And we are back! Shits about to go down so buckle up. Everything changes after this.

Also, Happy new year everyone! Hope 2025 treats you all well. :)

As the table turns

While Doyle and Toruh talked, Fisk made some of Uncles favorite tea and put some cookies on a plate. The phantom happily brought the tea pot and cups to the table the men were sitting at, and as soon as the cookies were sat down Doyle grabbed two and smashed them both into his mouth.

"Ah, man. I forgot how much I love these." He attempted to say with his mouth full. Tourh grimaced at the red head's antics. Toruh wasn't too found of Doyle. Despite jade thinking they would get along well, Doyle just rubbed him in the wrong ways. 1, he was rude. 2, he did crime still, 3, he didn't seem courteous of the fact that Toruh had just mopped and went walking around the ENTIRE store with freshly muddy boots. Now, well now #4 was he had no table manners.

Doyle leaned back for a moment, savoring the cookie. It was moments like these that he was thankful for his world traveling. These kinds of foods were specific to certain countries, and his taste pallet expanded tenfold from visiting them all. Each held a specific memory of events that reminded him his childhood and adolescence in crime wasn't all bad.

"As I was saying, the king of beasts is definitely Zak. No questions about that. One time he went crazy powerful on a stadium full of cryptid cage fighting traffickers and made all the cryptids release themselves on the crowd. Never seen that kinda power in person before. His anger definitely contributed to it. Well, that and the fact we were at Kur's tomb... " Doyle finished while grabbing two more cookies to munch on.

Toruh ate his cookie nimbly. Doyle seemed to make light of the situation, but it didn't hide that Zak's power has seemed to be triggered by certain events and locations. Are these just coincidences? Most definitely not. Something was coming, and it didn't seem any of them were getting any closer to understanding the plans that were in motion.

"I believe it's time we consult the monks." Toruh said. Doyle grimaced.

"You're sounding like my sister now." It didn't surprise Toruh that Doyle had no love for monks.

"Well, she is smart and knows when to ask for help." Toruh got the feeling the mohawked man didn't do that very often. Doyle just huffed and sipped his tea. Then a tall bald man in a black overcoat barged in and Doyle instantly jumped up and had his gun ready to fire.

"Listen I don't know what its for, but you've got it all wrong. Make another move and I shoot." The bald man just raised his hands in surrender and looked at Toruh with a confused expression.

"Uhm, right. Doyle, this is Captain Black of Section 13; Captain Black this is Doyle, relative of the Saturday family." Toruh introduce the two men infront of him. Black lowered his hands and looked at Doyle with new interest. Doyle just grunted and kept the gun in position. The government agent cleared his throat.

"I see. So it seems we are on the same team, protect the kiddos. Now if you could lower the K44 we can get to business about what's been going on with the missing Talismans and our demon problem." Doyle finally decided to lower his weapon at that. He stayed stiff though, ready to pumble the bald man as soon as he made any threatening move. Toruh could see no trace of the layed back man he had first met. This side of him was all anger, aggression, and mistrust. If he hadn't believed he grew up a criminal, he certainly did now.

Captain Black didn't seem put off by any of it though. If anything, he seemed quite amused.

"I'll make some more tea." Toruh said, though he was a little scared to leave the two alone at the moment. He was happy when Doyle actually offered to refill the pot instead. Black raised an eyebrow in the red heads direction as we left the room.

"So, he's related to the Saturday family huh. Seems like quite the character." The captain still seemed quite amused. He's met the Saturdays before; they had to pick up the Dark Hand from them after their paths crossed the first time. The family had seemed quite excentric, so it really didn't surprise him that a family member was... very eccentric.

"I'm so sorry about that. He's actually an Ex- criminal, like myself." This got Blacks attention.

"You don't say?! Well, it's good to know there is one less criminal out there." He put a hand to his chin. " And just like Viper and yourself, he could give us alot of good intel."

"Oh, you don't think..." Toruh started, just to be interrupted by Doyle himself.

"That I'd be willing to give up trader secrets? Not a chance." He said gruffly as he put the teapot back down. "Listen here, I may be 'changed' from my old ways, but I am NOT going to cross some of the underhanded people I know. It's dangerous territory that could put a bullet in the back of my head real quick. Plus, I'm not looking to impress you fancy suits either. So the only info you're gonna get out of me is what is necessary to protect Zak and his family, got it?" Doyle said as he made it clear he was not playing games.

"Understood." Captain Black nodded curtly. "Then let's get straight to business."

-With Tarakudo-

While the Dark Hand grumbled about the smelly place, they knew they were being dragged to again at the docks, The Oni Lord surprised them by saying,

"How about you three get something nice to eat. I'll handle this visit on my own." The three looked bewildered.

"But don't you need us to help you get there?" Ratso asked in fake concern. Finn hit him upside the head in irritation. He certainly wasn't going to complain about being dismissed from this.

"No, it's unpleasant but I am capable of traveling through water on my own. And you three have done very well in the past 2 weeks, I believe this is what you would call, a reward." They were surprised, but they definitely wouldn't say no to not having to go back to that terrible place. They just smiled and shook their heads and got off the docks as fast as they could.

Tarakudo smiled as he watched them leave. He knew they hated being in the Naga's lair. It radiated off them in sweet dark waves. but much as he enjoyed their misery, he needed absolute privacy for this meeting. And the best way for no hitches to go off was for the three baffoons to be gone.

Tarakudo glided though the disgusting water. Humans really did do a terrible job of keeping it clean. It use to be much cleaner in his day. Once he got to the entrance of the lair he popped up and took joy in the several Naga's he scared. They act all high and mighty, but in truth the Naga people are quite cowardly and easily startled.

He went to the place he knew Sertina would be. She always favored her sleeping qurters back in the day, no suprise that it hadn't changed. As he phased through mulch and carcasses, he made mental note to let the boy know to address the Nagas of proper disposal of such things. While he didn't mind as much as the humans did, it was still rather unpleasant. He was a demon ruler after all, he took pride in cleanliness as any other ruler should. the only things that were aloud were blood stains on occasion, and even those were cleaned up reality quickly.

"Who daressss enter my chanmbersssss without my permissssssion?!" The queen hissed out angrily. Tarukudo may be good at sneaking around, but she was one of the few bings he never managed to get the drop on.

"I see you are as well atoned to your surroundings as you've always been Sertina." He spoke as he revealed himself though one of the most recent shedings. She hissed even more.

"You know better than to enter onesssss chambersssss without sssssending word. What isssss the meaning of thisssss informality?" Her anger was palipal. She was truly pissed about being intruded on. As he would expect from her.

"My apologies for my rudeness, but this matter is of great importance, and secrecy can only go so far in an open announcement and even bigger room. This is meant for our ears alone. " The King of all Oni replied. He took no pleasure in putting his little queen in the hands of the humans but her safety was too important to risk.

-With The Chan Clan and Saturday's-

Zak was tentative the later the morning got. Sure, he felt better now that he got some of his anger out, but he was still worried if he made things worse for jade by talking about her parents with Jackie. At this point, he couldn't take it back. So that damage was already done. He could only hope that he hadn't made a big mistake.

Jackie on the other hand seemed to regard Zak in a different matter at breakfast time. He seemed more relaxed, happy even, to see the young boy eating with Jade over at the other counter. ( The grown ups were using the actual kitchen table for research at the moment, so everyone had to eat in odd places for the time being.)

Drew and Doc were over at the actual kitchen table looking over papers as they ate. Jackie watched them, and would look over at Zak and Jade, and then down at his own plate. Uncle sat there across from himself on the island but seemed to be reading some book, so Jackie kept his musings to himself.

He thought about what Zak and he had discussed earlier in the morning. He also thought about what Drew and Doc had mentioned to him. It made him question himself even more. Was Jade happier with him instead of her parents? Was this ( or at least San Fransico) a better environment for her then in Hong Kong? Was he actually possibly giving her a better life?

And then another thing popped into his mind. Was his guardianship of Jade too strict? She had a tendency to not listen to him, not unlike her parents mentioned, but he had also been treating her the same way he knew a child in Hong Kong was expected to be treated. Was that wrong? Zak had said she resented her parents due to them treating her like everyone else and to make her be something she isn't. Wasn't he doing the same? Given he did have the magical stuff to deal with, which Jade took a special interest in.

Maybe she did like being with him better due to that. He didn't like her being involved with it, heck he didn't even like being involved with it. But he has seen some change in her since her first arrival. Growth even. And then ever since the second meet up with the Saturday family she seems to be growing even more.

Right now, it seemed things had only been kinda not great, but overall, not terrible either. Jade was actually staying in line while with the Saturdays. She even seemed to be taking her martial arts lessons much more seriously, which surprised him further. Had he been too hard on her before? Where the Saturdays right and all she needed was some trust and she would be better behaved? It seemed to be what she's been responding too. That or Zak's presence was keeping her antics at bay. Or both.

That brought in yet another thing the Saturdays had told him. Zak and Jade. Jade and Zak. If you watched the little things between their interactions, it was almost too obvious. The way Zak seemed to brightly smile whenever Jade enters the room. The way Jade seemed to relax whenever their eyes made contact. There was just something there between them. He didn't know how to feel about that yet. Thinking about their ages, it wasn't appropriate. But he grew up in Hong Kong, and as Zak had said things are different there then here ( or at least in America or Americans, such as the Saturday family) and Doc and Drew had said that's a normal age to start dating at.

He wishes he had a better grasp of the 'dating' world. He might be more prepared for this then. But even his lack of understanding in it didn't mean he couldn't now see what was right in front of him. Jade and Zak had a connection. Normally Jade didn't seem to get along with kids her own age, not even paco. But things were different with Zak. Zak was different with her. He brought something different to the table. What that was... Jackie didn't exactly know how to describe. But her bullies and even Paco didn't really connect with Jade the way Zak did.

As he thought more about the mornings' sparing session with Zak, he thought about how Jade has clearly been talking with Zak. Alot. And Zak was clearly listening to her. Understanding her. Something Jackie himself couldn't even fully manage to do. It was good to know she had someone her own age to confide in. But it also made him uneasy about the fact that she felt she couldn't come to him with any of this. She was clearly struggling more then she lets on. Even Zak was. But he was closer with his parents, he spoke more openly to them about this kinda stuff. Jade had completely closed Jackie out.

Yes, she seemed to be fine on the outside, but it's slipping. Her tenseness in the mornings seems to be happening more. Her aggression in training seemed to power her strikes but was under control. For now. Zak seemed to keep her balanced in this sense, but with him also dealing with the fallout of Tarakudos attack, he seemed to be feeling a buildup of tension too. Also, Zak had the other scientist to worry about, and the snake people- things- whatever they were. Cryptids. Yeah, that.

Regardless of the good they seem to be for each other, Jackie couldn't help but feel that this wasn't over yet. Doc and Drew clearly felt this way too. But for different reasons. They were still focused on the cave drawings and his investigation that was asked of him. Uncle clearly couldn't care less about the reasoning behind the museum's interest in the cave and instead was still looking into why things were disappearing from the shop.

Jackie sighed. Who knew things with the previous mask would get this messed up? If him and Uncle hadn't gotten ambushed by that group of shadowkahn then none of this would be happening. Or at least not the Jade stuff. "OUHHOHOHO!"

Jackie rubbed his head. Uncle had apparently gotten up and decided to smack him upside the head when he passed by.

"Your brooding mood is making it hard to concentrated! Uncle is going to his room to concentrate better!" Uncle helpfully explained. Jackie just rubbed his head and nodded while mumbling a 'sorry'.

Unfortunately, this also got everyone else's attention drawn to him. Jade just rose an eyebrow with barely contained mirth. Zak seemed confused, and his parents decided to call him over to the table to look at something. So much for time to think. Jackie said to himself.

-With Ratso-

Ratso was no stranger to upsetting situations. His Childhood had plenty of them and this felt no different. He stood in the dark alley awaiting the further instructions from his 'boss'. He hated having to lie to his closest friends about all of this, but the stakes were too high to risk them saying the wrong thing to the demon lord.

As he waited where the text said to meet, Ratso pondered his life decisions. How he ended up in so many messes so often. He knew he was the only person to blame, but it just always felt like he was the butt end of someone else's bad joke. The only way he knew of to end it all was to leave Fin and Chow. But they were in the same boat he was in. Ever since they all met in their early 20's they agreed that the only people they could trust was each other. They were all damaged and in a boat surrounded by sharks who smelled the blood already. The only way of escape was to either push one of them out as a sacrifice to the sharks while the others got away or to just sink the boat.

Ratso didn't want this. Any of it. But a new predator entered the game. What else was he supposed to do? He would rather die then loose her.

As this thought went through his mind his 'boss' showed up.

"Greetings and mana venues. I trust you have news for me?" V.V . Argost greeted as he observed the taller man from the shadow he just lurked out of.

"I do, and I don't. But you wouldn't have summoned me here if there wasn't any change in plans. So what happened? " Ratso asked sternly. Argost simply tutted him.

"Such a serious man for someone in such a precarious situation. But I don't have to remind you that I hold the power here. What has he said on the matter?" The suited man sighed, but obliged with an answer.

"Only that Jade is meant to be with the boy and that they will bring in a new era of some kind. You know, the whole cover the world in darkness stuff. But that was all I could really tell from what I could hear. They had another meeting to discuss the date of the next Naga attack to lure them out, but Lord Tarakudo wouldn't let us accompany him to it so I don't know much else. Now what changed on your end?" Ratso demanded with a quite glare at the creepy elder. He watched as the skeleton like hand rubbed the others chin in thought.

"I suppose the demon is being safer than I thought he would be with supposed 'friends'. Well, that doesn't change what needs to happen next. I need you to deliver something for me. I would do it myself, but the recipient wouldn't take it as well from me." Argost chuckled as he handed Ratso the envelope. Ratso could feel the thickness of what seemed to be papers in it. He knew better then to ask, but to his surprise, the creepy scientist told him anyway.

"Print outs of the prophecy about the children. And as an added bonus the ingredients to a concoction that should 'neutralize' the girl." Argost just waited for the response on the others face. He had essentially just handed him a loaded gun.

"Bu- But you promised you wouldn't hurt Jade! Why-"

" And I won't. That's where you come in my dear boy. My word to the Oni King will be kept, and in the process a war that has already been brewing will erupt into utter chaos. HEHEHEHEHEHEHE!" The mad man laughed as Ratso stared in shock. This envelope will change everything.

"So you get your war! Then what?!" He yelled at the shorter man.

"Ah Ah Ah, never question the works of a mad man child. You might not like the answers you get." Argost stated darkly as he started to turn to leave the alley.

"Wait! Ratso cried out, attempting to be loud enough to stop the crazed man but quite enough to not draw any wandering people. "Will you release her after this?" He asked in earnest.

"If that envelope and what it contains all make it to the intended recipients, then I will keep her fed for 1 more week. Play things the right way and I may even let you see her again. We shall see how you manage to get things done. " And at this he vanished with the dark minicircle chuckles of insanity; leaving Ratso with nothing but chills up his spine and rage in his heart. And a white envelope with an address and the words 'To the Secret Scientists' scrawled on it.