A/N My inspiration is blooming once more! Not to mention I have a project for my Asian studies class all week...ugh...but I have a partner so that'll at least make it bearable. This story will begin to shift with different POV's, but it won't be too confusing- I'll clear things up a little at the beginning of each chapter. We'll start off with Jackie's view,...starting now!

Chapter Nine - Project A, for Astra (Episode 5, part 1)

"I might be a little young, but honey, I ain't naive"- Guns N' Roses, "Rocket Queen."

Jackie's POV

The silver, green-tinted talisman glinted against the wall. Reaching out a hand, Jackie Chan pried the shimmering object out of the bricks.

"Jackie had a little lamb," he murmured, stuffing it in his pocket. However, his triumph was short-lived- the Shadowkahn had appeared at the entrance of the cave.

Think fast! "It's not here!" He waved his hands in the air for proof. "Can you believe it?" Jackie let out a nervous titter as the group approached him.

"Jackie!" A female voice brought him to his right. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw that Macey, who had become his assistant in the shop and "partner" with outside work, jogging toward him. Although short in stature and innocent-appearing, the girl was reliant enough, and Jackie had been more than surprised when she told him she'd been trained, at least for a short time, in martial arts. With her flexible figure and fast pace, she'd make a fine enough partner.

"Did you get it?" Macey panted as she came to his side. Ever since he'd been informed of her condition, Jackie had worried for Macey's safety, but decided not to mention it. An inhaler was to help, right? As any medicine would help would help any illness.

"I got it," Jackie answered in a low voice. "But I don't think I am the only one after it." He gestured hesitantly to the Shadowkahn.

Macey rolled her eyes in exasperation and dodged a kick from one.

"We need to work on your combat skills," Jackie yelled as the two fought the Shadowkahn.

"I didn't think I'd be training to be in the army…" Macey muttered, taking a swing at Tohru and missing by just a mark.

"A wise man once told me, why fight, when you can run?" Macey looked at Jackie and gave a nervous shrug, before darting off past the cave entrance.

Jackie followed suit, but was picked up by the shirt collar by Tohru. The sheep talisman fell to the ground, and the thug took it, throwing it into the air.

Jackie and Macey looked up to see a helicopter circling the area.

The Enforcers immediately took hold of the talisman, disappearing into the copter.

Jackie turned to Macey. "Do you trust me?"

Macey stared at him. "Is that a trick question?" She was breathing heavily, whether from nervousness or her condition, Jackie couldn't tell. Maybe a combination of both.

"You trust me? Yes or no?" The time was ticking. He had to get into the helicopter, or the talisman wouldn't make it back to Uncle's Rare Finds.

Macey hesitated, but then nodded. "Yeah...yeah, I do…"

Without a word, Jackie managed to climb into the copter, and held out a hand.

Her eyes widened. "You expect me to climb up...there?!" Her voice vibrated against the wind like when you put your face up to a fan.

"Just jump!" Sweat beads formed on Jackie's forehead. Macey took a deep breath and leaped up, missing by just a second- Jackie grabbed her hand, pulling her inside.

The train tracks beneath them crashed to the ground.

"Whoa," Macey murmured, taking a step back into the helicopter. She peered over the edge. Rocks crumbled beneath the helicopter, train tracks spilling out onto the ground.

The Dark Hand watched this all in shock, unable to comprehend what they'd seen.

Ratso spoke the groups' thoughts out loud:

"No way he's human."

*JCA*

Valmont's hand came down with a resounding slam on the wooden table. The rest of the Dark Hand shuddered visibly. Valmont definitely induced fear into his followers, especially with his knowledge and power.

But the words of fury emitted not from Valmont, but from a large, green dragon-shaped statue on the wall: "Chan possesses yet another talisman while I have none? You are weak, Valmont!" The addressed man seemed only annoyed. "And your men are fools!"

At this Finn pulled out a handgun. "That's it, I ain't takin' no more lip from a statue," he seethed, clearly irked. "Besides, Chan wasn't the only one there. There was a girl with him, too."

"Chan? A girlfriend?" A smirk ghosted across Valmont's lips. "And what does she owe to him?"

"I don't know, sir," Finn admitted half-heartedly, taking a step back. "All I know is that I saw a girl walkin' in with him. They went in together and left together."

"Hmm," said Valmont thoughtfully, drumming his fingers on the table.

"I am no statue." The statue's eyes glinted, and a hiss curled around its words. "You stand in the presence of a Demon Sorcerer. I once held dominion over a vast empire, but my subjects betrayed me! They cast a Chi spell which imprisoned me in this pitiful icon, where I have remained for 900 years!" Disdain ruled his voice. "The twelve magic talismans, from which I drew my power, were scattered to the winds."

There was a moment of silence between the Dark Hand.

"Whoa," Ratso responded at last, blinking.

"You got jacked," Finn agreed incredulously.

The statue's eyes gleamed once more, this time with more malice. "Acquisition of all the talismans will allow me to free of my confinement and walk the Earth once again."

"At which point," Valmont noted with a sigh, "we will be rewarded the lost treasure of Ching-sui Hai. Well worth taking a little 'lip', don't you think?"

Ratso and Finn gave each other equally as chastened looks.