"Ice Cream Break"
Disclaimer: I think I can stop posting these disclaimers.
Open on the sky. Night. Jack has been flying aimlessly around Las Vegas for the past two and a half hours. During that time, he thought about the cards that life dealt him. He thought about the dreams he's been having lately and if what Ashley said to him was true. He also thought whether this quest he set out on was all for nothing. … Or perhaps it was fate that he ran into Ashley.
All of a sudden, Jack's heli-bot sputters indicating it's out of gas. He quickly makes his descent right next to an ice cream parlor and closes the heli-bot. He lets out a depressing sigh and begins to walk the other way.
"Hey! Buddy!"
Jack stops and slightly turns his head to the voice. One of the employees from the parlor is calling him. Jack raises an eyebrow as the employee waves him in.
"Uh … sorry. No money," Jack responds while emptying his pockets. However, as soon as he does, a bunch of loose change falls out. Jack stares at the change in shock. The employee scoffs and then smiles.
"Come on. That's enough to buy a small cone." The employee turns and re-enters the parlor. Jack looks up at the man in curiosity.
Inside, the man wipes down the main counter with one hand and holds his cigarette in the other. He hears the front door squeak open and looks up to see Jack checking the place out. The man takes a puff of his cigarette and then puts it out in the ashtray.
"Take a seat."
Jack cautiously approaches the counter and slowly sits on one of the stools. The man puts on a pair of disposable latex gloves and then grabs a small waffle cone.
"What flavor you want?"
"… Vanilla?"
"Comin' up." The man digs into one of the ice cream tubs and eventually gathers three scoops of vanilla onto the cone. He grabs two napkins and then hands Jack his treat. "There ya go."
Jack carefully handles the cone and a moment later, he takes his first lick. Some of it dribbles down his mouth and gradually drops on his shirt. The man smirks as Jack's top scoop slowly falls off and lands on the counter. Jack doesn't make a move, hoping the man didn't notice that.
"So, uh … where you from? Don't look like you're from around here."
"China," Jack replies with his mouth full.
"Wow. So, you literally traveled around the world." Jack vigorously licks at his cone as random moans commence. "I'm guessing you're enjoying that." Jack briefly stops his ice cream crusade to reach into his pocket and pull out a handful of change.
"It's ok. This one's on me," the man says. Jack pulls his hand back and puts the change away. He then returns to his ice cream. The man gets his rag back out and cleans up.
"So, what's a guy who lives in China doin' all the way over here?" The man finishes wiping and throws the rag off to the side.
"I was on a quest to impress this girl – Wuya," Jack begins while chomping at the cone. "Now … 1,500 year-old witch or not, I still -- I guess you could say I have feelings for her. She's the only female companionship I've had since I was in my mom's womb."
"That's sad."
"So, I'm in the middle of a showdown, right?" Jack throws the rest of the cone in his mouth and starts to chew. "I figure the cowboy has no chance in bagging the Wu." Tiny chunks of the cone fly out of his mouth. Jack takes a moment to swallow and then wipes the edges of his mouth. The man just stares at him as Jack clears his throat really loud.
"'Scuse me. Anyway … uh … where was I?" The man opens his mouth to respond but Jack cuts him off. "Oh, yeah. So, we're in the middle of the forest and – no, wait, was it a forest or was it a rainforest?" The man waves him to go on.
"Just –"
"Yeah, it doesn't matter. So, I'm in the lead, right? I was this close to finding the Orb. When, all of a sudden –"
Jack spreads his arms out and knocks the napkin holder off the counter. They hear a small crash and Jack looks down at it.
"Oops … my bad."
"Don't worry about it. Keep going," the man says.
"When, all of a sudden, out of the clear blue sky, Wuya blurts out to look under the giant rock for the Wu so the whole world can hear! And I'm, like, Wuya! Whose side are you on? And I think I said that … whose side are you on."
The man stares at Jack looking bored. Frazzled Jack waves his arms in the air as he continues with the story.
"After that cowboy found the Wu, he tipped his hat to her! And don't think I don't know what that means! I know all about the … hat … tipping … innuendos."
Even Jack knew that made absolutely no sense.
"Well, it sounds to me like you have –"
"Oh, that's not even the worst part! Ooh, no! Not even close. Later, when I asked her about it, she didn't deny liking him! I mean, well, actually, she didn't say she did, I sort of just assumed … she was really telling me to check under the rock, and I … overreacted." Jack groans and then bangs his head on the counter.
"It's not too late to apologize. Just admit you made a mistake."
"You don't get it." Jack raises his head back up. "She's a 1,500 year-old spirit who takes advantage of me. I'm her 'Wu Collector' … nothing else."
"But you said you care for her, right?" the man asks.
"… Mildly."
"Then, she must have feelings for you, as well, if she's been with you for over two years," the man says. Jack ponders this for a second.
"Hey, I never told you --"
"The woman probably wants you as much as you want her. She's just waiting for you to make the first move."
"Um … remember, she's a spirit. AKA - not solid. AKA - I just realized … why am I taking orders from a freakin' ghost?"
"That doesn't matter!" The man grabs him by the collar and pulls him close. "Don't you see, Jack? She's your soul mate, and if you don't do something soon, you could lose her forever!" he yells. Jack blinks and then looks around.
"Uh … how do you know my name?" The man lets go.
"There's something I don't understand, Jack …Why does she reject you in the first place?"
The evil boy genius shrugs and then rests his arms on the countertop.
"I don't know … my appearance? I'm always called 'weakling' or 'loser' or 'butt-face'."
"Butt-face?"
"Eh, I just added that in," Jack says. The man nods and then looks out across the parlor.
"You know what?" the man asks. "I believe everyone -- no matter who you are -- has the power to change. And I especially believe that eventually you're gonna get that girl to like you. Or she might come around on her own, you never know. You gotta have confidence." Jack scoffs and then slightly shakes his head.
"Easier said then done."
"You just gotta hightail it back to China and steal that Wu thing from the cowboy … it'll prove to Wuya that you're a man."
Jack nods and then shoots up off the stool. He bangs his fist onto the countertop.
"You're right! I'm done with self-loathing! It's time I took a stand, for once!" he exclaims.
"That's the spirit!" Jack turns around and heads to the door, but the man stops him. "Oh, one more thing!"
"Yeah?"
"Did that Wu thing happen to have a name?" he asks. Jack rubs his chin, trying to think back. He then snaps his fingers.
"It's called the Altered Orb. It allows you to shape shift or something like …" Jack gasps. "… Wait a cotton-pickin' minute!"
The man flinches at Jack's random line. Jack gasps real deep this time and then holds his arms out, realizing something.
"The Altered Orb! It allows its user to shape shift! I-I-I-I-I –"
"Spit it out, boy!"
"I can turn into a bodybuilder with it! Of course! It was right under my nose the entire time! Not only will I finally be able to impress Wuya … I can also win more showdowns with my increased strength!" Jack gasps even deeper.
"What's the matter with you? Are you havin' an asthma attack?"
"I-I-I gotta go!" Jack runs out of the parlor in a hurry. The man shakes his head in confusion. The door swings back open as Jack pops his head in.
"Thanks for the ice cream!" He ducks out and the door slams shut. The man scoffs, mutters 'Crazy kid', and then heads into the back of the parlor.
Two minutes go by before Jack pops in again.
"And it was rainforest!" he shouts to an empty parlor. Jack raises an eyebrow, shrugs, and then finally leaves for good.
Cut to black.
A/N: Next chapter: the Warriors, Dojo, and Wuya all return! Jack encounters Marty once more and his true intentions are revealed.