Back in Texas, breakfast was somethin' everybody in the Bailey household always looked forward to. And even though I was attending monk school overseas, this morning was no different considering it was my turn to cook.

Today I felt like whippin' up some of Daddy's homemade garbage eggs: stuffed with bacon, sausages, ham, and cheese courtesy of Old Bessie. I really should write that thank you letter to him for importing her cheese all the way over to China. Must've taken a lotta stamps to ship that darn crate.

Growin' up on a ranch, I was usually the first one up other than Omi, so I took all the time I needed to get the eggs just right. Our fearless leader was often the last slowpoke to drag himself outta bed, but I imagine the smell of breakfast will be enough motivation for him. If not, well, I'll just have to hogtie him again!

Sure enough, by the time I got done settin' the table, the rodeo came stampeding in. Omi was considerate enough to pull out a chair for Kimiko while Raimundo sat down next to her. I swear, those two were closer than lovebugs on Valentine's Day. Not that I'm tryin' to start nothin' of course. So long as they're happy together, I'm happy for 'em.

Like always, we waited for Master Fung and Dojo to take a seat at the table before we could all start chowin' down. The little dragon was more than eager to get a plateful, but Master Fung stuck with his usual cup of green tea instead. I don't think I'll ever understand what makes that man tick; who can resist a steamin' pile of Bailey Garbage Eggs?

"Clay, your artery-clogging American meals have seduced me once again," burped Dojo. I knew I could count on our dragon pardner to leave a glowing review.

Kimiko added, "I know, right? I'll be honest, I never suspected that our lovable boulder was an unrecognized cook. You could seriously make a name for yourself in the cuisine world, Clay!"

"Aw shucks! You fellers are gonna make me blush now…"

"It's the truth, ain't it?" said Rai, perfectly flipping a loose piece of bacon into his mouth. "If it can get me out of bed at the crack of dawn, then you know it's good!"

Omi took his laid-back comment as a chance to lightly scold him. "Raimundo, while you may be our new leader, you must learn to hone your awakening skills just like I have. A true Shoku Warrior must be ready to take on the day every day! After all, the yearly bird gets the worm."

"That's the early bird, Omi," Raimundo corrected. "But it does rhyme so I'll give you a pass on this one."

"Told you those English lessons were doing something~" sang Kimiko, pokin' her boyfriend in the side like she were markin' him with a branding iron. "He's getting there, slowly but surely."

"Hey – I've been trying to teach the little dude slang for three whole years! What makes you think you can do better?"

"Simple: patience."

Rai raised his finger in protest before realizing he couldn't argue with his girlfriend's logic and sighed. "Fair point. I suppose I gotta learn that now that I have more responsibility. I can't afford to be impulsive anymore now that I'm you guys' leader."

"I have complete faith in your ability to control yourself, Raimundo," Master Fung said. "I would not have chosen you to lead the monks if I had my doubts. Patience is a bitter plant, but its fruit is sweet."

"And when it comes to deciphering this old man's proverbs, you need to have the patience of a saint, let me tell ya," Dojo commented after takin' a sip of his coffee. Though Master Fung gave him a stink eye stinker than a roadkill skunk on sizzlin' asphalt.

"…More herbal leaves for your tea? Heh, heh…"

"I am good, Dojo. Thank you for asking."

After that dangerous exchange passed by, Master Fung stood up from his seat cushion and folded his arms inside his sleeves. I reckon he's got somethin' mighty important to say to us.

"Young monks, you have all made exemplary progress harnessing your inner Xiaolin Dragons. It seems only yesterday you ascended from humble Dragons-in-training to proud Wudai Warriors plus one Shoku Warrior. Normally it takes students at least ten years to be where you are now, but you have excelled in less than three. Which is why I believe the time is right for you to advance to the next stage of enlightenment."

Master Fung stared into our souls before carrying on with his speech. "Omi, Kimiko, Clay, you are now ready to begin your Shoku Warrior training. Raimundo will offer his assistance."

Well I'll be durned! Me and my friends, Shoku Warriors! This day could not have started off any better!

Just then, our little hoedown was cut short by the sound of a…Now hold on – was that a doorbell? Did I hear that right?

Everyone eyed each other confusedly. Looks like it wasn't just in my head after all.

"Wait, since when did we get a doorbell installed?" asked Kimiko. An awkward cough diverted our attention to a certain green reptile scratchin' the back of his scales.

"Uh, yeah, about that…I may have hired somebody to come in and install a doorbell last week. Figured some home improvement couldn't hurt anybody, right?"

…

"Oh come on, people! This temple's been around since the Northern Wei dynasty! I think it's safe to say it's way past a renovation or two. Besides, if you're not gonna let me install a padlock for the Shen Gong Wu vault, then at least let me have this one!"

Master Fung sipped his tea before responding, "In that case, you wouldn't mind answering it, would you, Kanjo Cho?"

"Oh boy…using last names, are we? Looks like I'm on thin ice. Alright, I'll go and greet our mystery visitor."

Dojo slithered away into the halls, leavin' us to wonder who in tarnation could be at our front door.

"Y'all don't think it's a ruse, do you?"

"How many bad guys have you met that use a doorbell before breaking in?" reasoned Kimiko.

"Most illogical, indeed," added Omi. "It is not like the forces of evil to politely alert their presence and wait to be invited in. Unless it is a vampire..."

"In broad daylight?" questioned Kimiko. "Somehow I doubt it."

"Yeah, it's probably just some annoying door-to-door salesman trying to sell us something," snorted Rai. "My family had to put up with them all the time back in Rio."

Before I could remind him that we were situated up in the mountains far away from any city, Dojo came rushin' back in and outta breath. The little feller was only gone for a minute and yet he looked about as worn out as my Daddy's old lasso rope.

"Guys…you might…wanna come…see this."

I asked, "Why? Who's at the door?"

"Trust me, it'd be easier if I just showed you."

Huh. Well, no sense in sittin' around doin' nothin'. Master Fung and the rest of us got up and followed the worry wort over to the front entrance.

As we stepped out into the crisp, cool morning air, we could see plain as day that our surprise guest was none other than -

"YesBot!?"

That no-good brown-noser of a robot built by that varmint, Jack Spicer! It wasn't a fighting machine, so we never saw too much of it in battle. But whenever we did see it, you'd better believe it was always tryin' to suck up to that dirty outlaw!

Although…somethin' was mighty off about this here tin can: its eyebrows were furrowing somethin' fierce, which made the smile on its face look incredibly forced. Not only that, but there also appeared to be dried oil stains under its eyes, givin' it the impression it had been cryin' for a good spell.

Now, I ain't tech savvy like Kimiko, but I'm pretty sure robots don't cry, do they?

"Um…Greetings, Xiaolin Monks. It, uh…it sure is a stupendous day out today, wouldn't you agree? Hah-hah…haaaah…"

For an otherwise cheery bot, it sure didn't sound like its heart was in it.

"Alright – cut the small talk, metal man! What are you doing here?" Raimundo interrogated.

"Don't tell me Jack's gotten so desperate that he's actually sending in his yes-man to fight his battles for him," joked Kim. "Because that would be a record-breaking low, even for him!"

Her boyfriend quipped along with her, "Yeah! After how hard I whupped him in the last Showdown, his butt is probably still in a sling!"

Omi couldn't keep himself composed any longer and laughed along with the couple. "Oh-ho-ho-hooo! Most amusing, as well as shameful! A humiliating defeat like that would surely put his rear end in the infirmary! Spicer must simply be beside himself with embarrassment! But such is the way of the Heylin: to be trounced by the forces of - !"

The little guy was cut off by three simple words that carried a punch to the gut in all of us.

"Jack is dead."

Suddenly, the morning air went from cool to frigid in a snap. I and many others felt a shiver go down our spines after hearing those three damning words. When the silence grew to be intolerable, I had to get something extremely important cleared up right away.

"We…we didn't rough him up that bad, now did we…?"

Just suggesting that was enough to make breakfast jump in my stomach. But I managed to keep it down.

YesBot's response was uncharacteristically cold and blunt. "You weren't responsible for his death if that's what you're asking. After he came home from his defeat in Rio, Jack had to leave again for a supply run. Then, at 10:13 A.M. Hong Kong Time, the JackBots and I all received a distress call from his wrist communicator. He requested us to come pick him up due to him losing his hover jet. Then…we received a second distress call, this one automatic. His…his vital signs had…flatlined."

Omi and Kim both gasped while Rai put a hand to his head. Dojo's tail drooped low to the ground and Master Fung was unreadable as always. I took my hat off and held gripped it for dear life. I could not, would not believe what I was hearing; there was no way Jack could be dead – we just saw the kid yesterday for God's sake!

YesBot pulled a handkerchief out of some compartment and wiped away a few drops of oil leakin' from his eyes. It was already stained before he used it.

"W-We got there as soon as we could," he continued, sounding more heartbroken than bitter. "They were already loading what was left of him in a body bag and carted him away in an ambulance. Check any major news outlet if you want, it's all they're talking about right now."

Before I could so much as blink, Kimiko was already playing a live video on her electronic device and had it up to full blast. We all craned our necks in just to see the news anchor on the small screen confirm the worst for us.

"- as the inheritor to Spicer Industries, Jackson Edward Spicer, was confirmed dead by paramedics in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. Eyewitness testimonies have agreed that the cause of death was by a speeding, hijacked truck in the local shopping district. One eyewitness, who wishes to remain anonymous, claimed that they would've been the victim of the hit-and-run had it not been for the young man pushing them out of harm's way. Police investigations of the hijacker are still ongoing."

"Ai meu Deus…!"

Kimiko muted the video once Raimundo started muttering to himself in Portuguese.

So it was true. Jack really was dead. Got hit by a truck savin' an innocent's life. I…I never would've imagined it. I mean, I had my doubts about him bein' "evil incarnate" and all that, but still. I didn't think that's how'd he go. And still so young too – good Lord, how old was he now? Seventeen!? Too young…

"I haven't worked up the nerve to contact his parents yet," the machine choked out. "But it's likely they already know now that his passing has gone international. The JackBots, they're all at a loss, it's chaos back at the base! I can just barely keep them under control with my admin protocols, but it's a complete mess! Without our master, without our Jack…we're a leaderless faction."

It was then that Master Fung finally spoke up in what felt like years. "YesBot, was it?"

"…Yes."

"You and your kin are more than welcome to stay at the temple if need be."

Under normal circumstances, that would've been the worst news we'd ever heard. But we already heard the worst, and after unknowingly makin' fun of a dead man, the others didn't object.

"W-Well, I…Thank you, sir, but I don't think that will be necessary. We'll likely continue to stay at Spicer Mansion until…well, I don't really know. Regardless, thank you for the offer."

"You're still welcome to come and visit," Dojo suggested politely.

"Yes, and I'll probably hold you up on that. Honestly, I didn't know who else to turn to after word of the incident spread throughout the base. I figured, as you were the only ones who displayed a basic level of social interaction with Jack, you would be the best candidates. Enemy status notwithstanding."

Ouch.

"Anyway, I should return home before the rest of the bots get restless again."

"Of course," Master Fung said calmly. "And my deepest condolences. Young monks, training sessions are cancelled until further notice. If you ever need to talk in private, please do not hesitate to come visit me in my meditation chambers. Come along now, Dojo."

The little dragon coiled around Master Fung's arm like a snake and the two of them went back inside. YesBot said a few more stilted goodbyes before flyin' away into the mountains, but none of us paid any attention to the specifics.

I can't recall how long I was standin' there under that archway, but by the time I came to my senses, it was just me and Omi left outside. Kim and Rai must've gone back in at some point.

Omi…poor feller. He may be the most experienced monk this side of China, but he was still just a kid. Plus, he was the only one of us who had any real faith in Jack changing for the better. Well, all I can say is at least he did one decent thing in his life before it was tragically cut short. I'd be a lying son of a gun if I said I didn't have a shred of respect for him as a result.

"Hey, c'mon, Omi. Let's head back in, huh?"

Slowly, the little one turned his head toward me and nodded silently. I can tell how much this was affecting him already.

I let Omi go in first, but just before I set foot in the temple myself, I heard the nasty caw of a crow comin' from behind me, and somethin' about didn't sound natural. I looked back just in time to see it fly off into the distance, cawing like a mad beast.

Sounds like word is spreading through the grapevine faster than we thought.

Whoa, what's this? Jack didn't die an embarrassing death à la Kazuma after all? I wonder if that bit of controversy will come up in a far-off chapter I have reserved for the future? Only time will tell…Ooo, gradually worldbuilding…

So yeah, every now and then I'll drop these little intermissions about how the cast of Xiaolin Showdown are taking the news of Jack's passing. I can't think of many isekais that showcase the goings-on of the world the protagonist left, so I thought this would be a nice breath of fresh air. The idea is that these intermissions will serve as buffers to ease readers into the next story arc as well as to provide additional context back home on Earth. Hope that's alright.

But don't worry, next chapter we'll be getting back into the evil high-fructose adventures of Jack and his idiotic henchwomen – I mean, companions. So stick around for the fun!