Episode 7: Finding Jack
It was a week after the vacation at Empire City. The Monks, sans Clay since he was resting up his back still, was training on the beach. The Gems, Steven and Connie looks on as the Monks managed to use their wus in sync. A bit later, they finished their training. "Woo hoo, that was great, guys." Steven said. "No problem, Steven." Kimiko said. Raimundo nods and ponders something. "You know, if we ever come across Jack…I don't know what I would do. I feel sorry for him, sure, but he's still a Heylin…but maybe he can follow the same path as Peridot and renounce his Heylin way." Raimundo said. "I personally doubt it, but it is a possibility." Pearl said. "Yea, I am in the same boat as Raimundo. Part of me wants to attack him but part of me thinks that wants to give him a chance of redemption." Amethyst added. "You can thank Steven for that." "Aw, thanks, Amethyst." Steven said with a smile.
Just then, a jet flies over head. They look up to see it landing next to them. They realized the color scheme. It is Jack's jet! It lands near them and Jack climbs out of it. The Monk and Gems were hesitant on using either their wus or weapons. Jack then walks up to them, keeping his hand away from his sword, showing sign that he's not here for any funny business or even attacking. "What the…Jack, what are you doing here?" Kimiko said. "Yea, it's most strange of you to come here." Omi said. Jack lets out a big sigh. "Look, I'm not here to attack, reclaim Peridot, or anything like that…because I have since left the Heylin alliance." Jack said. This caught them a bit off guard but it wasn't unexpected as Jack had told them that he was considering it.
"So what, Peridot was the main reason why you left the Heylin?" Raimundo said. "It is one of a few possibility." Garnet said. "Garnet is in the ball park." Jack said. "Peridot was a good reason, sure, but there were more than that which led me to leave the Heylin entirely." The Monks and Gems looks at each other. "Well, we should talk more inside." Connie said. Jack nods. "Good idea." Jack said. They began to head to the beach house. They open to see Clay slowly getting up from lying down on the couch all day. He then notice Jack there. "What is that yellow belly snake doing here?" Clay said. "Well, he's here because he wants to explain his situation." Raimundo said. Clay ponders a bit. "Okay, but please...no funny business." Clay said. Jack nods as he sat next to Clay and Garnet, just in case he does something off. "Garnet...you can use your future vision if you wish." Jack said. This caught all of them off guard. If Jack told her not to use it, then that would be suspicious but he told her to use it as she pleases. This is certainly strange.
Garnet peers into the future a bit and was surprised to see something. "Jack isn't going to back stab us." Garnet said. Jack nods. "That's right…I don't have any intention to back stabbing you guys because…I got nowhere else to turn." Jack said. This made them perplexed a bit. "I told my parents that I want to move out and be my own person. They were a bit sad to see me go, but understood my situation. I was given 250 million dollars to forge my destiny." Jack said. "Woah...and I thought Dad was rich with 10 million dollars." Steven said.
Jack looked a bit puzzled. "Long story short, Greg got a check for 10 million dollars from his former business partner in Marty for using his music for a commercial." Raimundo explained. "Ah, okay." Jack said. "I have spent about half a million dollars staying at a fancy hotel in Empire City for about 2 weeks. I would like something to invest and make money back as well." Jack said. "Well, there's a few locations you can invest in, like Funland for example." Steven said. "Funland?" Jack said. "I'll show you in a few days since Amethyst, Peridot, and I are going there." Steven said. "Ah, okay." Jack said. Pearl then ponders something. "Where are your Jackbots?" Pearl asked. "They are in the Jet, stored away for the time being. I don't know if I plan on using them at the moment." Jack admits. "Well, as long as there's no funny business, then okay." Pearl said.
"Okay then. Well, I think I should explain what happened between Chase, Wuya and I. I would also like to speak to Peridot about it." Jack said. "I'll get her and Lapis to hear your tale." Steven said. "Wait, Lapis? She's on earth still?" Jack said with a surprised tone. Steven nods. "Well, okay then." Jack said. Steven gets up and heads to get Peridot and Lapis. Jack waits as Omi was uncertain if Lapis would handle well with seeing Jack. 'How would Lapis react to Jack's story? Would she be okay or would she be hesitant like she did with Peridot in the past?' Omi thought. Jack waited patiently for Peridot and Lapis.
A bit later, Steven brought back Lapis and Peridot. Lapis looked a bit hesitant. Steven must have told her about Jack. "Woah…you aren't kidding, Steven. Jack is indeed here." Peridot said. Lapis looked at Jack and was somewhat worried that Jack is playing with their emotions. Peridot sat next to Connie. "Who are you?" Peridot asked. "Connie is my name. You must be Peridot." Connie said. "Ah, so you must be Steven's human friend?" Peridot said. Connie nods. "Well, the first one before the Monks." Connie said with a chuckle. Lapis sits next to Omi. "Alright, everyone is here, so I'll explain what went down as the best I could. The Monks and Gems began to listen.
"To begin with, Chase and I had a deal a few weeks after Peridot's capture. I would attempt to rescue her in exchange I would sit out the next Shen Gong Wu...that also included my Chameleon-bot. Since there was only 3, I had no choice but to hang back. If 2 or 3 of them succeeded, I would stay with them. However, if 2 or 3 of them failed, I would leave." Jack said. "And all 3 of them failed…" Raimundo said. "Correct, meaning I would leave them on a sour note. However, Chase did mention that if I knew what he saw in the crystal glasses, then his plan would not come fore-wishing. Since he still has it…" Jack said before Omi interrupts. "No thanks to Vlad." Omi said. "Yea…but since he has it, I can't see what he's talking about." Jack said.
"So, Chase is planning long term then?" Connie said. "Sounds like it." Jack said. "Anything else we should know?" Peridot said. "Not really, if I may be honest. Wuya and Chase did mention that they would miss me but I don't think I would miss them. I've been chewed up and spat out like a piece of gum. I'm more valuable than that." Jack said with a bit of an agitated tone. "Man, you really got worked up about it." Raimundo said. "Yea, that's why I needed to stay at a hotel for a week or 2 to clear my head." Jack said. "I would like to mention that I had 2 projects called Project rebirth and Project morph in the works but were stalled out as I wanted to focus on Peridot and her survival. Right now, they are shelved for the time being, but if I do gain enough trust, I might revive it for you guys." Jack admitted.
"What were they?" Connie asked. "I still consider it top secret because I want to make it a surprise." Jack admits. "If they get scrapped entirely, then I'll tell you guys what they were." "Understandable." Peridot said. Lapis thought of something. "What made you come here to Beach City?" Lapis asked.
"If I may be frank, I want to restart my life, clean my slate and build a new image, not to you guys but to the folks of beach city. They might have a negative image of me because…well, I was evil. But now…Now I think I might try for a mulligan." Jack said. "well, if you really want to do it, you really got to work hard at it." Peridot added. "It took me a bit to get on Lapis' good side and I think you have the potential to do great things for Beach City." Jack nods. "Thank you, Peridot. This is why I advocated for you. I really think you and I are intertwined with each other, through good and bad." Jack said. Peridot blushes a bit.
A bit later, Jack finished his story. "So, basically, you are looking to rebuild yourself into a new person. I think we'll try to get behind you." Steven said. "I don't know. I really want to help Jack out but he could be still playing us like a fiddle." Raimundo admitted. "Figure that you guys are still mixed about me, but I need a place to call home." Jack said. Kimiko pulls out her laptop and began to do a bit of a searching. She soon founded a place that was on the boardwalk. "I think I found one." Kimiko said. "Really?" Jack said. Soon, they arrived to the place, it was a one level building and had several rooms for Jack to use, even a garage. All for the price of 170 grand. "Do you think this would work for you?" Steven said. "I'll make it work." Jack said. "Good to hear that." Steven said. Jack would purchase the building that day and began living in Beach City. With Jack now in Beach City, the question becomes...can he stay good long term?
End of Episode 7
