Seeming as though I'm flat broke, there is no way in hell I own Jackie Chan adventure. All I won are the original characters and the plotline. Don't sue me
Back in Business
Chapter 1: Trouble
It had been a long time since he had walked the streets freely. There were no talismans to look for or demons possessing his body. He was actually free to be just like everyone else. As he strolled through the streets, he watched the people around him. Most of them were couples enjoying taking advantage of the evening's romance. After walking three blocks, he stopped in front of a small outdoor restaurant. It was silent and empty despite the lovely evening. He chose a table and sat down to enjoy the evening. Not one person was in the area. Silence overtook the entire street. It was then he noticed a woman sitting at the next table.
Her long chestnut hair dangled in her face as she sat there reading an old worn book. Every few lines she'd stop and take a look onto a sheet of paper next to her and take notes. Something about her intrigued Valmont. She quickly glanced up from her work long enough to see him staring at her. Her purple eyes looked him over as he spoke.
"Take a picture it lasts longer."
Her thick European accent added a sinister tone to her voice. Valmont was at a loss for words. He couldn't help but stare at her. Suddenly, a group of men surrounded her table. He watched as she slid the book and her notes into a bag and placed it around her shoulder. Valmont knew these men well. They were from section 13. But what were they doing here? Why did they want her?
"How you managed to get out we have no idea but now it's time for you to come with us." She stood from the table and looked around. Without warning she jumped behind Valmont and put the knife from the table to his throat.
"Don't come any closer! I have a hostage and I will kill him."
The men began laughing at the girl as she looked at Valmont in confusion.
"Sweet heart they're after me too."
One of the men came towards them. "Two birds with one stone? I guess it works for me."
Now both of them were going to be caught. He looked around at the group. Between two of the men he saw a small opening. Without hesitation he grabbed her and ran past them. As quickly as possible, the two ran uphill away from the men. He pulled her into the dark hand HQ and locked the door.
"They gave up it seems." He smirked as he eyed the empty street.
"For being hell bent on getting us they sure did give up quickly." She snorted
Again Valmont peered out the window. The street was now crawling with men going into alleys and open businesses. He looked back at the woman and frowned.
"Well that certainly trashed my evening," he mumbled. "Who the hell are you anyway?"
"That depends," she began. "Are you going to turn me loose for attempting to kill you?"
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," he grinned smugly, "besides turning you in doesn't benefit me in the least."
"Very well," she sighed. "My name is Rebecca aka Silver. I'm the most wanted crime lord on the east coast and several parts of Europe and Asia. Who exactly are you?"
"I'm Valmont. The most wanted crime lord on the west coast."
Rebecca folded her arms and sighed. "Figures the first person I run into here is another crime lord. I'm supposing that you'll want to make a deal with me in exchange for my freedom? After all we can't stay here all night."
"Oh yes we can." He assured her.
"You coward do you want to get us caught?"
"Of course not that's why I brought you to my headquarters. They won't be able to get in here."
He sat in the chair across from her. Unlike most of the crime lords he met, she was different. She didn't act smug and sneaky. She seemed to hate the thought of being a criminal. She pulled the old book out of her bag and began reading again.
"So what's so special about the book?" he questioned. "They seemed to be after that as well as you."
"I was hired to steal it from the London museum. The day I got the book and the money for stealing it, the man that hired me was killed in a shoot out with police. He died and I got to keep the book as well as the money. The best part is there's not one trace of me being involved with him so they can't track me."
"What was so special about that books that made him desire it?"
She looked at the page she had been reading at the restaurant. "It looks like it's just a few spells for summoning demons and shit like that."
Valmont froze. He hated that word. Just the thought of it made him turn pale.
"But that's old hat." She continued. "I've been there done that and I dint want to get involved with it again. In fact I regret every last bit of it."
"You've dealt with demons too?" he questioned. She gave him a somber expression as she thought about it.
"Yes as a matter of fact I have. Did you?"
"Unfortunately I have" He sighed
"Which demon was it?" she inquired
"A whole family of demons. It started with Shendu the fire demon and snowballed from there."
Rebecca sat there and began laughing. "You're telling me that you actually worked with him? That's crazy. I quit after he started ordering me around and yelling about the talismans and the zodiac. No power in this world or the next was worth it."
Valmont went even paler. "He tried to work with you?"
"Yep and I said no way. He threatened me and I said have fun bribing someone else."
Now he felt foolish. Someone else had the sense to leave Shendu before it caused and harm or bankruptcy. Why didn't he quit? Perhaps he was a coward. Perhaps it was the shadow khan that Shendu controlled.
"But I commend you." She smiled "I'm very impatient and cannot for the life of me waste time following orders from stone demons. Was it worth it?"
"No absolutely not! I lost everything I had and was forced to work my way back up. Five years of my live wasted making back the empire I had before that demon showed up. What's worse is that bastard possessed me and forced me all over the world to free his brothers and sisters!"
"Sounds like fun to me." She had moved to the chair next to him and was now practically in his lap. She was beginning to make him feel oddly uncomfortable.
"Dear you're a bit close for comfort." As he tried to push her away a loud banging was heard in the other room. His mind began to race. Was this a set up? Did Blacks men figure out where they were?
"Wait here Rebecca. I'll see what's going on."
Valmont stood and followed the banging. It was closer now and seemed to come from outside the room they were in. the door swung open and something went flying through the air. The broken pieces of a chair came flying through the hall at Valmont. He fell limp to the ground as a large figure hovered over him. After that, his vision went blank.
Author's note: