Disclaimer: I do not own American Dragon: Jake Long.
Live Bait
Chapter 4 – Nightmare
As the population of New York City slept a squad of Hunts Clan made their way across the New York skyline on their converted staffs. Numbers eight-eight and eighty-nine were in charge of this particular Hunts Clan squad as it was a component of the two part attack on the American Dragon.
The Alpha Squad, headed by the Hunts Master, was to enter the dream realm with the aid of a particular potion, dream charms, and a pendant that instilled all knowledge of the dream word into its wearer. Then they were to confront the American Dragon and Hunts Girl. The Bravo Squad, lead by numbers eight-eight and eighty-nine, was to go to the American Dragon's residence and bring him back to headquarters and slay him once he transformed into a dragon.
The trip to Jake Long's house was short and swift for the trained Hunts Clan as they stepped off their boards and onto his roof, careful not to disturb the slumbering residents. Fanning out, the squad covered the area, scanning the interior for any sign of the Long family and the elder dragon.
The Hunts Clan squad made their way down to the back of the house, using their staffs to destroy the lock on the back door allowing the team to sweep in towards the direction of Jake's room.
Ω
Jake and Rose stood facing the advancing Hunts Clan with their jaws slack. Both teens desperately tried to change their dream realm surroundings but neither had any effect on the environment. Finally regaining control of their bodies, the two turned around and ran as fast as they could away from the Hunts Clan. As Jake dashed with Rose close on his heels he only thought about how anyplace would be better than where they where. Suddenly the entire landscape changed and they found themselves running down a ghastly looking alleyway in New York City.
Rose reached for the first door they came to and violently pulled Jake in, causing him to slam into the ground which knocked the wind out of him. "What happened," Rose asked, looking down at Jake and then at their surroundings.
Jake looked around and sighed, "Well, I was just thinking about how someplace else other than the field would be nice, and well, here it is," Jake said, standing up and peaking out the door to see if the Hunts Clan were close on their tails.
Seeing no one in pursuit coming down the alley way, Jake walked over and sat down next to Rose, taking her hand in his and squeezing it tight. Rose leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes trying to logically explain the events that had just transpired.
Ω
The Hunts Clan team surrounded Jake's unconscious form and with great precision lifted the sleeping teen from his bed, wrapping him in a net. The team carried the boy out of the house and attached the net to their boards, headed off towards the Hunts Clan Headquarters.
Ω
Jake stood up and walked around the warehouse looking for anything that could help explain what was going on. Rose watched as Jake paced around. Growing tired of watching him continually march back and forth, she stood and walked over to him, grabbed his arm and spun him around to face her. "Jake, you said earlier that you were trying to change the environment, and then this place suddenly appeared. I have been trying to open the door to the dream realm corridor ever since we walked in here and nothing is happening. Maybe you should try to change the environment again," Rose suggested.
Jake focused all his energy on creating a giant burrito table hybrid, just for kicks, but nothing in their immediate surroundings changed. "It just won't work this time," Jake said in a defeated tone, slumping back against the wall.
The Hunts Master paced around a vacant parking lot that used to be the field he had created. "How could they change the setting," he thought to himself, "that leprechaun had promised me that with the knowledge of the dream realm no one would be able to override my commands. At least with the potion I know for a fact they won't be escaping." Turning to face the squad of Hunts Clan the Hunts Master said, "Everyone spread out and search the area. They couldn't have gone far. Once you find them make the dragon transform and signal for backup. GO!" With that the Hunts Clan dispersed in several different directions. The Hunts Master waited till they were out of sight and headed in the direction that his prey had fled.
Rose gave Jake a stern look while he stood back up and once again paced around the warehouse. Outside, the sound of breaking glass snapped them to attention. "Ear of the dragon," Jake said under his breath while his ear took on the appearance of his dragon form. "Sounds like just one guy," Jake whispered to Rose who had her ear pressed against the door.
The handle on the door creaked and Jake and Rose passed knowing looks at each other. Rose climbed to top of the door frame waiting for it to open while Jake hid behind some boxes lying around on the floor. As the door opened Rose slammed her boot into the back of the Hunts Clan's members head, knocking him out cold.
Jake and Rose stood opposite of the newly captured ninja whom was tired to a chair with is mask removed. Rose held his staff leveled at his head and Jake was using his height to its full advantage. "What is going on here," Jake demanded as the Hunts Clan member began to wake up.
"W-what happened," he asked regaining consciousness.
"Why don't you start by telling us what you are doing here," Rose asked, using the staff to stress her point.
Seeing the staff glow a faint green, the ninja's eyes widened in fear. "We are here to make sure you transform into your dragon form so that the team that picked up your body can slay you before you awake."
"And why are our dream charms not working," Jake demanded, looking ready to kill.
"Eighty-eight and eighty-nine slipped you both some potion to keep you here in the dream word and make everything that happens here effect your bodies in the real word. The Hunts Master also has something that allows him to override yours and my charm," the Hunts Clan member said. Taking the hint from Jake, Rose fired a stunning blast at the restrained squad member, rendering him unconscious.
"So, what now," Rose asked, hooking the staff behind her back.
"I guess we can go after the Hunts Master and see if we can get some answers from him," Jake suggested as he walked over towards the door.
"Remember what that guy said, Jake. They want you to transform so you need to remain in your human form so they don't kill you," Rose said, walking towards him and intertwining her fingers with his.
"I'll be careful," Jake answered, gripping the handle to the door and opening it slowly. The alleyway was just as deserted as it was before. The two took a cautious step outside. Jake pulled the door shut and Rose sealed it with a short blast from the staff. "Now we need to find and surprise the Hunts Master," Jake whispered into Rose's ear.
They headed back in the direction from which they fled, looking for any signs of the Hunts Master. "Damn, I wish grandpa was here to help," Jake inwardly thought to himself.
Suddenly a doorway appeared directly in front of them. Rose whipped the staff around and pointed it directly at the door expecting any minute the Hunts Master would appear. The door looked just like all of the other dream realm doors. Jake hesitantly reached for the door and pulled it open reveling the dream realm corridor.
Jake and Rose stepped through the doorway hearing the click of the door reverberate through the hall. "Lets see if your grandfather is asleep yet," Rose suggested while motioning towards a door with 'Lao Shi' written above it. Jake gripped the handle and opened the door reveling a 1970's disco dance floor with Lao Shi dancing in the center. Jake walked over towards him interrupting the entire dancing group.
"Yo Yo, what is this interruption," he asked giving Jake a dirty look.
"Grandpa, we have a problem," Jake uttered, "The Hunts Master has found a way to confine Rose and me to the dream realm. They have also taken my body back to the Hunts Clan's Headquarters," Jake said in a hurry.
"Now, now, young dragon. How do you know this?" Lao Shi asked, walking Jake and Rose over towards one of the tables.
Jake and Rose sat together across from the magnificent Chinese dragon. "All I know is that we were having one of our typical dream dates and then everything changed and the Hunts Master stood before us with an entire squad of Hunts Clan. We even lost the ability to control the dream realm," Jake answered, looking over at Rose to conform the story.
Rose nodded her head in approval of what Jake had said. Lao Shi nodded his head looking at the two. "The Hunts Master must have gotten a hold of the potion of dreams," Lao Shi said, a worried looking expression crossing his face.
"Young one you must not transform here in the dream realm," he told them, "otherwise your body will transform in the real world, leaving you open to attack."
"I know, I know," Jake said, looking his grandfather in the eyes, "but what can we do?"
"I will speak with Fu Dog to see if he has any idea of a counter potion," Lao Shi said as he closed his eyes. Suddenly the world around them went black and they were thrown back into Jake's door. The two stood up and looked around at the scene before them. It was the exact replica of what they had faced while in Rose's mind.
From behind an ominous voice filled the area, "Glad to see you have returned."
Jake and Rose slowly turned around and came face to face with the Hunts Master's staff leveled at their heads and glowing bright green.
AN: I would like to thank dx/dt for continuing to beta read, she is awesome. Now please do you part and tell me what you think.
