NationStates Jolt Archive

Five years after it happened...five years after the whole piece of shit that is the Galactic Empire finally turned Coreworlds into something out of that King Arthur movie (with a little help from time dilation due to the FTLi). Five years after my death. Five years of training, whacking away with a sledgehammer, dueling Aries and more training. Three times a year, I visited my son Travis, each time using Henge to transform myself into a little boy to play with him. Thus, I take the role of his imaginary friend Danny the Phantom Kid (no relation to the cartoon series, duh). Anyway, my times in playing with him gave me lots of time to get to know him and I was always able to escape notice with Katrina and the others, since I play the ghost kid very well. But then...there comes a time when things change, when the intangible becomes tangible, when something odd happened. Very odd.

It all started an hour after Travis' school day. I watched him from afar planning on the exact time to enter the scene. I smirked, as I decided to play a little prank on him...

Travis was whistling while walking home with a couple of little friends who also knew me well, being little kids who can see ghosts. I 'materialized' behind a tree, using 'l33t ninja skillz' (ok, so they're not l33t. Who cares!) to sneak up behind the little group...

and screamed "BOOO!"

Half the kids wet their pants. The other half, well, I can say that they're quite good at jumping into trees, including my little boy. By the time they got back down, I was laughing hard. "Hahahahahaha! You shoulda seen the looks on your faces! Priceless!"

Travis was not amused. "Danny?"

"What?" I wiped tears of mirth from my eyes.

"DANNY NO BAKA!" He yelled, subconsiously whacking me with the Force, and sent me flying.

"Waaaaah!" I yelled, going through several trees and scaring an old Jedi lady as I went through her walls. "Sorry!"

I righted myself and floated back, finding them laughing in return. "Ok, ok. You turned the tables on me..."

At first, I didn't notice it. I floated to the ground and 'walked' on it with the other little kids, sharing little stories with each other. I was quite the little storyteller, I can tell you that. Anyway, I didn't really notice, but the more I 'walked', the more that my feet were really on the ground and not just floating a centimeter above it. I began to notice it when I tripped over a rock, floating heads over heels then landing on my butt, causing more laughter. I rubbed it in pain as I glared at them...wait a minute. Pain? On my butt? Ghosts don't feel pain! And yet...I did. It was quite a refreshing feeling, except that it hurt. Five years of being a ghost, you do tend to miss the simple joys of life...

"Danny? What's up? You seem awfully quiet." Travis said.

"Uh, nothing. Nothing. Just thinking a bit."

"You think alot."

Master of the obvious. "Yeah, I guess so. Let's go home, then."

"Alright."

The two of us said goodbye to the other kids and headed home. It was a nice little house, though big enough for the Twins and the Cousins. Travis loves playing with his older cousins Keith (8) and Brandon (12) and he loves the stories his Uncle Jacob told him. Uncle Taylor seemed more reserved, but he did crack a smile every now and then. I would have to talk to him someday, presumably about the artificial arm and leg he has now. As for Grandpa Alex? He's an engima. One time, I thought he sensed my presence, but I was sure that I masked it enough. Who knows if he knows I was around? Anyway, he wasn't around, so that's ok now.

"Hi Mommy!" Alex jumped into his mother's arms as he went inside.

"Hi Alex. How was your day?"

"Great! I did finger-painting and then we went to the zoo and then we got scared by Danny-baka and..." On and on and on. Kid's really a chatterbox today.

Katrina smiled sadly. She believes that 'Danny-baka' is an imaginary friend of Travis, which was true from a certain point of view, but she found it odd that the 'friend' would have the same name as her late husband. Then, she looked in my direction, making me nervous. She frowned as she seemed to try and ascern what she's seeing...a whisper of a little boy at the door.

"Travis? Who is your friend?" She asked gently.

"He's Danny-baka, Mommy. My friend, remember?" Travis said innocently.

"Oh. Why don't you come in?" She asked me.

That's when I knew something was weird. As far as I knew, Katrina was not very Force-sensitive, although she did take training at the ninja academy when she was a girl, or so she said. To be able to see me...either she's gotten stronger in my five-year absence...or somebody's going to have some explaining to do.

I tentatively walked in, and as soon as I did, the jutsu wards that Naruto and the others placed around the house went online, forcing my Henge to disappear in a puff of smoke, revealing my true self. I grinned sheepishly. "Uh, hi Katrina?"

"Oh, my..." Katrina said eyes wide, before she fainted. I had to catch her, and found it odd that I didn't have to exert myself with the Force so much.

"Danny? What just happened?" Travis asked, now seeing me in my taller form.

"I don't know." My voice was deeper now. It was hard not to tell Travis right then and there his true relation to me. I don't think he'd take it very well. "Why don't you uh, go and watch the holo, and I'll help your mother to the couch, ok?"

"Ok." Cute kid. He wonders about many things. He went up the stairs to watch the holo in his room, while I carried my love to the downstairs living room and placed her on the couch.

I waited for a few minutes, brushing aside her hair from her beautiful face. Oh, Katrina...how I longed for this moment.

Then she awakened. "Ohh. What happened? Daniel?"

"You fainted." I said lamely. Good job, Romeo.

"Oh. What...this is impossible!" She said, disbelieving.

"Yeah. I'm as confused as you are." I said. "Although I still don't quite feel...you know...whole. Still ghostly."

"I see. Does that mean..." She hoped beyond hope.

"I hope so, I really do."

Tears began streaming down. "Oh, me too! It's so...overwhelming."

"I know." I smiled. "Don't tell Travis yet. I want to wait until he's old enough to understand."

Katrina didn't like that. "But he's your..."

"I know that. Please, trust me. It's hard, but I must wait until he's ready to train."

"I...guess so. What about everyone else?"

"I think Grandpa suspects something, maybe Yusuke, but for everyone else, all in good time." I smiled. Then I felt it was time to go. "I'll be back soon."

"Hurry back, my husband." She said softly.

"As always, love." I said, and the living room faded away to the chambers. I walked off, my mind wheeling with the events of the day.

In the meantime, the boy known as Travis has heard the exchange and his small heart lept in joy. He knew more than he let on, though kept it quiet but he promised himself that he would be ready for that future day...when his father finally reveals himself...

The forges were big. Really big. Really, really big. The size of infinity, as a matter of fact. In the same way that he had to develop travel mechanics for the forges, Sojun had to improvise mechanisms for keeping an eye on his charges. This issue was solved by a limitless number of Overseer Avatars bearing the likeness of great steel golems trundling about the massive ironworks.

So it was that Daniel's hurried but somewhat aimless trot was detected by several of these Avatars, who then queued the information up to the Prime, who was presently training another one of his adepts in the Arena.

"REMEMBER, NEREID, TO SPEAK IN BATTLE IS DEATH. TO PAUSE, DELAY, OR FLINCH IS TO MEET YOUR UNFORTUNATE END...

The information reached him, and he paused...

>CRACK!<

"OW. I MUST ADMIT THAT YOUR STRIKES HAVE SOME STRENGTH TO THEM. BUT I SHALL CONCLUDE THIS TRAINING ON THE NOTE OF YOU BRINGING THAT SWORD HALFWAY THROUGH MY NECK. I HAVE ANOTHER PRESSING MATTER TO DEAL WITH."

The little girl nodded and walked out of the arena, leaving Sojun to remove the broadsword from his jugular. He gave the sword an inspectory glance, then tossed it away and vanished.

Mister Masaki was concerned about something...

Concerned wasn't the half of it. I needed to talk to Sojun, and I needed it NOW. But looking out through the infinite expanses of the Forges, I wondered where he was. I was mulling the events of the past day over and over again, not sure if it was true or not. But then, I suppose it was, and I hoped it meant what I thought it meant...

Judging from the reports of his disposition, Sojun decided to... forward Daniel Masaki to the judgement chambers, taking over the spot at the great podium for the length of the expected conversation. Masaki materialized directly in front of the podium, the result of Sojun's 'Control' of the plane.

"MISTER MASAKI. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT YOU ARE SOMEWHAT... EXCITED? I WAS INFORMED OF YOUR AGITATED BUSTLE THROUGH THE FORGES BY MY AVATARS, WHO INTERRUPTED A TRAINING SESSION, INCIDENTALLY."

Sojun's head was leaning to the side, not because of any preferred movement, but because he had as yet neglected to seal up the cleft in his neck left by the little girl's broadsword.

Next thing I knew, I was before Sojun. And grinned. "Sojun! Nice to see you again! I've got some most interesting news, and I hope you can help me figure it out. You see, I was playing with my son yesterday..."

I relayed the story of my being more tangible than ever before, even to the point of carrying my wife to the couch without trouble. "...and then we said our goodbyes. So, Sojun, God of Time and all that is good. What's up with me?"

Sojun listened to Daniel's repetition of the occurences in the Corporeality Chamber, then gave a slight nod at the end. His wound had sealed up by this point more as an afterthought than anything.

"I DID SAY THAT YOUR SOUL NEEDED TO REGAIN ITS ORIGINAL SUBSTANCE IN ORDER TO RETURN, DUE TO THE EXTRAORDINARY MEANS OF YOUR MOST UNTIMELY DEMISE. I ALSO NOTED THAT YOU WOULD MOST DEFINITELY NOTICE IT WHEN THE TIME CAME."

Sojun leaned forward over the podium, and through some trick of perspective or his form's malleability, his face reached out and stopped mere inches from Daniel's body. A lengthy inspection followed, and Sojun seemed to be attempting to stare through Masaki.

From the surprised look Daniel received when Sojun reverted it would appear the attempt failed.

"YOUR SOUL HAS REGAINED ITS SUBSTANCE. YOU ARE FREE TO VENTURE OUT ON YOUR OWN ONCE AGAIN. THE DOOR IS THAT WAY."

Sojun pointed to a small nondescript door to his right. In all the other times before, Daniel had never seen this door. He could only assume that the portal was the work of Sojun's power.

"BE ADVISED, THE FIRST STEP IS, AS THEY SAY, QUITE A DOOZY."

One would think that a large bomb had exploded in Infinity when I cheered. "Yaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhoooooooooo!"

I was free to return! Free to go back to reality and kick ass! Free to finish what I have started! I ran right for the door like a little kid, but as I crossed it, I had to wonder. "What did you mean, a doozy?"

I got my answer as the ground disappeared from under my feet. Like a certain cartoon canine, I looked scared. "Uh oh. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa..."

When they say pride goes before the fall, I doubt they meant falling all the way from heaven!

The fall was about five hundred feet, and gave something of a not-very-dramatic reason as to why all those who have been sent back from the afterlife awake in a fetal position feeling as though they've just been worked over by a gaggle of crowbar wielding thugs.

Daniel felt no impact, he simply woke up on a rather rocky and stormy world, in a fetal position, the sensation of abject pain fading from his memory. Also accompanying the fading feeling of agony was Sojun's voice.

"OH DEAR, IT WOULD APPEAR MY AIM WAS A LITTLE OFF. OH WELL, WHO SAID A LITTLE HIKING WAS NOT GOOD FOR YOU. THE NEAREST TOWN IS ABOUT FIVE KILOMETERS NORTHEAST TO YOU, I WOULD SUGGEST MAKING YOUR WAY THERE AS SOON AS YOU ARE READY. I LEFT YOU SOME GEAR, AND A PERSONAL GIFT. HOPEFULLY it will keep you from returning to me too soon again--"

To Daniel's right rested a small satchel of what appeared to be clothes, some very interesting boots, a small box of nutritional wafers, and a rune covered staff of pure onyx.

Sojun's voice returned for a last surge as Daniel's eyes fell on the staff: "I WILL BE WANTING THAT BACK WHEN YOU RETURN TO ME."

When next I came to, I was cold. And hungry. And feeling like I've just come out of a fight with an angry Wookiee. I was also in the nude.

"Damn, am I cold!" I didn't want to catch a cold on my first day back! Fortunately, Sojun had the foresight to send some stuff.

"OH DEAR, IT WOULD APPEAR MY AIM WAS A LITTLE OFF. OH WELL, WHO SAID A LITTLE HIKING WAS NOT GOOD FOR YOU. THE NEAREST TOWN IS ABOUT FIVE KILOMETERS NORTHEAST TO YOU, I WOULD SUGGEST MAKING YOUR WAY THERE AS SOON AS YOU ARE READY. I LEFT YOU SOME GEAR, AND A PERSONAL GIFT. HOPEFULLY it will keep you from returning to me too soon again--"
"Ha ha. Very funny." I said saracastically. Then I smiled in relief, for to my right rested a small satchel of what appeared to be clothes, some very interesting boots, a small box of nutritional wafers, and a rune covered staff of pure onyx.

The clothing seemed to be a simple black tunic and pants. I put them on, then put on the boots, which were surprisingly nice. There was also a cloak with a hood, so I put that on too. Then I ate some wafers and put the rest in the satchel. Then I picked up the staff. My eyes widened at the power infused in it, and I recognized this as Sojun's personal staff. Cool!

Sojun's voice returned for a last surge as Daniel's eyes fell on the staff: "I WILL BE WANTING THAT BACK WHEN YOU RETURN TO ME."

"Don't worry, I will." I smiled. At least I had a weapon now. And also something to keep the sand out of my face as the wild winds of--hey what is this place anyway? I looked around for clues, then spotted a large purple object swirling in the sky. I groaned. Of all the planets I was dropped unceremoniously, it just had to be Calgulia the Black Hole Planet. And I hate black holes more than anything else in the universe. Even the Sith Lords. Nasty, crushing, hungry buggers...

I sighed. Well, the quicker you get to town, the quicker you'll get off this Force-forsaken rock.

So I started walking to the northeast...

~tag~

Kelvin rested on an undisturbed hillside on Jurai, switching his attention between the night sky, the somewhat distant frenzy of Godulan workers erecting defensive emplacements and the like, and back.

After one cursory glance at the Godulans setting up another spacefold portal, he looked back up into the sky, and suddenly became riveted upon a single dot in the sky. Quite a bright dot actually. He knew that dot. He had given that dot a sound wolloping when he was younger.

"KELVIN."

The boy was startled by Sojun's voice clomping its way into his mind. "Is that... is that him, father?"

"YES. FAR THE BETTER FOR WELL I MIGHT ADD. HE USED HIS TIME HERE WELL, AND I SUSPECT HE WILL BE QUITE A FORMIDABLE WARRIOR."

"Speaking of warriors, did you see who is working as the sentinel of the Jedi?"

"BARON SKYE IS MORE CUNNING THAN I THOUGHT. LET THE MONSTER'S OWN HUNGER SERVE THE PRESERVATION OF BALANCE, DESPITE HIS ABHORRENT METHODS. PITY I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT MYSELF."

"He will know."

"I KNOW. HE IS SUPPOSED TO. HIM AND THE REST OF THE TRIAD."

"I am going to go tell the others."

"PLEASE DO. DOUBTLESS MASAKI WILL BE NEEDING A HEARTY NAP WHEN HE RETURNS."

The voice faded, and Kelvin trotted off for the Jedi temple. Of course, a short trot was somewhere approaching mach three for the fourteen year old. He jogged through the main entrance and began looking for Alexander Masaki. Kelvin found the elder Masaki, watching several padawans spar in a gymnasium type structure, with Big Maxie hovering nearby, watching.

Maxie and Kelvin traded looks of extreme distaste, and Kelvin came up close to Alexander. "Mister Masaki... Daniel is back," he whispered.

I reached the town in good time and decided to head to the local wretched hive of scum and villainy that is the Rancor Pit. From there, as I snapped my fingers for a drink, I could see what I could do for the time being. On a bulletin board, I noticed several different items. Bounties wanted dead or alive, Imperials wanted dead or alive, some sort of wormhole project for kids, etcetera. All in all, I suppose I would have to start making some cash soon. Even if it comes from unscrupulous means...

-----

Few things could surprise the ancient Jedi Master and Patriarch Alexander Masaki. This was one of them, as his cup of rice tea was nearly dropped in shock. Actually, it did drop, but telekinesis stopped it from smashing into pieces. He composed himself quickly before the Padawans noticed.

"A-are you sure, Kelvin?" Alex whispered back. "My word..."

I've figured it out, as I drank up my next amount of drink. I will build a new identity for myself. Buy up ninja gear from Konoha, get a good pair of blasters (I particularly like the Westar-40 model, the upgraded version of the -34), build a lightsaber, and then get a ship, not necessarily in that order. In short, I would become a bounty hunter, tasked to hunt down and capture or kill whoever my employees wish (within reason, of course). Daniel Masaki, until the time is right, will disappear and in his place comes...Darth Maul. Just kidding. Seriously, I would become Jake McNeil, bounty hunter and Mysterious Ninja Dude extraordinare!

But first, I have to get off this rock. I left without paying anything via teleportation and then I headed towards the hangar bay to steal a ship. I shrugged and went to a small A-wing. The owner wasn't around, so I used the Force to open the cockpit and hot-wire the ship. Now I have a ship that works! I took it out of here, into space, and into hyperspace before the owner knew what had happened. Now, off to execute my plan!

"Yes, Mister Masaki, I am sure. I saw his spark return myself. He is some distance away, but getting closer..."

"Is there a problem here?" Maximillian asked with a suspicious glare as the two Jedi separated.

"No, no issue here. We are merely discussing something about car insurance."

Maxie gave Kelvin an obligatory scowl, then made a show of clacking his sharklike teeth in the boy's general direction. Kelvin merely shrugged in response.

"Daddy says access denied."

"One day he ain't gonna be able to protect you anymore, and may he have mercy on your soul if you taunt the wrong person after that."

"That day is not today, Maximillian. Return to your vigil."

Maxie hissed at Kelvin, then gave Alex a stare that seemed to say something along the lines of "You're only alive because you're bait," then left the room, likely to kick something.

Kelvin returned to Alex Masaki and continued, "I am unaware of the planet he is on. I know what direction he was in, and I know a vague estimate of distance, but I am afraid that my grasp of galactic cartography is somewhat dwarfed by someone of your... experience. Perhaps you would assist me in discerning his general location?"

Now, even Alex could sense his eldest grandson's signature. He smiled. Everything changes now...

"He was in the Outer Rim, but now is heading towards...here." Alex said. "I don't know what's he planning now, but what I believe is he's aiming for the southern hemisphere. The Shinobi Continent, in other words."

He was right, as usual. I took a couple of hours in hyperspace to go over the plan and found nothing wrong with it (except morally, but hey, I do what I need to). Then I reverted, close enough that Old Alex could sense me, but away from the Jedi Academy, since I'm not quite ready to reveal my return just yet.

So I headed towards Konohagekure, the shinobi nation with the largest spaceport and slid into a docking port after sending for clearance. Once I landed, I disembarked and began to go about my business of meeting another old friend: the Hokage Tsunade...