Chapter 2: Bad Day (2):
Jackie's POV:
So, here's a recap. I was looking for the legendary Talisman of Hanuman, and I found it, but then three strange men came after it. One of them wore a cowboy hat and had a lasso. Then I ran into my old friend, who turned out to be the head of a secret agency. I thought he was with Interpol. Anyway, a white-haired woman held Uncle hostage. I threw her off the bridge. I really hope I didn't kill her. Jade had the talisman, but then she lost it. So now we're looking for it.
"The Talisman is actually one of twelve talismans," says Uncle, "and they have dangerous magical powers."
"What can this one do," asks Jade.
"No idea. But Uncle does not think it originally belonged to Hanuman."
"Someone probably hid it there," I said, "and may have made up the legend that it was his."
"Now we must find it before bad people do. It should've fallen right here."
"Has there always been a dentist's office somewhere under the bridge," asks Jade.
We entered and saw the dentist looking at his own teeth in a mirror.
"Excuse me," I said.
"Oh, sorry. A kid once said my teeth were too big, and it has made me... self-conscious ever since. Do any of you have an appointment?"
"No," I said, "we're looking for... Uncle's mahjong piece!"
"We are not looking for mahjong piece..." Jade elbows Uncle. "We are looking for an important mahjong piece!"
"Well, I don't know much about the game. Did it have a monkey drawing on it?"
"Yes," we all said.
"Oh, Tommy Pickles has it."
"What kind of name is that," asks Jade.
"Can you tell us where he lives," I asked.
"No, but I can tell you where he hangs out."
"You know you're telling this to strangers, right," Jade points out.
"I can never keep a secret."
Jade and I then look at Uncle.
"Not one word."
Hammerhead's POV:
Da Big May'n's broad failed, jus like da enfarcers. I approached awl awv 'em.
"Da Big May'n's disappointed in awl awv use."
"I would like to hear it from my Master," says Nichang.
"No, use don't."
We den awl 'eawd an angry roaw.
"You have a point," says Nichang
"Da Big May'n decided ta call in 'is best people. Plan c." Everyone looks as my shadow came ta life and farmed into awur secret weapons. "Say 'ello ta da Shadowkhan. Dey'll get da talisman, especially with dis lil' baby."
"Some sort of dragon statue," says Fancy Dan.
"When use mooks actually get a talisman, den use can judge." I 'anded da statue ta da Shadowkhan, who den leave.
"And what are we going to do," asks Nichang.
"Use can sit and tink about what use awl 'ave done," I said. Den, I left. I can tell da awthers awe a lil' ticked with me, but in my defense, dey awl lost.
Jackie's POV:
We all arrived at the Java Lava Coffee House. We walked over to the desk.
"I'm looking for Tommy Pickles," I said.
"He's over there with my son, Chuckie," says the man, "you're probably wondering which is which..."
"Is your son the one that looks like you?" asks Jade.
"Good guess."
We walked over to them.
Tommy's POV:
I show Chuckie the strange rock that I found.
"Is that a drawing of a monkey on it?" asks Chuckie.
"Here's the thing, I found it underneath the Golden Gate Bridge, and I don't know what it is, but Dil theorizes that it must be magic, but I, as usual, don't believe it," I said.
"Excuse us," said someone as I turn around.
Jackie's POV:
"Can I help you," asks Tommy.
"You must be Tommy," I said, "here's the thing..."
Then everyone's shadows started moving and became three-dimensional ninjas.
"Are you serious," I asked, "who is the Big Man?"
The ninjas then attacked, and I fought them off while everyone else ran. When Jade tried to join in, Uncle grabbed her and dragged her outside.
"Who are you under that mask?" I removed the mask and... you don't want to know. I put the mask back on it. "What are you?"
The ninjas just keep fighting, but some of them try to run out after Tommy.
Tommy's POV:
So, some random guy's fighting ghost ninjas. That figures.
"What was that about," asks Kimi.
"That was forces of darkness," says the old guy, "you must give us talisman!"
"He means his mahjong piece," says the girl.
"Mahjong? You're aliens," says Dil.
"Mahjong's a game... in China," says the girl.
"I knew that."
"What is wrong with strange boy?"
Some of the ninjas come out, but then a bald guy blasts them.
"Uncle Augustus," says Chuckie.
"The Big Man sent these guys!"
"They are magic," says the old guy.
"Yeah, sure they are. Now let's go."
"Jackie's still fighting those things," says the girl.
The guy, Jackie, I guess, came out, looking dazed.
"I confess, I ate the Queen's crown." He faints.
Jackie's POV:
We took the kids to Section 13. They were amazed by everything.
"So, this is some kind of magic rock that the Big Man wants.
"Yep," says Captain Black, "except for the magic part."
"This place is too big," says Uncle, "where is nearest bathroom?"
"Anyway, we'll just put the talisman in the vault," says Captain Black.
"I wonder what else the Big Man has," I said.
Hammerhead's POV:
Chan got away, but I got me an idea. I 'ave Nichang do some reseawch awn 'em kids dat went with Chan.
"According to this, these are the babies that are all grown up, the ones who ruin our plans to take over Yamaguchi Industries. My Master kicked Coco LaBouche out of his criminal empire for her failure to take over said industries. According to my research," says Nichang.
"What are their names," asks Fancy Dan.
"Tommy Pickles, Chuckie Finster, Phil Uniyal-DeVille, Lil Upreti-Baker, Dil Pickles, and Kimi Finster."
"Dare awe tree mare kids," I said, "Angelica Pickles, Susie Cawmichael, and 'awold frumpkin. Accarding ta dis school website. Find 'em."
Da Shadowkhan den left.
"I remember that ironically named girl. She was extremely greedy, had a nasty personality, and had a big mouth." says Nichang.
Jade's POV:
I was heading to the vault with Kimi and Lil.
"So, you gonna be starting school?" asks Kimi.
"Yeah, when Summer's over," I said.
"Where are we going?" asks Lil.
I then typed in 007 and opened the vault. "I gotta figure out what this monkey..." Now I'm a monkey.
"Does that answer your question?" asks Kimi.
Angelica's POV:
Susie, Harold, and I were watching TV. There was a news report about that jerk, Jonathan. Then there was a knock on the door.
"The pizza came early," says Susie.
"I'll get it," says Harold, but as he opened the door, "woah, pizza ninjas?"
The glowing, red-eyed ninjas then look at each other in confusion about what Harold said.
"Huh... Harold, I don't think they're here to deliver pizza." says Susie.
Jackie's POV:
Tommy had a phone call.
"Hello," says Tommy. "It was Harold. He dialed the wrong number. He was trying to call the police. Anyway, he, Susie, and Angelica were grabbed by those things!"
"What's with these guys and hostages," I said.
. . .
I arrived at the park where the three kids and the ninjas were. There was a man dressed like a 1940's gangster with them.
"Da namez Hammerhead," he said, "'m da Big Manz right-hand thug."
"Who is the Big Man?"
"Yo' wouldn't believe me if I told yo'. All yo' need ta know be dat if yo' don't give us tha talisman, tha Shadowkhan gotta be unhappy."
"Fine, here."
I handed Hammerhead the talisman, but I had a surprise. I took the kids.
"Who are you," asks Angelica.
"A friend of your cousin's."
"Wait, dis be a mahjong piece! GIT 'EM!"
I then fought the Shadowkhan. Two of them grabbed me, and Hammerhead goes to a fire hydrant and shows how he got his name. He broke it with his head.
"Bad Day."
As the two shadowkhan held me, Hammerhead was prepared to ram me, but then he was turned into a small furry creature.
"I always wondered what a chinchilla is, cute," says Jade. "Jackie, the Monkey Talisman, turns things into animals."
"Useful. And I'll just ignore the fact that you're here." I broke free and jumped to Jade and grabbed the talisman from her. "How does it work?"
"Just say the name of the animal."
"Ants!" I turned all the Shadowkhan into ants. Hammerhead and the Shadowkhan then left.
. . .
We were at Section Thirteen, and I tried to explain to Captain Black, but he didn't believe me.
"So, you expect me to believe you turned Hammerhead and a bunch of shadow ninjas into a chinchilla and some ants?"
"It happened... Wait, why is my stuff here?"
"You're moving in and so's Jade."
"Does this mean I get to be a secret agent?" asks Jade.
"No," we both said.
"What about the other kids?"
"Their parents think this is a special summer camp. They're staying here too."
"And Uncle?"
"He tried to order a pizza and nearly gave our location away."
"Fair."
Hammerhead's POV:
Nichang managed ta turn me and da Shadowkhan back.
"Da Big May'n won't be 'appy with me," I said.
"Ah've had enough," says Montana, "Ah wanna meet this 'Big Man'."
"Alright." I den awpened da doar and introduced da Enfarcers ta awur boss as Nichang kneels befare 'em.
"Hello," he said, "I'm the Big Man, but my real name issss Shen Du."
Shen Du is Straight in All Grown Up Adventures. In the next chapter, Jade will be manipulated by the Grundel.