Jade Chan Adventures
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters.
A/N: I really miss the Jackie Chan Adventures series. This story will be following a slightly older Jade as she matures and grows through her new adventures. In a way, she and Drago are really alike in that they're both really ambitious, sassy, and go to great lengths to get what they want. I really think they could've been a great team if differences were put aside, so writing this is fun in that I get to explore their characters a lot more.
"But Jaaackie!" started Jade.
"I said no, Jade!" replied her uncle. He gave her a stern look. "You've already missed a week of school for these dangerous missions. I don't want you to get hurt."
Jade shot up from her desk.
"I've been on worse missions before!" protested Jade. "Maybe in a couple months I'll even get promoted to Captain."
"You've only been interning at Section 13 for a year," sighed Jackie. He pointed to the papers scattered on her employee desk. "How can Captain Black promote you if you don't finish your assignments?"
His niece scowled and crossed her arms.
Jackie pinched the bridge of his nose. Seventeen years old or not, Jade was as stubborn as ever.
The past few years were dull in comparison to all the adventures they had fighting demon sorcerers and gathering magic talismans. Jade felt herself slowly drifting into a routine at her internship with Section 13 with the magical items locked up and enemies defeated. She somewhat wished for a new villain to appear just to stir things up.
"It's a Saturday," she grumbled, slumping down on her seat. "I'd rather be out on a mission than do paperwork."
"Sorry, Jade." laughed a voice.
"Captain Black," greeted Jackie. He turned towards the man in the wheelchair. "How are your legs?"
The bald man grunted.
"Dandy as ever," he muttered sarcastically. "The doc said I should be on crutches in a few weeks."
"When can I go on a real mission?" asked Jade, ignoring Jackie's sputtering protests. "I'm always stuck here doing the dirty work."
"Jade!" exclaimed her uncle, disapproval clear in his voice.
"Eager as ever, eh?" chuckled Black. "I'm afraid I can't do much until you're done with school. Besides –" he continued over her loud groan "–Don't you think you've had your fill of the unofficial missions?"
Jade never broke the habit of sneaking after her uncle and boss on dangerous assignments and expeditions since she was twelve.
"Nope," grinned Jade.
"Why don't you finish those assignments and your homework first," Jackie quickly cut in. "Then we can talk to Captain Black about a beginner mission."
"Alright, alright," said Jade, unsuccessfully tidying up her papers. "You got anymore for me, boss?"
The man in question shifted uncomfortably in the wheelchair.
"Um," began Black, drumming his fingers on his knees. "There is a reason I came here to talk to you both this evening."
He cleared his throat when two pairs of eyes trained on him.
"I will be leaving at the end of the year," he said quietly.
"What!" exclaimed Jackie and Jade.
"There is a replacement," continued Black. "He'll be coming in tomorrow to get acquainted with Section 13."
"But why?!" cried Jade. "You're as healthy as a horse! You're like a muscle car! Why are you leaving now?"
"Is everything alright?" asked Jackie, running a hand through his graying hair. "You've never stopped even with your leg injuries."
Black rubbed his temples.
"It's not my choice," he sighed. "The head of the sector decided that it's best if I retire and get a younger and stronger head of Section 13. It seems I am now officially past my prime."
"But – but," stammered Jade. Her dreams of becoming the big cheese of the spy sector was crumbling to dust. "What's going to happen to you? We're a family!"
Black looked defeated.
Jade felt her chest tighten. Captain Black would be gone in the next six months and some new guy would take his place as her boss. It was not fair.
"I'm not sure," said Black. He shot Jade a small smile. "I'll be around, of course. You can't get rid of me that easily."
Jackie placed a comforting hand on his niece's shoulder.
"Come on, Jade," he said, "Let's finish up here and we'll go have dinner with Uncle and Tohru."
"Yeah," mumbled Jade numbly.
What am I going to do?
Meanwhile, a fire demon sat on one of myriads of floating boulders in the dark realm.
Shendu turned over his shoulder to glare at his son, who was lounging on a rock a distance away. The little brat looked peaceful in his resting state–he might change that.
How long has it been? Thought the dragon. A few years? A decade? Maybe three? He lost count. Time moved differently in the Netherworld and silence consumed most of his days when ignoring his siblings and offspring.
The fire demon narrowed his eyes. If that foolish boy had not betrayed him, the earth would be in his grasp.
Impudent child, Shendu thought to himself. How dare he...
"You're going to burn a hole through me if you keep that up," muttered the younger dragon without opening his eyes.
A moment later, he yelped as a pair of laser beams blasted him in the chest.
Shendu smirked as Drago got up, fists clenched.
"You got a problem, you old gecko?"
"Because of your arrogance, I am stuck in this barren realm!" growled Shendu.
"So what? It's not like you were able to do anything as a statue in the human world," the younger demon shot back. "What use were you then?!"
"You little–"
A groan from above interrupted the rest of Shendu's rebuttal.
"Will you shut up?" muttered Hsi Wu, the sky demon. "It's the same old thing every day."
Shendu growled low in his throat, glaring daggers at his son.
"I don't need to take this," scoffed Drago, turning to spread his wings and took off elsewhere.
The elder fire demon floated over to where his siblings sat in a collective group. After many years, the demon sorcerers subjected themselves to lying around on the same stone in silence for days on end.
"Insolent youth," the dragon hissed.
"Hmm," agreed Dai Gui, the earth demon. "Tell me about it. So disrespectful they are."
Shendu quirked a brow. "Pardon?"
"You dense fool!" sneered the wind demon Xiao Fung. "You mean to tell us all this time, you did not know we were able to produce children as well?"
"Well–"
"They have been living among humans for an eternity," Bai Tsa, the water demon, cut in. "Did you fail to recall that was how your own son was until you awakened his true nature?"
Shendu stepped back, not wanting to risk the wrath of his siblings.
"They have forgotten their true heritage," lamented Tso Lan, the moon demon. "Having lived among the mortals for so long."
"Saaay," drawled Hsi Wu, a sinister grin stretching ear to ear. "This gives me an idea."
"What are you thinking, brother?" inquired Po Kong, the mountain demon.
Shendu regarded the sky demon with a wary glance. Surely he couldn't be thinking of...
Hsi Wu cackled, rubbing his claws together gleefully.
"We'll need the help of our dear nephew."
TILL NEXT TIME!