By Michael Erasmus
You have something special in you. A weapon no Komainu can wield. Father’s words echoed in Koji’s mind.
Sitting on the dojo floor, he glanced back, drinking in the beauty revealed through the glass wall. The black sea of space teemed with countless stars. Somewhere out there, a month’s journey from this space station, was home. And Father.
“Begin!” Sensei Iwasaki’s voice cracked the air like the shot of a Tanegashima railgun, drawing Koji’s attention back to the trial at hand.
A student in the center of the dojo drew his katana while Koji and the other students sat watching. Before the student stood a Komainu, a robot clad in samurai-style armor, readying its practice sword. Behind them stretched another glass wall, an aquarium tank housing colorful koi, a reminder of Earth—the capital planet of the Risen-Sun Empire.
With lightning speed, the robot struck, and the student parried.
After the exchange repeated several times, Koji whispered to the girl beside him. “Hitomu’s blocking every blow.”
“He’s not striking back, though,” Akari responded. “The Komainu’s too fast. This is unfair.”
Koji glanced at her. Her back was straight, her eyes narrow as she watched the fight. “Why’s it unfair?”
“Well, take me for example. Top student.” Her chin lifted. “Full marks on the theory exams. Dominated the shooting range, crew drills, and planetary survival trials.”
He rolled his eyes. “You forgot to mention how humble you are.”
Akari huffed. “Point is, if I fail this last test, this fight—which I won’t—I’m out. A single match against a foe I’ve never faced ends my journey to becoming a samurai. How is that fair?”
Koji had no answer, and both students turned back to the intensifying duel. Sweat streamed down Hitomu’s forehead as the Komainu drove him back with powerful strikes. Finally, with a blow to the bottom of the boy’s blade, the Komainu knocked the katana from his grip. It clattered on the wooden floor, useless, defeated. The boy bowed, then returned to his seat amongst his peers, shoulders slumped.
Koji swallowed. Hitomu was a superb swordsman. Surely better than Koji. “I can’t do this.”
Akari’s tone softened. “Your father was a samurai; he passed the test. Didn’t he give you any advice?”
“Not really. He said I wield something that no Komainu, nor any AI—”
“Next!” Sensei Iwasaki’s piercing gaze met Akari.
She took a deep breath. “Tell me later.”
“Good luck.”
“I don’t need it.” She sprang to her feet and marched forward, shoulders squared.
She bowed to the sensei, then to the Komainu. When she stood ready, hand on the hilt of her sheathed katana, the sensei bellowed, “Begin!”
As if startled by the shout, Akari froze, sword undrawn as the Komainu’s weapon raced toward her. With a loud smack, it struck her shoulder, crumpling her to the ground. Koji gasped.
Akari scrambled to her feet, then looked to Sensei Iwasaki. “I… I wasn’t ready!”
The sensei frowned. “When enemies breach your ship and swarm its halls, will they wait for you to be ready?”
Her voice quivered. “Sensei, please. Give me another chance.”
“Battle has no second chances.”
She stormed back to her spot by Koji. When he saw the tears welling in her eyes, he said, “I’m s—”
“Shut up!”
“Next!” Koji’s turn.
He pushed off the ground, hands shaking. First Hitomu, then Akari. How could he possibly win?
Remember, son. Father’s face appeared in his mind—a memory of their last day fishing by the Glowing Lake before Koji’s departure. Your mind is slower than a Komainu, but your body can be faster.
Koji had dismissed the speech that day. Now, as he walked toward the robot, heart racing, palms sweating, he understood. If the top students had failed, this could be his only advantage.
So forsake your mind, your thoughts. Father had placed his powerful hand on Koji’s chest. You have something special inside you. A weapon no Komainu can wield. A guiding force our ancestors found in the wilderness and battlefields of Earth. A warrior’s intuition.
Koji reached the sensei, turned to the robot.
Instinct. It dwells in you, my son. Tap into it. Embrace it.
The glowing eyes of the Komainu’s lion-faced visor peered into his soul, stabbing his heart with fear.
How? Koji had asked Father.
He bowed.
Close your eyes.
Koji shut his eyes, exhaled, stood straight. He released his fear, his thoughts.
Let your body take control.
“Begin!”
His hands drew the sword. His body shifted into a fighting stance, fluid and relaxed.
A swish prickled his ears, and his arms jerked in response, remembering the practiced patterns of a thousand training sessions. A dull tang as steel met hardened plastic.
He barely registered the parry before instinct told him thrust, and his body obeyed. Hips twisting, arms shoving, he struck. He heard a crack and a brief screech of metal tearing, then a thud.
Koji opened his eyes.
The katana had pierced the Komainu’s arm, disabling its hand. Its sword lay on the ground.
You did it! his mind cheered.
Not yet, said instinct.
He released his katana’s hilt as the Komainu’s free hand shot forward, gauntlet curled in a fist.
Koji jumped back, dodging the attack by an inch.
The Komainu pulled back for another punch. Koji ducked under its swing, leaped past, and dashed toward Sensei Iwasaki. The old man’s white beard spread down his robes like tendrils of stardust, reaching as low as the hilt of his katana.
He did not flinch as Koji snatched the hilt and drew the blade.
Behind you, said instinct when his ears registered footsteps. Strike!
He spun, his sensei’s katana outstretched.
The razor-sharp blade buried into the Komainu’s alloy neck, snapping its inner wires with crackling sparks. The robot crashed to the ground, eyes dimming to black.
The class watched, dumbstruck, as the body crumpled. Sensei Iwasaki met Koji’s eyes and gave a subtle nod. “Well done, Samurai.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Whoa, loved this! Such great worldbuilding–I’d love to see more of Koji’s adventures in further stories.
Thank you. I would also like to explore this setting a bit more.
Great idea and execution! I love it.
Thanks, Noah!
What an amazing world and premise!
Thank you :)
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Thank you.
Wow! Loved the world building and the story. Great job!
Cool story!
I must have missed this one when it came out, oops! But I LOVE the Asian-inspired sci-fi you created! Samurai in space?! Heck yes!!