Arrogance & Madness: It's Lonely Out in Space
03 May 2018Jubei Himura
September 24th, 3303 - Somewhere on the edge of the Formidine Rift
“Honk, scoop, jump. Honk, scoop, jump. Jump, jump, scream. Honk, scoop, jump.”
Jubei Himura sat in the seat of the C.N.V. Toranogin, a military green Diamondback Explorer that he purchased for long range trips. He had spent the last couple of weeks out beyond the frontier and he was getting antsy to return back to Kamadhenu, back to the Chapterhouse of Inquisition. However, the return trip back wasn’t going to happen until he did a little exploration in the Formidine Rift.
“Hey Jub, we need a favour,” the Inquisitor contorted his face as he mocked his contact from the Children of Raxxla. “We need you to go to the middle of goddamn nowhere and look for a possible piece of equipment that was left behind. I swear to Space-Christ, if I didn’t need to convince Palin that I was an experienced explorer, I wouldn't be here!”
He pulled the throttle down to nothing as he positioned the ship close to the main star and began fuel scooping. The Diamondback Explorer, or DBX for short, was a great ship for exploration due to its large jump range and heat resistance. The hull and power core were specifically designed to protect against the extreme environments that closely surrounded a star. That resistance is what kept the Toranogin from burning up in it’s close proximity to the system’s red dwarf.
It wasn’t all bad, the time in solitude allowed the Inquisitor time to meditate and unwind from his strenuous missions as a Chapterhouse Inquisitor. An Inquisitor’s job was to rid the Empire of corruption. Missions ranged from diplomacy to direct combat. Jubei himself was especially good at infiltration and combat. Thus, the alone time was a boon to Jubei, even if he didn’t fully appreciate it.
Thankfully, he was able to keep himself busy enough to stave off the effects of space-madness. After honking and scooping he would check the system map to see if there were any planetary bodies of note. If he found any ammonia, high metal content, or earth-like planets, he would fly close enough to let the Detailed Surface Scanner do its job and then jump to the next system. Occasionally, if a planet had one or two G’s, the Inquisitor would land and do as much training as was possible in his Remlok flight suit.
“Fuel scooping complete,” the ship’s virtual assistant reported.
“Thanks Verity,” Jubei absent-mindedly replied.
“You’re welcome, Jub-Jub”
“Space-Christ, I regret letting Sera ‘improve’ you.”
Unfortunately it wasn’t to last. The space-madness was slowly getting the better of him. Of course, it didn’t help that the mischievous Seraphina had altered the reactions and overall attitude programming of the ship’s virtual intelligence. The once cold but informative voice was now snarky and sassy, subtly poking fun at Jubei at the worst times.
“Contact, engines powering off.” Verity sounded through the Remlok comms. The Inquisitor had engaged his helmet so that he could, in his words, go for a walk. “Are you going for a space-walk? You shouldn’t go for space-walks, Jub-Jub.”
“Yes I should. I like to take enthusiastic walks about the planets,” Jubei snapped back.
“Where you smash rocks with your fists; ruining the suit that protects you and endangering your life.”
“Very enthusiastic walks.”
“I would remind you that materials for the replenishment of your Remlok suit’s nanos are not common in the bubble, even less so out here.”
“Duly noted. I’m going to picture your face on one of the rocks I smash.”
“I don’t have a face,” Verity corrected. “I’m a virtual assist- and he’s gone.”
These rounds of back and forth continued consistently throughout the long journey back to civilized space. Anyone observing Jubei’s behaviour could see the stages of space madness progressing slowly. The once calm and collected warrior was deteriorating into an arrogant madman.
As the warrior descended into the space madness he started losing the self control he needed to keep the darker aspects of his mind at bay. Every warrior, at some point, has to face themselves and decide the reason they fight: compassion and protection, or power and domination. Jubei already made his choice to protect others. However, becoming strong means fighting against the corruption of one's own arrogance. This is especially true in the Tensatsuken martial arts, where one trains his or her own body to become a powerful weapon. This internal struggle is more difficult and chronic in especially gifted fighters.
Thanks to the space madness, it was a battle Jubei was losing.
* * * * *
September 28th, 3303 - Bodger's World, Shinigami System, Imperial Space
The melodic chirping of local birds accented the low rumble of the waterfall in a wondrous symphony of nature. The water fell from high off the mountain, cascading into a pool at it’s base. A lone man knelt in meditation on an outcrop close to the falls, unmoving and solemn. There was a sense of peace that surrounded him, causing the more timid wildlife to draw near and relax.
Seijuro Hattori, Grandmaster of the Imperial Hattori Clan, was contemplating the disturbing news from the Pleiades Sector. The Grandmaster found it acceptable, and indeed, pleasing that powers around the galaxy were finally working together to form AEGIS. The hope for peace grew and was celebrated greatly in the Shinigami system. However, that changed when AEGIS started concentrating on military weapons development. Research and communication was pushed toward a more destructive end and all hopes for peace were dashed in the face of what could be a second Thargoid war.
The wizened Grandmaster was so deep in thought that he did not notice the animals scatter and the wind stop, leaving only an abnormal silence. A lone man walked out from the foliage and approached Seijuro. This person carried a much darker aura about him that contrasted the Grandmaster's peaceful serenity. The man stopped behind the elder Hattori and stomped his foot on the ground, rudely announcing his presence.
“Takeshi,” the Grandmaster responded calmly. “It is rare for you come down from your sumit.”
“You feel it, do you not, brother?” Takeshi’s deep voice rumbled. “The galaxy will be at war soon.”
Seijuro sighed and rose to meet his brother. “Unfortunately it does seem unavoidable.”
“Where is the boy?”
“I do not know where he is exactly. The last communication I received from him said that he had made it out to the Formidine Rift. I would wager a guess that he is on the path home.”
“You would be wise to check the communications coming from Kamadhenu more often, instead of worrying about events that you do not control.”
Seijuro raised an eyebrow. “It is odd to hear you speak of communications.”
“The boy’s pet sent me a message directly,” Takeshi responded with a devilish grin.
“Veronica is Jubei’s student, not his pet,” the Grandmaster patiently corrected. “I find it highly suspect that she would contact you, brother.”
“Your head is up in space these days,” the grim man’s eyes flared in anger. “You have become unfocused and distracted in your worry! She could not reach you. Thus, I was the second person the boy instructed to contact in your absence!”
It was rare for Takeshi to have the moral high ground on Seijuro and the later felt a deep shame for letting his worry interfere with his duty. The brothers were like yin and yang (or in and yo as they would say). Seijuro concentrated on the warrior’s role in defending those who cannot defend themselves and the pursuit of peace. Takeshi on the other hand, lived for battle and violence. He was always seeking more physical power so that he may achieve victory with overwhelming strength.
Seijuro lowered his head. “I see.” He then straightened up and corrected his stance. ”Well then, Brother, show me the message.”
Takeshi produced a dataslate and tapped a few commands. The image of a visibly worried Veronica appeared on the screen.
“Takeshi-sama, I cannot reach Seijuro-sama so I’m contacting you. Sensei’s messages have become more and more disturbing. He sounds… well he’s starting to sound like you, but more arrogant and narcissistic. Uh, no offence.”
Seijuro chuckled. “It is as if she has met you.”
“Hmph,” Takeshi growled and continued the message.
“Anyway, Sensei constantly berates Admiral Patreus, talking about fighting him to the death to prove his worth. When I tell him it's not a good idea, he states that there’s no one who can stop him. Here, listen.”
The screen switched to an image of Jubei bearing his own disturbingly devilish grin.
“Hey Veronica, I want you to send word to Patreus. Tell him that if he is going to command the military, he's gonna to have to prove his worth to me! It’s time for him to put up or shut up. Oh, and by ‘shut up’, I mean die-”
Veronica’s voice interrupted over the comms, “Sensei, I don’t think the Empire will allow that. In fact, I think that’s treason.”
Jubei simply sat back and widened his grin. “Oh what are they going to do? Get that guy who can stop me? What was his name? Michael Mc-Doesn’t-Exist?”
The image flipped back to Veronica’s face, now with tears in her eyes. “I don’t know what to do when he gets back to Imperial space. He’s losing his damn mind! Please, you have to do something!”
Takeshi shut the dataslate off and turned to leave. A hand on his shoulder stopped him before he could take a step.
The Grandmaster spoke with all the authority given to him as grandmaster and as a patron of the Empire. “I will meet him as he comes back to the bubble. I can stop him and make him snap out- hurk!”
Takeshi’s fist was firmly planted into his brother’s abdomen, causing the Grandmaster to slump forward. The darker sibling let his brother fall to the ground with a thud, and calmly walked away.
“No brother, you would not stand a chance as you are now.. Stay with the clan and refocus yourself.” Takeshi’s deep voice carried through the thick foliage as he made his way toward the clan’s hangar. “And, I will not waste this opportunity to test the boy’s killer instinct.”