Disclaimer: While You May Not Know Who Or What The Known Unknown Is, Rest Assured He Does Not Own JCA

Chapter 2

Jackie wrenched his shoulder from the vice grip with a snap and all at once the two Chans both whirled around, ready for a fight, only to see to their shock…

"Senor Jackie!" said El Toro Fuerte with a massive grin, his other hand on the shoulder of his older but still boyishly small ward, Paco. "How could you visit our fair country and not tell us you were coming?"

"Hola Yade," Paco greeted with a smile mirroring his mentor, "How was your flight?"

"Fine…" she groaned, "And it's Jade! I swear you're still doing that on purpose."

"Perhaps. Perhaps not," Paco smirked, "It is funny either way. Much like that kooky landing we saw from the town square. One would think the pilot didn't know anything about flight safety."

Jade gave him an annoyed glare – years of friendship had given them a very interesting dynamic.

"YOU NEARLY GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK," Jackie interrupted, finally able to breathe over the shock.

"Sorry," El Toro said quickly, "but I needed to get your attention."

"Why are you guys here anyway?" Jade asked as Jackie struggled to slow his breath.

"The same reason as you, I believe," El Toro said grimly.

"The lost temple?" Jackie gasped.

"Si," he continued, "We were told of a terrible power coming from these ruins. We had a hunch it meant something… sinister."

"So naturally we came to investigate," Paco finished brightly, "And the stories were true. Look!" The Chans followed his finger to a spot miles into the forest, where a bright, ethereal light was shining brightly in the coming sunset. At first, it might have looked like the glare from a camera or a overly bright sparkler, but it continued to glow, and even as they watched it it seemed to grow slightly.

They gaped in shock for a long while, for things had just gotten a lot more interesting. Jade recovered first: "Told ya," see said, nudging her uncle in the ribs.

"Yes… well, you must take me to see the ruins immediately!" Jackie said seriously, shrugging off his surprise as best he could.

"Naturally," the luchador replied, "Let us just drop off your things and get on our way. There is no time for dilly dally."

"We're right behind you Jackie!" Jade cheered excitedly, primed and ready for another adventure. Paco and El Toro gave her shared a skeptical look as Jade obliviously punched and kicked the air in preparation for all the mystic monsters she was already planning to fight. Jackie, on the other hand, looked at her blankly thinking it over for a moment, but then regarded her seriously.

"No Jade, you and Paco stay at the hotel, where it's safe."

"Aww, really?" she said incredulously, "I thought we were a team?"

"Usually… yes," Jackie said evenly, "but we have no idea what could be up there: I would rather you stay out of danger until we know what's going on."

"Hmph. Fine," she pouted and crossed her arms again. She could see his point – she knew he only wanted her safe, but that didn't mean was happy about it. Sighing, she trudged along behind her uncle while he and El Toro quickly made plans for getting into the jungle.

Joining her at the rear of the party, Paco gave her a wry look. "Do not tell me you're surprised?"

"Shut up, you."

By the time Jackie and El Toro had gotten ready to leave the sun was already nearly set. They were not able to find anyone willing to guide them through or even lend them a llama in the middle of the night, especially to a possibly dangerous glowing ruin (not that Jackie could blame them), so naturally they were hiking on their own with only the stars, their lanterns, and the bright spire of energy from their destination to light their way, only what little they carried with them for provisions, and only their fists to protect them from whatever dangers they might encounter.

So business as usual, really. There wasn't much ado at all: after they dropped Paco and Jade off at the hotel they took their usual provisions and set off immediately – no time to lose. In fact, they were so used to this sort of thing that they quickly fell into casual conversation despite what could be a perilous journey through the underbrush.

"So El Toro, how are things going with you?" It had been a few months since the two friends had had contact, let alone seen each other – though Jackie was sure Jade and Paco caught up a lot more often thanks to the internet.

"Oh, you know. Travelling the country. Facing challengers. Righting wrongs. Same old thing," he grinned. "Wouldn't change it, mi amigo."

"I don't know, I think I could do without all the danger and intrigue," Jackie replied wearily, thinking of what lied ahead.

El Toro laughed. "Speaking of which, I ran into Viper a couple months ago. Helped me get a priceless gem back from some fiendish banditos. She wanted me to ask you why you haven't called?"

"Did she..?" Jackie gulped. It was bad enough Jade kept pestering about her every time the ex-thief sent her an email (there was a reason he avoided using the internet for anything but business), now he he was getting double teamed all the way here in Mexico! "Aheh… well… er… I mean… So!" he quickly changed the subject, "I hear Paco has been winning a few matches himself! You must be so proud." He gulped again, hoping El Toro didn't push the Viper issue.

El Toro chuckled but took the hint, "Yes, mi Pachito. He has the makings a real luchador… if only he would get out of his own head, you know? He tries too hard to prove himself."

Jackie smiled, but sighed, "yes, I know. Jade's gotten a lot wiser and more disciplined, but she's still so headstrong. You just can't teach that girl self-control. It's funny, seems like only yesterday these kids were knee high. Now they're growing up. Pretty soon we won't be able to keep up."

The two shared a laugh, before El Toro spoke up: "speaking of which, you must know Jade and Paco have probably flown the coop by now, so to speak."

Jackie's laugh died right away, "usually, yes… but she's more mature than she was… maybe I can count on Jade to stay put this time." He didn't even wait for El Toro to react. "Yes, I know… but maybe- GAH!" He dove out of the way as El Toro picked up a rock and threw it at him. Before he could question his friend on his actions, he saw the rock flying past him to knock a lurking jaguar off it's treetop perch, where it had been leering hungrily at him. Jackie shakily spat the dirt out of his mouth as the jaguar ran with it's tail between it's legs. "You could have warned me!"

"Sorry."

"Anyway, maybe Paco can keep her from doing anything too crazy, and plus, they wouldn't even think to go into the jungle on their own… right?" Jackie sounded hopeful, like someone who desperately wanted to believe he hadn't left the oven on before he left town.

"Perhaps," El Toro said vaguely, not really believing it.

Meanwhile:

At that very moment, Jade and Paco were lounging restlessly in their room in the inn, in a manner of speaking. Paco had long given up trying to relax, not when Jade was too busy ranting to get any rest in.

"I can't believe this!" she shouted, shutting her useless laptop with a thud, "No bars at all! I can't get on my phone or the net! Why did I even bring this thing?" She grabbed her laptop and jammed it back into her bag as angrily as she could, then continued to steam around the room pointing out random inconveniences.

Paco blankly watched her rave as though she was the most interesting thing around, which to be fair she probably was, given that the tv was out thanks to some odd interference – no need to guess what that was. Not bothering to comment (she would likely get to anything he might add eventually), he grinned (resisting the urge to laugh like his life depended on it) and munched on a bag of chips as she got more and more animated.

"I mean, no TV, no phone, no computer…"

"You still have your computer games," he noted, not expecting to be heard. Predictably, she ignored him.

"I'm going stir crazy in here! What's next, no AC?"

The hum of the air conditioner sputtered and died as fate answered the call with gusto. There was a brief silence as the two teens stared at it.

"Alright, time for something else," she said abruptly, getting that familiar glimmer in her eye.

Paco sighed and walked over to the fully stocked closet, "don't tell me you're thinking what I think you're thinking."

"Jackie and El Toro need us!" she scoffed, "don't tell me you'd leave your mentor in the lurch like that!"

"They told us to stay where it is safe," he said mildly, testing the various sheets and blankets for strength.

"Come on, when has us staying behind ever worked out?" She looked out the window thoughtfully, then started looking around the room for something.

Paco briefly looked up from the sheet he was working with, "Well…"

"Don't answer that. All I'm saying is they're going to need our help! Plus, if that temple lets loose armies of undead manhunters or something, wouldn't the safest place be with them? Aha!" she shouted as she found what she was looking for.

Paco rolled his eyes as he tied the various sheets together, "I bet that actually makes sense to you, too."

"Darn tootin'! You gotta think of these sort of things when you live with Uncle Jackie," she smiled, "Bring me a few… oh-" she turned to ask, but faltered for a moment when she saw him already standing there with a long chain of sheets.

"I don't think this is a good idea," he said, handeding her one end of the makeshift rope, which she affixed to a surprisingly sturdy wall fixture, "I suppose we're going to get through the jungle to the temple on our own, then?"

"Why must you always worry? Don't answer that," she said with what Paco was sure was six times the confidence of a normal person, "We'll take care of it like we always do!" She tied the other end of the rope into a lasso and tossed onto a tree several yards from the hotel. "You coming or what?"

Paco acted like he was deep in thought. "I guess. Someone has to keep you from getting yourself killed."

"Tch, yeah right. GERONIMO!" with a shout she took the line and slid down the rope into the wild blue yonder.

"Yeah, yeah. Ay…" Paco smiled resignedly and followed behind her. There are a few things things you get used to when you're friends with Jade Chan.

Author: When I have ideas for stories, I often find they kind of arise from ideas for a single scene, and then kind of grow from there. And this is what I mean: you might say this whole series arose from that last scene with Paco and Jade, and then I just thought of more stuff.