Eternal Youth: Chapter 4Jack headed back for the Spicer estate, his helipack pushed to top speed. The young genius's body was nearly parallel to the ground as he tore for home.Chase had screamed, screamed, for him. No one had ever yelled for Jack in such a note of desperation; such hope that Jack would protect them. No one ever depended on him like that before. Nobody needed him that way.And the first time this had happened, not only was it Chase Young, but Jack wasn't there.It tore at Jack. It broke his heart and pissed him off at the same time. He was sick with despair and livid with anger and it came out as a sudden, violent need to make someone other than
Eternal Youth: 11The door to the Temple infirmary thudded open and the largest Dragon walked through, Jack Spicer cradled in his arms. The beefy cowboy gave the tech genius a dark look.I oughta drop you after what you done in that restaurant, Spicer, He growled. But that can wait til after yer back on yer feet.Spicer didnt reply; his slim body was exhausted from the skiing, the fleeing and the fight, not to mention the down home remedy for the chill: immersion in hotter and hotter water until the chill was gone from his body. According to Clay, it worked a treat on early calves.It had worked a treat on Jack, too.
Eternal Youth: Chapter 2. . . and then there was a great flash. When it had cleared, this was all we found of Chase Young. Omi finished, gesturing to the pile of clothes and armor the Xiaolin monks had retrieved.I see. But you do not believe Chase Young was obliterated? Master Fung asked.The old master studied the clothing spread out in front of him intently. He was loathe to admit it, but he doubted his pupils could have defeated the great Chase Young so easily, Shen-Gong-Wu or no Shen-Gong-Wu.His shirt was gone, Kimiko protested. And I could have swore I saw something move away from the pile just afterward.Ma
Eternal Youth: Chapter 3Chase Young awoke with a pounding headache and tongue that felt covered in fuzz. With a groan, the ancient warlord rolled onto his stomach and pulled a pillow over his head. The thought the the pillow seemed a lot bigger than usual flitted through his sleep-fogged mind. A moment later, Chase's golden eyes snapped open. This wasn't his bed.The sheets were silk, certainly, but Chase had more taste than to have black silk bedsheets. Besides which, his sheets had at least twice the thread count of these off-the-shelf affairs. But important than the softness of the sheets was the scent. These sheets smelled of cheap soap, expensive shampoo, hot
Eternal Youth: Chapter 9"Chase? Chase? Chaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaase? Your cocoa's getting cold." Jack murmured, stroking the warlord's face. Chase's face screwed up into a pout as he slowly awoke. "What a face," Jack chuckled, looking at the bratty scowl. "If the wind changes, your face will stick like that."Chase gave what was undeniably a whine, rubbing one mitten-clad hand across his eyes."Come on, sleepy boy. We're going to eat dinner, then we'll go home.""Nooooooooo!" Chase whined. "I don't wanna go home yet!"'Wow,' Jack thought. 'That is annoying.'The albino genius levered the child up to sit upright. Chase flopped like a rag doll, totally trusting the yo
Eternal Youth: Chapter 1 Chase Young snarled a vicious epitaph under his breath. Looking down at his spell-wrought body, he tried to change to lizard form to destroy the miserable worms that had caused this-no doubt completely out of blind luck-but there was no ripple of power.Where did he go? Omis voice came echoing down among the rocks.I dont know, lil buddy, Clays voice joined the Water Dragons. Maybe the combined Shen-Gong-Wu just . . . destroyed im.I dont think so, Kimiko called. I thought I saw something move away from here just afterwards. The sound of
Wasted Youth - PrologueOur Jackie! Im stuck on a loose board! Nana Spicer howled.Jack Spicer left his robots to work and jogged half-heartedly down the dock to where his grandmother made a show of trying to force her wheelchair over a loose board.I gotcha, Nana, the albino teen said, forcing the wheelchair up and over the board. Are you sure you want to come all the way to Austria? I mean, its going to be a long trip and youll probably be bored.You arent sailing half-way around the world and leaving me to go rusty in that empty house!Actually, its more like three quarter
Bits - FatI frickin love tempura, JB drawled, dragging the deep-fried shrimp through a dish of sodium-laden soy sauce. Gawd, Japanese food is soooooooo good.Clay mmmmm-ed a noise of agreement as he happily masticated a slice of deep fried smelt.The other monks, Jack and Matty watched the super-sized pair eat with expressions ranging from disinterest to thinly-veiled hatred.The thinly-veiled hatred came from Kimiko, who was always a half-step away from exploding with rage anyway.The tiny Japanese girl detested wearing kimonos, but something just struck her as wrong that this big American cow loved them
Eternal Youth: Chapter 5Wuya screamed profanities in a language so ancient it possessed slang for 'woolly mammoth'. The jungle cats prowling Chase's mountain palace watched dispassionately as the Heylin witch bandaged her severed limb. The conquered warriors didn't question her presence in the keep, but neither did they move to help her. Wuya was there on Chase's whim until the dragon lord said otherwise.Fortunately or un, however you chose to look at it, Wuya's powers remained sealed. If she had her magic at hand, these fur balls would be skins decorating the floor, Chase would be nothing but a memory, and the Spicer estate, along with its inhabitants, would be a
Gathering - TransportationPhooka drove into a parking garage in downtown Miami and immediately headed for the basement. Car twisted around and around as they found the deepest bowels the garage had to offer. Then the route ended in a pool of black shadow.Phooka gunned the engine and roared for the shadow."I don't think that's an opening!" Matty shrilled in an embarrassingly high pitch and clutched Max tightly.Then . . . light and movement and the sharp scent of green, green grass.Matthias opened his eyes to the rolling hills of Ireland. After a moment of marveling at the beauty of the place he whapped Phooka sharply on the shoulder."You could have warned
Existential Blues 2Johnny Betty was almost out of sight of the barn when a sound caught her ears; a very faint whimper; a cry for help. The sheer weakness of the sound alarmed her and she turned around and ran back to the barn.". . h-help me . . ."It was coming from below; there must be a root cellar."Keep yellin'!" JB ordered. "I hear ya!"The voice a woman's voice gave a strangled sob of relief." . . . p-please help . . ."JB ran out and circled the building once, looking for an entrance to a cellar. She found one almost completely overgrown by long pampas grass, but with a shiny new chain and padlock holding the door shut. The sup
Knight VClayton pushed open the door to the sheep fold. Thirty-odd sheep looked over at the human knight. After a moment, three enormous canine heads peered at him."Magpie," Clayton hissed.The black sheepdog slunk out of the sheep pen and trotted towards Clayton, her head lowered in submission. Clay patted the giant dog on the head and held open the door so she could enter. Together, they made their way back into the keep. As they went up the stairs, Clay put his arm over Magpie's shoulders and leaned heavily on her."You're a good dog," he told her in a loving tone.Magpie wagged her plumy tail and licked at the knight's face. "Yes, goo