True Limitations, Part One Author Psykorabbit2000 Scene 1 Chairman Fritz's office, Genus FRITZ is sitting in his chair and watching a video. His face is grim and concerned as he watches the screen. He hits stop and looks up as the door opens. CAPTAIN BUCKY O"HARE and FIRST MATE JENNY walk in and stand before his desk. Fritz (calmly) Bucky and Jenny, glad you could come on short notice. Bucky "It was a weird message. What's wrong and what do you need of my crew?" Fritz (looking at Jenny) "Jenny, what do you remember about the male Aldebaran who helped protect the throne?" Jenny looks at Fritz and thinks for a second. Jenny (quietly) "He was unusual and wielded a different type of magic. Why?" Frit (leaning forward in his chair) "Three weeks ago, we detected some unusual energy readings from a dead planet just outside of toad space. We sent a crew to investigate it three days ago. This morning, we received a video feed from the moon." Bucky (concerned) "And?" Fritz (sadly) "The crew, the security, and the scientist were killed." Bucky and Jenny just stand there shocked. Bucky (stunned) "How?" Fritz turns his screen around and pushes a button. Jenny and Bucky watched as it plays. On the screen, there are several mammals walking around and examining some ruins. One of them point to a marking and another touches it. Suddenly, several shadow tendrils leap from various shadows and attacks the mammals. Bucky and Jenny watch in horror as the mammals are torn apart. Fritz pushes a button as the screams stop. He turns the screen around and sighs. Fritz (quietly) "We sent some of our best to watch over them. A tiger lived long enough to send the video. We are assuming she died as well." (he looks at Jenny) "I think we need to talk to that male. Can you make it happen?" Jenny (swallowing gently) "I can try, chairman." Fritz (firmly) "Try your hardest, Jenny. We have detected those same signals on planets closer to Genus." Scene 2 A Small Pond in the Forest, Aldebaran KINJITE is standing in a stance facing a tree. His feet are at shoulder width. His arms extended in front of him. The right is bent at the elbow and under his left arm. His left is slightly bent up, his palm facing forward. His eye is closed and his breathes are slow. ONI is seen floating nearby, silently observing the black furred Aldebaran. Oni (patiently) "You will know when to strike. You will feel it in your soul, Kinjite. When you are ready, perform the motions i have instructed to you." A few seconds go by. Suddenly, Kinjite brings his left hand around, bending his elbow and placing his palm up. His right hand bends, putting the palm outward, and snaps it forward. He strikes the tree with a loud slap. He is still for a few seconds and yanks his hand back. Kinjite (yelling) "Frell! That hurt!" There is a slight chuckle from Oni, as Kinjite shakes his hand, trying to ease the pain. Oni floats over and hovers in front of Kinjite. Oni (amused) "You weren't ready. You can't rush it." Kinjite (looking at the shadow) "It felt right. What am I doing wrong?" Oni "Feels right and is right are two different things, Kinjite. You have mastered the physical side of your chosen style, but you are weak in the spiritual and mental side." Kinjite looks at the tree and sees the spot he struck at. The bark is stripped off. He shakes his head and walks over to the pond. He sits on the shore and looks into the water. Oni floats over and hovers beside him. Kinjite (skipping a rock across the water) "I just can't get it. We have spent the last four months practicing. Granted we had to hide form the Sisterhood at times, but not enough to interfere with the training. What am I missing?' Oni (calmly) "Kinjite, have you noticed anything different about yourself lately? Say in the last three weeks?" Kinjite looks at the shadow and thinks a second. His eye scans his arms and feet. He notices that his fingers and toes are twitching. Kinjite "Yeah, I can't seem to sit still." Oni "How do you feel and what do you feel?" Kinjite looks at the shadow again . He stands up and paces along the shore. Kinjite "I feel like something is wrong, but not on the planet. I don't know why, but something is calling to me. I feel it in the shadows. It feels like extra energy and excitement." Oni (quietly) "When is the last time you felt something like that?" Kinjite suddenly stops and spins around to face the shadow. Kinjite (stunned) "When you and I were bound to together as teacher and student! What's going on?" Oni (quietly) "The book that you used has surfaced again and another has used it." Kinjite (shocked) "You mean the Ancient Text? We need to tell the Queen!" Oni quickly fuses with Kinjite and he runs into a nearby shadow. Scene 3 Royal Palace, Aldebaran QUEEN KATRINA is sitting on her throne and just finished listening to Jenny and Bucky explain the situation. Queen (calmly) "That is grave. I do admit, it sounds like Kinjite's magic. Unfortunately, I do not have a way to contact him." Jenny "Is there a way to search for him? Chairman Fritz thinks he may know something about what is going on." Queen (shaking her head) "Kinjite's magic is an old style. My grandmother was the last to know any spells about it. It is exceptionally different than our styles. It can be stronger or weaker than our magic. It is dependent on the user. I have had the Sisterhood try to ..." Suddenly, Kinjite leaps out of the shadow and accidentally knocks over a stunned guard. Kinjite (quickly helping her up) "Sorry! Sorry!" (spins around and sees the Queen watching him) "Your highness, I think there is a problem!" Bucky (placing a paw on his blaster) "You don't say?" The Queen slowly stands and steps down beside Bucky and Jenny. Queen (calmly) "What is it, Kinjite?" Kinjite (trying to compose himself) "The Ancient Text....it has returned to the physical realm.....another has used it!" Jenny (stepping forward) "What do you mean? What Ancient Text? Do you know what is...?" Kinjite shoves past her and stands before the Queen. The Queen sees his eye dancing wildly. Queen (firmly) "Guards, leave us!" The guards look at each other and back at the Queen, concerned. Jenny nods to them. They nod back and bow as they leave. The door shuts and the Queen looks into Kinjite's eye. Queen (firmly) "What are you saying Lance? You need to take a deep breath and speak slowly." Jenny steps up on one side of Kinjite and Bucky stands on the other. Kinjite takes a couple of deep breathes and shakes his head to clear it. Kinjite (looking at the Queen) "When I started learning the magic I wield, a book was used to teach me the beginning ritual. When the ritual was completed, Oni was bound to me as a teacher. The book dissolved and returned to the world of darkness, which is were I was sealed away. The only time this book comes to the physical world is when it is looking for another pupil. It has returned and someone has completed the ritual." The Queen looks into his eye and sees the worry there. Jenny (confused) "You speak as if the book is intelligent. How can that be?" Kinjite (looks at her) "It is intelligent. It picks the pupils. It is never found by accident. When a pupil matches what it is looking for, it presents itself to the pupil and starts the ritual." Bucky "What is it that this books looks for in a pupil?" Kinjite (looking at him) "Extreme hatred and anger." Jenny "But you used it and you told the Queen that you are going to stand by the throne, despite what happened." Kinjite (looking at the Queen) "I was mad, because the Queen was injured and I wasn't able to protect her. I hated the Sisterhood for stopping me from trying to become good enough to protect her." Queen (quietly) "And you overcame your hatred?" Kinjite nods and looks at the ground. Suddenly he grips his head and collapses to his knees. Bucky tries to catch him, but is knocked back by black lightning, as is Jenny. Queen (rushes forward) "Lance!" Suddenly Kinjite throws his head back and a scream of pure hatred and anger rips through his body. Oni is forcibly yanked from his body flung across the room. Kinjite (Screaming) "No! I won't answer! I don't care if you are the new student! I am not that cat anymore! I don't serve the Ancient Text anymore! AAARRRRGGGGHHHH11" He suddenly falls to the ground in a quivering pile at the Queen's feet. Oni slowly floats back over and hover nears him as well. Jenny slowly stands and shakes her head. Bucky (shaking his head as well) "What was that?" Jenny slowly kneels beside the motionless body and feels for a pulse. There is a brief zap as a small black lighting bolt strikes her finger. She pulls back as the tip of her glove smokes. A small hole is seen as is her white fur under it. Queen (looking at Oni) "I am assuming you are the one called Oni. What happened to him?" Oni (quietly) "The Text did not return to the world of darkness, after picking a pupil. The new pupil used it to reach Kinjite. He resisted it. He is overcharged with the shadow energies he practices with. It is the Text's punishment for refusing it." Queen "What can we do to help him?" A small black tendril crawls out form under the throne and reaches for Kinjite. Jenny's eyes narrow as she watches it. It touches Kinjite and it throbs for a few seconds. It then withdraws back into the shadows. Oni "He should be safe to touch now." Jenny slowly touched his neck and feels a strong pulse At her touch, his eye opens. He slowly stands, with a helping hand from Bucky. He sways slightly and quickly recovers. Oni gently wraps around him again as he gains his bearings. Queen (concerned) "Lance, are you alright?" Kinjite (looking at his feet) "Yes, your highness." (raises his eye to look at the Queen) "There is a war brewing in the Shadows. A war that is targeting a planet called Genus." Scene3 On board Bucky's ship the Valkyrie, Leaving Aldebaran Bucky and Jenny are sitting in the cockpit, as the frigate leaves orbit. Bucky (looking at Jenny) What is it Jenny? You've been quiet ever since we left." Jenny looks up at him and sighs. Jenny (looking down the hatch, to the lower levels) "I've been an order by the Queen, that involves Kinjite. It is one I am not happy about." Bucky (concerned) "What? Did she order you to kill him or something? I know he seems arrogant at times, but I don't think he should be killed." Jenny shakes her head and looks back at her controls. Jenny (thinking) Lower levels... Kinjite is sitting in the lower deck, looking out a window to the planet. He sighs and leans back against the wall. DEADEYE looks over from his gunner chair. Dead Eye "Something bugging you?" Kinjite (looking at DeadEye) "Just a gut feeling." Dead Eye spins his chair around and looks at Kinjite. Dead Eye "What feeling is that, matey?" Kinjite (looking at Aldebaran) "I just got this feeling that I won't be coming back to my planet." Dead Eye looks at the black furred cat and shakes his head. He spins the chair around and looks ahead. Scene 4 Chairman's Office, Genus Fritz is reading a paper, as the Righteous Crew walks in, with Kinjite in tow. Fritz looks up and nods to them. He looks at Kinjite. Fritz (calmly) "You must be the male I have heard about." Kinjite (tipping his head forward in a slight bow) "I am Kinjite, The Forbidden One of Aldebaran. I have been informed that you have some questions for me." Fritz points to a wall mounted monitor. The video of the scientist plays on it. All the crew, except Bucky and Jenny, stare in shock. ENGINEER MIKE MARISON swallows loudly as he watches it. Mike (stunned) "Who caused that?" Fritz (looking at Kinjite) "That is the question I would like answered, if possible. Kinjite, I have been informed your magic is the same style as that. What can you tell me?" Kinjite (looking at Fritz) "Not much I am afraid. I can tell you that who caused this is a mutual enemy to both of us. The individual has already made an attempt to take control of me." Fritz nods and indicates to the paper he has in his hand. Fritz "We have isolated the signatures of the magic. Unfortunately, it has moved since the video has gotten into our paws. What can you tell us about the type of magic? It is not one of the Sisterhood's style, that much I know." Kinjite "It is not one of the sisterhood styles. It is a style that has disappeared several thousands of years ago. It attunes the receiver to an element. The wielder is bound to a teacher and learns the style. Though the core of the magic is fundamentally the same, it varies according to each style and wielder." Jenny "Varies? How?" Kinjite (pointing to Mike) "I don't sense any magic from him. Therefore, he would be able to learn this magic. Since him and I are two different cats with two different upbringins and effects on our lives, our ways of wielding the magic would be different. Where I am heavily geared towards physical combat, he might be more into stealth and subterfuge.. Apparently, the new wielder is also heavy on the combat side. The difference between my form and from what I have seen and heard, is that this new individual is using his or her power to promote death and destruction. I use my style to defend the throne of Aldebaran. I will kill if I am left with no choice. The video shows that this individual seems to kill for pleasure." (looks at Fritz) "You say it moved since you got the video? Where too?" Fritz punches a few keys on the computer panel. The wall screen changes and shows a star map. A red streak appears, crossing a couple of planets and seems to be heading straight to Genus. It stops on a moon just out of Genus's orbit. Jenny (looking at Kinjite) "Is this person using the shadow trick you use, to travel across planets and space?" Kinjite (shaking his head) "That shouldn't be possible. I am only able to travel through shadows on a planet." Fritz (walking around the desk) "Can you stop whoever it is? If they take Genus, they can attack anywhere in the Aniverse, without anyone to try and slow them." Kinjite looks at the group. His eye turns to the map and he studies it. Kinjite (quietly) "I don't know." Scene 5 Landing Pad, Genus Kinjite slides out of the shadows and steps up to the edge of the pad. He sits down and hangs his legs over the side. Oni separates from him and floats in front of him. Oni "Kinjite, what is wrong? You are losing control of your emotions for some reason." Kinjite (looking over the edge) "Oni, I don't know if I can beat this threat. It isn't like I am fighting a bunch of renegade females attacking the Queen. This is another Elemental Runner. Plus the Ancient Text is still in their possession." Oni (quietly) "Kinjite, you are going to doubt yourself to much and it will effect your powers. I understand your fear, but you need to stay focused. Don't think of trying to take both the new wielder and the Ancient Text on at the same time. You have to keep your mind focused." Kinjite's ears suddenly twitch and he turns around. Mike is slowly walking up and looking at the black cloud in front of Kinjite. Mike (hesitantly) "What is that?" Kinjite "Her name is Oni. She is my teacher." Mike stands beside Kinjite. He looks at the black male cat and then to the black cloud. Mike "What *is* she?" Oni "I am an Aldebaran female who achieved mastery of the same style as Kinjite. And who might you be?" Mike (stunned) "A female? UH yeah, my name is Mike Marison. I'm the engineer of the Righteous Indignation." Oni "It is nice to meet you, Mike." (focuses on Kinjite) "You should get some rest. The other individual could arrive at any time and you need to relax to encounter them with a clear mind." Kinjite nods and stands up. Oni slowly fuses with him again. Kinjite (looking at Mike) "See you in the morning, Mike." With that, he dives off the pad into a free fall. A tendril shoots out and anchors into a nearby shadow, yanking him into it. Mike just stands there, shocked at what he just saw. Mike (stunned) "I need a drink." Scene 6 The Next Morning The sun is just starting to rise. Some birds are heard singing. Suddenly, the peacefulness is shattered by sirens. Various crews rush out of apartments. Suddenly a fuel tank explodes and shakes the landing pads. Several smaller ships slide off and smash into buildings. On the street... Bucky dives aside as a piece of rubble falls to the street. He spots Jenny running towards him. Jenny (yelling over the noise) What the frell is going on!?" Bucky (yelling back) "I'm not sure! The landing pads are hit though. The Screaming Mimi is the only one airborne!" Suddenly another fuel tank explodes. Bucky and Jenny look at each other and run towards the Security building. Another street... Several mammal children are running down the street, covering their heads with their arms. A female tiger and a female hare are with them. Suddenly a chunk of a building drops towards them. A young female hare trips and falls to the ground. She looks up and sees the rubble falling towards her. She screams and covers her head. Suddenly a large pair of shadowy hands shoot out of the darkness and envelope her. The rubble smashes onto the hands and buries them. The Female hare runs up and stops in horror. Suddenly the rubble shifts and parts. The young hare climbs out, with Kinjite beside her. She runs over to the adult hare. Kinjite (lookin at the adult hare) "Get somewhere safe!" The hares nod and quickly run off. Kinjite turns and looks back at the various explosions and collapsing buildings. He points to a nearby shadow and a small tendril shoots into it. Kinjite (telepathically) Voice (telepathically) The tendril shatters and Kinjite stumbles back. He quickly composes himself and dives into a nearby shadow. Scene 7 Security Building Bucky and Jenny barge through the doors and into Fritz and Kadaf. Bucky (gasping) "Who's attacking?" Fritz (worried) "The energy signals are here! We have no clue how to fight this attacker." Suddenly, the ground shakes. Everyone looks out the window and sees a giant black robotic looking shape stomping down the street. Voice (booming form the robot) "Traitor! Show yourself coward! Or we will destroy this entire planet and show the true power of the Shadows!" Fritz (confused) "Traitor? Who is it talking about?" Jenny gasps as she looks out the window. Jenny (horrified) "Oh my stars! What is he doing?" Scene 8 Outside Kinjite slowly raises out of the ground, about seventy feet in front of the robot. Kinjite (yelling at the robot) "Show your true self, coward! Or are you so fearful, that you have to hide your face?!" There is a laughter from the robot. Its had parts down the middle and another male Aldebaran steps forward. Kinijte stuns there shocked. Male (mocking) "What's wrong, Kinjite? Thought you were the only male to study the Text?" Kinjite "Why are you attacking like this? These mammals didn't do a frelling thing to you!" Male (angrily) "They help those cursed females! That is more than enough reason to destroy them! Why are you trying to save them and the females who shun you?" Kinjite "I do what I feel is right!" Male (teasingly) "Protect those that imprisoned you? Did they have justification for what they did? Or did they do it because they feared you? You have the potential to be stronger than the whole Sisterhood and you bow your head to their cursed Queen! Why?" Kinjite stops himself from answering and glares at the male. The Shadow wrapping around him and growing darker. Male (laughing) "That's right! The Text told me that you *love* the Queen! Oh, that's so sweet! A love that you have held onto for four hundred years, like a foolish kitten! She is a female and she doesn't care for you the same! Don't worry, Kinjite! I'll show her how much you love her, right before I kill her!" Kinjite throws his head back and a battle cry rips from his throat. The shadows erupt around him and envelopes him. A giant feline form is shaped out of the shadows and leaps at the giant robot. Scene 9 Inside the Security Building Everyone looks at Jenny in confusion. Bucky "How much of that did you understand, Jen?" Jenny (shrugging) "I'm not sure. I'm guessing that this male hit a tender spot with Kinjite." Bucky looks out the window as the two shadowy giants slam into each other. They stagger back into a building and it collapses under their power. Bucky "I hope the planet will live through this." Scene 10 Outside The two giant forms wage a titanic battle through the city. Buildings shatter under them as if made of twigs. Blow after blow is landed, but it seems to have no effect. Kinjite (continues to fight) "This is stupid! We can't hurt each other and innocent lives are being killed! Why won't you cease?" Male (arrogantly) "They are beneath me and aren't worth taking note of! Why won't you side with the Text? It gave you the power to be greater than the females, but you refuse it!" Kinjite (yelling back) "It wants me to become a killing machine! I am not a killing machine!" Male (laughing) "So righteous and noble! I know you have killed females on our home world! You killed half of the Sisterhood when you got your powers! Just four months ago, you burned several females to death with your magic! And you say you are not a killing machine?! You are a fool!" The two giant forms continue to battle and tear through the city. Kinjite's form gets knocked over and sent through a building. The other stands over him, triumphantly. Male (laughing) "Face it, Kinjite! Death follows in your footsteps! Look around you, fool!" Kinjite looks around him. He sees the damaged waged in the war. His eye settles on a young female squirrel's body. It is crushed, as if by a giant foot. Sadness swells up in kinjite's heart at the sight. He starts to rise, but the other robot hold out its hand. Male (demanding) "Enough! You are not even worthy of the power of the shadows!" (a tendril slowly descends from the hand. It is wrapped around a female tiger, who is barely conscious.) "You say you are a noble defender? Her fate is in your paws! Remove the shadow armor and stand down or I will snap her in two right her and spray her blood and innards all over you! What will it be, fool?" Kinjite lays there for a second. A small speeder stops behind the other robot. Bucky and Jenny climb out, as well as Fritz and Kadaf. Male (impatiently) "Make a choice!" Kinjite takes a deep breath. The shadows seep away from him and he is soon standing in the middle of the wreckage. Male (arrogantly) "You are pathetic! I should have known what your choice would have been!" Suddenly, the robot steps forward and kicks Kinjite. He slams into a piece of a wall and smashes through it. Pain shoots through his back and he feels wetness along his back. He tries to get up, but a shadowy fist smashes down on him. It raises and Kijite is laying there, surrounded in blood, but breathing still. Male (conceitedly) "You don't deserve to have a master to teach you!" Suddenly, the shadowy form of Oni is ripped from Kinjite's body. She is sucked up into a tendril and vanishes. Kinjite's fur slowly returns to tan and his eye become emerald green. Male "But a deal is a deal." The robot drops the female tiger, right on Kinjite. Male (sourly) "You want your teacher and magic back? Come get them on the moon that I came from!" With that the robot vanishes into the shadows. The Female tiger slowly crawls off of Kinjite and looks down at him. The others run up . Bucky quickly feels for a pulse and finds a weak one. Jenny quickly calls for a medical crew. The Tiger sits by and gently hold onto Kinjite's paw. To Be Continued...