Return of the Old World: Paper Panthers
Ch4: Gods Don't Need Bodyguards
Inside the halls of a San Francisco Middle School, Presley is at his locker grabbing getting organized for his next class. He swaps out some books and grabs another before closing his locker up but as he turns toward the direction of his class, Jade is standing in his way with a big smile on her face.
Jade: Hail to the king! Big Press what's up?
Presley: Uh huh, hey Jade whats up? I'm heading to class…
Jade: Nice I'll walk with you! I wanna run something by you.
Presley looks at her curiously, knowing Jade it probably has something to do with what they do outside of school. Jade opens her mouth and Presley's suspicions are immediately confirmed.
Jade: So your powers… how are they coming along?
Presley: Not here Jade.
He begins to pick up the pace and walk away from Jade. Though Presley doesn't show it, he doesn't appreciate Jade bringing up his powers in public. Jade catches up with Presley who turns to her annoyed.
Jade: What's the extent of your powers? Read minds, see the future?
Presley reluctantly sighs asking, "Why?". Jade responds enthusiastically, "Help find the Pink Panther, duh! Did you talk to Jackie this morning, did he tell you anything about it?". Presley responds saying, "No I haven't heard anything about it. All I know is I'm supposed to meet Drew's 'Myalman' today. Not really sure what that is to be honest.". The two of them continue down the hall until they see "Tiny" Turner and Chuck ganging up on a younger kid who's significantly smaller than them. The younger child is a black boy named Anthony who Jade knows is a foster child being raised by Drew McIntosh' family. Michelle, Anthony's foster sister a white girl around the same age comes to her brother's defense but the bullies don't seem to care. Jade turns to Presley with a righteous look in her eye. Presley signals to Jade that it's none of their business which bothers Jade.
Jade: Pftt, some pharaoh you are.
The two bullies have Anthony and Michelle not only cornered but separated from their class. The elementary school is doing tour of the middle school so the kids can have a smooth transition into the new school. The bullies are taking advantage of this and seeing if they can get any money out of any stragglers they can separate from the group.
Michelle: Leave us alone!
Tiny: Not until you pay the toll!
Jade: Hey not-so Tiny waist! Don't you have something better to do?
The two bullies turn around to see Jade standing strong while Presley is off to the side somewhat reluctant in stature. Tiny and Chuck are somewhat weary of Presley after their last encounter with him so they turn their attention to Jade.
Tiny: Everybody's gotta pay the toll if they wanna come here! You know the rules.
Jade: Lemme ask you somethin', where's the bridge?
Tiny and Chuck both look at each other confused. Jade smirks at them before telling them, "Because all I see is two ugly trolls who are just trying to get money for plastic surgery!". This enrages Tiny and swings at Jade who dodges the blow, she uses the techniques Jackie taught her to counter and redirect their punches. Presley sees teachers rushing down the hall as they hear the commotion, he goes to break up the fight only to get sucker punched by Chuck. Presley falls to the floor and looks up at Chuck who's winding up his foot to kick Presley directly in the face. Jade sees this and charges at Chuck jumping up in the air preparing to drop kick the bully.
Jade: HIYAAAAAAH!
Unbeknownst to both Chuck and Jade however, Presley has decided to make an executive decision and use his powers in public. Something both the Mummies and Uncle have explicitly told him not to do. Presley's eyes begin to glow right when Chuck's leg swings toward his face, with a wave of Presley's hand, Chuck falls on his back sending Jade crashing into the gut of Mr. Huxley foot first.
Mr: Huxley: OOOOF!
The teacher falls on the floor like a deflated balloon as grabs his stomach. Jade gets up and is extremely apologetic but now the children are all surrounded Miss Hartman and several other teachers. Tiny and Chuck look wide eyed and immediately point to Jade.
Tiny: She started it! We were trying to help these kids find their class!
Michelle however immediately steps up and dispels the lie that they are trying to tell.
Michelle: That's not true! They cornered my brother and tried to get us to give them money.
Miss Hartman lifts up Mr. Huxley as she scowls intensely at the two bullies. Presley begins to pick himself off the ground. He turns to Anthony who looks at Presley with a smile on his face and is hand curled up into a fist, signaling he's looking for a fist bump.
Miss Hartman: All of you, Principal's office, now!
Much later in the day, Presley and Jade sit together in waiting room. Presley looks down at his feet in defeat while Jade sits tall in her convictions, knowing she did the right thing.
Presley: Can you please wipe that smile off your face? We're about to get suspended because you wanted to play hero.
Jade: We are heroes!
Presley: No, we're 8th graders who are in way over our heads-
The door into the waiting room opens, Jackie and Amanda rush in. Amanda has a concern look on her face for her son while Jackie looks at Jade disappointed. Drew and Brandy then walk in behind them alongside Michelle and Anthony.
Amanda: Michelle and Anthony told us everything are you okay?
Amanda hugs her son, while Anthony walks up to Jade to thank her. The young boy raises his hand for a high five.
Anthony: Thanks again Jade!
Before Jade can return the high five, Jackie steps between the two of them almost immediately. Jackie raises a finger in dismay and tells Jade, "Ah ah none of that!". He turns to Jade extremely disappointed.
Jade: But Uncle Jackie, they were literally about to mug them! Was I supposed to just stand there?
Jackie: You were supposed to get a teacher or a dean!
As if on cue, Miss Hartman and Miss Huxley both step out of the Principal's office. The four adults and four children all turn to the teachers. Huxley immediately turns to Brandy and Drew. Despite having to express that the school is apologetic, Huxley's face is emotionless as a statue. The teacher looks at Drew with his lifeless which makes Drew feel somewhat uneasy.
Mr. Huxley: Mr. McIntosh and Miss Savage, I would just like to apologize on behalf of the school. We do not encourage and will never tolerate the behavior that Turner and Chuck exemplified today.
Drew: Mi appreciate dat.
Miss Hartman: Those two boys are going to be suspended for two weeks and will be writing lengthy apologies to Anthony and Michelle.
The two teachers then turn to Jackie, Jade, Amanda, and Presley. Both teachers have the same dull expression on their faces despite being involved in past adventures of these two students.
Mr. Huxley: While the sentiment of standing up for the fifth graders is noble Miss Chan, your uncle is right. You should have gotten either myself or Miss Hartman.
Miss Hartman: You both will be suspended for the remainder of the week. The principal thought it be best if you were to write essays about how to handle conflicts in public. However, Mr. Huxley and I thought it best if you were to just simply reflect upon your actions and catch up on school work you already have.
Mr. Huxley: Mr. Chan, we understand that your uncle is tutoring Presley in history.
Jackie: Yes; that is correct.
Mr. Huxley: Good. Please make sure that both Jade and Presley are ready for my test on Monday then.
Amanda, Brandy, Drew, and Jackie all walkout the school doors alongside the children they are responsible for. Drew opens to the door to his Land Cruiser for Brandy, Anthony, and Michelle allowing them to get in. Brandy lets the kids in first before turning back to Amanda and Jackie as they pile into Jackie's car.
Brandy: We're gonna head back to our place for the rest of the day.
Amanda: Yeah, Jackie is going to take me back to work and drop off Presley for me. I guess we'll have to catch up with Clouseau another time.
Drew: Yuh wi ketch up wid Clouseau! Mi gud pan dat.
Amanda chuckles at Drew's comment and the McIntosh's drive off. Amanda looks at a man on a bench reading the local newspaper obscuring his face, she furrows her brow but then shakes her head. She thinks to herself that maybe it's Clouseau but rules it out, thinking to herself there's no way he could get here that fast. Jackie drives off with everyone and the man with news paper turns out to be none other than Clouseau. The detective watches as the car drives off with his eye brow raised, he's still suspicious of Jackie and Amanda and will have to continue his investigation.
The car ride back to the Museum is a quiet one as Jackie is clearly frustrated with Jade and her actions. Once they arrive back at the museum, Amanda opens her door and kisses Jackie on the way out.
Amanda: Do you mind taking Presley home for me?
Presley: Actually mom, that test Mr. Huxley was talking about is a pretty big deal. I could really use the extra help from Uncle.
Jackie: I will personally make sure it doesn't become a social hour with Jade.
As Jackie says this, he turns to Jade scowling. Jade raises her hands and her eyes are wide in disbelief that her uncle would talk about her like this. Amanda then nods allowing her son to go with them.
Amanda: Alright, I'll let allow it. But you have to be home before six!
Jackie: I will make sure he gets home way before then.
Amanda: Alright sounds good, bye guys!
Jackie drives off with Presley and Amanda heading straight to Chinatown. The awkward silence lingers on until it's finally broken by Jade being her typical nosy self.
Jade: So who's Clouseau?
Jackie rolls his eyes, "That is not important right now Jade.". Jade then nudges Presley with her elbow, he turns to her mouthing, "Can you read his mind?" as she puts two fingers to her temple. Jackie sees this in the rearview mirror and decides to pull over right as they get into Chinatown.
Jackie: Not another word out of you! You think because you met a version of yourself from the future, that you can just play hero and fight anyone?!
Jade: We are heroes! Me meeting secret agent me and Presley being a literal chosen one-pharaoh-godking is PROOF of that!
Jackie: You can't just go around getting into trouble Jade! Why are you always doing this?
Jade: Would you calm down I'm not the one that used my powers!
She realizes what she says and quickly covers her mouth while Presley's jaw drops to the floor. Jackie realizes what Jade has done and immediately turns to Presley.
Jackie: Presley you can't use your powers! Uh! Uncle is going to be furious!
A few minutes later inside Uncle's antique shop, Uncle is caught up on what has transpired and yells out, "AIYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!". Gathered around the furious chi wizard and the reincarnated pharaoh is Jackie, Jade, Tohru, and all of the Mummies. All of them look somewhat concerned for Presley.
Uncle: Rath and I were VERY SPECIFIC about not using your powers in public! You want to audition for X-Men? They left San Francisco a long time agooooo!
Presley: Nobody saw!
Presley: And what if they did?! Fate of multiverse is at stake and you're worried about your pride?!
Ja-Kal firmly puts his hand on Uncle's shoulder signaling to the old man that now is not the time to chew Presley out. Jackie also steps up and tries to defuse the tension in the room.
Ja-Kal: The Prince has learned his lesson. There is no sense in berating him further.
Jackie: I have already let Captain Black know and they are scrubbing the schools cameras as we speak.
Uncle looks at both of them with an intense scowl on his face. Uncle slaps Ja-Karl's hand off his shoulder and walks off. The Chi Wizard looks around the room and begins to notice that someone is missing.
Uncle: Where is Drew and his mentor?!
The bell rings as the front door opens indicating that someone has entered the store. Uncle, Jackie, and Tohru both walk out of the office and into the store where Drew McIntosh stands alongside Kim Wu and another Jamaican man. This man is much older, has a thick beard, and dreadlocks longer than Drew's. The man has foggy white eyes and a walking stick but is walking around as if he doesn't require assistance.
Kim: Sorry we're late. Drew and Cudjoe thought picking me up would be a good idea.
Drew: There a waah war being fight inna di shadows. Wi a guh tuh need all di help wi cya get!
Jackie: The more the merry. I assume you're Cudjoe?
The blind man turns to Jackie nodding saying, "Dat be mi.". The heroes then all back to the office, the rest of the group is then introduced to Kim and Cudjoe.
Armon: Who's the lady and the geezer?
Jackie: This is Kim and Cudjoe, they are here to help us. Uncle where is the Summoning Key?
Uncle nods at Rath as he puts a cylindrical metal case on the table. The case opens by itself revealing the Summoning Key. Without hesitation, Cudjoe goes to grab the Summoning Key which alarms all of the Mummies and Chans. Cudjoe palms the small sphere in his hand and looks at it intently despite his blindness. Suddenly the ball begins to generate small bolts of electricity and then without warning the entire room is sucked into a cyclone. They all look around as the room swirls around them, books fly every which direction.
Armon: RATH WHAT'S GOING ON?!
Rath: I'M NOT THE ONE THAT TOUCH THE KEY!
The office of the antique shop fades away and the group finds themselves on an asteroid floating through the void of space. Large worm like monsters fly around them oblivious to their presence. Drew looks down on the ground and sees the symbols that Jackie showed him earlier.
Drew: Cudjoe! Luk at di ground!
Cudjoe kneels down as he looks at the carvings. The Myalman brushes his hand across the ground and the group suddenly finds themselves in damp cave. Drew immediately recognizes that they are now in Windsor Cave in Jamaica. The heroes all look around confused at the ever changing landscape.
Kim: Where are we?
Ja-Kal: Even the chameleon does not make such radical changes.
Drew: Wi at di Windsa Cave inna Trelawny Perish. Dis a di home of di Shadowcatcha enemy of Jah an all things gud.
Cudjoe then walks to a cave wall with the same symbols carved into. Pressing his hands against it and the symbols begin to glow a dark purple. Suddenly more symbols begin to appear across the cave wall's such pentagrams and the Chinese character for death.
Uncle: This Shadowcatcher, he studied the Apathicons?
Cudjoe: All Nercormancas, duh di Apathicons invent it.
The heroes are all then whisked away into a room with walls made of stone. The room has a globe in the center of it, at a nearby work bench is none other than the mummified sorcerer Kan-Ra, the man who taught Rath and enemy of Kim Wu. Rath and Kim both immediately prepare for battle and are oblivious to the other doing the exact same thing. Kim begins to twirl her nunchucks and summons her dragon while Rath yells out, "With the strength of Ra!" activating his magical armor. The two march over and then both turn to the other surprise and ask the other, "How do you know Kan-Ra?!". The vision from the Summoning Key continues as the vision of Kan-Ra turns to greet a human ally.
This ally is a tall, bald Asian man with piercing yellow eyes and a black suit. The man shakes Kan-Ra's hand but then points to the globe, the man reveals one of his hands is robotic and shoots a metallic finger which is actually a razor sharp blade into a country in Europe. Jackie immediately recognizes this imposing figure as Count Ming Orloff, the man Scarab brought the museum to look at the exhumed hieroglyphics. Jackie immediately rushes to see what country this is taking it as a clue but suddenly a shadowy figure appears and charges Jackie. All of the heroes ready themselves. Uncle charges alongside Tohru both with their pufferfish in hand, the Mummies activate their armor, Kim Wu charges with her nunchuck spinning. Without warning the sound of the bell at the front door rings and all of the heroes find themselves back in the office of the antique shop.
Uncle: WHO COULD POSSIBLY HE HERE?! TOHRU, DID YOU NOT PUT UP CLOSED SIGN?!
Uncle angrily rushes out of the office and into the front and sees a man in business casual clothes, a grey wig on his head, and a pair of glasses that are obviously fake.
Uncle: You have such big glasses, yet you cannot see that STORE IS CLOSED!?
The man raises his hands in defense and responds in his best American accent, "Forgive transgressions! I am just simply in the market for priceless artifacts, stuff you cannot find on the market…". The man winks at Uncle and in return Uncle smacks him on his forehead with his two fingers.
Uncle: I DO NOT LIKE YOUR IMPLICATIONS! GET OUT OF MY SHOP! Tohru, get this fool out of my shop at once.
The man is sent flying out the front door as Tohru throws him onto the sidewalk as if he were a ball and Tohru an MLB pitcher. The man straightens up his clothes and takes off the wig and glasses revealing himself to be Inspector Clouseau. Tohru closes the door before he can see Clouseau get up and regain his composure. Tohru flips the sign from open to close and then locks the door. The gentle sumo walks beside his Sensei and he hears the heroes giving each other proper introductions as well as catching Kim up to speed.
Kim looks around saying, "Okay so, I just want to make sure we're on the same page.". She then points at Presley saying, "You're a reincarnated Pharaoh with the powers of a god which you only discovered a couple months ago…". Presley nods confirming her statement. Kim then moves to the Mummies and points at each one as she says their names, "Ja-Kal, Nefertina, Armon, and Rath who was also taught by the mummy that tried to kill me are his four guardians who protect the kid's life…". The four mummies all nod and Armon says, "Day and night we protect his very life!" with an enthusiastic smile on his face until Nefertina nudges Armon for making it sound like guarding Presley is a burden.
Kim then brings her attention to Jackie and Drew. She points at Jackie first, "No powers just really talented martial artist who fights evil…" and then immediately goes to Drew, "and you have been blessed with powers to protect the environment and the natural world.". Drew nods and agrees with her sentiment.
Drew: It seems like yuh ave get di gist of it.
Kim: And the world is ending, that little sphere can help us track and potential close and portal to a dimension filled with Lovecraft monsters. So where does the annoying French detective and the Pink Panther Diamond fit in all this?
Jade steps up and asks Jackie almost like she was intentionally left out of some game, "She's apart of finding the Pink Panther Diamond and I'm not?!". Jackie rolls his eyes before trying to shush off Jade.
Jackie: That's enough Jade. To answer your question Kim, Clouseau and the Diamond are not apart of this. However, we need to locate Origami and the Diamond.
Jade's eyes widen at the name drop of the villain her uncle locked away a few years ago. She's almost giddy in her reaction as she ask, "ORIGAMI IS BACK?!". Jackie then turns scowling at Jade.
Jackie: I said that is enough! Now go to your room and study!
Jade: Ohh…
The young heroine walks off with all of the pep in her step deflated by her Uncle. She looks at the gathering of heroes around the table, she thinks to herself that the only thing would make this cooler is if the Titans or one of the Avengers were present. She heads to her room nonetheless and wonders how she's going to prove to her Uncle Jackie that she will be the hero that she is destined to become.