"Xiaolin Update"
Disclaimer: How many disclaimers does it take to change a light bulb? Find out - next chapter!
(Author's Note explains the latest plot points for those of you who I'm confusing the hell out of.)
A/N: You're all out there probably thinking, "Where the hell is this story going? Jack's a murderer now?" I think that really confused (and/or turned off) my readers, and that's why nobody reviewed the last chapter. Then again, maybe the last chapter was so good, it left everyone speechless! Haha. Anyway, for those of you who remember reading my very first chapter (which is no one), Jack flatlined in the hospital after getting hit by that bus, was revived, and woke up in the middle of a desert with no idea how he got there. So … I decided to explore that missing time. Apparently, someone was murdered in that period of time, and Jack is the main suspect. Again, he has no recollection about this at all … yet. I just wanted to clear all that up. But enough with this long and boring Author's Note! On with Chapter 8 …
Open on the Xiaolin Temple. Night. Inside, Omi and Kimiko sit at the kitchen table while Raimundo kicks a soccer ball to himself by bouncing it off the wall. Omi slowly eats a small bowl of Rocky Road ice cream while Kimiko sends text messages on her PDA. All three of them look extremely bored.
Clay walks into the room with a clipboard in hand. He lifts his hat up and scratches his forehead. He then lets a long sigh out and stares at the clipboard.
"Well," he begins to announce, "I finished checkin' the inventory."
Omi regains some life and instantly jumps out of his chair. Turning to Clay in excitement, the little monk starts to wave his arms.
"And?"
"And everything's right where they should be …"
Omi's excitement wears off as he climbs back into his chair. He grabs his spoon and starts poking the ice cream in boredom. Clay shrugs and sets the clipboard on the table. He then takes a seat next to Omi.
"Sorry, little buddy. I know you've been fixin' to see some action … what with no Wu activating for the past week."
"You've got to stop making Clay do all those inventories in the vault, Omi," Raimundo says, still kicking the soccer ball. "Jack hasn't done a raid since –"
"Since forever!" Kimiko chimes, looking up from her PDA. "I'm beginning to miss kicking his butt." The other Warriors all went into agreement with that.
"It is most unusual. The week that all the Wu cease activating is also the same week where no evil has come to threaten the end of the world," Omi says. "It has been so boring around here that Master Fung sent Dojo on a two-week vacation to Costa Rica!"
Omi drops his head right into the bowl of ice cream. Clay lightly pats the little monk's back in reassurance.
"Don't be upset. We'll find somethin' to do."
Omi quickly lifts his head up, the ice cream completely covering his forehead.
"We are also done … no, ahead with all the chores! … Even Raimundo!"
The Brazilian gives the yellow monk a fast glare. He Kimiko sighs and sets her PDA down. She looks around the room, trying to find something they could all do.
"I don't know, guys. We've already done everything there is to do around here … twice," she says. She then smiles real big, getting an idea. "Unless you want to go shopping with me again."
"No!" the boys quickly replied. Kimiko scoffs, leans back in her chair, and folds her arms. Deep in thought, Clay grabs his chin and taps his index finger on it.
"I got an idea. How about we do some trick-ropin', Omi?" Then, Raimundo decides to jump in.
"And after that, I'll play you in soccer!" Finally, Kimiko jumps in.
"I just bought Cochica Raider 3! Want to try it?"
Omi raises an eyebrow and eyes his fellow Warriors suspiciously. Meanwhile, half of the ice cream on his forehead drips off.
"This seems strangely familiar …"
A moment later, Master Fung comes running into the kitchen with a look of panic on his face. He places one hand on the doorway to steady himself.
"Xiaolin Apprentices! Your assistance is needed!"
The Warriors flinch from their Master's sudden arrival. Master Fung runs back out as everyone gets pumped up at the prospect of some excitement. They immediately proceed to follow their mentor.
"Evil doesn't stand a chance against us today! We've been training non-stop and now's when we get to let loose!" Raimundo exclaims.
"Oh, yeah! It's gonna be the end of their world!"
Clay glances down at Omi, who has a big smile across his face.
"Didn't I tell you, partner? It was only a matter of time before we got to fight –"
Master Fung stops in front of a sink in one of the Temple's rooms. The Warriors gather around him and stare at the sink which has sprung a leak and left a small puddle on the floor.
"… A sink," Clay finishes. Omi's jaw drops at the so-called 'disaster' that they had to assist with. Raimundo and Kimiko are exasperated as well.
"This is the emergency? A busted sink?" the Brazilian asks with anger in his voice.
"Yeah, I mean, you really needed to call us for this?" Kimiko asks.
"Well, look at it," one of the temple monks says while walking into the room. "It's running all over my floors. And this is mahogany." He taps his foot on the hardwood floors. "The water will create bubbles and damage my newly-installed wood!"
Clay sighs and pushes his sleeves up his arms.
"All right. I'll take a look at it," he says while getting on his knees and grabbing hold of the pipes. Omi's left eye begins to twitch sporadically. Raimundo and Kimiko notice this but before they can speak, Omi lets everything out.
"This is most ridiculous! Xiaolin Apprentices should not be fixing leaky pipes; we should be ridding the world of evil! There must be something in some part of the world where we are needed! Perhaps there is a kitty cat stuck in a tree with no one around to save it, or there is – a – a …"
The temple monk is sitting across from everyone on the couch watching TV with the volume all the way up.
"Excuse me! I am talking!"
"Say again!" the temple monk yells over the loud TV.
"I said that I am trying to –"
All of a sudden, Omi hears Jack Spicer's name on the news. The little monk gasps and runs to the TV.
"Did you hear –"
"Yeah, we heard it, too," Raimundo says while walking over with Kimiko. Clay gets up from under the sink and wipes his hands on his pants. Master Fung joins them by the TV, also. Raimundo looks over at the temple monk. "Turn it up, dude."
He raises the volume some more as the news story on Jack continues. An anchorwoman is reporting the story.
" … as Jack, self-proclaimed 'Evil Boy Genius', Spicer was arrested and charged with first degree murder earlier this evening by local police at Las Vegas' Sunrise Health Hospital. For over a week now, Jack Spicer has been pursued by local authorities after his fingerprints were found all over the murder weapon used on billionaire tycoon, Victor E. Morales. His body was found eight days ago in the Mojave Desert. Victor was on a business trip at the time, passing through the …"
Raimundo grabs the remote and lowers the volume to talk to his friends.
"I don't believe it. … Jack's been in Vegas this whole time! Lucky!" he exclaims as Kimiko slaps the back of his head.
"Focus, Rai." She turns to Clay, Omi, and Master Fung. "We've known Jack for a long time now, and he may be a lot of things, but a murderer is not one of them!"
"You're just sayin' that 'cause you loooove him," Raimundo says while making a kissy-face. Kimiko rolls her eyes and proceeds to grab his lips, throwing him to the ground. Raimundo grunts as he hits the floor. Clay shakes his head.
"We have a saying down in Texas, Rai. 'Never miss a good chance to shut up.'"
"Kimiko has a point," Master Fung says. "You know what you have to do."
Omi shifts his eyes and then clears his throat.
"Allow him to rot in prison?" he innocently asks while shrugging. Master Fung narrows his eyes at the young monk. Omi straightens up and sighs. "Or we could go and prove his innocence," he says without enthusiasm. Clay laughs and stands up from the couch.
"Whoo-ee! Sounds like we got another adventure ahead of us."
Then, Raimundo gets up, who is a little frazzled from before.
"It's about time!" Raimundo pushes Clay out of his way and runs out of the room.
"The last to finish packing is a rotten eggroll!" Omi exclaims, following Raimundo.
"Hey, no fair!" Kimiko yells as she jumps off the couch. "You know it takes longer for a girl to pack!" She exits the room as Clay starts to follow. However, Master Fung grabs him by the shoulder and points to the leaky pipe. Clay groans but nods politely. Master Fung smiles as Clay tends to his duty.
Fade to black.
ONE HOUR LATER …
Open on the Xiaolin Temple. Omi is standing in front of the door that leaves the Temple, holding a small suitcase in his hand. He's pacing back and forth, impatiently waiting for the other Warriors.
"Let's go! I have been pacing for 52 minutes now!" he yells. Raimundo comes into the picture carrying two heavy suitcases.
"Ok, ok! Some of us own more than a single robe, ya know," the Brazilian remarks while setting the suitcases down.
"I have more than one!"
"Oh, yeah? Then, how come I never see you wear it?"
"How would you be able to tell if I wear it! "They're all the same thing!"
"A-ha! So, you admit to owning just one!" Raimundo exclaims. Omi begins to pout and tries to think of a comeback. However, they both turn their attention to Kimiko who is entering the room, dragging two very heavy suitcases. She turns to notice the boys staring at her.
"Don't help," she says sarcastically while Omi looks at Raimundo and then shrugs.
"We're not."
Kimiko scoffs and then lifts them up against the door. She then rubs her sore shoulders and scans the room.
"Where's Clay?"
"Probably packin' his spurs. Not an easy job," Raimundo says while leaning up against the wall with his hands in his pockets. Kimiko nods and then looks at Omi.
"You look nice. Is that a new robe?"
Surprised, Omi gives a big smile, delighted that someone finally noticed. He then sticks his tongue out at Raimundo.
"All ready to go!" Clay yells from outside of the room. Everyone turns to see Clay walking in with a suitcase. The rest nod and pick their stuff back up. They turn to face the door.
"You got the Silver Manta Ray, Clay?" Raimundo asks.
"Sure do. Let's get this show on the road."
Omi opens the front door and is about to take a step outside. However, he runs into someone blocking the doorway. As a result, Kimiko, Raimundo, and Clay bump into Omi because they're right behind him.
"Hey, what's the –" But before Raimundo could finish his sentence, the Warriors look up to see a tall, muscular man wearing a white T-shirt standing in the doorway. His face is hidden in the shadows. Kimiko cowers a bit as Raimundo and Clay put on a brave face. Athough a little frightened himself, Omi is the first to speak.
"Um … can we help you?"
The man leans forward out of the shadows, and it's revealed to be, none other than, Marty. A sinister-looking grin forms across his face.
"Yes … I believe you can ..."
Cut to black.
A/N: Ruh-roh. Trouble. Next chapter, we're back with Jack (rhyme!) in Sin City. Please R&R!