Samurai Jessie: Origins

A woman is walking down the street at night. She takes out her ear buds and puts one into her left ear. She starts listening to music and turns the corner. She wants to get home because it's late and she has to wake up to get to the airport in a few hours. There's no cars, no people, no lights coming from any windows on the street when two shadowy figures creep up a couple feet behind her. Two more shadowy figures appear from around the corner in front of her.

"Great." She says under her breath. "I run into wannabe hoodlums with my house on the next block. You got my back, J?" she asked.

"Give 'em hell, Rose." Responded something inside her purse.

Rose kept walking until the two in front stopped and the two behind her stopped. One stepped forward and spoke.

"Fine time you picked to be walking alone. It's dangerous out here."

"Dangerous for you four." Rose said.

"See, that's not the right thing to say, little girl. We were gonna just rob you. Now, ... I'll let my boys have a little fun before we go." The other three started to move in closer, weapons drawn.

"J, box 'em in." Rose thought, and four metal walls shot up from the ground high into the air and closed at the top. Four lanterns came out of the walls to provide light. "Armor on." she thought. A suit of armor grew around Rose until she was completely protected. "I told you I'm dangerous", Rose said in an unusual, low voice.

The four would be assailants tried to run, tried to find something to climb, tried to claw their way out. Nothing worked, though their hands started to bleed a little from the clawing. Rose moved closer to the one who threatened her outright.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you it's dangerous to walk alone at night?" Rose growled.

He trembled as he struggled to get his words out. "But there's four of us, right boys?" He looked behind Rose and saw no one. Just the two of them.

Rose raised her armored fist. "When I'm done with you, you'll wish I finished the job." Her fist came down and struck him in the shoulder. The rest is a little ... much.

The next morning we see J, now a man instead of a purse, walking around. From a nearby car at a stoplight, a news report can be heard:

"Overnight, there were a series of people dropped off in front of various hospitals all over the city. All appear to have been brutally assaulted, beaten within inches of their lives." J kept walking, like he heard this many times before. "In other news, the notorious crime boss, Richard Marks, is scheduled to be tried ..." the car drove off. J was on his way to a meeting.

"Jessie, is that you?" A hooded figure asked.

"Yeah, Frank, it's me. How'd you know it was me though?" J replied.

"I may be blind, but I'm not deaf. Not to mention I still remember my training. Course, that was before I went deaf and then -"

"All interesting stuff, Frank, but I was hoping you had some info for me."

"Fine. I'd say respect your elders, but we both know you're older than I am by a mile."

"Maybe more than that, friend. So ... whatchya got for me?"

"Well, right now, there's a kid who's about to get killed in an abandoned warehouse that was used for an "explosive local TV show in the 70's."

"Great. Anything else?"

"Matter of fact, yeah. The kid is being held by Richard's top two enforcers, Greg and Toni. Richard is rumored to make an appearance himself."

"Wait. What kind of names are Richard, Greg, and Toni for supposed organized criminals?"

"If I made this shit up, I'd make it more interesting than it is. Them's the brakes, kid."

"You calling me a kid is hilarious." Jessie pulled a chicken sandwich seemingly out of nowhere and began unwrapping it. "So the Dick will show, eh?"

"I'm not sure. If I were a betting man, I'd bet the house on "No". One more thing: A reporter and a police officer, Maya and Dan, are on their way to that same warehouse. If the rumors are true, then it'll be a packed house and a show not to be missed."

"Who talks like this? "Bet the house, packed house ..." Who the hell still uses phrases like that?"

"You do, asshole! Sometimes you can't remember what time you live in. Like a hero with dementia."

"Oh yeah. Well, till next time, Frank." Jessie hands Frank a rolled up wad of cash. "Stay well, friend."

"You too." Jessie starts walking away. "Hey! You could be there in a second. What the hell are you walking for?"

"I'm trying to be more human, you know?"

"If you say so, dumbass." Frank starts counting his money.

Jessie reaches the warehouse in time ... to see Maya and Dan get chased by Richard and his goons. He went in through the window ceiling and freed the kid, Damian. They chatted quickly before Jessie left to go after Richard.

Our story continues in "Samurai Jessie: Origins 2" if you would be so kind as to go the my page and check it out. Thank you.