"That. Was. Awesome!"
"How many times are you going to say that before the day is over?" Stryker asked as he and Jack exitted the jet's dock and came into Jack's lab.
"I don't know," Jack laughed. "How many times has it been so far?"
"Like fifteen!" Stryker declared with a smile, hopping over the couch back and laying down. "Was that seriously the first time you've done something like that?"
"Uh, duh! Couldn't you tell by the looks on their faces?"
"Is there a rule saying you have to wait to steal the Wu back?"
"I don't know," Jack said, going to one of the reassembling bots. "I think Dojo's the only one with a rule book."
"Really?" Stryker asked, getting a sort of glint in his eye. "Huh."
He looked over at Jack as he fiddled with one of the Jackbot's turning blades absently. He propped himself up on his elbow.
"You okay?" he asked the redhead.
"Huh?" Jack mumbled, suddenly seeming down. "Oh, yeah, I guess."
"You don't look it."
"Do I ever?"
"You do when those Xiaolin jerks aren't around," Stryker said, sitting up and leaning forward. "What's with those guys anyway?"
"Oh, well," Jack started, looking back at the bot. "They're the good guys, you know? Truth seeking monks who want nothing more than to keep the world out of ten thousand years of darkness."
"Sound a little self-rightous if you ask me."
"And arrogant, and hypocritical, the list goes on..." Jack said with a nod. "There was this one time I was stranded on my jet in the middle of a freezing ocean. The monks decided to come pick me up, throw a rope around me...and drag me by the tale of their jet as they flew at full speed."
Stryker's eyes widened and his mouth fell open.
"You're not serious!" he cried.
"Oh, I am," Jack assured him tonelessly. "Got a real kick out of it, too."
"That's...that's disgusting!"
"That's what happens," Jack said easily, not really understanding Stryker's anger. "I mean, I'll be honest, I do some pretty bad things too. Made Omi believe I found his family, kidnapped Kimiko, stuff like that-"
"Yeah, but at least you aren't running around saying you're better than everyone while doing it! Aren't they supposed to have higher morals or something?"
"Wouldn't know. Never really had a chance to develop many myself. Most of the time I'm running errands for your uncle or sprinting a mad race against a bunch of people who are on the same page...by myself..."
Stryker furrowed his brow and watched a grayness wash over Jack's eyes, then flit away as he shook his head.
"Wanna play Goo Zombies?" he asked, giving him a weak smile.
"Jack-"
"Come on, I don't wanna think about this stuff anymore."
Stryker sighed, scratching the back of his head.
"Yeah, yeah I suppose we can play," he decided, returning Jack's weak smile. "Where'd you put the controllers?"
"Over by the computer. I'll hook up the game."
Stryker sighed as he started to the adjacent room. It was a little concerning how quickly Jack could switch off his emotion in a matter of seconds, and he didn't like how indifferent he was about the way people were treating him. He acted as if everyone was supposed to bully him around.
He paused when he saw how huge the computer screen was, finally starting to understand how rich Jack just might be. He found the two controllers and started to turn away when the computer beeped loudly. His stomach lurched when he saw what showed up on the monitor. Jack spun around when he heard his controllers crash to the floor.
"Hey, hey-" he started, then stopping when he saw how frozen Stryker was. "What is it?"
Stryker only squeaked in response. Jack furrowed his brow and came over to where he was. His eyes widened at the sight of Chase's jet.
"I...am so...dead!" Stryker said, still staring at the screen.
"Well...m-maybe it drove itself..." Jack said.
Stryker blinked, then slowly turned and gave Jack a "Really?" look.
"Jack?" someone called from the stairs of the basement. "There's a creepy man outside who says he knows you!"
"Don't let him in, Mom!" Jack shouted back as he and Stryker started rushing around.
"That's your mom?" Stryker asked as he grabbed their backpack full of Wu.
"Yeah, why?" Jack asked as he turned off the computer and hid his keyboard.
"...Because her voice sounds like a dying goose..."
"Jackie!" Jack's mom called as he glared at Stryker. "He's not leaving! Should I just let him in?"
"N-No, Mom!" Jack yelled as Stryker quickly took everything he could and staggered to the dock. "Tell him I'm not here!"
"Jackson William Spicer are you telling me to lie for you?!"
Jack blushed brightly as he heard Stryker snicker behind him. He spun and pointed at the dock.
"Go start the jet, Sebastian!" he commanded.
Stryker nodded, but kept snickering.
"Jackie, baby, the man says you've kidnapped his nephew!" Mrs. Spicer called. "I'm letting him come down!"
"Spicer?!"
Chase's voice shook Jack to the core. He ran to the jet dock, shoved Stryker into the passenger seat, and zipped into the driver's seat.
"Your uncle's coming," he told Stryker, fumbling with the keys until he found the right one.
The door of the dock was blown off its hinges just as Jack stuck the key into the ignition. Chase appeared and glared at them, his eyes glowing angrily.
"...Jaaaaaaack!" Stryker said, his eyes wide as Chase stared towards them.
"G-Got it," Jack answered, keeping his eyes on Chase as he turned the key.
The engine roared to life. Jack shifted it into drive and stepped on the gas pedal. They just managed to fly away before Chase reached them.
"Uh...do you know a place to hide?" Jack asked, pressing buttons to stabilize the vehicle.
"Hell..." Stryker sighed, slumping in the seat.
Jack grimaced.
"I know a place that's close..."