 | Mr. Kipper
Science 8(3)
2 December, 1998
***The Star Warrior***
A long time ago there was a group of about five score courageous and powerful warriors called the Satoshi. The Satoshi hated all the gods passionately save for the Supreme one because all of them had suffered at the hands of a deity or watched a family member do the same. Their hate was so extreme that they felt no fear for any of the lesser gods. Traveling from city to city, they destroyed any shrines, statues, and temples they could find in the most disrespectful of ways, sometimes slaying priests or devoted followers of the gods. The gods despised these warriors and wanted desperately to use all their power to annihilate them. However, Fate, a power stronger than all the lesser gods, had determined that the warriors would never again be harmed even slightly by any supernatural force with malign intents. Thus, the gods could do nothing and simply watched as their temples and shrines were dishonored, their anger burning.
There was a small island off the coast of Japan called Tajiri that was home to a kingdom of people called the Minako. They were a peaceful people, skilled in art, music, shipbuilding and other such crafts; among them there was only one warrior, Musashi, the king’s daughter. She had lately returned to Tajiri after spending ten years in far off lands, training to become the best warrior she could be so that she might defend her people from threats. The Minako were a safe and happy people, and would have remained so if the Satoshi hadn’t decided to make Tajiri their next target.
They arrived at the island at midnight in black ships and started their evil work undetected. In a few minutes the kingdom was illuminated with fire, and the air was choked with smoke. The people didn’t know how to defend themselves and could only watch in terror as their kindred were slain and their household shrines demolished. Musashi was asleep in the palace, but it wasn’t long before she awoke from the din outside and briefly looked out from the lofty window at the terrible scene, horrified and infuriated. Shaking the sleep from her limbs and working quickly, Musashi took up the Nyase: a metal tool akin to the medieval mason chains. In the rush she did not have time to put on armor or find her sword, but she put on the jacket that had been her mother’s when she died, bound at the throat with a brilliant gem. Likewise, she fastened the late queen’s belt on, which also bore one of the dazzling jewels. Musashi did not expect to survive the battle, but she knew she had to save the island even at the cost of her life. The last thing she did before leaving the palace was take a folded paper fan with divine teachings written on it for what slight supernatural protection it could provide.
Running outside past the destruction, she saw that the invaders were almost to Tajiri’s main temple, built to the Supreme God. In their arrogance, the Satoshi had ceased to fear even Him and thought to ruthlessly deface and obliterate even His temple. With an inhuman fierceness, Musashi sped into the midst of the fray and took on all of the Satoshi at once, dropping them one after another with the Nyase or martial attacks. She was vastly outnumbered, however, and although she dispatched many of their number, there always seemed to be twice as many rising up to take their place. The Nyase was torn from her hands and dashed to pieces by their swords, and in the final stage of the battle she had only the paper fan to defend herself with. Even then she did not give up and kept on fighting, actually knocking Satoshi down with the fan because of how forcefully she struck. Ten minutes later she fell, never again to rise. With her she had taken down more than half of the Satoshi. Such a victory was sobering, but it was a victory nonetheless, and what was left of the Satoshi gloated over it. Then they swarmed into the temple to begin their work; but the work was never started, for even as they set foot inside they were stricken down by the Supreme God.
The gods heard that the Satoshi were at long last made an end of and journeyed to Tajiri to see for themselves. When they saw Musashi lying dead among the bodies of those she had slain to defend the temple of the Supreme God, they were astonished by her heroism and courage. To reward her for her brave deeds, they carried her up to the heavens and made her the protector of the Sky and placed her beloved home of Tajiri under divine safekeeping so that it will never again know the ravages of injustice and war. Musashi roams the heavens, carefree and happy at last, and will always be remembered for her selfless valor.
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