...not sure this one makes me happy...Reader Review Replies!
Cara the Jack Fan: Sense. Yeah, I realize, and I think Rai and Kim are gonna be a bit OOC for awhile, I'm not completely good at writing for them...albeit they've had, what, 5 lines?
JackSpicersKindaGirl: A dream? Excellent chapter, btw. Yeah, Omi can be annoying...
Crystalas: Yessu. A cot. I think it was said that those were what they slept on in the first episode...indeed. Jackie boy is being nice. :3
Elizabeth: ...shrug I'm just going with all the same age, more-or-less...aside from the fact age isn't mentioned, aside from Jackie boys'...I think.
At first, Jack hadn't realized the degree of permanence in the offer that Master Fung had extended towards him…But, honestly, it was only a matter of time.
Only a matter of time before he'd been persuaded to build a pair of teleport pads so that he-and the monks, if they felt the desire-could travel between the temple and his home-although the exit in his home was hidden in his basement lab, so his parents-if they came home anytime soon-wouldn't stumble across it on accident.
Jack stretched, and pulled a wrench from a toolbox-which was perched precariously on the edge of his worktable-and twirled it, eyeing one of his Jackbots critically, trying to decide where to start with his repairs. It was routine maintenance, true, but that didn't mean he could start working just anywhere…It was a bit of a surprise, really-everyone assumed his work was easy, just because he acted a bit less like a genius than…well, less like a genius than a genius was thought to act…
But even Einstein had his odd moments-somewhere on Jack's hard drive, in an old folder, was a copy of the infamous picture of Einstein sticking out his tongue. Jack had laughed for a good long while the first time he'd seen the picture…
Anyway, just because he didn't act like it, he was highly intelligent. Intelligent enough to make anything he put his mind to-and he hadn't even stretched his abilities to the fullest when he'd created the teleport system, either.
When he'd claimed that he'd discovered a method of world conquest that didn't require Wuu, the monks had smiled, assuming it was just another of his little stories, but…He actually had his method…But he was taking his time, savoring the chance to have fun beforehand-after all, he doubted that the monks would care to hang out when he had the world in his hands.
He shook himself from his mental wandering, and set to the task at hand, his movements becoming regular and mechanical-his mind was free to wander now that his body had set itself into the remembered motions.
How long had he known the monks, anyway?
He whistled, low. It was about three years now-almost four, actually, since he was going to be turning eighteen in a matter of weeks…
He'd grown considerably-he was almost as tall as Clay, and, although he wasn't even close to being as muscular as the cowboy, he knew quite well that his coat-which he still wore almost every day, and was wearing at the moment-hid a rather nice body. He wasn't built-his muscles weren't exaggerated, pro-wrestler fare-but they were certainly there-hauling metal around all the time did something for the physique, and becoming strong was almost unavoidable, even though he still didn't look it.
Not that anyone but Ashley had noticed.
He scowled at this thought, then rolled his eyes at the thought. Sure, he'd toyed with the thought of giving her a chance, he'd been playing a game of cat-and-mouse with her for a few months now, at least-he himself being the cat, for the first time in, oh, ever?-and he still hadn't let her know that he'd noted her interest.
But no, Ashley was not a viable option.
Sure, she was pretty, but he didn't find the habit she and her pets had of using his Jackbots as scratching posts at all attractive-and her habit of stealing his things wasn't at all endearing, either.
He moved to the next robot, adjusting it's inner workings as the newly updated 'bot floated aside, watching curiously over his shoulder as he toyed with the innards of its brother. Fixing, adjusting, improving…
He paused, then one hand darted to the side, flicked the power switch on the stereo.
The movement was rewarded by a heavy bass beat, the scream of a guitar, and a euphoric, music-induced grin that snapped immediately across Jacks' features.
He gave the wrench a few more quick twists, then snapped the front of the Jackbot shut, leaving it in working order. His head began to bob to the pervasive beat as the 'bot darted away, leaving him to burst into a frenetic dance, the tail of his jacket flaring out as he spun, and his head motions turning into full-blown rocker head-banging. His spiky red hair was flying as he laughed, gleefully and manically, his gloved hands moving to play an air guitar as one screamed from within the speakers.
He froze as the sound of stifled laughter hit his ears, and spun on one heel, a hand moving to shove stray strands of red hair back into place behind his spiral goggles.
His features went bright red as he stared, aghast, at the four monks, who began to double over with laughter.
He forced his features into order, and gathered up the shreds of his dignity that remained, and glowered at them.
"Ha Ha Ha. Not Funny." He brushed past them, walking up to the house proper, and the four followed, still giggling.
He locked the door to the basement, and leaned on it, staring at the monks furiously, his red eyes narrowed. "I told you guys I was working, didn't I?" He crossed his arms, scowling, and growled at them. "What's up?"
"Dojo said-" Omi began to speak, eagerly, but was cut off, abruptly, by Rai
"So dancing around is your idea of work?" Rai grinned, rather cruelly, then continued. "I don't call it work…well, at least you weren't dancing in your undies or something…"
"Yeah, you'd love that, wouldn't you." Jacks' voice was a mutter, and-luckily for Jack-Raimundo didn't hear the comment.
"An evil genius like me can afford to take a break once in awhile…" He motioned for the monks to follow him, and walked to the living room-where his parents, when they were in town, threw most of their raging parties-and tossed his jacket onto the back of a chair, then dropped into it himself, propped his legs on a footstool, and continued. "So, anyway, what were you saying?"
The monks all sat before Clay replied for the group. "Dojo said that we'd have awhile b'fore the next shen-gong-wu showed up, so we decided t' come 'n' hang out with you…if, o' course, it's alright with you and yer folks…"
Jack rolled his eyes. "If you haven't noticed, my 'folks' aren't here. They're never here, unless it's to throw a party…Off on business."
The monks looked away from him, uneasily, and he realized, with some surprise, that they thought that he meant it in a bad way.
He simply smirked.
"Care for a tour?"
...yeah, the whole people-walking-in-when-you're-dancing thing? It's happened to me.
Jodii'll be back in either the next chapter or the one after. Depending on how long the tour takes.