Chapter 3 – Jack
Disclaimer: If you have not read Fred: Admin in Exile and/or Fred: Into the Multiverse yet. I suggest you read those stories first before reading this one.
(Minecraft: Story Mode and its characters belong to Telltale Games, not me.)
(JESSE'S POV)
"Rah! So good to have you back!" Petra yelled as she held her sword up. "Thank you so much for your help. I know it got a little weird back there. I appreciate you still helping me anyway."
"Hey, it's all in the past Petra." Jesse said. "Just happy to reunite you with your favorite deadly weapon."
"Oh, and it feels so good!" Petra agreed.
"JEEEESSSSSEEEEEE!" The gauntlet whispered again.
"What is that?" Petra asked.
A rumbling sound came from the grass behind the sign that Jesse wrote earlier on. Grabbing Petra and diving, Jesse saw that the entire ground exploded, leaving an exposed Heckmouth that is spilling out charged creepers.
"Sign didn't stop that." Jesse commented.
"Or those." Petra pointed to the creepers.
"Whoa, that's a lot of creepers." Jesse panicked.
"And they're charged? That should be impossible!" Petra said.
"Tell THEM that!" Jesse snapped as he rushed in. Using his sword, he knocked four flashing creepers back into the pit as they exploded. As he moved to attack a fifth creeper, his sword broke.
"Gah! Stupid cheap sword!"
Petra jumped in.
"I gotcha covered Jesse!"
Petra knocked the flashing creeper into the air as it exploded. She kissed her sword.
"Mwah, so good to have you back!"
Another creeper was approaching him, Jesse ducked out of the way. He dodged another creeper and found himself facing four creepers at once. Getting an idea, he charged at them.
"OH NO, YOU DON'T!"
Jesse used the gauntlet to push the creepers back into the pit that they came out of.
"WHOO! That would've been dumb! If it wasn't so AWESOME!" Jesse commented. "C'mon, we need to get this thing covered up again."
Scooping up blocks of dirt, Jesse and Petra used it to cover the pit up again.
"I, I don't know how we're going to get this to hold. That Heckmouth blew right through the GROUND!" Jesse pointed out.
"First, your Prismarine Gauntlet, then that Prismarine pit spitting out creepers, we need to get to Jack's fast." Petra agreed.
"And quickly, before it attracts Fred's attention." Jesse added. "I hope this treasure hunter knows as much as you say he does."
"He does." Petra assured. "He's gotta. C'mon! I'll show you the way."
Petra led Jesse back into Beacontown. Taking a quick glance around, Jesse saw no Fred in sight. Good, so far. Petra led Jesse into a back alley.
"Welcome to Bad Luck Alley." Petra pointed out.
"Wow, I didn't even know people hung out down here at night!" Jesse remarked.
"Well, yeah. It's the cool part." Petra said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jesse asked.
"Aw you know. These are the people who like to live, off the grid. Outside the rules. And you're kinda 'The Boss.'" Petra explained. "It's just the way the world works. That's like, the trade-off when you're in charge, you know that."
"You still hang out with me though." Jesse said.
"Well, yeah, but that's because I knew you when you were still just a nerd in a treehouse." Petra responded. "Don't take it personally, dude."
Petra stopped.
"Should be somewhere down here, I think."
"Wait, have you never been here before? You said you knew a guy." Jesse said, confused.
"Okay, not 'know him, know him.' I know, OF him." Petra explained.
Jesse gave her a look.
"Okay fine, he's a legend, alright? He was once one of the greatest treasure hunters in the whole world, and, he's kind of a hero of mine." Petra admitted. "What should I say? What should I do? I can't believe I'm about to meet Jack! What if he invites me to go adventuring with him?"
Jesse placed a hand on her back.
"Hey, you're a great adventurer too, Petra." Jesse reminded. "Just play it cool around him."
"Well, I mean, I'm no JACK, but… I'll give it a shot. Good advice."
Eventually, they came across a shop with the name 'Jack & Nurm's Adventure Emporium.' Jesse read it out-loud.
"Yup. That's our place." Petra confirmed. "Man, I've always wanted an excuse to come here."
They entered the shop. It was completely filled with various artifacts.
"Oh wow." Petra commented. "'The Upper Lowlands?' 'Spider-Peak Mountain?' 'The Ice Crags of Doom?'"
Yep, Petra is totally fan-girling right now.
"It's just like I told you, Jack might be the best adventurer in town!" Petra exclaimed. "This stuff is from all over the world!"
"See Petra? Beacontown has some pretty cool stuff too, huh?" Jesse pointed out.
"Oh, uh, well I mean what's cool about all of this is that it, isn't, from Beacontown, though." Petra corrected. "But you've got a good point. This is a big win for Beacontown."
Jesse found a button with the sign 'PUSH FOR SERVICE' underneath it. Jesse pushed it, which rang a buzzer.
A voice cleared his throat.
"Welcome to Jack & Nurm's Adventure Emporium." It greeted.
Jesse looked over to his left, to see a figure leaning against a bookshelf. Jesse assumed this was Jack.
Petra gasped in excitement.
"I mean, sup."
"You pushed the button, Very, very brave." Jack complimented.
"Thanks for noticing. I am very brave." Jesse responded.
"Always good to see a hero that knows their own worth." Jack said. Jesse looked away for a moment, and when he looked back. Jack was gone.
"The Warriors of the Whispering Mountain call me 'The Stab-Walker.'" Jack continued, startling Jesse. He was in the same pose, only behind Jesse now. "The Air Titans of the East call me 'He Who Slashes Like Thunder.' But you may call me, Jack."
Jack turned around. He was wearing a sleeveless vest, with black fingerless gloves. One of his eyes seemed to be a light grey. Was he blind in one eye?
"So cool." Petra whispered.
"So awesome to meet you! Love your shop." Jesse commented.
"'Course it is, and 'course you do. Pleasure to have you in today." Jack responded. "So what can I do for you today? Desert Temple? Woodland mansiAAIE—Whoa!"
Jesse lifted his right hand with the gauntlet on it and placed it down on the desk, startling Jack. He had gone deathly pale upon seeing the gauntlet.
"Yeah, that's what we're here about." Jesse confirmed. Jack was trembling in fear.
"Wow, huh. Crazy glove you got there. Not that I've ever seen one before." Jack said. "Looks real crazy though. Crazy stuff."
"Found this way underground beneath Beacontown, thought you might be able to help us figure out where it came from." Jesse explained.
"You did, huh?"
"You can, can't you?" Petra asked.
"Found it on top of a creepy bottomless pit, right? Spitting out monsters?" Jack questioned.
"Yeah, and it had a slot with, like, a weird symbol." Jesse confirmed.
"You should have never picked up that gauntlet." Jack said. "It's not for us mortals to tamper with."
"First, one of my friends warned me about this, and now you. I just don't get it. It's a glove. There's a hole in the ground." Jesse said, confused.
"Oh, it's much more than that, friend." Jack responded. "That pit, it's as deadly as they come. And that symbol you saw, was the symbol of the Structure Block. Legend says it was a mighty tool that could grow civilizations like seeds, create cities in the blink of an eye. You need one of those to close your pit."
"So, where can I get one of these 'Structure Blocks?'" Jesse questioned. "Petra thought maybe an Ocean Monument, because of the Prismarine?"
"Oh, it's an Ocean Monument, alright. The villagers of Mushroom Archipelago call it 'The Sea Temple.'" Jack confirmed.
A villager stepped out and said something in its own language.
"No, no. No problem." Jack responded. "Guys, this is Nurm, my other half. He's the genius behind all of our fine maps. Nurm, this is Jesse and Petra."
"Hi." Jesse greeted.
"Sup." Petra waved.
"What are you doing with your hands?" Jesse asked Petra.
Petra responded with a sheepish grin.
"I was just about to tell these two that I can't help them." Jack explained.
"What?"
"I love your early work, Wither-Storm? Old Builders? Awesome. But as a purveyor of fine maps and adventures, your death would be terrible for business." Jack continued.
"But-" Petra pleaded.
"Sorry, I just can't." Jack insisted.
"Jack, come on." Jesse reasoned. "Do I really need to list off all the amazing things we've done to prove that we're tough enough to handle this? We can take anything you throw at us."
Jack sighed.
"Let me show you something."
Jack approached a map of the world.
"It's like I said before, the world's a lot bigger than you think it is. Jesse."
Jack flipped a lever, which activated a circuit that showed an extended version of the map. A spot on the map had been ripped off.
"Lemme guess, the empty square is where we need to go." Jesse assumed.
"Yep." Jack answered.
"And it's missing because?" Petra inquired.
"I, uh. Kinda burned it." Jack admitted. "I threw it into a volcano, okay?"
"What? Why?" Jesse asked.
"You didn't need that kind of danger anyway, alright? I swore I wouldn't take anyone else to that temple ever again!" Jack snapped. "I refuse to let it take any more lives."
Nurm said something in his own language.
"Shut up, Nurm." Jack responded.
"Jack, you don't understand. We need that map." Jesse insisted.
"And I hear you. I really do. But I swear to you. It's not worth it." Jack said. "I found a Gauntlet just like that once, teamed up with my friends Vos and Sammy to follow its trail. Neither of them made it out alive."
Jesse could understand now why Fred wouldn't want Jesse to touch that gauntlet. Well, it's too late now.
"Hence, uh, you know, 'lava' 'map' 'volcano', you remember what I was saying, anyway." Jack continued. "But burning the map couldn't erase the, horrible memories. And thanks to the curse of my perfect sense of direction, I couldn't forget the location of that temple if I tried."
"So, if you're the only one who knows where it is…" Jesse began.
"Yep, without me. You're never getting to that Sea Temple." Jack agreed. "That knowledge is, my curse."
"Jack, Jack! Sounds to me like it's your lucky day! Petra and I have a lot of great experience helping people get over their tragic backstories!" Jesse said.
"We do?" Petra asked.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, we'll tackle that temple together!" Jesse suggested.
That seemed to convince Jack. He and Nurm nodded at each other.
"You know what? You've inspired me. I mean, am I the Velvet Tornado, or aren't I?" Jack asked.
"You, are, right?" Jesse questioned.
"Yes." Jack answered.
"Then yeah! That's the spirit!" Jesse appraised.
"Nurm? Time to get our adventuring things!" Jack said to Nurm.
"Jesse! It's perfect!" Petra exclaimed. "'Structure Block?' 'Sea Temple?'"
"I know, it's amazing. Almost, too good to be true!" Jesse agreed.
"AUGH, YES! Oh, by the way, am I doing a good job 'playing it cool?' Think he thinks I'm cool?" Petra asked. "I know I was a little awkward at first."
"Eh, what's 'cool,' anyway? A temperature, right? Who cares!" Jesse said.
"Wait what?"
"Nurm, I told you, it's not the Admin's-" Jack reasoned.
Wait, did he just say Admin? Does this Sea Temple have some sort of connection with Fred?
"Ugh, fine." Jack conceded after Nurm made a stubborn noise.
"What'd he say?" Jesse asked.
"Nothin', Villager stuff. Nurm here, wants to make a new map of this place, what with the, uh, whole lava volcano incident." Jack explained. Jesse wasn't quite sure he believed him. But Nurm did make some happy sounding vocalizations.
"That's awesome Nurm, welcome aboard!" Jesse welcomed.
Nurm made a noise that sounded like 'Woo hoo.'
"He says 'woo hoo.'" Jack translated.
"Yeah, I figured that out." Jesse said. "So, that means we're off to the Sea Temple?"
"Don't you think you're looking a little, squishy for that?" Jack pointed out, referring to Jesse's clothes.
"Seriously? You're wearing a vest." Jesse reasoned.
"The Vest of Five Fists." Jack corrected. "Gifted to me by the Singing Clerics of Port-"
"Okay, jeez. I get it. It's a cool vest." Jesse interrupted. "C'mon, I just need to make a quick pitstop, and I can show you some real armor."
Jesse led them to the Order hall, Radar was in there.
"Oh, Jesse. I'm so glad you're here." Radar greeted.
"Hey, Radar." Jesse greeted back.
"There is a LOT going on." Radar said, pulling out a book. He proceeded to ramble on. "Someone still needs to finalize the ideas for the Founding Day banners. The Cake-Baking Team can't agree on what color to make the front of their shop. The Wool-Makers Guild isn't super happy about their booth being next to the Fireworks Union, understandable."
"RADAR!" Jesse shouted, startling him.
"Ahh, sorry. Got in the zone there." Radar apologized. "What's up boss?"
Radar took a look around.
"I see you brought friends? And a new accessory?" Radar questioned.
"Short version? The town's in danger. I stopped it for now, but I think this can help me fix it permanently. I'll be gone for a little bit." Jesse explained.
"G-gone? But, Jesse, what about Beacontown?" Radar asked. "Founding Day is right around the corner and, and if it's really, in-in-in DANGER, who will protect everyone? There's no telling what could happen!"
"Why don't you try leading them, pal?" Jesse suggested.
"What? Me!? That's, this is…"
"Try not to explode." Petra said.
Radar screamed.
"Jesse, I won't let you down." Radar promised.
"I know you won't." Jesse said.
Radar did a salute gesture.
"Good luck, boss. Beacontown will be waiting for you when you get back." Radar said.
Jack did one of his grunts, startling Radar.
"Gah! Um, goodbye." Radar stammered as he turned around and began to leave.
The Order Hall door opened, and there stood the one person that Jesse really didn't want to talk to right now; Fred.
Acting quickly, Jesse hid the gauntlet behind his back, hoping to god that Fred didn't see it.
(FRED'S POV)
As Fred walked past Radar who seemed to be leaving in a bit of a hurry, he noticed a villager and a guy with dirty-blonde hair and a beard wearing a Sleeveless Vest. He was talking to Jesse.
"Heh, you said it. Can't believe that's your assistant." Sleeveless Vest commented. "He's more wound up than a pack of parrots with a jukebox. Or a creeper in a herd of cats."
"Yeah, I see what you mean. Radar can be pretty excitable sometimes." Fred agreed. "I was just passing by the Order Hall when I heard him screaming, decided to come in and see what's what."
Fred looked at Jesse.
"So, what did you do that got him so excitable anyway?" Fred asked.
"Since I was taking Jesse and Petra here on an adventure out of town, Jesse promoted him leader while he was gone." Sleeveless Vest explained.
"Understandable." Fred said. "I like the kid. Really, I do. But sometimes, I feel that he needs to chill out a little bit."
Fred's blue human form eyes stared at Sleeveless Vest for a moment, before they widened.
"Hey, wait a minute. I recognize you." Fred recognized. "You're that legendary adventurer known as Jack!"
"Always happy to meet a fan." Jack responded. "And I believe I have seen you a few times around town. Fred, was it?"
"Yes." Fred confirmed. "Anyway, I better get running. I need to make sure that Radar hasn't gone into shock. Just out of simple curiosity, where exactly were you planning on taking Jesse and Petra anyway?"
"A type of… ocean monument." Jack explained, with a slight shudder.
This had Fred slightly uneasy, he knew that Romeo had built his own Sea Temple inside this world. Feeling slightly paranoid, Fred probed about what type of ocean monument it was.
"What type of ocean monument?" Fred inquired, an edgy tone in his voice.
"The villagers of Mushroom Archipelago call it 'The Sea Temple.'" Jack clarified.
Holy crap, they were going to Romeo's Sea Temple. Fred had to stop them.
"In which case, I'm afraid that's a bad idea." Fred objected. "I'm sorry, but that place contains horrors that most brave people would shudder at. I'm sorry, but it's really not worth it."
"Are you talking about the Admin?" Jack questioned.
"'The Admin?'" Fred repeated. "Is that what the psychopath is calling himself now?"
Fred stopped himself, realizing what he was saying.
"Uh, I mean. Yes, I am talking about the Admin. Sorry to intrude, but how exactly do you know about this 'Admin', and how much of him do you know about?"
Jack took a nervous glance at the Villager, who nodded before sighing and continuing.
"Supposedly, he's some all-powerful ancient person, built the world, I think." Jack continued. "Biggest bunch of superstitious malarkey I've ever heard in my life, and that was even after going to the swamps of Foon-jar and back."
Fred took a deep breath, before walking over to the Order Hall door and activating it's locking mechanism. It was there for occasions when Jesse and his group of friends would not want to be disturbed. Fred returned to the group.
"Jack, before I explain any further, I need you to understand that what I am about to tell you, is strictly classified between Jesse's group of friends, and must never leave this room."
"I understand." Jack understood.
"Good."
And Fred launched into one of his stories.
"Believe me right now when I say that the Admin is real. Very real, and I know more about him than you think. You see, his real name is Romeo. I know this, because we used to be friends, that was before he went completely insane and tried to kill me. Ever since that day, I have tried to remain hidden from him. Another thing that I need to point out straight away, is that he isn't the only Admin."
Fred sighed.
"Jack, I am also an Admin." Fred confessed.
Author's Notes: Oh boy, we've got tension here.
Sorry, but I felt like doing a cliffhanger here.
Like it? Review. Don't like it, look up another story.
More to follow.