Clay sighed and gazed over the family ranch wondering how he was going to fix the mess his sister had landed in. He had returned home because of an urgent phone call from mother that Jessie had gotten into trouble with the law once again. She was currently home under house arrest and it was up to him to figure out what had caused her relapse. "Well no time like the present. Still I wonder what caused Jessie to become a varmint again."
Entering the house he could hear his daddy and mom yelling/weeping in Jessie's room. Demanding to know why she had rustled up fellow ranchers for money and what the heck was she doing with the Black Vipers? Did she care that if convicted of disorderly conduct, extortion, and harassment she spend the next three years in juvie or worse prison if she was tried as an adult? From the sounds of it Jessie wasn't saying much.
Finally his folks quit and stormed out the room. "Where did that child learn to be stubborn as burrow crossing a raging river? What are we going to do Mary Joe?"
"I don't know Clint, but I really hope that Clay can find out what's going on. After all he and Jessie have grown so close the last few months. Clay, do you think you could take Jessie her dinner and try to get her to talk about the incident? Maybe find out what's she been up to?" his mom asked pleadingly.
"No sweat Mom, I promise you by this time tomorrow I'll have Jessie crowing like the rooster announcing the day. I even brought a few Shen Gong Wu to help me out if things get rough," he told her showing her the Fist of Tebigong, Mind Reader Conch, and Third Arm Sash.
"Well let's hope it doesn't come to strong arming your baby sister. Remember son; you shouldn't ever harm a lady. It isn't right," Clint warned his son. Clay nodded his head and took the plate of food from his mom and entered Jessie's room wondering what he find.
"What do you want big brother? Are you hear to serve the prisoner her last meal before I'm carted off to the pokey?" Jessie growled. She was currently sitting on her bed reading a book about flying machines trying to figure out how to make her motorcycle fly now that she gave back the Wings of Tanabee.
"Jessie what has gotten into you? I thought that you gave up being a varmint after that incident with our Heylin halves. When you came to the Temple for my Rite of Passage you were getting good grades in school, your friends had given up harassing people, and you were planning on getting your flying licenses. So what happened?"
"Look big brother you don't have a clue what my life is like so stop trying to mosey on in it okay? While you're away at that fancy smashy Temple learning how to protect the world I'm living in it! Do you realize how hard it is to get anywhere in life without some money or recognition?"
"So roughing up our neighbors for cash is the only solution? You were taught better than that Jessie. I know your not doing this on your own. Someone's taken command of the Black Vipers and forcing you to harm others. Now tell me or I'm going to inform mom and daddy about that five grand you have stashed in your room."
"That money is mine fair and square! Why don't you make like a buzzard and get out of here right now! I don't have to explain myself to you or anyone. Now good night!" she shouted as she kicked him out of her room and locked the door.
Clay dusted himself off and looked at her door sadly. Jessie was obviously in over her head with trouble and if he didn't get any answers by tomorrow night she be hauled off for the next three years. He would just have to keep an eye on her and that meant an all night steak out. Good thing Callie had packed her famous five-alarm beetle stew. That stuff kept anyone awake for hours on end.
After receiving another lecture from their parent's Jessie was left alone in her room that had been rigged with alarms. If she tried to get out they would sound waking up the entire ranch. For extra measures her bike keys had been tossed in the safe and her bike chained up inside the garage with parts of the engine missing for good measure. Clay was certain that these measures would help, but Jessie was a resourceful girl and if she wanted out nothing was going to stop her.
It was a little after midnight and all was quite except for Mr. Bailey's snoring. Even the cattle had tucked for the night. Clay was on his fifth bowl of stew when he heard some strange noises coming from Jessie room. Quickly he turned off his light and peeked through his door to watch.
Jessie was sneaking out of her room pocketing the wires to the alarms. Carefully she tiptoed through the house making sure not to make any noise. Clay squinted to see what she was up to. Opening his door just a crack he watched in disbelief as Jessie robbed the family safe and headed out the door. Grabbing his hat and Shen Gong Wu he followed her.
"What does Jessie think she' going? With her bike chained up and the horses stabled for the night there's no way she's leaving the house?" Clay whispered. He stealthily stalked his sister. He had to give her credit. She was a mechanical whiz expertly putting her bike together. After wheeling the bike down the driveway she opened the throttle and rode off.
"Dang how am I suppose to follow her now and find out whose behind her sudden change in attitude? Hmm I have an idea. Soul Beast emerge!" he said. His Soul Pendent glowed softly and a soft green light shot out and reformed itself into a giant rock snake. "Hey Onix how are you? Think you can follow my sister's trail and not cause to much of a ruckus?"
The Soul Beast rubbed its giant head against Clay's hand as an answer. Using his tail he gently picked up Clay and placed him on his back. After roaring softly the rock snake started slithering away at high speeds after Jessie.
Jessie was unaware she was being followed as she rode her bike down the highway. All she knew was that she had to meet up with the other Black Vipers and talk to the boss about how well things were going. She was unhappy that she had to rough people up for money, but with a five percent cut of whatever the boss made from his ventures would go a long way to getting her into flying school. That thought comforted her as she took the hidden turn off and came to the hideout, which was an old miner's cave that had been renovated.
"Hey girls how are you? Did any of your folks threatened to throw you in the pokey?"
"No way boss we got away clean. We even got the rest of the loot the big guy wanted. Its so much fun to watch the rancher squirm like a slug in the sun as we roughed him up. What do you think the big guy wants with all these deeds and money?" Jenna, Jessie best friend asked.
"Now Jenna it's not nice to question the big guy is it? Jessie its good to see you here, but in the future don't get caught and grounded by parents. If that happens again or you tell the cops about me you can kiss your money good bye," Pandabubba informed her as he entered the room. Instantly the mood in the room changed and the girls stood up a little straighter. "Now that you are here I assume you brought what I wanted?"
"Here it is just like I promised, the deed to my daddy's ranch and all his savings. I don't know what you wanting with it Mr. Pandabubba, but I hope this means I still get my cut," Jessie said handing over the deed and cash.
"Don't worry my dear you'll get what's coming to you. All of my Black Vipers will get what you deserve once you complete your mission. There's only one more property for you to secure for me and that's the Lawrence Ranch. Once I have that the real fun can begin. Ha, Ha, Ha!" Pandabubba said laughing.
While everyone was laughing Clay had snuck in unnoticed. He frowned at the sight of Pandabubba and was shocked that Jessie would so willing give away their family home to this mob boss. What did an Asian mob boss want in America? What did that no good varmint want with all that money and those deeds? Why did he need his sister and his friends to get these things for him? Time to get some answers. "Mind Reader Conch."
These girls are a bunch of fools. I give them some chicken feed to be my enforcers and they do my dirty work for me. Once I own all those properties I can finally start drilling for the oil. Ha I'll still retain some of these ladies as my enforcers and Jessie can take the fall for me! Ha I'll corner the American market in Texas Oil and nobody will stop me ha ha ha! Pandabubba thought manically.
Oh that Pandabubba makes my blood boil like the Texas sun in summer. No way is he going to get away with this. I have to help Jessie and her friends before they end up in jail! Clay thought. Taking a deep breath he made his presence known. "Pandabubba you step away from my sister and her friends right now or else I'm going to kick your butt!"
"So if it isn't one of the Xiaolin monks coming to stop me how quaint. I should have guessed Jessie was your sister seeing how she looks like you with lipstick. No matter it's far to late for you to stop me ha ha. Ladies if you would be so kind to give our guest a proper welcome please."
"Vipers time to snake a cowboy!" Jenna shouted pulling out her lasso and twirling it around. "This is going to be easy. Clay's too manly to fight a bunch of girls. Yehaw!"
Clay dodged the Jenna's lasso, but Amber and Kristy manage to grab lasso his arm and Erin manage to hogtie his legs. The girls were laughing as they started dragging him across the floor. They weren't laughing the next minute Clay busted three and used the Fist of Tebigong to punch out a rocky prison for them. "You're right about one thing. It isn't right to fight a girl, but technically it isn't fighting if I lock you up. Oof."
Jessie glared at her brother in hatred as she raised her boot to kick him again. "Why couldn't you have been like a prairie dog Clay and kept your nose to the ground where it belonged? Everything was working out fine until you decided to mess in my affairs. Third Arm Sash! Do you have any idea how close I was to getting into pilot's school and getting my wings?"
"A fat load of help that would do for you if Pandabubba had his way. What did he do threatened to kill you if you didn't hand over control over of the Black Vipers to him? He's a mob boss Jess! He's more dangerous that a rattler without a rattle! He's using you to get all those properties so he can start drilling for oil. You're the fall girl and he gets off Scot Free!"
"Your just making things up! How would you know any of that stuff?"
"Don't listen to him my dear. Finish him off so we can continue with our business uninterrupted. I have an important client coming in a few hours and I hate to be kept waiting," Pandabubba barked at Jessie.
"Jessie you have to listen to me please! Ugh Pandabubba doesn't care about you or your friends. All he cares about is making a lot of money. If you help him get the Lawrence's Ranch then all our neighbors will lose their homes and he'll own Texas. If you have any Texan pride inside of you you'll stop him right now!" Clay pleaded as the Third Arm Sash squeezed him tighter and tighter.
Jessie's mind was in turmoil. On the one hand she knew her brother wouldn't lie to her, but on the other she couldn't go against Pandabubba. He had beaten her fairly and thanks to him she had almost enough money to achieve her dreams. Yet there was something suspicious about him. Making a snap decision she released Clay who sank to the floor in exhaustion and turned the sash on Pandabubba. "I want the truth you yellow belly varmint. What do you really want with all that loot and my girls? Answer me now or I'll squeeze you until you squeal like a greased pig."
Pandabubba just grinned at her and smiled. "Your brother's telling the truth. I am using your friends to help me get all those properties so I can drill for a hidden oil reserve. You my dear would have taken the fall, but since plans have changed you're coming with me now."
"What if I refuse to go with you? I can be quite stubborn and incase you haven't noticed I'm the one with the Shen Gong Wu. Ah!" Jessie screamed as Pandabubba shot her in the arm. Clutching her arm she sank to her knees screaming in pain as blood spurted out everywhere.
"Boss!" the Black Vipers yelled in horror. How could their best friend and leader have been shot like that in cold blood?
"Jessie!" Clay shouted weakly. He was still having a hard time catching his breath after nearly having his lungs squeezed out. He had to stop Pandabubba from taking Jessie and using her as leverage to get out of going to jail.
"Don't waste your time Xiaolin Dragon. Your sister's coming with me. If any of you try to follow me or tell the police what conspired Jessie here is going to get a bullet in the heart. If you want me to release her get me that last deed. You have one hour I'll be watching. Come along my dear we've outstayed our welcome," Pandabubba told her as he started dragging Jessie away by her bloody arm.
Clay heard his sister's cries and his blood boiled. No one and he meant no one should ever shoot his sister or use her as a hostage to get what they wanted. Pandabubba wasn't going to get away with this. "You're not going anywhere Pandabubba. Release my sister now or suffer the consequences!"
"What are you going to do about? You can't attack me without harming your baby sister. Face it you've lost and I've won."
"Not yet you haven't," Clay growled. He was engulfed in a gold glow as his robes changed to that of a Shoku Warrior. A warmth spread across his body and he felt his new powers surging through him. Taking a deep breath he let loose his new attack. "Shoku Titanic Crater Earth!"
The rock in the cave sprang to life and started snaking itself around the mob boss who dropped Jessie in a panic as he struggled to against the rock. It pressed tighter and tighter until it formed a case around him with an air slit for him to breath. He was defeated.
The next few hours were hectic. After freeing the Vipers, calling the police and an ambulance, and then using his Shoku healing abilities to reduce Jessie bullet wound, the group found themselves in the hospital being checked over. Pandabubba was currently in the Texas Federal Penitentiary and the Vipers Jessie included had gotten community service. Jessie would heal in a few weeks and all the ranchers got their property back. All in all it was a good ending to such a horrible situation.
"Thanks big brother for everything," Jessie told him, as he got ready to leave for the Temple. "I wish I hadn't been so stupid or blind. I just wanted to make my dream come true."
"I understand Jessie. You just keep trying and I know one day you'll have your dream come true. Take care little sister and I'll see you soon. I love you bye!" Clay shouted as he flew away on Dojo knowing everything would be all right.