Chapter Four
Everyone stood in amazement. Clara was speechless. The ground shook and the tall tree was reduced back to its normal height. Clay got
up and dejectedly made his way towards the dragons. Kimiko put a hand on Clara's shoulder. No one was sure how she would react.
Clay walked over to Clara and took his hat off. "I'm so sorry Clara" he said without looking at her. When Clara didn't answer, Kimiko
said "Don't worry about it. We'll get your dad's bracelet back somehow". Clara still did not budge. She looked up at the triumphant
Jack, who was still laughing. Suddenly, without saying a word, Clara made her way towards Jack. "Clara, what are you doing!", Kimiko
asked. Clara didn't answer, she began to run. "What is she doing?", Kimiko asked, "I do not know. But we must follow her", Omi
answered. The others agreed and went after her. When Clara reached Jack, he stopped laughing and turned to her. "What do you
want?", he asked her annoyed, "Please!", she began as tears started to swell from her eyes. Jack suddenly became very uneasy. "Please,
I can't lose that bracelet! I beg of you!", Clara cried. "Huh? Why should I give it to you?", Jack asked her. The dragons had reached her
and stood behind her. "It was my father's. It's all I have left of him. Please, I'll do anything!", she told Jack. He thought out her last
statement for a bit, "Anything, huh?", Jack looked Clara over as he said that, suddenly a collection of lewd thoughts swelled into Jack's
mind. After a short while, he snapped back to reality. Clara's crying had almost stopped and the dragon's remained in their place,
completely astounded by this turn of events. "Alright", Jack said, "I'll give it back", everyone stood in shock, "but first you have to do
something for me. Since you offered", he gave a devilish grin. The dragons were not happy about this at all. "Alright", Clara said, as she
had regained her composure, "What'll it be?", "Well, you see", Jack looked away, "I haven't actually thought of it yet". Clara
immediately stopped being worried. So he's not the amazing super evil genius I had in mind, she thought. "So what are you gonna do
about it?", she asked him. Jack thought. "How about…I take you with me", "What!", everyone else asked at once. Clara suddenly
dreaded ever have offering any services to him. "Why do you want to take me?", she asked in fear of his answer, "So I can think of what
to do with you there. Now c'mon". He pressed a button on what looked like a digital wrist watch on his arm and a small aircraft
appeared from seemingly nowhere. The hatch of the plane opened . "Wait! You can't just take her!", Raimundo protested, " That's too
bad, because she already said she'd do anything, so she's coming with me", Jack responded. "You can't go with him, Clara, there's no
telling what he'll do with you", Kimiko pleaded, "Please, Clara, stay with us. We'll be able to help you", Omi added, "I'm sorry I lost
your Daddy's bracelet, Clara, but we can get it back", Clay implored. Clara turned to them, "I'm sorry guys, but I've made up my mind".
She turned away and followed Jack to the plane without turning back. The dragon's stood motionless, knowing nothing they could say
would stop her. Jack, surprisingly, helped her on the plane and then they took off. "What are we gonna do know?", Kimiko asked as
they watched the plane fly away, "We'll keep an eye out for her", Clay responded.
Inside the plane, Clara did not say a word. Neither did Jack, mostly because he had no idea what to say to her. He hurried home. Jack
landed the plane in his lair/basement and the pair got out. He immediately went over to a corner and grabbed a chair. He set it down near
his world domination table and turned to Clara, "Sit down", he pointed at the chair. Clara raised her eyebrows slightly, How dare he
order me around like that!, she thought. But she did as she was told and sat down. Jack looked her over once more. She was beginning
to dislike where this was going. Jack held her father's bracelet in his hands, and looked it over a bit. "So this was your dad's?", Clara
looked down, "Yes, it originally belonged to my grandfather, then he passed it on to my father, and he to me", "Hmmm", was all Jack
could respond, "How did your grandfather find the Brawling Band?", Clara was slightly puzzled, "Is that what it's called? The Brawling
Bracelet? What does it do?", Jack gave her a slight grin, "I asked you first", he replied. Clara sighed in annoyance, "My grandfather was
an archeologist. He traveled a lot and found it in an Indian market place", she told Jack. "Hmm..really?", Jack responded still studying the
Wu. "Yeah, really", Clara said in an annoyed tone, "Now you answer my questions". Jack finally looked at her, "Alright", he began, "This
is called the Brawling Band. And it gives its user the skills needed for every battle they get into", suddenly he stopped talking, an idea had
struck. "Hey!", he suddenly addressed Clara, "What's your name?", she looked at him a little puzzled but said, "Clara", "Alright, Clara,
do you know how to fight?", she was even more confused by this question, "Yeah, I guess, I know some martial arts, if that's what you
mean", Jack looked excited, "Perfect!", he yelled. This took Clara slightly aback, but she sat there and waited for him to explain. "I know
what to do with you know", he finally said, "What then?", she inquired, he gave her an evil smirk, "You're going to be my new evil
sidekick!", he told her enthusiastically, "What?", was all Clara could say. "Yeah!", Jack continued, "With the Brawling Band, you can
fight for me! I'll be the brains and you'll be the muscle!", Clara stood up, "You mean you want me to work for you! How am I supposed
to get my dad's bracelet like that?", "Easy. You'll be wearing it the whole time. You won't leave until I don't need you anymore, either".
Clara could not believe what she was hearing. She would have to work for this guy in order to have any chance of getting her bracelet
back. She thought it over for a bit. She had no choice. "So….", Jack broke the silence, "What'll it be?", he smiled, Clara clenched her
fists, "I'll do it", she answered. "Great!", said Jack, "But where am I going to stay? And you should really take me back to my place to
pick up some stuff, I won't be wearing the same thing everyday". Clara crossed her arms and looked down, slightly blushing, Then Jack
understood what she meant, and slightly blushed himself, "Uh, yeah, I was just thinking the same thing", he lied, "Well, I guess you could
stay down here", "But won't your parents notice?", she asked him, "Nah. They never notice anything", he replied in a not so eager tone. "
Anyway, I'll get a bed for you and there's a fridge and bathroom right over there", he pointed to the area where the bathroom was
located in. Clara cringed at the look of it, the door was slightly open, but she could tell it had not been cleaned in a while. And the green
tone of it made it look filthier. Jack noticed her repulsion, "Oh, don't worry about that. I'll clean it up", Clara sighed slightly in relief,
"Jackbots!", Jack suddenly called, immediately two floating robots flew over to him, "Clean up that mess!", he ordered them and pointed
to the bathroom, "Yes, Master" the robots replied and went off to work. Clara figured it was just her imagination, but it seemed like Jack
was trying to show off. "Alright then, that's been fixed. Now we need to go and get your, uh, stuff", he said this last part looking away
from Clara. "Let's get back in the Jet", he said. He put the Brawling Band away in his coat and opened the hatch of the plane, the same
way he did before. He helped Clara climb in the plane and after he boarded, they were off to California.