Return of the Old World
Ch2: Wildebeest in a China Shop
Armon and Rath go to Uncle's
Inside Uncle's antique shop is helping sweep and clean up the store , Jade works at the register, and Tohru is with Uncle in the back. The bell rings as the door opens, looks from the floor to the see men one rather large man who's missing an arm and is wearing a hockey jersey, jeans, and has some bandages over his head. The other man is a tall and slender wearing a trench coat and fedora. These two men are both Armon and Rath who have come to meet with Uncle to discuss Scarab and his new weapon examines the man missing an arm and figures he's a veteran of some kind.
Jackie: Thank you for your service sir!
Armon looks around confused, replying with "But I haven't done any-". Rath nudges him with elbow while shooting daggers at Armon.
Armon: I mean, of course! Thank you sir!
Rath: We are looking for the Man called "Uncle".
Jackie: Oh of course, he's in the back I'll go get him.
Jackie goes to the back of the shop to tell Uncle he has guests, while he does this Armon examines a vase on a shelf he pulls the shelf closer to him with his one good arm but that causes other fragile products to fall from the shelf. Both Jade and Rath rush to stop the various items from shattering on the floor.
Rath catches two dragon statues with his hands while Jade is able to grab a small crystal orb on the top shelf almost looking like Michael Jordan as she does it. While Jade is distracted Rath discreetly casts a spell that stops all the objects from falling, telepathically moving them back to their original spots. Jade turns around to look back at the two men that she thinks are homeless and sees all the items are intact.
Jade: We have a firm you break it you buy it policy!
Rath and Armon both exchange looks at each other and quickly place the objects they hand in their hands back on the shelf. In the back of the shop, Jackie looks at Uncle and Torhu hard at work with multiple books open on the table as to what this new magic weapon that was used at the Flaming Dragon. Drawings of the description of the Orb as well as a list of possible names for the Orb are written a chalkboard beside the drawing of it.
Jackie: Uncle, two men are asking for you.
Uncle: Must be Rath and his associate! Torhu, you and Jackie prepare tea while I greet our guests!
Uncle moves the curtain and greets Rath and Armon, "Hello you must be-". Uncle looks on in horror as he sees two Mummies in his store.
Uncle: AIYAAAAAAH!
Jackie quickly runs out to see what Uncle is yelling at, he sees Uncle looking petrified at the two gentlemen he saw early. Jade keeps looking back and forth between Uncle and the Mummies unsure of why Uncle is freaking out.
Uncle: MUMMIES! IN MY STORE! JACKIE HOW DID YOU NOT SEE THEY ARE UNDEAD?!
Jackie and Jade both look at the two Mummies realizing what they actually are, their eyes widening unsure of what to do. The two undead Egyptians look shocked and are clearly defensive.
Armon: I thought you told this guy we were dead?
Rath: You think I just lead with we're members of the undead with everyone I meet?
Torhu then rushes out from the back of the shop, sees the two undead Egyptians and grimaces at them. He runs over charging at them but Armon gets in the way between Tohru and Rath, he cries out "With the Strength of Ra!". Armon's golden arm forms halting Tohru by palming his belly. The magic armor forms around Armon while he lifts Tohru over his head slamming on the ground. Jackie then jumps into try and break up the fight as he wears similar armor to the mummified warrior that interrupted his date the other night. Uncle grabs his magic Puffer Fish and starts shooting at Rath who has not activated his armor yet. Jackie stands between Armon and a downed Tohru.
: Wait stop! You work with Mummy that we're at the Flaming Dragon right?
Armon: At the Flaming Dragon? Great pot stickers!
Torhu then sweep kicks the ground out from Armon, getting the upper hand on the Mummy. Jackie then gets between the two of them allowing Armon to get back up, Jackie now stands between the sumo sorcerer and undead warrior.
Jackie: Please we do not need to-
From the top floor Jade jumps down yelling "HEEEYAAAH!". Her legs are out ready to kick Armon in the nose but the large mummy catches her mid air. He then asks her "You guys got any snacks?", Torhu takes the moment to tackle Armon causing him to let go of Jade and to be caught by Jackie before she falls. Torhu pins Armon on the shelf only for Armon to slam both of his elbows on Torhu's back causing the sumo to let go. The two stare the other down almost like cowboys in a duel and then begin to grapple with the other. Jade and Jackie watch unsure of how to break the two giants apart. Uncle however is still locked into shooting at Rath.
Uncle: Undead creature of the night!
Rath dodges the various Chi spells that are shot at him. Rath tells the Chi Wizard, "Uncle it's me you old buffoon!"
Uncle: I have done battle against the forces of darkness many a time! You are not the first and you will not the be the last!
Uncle then launches a powerful Chi blast at Rath's face but Rath casts a spell allowing him to halt the Chi blast mid air. Uncle begins to repeatedly chant "Yu Mo Gway Guai Fi Di Sao!" while Rath is straining but holding firm. Both sorcerers are now straining, sweat runs down Uncle's brow and Rath is struggling to keep his footing but then Rath finally yells out "With the Strength of Ra!". A bright light blinds everyone in the shop which causes Uncle to stop casting the spell, weakening the blast and allowing Rath to bend it to his will.
A fully armored Rath turns the blast into a Cobra made of light and then creates a hologram of Uncle meeting Rath in the spirit realm while they were both meditating.
Holographic Uncle: Something is not right! The spirit realm normally is clear skies and at peace….
Holographic Rath: The very fabric of this realm is being torn asunder.
The holographic Rath appears much like Rath looked when he was alive. Brown skin and purple robes instead of decaying grey skin and bandages.
Jade: Uncle got catfished…
Armon: I could go for some catfish.
The hologram fades away and Rath walks towards the counter between him and Uncle, he asks "Do you believe me-" Uncle then smacks Rath with his pointer and middle fingers catching him off guard.
Rath: Ow!
Uncle: Why did you not tell Uncle you were a Mummy! You almost gave Uncle a heart attack, do you want me dead like you?!
Rath: No of course not! We came here to discuss the orb that Scarab used to attack Jackie and Amanda Carnovan the other night at the Flaming Dragon.
Armon: You went to the Flaming Dragon without me?
Rath: Now is not the time for food Armon!
Uncle: Come! We must discuss what you saw the other night!
Jackie: Wait, where are the others?
A voice of a young woman can be heard behind them saying "We're right here!", the group of heroes turns around to see Ja-Kal, Nerfertina, Khati, and Presley Carnovan standing by the front door.
Rath: Have you been standing there the whole time?
Nefertina: Ja-Kal said we should hang back and let the "Wise baboon speak to the herd of Gazelle!".
Uncle waves at the rest of them to walk back with him into the shop's private study in the back. Walking back into the room Presley and Jade look at each other recognizing the other. The two young heroes in unison look at the other and say "Hey! Don't you go to my school?".
Jade: I'm Jade you're Presley right?
Presley: Yeah so your Uncle is I think dating my mom and you're other Uncle is a-
Jade: A Chi Wizard! So how do you know bandage brigade?
Ja-Kal then says yells from the back room "My Prince! We require your presence in this meeting!". Jade's eyes widen as she looks at Presley realizing he is a Pharaoh.
Jade: No way! You're a Pharaoh?! How?
Presley: Reincarnation I guess... Let's see what they're all talking about!
The two young heroes walk into the back office and stand around the table with the rest of the group. Khati jumps the top of the table only to be brushed off by Uncle. Presley is taken back by this saying "Hey! What was that for!?"
Uncle: My apologies Prince Rapses but this not Egypt, this Uncle's Antiques… I am Pharaoh here.
Presley: Wait how did you-
Uncle: Know that you are reincarnation of Prince Rapses? Very obvious, if you are familiar with ancient prophecy as Uncle. Now Rath, show me this weapon that Jackie has failed to describe to me!
Rath casts a spell creating an enlarged holographic image of the orb Scarab used floating above the table. Uncle looks at the orb with a sense of childlike wonder while the others with the exception of Rath are confused.
Uncle: The Summoning Key... It is real!
Rath: You really think it's the Summoning Key?
Ja-Kal: Wizard, what is this weapon Scarab wields?
Uncle: A instrument of death from a time before our own.
The group of Mummies and humans exchange confused looks with another. Rath and Uncle begin to explain what the Summoning Key is to the group.
Uncle: The Summing Key is a weapon more powerful than any other weapon in existence.. Long ago before our timeline was cemented there another timeline plagued by Eldritch entities known as Apathocans would send forth weapons such as this and armies of the undead from universe to universe, in attempts to subjugate the people of the multiverse.
Rath: Eventually three factions from across time and space grew tired of these dark creatures oppression: Primis, Ultimus, and Victis. Through their combined efforts the casted them away rewriting the entire history of the multiverse to what it is today. One of the members of this group used the Summoning Key to do this.
Jade: Wait a minute! If all of reality was rewritten then how come you guys know about it?
Rath: There have always been whispers from mystic scholars with access to arcane powers and secrets that myself and Uncle do not have. Scarab and I shared the same teacher, Kan Ra... He would speak frequently of the secrets of the universe and long dormant powers ready for the taking.
Torhu: Sensei this must be the evil force you've been sensing!
Nerftina: You guys have been detecting an evil force coming too?
Uncle: Oh this evil force is no longer finding it's way... It's already here! This Scarab know doubt thinks he can use this evil to harness the power of this evil to entrap Prince Rapses.
Nefertina: Well how do we stop Scarab?
Uncle: I do not have those answers yet. Rath! You and I will get to work on how to counteract Apathocian spells while the others bring the young one home! Now go!
The rest of the Mummies take the back door out, on the way out of the shop though Torhu and Armon both shoot daggers at the other before leaving. Before entering the Hot Ra, Presley waves goodbye to Jade and the car drives off. Prelsey looks out the window with a dour expression in his face. Nefertina sees this in the rearview mirror and asks "What troubles you my Prince?"
Presley: It's something crossed my mind after all these years of fighting Scarab... I am the reincarnation of an Egyptian prince that Scarab killed an absorbed some of his soul right?
Nefertina: That's right, by absorbing your reincarnated soul he will have eternal life.
Presley: Okay, but why my soul?
Nefertina and Ja-Kal both look at each other unsure how to answer Presley's question. Nerfertina turns around and looks at the young Prince telling him "I am not sure you'll have to ask Rath when he gets back from the Chan's". Presley look disappointed in this answer but knows that she is right, nobody else in the Hot Ra could answer that question. The Hot Ra speeds throughout downtown San Francisco to the suburbs and on one of the nearby rooftops Kan Ra, Scarab and Ming all watch the vehicle zoom by.
Ming: They are dropping the boy back with his mother, he has school tomorrow.
Scarab: They came from Amanda's boyfriend's shop but why?
Ming: If you spent more time out of that obnoxious pyramid you would know that Miss Carnovan is dating the man who helped defeat the Dark Hand, Shendu along with his family of Demonic Sorcerers, The Brotherhood of Magisters, Daolon Wong, Bartholomew Chang, and the Nine Oni Generals of Japan.
Kan Ra: Jackie Chan and his associates for sometime have become a thorn in the side of dark magic communities across the world! This plan will wipe the Mummies and the Chan's clean off of the board!
Scarab: Tomorrow cannot come soon enough!