Jamie understood why Viper had done what she'd done. It really was the best thing to do

given tht the demons planned to take over the world. But that didn't make her any less

scared as Tchang Zu demanded they pull over, and once they did, proceeded to yelled at

her for a good half an hour.

"...Why can't you be more careful?! Honestly, you're really quite useless! You don't even

have the sense to check your pokets after hugging a thief! Pathetic, weak-minded, ignorant

MORTAL! I can't believe your stupidity!"

Jamie winced from his words, his voice hard and cruel, "She's my sister, I didn't think-"

"You didn't THINK at all, brat!" he growled, clenching his fists, and glowering down at her.

"I'm sorry, I-"

"Sorry isn't good enough!" He bellowed, "thanks to YOU I'm stuck in this pathetic mortal

form! You good for nothing, helpless little-"

He paused, seeing her shoulders shaking as she stared at the ground, strange noises

comming from her mouth.

"What's your problem now?" he asked bitterly, gripping her chin and forcing her to look

at him. Tears streaked down Jamie's face as her whole body trembled, making small

squeeking sobbing noises as she tried to hold it in. She made an attempt at jerking her

head out of Tchang Zu's grip, but her efforts were fruitless. Tchang Zu released her face,

grunting, "Stop crying!"

Jamie whimpered, "Please don't hit me!" she winced seeing him raise his hand.

Tchang Zu snarrled, looking offended "I'm not going to HIT you! Stop acting like sniveling

child and-"

"That will be ENOUGH brother,"

Tchang Zu growled, turning to his siblings, who looked at him sourly from the car, glaring

at him. Bai Tsa, the one who'd spoken, walked over to Jamie, placing a hand on her

shoulder, giving her brother a look of disaproval.

"It is not Jamie's fault that your chi was taken, Tchang. So I suggest you stop terrorizing

her. You should really learn to control that temper of yours."

"I don't have a-!" he started but Bai Tsa cut him off.

"Furthurmore, Drago would be furious if you laid a hand on her. Not that any of US would

allow you to do so either..."

"I-"

"You be quiet for the rest of the way home," she ordered, "I've heard enough from you."

she waved a hand in front of his face, and to Jamie's shock Tchang Zu's mouth vanished,

leaving bare flesh where it had once been.

"How did you-"

"Just an old spell I've been wanting," Bai Tsa said dismissivly, "Are you alright?"

Jamie nodded, hiccuping, "Yes...I just-"

"No need to explain, Jamie," she said, needing no explination "Now, dry those tears,

he won't be bothering you again."

Jamie climbed back into the car, buckling herself in. Sighing. She hated crying in front

of people, let alone the demons. Tso Lan handed her a handkerchief

"Here."

"Thanks..." she said taking it and drying her eyes.

Hsi Wu patted her back, "Hey, no biggie. Tchang yells at everyone. You're not the first

one to cry."

Jamie stared out the window, feeling slightly better

"I wonder how Drago's doing..."

Drago and the Ice Gang sat in the basement with Gary, watching him consume the

bull that had previously been a rat. Well, THEY were watching. Drago was trying to

meditate.

Strikemaster ice mad a face as Gary ripped into the stomach, devouring the tender

organs inside., "Yo man, that's wack..."

"I've seen worse than that on the discovery channel," Cobra said.

"Will you guys shut up? I'm trying to-" He stiffened. Ice knew that look

"D-mans vibin' on some Chi or a Talisman," he said, half to himself.

After a moment Drago shook his head, grabbing his cell phone and dialing.

"Hello? Dad? Yes, it's me. I had a vision. Rat Talisman. Hawaii. Uh huh...uh huh...

Yes. Okay. Bye."

He clicked the phone off.

Cobra grinned, Hawaii, huh, Dawg? This'll be off the hook."

Drago rolled his eyes,"Whatever..."

Meanwhile...

A small octagonal rock sat on the beach, the water washing over it, pushing it ever

closer inland. The surging waves uncovered a small, limp bundle of wood, pulling it

down the beach and then flinging it back as another wave pushed it forward. The

Rat Talisman glowed slightly as it was nudged by the bundle.

Suddenly, on of the pieces of wood, shaped like a hand, reached out and grabbed

it, rising and shaking itself free of the mud and seawood covering it.

"Oh, yeah, baby!" came a voice from the monkey puppet, "The King is back!"