this.”
Tim took his sword out and handed it over to Jen, who examined it closely. In essence, it was an electric torch. It had a simple push-activation switch, with designs etched into the hilt.
“What are these symbols, Tim?”
“An incantation. A small spell.”
“You know what it is?”
“Yes, it's a class 15 laser sword.”
Jen turned it blade side up and ignited it. The blade rose red. As Jen stood up and waved it around, Tim yelled out, “Be careful!”
Jen whirled around and slashed a tree branch. Flame rose from the slash in the tree and dissipated down to embers. “Uh, it’s quite light,” remarked Jen. “There's no balance to the blade. The entire weight was in the hilt, which is to be expected but I always wondered why the blade stops at a certain length from the hilt and no farther.” Jen pointed to the tip.
“Easy enough to explain,” said Tim. “It uses a force field. The lasers are organized in a ring and there a field in the middle. That's why they stop--the tip has a little mushroom tip at the top.”
Jen flipped the switch and the laser blade vanished. He handed the sword back to Tim. I tack it that you carry the laser sword as a ideal. to what you were before the war. What exactly was that?”
“I was one of the town bodyguards…meaning that I would be called upon if someone from another town was making trouble. I’d have to bring them back to their own town. Like a sheriff, I had to be supported by the town. If I treated someone unfairly, I would be removed from office. An arbitrator is selected by and for the people and it was a voluntary position. I still had to have a job…but I liked carrying this.” Tim gestured to the saber Jen nodded. “As far as I know, the closest thing to that is a laser saw. Tim nodded yes to that.
Jen went on. “I’ve never seen a laser saw like that.”
“This was a saw for cutting steel girders and such. This was back in a primitive form. Later on, a woman named Luoshita made a smaller, portable version. It had a blade the size of a knife. After a while, she made it into a sword. It became a symbol for peace, but just like Nicola Tesla’s death ray that used in the last war on earth it eventually became a tool for destruction. The death ray was the forerunner of all laser-based weapons. That's the only thing that the Empire has ever done for us.
Jen looked up at Tim in puzzlement. Tim’s eyebrows went up. “You don't know who Nikola Tesla was? The man who created Wardenclyffe Tower?”
Jen replied with an empty stare. “The father of the 20th Century?” Jen still didn't understand and asked, “Who was Nikola Tesla?”
“He was an oddball who made amazing boasts--and made them come true. That’s the quick version. Next time you get on the Net, you should research him but getting back to the original subject…where was I? Ryu! Oh yeah…if any of the samurai found them, they could just go hoe some plants.”
“Then why are they said to be evil assassins?”
“None of the peasant class could read or write. Only the samurai class knew how to do that, and part of history is hiding the truth. The empire can never track us because one day we are farmers, the next we are traders. Ryu nightwalkers…but on the other hand, Yojimbo means bodyguard. There are many groups that have the same goal in mind--making the government irrelevant. So far, the only place that doesn’t have a Yojimbo group is Earth. That should change soon.”
Jen looked over to Tim and said, “So, you’re anarchists.”
Tim nodded. “Yes, that's what I am to most people. I prefer to say libertarian. Or Constitutionalist. When I talk to people about the Constitution, I ask them to recite it. They ether evade the question or try to resist it. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator or creators with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That’s about the place they stop. That's not the entire Constitution. Tim pulled out a pocket computer and pulled up the document on the screen. As you can see, the Constitution is a lot longer than that.”
“I guess that you can recite it by heart.” Said Jen
“Indeed.“ Tim began reciting the entire Constitution, moved on to the Bill of Rights and was about to go on when Jen held up a hand.
“Alright, alright! I get the point. Stop reading.”
“I believe in the principles laid down by the settlers of America. I believe in the principles laid by the founding fathers of the USA and of the Allied Planets.”
Jen nodded and continued, “The Yojimbos are quite a nice bunch, but there’s one guy who doesn't seem to like me. An Asian bloke with a tattoo on his face.”
“Yes, I noticed,” said Tim.
“His name is Kai?”
“Yes,” said Tim.
“What’s his angle? He doesn't seem like the rest of the Yojimbos.”
Tim frowned. “I don’t think Kai knows his own full story…or if he knows, he’s not big on self reflection. What I do know is that he was with the Empire. What he did…I don’t think he knows himself, or what he thinks in private. I think he was an operative,” said Tim. “He believes the Empire stole some of his memory.”
Jen’s eyes lifted. “What happened?”
“He woke up one morning and didn't remember about three years of his life.”
“He had a change of heart?” asked Jen.
“Actually, I think he got the wrong medicine—and it gave him amnesia. He went on the run and took his weaponry with him. I think that's why he has all the latest weapons.” By this time, there was music coming over the hill.
“It sounds like the party’s started. Why don't we get some food? We should be headed back to the camp anyway.” Tim and Jen made their way back, talking and looking at the stars.
Jen woke up. Then looked round him he was back in bed in his bedroom. He sat up. Moms was sitting by his bed.
“Hi Jen,” said Moms a sad smile on her face. Jen spoke up. As he looked around, Jen was getting a terrible sense of daja vu.
“What happened?” Jen asked. Moms smiled.
“You saved two kids lives from a fire,” Moms went on. “Don’t worry Jen – they’re OK – burned, but -- OK. You on the other hand are in rough shape. You hit your head rather badly, you got a mild concussion on top of the burns you received.” Jen pushed past his uncooperative teeth.
“How did you find me?” He asked
“Well, I was finishing up the potatoes when I saw J.Bot running, bolting out of the house. I put my knife in my belt and ran after him. I took a wild guess that you were in some trouble, that J.Bot was alerted by your watch. I used my phone to get ahold of Dads to follow me. When we got there the shed was in flames. J.Bot with my and Dads help got you out. we brought you back and put you in bed. Jenny’s making a fuss about having to do your work as well as hers and taking care of the kids on top of it.”
“I’m not surprised. Tell her that she’ll soon have an army of darkness that she can teach to do evil .” laughed Jen.
“Well, here.” Moms handed Jen some pills and water. “Well, Jen I’m glad you’re feeling better . I have things to do so get some sleep I’ll be back later -- but is there anything I can get you?”
“No thanks moms I’m just going to sleep.” Later Jen woke to check on the kids and do what he could.
Over the next few weeks the kids were getting better. Jen did what he could on the farm then on the way back to the house he walked into the dining room to find the whole family sitting. The family was hugging and crying. Jen looked at them Paused. Jen said. “Who…” then realized “died?” Jen ran up the stares dawn the hall to the bedroom door. Jen looked at the bed.
Jen snapped awake. With a start he had his gun out he scanned the room it was just a nightmare. He holstered his pistol and put his belt on. It seemed that he had been sleeping. He looked around for a clock and he couldn't see one, so he checked his music player’s clock. It had been a half hour since Jerra had walked off to the bathroom.
Jen got to his feet and walked slowly around the apartment. The bathroom door was ajar. He slowly pushed it open then his eyes opened. Jerra was sitting on the toilet head bowed, a hypo injector in her hand.
Jen kneeled by Jerra to inspect her. It looked like rigor mortis had set in but oddly quickly.
Jen knew that rigor mortis was caused by a chemical change in the muscles after death, causing the limbs of the body to become stiff and difficult to move. The thing was, it usually sets in about 3-4 hours after time of death. As Jen thought this over, he picked up the hypo. It smelled like diavileen. The only thing that puzzled him was diavileen. Was not a base narcotic? . It was an actual med but it was one that the empire did not allow to be used or sold. It had some hallucinogenic affects about as much as eating a little too much horseradish all at once. It also took a lot to OD on it…like trying to OD on pot. Maybe it was a different med. He put the hypo in her lap, said a few words then walked out of the bathroom. Jen shook his head. He didn't blame Mark for her death -- it wasn’t his fault she died. Jen went to get his pack, thinking why do people poison themselves like that? Life is so fleeting already.
Suddenly, the door opened catching Jen off guard. Tim O'Hara walked in, and then glanced at Jen wide-eyed . Jen grabbed his revolver from his belt Jen had his gun trained on Tim.
Jen said, “Hands above your head and keep them where I can see!” Tim put his hands up in an “I surrender” gesture. With his gun still trained on Tim. Jen patted him for weaponry. He came up empty. Jen checked again--came up empty again. “All right”, said Tim, stepping back. “What are you here for, Tim?” Jen asked.
Tim spoke up in a surprised voice.
“Oh, so you have heard of me.” And with a happy smile, he lowered his hands and stepped forward to shake Jen’s hand. Jen yelled, “Hands up, keep the foda away!”
“Well, guess what? I come in peace.” As he said this, he did a Vulcan salute with both hands. “Live long and prosper, man. Anyway, I was going to ask you the same thing, youngling.” Jen pulled the safety off. Tim tensed “Just visiting a friend. Man, What did I ever do to… Tim paused “hey, wait a minute! You're that boy from a day ago what was it Tim looked at the floor pursed his lips Its on the tip of my tongue what was it? Andy…angry… oh that’s Wright. Honjen. Tim smiled yes that’s write! Oh by the way Sorry about hurting you, last night mate.”
Jen stepped back to sit down on the couch but kept his eyes--and gun--trained on Tim.
“Shut up and I'm not your mate.”
You sold the medicine to that piece of gos se!” Tim replied, “I'm not fond of him myself but pretty harsh words, you know.
But why such a hard rap?”
“He tried to rape her,” said Jen.
“Where’s Jerra?” said Tim, with a tang of fear in his voice.
“She's dead—and do you know who’s fault that is?” Tim’s eyebrows went up “I don’t know…yours?” “No yours!" "She died because of you!” exclaimed Jen. “The medicine she got from your man killed her. She OD’d! She's…dead in the bathroom.”
Jen glowered “She's dead because of you. Tim, you fought for independence. You have turned.” Tim frowned.
“Lets skip the part about the connection between fighting to keep my home and go straight to the part about selling medicine. I sell things that the empire does not want the population to have. Air in a can for instance. Air in a can has gases that can make you stoned. Yet it is very useful for cleaning computers. Jen interrupted
“That dos not matter!”
Tim rolled his eyes and ended with a bland expression.
“You still killed her.” Repeated Jen. Tim seemed to relax.
“So she's dead, is she? Well she looks pretty lively for a dead girl then.” Tim said, moving his head to look over Jen’s shoulder.
“Geez, is that pedantic or what? I would say nice try, but do you think I'm a complete back birth? That's the oldest trick in the book. “ Snapped Jen.
“yup… And don't I know it!” said Tim.
“But it still stands, Jen.” A female voice came from behind him. “Tim is not lying”
“Hi, Tim. I see you’ve met Jen.” The voice wasn’t squeaky anymore. Jen turned his head and his mouth dropped open. Jen brought the gun up to Tim’s head and screamed, “Jerra, get out of here! I’ll hold him back—I’ll catch up!” “
“No need,” came the reply.
Jen’s head turned. “He’ll kill you if you stay!”
“No, he won’t…” Jerra went to the fridge then came back with two beers. She underhanded one to Tim, who caught it and popped the top with his right hand.
Jen’s brows furrowed as Tim sat down on the couch, putting his feet on top of the coffee table. Jerra went over, pushed his boots off the table and sat down beside Tim. She tried to open the beer without success, and then handed it to Tim. Tim popped the top and gave it back.
“So, Tim,” she asked, “how was the trade?”
“It went well,” Tim replied, “although I think mark is getting a little overconfident. He threatened to get the goods directly from Vladimir. --Which he can do. What about you?”
Oh, I was there and I agree I think that mark is getting a bit high in the head. I think it’s time to get another buyer.”
“Yes, I heard.” Tim replied. “I’ll have to find a better middleman to sell to…”
Not understanding, Jen yelled, “Will someone tell me what the Govno is going on? I want some answers!”
Tim didn't even look up from Jerra.
“…To what I saw he had some good muscle. How did you get away? “The normal way by gift of superior effort I extricated my self.” Tim smiled. You’re amazing--and that's why I hired you. By the way, what's up with the kid? He a friend of yours?”
“No,” replied Jerra. “Why? Do you know him?”
“Just a bit…” said Tim, “but that's beside the point. Why is he here?”
“Well, Tim…he got in the way of the job, like he knew what was going down. I wanted to find out who he was and what he was doing here. From what I understand, he thought that you and the boys are criminals.”
“Obviously,” said Tim. “As they say, one man’s enemy is another man’s freedom fighter--so in that, he would be right.”
Jerra gave a “come on” expression. “Tim, you know what I mean.
“Yes, and I know what you mean. Did he tell you anything else?” Tim asked.
“Yes,” answered Jerra. “Because of the fire back at old Charlie’s mansion, he doesn’t have a home anymore.” Tim frowned.
“I don't remember twitchy finger potty mouth over there from Charlie’s place the only ones I remember war the boy and girl Tim posed…then under standing came over his face. “Oh, I get it! Ouch!” I mean…Ouch!”
Jen lowered his gun and put it back in its holster, feeling rather stupid. “Before you get back into your conversation,” Jen asked, “I'd like to know what's happening. Please.” Tim and Jerra stopped talking and turned to look at him.
“Ask away.”
Jen paused. “What just happened?” he asked.
“I'm a smuggler.” Tim replied. “I bring medicine, food and…comfort that the Empire won’t.”
“Yes I guessed that.” Said Jen exasperated. Jerra looked at Jen.
“You want us to answer your questions.”
“Sorry,” said Jen.
“….And I'm an independent contractor.” Jerra added. “I'm a spy. I make sure that the people who buy the drugs will treat their customers with respect.”
“What about the drugs you sell?” Jen continued.
“Mine are mainly the same as yours.” Tim answered. “I do smuggle narcotics but most of the time, it’s actual meds. Jerra was born on another planet. Each planet is different then others some have lower gravity some have nutrients that others don’t. So the air and water has nutrients that Io doesn't have, and this—. “He held up a pack. “--is concentrated diavileen.”
“I still don't understand.” Jen muttered.
Tim closed his hands. “OK, how about this. Are you familiar with Vlad Dracul….Dracula?”
“No, I'm afraid not,” said Jen.
Tim’s brow furrowed as he continued, “Um…on Old Earth, he got the reputation of a blood-sucking fiend. As the story went, he needed blood to keep his flesh whole--that's not the whole story, but you get the drift. “You mean it erupted Pernicious anemia due to vidimen B12 deficiency.” Said Jen.
“Right. A diferent disorder, but if she doesn’t keep up on the right meds, her skin will become…distorted. I don't know about you, but I wonder why the Empire would want to mess up a pretty face like this. He tenderly pinched Jerra’s cheek. “Anything else you want to ask?”
“Only one,” Jen said. “Why were you not scared of me shooting you, earlier, Tim?”
Tim smiled. “Why don't you find out? Try it.”
Jen took his gun out of his belt and pointed it at Tim. “Are you sure about this?”
“Try it.”
“OK,” Jen said, uneasily. At the last second, he changed his aim. Jerra winced as Jen shot the floor—and suddenly felt a charge of electricity surge through him. Vertigo clutched him as he collapsed. Jen woke up to find water up his nose and someone slapping his gorram face..!
“I'm awake, Tim!” he splutted. “Knock it off! Why didn't you tell me?” Tim stood up and plopped down on the couch as Jen got into an upright position. Jerra had her hand on her face and was shaking her head.
“So…anything else you want to know?” Tim asked
“What about if you can take Jerra out on a date?” Jen blushed, and then fainted again. When he came to, he said, “Tim, knock it off--and don't do that again!” Jen got to his feet and took out a flask from his pack. After he took a drink to steady his nerves, he muttered, “So…a force field and taser field, right?”
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Tim Jerra and Jen turned an angry voice say. Well get the door dawn. Jen recognized the voice. “But its locked.” another voice said “well then use your head!” There was the sound of soft hed hitting the hard door. A wale of pane the door gave and a big goon fell in thru the open door flat on the floor. The men from the abandoned office came through the door—Mark and his prods. Mark smiled. “Well. Well. Well. Isn’t this a nice surprise.” “I came for one and found three!” he exclaimed. “So, you've been conspiring with these people! I'm here for my pay--and as a bonus, a double crossing snake!”
This time mark had a mechanical eye. It seems that Jens knife had caused optical damage
Mark took his Glock out and aimed it at Tim.
“You all know what I’m going to do thigh the question is how.” he laughed evilly. “All have you dieing for a year. Dogs on earth are going to hear you scream
Fist I’m going to…”
Tim interrupted yes yes your going to make us watch the its alive marathon
“Mark we have a little business with these guys, so you can wait.” I’m busy
Mark was taken aback he froze shocked at the thought that some one would tock back to him. Mark glowered burning with anger.
Jen said, “Nice Eye were did you get it?”
“I’ll kill you for that!” snapped Mark. “Jen,” Tim answered, “I'm trying to do business here. Please don't make him angry…”
Sorry Tim.
Mark lifted his sidearm to shoot Jen. As he raised his palm, Jen said, “I would not do that if I were you.” Mark fired--and Jen yelled out zamok hariku As Mark dropped to the floor, the thugs watched him fall…then stared at Jen. Mark’s prods stiffened and looked at Jen’s dark gaze. A half-smile drifted to his face as he opened his palm, revealing a bullet. As he showed it to the goons, he said, “If you want to stay alive, then leave--or suffer the fate of your leader.”
Two of the men ran out the door just before the two remaining men looked at each other and fainted.
Jen doubled over in laughter. “Jeezum-pete, how stupid can they be?
Well…what next, Tim?”
Tim looked at Jen. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Jen looked at Tim confused then smiled. “Maybe. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Jerra looked at the two. “It’s not likely that they’re allergic to sulfa drugs and theirs an anti-toxin in this one.”
Tim looked at Jerra. “What color will it turn them?”
“What color do you want?” Then Tim started singing. “Its not easy being
green!” Jerra took the hypo injector and exchanged the chamber and piped up . spending each day the culor of the leafs and she started humming the rest
Tim with a impish glee went over to mark and pulled down Mark’s trousers.
Just before Jerra prepared the sulfa drug. “Black in the syringe, but green in the body, love these medically repurposed dyes!”
Tim said “Ok Marky show me some frogs legs.”
“Well, they are better off than Kermit.”
Tim went in to the voice of a little green pointy eared Gnome
“Yes hand up your ass you would like not hnmmmm!”
Jerra removed the injector.
“im that’s Yoda.”
They repeated the proscess with the other two.
“Well…what next, Tim?”
“I think we should vacate the place before they wake up, “Tim replied. “Jen, are you coming with?”
“If that's all right with you...?” Tim nodded. Jen picked up his pack and grabbed all the food they had in the fridge. Tim had a beat-up hover car and Jen added his pack to the bike’s trunk.
Jen followed Tim out of the town to a new camp, but he didn't get a very cordial welcome, which was to be expected. In time, the Yojimbos warmed up to Jen, except for one man who always kept a hand on the butt of his gun.
It was the man he had thrown the soup onto last night. He met the Yojimbos almost all said hello back except Kai.
When Jen said hello to Kai, he just frowned and spat his chewing tobacco onto the ground as a reply. Then started to course under his berth in japans. Red marks covered by honey on his neck and chin were the soup had scalded him he also had a bandage on his arm were most of the soup went which most likely had the same treatment. Jen decided to leave Kai alone. He talked to all of the Yojimbos. There were about thirty in all. After general conversation, he took a walk around--he spied Tim, who was sitting under the stars.
Jen went over to sit down beside Tim. “So, nice night. Quiet.” said Jen Tim replied I would regale you with a tale of the time I went to earth and stood outside to look at the stars and that the lights war to bright and the smog so thick that you couldn’t see them. but you’d know I’d be lying.
“Yes.” said Jen besides from the fact that earth has had no atmosphere for about for hundred years.”
“I thin stuff vacuum” Jen smiled “yes low vitamin content.” Said Jen. Tim laughed.
“Tim, do you have any family?”
“Yes, of course I do” Tim replied. “All the Yojimbos are my family.”
“Tim You know what I mean.”
Jen gave a rather good impression of Jerras earlier expression “Tim you know what I meant.”
“Well I still have a brother. My brother lives back earth side. I'm pretty share he's still alive I haven't seen his death on the waves. I’d know if he died. He’s all the biological family I have left that I know of.”
“What about you, Jen?”
“I had my step mom and step dad. I never knew my father--my father died in the war and my mother remarried. And when I was 7, she left.”
“Why did she leave?” asked Tim.
“She got into an argument. I honestly can’t remember why she left. I stayed with my stepfather and his daughter. Dads married again--she was nice. When I was young, she gave me a robot playmate that she had built. She was a master of robotics; she had her own company. Triple Moon Robotics, which expanded into Triple Moon Supplements, but anyways…the odd thing about it was that only J. Bot, my toy robot, ever had problems.”
“Problems? Like what?”
“He’d get what I call the C3PO glitch,” replied Jen.
“What does that mean?”
“He’d start talking like a blasted robot from the old sci-fi movies and whenever I tried to fix J. Bot, it didn’t work. He still has the glitch. said Jen
Tim, took out his pipe and packed it full of pipe weed from a little leather pouch. After he lit it with a wooden match, he took a few long pulls on the pipe…then saw Jen looking at him. “Oh, have I forgot my manners? I'm sorry.” Tim said, as he offered the pipe to Jen.
“No thanks, I don't smoke,” said Jen.
“Suit yourself.“ Tim took another pull on the pipe. “Are you sure? It’s not very strong, said Tim as he proffered it to Jen.
“Oh, all right,” Jen relented as he took the pipe. When he inhaled, he expected smoke--but what he got was steam! the steam buried in to his lungs like stepping in to a steam room his eyebrows went up and the hair on his arms stud up. Jen took another hit then handed it back as something took effect. Everything seemed to slow down and the things in his life seemed less urgent. He felt both calmer and clearer. As Tim took another toke, he smiled.
“Tim! Tim!” exclaimed Jen.
“…Yes?”
“Tim, before I join the Yojimbos, I’d like to know a few things! What were you doing stealing in my father’s field?”
“I wasn't stealing! We paid for the corn we took a few days before.”
“What were you doing at the house?”
“It was burning—we were checking for survivors. We didn't find anyone, so we went away.
Why?” “There were two kids in the house!” Said Jen “They accused me of killing their parents, so I had to leave my own home…a little sooner than I wanted to.” “Why war you living.” said tim. I was going to escape the draft and move around. They can't draft you if they can't find you, right?”
“I understand completely,” replied Tim. “I volunteered so that you and all the rest of the world wouldn’t have to…but as you can see, it didn't work out so well. But, I was doing something that I believed in--not because the government wanted me to. I fought so the I and the world wold be free to take any narcotic I like, to wield any weapon I like, governments only muck up the works
I'm still fighting. I'm not going to give up and my life has been harder for it. Some people say that uniting everyone under a single banner will eliminate the need for war? Hogwash! That’s called a single party government, fascism. I’d rather fight to be my own master that is what I strive for. Even if that meant I had to buy my own ammo and weaponry, the local people would give us food and ammo. Sometimes they would give us lodging, just like the Mongols. When they conquered most of the world they brought lower taxes and better healthcare. If the local people don't want you there, they will strike back with anything they can muster. Jen replied, “So they’d reply this is my land I know its unfertile marsh land but its mine. I have a large attraction to it so can take it from my and my family’s cold dead fingers.”Tim nodded “well close enough more like they burn the fields and then sow the field with salt to turn it to sterol ground. Leaving nothing to there invaders. That’s the big factor that decides who will win the war. But I think wear off track.
You asked who are the Yojimbos modeled after.
Very well. Have you ever heard of William Wallace?”
“I can’t say I have.”
“William Wallace was a Scottish rebel who led an uprising against Edward Longshanks…but I'm getting ahead of myself. When William Wallace was a young boy, his father and brother, along with many others, lost their lives trying to free Scotland. Once he lost another of his loved ones, William Wallace began his long quest to make Scotland free once and for all, along with the assistance of Robert the Bruce. William Wallace began to be a thorn in Edward’s side. I try to be the same as Wallace and I also borrow from the Ryu.
“Ryu?” Jen looked perplexed. “What are Ryu?”
“You might know them as ninjas.”
“Ninjas?” Jen huffed. “You mean the old assassins from samurai movies?”
“That's a misconception,” replied Tim. “Ninjas weren’t assassins. They were, for a lack of a better word, They were farmers with extra skills. You might have noticed that all their weapons are basically farm tools.”
“No, I didn’t” said Jen, in disbelief.
Tim raised his voice as he explained. “Oh, yes! All of them, honest!”
Jen gave Tim a you-have-got-to-be-kidding sideways glance. “Ok, I’ll bite. What were nun chucks?”
“Nun chucks were used to as thresher, separating the wheat from the chaff--they just shortened one end.”
“And sickles?”
“Jen, you should know the answer. They were used to cut the wheat.”
“Throwing stars, then?”
“Shuriken, to use the Japanese term, were two-sided knives. You would use one side and when it became dull, you would take the handle off and attach it to the other side and use the blade that was counseled the handle cover the other edge.”
“Grappling hook?”
“Jen, I'm surprised. A grappling hook is something that you'd still see today. It was used for pulling trees down, along with other logging jobs.
All the weapons were farm tools, in fact. I carry this.”
Tim took his sword out and handed it over to Jen, who examined it closely. In essence, it was an electric torch. It had a simple push-activation switch, with designs etched into the hilt.
“What are these symbols, Tim?”
“An incantation. A small spell.”
“You know what it is?”
“Yes, it's a class 15 laser sword.”
Jen turned it blade side up and ignited it. The blade rose red. As Jen stood up and waved it around, Tim yelled out, “Be careful!”
Jen whirled around and slashed a tree branch. Flame rose from the slash in the tree and dissipated down to embers. “Uh, it’s quite light,” remarked Jen. “There's no balance to the blade. The entire weight was in the hilt, which is to be expected but I always wondered why the blade stops at a certain length from the hilt and no farther.” Jen pointed to the tip.
“Easy enough to explain,” said Tim. “It uses a force field. The lasers are organized in a ring and there a field in the middle. That's why they stop--the tip has a little mushroom tip at the top.”
Jen flipped the switch and the laser blade vanished. He handed the sword back to Tim. I tack it that you carry the laser sword as a ideal. to what you were before the war. What exactly was that?”
“I was one of the town bodyguards…meaning that I would be called upon if someone from another town was making trouble. I’d have to bring them back to their own town. Like a sheriff, I had to be supported by the town. If I treated someone unfairly, I would be removed from office. An arbitrator is selected by and for the people and it was a voluntary position. I still had to have a job…but I liked carrying this.” Tim gestured to the saber Jen nodded. “As far as I know, the closest thing to that is a laser saw. Tim nodded yes to that.
Jen went on. “I’ve never seen a laser saw like that.”
“This was a saw for cutting steel girders and such. This was back in a primitive form. Later on, a woman named Luoshita made a smaller, portable version. It had a blade the size of a knife. After a while, she made it into a sword. It became a symbol for peace, but just like Nicola Tesla’s death ray that used in the last war on earth it eventually became a tool for destruction. The death ray was the forerunner of all laser-based weapons. That's the only thing that the Empire has ever done for us.
Jen looked up at Tim in puzzlement. Tim’s eyebrows went up. “You don't know who Nikola Tesla was? The man who created Wardenclyffe Tower?”
Jen replied with an empty stare. “The father of the 20th Century?” Jen still didn't understand and asked, “Who was Nikola Tesla?”
“He was an oddball who made amazing boasts--and made them come true. That’s the quick version. Next time you get on the Net, you should research him but getting back to the original subject…where was I? Ryu! Oh yeah…if any of the samurai found them, they could just go hoe some plants.”
“Then why are they said to be evil assassins?”
“None of the peasant class could read or write. Only the samurai class knew how to do that, and part of history is hiding the truth. The empire can never track us because one day we are farmers, the next we are traders. Ryu nightwalkers…but on the other hand, Yojimbo means bodyguard. There are many groups that have the same goal in mind--making the government irrelevant. So far, the only place that doesn’t have a Yojimbo group is Earth. That should change soon.”
Jen looked over to Tim and said, “So, you’re anarchists.”
Tim nodded. “Yes, that's what I am to most people. I prefer to say libertarian. Or Constitutionalist. When I talk to people about the Constitution, I ask them to recite it. They ether evade the question or try to resist it. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator or creators with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That’s about the place they stop. That's not the entire Constitution. Tim pulled out a pocket computer and pulled up the document on the screen. As you can see, the Constitution is a lot longer than that.”
“I guess that you can recite it by heart.” Said Jen
“Indeed.“ Tim began reciting the entire Constitution, moved on to the Bill of Rights and was about to go on when Jen held up a hand.
“Alright, alright! I get the point. Stop reading.”
“I believe in the principles laid down by the settlers of America. I believe in the principles laid by the founding fathers of the USA and of the Allied Planets.”
Jen nodded and continued, “The Yojimbos are quite a nice bunch, but there’s one guy who doesn't seem to like me. An Asian bloke with a tattoo on his face.”
“Yes, I noticed,” said Tim.
“His name is Kai?”
“Yes,” said Tim.
“What’s his angle? He doesn't seem like the rest of the Yojimbos.”
Tim frowned. “I don’t think Kai knows his own full story…or if he knows, he’s not big on self reflection. What I do know is that he was with the Empire. What he did…I don’t think he knows himself, or what he thinks in private. I think he was an operative,” said Tim. “He believes the Empire stole some of his memory.”
Jen’s eyes lifted. “What happened?”
“He woke up one morning and didn't remember about three years of his life.”
“He had a change of heart?” asked Jen.
“Actually, I think he got the wrong medicine—and it gave him amnesia. He went on the run and took his weaponry with him. I think that's why he has all the latest weapons.” By this time, there was music coming over the hill.
“It sounds like the party’s started. Why don't we get some food? We should be headed back to the camp anyway.” Tim and Jen made their way back, talking and looking at the stars.
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