Chapter 69

0001 - Tempro
0003 - Conner- Thomas
0097 - Ace - Zimmel
0098 - Lucy
0101 - Shelby (mother ship)
0125 - Lars
0200 - Ellen
0301 - Rodrick
0403 - Johnathon
0667 - Marco - Brown
0778 - Jan
0798 - Celeste - Shelby (human)
0805 - Toran
0808 - Radella
0908 - Tara - Mara

Ungrown - unnumbered

2 - onboard Shelby, in Re-gen
0250 Tendra
1000 - Sherry
0999 - Zan - still lost

Rescued from Tendraxians

6 on Shelby
8 on Lucy

Known and OR numbered

0501 – Thaddeus

???? - Lena

In a low gruntal growl, Kimon stated, “so Jonah Kimison,” Kimon stated. “You survived the attack. It figures, pure evil is never easy to destroy.”

The smiling scarred man’s face twisted into one of rage as he also growled. “I am no such weak, pathetic piece of garbage as that insult to the family. That bastard that sits on the throne, is just as bad. Though,” here the smile returned to his features. “After I am done, he will wish he had died that day as well as the rest of you.”

Here Jonah took a defensive stance. “If you are no Kimison, then what is the name of that, which will no longer exist after this day?” Kimon asked doing his best to fight the rising blood lust.

“Since you won’t live after today, I see no harm in telling you I am Jonah Macley. Son, of the finest assassin ever to rise in the galaxy. How one with as pitiful skills as yours defeated her, is a mystery. One that I will gladly let pass after I avenge my mother.” Jonah growled to Kimon.

Kimon was still fighting to keep the blood lust under control though, he was quickly losing the battle. Jonah could see this as another, more sinister smile, spread across his lips. His mother had taught him in secret for years, grooming him for the day that, he would be called upon to rid the galaxy of this trash.

Laughing he stared at Kimon, no honor, no clan, well not much honor. Killing his mother had restored most of the clan’s honor, though with her son alive, his own honor was still nonexistent.

Yes Jonah thought, this would be a great day. When he beat him, he would rise in status. No one in the galaxy would dare challenge him. If, on the very small chance that Kimon could beat him, the blood lust would make sure that he never had honor again.

His smile growing larger Jonah took a step toward Kimon then stopped. Looking behind Kimon Jonah nodded his head. So, there was another master out there headed this way. Not as strong as Kimon though a definite force to deal with. Perhaps he should delay a bit to let the other join the party? Yes he thought, I should delay.

“So, afraid to face me as a true master?” When Kimon momentarily had a look of confusion, Jonah continued. “I refer to the master that I feel rapidly approaching our position.”

Kimon nodded then stated, “I know not who they are, nor do I care.” Taking a blood red belt from a pouch at his side he laid it behind him. Then he took off his clan medallion laying it on top of the belt.

A truly evil smile drifted across Jonah’s face as he nodded. Reaching in the pouch at his side he removed a red belt, laying it behind him. Reaching in his shirt he grasp, then removed the family crest medallion laying it on the belt.

“Hmmmm a blood feud fight,” Johan stated an even wider smile twisting on his features. “Truly fitting, something no master nor student of the art would interfere in.” Bowing slightly Jonah stated, “I believe you.”

Kimon nodded as he sat crossed legged going into meditation. Jonah also nodded as he sat though meditation was not his intention.

Jonah smiled producing several throwing knives, launching them at Kimon. When each was snatched from the air, Jonah chuckled a moment.

He thought a moment then produced several Shuriken (throwing stars}. These were on the ground in front of Kimon just as fast.

Jonah nodded a moment then pulled a bow and quiver from a nearby pack. Notching several arrows Jonah started to fire with increasing speed. Within moments there were a good many broken arrows on the ground beside Kimon.

Still not having opened his eyes Kimon sat as if nothing had happened. Jonah now stood reaching over to his pack drawing a slightly curved Katana out of the scabbard that held it. With a satisfied smile he approached Kimon rapidly, swinging the Katana.

To his slight surprise Kimon never moved except to capture the blade between his hands. Taking a breath, Kimon then slightly twisted his hands to the side, effectively snapping the blade in two.

Kimon pulled his hands back then pushed forward with them not touching Jonah, knocking the man back as if he’d been punched.

Now a genuine smile dominated Jonah’s features. “I see that you are far beyond the basics. Time we stepped this up.”

With that Jonah sprang to his feet rapidly advancing toward Kimon. Seeming to disappear, Jonah appeared a moment later beside Kimon. Without rising nor opening his eyes Kimon rapidly blocked each and every blow Jonah threw at him.

Jonah moved past Kimon stopping out of reach. Turning back Jonah smiled, so the dishonored one was keeping up with his training. This was actually going to be enjoyable, plus he might even have a challenge for the first time in years.

“An actual challenge, good killing you won’t be as much a trial in boredom as I thought it would be.” Jonah stated an even larger twisted smile dominated his features.

In a low gruntal growl Kimon responded, “no boredom, just the coming death that will be yours.”

Shocked a moment that Kimon had held the blood lust off, Jonah finally laughed. “You are far more delusional than I thought you were. Not to worry, soon I will end your pathetic life, then you’ll have no more worries.”

“No worries, the second disgrace of the art shall be no more.” Kimon growled as he felt the approaching master move ever closer. I need to finish this before the other can interfere.

With a flip Kimon was on his feet facing Jonah. Taking a defensive stance, a sneer appeared on Kimon’s face. Stepping forward he and Jonah appeared to vanish. For the next ten minutes they went at it with great intensity.

Finally they both separated as a lone figure appeared at the edge of the clearing. Jonah was about to step forward when he recognized the figure, hesitating.

Kimon too stopped, a look of great shock and surprise on his face. Turning toward Jonah, Kimon nodded.

“So, it appears that I will restore my honor today after all. Pity that you, still will not live past this day.” Kimon said a wide smile dominating his features.

Jonah turned toward Kimon when he started speaking. Now a wide smile was dominating Jonah’s features also.

“You think that I will allow you to calm, losing the blood lust? You are gravely mistaken. This won’t happen as won’t your honor being restored.” Looking at the lone figure Jonah pointed. “This is a blood feud; you can not interfere. Under penalty of death.” Here Jonah looked the lone figure up and down. “Don’t fear I will correct that mistake as soon as I kill the dishonored one.”

A powerful female voice responded. “I will not interfere in the blood feud, though I will not have too. The one you face is far more a master than you will ever be. Here the female started to laugh. “You are already dead; you are just too stupid to realize it.”

Jonah roared as he rushed Kimon, who clipped Jonah near the joint of his right arm. Skidding to a stop, Jonah could only look at his loosely hanging arm. Hitting several points on his chest, then his arm, he nodded when he felt feeling return to the limb.

“Very good distraction, worthy of a true master of the Jitaku world and your clan. Though I am afraid that you only delayed the death of the dishonored one.” Jonah sneered at the female.

With a harsh laugh the female replied, “how can you speak of that which you know nothing of? How you knew of the blood feud is a mystery to this one.”

“I know far more than either of you think, a fact that I will prove, when I kill first, the dishonored one, then you!” Jonah stated as he moved rapidly to renew his attacks on Kimon.

The female sat cross legged as both males continued their battle. This might take a great deal of time she thought. The one that was fighting Kimon is by far more skilled than she at first thought.

A few moments later there was a thud, followed by a grunt as Kimon was propelled backwards. Landing near the female, Kimon looked at her then nodded. Flipping up Kimon reentered the fight.

Again, it was only a few moments later when, there was another thud and grunt as this time Jonah was flying backwards. Smashing into a tree at the edge of the clearing, Jonah sprung back heading rapidly toward Kimon.

The female gasped as she recognized a banned move of martial arts. Building speed Jonah started spinning then pulled another Katana seemingly from thin air. A moment later Kimon smashed Jonah to the ground hearing a loud crack, though in the process he sacrificed his left side.

Reaching down Kimon extracted the sword that was now impaled on his left side. Pinching a spot near the hole Kimon nodded as the blood flow slowed to a mere drip.

Stumbling a moment, Kimon again gained a defensive stance. When the female started to advance toward him Kimon held up his hand.

“Do not, we are not finished ‘til one surrenders or is dead.” Turning toward a struggling Jonah, Kimon asked. “I ask now, do you cede? Need we to finish to a conclusion?”

Jonah finally stood staring daggers at Kimon. “Cede? To the likes of you? Never, if you were worthy then I might consider it. I will see you in Jigoku before that happens!” Jonah spit out as he started a spin move towards Kimon.

Almost expecting this, Kimon stayed still ‘til the last moment then just side stepped. Fully committed, Jonah was unable to stop or adjust fast enough. Pulling up short, Jonah started at Kimon with a soul consuming hatred.

“You will never defeat me, goodbye dishonored one.” Jonah stated as he rushed up to Kimon, then started to throw a series of three rapid punches.

Kimon nodded as he spun away from the first, then the second set. Smiling, Kimon actually surprised Jonah when he started a series of three rapid hits of his own.

Kimon grimaced when he heard and felt the sickening crack of first one then a second rib. With a gasp Jonah was propelled backward from the force of the hits.

Gasping, the look of extreme hatred on Jonah’s face grew more intense. “No one can beat, let alone counter the triple, triple.”

Kimon could only shake his head. “Your mother thought the same thing before, I ended her dishonorable life. Cede now, I no longer wish your destruction.”

“NO!” Jonah almost screamed out. Quickly he withdrew a tanto plunging it into his stomach ripping it across.

“So, at last you have your honor. Relish it while you can.” With that Jonah dropped forward.

Kimon took a deep breath then fell to his knees. Finally, he had his honor back, he could once again face his clan, his family. Looking over to the female that was moving rapidly toward him he nodded.

“So, you are here to lead me to Tengoku. That is good, I am finally with my honor again, as is my family.” Kimon started speaking though his voice was growing weaker by the moment. “I had hoped to leave them proof that I had restored it to ... to,” Kimon was saying as he finally let the darkness claim him.

The female had picked up Kimon about to move out when she stopped nodding her head. A moment later they were both in the infirmary.

The female blinked when she saw Daniel Norman standing before her. “Put him on the bio-bed now! If we are to save him, you will have to use the Iyashino enerugi (healing energy). I am not as good with it as you are but I will contribute.”

Wide eyed the female hesitated as Norman took Kimon from her. “I ... how?”

“Let’s go, he won’t last much longer. His Inochiryoku (life force) is growing weak.” Norman stated trying to remain calm.

Startled into action, the female extended her hands over Kimon’s chest. Norman grasp her shoulders as first her hands then her entire being started to glow. This moved up Norman’s hands and arms. Slowly, very slowly it crept to his shoulders then started to cover his chest.

The female’s mouth dropped open as she felt the massive boost from Norman. A slow smile crept onto her lips as Kimon’s eyes suddenly snapped open. Looking at the female, then Norman he groaned. Damn it, Norman was never going to let him live this down.