As Jack paced, waiting for Chase to arrive, he could not shake the feeling that something was off. No matter how much he tried he just couldn't. There was no news from the monks either, which Omi was still very much out cold. The poor monk must have had a very rough beating. Luckily, he was still breathing. Although Jack was Heylin, he hated violence. He preferred humiliation than violence. Even though he made robots, they were mainly for his protection for the most part... mainly defence robots, not really built for combat. Made them to distract opponents, really.
But that word for some reason plagued him. Distract. Bean and Wuya had distracted Jack and the Monks from something.
But what was it?
"Spicer?" Jack snapped out of his thoughts immediately and spun around to see Clay standing there with concern written over face. "You okay?"
Jack shook his head, realising that Omi clearly was still out.
"No, I'm not. Something isn't right... I can feel it. Something doesn't make sense..." Clay nodded, understand almost.
"I'm sure that, whatever it is, you will figure it out eventually. You've been working overtime, Partner. Let your mind rest a bit, you will hurt yourself otherwise. Stressing yourself out right now like a pig knowing it's going to slaughter, isn't going to help you. Sometimes, you need to take a step back and just calm yourself down. The answer will come to you." Clay offered a small smile to the genius, hoping to help him somewhat.
Jack looked at the cowboy with confusion. He was spewing wisdom on calming oneself now? But how can he calm down right now? This was a desperate time! Jack needed all the help he can get though... Maybe Clay was right...
"How, though... I can't be calm right now. The balance is at stake. We need Chase, we need him back to the way he should be!" Clay walked to the corner of the room and sat down crossed legged.
"Take a seat, Spicer." Jack looked at him with a bewildered expression but joined him on the floor. Clay then instructed that the boy then hold his posture up straight but relaxed. Jack straightened up and waited for the next instruction. He had no idea what Clay was doing...
"Now, close your eyes and focus on your breathing. In and out. Inhale and exhale. It helps to slow your heart rate." Clay closed his eyes and placed his hands on his knees, palms facing upwards.
Great... meditation.
Chase tried to teach him this before... always ended up with Jack falling asleep, which irked Chase to no end. Jack was told to relax, so he did. But Jack felt most relaxed when he was asleep. But to focus on one's breathing was new. Chase had mentioned it but not really spoken in much detail about it.
"This is mediation isn't it... I'm not good at it.." Clay exhaled slowly and replied. Other than speaking he never moved.
"Meditation is simple, Spicer. You jus' quietly sit, your body still, your speech silent, your mind at ease, and to allow your thoughts to come and go, without letting them play havoc on you. Some people get bored easily, when meditating, often falling asleep." Jack blushed, knowing he was one of these people. "If you need something to do, then watch your breathing. This is a very simple process. When you are breathing out, know that you are breathing out. When you breathe in, know that you are breathing in, without supplying any kind of extra commentary or internalised mental thought, but just identifying with the breathing you create. That very simple process of mindfulness processes your thoughts and emotions, and then, like an old skin being shed, something is peeled off and freed. Stress will leave you and make you able to think clearly."
Jack blinked with astonishment. He never heard Clay speak so much as just now. Chase never explained how meditation work to him as well as Clay had just done. Without any fuss, Jack got comfortable, adjusting his legs and took off his helipack and boots.
He placed his hands on his knees and inhaled sharply and slowly let out his breath.
"Slowly, Spicer. In through your nose and out through your mouth. We tell this to our newest students, otherwise they can easily pass out from hyperventilation." Jack took the advice and breathed.
He let his mind go blank and slowly concentrated on his breathing more than anything. Chase, the state the monks were in, the whole situation. Gone.
Jack felt his heart slow down.
"Straighten your back slightly, hunched over like that will hinder your breathing. Posture is essential."
Jack registered the new voice but didn't move, other than straightening his back.
Another voice entered Jack peripheral hearing. He supposed Raimundo and Kimiko joined him. He was glad that Kimiko was awake.
"Don't let your mind drift too far, the mind plays tricks on you for a reason. Fight or flight. It's defensive regardless. Just keep your mind as blank as possible, but keep aware of what you hear. It's better if you are in a field during the day. You can focus on the birds, the chirping of insects, the sound and feel of the wind." He was right about Kimiko being awake, her voice was quiet and raspy, but luckily she was alright enough to move and speak.
There was rustling behind him, but Jack tuned it out and kept focusing on his breathing
"While focusing on your breathing, try and find your centre. Do not concern yourself about anything. Just be spacious, and allow your thoughts and emotions to settle." This new voice made Jack realise all the monks were awake and okay. Omi's voice was also quiet, but luckily still upbeat, bless him.
The rustling behind him stilled and it felt as if that person sat right behind him.
"Let things settle and allow all of your discordant self with its unnatural and misleading tendencies to dissolve, and out of that, allow your real being to rise." Jack completely jolted out of his calm space of content and looked in front of him to see all the monks meditating along with him in a semi-circle around him. Jack whipped his head to see behind him and smiled so wide when he saw Chase Young joining them in meditation. It seemed Chase knew that Jack was panicking of sorts and was helping Jack to calm himself to be able to think straight.
Jack turned back to face the front and went to close his eyes when suddenly a thought came to him.
"Wait, Fung recognised me... and why wasn't he with Guan? How did Bean get to him? Guan said he would keep them safe."
Clay and the monks all looked at Jack. Clay especially, looked quite proud of Jack.
"See what happens when you take a moment to calm yourself? You remember details more fluently." Clay said with a smug smirk, he then turned to his companions which they then looked at each other for an answer.
Jack shifted so that he was no longer in the centre of the circle. He then looked at Chase who was also deep in thought. Omi was the first to speak up.
"Guan has not spoken to us, regarding Master Fung. Perhaps he is harmed?" Chase nodded at that and growled to himself.
"First things first, we find Guan. Get information from him then come back here for a fight Bean will never forget. Guan has a few scrolls regarding healing that will benefit you all." Chase spoke with authority, all the while looking a Jack.
Jack smiled and nodded also.
"Sounds like a plan. But with Dojo out of the count for now, how will we-"
"Speak for yourself kiddo, why don't you?" Dojo slithered into the middle of the circle from behind Omi.
"Dojo! You're okay!" Omi exclaimed, tear clearly in his eyes. Obviously happy that his friend was all okay. Jack grinned and turned to the dragon.
"Think you can get us to Guan's?" Dojo saluted and grinned.
"Leave it to me. We will get to the bottom of this and fix everything." Jack chuckled, the usually cowardly dragon was very confident and it seemed to create the mood of hope amongst the group.
Dojo leapt out of the room and grew in size.
"Wait, Chase? How'd you-?"
"The sorcerer's barrier. I remember reading about it when I was a monk and slowly learning magic. We were only allowed to learn defensive charms." Jack grinned at the explanation. The things you learn! Jack then remembered the Reversing Mirror.
"Omi? Where's is the Reversing Mirror?" Omi grinned and held up the Wu.
"Right here!" Jack sighed with relief, thank everything that was smiling down on all of them right now.
"Hurry up guys, we don't have all day! We have the rest of today and tomorrow left to get Chase back to himself. Let's not dilly-dally!" They all heard Dojo call to them and they all ran out to him and all climbed onto the dragon's back.
They all flew out into the open air, amongst the clouds, with a new hope embedded into them. Hopefully, Guan can answer some questions.