The dungeon had remained as grizzly and barbaric as it was in the late summer months when Julia visited it last. The chains were still as black and noisy. The torches were still clinging to the walls. The bricks were as old and dirty as ever. The bars were as thick and tight, and the criminals behind them still as mad and loony as before. However, the difference now was that the Lady Julia of the Swan family was not being escorted by the constable and several of his best men. To say the least, Julia wasn't even there. This time, the constable and several of his best men were escorting a couple of able-bodied adventurers. The constable, to tell the truth, was not happy at all about this arrangement. You could get the same idea from the patrol from their weary faces. Even the mighty Falcon and his men looked doubtful. For within these walls, this tomb of the unholy and the sinned was the vicious and malevolent Jack the Slayer.

                "I hope you know what you are doing." The constable gave a rough comment towards the group.

                "No need to feel cross chap. We are professionals! We'll have this town free of serial killers in a matter of days!" falcon reassured the man.

                "Jack the Slayer is not one to be toyed around with. He'll use your first mistake to escape, and you'll never see him again." The constable stated.

                "So then how did you catch him?" Rouge asked.

                "Well, err, he… kind of… showed up at our gates…" The constable said.

                "Showed up at your gates?!" Ayame said in surprise.

                "Aye." The constable said back.

                "Then he shouldn't be too hard to handle then." Accel put forth.

"Jack is not who we should be worrying about. We must put our concentration on Other Jack." Galuda spoke advise.

"Don't tell me you believe that Other Jack nonsense." The constable remarked while they continued their tour.

"It makes sense. Jack was at Skullhaven a year ago…" Falcon replied. "Besides. Julia is never wrong."

Rouge chuckled. "First Ayame and now you, Edward. It seems everyone is getting the love bug."

Ayame huffed. "What do you mean by that?!"

Falcon didn't bother to turn his gaze. "It's Falcon, not Edward. F-A-L-C-O-N! I don't call you bloody Muhammad."

Rouge just continued to smile.

It wasn't long until they reached Jack's cell. Located far beneath the earth, as close as a living sinner would get to hell, was the lonely chamber of Jack. The six entered. Galuda was first to walk towards the small porthole. His stern eyes pierced the darkness like a knife through a gourd. A small curl formed at the end of his lips.

"Jack." Galuda called in.

The red lone eye appeared. Within seconds, a body materialized around it. Tuffs of black hair escaped the bandaged head of Jack. The odd green coat he adorned abandoned the darkness and took up residence in the light, along with Jack's nimble bandaged hands. He hade a look of surprise at first, but it quickly vanished as he closed his eye and let out a gleeful laugh that could curdle the blood in your veins.

"Hahahahahahaha! Galuda comes to Jack, comes to I! What can I do for thee, Galuda? Cup of tea or a scone? Hehehehe" Jack laughed.

"Excuse me, but you French do not drink tea or eat scones! That's a British custom, Jack!" Falcon made himself out to the jailed one, grinning like a naughty child.

"Falcon comes to I, too. What brings you to the lair of Jack? Hehehehe!"

Ayame was afraid. She had never met Jack before, but had heard the monstrous tales of his exploits and actions. She was hesitant, but firmly made her move. "See here Jack! We're here to let you out and find the man who is responsible for framing you!"

Rouge didn't bother showing herself. She wasn't afraid, let me make this clear. But she saw no reason to make something of herself to the prisoner yet. "We're here for Other Jack."

Jack tried to look past Galuda and Falcon at the little raved haired girl. His eye showed interest and delight. "Ah, Galuda and Falcon bring women! Hehehehe, I so enjoy the company of a good lady."

Accel stepped into the light, swinging his dual pistols ready. The torches light made them sparkle as if they were silver gems. "I'd shut up if I were you, ugly varmint. That's no way to treat a lady!"

Falcon swiveled to Accel's twin barrels and lowered them with a quick swipe. "Excuse me Sir Gabs a lot, but let me make this clear! Don't shoot Jack! He's our only key to the mystery!"

Accel frowned. "The rat had best not try anything funny…"

"Take your own advice, Yankee Doodle." Falcon spat.

"Guys! Guys! Stop it!" Ayame burst into the two quarrelsome blondes.

Galuda went back to Jack. "You saved my life a year ago, and now I return the favor. You're coming with us as long as you help capture Other Jack. Got it, friend?"

"He he. I have it. If we capture Other Jack, you let Jack, I, go?" Jack puzzled.

"That is the plan." Galuda replied.

"Excellent. Our the ladies friends of Galuda, you?" Jack asked.

"Indeed they are. I must warn you to keep your distance. They are here to help you, so you should oblige by doing whatever they say." Galuda stated.

"Yes, yes, yes. You have my word. Hahahahahahahaha." Jack replied.

Rouge walked up and placed her faced along with Galudas', so that she could see Jack. She smiled. "So you're the legendary Jack. I must say that it is a great honor to meet you."

The constable tossed the keys onto the ground. "Here, take the keys to the door. But you must stay with him at all times."

Falcon tore his eyes aware from Accel's glaring sights and onto the keys. He picked them up. "Will do Constable. Will do. Julia will be proud."

"Well, let's get to business." Ayame clapped her hands together, glad that Falcon had preoccupied himself with something other than making fun of Accel. She then turned to the American. "Come on Accel. I thank you for the gesture, but try not to get on eddy's bad side."

Accel lowered his hat. "I fear it's far past that point, Ayame."

Rouge caught the keys that Falcon through. She placed the key in the hole. He brown eye glanced at everyone in the room, making sure they were prepared. She then fixed her attention on Jack. "Well Jack. I'm about to open the door. Do not haste, go nice and slow. Alright?"

"Alright. He he." Jack replied.

Rouge turned the key. She then swung the heavy door back, slowly might I add, and stepped back. Jack made no move to come out once the door had opened. His ye just searched every man and woman in the cell room.

"Well, come on out. We have business to attend to, friend." Falcon gestured.

Slowly Jack stepped forward, his steps odd and inhuman. It was as if very bone in his body had been strewn out of place. The constable's rifle was shaking just a bit. He was nervous. Jack liked that.

"So Jack, what can you tell us about Other Jack?" Ayame asked the lanky figure.

"Hehehehe. I am hungry. Perhaps we may talk over some kind of meal. Jack does not know what time of day it is. Has lost track of time a long time ago." Jack requested.

"It is eleven in the morning. Come, we shall eat." Galuda offere.

Falcon made an odd face. "…Right Laddie bucks, but where. First, this is an investigation. And second, I know not of a restaurant who will serve this man."

"I do. I'll show it to you." Rouge said.

"Ah good. Good. Thank my lady. However…" Jack turned to the constable. "Jack would like his daggers back. Hahaha."

"What in the name of Pete would you need your daggers for?" Falcon asked.

"Oh I love my precious, my lovely daggers. They are so much to me. I NEED them." Jack said.

Galuda turned his attention to the constable. "Give him what is his."

"Why are you doing that?! He is a suspected criminal?!" Accel asked.

"Other Jack." Rouge replied.

** *

Time had passed. About an hour or so. It was difficult to install civilization back into Jack; fortunately Jack never had much to begin with. It was a restaurant, as Rouge mentioned, that they sat in, a little shop by the river that never had much business. How Rouge knew of this place was beyond everyone. After all, she was a fortuneteller. There was not a waitress, and food had to be picked up in the kitchen. The group of five (since the constable left) sat around a round table, eating a mixture of French cuisine and slop. The walls were brick, they had never been painted. The wooden floor was full of hole and mice were constantly scurrying about on it. Only one fan spun around dreadfully over head, connected to a dark and dusty ceiling. It was certainly a change in atmosphere from where they ate breakfast. Jack kept his daggers in his hands, even as he ate. No one saw his face even then, as Jack simply stuffed the food between the bandages. This disturbed the others.

"Well Jack, what can you tell us about other Jack?" Rouge asked.

Jack finished an oyster and looked up. "What do you want to know about Other Jack?"

"Anything you can possibly muster old bean! Come on, sing like a canary." Falcon urged.

"Well, let me remember. …I shall start from the beginning, yes? Yes. It was dark. Night time or so…"

** *

It was indeed dark. Black clouds that did nothing but pour rain onto the cold northern town of Skullhaven had destroyed the night sky. The little Russian village was harboring a ship, the King Octopus, in its bay. It was here that Jack acquired his power stone shard. Captain Kraken was in a bit of a jam. The old despicable sailor was locked in battle with the giant Native American Galuda. Jack could only watch the battle unfold. That is until he caught glimpse of a brilliant shine within the captains quarters, far from where the fight was ensuing. Creeping away without a sound, the bandaged one slinked into the office and took a sight at a map. But more importantly, it was the object underneath the map that had gained Jack's attention. A power stone shard! In its brilliant purple hue, the stone fracture shined magically. Jack's face lit up with the gleefulness of a thousand children upon Christmas Eve. The shiniest rock of all was finally his. But his and his alone. Falcon burst into the office a mere second later, drenched with the waters of heaven. Jack quickly hid the fragment in his coat.

"What are you doing here?! I say, give me the map and you won't get hurt, err... whatever your name is." Falcon roared.

Jack had no use for the map. In a flash he rolled it up and tossed it to the aviator. "I am Jack. Jack is I. And you? Hehehehehe." Jack laughed.

"Falcon's the name. You don't know how many thanks I have for you! I though I was going to have to commence battle with you in order to obtain that map. It's a map of Avalon Island, where the mother of all power stones lies! I say, thanks again old chum!" With that Falcon vanished back into the rain. Jack took his time, collecting several more shiny artifacts before leaving the ship. Once the deed was done, Jack escaped the vessel and back onto dry land, back into the cold and muddy village of Skullhaven. With a final clap of thunder, Jack escaped into the dark recesses of the world, eager to use his most precious new item.

Many weeks later, Jack found himself in a dark cave. Not far from the cave was the town of Manches, where Jack had originally hailed from. France was, and still is, littered with caverns and tunnels that wrap around underneath the crust of our earth like veins. Paintings from men who had visited the cavern ages before lined the rock walls. Ghastly images of bulls, elephants, elk, and an assortment of other creatures no longer native to the region made up the plethora of paintings. But Jack was not an artistic fellow, mind you. He sat and rubbed the stone, feeling its power.

"Ah, my lovely. Me wonderful lovely. Hehehehe. How you shine, your brilliance is mine and mine alone!" Jack mused.

The idea suddenly struck the bandaged one like a hammer to a nail. Jack remembered the fighters at Skullhaven speaking of the power stones ability to grant wishes. Jack thought to himself. If there was any truth to it, then he should be able to create a wish right now! But what to wish for? If there was one thing that Jack loved more than shiny objects, it was women. Those police officers were becoming awfully troubling. They always got the impression that Jack wanted to kill the ladies, but Jack was really a charmer, a suitor for the women. This at least was how we were explaining it. Finally, Jack came up with an idea.

"Hehehehe! I wish for another Jack!" Jack said as loud as he could in front of the shard.

A great flash of light occurred. Jack could feel the power racing about, creating a whirlwind within the cave. Another Jack rose from the stone, like a zombie from the grave. Jack could only stare in awe at the spectacle. Before long, there was another Jack, standing just as the original Jack does, before Jack. The only difference between the two was the bloody forehead that the original possessed.

"Hehehehehehe! I have life! I am born!" The new Jack shouted, pleased.

"Now 'Other' Jack. I say that you go get yourself caught by the Manches lawmen. I command you!" Jack commanded.

Other Jack closed his eye and shook his head. "No! I don't want to go to jail! I want to see the ladies! I want to keep their jewelry! I won't do as you say!

"You do as I say!" Jack bellowed in his high pitch voice.

Other Jack shook his bandaged face once more. He than grabbed the power stone and leaped out of the cavern and into the French sun. Jack, frustrated, made pursuit. But Other Jack, being born from the power stone, was a lot faster. Jack had lost his target in a matter of moments.

** *

"And when I arrived in town, I was captured by the law men. Jack was too busy looking for Other Jack that he didn't even notice he was standing right in front of the constable's office. That's when I got caught." Jack recapped.

Accel stuffed his face with the last of the chicken. "A suitor eh? No wonder the women called the coppers on you! Just look at yourself!"

Ayame kicked Accel lightly under the table. "That wasn't nice."

Ignoring the two, Rouge added. "Well, if we learned one thing, it's that Other Jack is much better than Jack at pretty much anything."

"And Jack is pretty nasty with those daggers." Falcon pointed to the daggers Jack was holding.

"Other Jack has the power stone shard with him as well. We must hurry." Galuda stood up.

"Relax Galuda. I know this is a pretty dire threat, but we need to think this out. Jack just told us that Other Jack was able to lose Jack in a manner of seconds!" Falcon sat his friend back down.

"So what do we do?" Ayame asked.

"We think." Rouge answered.

"Check!" Falcon called out.

** *