Wandering Through the Woods (Open)

[Deleted]

Drexx wandered through the forest, sunlight streaming through the trees specks of sunlight slowly falling towards the Earth. Animals seemed to pay him no heed as he wandered, fully aware of his surroundings yet letting his mind wander. He had accomplished much since being created, yet still there was an emptiness to him. He had protected many, saved many, done exactly what his creator bid of him and yet... and yet still so many died. Still they fell around him and he was helpless to stop it. He could only do so much with the power he had. That desire for power was wrong, and yet it was for the right reasons wasn't it? He hope so, but an old adage sprang to his mind, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

He knelt at a pond to check his reflection. He looked much the same as he had when he was created, a few more scars here and there, especially the one over his nose, maybe a little more life behind his eyes but for all intents and purposes he was the same. Was that something to be proud or shamed of. He had come so far, but still there were tyrants like Guerin, monsters like Suki, beings of power Drexx could not even fathom. He needed to grow stronger, needed to protect those they would wish to harm. He knew in his heart he may never grow powerful enough to accomplish what his creator wanted, but he would try till his very last day.

"I will not fail you Benjin. I will be the Perfect Protector." He said staring down at his reflection in the dark calm pool. He sat down and began to meditate in this quite peaceful spot.

[Jorlaxl]

The forest of Yunzabit. Such a placid, peaceful place. It truly seemed to be made for Jorlaxl, the master of Crane. Whenever his school was calm and he could slip away, he found it therapeutic to simply wander through the forest, seeing the sights and observing what nature had to offer. Of course, he never marks his trails; he likes to keep the traveling experience fresh, every time. It was one of these days that he wandered, hoping to find out more about himself as a person, and perhaps how the world works, in its unforgiving capacity.

Jorlaxl began his trek behind the school proper, and he quickly lost his way, as he had hoped. Everything was more exciting when he had no idea where he was. Of course, if he was to run into any trouble, he could feel Ike's ki signature, distant. Distant, yet there. If the need arose, he could simply use his instant transmission to return home after an outing. He hates cheating like that, but the possibility was open, and that brought a sense of security to his walks.

The thick trees and lush flora impressed him, as always. Being genetically engineered, he always loves to examine the smaller beings on Earth, the ones that make his struggles against evil worthwhile. These were a few of his favorite things. The leaves falling, the colors changing, fall has long been his favorite season. To watch nature in motion, replacing the green with orange and brown. The world was an interesting place.

Walking out of the lush forest into a placid clearing, Jorlaxl quietly happened upon a pool of water, undisturbed by any animals in the area. He noticed a figure sitting near the edge of the pool, still and meditating, by the look of it. Grinning to himself, he decided not to disturb the traveler, one he's never seen before in his outings. Walking beside the man, Jorlaxl took a seat to his right and began to meditate as well, over this crystal pond.

[Deleted]

He knew it was foolish but he did not want to endanger the life of Master or Master's students. He had began a daily routine of patrolling the forest surrounding the School in case the mysterious man and his demons decided to attack him. Ike did not want to wait for the day they would come to the school searching for him. As Ike trotted on leaf coated forest floor, his instinct couldn't help but detect nearby animals. They were easy prey but Ike refrained himself from making the kills. The blood of the hunt would raise his ferocity levels. He sensed Master's presence nearby and to his surprise Master was near his destination. Ike curiously hurried with a swift, gallant stride, hopping over overgrown roots and thickets.

Ike emerged on to a serene pond in the center of a glade. Golden rays of sunlight filtered through the canopy and danced across the surface of clear, clean water. He found Master meditating by the pond, his reflection shimmering in the water. This pond was Ike's favorite beside the School's pristine reflection pool. Ike usually preferred meditating in front of this pool since he wouldn't have to risk any students disrupting his focus. Ike was not surprised Master would find his pond since he knew Master hiked daily. It was only a matter of time before he came across it. Ike however, did not expect the stranger sitting beside Master. At first Ike saw only the young man's reflection before noticing him there. The most distinguishing feature was that the intruder's expression...his reflection...appeared distress and torment even behind the veil of meditation. Ike saw this in himself.

"Perhaps another lost soul," Ike considered to himself.

Ike slowly mounted on to slab beside the pond where he always perched on when he meditated. He continued to examine the intruder cautiously before the shimmering water captivated him to a lulled meditative state, the way water usually did to him.

[Deleted]

Drexx slowly opened his eyes and was surprised to find others about him. He was surprised to see his former teacher Jorlaxl sitting nearby, his own eyes closed in meditation. He was sitting close to Drexx, but at a respective distance to let each-other focus on their meditation. Drexx wondered whether or not the Master would recognize him, the two had barely seen each other when Drexx was there, aside from a few occasional group lessons. Drexx had done his best to keep his head down during his time there, he was certainly not the mouth piece of the group, no that had always been Sohko. It had been four long years since Drexx had gone away from the school in search of himself, and he found himself grinning to think that he had gone in a very large circle. The other visitor of the pond was unfamiliar, a creature Drexx didn't know what to make of. It, he, she, Drexx wasn't sure either way but was entirely fascinated by it. It looked to Drexx like a fox of some sort, but certainly not of any kind he had seen before. It had a strange sort of beauty to it, at least Drexx thought so. The being seemed to be following Jorlaxl, so Drexx assumed a level of familiarity between the two.

Drexx was glad for the company, and glad for the mutual love of meditation. Earth as of late seemed to be full of issues, and meditation was a good way to make a calm reflection on one's purpose and what one should do in the face of those issues. Sitting by the pond Drexx felt at peace and really that was all he could ask for. The company was welcome, even if no conversation was exchanged yet. Drexx, though he knew it was rude, decided to interrupt his former teachers meditation so the two could get reacquainted. Drexx turned his head slightly in the direction of Jorlaxl, still maintaining the meditation position.

"Jorlaxl, it's good to see you again. I'm not sure if you remember me but I studied under you for a while four years ago. Don't worry you won't offend me if you don't remember, at the time I was doing my best to be another face in the crowd. Either way, I'm Drexx." Drexx smiled a warm grin, a small chuckle escaping his lips and filling the air beside the pond.

[Jorlaxl]

Sitting in front of the placid pool behind the school, Jorlaxl decided to keep his cool. His friend/pet Ike found him there, staring through the water, Jorlaxl would swear. What surprised him was that there was no blood, an animal through which Ike would normally tear. Drexx, the former student spoke, and so Jorlaxl awoke, as he did so his goatee he did stroke. ((Okay, enough rhyming xD))

Drexx opened his eyes and spoke to his former master, and from what Jorlaxl could gather, the years have treated him well. His voice was soft and if Jorlaxl didn't listen intently, he could have just as easily lost the words he spoke. Considering the android's words carefully, Jorlaxl thought before speaking. However, the words weren't directed to his former student, but to his new one instead.

"Ike, come."

Looking back towards his new student, Jorlaxl felt a sense of purpose in the world again. New people are showing up all the time, and now this beast... so much raw power, it's astounding. Jorlaxl considered himself fortunate he found him before he was discovered by evil. If such a thing happened, he didn't know what would have happened.

Turning his head back to Drexx, Jorlaxl continued. "No matter how many students I have, I never forget a face. However, I don't think I ever caught your name when we were doing the group trainings. You were part of the group that came with the saiyan, right? Sohko, I believe his name was. If so, then it's no surprise I never learned your name. He's rambunctious enough to be 3 people!" Smiling a trademark Jorlaxl grin, he stuck his hand out in a classic handshake gesture.

[Deleted]

Master's words rang throughout the catacombs of his mind the way a leaf landing on water would cause a ripple. Ike slowly opened his beastly eyes and stepped down from his slab. Master and the young man were reminding each other their past together, a luxury he himself could not do. Master seemed to trust him and that was enough for Ike.
Ike walked over beside Master, puffing out his breast to appear bigger, and upon closer examination, he gandered at the stranger's face. The young man had a determined look in his eyes and his voice came off as rather benign. His determined stare led Ike to believe the young warrior was fighting for a good cause. Ike respected that. He respected hope.
Ike eased himself and sat on his haunches. As soon as his master reached his hands out to "shake", Ike connected to the stranger named Drexx's mental being.

"I am called Ike...This is my abode... You are Master's friend therefore I am yours...you are welcomed at my pond... What do you fight for...does...what you fight for make you happy...does it make others happy too?"

[Deleted]

Drexx gladly took his former master's hand and shook it, a warm friendly grip not one of those palm crushing macho ones. It honored Drexx that his former master remembered him even if he had not made much of a splash in the Crane School.

"Master you do me great honor remembering me. And yes, Sohko is and was a very rambunctious one, though that is one of my favorite things about him." Drexx's soft gentile voice was paired with a smile in rememberance of his friend. Where was Sohko after all these years? He hoped the best for his Saiyan friend, someone he had sworn to protect. Drexx's eyes slowly moved off of Jorlaxl and onto the fox-like creature walking over towards them. Jorlaxl had issued a command so Drexx wondered if this being was a pet of Jorlaxl's? Staring into the creature's eyes Drexx got the feeling that no, this wasn't a pet, but rather a creature of great potential, and a very intelligent being. Drexx was surprised to hear it's voice float into his head, but had dealt with telepath's before. His voice in his head was just as gentle as out loud.

"Hello Ike, I thank you for allowing me into your abode, it is truly lovely. I also thank you for your friendship, and I welcome it. I fight to protect others, to fight the battles that those who can't fight for themselves fight, would that I could not fight at all... but there are evil beings out there who seek to harm innocents, and I can't allow that. Does it make me happy? No, fighting doesn't make me happy, but my prime directive is to protect the weak and innocent and sometimes that can't be done other than fighting, does it make others happy? I would say so, they get to continue their peaceful lives, while I go out in search of others to protect. I hope I have answered you questions in a satisfactory manner. It is truly a pleasure to meet you Ike." He turned back to his former master.

"I'm glad to see the school is still up and running and that you're still taking in students, I wasn't quite sure what would happen with it to be honest with Geurin's registration act... Many of your former students, and possibly even current students are aliens..." Drexx trailed off, the peacefulness of the pond a stark contrast to what was happening in the world and even the universe around them. Drexx wondered what his place in the whole matter was.

[Jorlaxl]

Ike was never truly around other students until now. He much preferred the seclusion the outskirts of the forest brought him. So when he came up to Drexx and even telepathically spoke to him, it was a mild shock to Jorlaxl. It was foolish of him to think that the connection was only shared with him. This beast has more to him than meets the eye. Ike walked over beside him, so Jorlaxl put a hand on his head and began to pet him, scratching him beside the ears.

"Yes, Geurin's put a socket-wrench into a lot of how I operate things around here. Most people here on Earth don't know how to use Ki, and a lot don't even know what it is. Many of our alien visitors knew a lot, making training easier." Jorlaxl stared wistfully into the pool. Maybe that was the problem the entire time? Geurin? If so, the bio-android had a few select words for the leader of Earth. He hasn't seen the namekian in 5 years, just before the final confrontation with Suki.

"Where have you been this whole time, Drexx? Did you ever leave Earth?" Jorlaxl was genuinely curious about what happened to the android. This was, afterall, the first time he's seen him since Drexx was under Jorlaxl's direct supervision.

[Deleted]

"Protecting others...this is a good cause...may you never falter...from darkness,"

Ike responded to the Protector as Master scratched his head.

Ike felt envious of the Protector. His cause was just but it saddened Ike that he may never guard others (besides Master of course) the way Drexx could. Ike could easily lose control of his ferocity and could just as easily harm those he cared about as a result. He couldn't risk that and so seclusion seemed to be common for him. Even now, his thirst for the fear and blood of prey was tempting him.

[Deleted]

Drexx's smile disappeared as he began the tale to explain everything that had happened to it to his Master. It was a tragic tale, and one Drexx was unsure Jorlaxl would want to hear or not. But still he proceeded forward.

"I did leave Earth, but not before some events I can't ever forget. It began with dreams, the dreams led to me to seek out a being creating androids in the mountains." Drexx swallowed hard, the story was difficult to tell, but still he pushed on.

"What I found was indescribable. My father had been brought back to life, a shell of his former self. He was a monster. He had been creating androids for years in hopes of creating one that could kill me, and he had found it." Drexx rubbed his temples and looked at his reflection in the water, it was clearly distressed, and Drexx didn't know how to stop.

"I fought the androids off, but Benjin was strong, stronger than I had assumed. One of his androids cut off my hand and left me for dead, Benjin took me into his bunker and tortured me. I endured torture for a full year, he did things to me... indescribable things..." Drexx's voice broke. He cleared the tears from his eyes and continued, it was hard to speak of the atrociousness he had suffered.

"My father suffered from multiple personality disorder, and the other personality was pure evil." Drexx looked at his reflection and wondered if he too had the propensity for evil. He shook his head, knowing that he could never inflict the evil on another person his father had done to him.

"I escaped, but not before my father had regained his consciousness and begged me to kill him... I did..." again Drexx's voice caught in his throat. He had been forced to kill his father, something he would never have done, but the fear of the evil in his father had forced him to kill both halves of his father.

"I escaped Earth and made my way to Ra, the home of Anubis X, a former member of The Protectorate. He was a dear friend of mine, he died in a horrific space-ship crash." Drexx wiped away a tear. Anubis X had been a dear friend, and though they had only known each other for a while, Drexx had taken to him very quickly.

"While there, I trained with Anubis' son. He taught me the ways of the Pharohnian culture. I absorbed all I could from Ra and made my way back to Earth." Drexx spread his arms while shrugging.

"Then I came back here and trained with Sohko, he taught me the ways of Sword and Shield... and here we are." Drexx shrugged, there was much more to the story of everything he had done since the last time he had seen Jorlaxl, but that was all he decided to tell. If he had to, he would explain in more detail, but Drexx felt uncomfortable talking about the torture aspect of the past few years. Being tortured at all was tough for anyone, but being tortured for a whole year was almost indescribable. Drexx lowered his eyes to the pool and stared at himself.

He turned to Ike.

"I would assume it's almost impossible for me to fall to darkness, as my prime directive is to protect, and altering my prime directive causes me great distress."

Drexx turned back to his meditation. He had shared much with the two and didn't know what to expect in return.

[Jorlaxl]

Jorlaxl listened quietly and carefully, nodding where appropriate. This tale of horror and torture... Jorlaxl has never heard of such savagery. So much unnecessary killing.... he felt bad for Drexx. But he was at a loss for words. All he could do was stare solemnly not into Drexx's eyes, but past them; into his very soul. Jorlaxl was hoping the history would end, but it only continued, spiraling farther and farther into the descent of darkness.

Was Drexx's goodness and pure-heartedness the exception to androids, not the rule? He sure hoped so. Jorlaxl needed to find and absorb two androids, Valas and Ryld, to attain his perfect form. If they two were unforgiving and diabolical, than Jorlaxl would have no qualms subduing and assimilating them. That was the way things went: bad guys attack, and are stopped by the good guys. However, if the two were to be goodhearted, even more-so than Jorlaxl... Would he be able to do it?

After an eternity of horror-stricken dialogue, Drexx has finally completed speaking his peace. Jorlaxl stared at him for a moment, and then stuck out his hand, towards Drexx. Wearing a solemn grin on his face, Jorlaxl began to speak.

"Drexx, let me make something perfectly clear. My purpose on Earth is to help protect its people in the case of an emergency. That's why I stayed here, and definitely didn't stick around with Suki. Ah, yes. That reminds me. Have you ever heard the tale of Suki's conquest?"

Smiling and laying back against a tree-trunk, Jorlaxl began to weave his own tale of truth and facts. "It all started after my fight with Xanden. He was an interesting person, but that's a story for a different day. One day, Suki landed on Earth, in an attempt to extort it of both its money and its valuable fighters. The people of Earth had not the money the second time around, so I decided to join him instead. I wasn't looking forward to killing or conquering, I was more interested in my own Biological makeup. Believe it or not," Jorlaxl paused, took a deep breath, and punched his own chest as hard as he could. It was very strong, considering his own strength, one that would punch a hole into concrete. He removed his hand so Drexx could see...

-and his chest was fine. His hand as well left undamaged.

"I am biologically related to Suki and his people. I have Icer DNA within me, and therefore have strengthened bones. I joined him in hopes of discovering more of what I was made of. He had a head scientist named Aice, and... nevermind. That's not important. However, who I joined with was."

Reminiscing like this was fun for Jorlaxl, he really missed the people he used to know. "I joined up with a makaioshin named Caius, and we became instant friends. He was always more powerful than I, much to my chagrin, but it only pushed me to train harder in hopes of surpassing him. While under Suki's service, I did terrible things. The capital of planet Vegeta was destroyed by me, Caius, and a saiyan girl we recruited named Serori. We robbed banks, slaughtered civilians, and all in the name of fun."

"We headed to Earth not long after, intent on its capture and assimilation into the World Trade Organization. However, I had a... change of heart. Me and Caius fought against Suki valiantly with very admirable and powerful fighters on our side. Chief of which was the Namekian Geurin. I walked away from the fight alive, but with a broken wrist, snapped by Suki's superior strength. I found and opened up the New Crane school, and I have been teaching students ever since."

Looking up to Ike, Jorlaxl telepathically added, And that was also when I met you.

Jorlaxl turned his head and looked to Drexx and grinned. "Not nearly as horrifying as your story, huh?"

[Deleted]

"Not as tragic no, but no less important." Drexx thought deeply about what Jorlaxl had said. He was very surprised by the fact that he used to be a killer, he did not seem at all like the type who would murder civilians for fun. But people changed, and anyone could repent.

"I am very glad you've stopped killing people for fun... I am also confused. You say Geurin fought against the tyrant Suki, but then he himself became a tyrant?" Drexx stared at his reflection in the pool again. If Jorlaxl could go from killer to protector, and Geurin could go from protector to killer, whats to say the same wouldn't happen to him. Just how strong was his programming, and beyond that, just how strong was his personality? Just how strong was his soul?

...Did he have a soul?

He swallowed hard, the existential crisis almost more than the android could bare.

"Why did you have a change of heart?"

(Sorry I skipped you Ike, feel free to jump back in :])

[Jorlaxl]

"Ah, yes. There is much about our current tyrant that many people don't know," Jorlaxl began. A gentle breeze wisped past his head, rustling his shoulder length hair. "Believe it or not, Geurin used to be in Suki's service, a fellow trader along with me and a few others. He was one of the weaker members, but everything changed when we came to Earth..." The pool's reflection grew dim as the sun began to set below the trees. This is the first time he's ever tried to relay Geurin's past, and he himself can't remember everything he learned.

"We came to earth, and he fused with this planet's current protector, Tenshu. Apparently, they were... 'related' in some way, as far as Namekians go. This made Geurin's power skyrocket past my own, and even past his lord Suki. It was then that we retreated into a kind of chamber, where we all trained extensively to better face Suki. We all fought valiantly..." Blinking, forcing back tears, Jorlaxl's left hand brushed against his right wrist, bringing back phantom pains of an injury long ago.

"I was too weak. I tried to defend those I cared about, but it wasn't enough. I made one attack, and Suki snapped my wrist as if it was a twig. I had no choice but to retreat." Free-flowing, Jorlaxl let his sadness and grief take hold in the form of tears. No sobbing, just tears streaming down his face.

"It was then that I decided to open up this school. I want to make Earth strong again. I want to become strong again."

((Sorry for the crappy short reply. And sorry it took so long to reply!))

[Deleted]

Drexx sat listening to the story of Jorlaxl, finding it incredible. He had heard various other versions of the story, as everyone had, but hearing it from a first hand source was incredible. He was very surprised to see the tears coming down Jorlaxl's face, but said nothing about it. His former master was a very strong person, and Drexx's regard for him only increased at his ability to show his emotion.

"I like you goal. Earth does need to be strong, and I think you're a great choice for leading helping all of these Earthlings to gather strength to defend themselves... I protect." Drexx began a tale of his own, one that built off of the meaning of Jorlaxl's.

"I protect those who can't protect themselves. I help the weak and the innocent, it's what I was built to do." Drexx stared as the wind rustled the grass. It was hard to imagine the need to protect anything in such a peaceful place as this.

"I cannot be everywhere at once. I cannot protect everyone. People still die, even those I try and protect." It was Drexx's turn to get choked up. Memories of those he had tried and failed to protect flooded in.

"Thank you for your candor with me Jorlaxl. You're a good friend, and a fantastic teacher, for Earth's sake, I'm glad you're on our side."

[Jorlaxl]

Jorlaxl's cascade of tears lessened as Drexx told his short tale of how he was created to protect, and it struck a chord within his being. An android created to protect and serve... Were the androids he was searching for like that? Drexx ended his tale with him praising Jorlaxl, saying that he was glad that he was here to help, not to hinder. Feeling a sense of pride come to him, he chuckled before responding. "Well, I don't plan on leaving Earth anytime soon, Drexx. But what about you? Would you be interested in being a student here at the Crane school once more? I'd be more than happy to take you in once more."

The recent influx of students couldn't have been on accident. Maybe this was the purpose that he was searching for all this time... to help train others to take on the forces of evil better than he could? If that was the case... yes, that had to be it. He would be the best teacher the Crane School has ever seen, and train some of the best fighters that the galaxy has ever bore witness to. This was surely his life's meaning.

Standing up, he held his hand out to Drexx for him to shake it. "Whatever your decision is, I need to start heading back to the school, the students may start to wonder where I went this time. Come on, Ike, we're leaving." Showing off a tilted smirk, he continued. "So what do you say, Protector Drexx? Would you be interested in being a protector with me?"