Chapter 9

Rai peered over the hedge and spied Jack Spicer's Evil Lair. It wasn't that evil, considering the Evil Lair was the basement of Jack's mom's house.

Omi, being small, had to stand on Clay's shoulders to get a proper view.

"What's yer plan, Rai?" Clay asked.

"Go in, beat Spicer's butt, rescue Kimiko, then get outta here."

"How about we just follow the last part?" shuddered Dojo, wrapped around Clay's cowboy hat.

"You are not scared, are you, Dojo?" asked Omi, looking at the snake-like dragon.

"N-no...I just never liked this place!"

Rai rolled his eyes. "Look, just follow my lead." And with that, Rai lept over the hedge, and dashed for the nearest entrance.

Omi, Clay and Dojo looked at each other. "Glad we came along, or Rai would get his butt handed to him."

Omi gasped. "Jack is going to rip Rai's buttocks off of his body!"

It was easy to follow Rai; Omi pointed out to the trail of trashed robots.

But once the trail ended...

Rai was no where to be seen.

"Rai? Where are you?"

"Up here!"

Omi looked up. There was Rai, hiding in the space between two roof pillars.

"What are you doing up there?" asked Dojo. "You should be kickin' Jack's butt!"

"I can't! Tubbimora's guarding the door!"

Clay cracked his knuckles. "I'll take care 'o him."

"Greetings, Dragon of the Earth." smirked Tubbimora, but it was hard to tell because of his mask.

"Let's get this Showdown on the road." replied Clay.

"Fine with me."

Small bits of dirt and rock formed "gloves" around Clay's hands. This was a sign he was ready to preform his signature Wudai attack;

"Wudia Crater, Earth!" A large chunk of the floor rose up, and Clay punched it towards Tubbimora.

Unfortunately, the chunk of floor hit Tubbimora square in the stomach, and due his bulk, the chunk bounced off.

Clay's jaw dropped. "I might have ta try somethin' else..."

But Clay had to no time to think, because Tubbimora body-slammed the Kung-Fu cowboy flat.

Rai, Omi and Dojo winced. "That had to hurt..."

It had to, because Rai could make up the outline of Clay's body in Tubbimora's fat.

"Geroff me!" came Clay's muffled voice. There was a dull THUD, and Clay was standing, a hard, rock-like look on his face.

"Come on, Clay!" called Dojo. "Finish it!"

"With pleasure. Wudia Crater, Earth!"

Tubbimora's eyes shrunk to mere dots as thousands of bundles of drywall and concrete zoomed towards him.

For a spilt second, Omi thought Clay could win. He changed his mind when the bundles bounced off Tubbimora and fell to the floor.

Clay started to sweat. Then he got an idea. He tossed a log of drywall at Tubbimora's feet.

The over-weight ninja tripped and fell face-first to the floor. Clay seized his chance, lept into the air, then pounded Tubbimora's back with his rock-hard fists.

"I give up!" wheezed Tubbimora. "You may pass..."

Clay dusted off his hands as the door to the next room slid open. Omi, Rai and Dojo caught up to their friend.

"I'll take the next one." said Omi. "Clay needs a break, and Rai needs to save his energy for Spicer."

Clay looked at Rai. "Do ya think he's catchin' on?" he asked.

Rai looked at Omi as the Dragon of Water walked on. "No...but he'd better, or Kimiko and I will have a lot of explaining to do."