Shadow Samurai: Under the Big Top Part 1 




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"Looks like it's going to be a quiet night after all", the voice of Shadow's
companion suggested.

Shadow Samurai looked down to the stone resting in her lap. She was sitting
cross-legged on the edge of on the roof for the business building inside the
Crawfordsville University campus. The masked guardian focused on the blue
spectral form of her partner, "Is it wrong of me to say that I'm a little
disappointed?"

Sarah Winchester smiled looking into the blue eyes of her partner, "Well to be
honest I've been itching for a bit of action myself. Ever since that vampire
nearly got the better of us, I hoped to get some payback against the demonic
hordes."

Shadow chuckled, "We have been doing a lot of training and haven't really
gotten a chance to put it to use."

"Well, at least if it's quiet you can get back to John and continue thanking
him for saving you." Sarah teased.

Rolling her eyes Shadow replied, "We haven't been that bad ... "

Sarah looked at her with a smirk, "Emma I think you two pierced the mystical
walls of the Shadow Stone last time. I'm glad Rei told me how to tune things
out before she left, otherwise I'd have been going crazy."

"You're terrible!" Shadow known to her students as Professor Emma Sapphire
laughed. Despite Sarah's jab, the superheroine wouldn't let her guardian get
off the hook that easily, "Well we could talk about your daughter and Rei ...
."

"Don't even joke about that!" Sarah exclaimed to which Emma continued to
laugh.

Having exchanged their friendly barbs Sarah asked Emma, "How are the love
birds?"

"I talked to Rei yesterday; she and Stephanie are having a great time."

Sarah nodded in approval, "It's nice of them to get some time together."

Shadow picked up the stone as she assumed a standing position. As she did so
the sleek dark form of the Shadow Samurai was illuminated in the moonlight. In
her superheroine persona Emma's appearance was altered to hide her identity.
While normally Emma had long rich red hair, as Shadow, her mane became black
and shortened. Along with the mask nobody suspected that Professor Sapphire
was the sexy Shadow Samurai. Her costume consisted of a black long sleeved
turtle necked leotard with a dark colored sash tied around her waist. Emma
wore short-shorts which hugged her behind. Most striking was her long nimble
legs clad in black tights. Finally her footwear, simple black ballet flats
which actually were quite useful in her work.

Sarah meanwhile was a much smaller version of her normal appearance albeit
tinted blue with her spectral form. The blonde haired mystical fighter still
wore her leather jacket, pink top, blue jeans, and brown boots. She had been
residing in the Shadow Stone for a relatively short while, especially when
compared to her previous owner. Rei had been the original Shadow Guardian but
circumstances beyond her control forced Rei out of the stone. Things had only
gotten worse when Sarah after being possessed by the people who had killed her
used the famous warrior against Emma, Rei, and even her own daughter
Stephanie. Sarah had actually killed Rei in the process nearly breaking Emma &
Steph's hearts. Luckily she had been able to perform a small miracle giving
life back to Rei while in turn becoming the new resident of the Shadow Stone.

Rei had been freed from her spiritual existence and able to live fully. Sarah
was now trapped as Rei had been but she didn't think of it that way. Freeing
Rei allowed her to now have a life which now included a relationship with
Stephanie. To see Rei and Sarah in love was more than enough comfort to her.
There had been though the issue of Emma. Sarah knew Emma had been grateful
that she had saved Rei's life but she had worried that Emma wouldn't be able
to accept her as the new guardian. They began to connect though, training
together, working together, and now clicked with one another. It had been John
Smith, Emma fiancé who had let her know a few weeks back, Sarah I'm glad
you're there to look after Emma and trust me, she is too.

"Well let's just hope they don't disturb the locals too much." Emma teased as
she broke Sarah's train of thought.

Sarah groaned but mostly for show. Her daughter and Rei had taken some
well-earned time off. The two had actually been surprised by John who had
managed to arrange a little getaway for the girls. A friend of John's had a
nice house off of a lake in Wisconsin. Sarah remembered how Rei had nearly
squeezed John to death in a crushing hug when he told her the news. With a
smirk of her own Sarah replied, "I won't even entitle that with a response."

Emma smiled as she took a glance over the CU campus. That's when she caught
it, a figure moving across the rooftop of the administration building, "Sarah,
look at that."

She turned to see the figure illuminated by the moonlight that quickly
disappeared, "I wonder who that is?"

Thinking it was a demonic trouble maker Emma asked, "You sense anything?"

Surprised Sarah looked to Emma and told her, "Actually no."

Shadow Samurai murmured a bit, "I wonder if it's some fraternity prank. We
should check it out."

"You just want to do your whole Batman thing, scaring the living daylights out
of some punks don't ya?" Sarah asked with a sly smile.

Emma giggled, "A little."

Doing her best Bale Batman impression Sarah said, "THEN LET'S GO!"

Shadow's grin was wide as she focused on turning the stone Sarah rested on
into a black katana. The Shadow Sword was perfectly balanced in Emma's hand,
with Sarah's form residing inside. With their mental link the professor told
her companion, ready to go?

Always, Sarah replied. With that Emma leapt from the building.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .

Picking the lock on the skylight had been incredibly easy.

It had been hardly a challenge for someone who broke into the wealthiest
mansions, secured stores of jewels or diamonds, and of course the occasional
government facility. She liked a challenge when breaking into somewhere she
wasn't supposed to be. It was a requirement in her mind. One had to show they
were worthy of being somewhere they weren't before they could, an old saying
in her family. Dropping through the open skylight first was her legs. Through
the ray of moonlight her light pink tights clad legs were highlighted along
with her magenta colored shoes. It would surprise others in her profession
that she dressed so ... boldly.

The intruder was so confident of her abilities that she dressed how she
wanted, besides black had never looked good on her. With a click her high
heels landed on the floor. Now inside the building she listened for any
approaching guards or dogs. Of course that would have been the norm at the
places she usually broke into but Crawfordsville University didn't have the
budget for roaming guards or IR security grids. Satisfied her entry had gone
unnoticed; the intruder strode forwards her heels clicking on the hard floor.
Few of the hallway doors were locked so there was no need for her lock pick
till she reached the President's office.

Of course here too the lock was a simple one, if more secure than the one on
the skylight. Pushing through the door once the lock was defeated she stepped
inside. The office was decorated with many tributes and souvenirs of the
University President's travels. A former solider before academic he had photos
of his many postings around the world. She admired a few of them as she walked
around the office. However the object of her break in was on a shelf over an
old fireplace. It was displayed in a glass case with a small face plate,
THOMAS JEFFERSON'S PEN. The old feather style writing quill was not the one he
had used to write the Declaration of Independence, but it was valuable enough.

Putting her gloved hands on the glass case, the intruder checked for any
alarms. There was a simple pressure one connected to the base. It could be
defeated with a simple snap of its control wires, "People should take better
care of their things ... "

"You know, I think the President is just accustomed to a nicer class of people
here in Crawfordsville."

The voice caused the intruder to stop, "Not many people can sneak up on me,
miss ... "

"Shadow Samurai", Emma told the would-be thief. She stood behind the thief the
sword pressed into the small of the intruder's back, "Turn around slowly."

The thief did as ordered putting her hands up into the air as she did so.
Shadow looked her over stepping back just a bit but keeping her sword close,
"I have to say you're not dressed like a thief."

The woman, about Emma's age smiled, "I get that a lot."

She was dressed more for show than anything else. The woman had brunette hair
which framed her face in soft long curls. Unsurprisingly she wore a mask. It
was a mix of bright pink, magenta, and silver highlights. Sticking out of her
hair was a feathered piece attached to the mask. Her arms and chest were
covered in some slightly sheer pink nylon. She wore a magenta top with golden
highlights over her bodysuit which hugged a thin but healthy form. It had
straps which connected at her neck blending nicely with a choker. There were
matching gloves on her hands which ended in golden edges. Her skirt was a
light purple ending at mid-thigh. The thief like Emma had long legs, these
dressed in tights, same light pink color that was on her upper body. Magenta
heels completed her costume.

"Now care to come quietly?" Shadow asked.

The thief grinned, "Of course not."

Before Emma could react the woman spun slipping away from Emma's sword. As
Shadow moved forwards to strike her with a stunning blow, the thief
sidestepped and leapt into the air. Tucking her legs in the magenta clad
maiden rolled over in the air landing behind Shadow Samurai. Dropping down,
the woman swept out with her tights clad leg tripping Emma off her feet.
Caught off balance Shadow tumbled landing on her bum. The thief reached under
her skirt and Emma saw she was wearing something underneath. On each thigh the
woman had a tightly strapped leather grater. Each was filled with some tools
and knives. With practice ease the young lady pulled a knife out and tossed it
at Shadow Samurai.

Emma move it! Sarah shouted to her.

The heroine rolled out of the way just dodging the throwing knife as it
imbedded into the floor where she had just been. Crouching in a fighting
stance Emma managed to get her sword up just in time to block another knife.

"Very good Shadow Samurai." The thief complimented as she pulled another knife
out.

Standing again Shadow held her katana at the ready, "Not too bad yourself, but
how many of those do you have?"

The thief smirked. Her one knife suddenly was shifted to reveal that there
were three. Emma thought, me and my big mouth! In rapid succession the thief
tossed the three knives at Shadow Samurai. Emma raised her sword blocking each
one but just barely so. Forced back by the flying blades Shadow asked her
partner, you sure she's not powered?

Not a trace of magic Emma she's very good, be careful, Sarah warned.

The thief darted forwards making Emma wonder how she ran so easily on those
heels. Guessing she was out of knives Shadow moved forward ready to deliver a
stunning slash with her sword. Sarah would ensure that the mystical blade
would not actually mane the pretty thief instead phasing through her with a
nice sting. The thief though had one up on Shadow Samurai again as she dropped
into a slide. Emma's attack went high overhead as the thief slid under. As she
moved the woman grabbed her stuck knife from the floor. Springing to her heels
the woman also managed to get ahold of all her other throwing knives. Standing
across the room from each other Emma cursed.

She planned that all along so she could get her weapons back!

Sarah shared Emma's frustration; we aren't out of this yet time to use some
Shadow power on her, ready?

Emma responded with a nod, Definitely! Aloud she summoned a cry, "Shadow
Strike!"

Slicing her sword across the front of her body, Shadow caused a blue energy
slice to fly out at the thief. The woman's eyes rose in surprise and she
jumped up into the air. Emma was amazed at the girl's physical prowess as she
managed to get high enough to dodge the strike. The thief grabbed a pipe that
ran along the ceiling using it to throw herself forwards in a kick at Shadow.

Emma dodged out of the way avoiding the move but as she did so a sting ran
down her thigh. Sarah worrying asked, Emma are you okay? The heroine looked
down at her right thigh. Shadow's once pristine tights had a run in them,
curiosity of a flying knife. The throwing knife had grazed her leg cutting
through her black nylons and causing a thin red wound across Emma's skin.
While it stung the cut wasn't deep nor did it seem to affect her mobility.

Reassuring Sarah she said, It's alright, don't worry too much about it let's
focus on taking this girl in.

Sarah agreed, Right, she's quick plus damn accurate with those knives. Emma
try getting close and test how she likes close combat.

Shadow nodded dashing forwards with a burst of her not quite human speed. The
thief was now caught off guard as the Shadow came at her sword in hand.
Holding a pair of her throwing knives the woman blocked the blow; there was
clang as Shadow Sword struck against the silver knives ringing in the
combatants ears. Emma pulled back going in for another attack which the girl
avoided by elegantly leaping away with a backflip. Shadow stepped up the speed
of her attacks, rapidly swinging the Shadow Sword trying to get a hit in on
the brightly clad intruder. However her foe matched each attack with a block
of her own. Sarah and Emma were impressed as the brunette seemed to move with
the grace of a dancer.

"Very good Shadow, getting close so I can't toss my knives at you, you are as
skilled as I've come to expect." The woman complimented Emma.

Shadow still trying to hit her opponent answered back, "You know you're pretty
polite for a criminal. My foes usually aren't so nice to me."

Emma tried to get at the thief's legs swinging low. The woman blocked the blow
bringing both her knives down, this resulted in the two being very close each
pushing with their strength. Shadow was shocked to find that the girl could
match her own. Although based on the expression on the girl's face, she was
working hard to do it.

"You're ... pretty strong." Shadow told her.

The woman grinned though her slightly pained expression, "I need to be ... for
my line of work."

"Scaling buildings does take ... some muscle."

She dipped her head in acknowledgement, "It does ... but I have other pursuits
as well ... "

Sarah could sense the strength starting to fade on the thief. Encouraged she
told Emma, hey she's starting to weaken, keep it up Emma. Without
acknowledging Shadow broke their embrace but quickly attacked again this time
swinging downward with her sword, forcing the thief to bring her knives
together to block the blow coming down on her head. Shadow Samurai pressed
down slowly bringing the pretty thief to bend her knees. Seeing that her
opponent was starting to break Emma got a bit cocky, "Looks like ... I'm
stronger."

"True ... ." The thief answered, her legs & arms getting weak, "but I took
care of that."

Confused Shadow asked, "What do you mean?"

"I canceled out your strength ... two minutes ago." The thief smirked.

EMMA! Sarah cried out, but the warning was too late.

Shadow felt lightheaded all of the sudden. Her downward thrust started to
waver which caused the thief to begin recovering. Slowly she started pushing
back against Shadow soon standing even with the heroine. Emma meanwhile felt
dizzy wondering what was happening, Sarah ... what's going on ... starting to
... feel ... strange.

The thief's lips curled up with a confident expression, "You see Shadow this
isn't a robbery but a test."

"Test?" Shadow replied but Emma was now starting to feel her strength wane.
Seeing that she was gaining the advantage the intruder pushed Shadow back
breaking their locked weapons apart. Shadow Samurai stumbled back her legs
feeling less than sturdy as she did so. Emma tried to speak to Sarah through
their mental link but suddenly found that she couldn't connect. Shadow managed
to clutch her sword in front of her in a two handed grip but like her body the
sword swayed in Emma's grasp.

"I do extensive research before I undergo a job. Checking out the security,
people working at my target, what the item is, and of course if there are any
heroes around." The thief still held her weapons but they were lowered,
showing that she expected no trouble from Shadow Samurai. She slowly
approached which caused Emma to back away, "If there are I make sure to know
them well. Their powers, operating areas, and if I think I can hack it, test
them."

"You ... just wanted to ... fight me?" Shadow asked her eyes blurring as the
weakness spread throughout her form.

"Just to see if I could take you and I can with a little help." The thief told
her. She held up one of her throwing knives. Emma focused on it seeing
something glistening on the edge of the blade, it was something liquid.

That's when Emma put it all together, glancing at her thigh where the small
cut and run in her tights was visible, "Your ... knives ... they were ...
drugged."

"Just a little something special for you Shadow Samurai." The thief told her.
She came up to Emma but the heroine couldn't fight back.

"Uhhhh ... ." With a sigh Shadow Samurai collapsed forward into the waiting
arms of the thief. Emma felt so weak as she rested against the nimble thief.
Her cheek touched the soft pink material that covered the woman's shoulder.
Gently the thief guided Shadow into first a sitting position then laying her
flat on her back. The woman took the Shadow Sword from Emma's hands tossing it
aside, "No means to be disrespectful to your weapon and its guardian but the
further you two are separated the better."

Emma felt like her head was wrapped in soft towels. Her limbs lacked any
strength so she couldn't do anything about the loss of her weapon & partner.
Then it hit her that the thief knew about the Shadow Guardian, "You ... are
... well informed ... "

"Like I said, I do my research." The masked woman told Shadow, "There won't be
any harmful or lasting effects from my little cocktail Shadow, but you'll take
a nice nap while I get away."

She looked the nearly sleeping heroine up and down. Emma then felt the soft
touch of the woman's fingers against her side. They gently slid down her
leotard towards her shorts. Emma didn't really react though till those fingers
slid over her thigh, in fact they slid very close to her inner thigh. Letting
a soft sigh from her lips Emma managed to focus on the face of the woman who
had bested her.

"Who ... are ... .you?"

She gently titled Emma's head up, a finger at Emma's chin. The thief smiled
seductively as she answered, "I'm Orchid, and it's been a pleasure to meet you
Shadow Samurai. Do me a favor and stay home for a few days. If we meet again
the outcome will be the same as it was tonight, so relax, put your feet up,
and have some well-earned time off." Orchid then leaned in speaking softly,
"Of course I wouldn't mind seeing you again if it gives me a chance to do this
... "

She kissed Shadow on the lips, gently and lovingly. As they parted Emma let
out a soft sigh before finally passing out. Letting Shadow's dark haired mane
dip back to the ground, Orchid stood up.

"Stop right there!"

Orchid turned to see a blue spectral form of a woman above the Shadow Sword.
Orchid dipped her head, "Guardian, nice to meet you."

"Give me one reason not to summon my power and knock you flat on your ass!"
Sarah demanded.

"I really wish we can be civil here, after all I wouldn't want anything to
happen to the lovely Shadow Samurai ... " Sarah saw that Orchid had a knife
aimed right at Emma's chest.

"You wouldn't dare ... " Sarah hissed.

"Care to find out? Let me leave and I promise you Shadow Samurai will make a
full recovery. Try and stop me, well ... "

Sarah wanted to use her power to knock the thief back into next week but she
relented, "You have my word ... go."

Orchid dipped her head respectively in acknowledgment, "Thank you. I assure
you she'll be fine, but do take what I said seriously."

"This isn't over." Sarah told the thief as she left.

Orchid looked over her shoulder before stepping out the door, smiling, "I
certainly hope not."

TBC