"Wow, this is cool!"

Jack smiled sheepishly as he watched Entropy gaze at his gadgets, caress his plans, and poke at his Jack-Bots with an interest he'd never witnessed before. Stryker just squinted at her warily from the doorway of the workplace.

"Did you build all this?" Entropy asked Jack excitedly as she picked up one of the Jack-Bot guns.

"Yeah, most of it," Jack said. "Although, a lot of them don't work well. Stryker's been helping me out."

"You've been building again?" Entropy asked her silent cousin. "I thought you said you were done."

Stryker didn't answer her, but she and Jack didn't notice.

"How do you come up with all this stuff?" Entropy asked.

"I don't really get out much," Jack said, coming up beside her as she looked at his plans. "Most of the time I'm down here drawing or-"

"Hey, what's this?"

She pulled out the drawing of outfits Stryker had pulled out earlier.

"Oh, uh, that," he stammered. "That's just an idea I had a while ago..."

"I love it!" Entropy said, holding it out in front of her. "The hat on this one's wicked!"

Jack beamed proudly as Stryker shook his head. Seemed Enny was really starting to get to the kid. He didn't know whether that was good or bad.

"Hey, are those bombs?"

Definitely bad! Stryker thought as Entropy spotted Jack's explosive section.

"Oh, yeah," Jack said, watching her practically skip to the detonators. "I don't use them a lot 'cause their not very stealthy you know-"

"Put it down, Enny," Stryker commanded when she grabbed one of the objects.

"Aw, Strykey!" Entropy whined.

"Your fifteen years old, stop acting like your six. And put...it...down."

"What's the big deal, Stryker, none of them are lit or anything," Jack whispered as Entropy scowled and dropped the mine.

"She's a pyro, Jack," Stryker hissed as he watched Enny head towards the couch. "And she loves blowing things up. You let her mess with those she'll blow us sky high!"

"You don't know that for sure."

Stryker raised an eyebrow at him.

"Just like I totally don't know that you've been google-eyeing her since we came home?"

Jack's face reddened.

"Uh-huh. You keep blushing like that and I won't be able to tell the difference between your face and your hair."

"I-I-I am not g-google-eyeing your cousin," Jack said unconvincingly.

"Oh no, not you, Jack Spicer," Stryker jeered; he was smirking now. "Face it, you're crushing on my screw-loose cousin."

"No, I...I..."

Stryker had to grin at how crimson his friend's face was now. Jack shot a glance back at Entropy, who was messing around with his controller. He turned back to her cousin, who had crossed his arms and was giving him a "told you so" look.

"...Okay...maybe...a little..." Jack squeaked.

"Uh-huh," Stryker said again, shaking his head. "I hope you know she's unstable."

"...Yeah..." Jack said, his smile growing a little.

"She may not even be interested, Jack, she-"

He paused for a moment, then sighed in defeat.

"Okay, here's what you need to know," he started, counting it off on his hand. "Her favorite color's green, she doesn't like long, deep conversations and if you get her anything with a bunny on it you're golden."

"Thanks, Stryke!" Jack declared. "You're the best!"

He went and joined Entropy on the couch, saying something about playing Goo Zombies while handing her a lime green controller. Stryker raised his eyebrows when she squealed and enveloped Jack in a hug, amazed at how quickly that had worked.

I should feel guilty about this, Stryker thought.

He considered that, then shrugged and went over to the workbench. Maybe later.

******JP******

"You are certain?"

"Yeah, pretty sure," Rai said with a shrug. "She didn't seem all that strong. Kimiko beat her, no problem."

"I see," M. Fung said. "I am glad you were able to overcome. Perhaps she will not be too troublesome. Did anyone else appear?"

"No, and that's a little weird to me. I mean, Chase has never had an interest in Wu and Hannibal only shows once in a while, but it's been too long you know?"

"Yes, I see what you mean. In light of new discoveries, I fear we will figure out their intentions soon."

"What new discoveries?" Rai asked as M. Fung turned away.

"I need to show you something," he said. "But you cannot tell the others, not yet. The less that are aware of this the better."

"Oh-Kay," Raimundo said, following M. Fung down the hall.

He followed M. Fung down the hall to a wall with a blue dragon on it. His eyebrows raised when his master placed a hand on the painting and the wall dissolved, revealing a small room swamped with candles.

"Uh...cool?" Rai said, not sure how to respond.

"Come in, quickly," M. Fung ordered, ushering the boy in as the wall started to return. "We have much to show you."

"We? Uh, M. Fung, did you crack and not tell anyone?"

"Hello, Raimundo."

The young boy froze in awe at the floating, ethereal Grand Master Dashi.

"M-Master Dashi!" he cried, bowing deeply. "I-It's an honor!"

"Now, now, no need for formalities!" Dashi said with a grin. "I'm great and all, but that shouldn't intimidate you."

"Wh-what are you doing here?" Rai asked as he straightened. "Well uh, what brings your ghost here?"

"A simple matter," Dashi sighed. "Although it's one that is becoming more complicated."

"Oh..."

Raimundo turned to M. Fung.

"You know Omi's going to kill me if he finds out I'm talking to the Grand Master Dashi, right?" he said.

"He will not find out until it is time," M. Fung assured him, turning him back to face the Grand Master. "Dashi, I believe you have something to tell Raimundo."

"Yes. Sit down please, Raimundo. Some of this could be quite unnerving."

******JP******

Chase stared at Wuya with a twinged expression on his face.

"That's really what he told you?" he asked again.

"Yes, Chase," the witch assured him, clenching her clawed hands. "Why don't you believe me?"

"Because you've lied before. And it seems all too...inadequate."

"I gain nothing from lying now."

She turned away from him and put her hands on the sill of her window, staring out with a knit brow.

"Staring out a window never did anyone any good"

Wuya's breath momentarily caught in her throat, then she shook her head and put it in her hands.

"Please just leave me, Chase," she whispered.

He cocked an eyebrow at her request. He had expected her to brush it off and return to schmoozing to get her powers back; seeing the Heylin witch in such a state was quite bewildering.

"Very well," he said, going to the door.

He paused, an idea forming in his head.

"Perhaps you should tell the boy," he said. "It might turn out better than you think."

Wuya slowly lifted her head as soon as Chase was gone, her eyes wide. An idea of her own was forming, and she planned to act on it soon.