Chapter One
Jackie Chan, Jade Chan, Uncle Chan, and Tohru. An odd family group one could say, and all live their daily lives in a small little antique shop run by Uncle Chan— or "Uncle" as most call him who know the family. Though they do look unusual for a family, that unusualness does not simply stop at looks. For quite a few years now they have been under the jurisdiction of a secret organization called "Section 13" and help them with missions to catch unique, powerful villains, as well as missions to retrieve or transport important artifacts, guests and the like; villains are also included in this package as well. Also...When one says "under the jurisdiction of" it basically means they live there now instead of in the shop, though Uncle may not complain about that part too much. They still spend much of their free time in his shop when they are not down at Section 13 helping them with something, or off on one of Jackie's archeologist trips.
Thankfully since the defeat of Drago, his group of goons lead by Strikemaster Ice and the Dragon Minions he conjured, as well as his father Shendu, The Dark Hand, and other powerful, imposing villains, things have muddled down considerably. That does not exactly mean that Jackie and the group's life has settled completely—life for the newly reinforced Special Agent and his odd family is still rather hectic and unexpected. It is simply best to say that compared to what they had to deal with before, life in San Francisco is a tiny bit easier without crazy fire-breathing dragons, demons or dark wizards after masks, Demon Chi, Talismans or world domination. No things are definitely easier and a bit calmer for the group, although like what was mentioned...Its not perfect. Section 13 is still in need of their help rather often for tasks, and with Uncle's strong mastery of magic spells and Jackie's skill in martial arts, it is no wonder they are still sticking around. Though it does also help that Tohru is still as large and imposing as ever...And Jade being older and stronger, as well as still being quite stubborn, has helped a good deal more now as well. Even if Jackie himself simply hates admitting it sometimes, Jade is quite good at kicking butt now, even as a young teenager with an even worse rebellious streak than when she was a child.
With a short battle cry Jackie jumped, spun and stuck out his foot, allowing momentum and force to throw it forward and smack the masked man directly in the chest, sending him flying backward a ways and crashing down to the tiled floor of the museum. The group the man belonged to was becoming rather well-known as professional thieves who took a liking in pricey, original arts. Whether it were a painting, a sculpture, or an old ancient relic, they were going to grab it and sell it somewhere if they felt they would get a good payout. Unfortunately their antics eventually got them under Section 13's radar when they wound up taking quite valuable artifacts from already guarded, prepared drops to museums, so finally after a failed first attempt, they were taken down when they went after some priceless artifacts, unaware that agents such as Jackie Chan and Captain Black himself were waiting for them.
The groaning, barely conscious man was picked up and cuffed by some more agents that arrived, and Jackie stood up straight and dusted himself off. There was a small bit of damage— mainly from Tohru getting a bit rough at one point with one of the other thieves, and from the man he himself was fighting when he decided throwing some informational podiums at him would be smart. He may be a bit older, but he is still very capable of fighting...And so is Jade, who popped in despite him saying not too, and took out one of the thieves herself. He has to admit that she is getting rather good at this. Captain Black offered her training, and she took it up immediately; despite his quarrels with the idea, it has proven to be useful. Not that he ever wants to admit that again. He barely heard the end of it the last time. Speaking of the young lady, Jade was coming over now with a big smile as she waved her hand.
"Hey Uncle Jackie!" she called happily, running the rest of the way to him. "Oh man I totally kicked butt this time! Didn't even need any help— heh he didn't even know what hit him!" She grinned, and Jackie sighed with a hand to his head.
"Jade...I told you to stay back in the van. What are you doing here?" By now, this is just common speech between the two during these missions. He barely actually means it anymore. It's especially impossible to keep her away now that she is training to be a Section 13 officer as well. Black doesn't always take her on missions to help her train and get first-hand experience, but that definitely doesn't stop her from coming. It didn't before, and he hates to think it, but it definitely doesn't now. Jade crossed her arms and smiled at her Uncle's careless question, a brow raising as well. She can tell there is no real meaning to that saying anymore— it's just habit. Heh, she can't help that can she?
"I came to help you guys kick butt, duh!" she replied bluntly, still smiling. Jackie sighed, and she just shrugged. "I don't know what you expect! I'm more capable now than I ever was before! Half the time you guys would have been in serious trouble if I didn't come and help you out!" She grinned up at Jackie— who was only a foot or two taller than her at this point. Within a few more years she might catch up to him. "Besides, I'm training for this stuff now! The more action I get the better!"
Jackie sighed and rubbed his face. He knew that was coming. "Yes I know, but still you should listen to people when they tell you to do something! Sometimes it really is the better option!"
"Yeah, yeah," she retorted with a paired wave of her hand. Her gaze was turned away from him now. "I know, and I do that! I listen—I just don't listen for long!" She paused, then smiled and whipped around. "Hey Tohru!" She called joyfully as she ran up to the large man and gave him a high-five. He smiled.
"Hello Jade," the hulking man responded, a smile still on his face. "I heard—I am glad to see you are all right, and dealt that man some justice," he replied before she could speak. He earned a raised brow, then a wide smile. The young woman struck a pose then and grinned up at him.
"Yeah, I totally kicked butt!"
Jackie sighed, but at this point he had already given up. She was fine, she took down one of the thieves, and barely any damage was done besides some broken podiums and cracked walls. There's no real reason to continue an argument that he already lost to.
Captain Black took quick work of cleaning up the mess and informing the people in charge of the Museum of the small amount of damage. After they were taken back to Section 13's building and congratulated for the rather easy stop and apprehension of the group of thieves, then let loose for the day. Jackie of course left with an extra "We'll call if anything else comes up" from Black before the group returned to Uncle's Shop for some housekeeping and research. Though not much magical or supernatural forces were running or phasing around now Uncle was always reading up and researching on things to make better spells and whatnot. "Just in case something happens— because we know it will!" he had exclaimed. Jackie can believe that, as can the others; they know that at any moment, things could get quite ridiculous and dangerous again. But they would be ready— they'd have to be. For right now they're simply enjoying the fact that nothing is too major.
Hours passed of common shenanigans between the different members of the house up until dinnertime. Jade finished her homework, Uncle and Tohru looked up dinner recipes and cooked them up with Jackie's help. After a bit of trial and error with Tohru nearly reducing their dinner into an explosive barrel of sludge, the family had finished their dinner after their bit of bickering. Now the group was up on the roof with Uncle once again marking down star patterns and constellations. He had been noticing recently that star patterns and line-ups were happening more frequently, and he was not sure if that was a natural anomaly that would cause problems, or if the anomaly was already caused by some hidden problems. All he knew is that he did not like it, and he was broadcasting that to everyone else.
"Ay-yah! These constellation alignments are puzzling to Uncle. They are more frequent, and closer together— Not sure how bad this will make things!"
Jackie tilted his head as he stood next to the old man; Tohru and Jade were more amused with each other and their antics, but now Uncle was even grabbing their attention with his slight urgency.
"We do not know if this will actually stir up anything, Uncle! Besides, it is best not to think of the worst that could happen. It has been years since anything major happened, and why would stars cause that?" His question was replied to with a two-fingered whap on the forehead, and he flinched away and rubbed his head. "Ow!"
"Because last time there was a unique arrangement in the stars was when Dark Chi became alive again—and it was also when annoying snarky dragon teenybopper got loooose!" He emphasized that list part, and Jackie frowned as he rubbed his head. That is true, he almost forgot. That was rather odd and ironic timing, he has to admit. Drago got loose from his imprisonment right around that time didn't he? The man chuckled however and brushed it off.
"Uncle, there is no way Drago, Shendu or any of the other demons will come back! All of them are trapped down in the underworld now— there is no one up here who can use a spell to release them!"
"Yeah, there's no way scaly or any of those other weirdos will get back out!" Jade piped in as she sat down against the propped up ledge of the roof. "Besides even if he did come back there's no Chi for him to hunt down now. So either way, no problem!"
"Jade is right Uncle. There is no reason to be worried," Jackie added before turning to the young teenage girl. "By the way, don't you have a test tomorrow?" The question immediately brought on a pause, then a sheepish smile.
"...Would you believe me if I said no?" she asked, getting a blank, unamused stare in reply. Jade sighed and turned around, heading for the stairs back down into the shop. "Ugh, fine. I'll go to bed—but I already studied!" At that she hurried down the stairs, leaving Jackie, Uncle and Tohru there. Jackie shook his head, then looked over at Uncle as he spoke.
"You all may not be worried, but you all also do not understand what Uncle does! In a few more days, there will be a full moon. Along with more strange star alignments! Uncle is veeeery worried, and unsure of what this might cause." Jackie frowned again and crossed his arms while Tohru tilted his head.
"This worries you that much Sensie?" The tall, large man questioned.
"Yes! And it should worry you too!"
Jackie sighed again, but he nodded his head. "I will tell Captain Black to keep extra watch over things from now until the full moon. But please Uncle, try not to stress yourself with this."
"Uncle does not stress! Even if he did, this is very important. Needs sleep now, but will start preparing tomorrow!" He put away the telescope and closed his notes before walking for the stairs. "It is better to be prepared and not need to be, then to not be prepared and need it."
Jackie and Tohru glanced at each other, then looked forward again as they followed Uncle back into the shop.
A few miles away into the town however, it seemed Uncle's warning was more true than they would have hoped. Down in an old junkyard that was no longer used, wind was kicking up and tossing bits of light shrapnel, papers and other random things strewn about on the ground and loosely hanging from different pieces of junk. In a more open patch of ground with an old fire pit and some leftover beer cans, the ground was starting to rumble, and more toward the center it even looked as though it was caving in slightly. Cracks started to form as the caving ground hardened and stopped suddenly, and an ominous mix of bright yellow, red and green light started to show through the steadily widening cracks spreading from the caved center of the ground.
It continued to crack and fall away as the newly formed hole continued to steadily grow wider, before suddenly stopping. The rumbling quieted a bit, but did not stop, and the lights did not dissipate either. After a few moments of this almost perfect, eerie quiet the lights showing dimly through the hole shifted and dimmed even more toward the center of the hole. There was some kind of illusion of a figure moving through the lights, though the red was a bit more prominent now. Suddenly something fast reached up out of the hole; a green scaled and clawed hand slammed down and gripped the edge of the hole, the claws digging into the ground. A low growl rumbled from inside the hole, and another arm quickly jutted out and grabbed hold as something started to pull itself out. A rather sharp, toothy white grin showed from the being silhouetted by the lights and covered in the surrounding darkness of night. The deep red glowing eyes showed brightly however...