"Okay so when I said I had them...I didn't know I would lose them..."

"But of course," Chase Young growled, resting his head on the back of his hand and leaning back in his throne. "You are becoming more trouble than you're worth, Jack Spicer."

Jack laughed nervously as Chase's lions circled around him hungrily. He'd been sent to steal Shen Gon Wu from the Xiaolin monks, and had almost succeeded. But, unfortunately, his robots spontaneously exploded, so he was caught and beaten within an inch of his life...again. His long black trench coat was torn and ragged, his black pants were filled with slashes, and his black boots were covered in soot. His red hair was falling across his pale face and his goggles were hanging haphazardly around his scrawny neck. Chase's green snake eyes narrowed disdainfully as he shook his head.

"You were given yet another simple task," he said as he stood and defended down the stairs. "And you failed again. And you had the guts to come back."

He grabbed Jack up by the throat and hoisted him into the air. Jack gagged and bit his lip, praying this wouldn't end like the last time.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't turn you into cat food," Chase growled.

His lions growled hungrily. Jack swallowed hard.

"Um, I..." he stammered. "I...bugged their rooms..."

He grimaced when Chase's glare deepened, then yelped when Chase dropped him and one of the cats grabbed the seat of his pants, dangling him inches from the floor. He groaned to himself. Chase wasn't exactly the easiest person to get along with, especially when you botched a job. He was getting tired of being shoved around by a pompous, rich, kitty-lover, no matter if he was the "Baddest Villain of Them All". Jack thought he was just a jerk.

"You know," he started, crossing his arms and looking at the ground. "The monks do everything together."

"So?" Chase asked coldly.

Usually that cold tone would make Jack clamp up, but this time he just swallowed hard and continued.

"So I'm at a disadvantage every time you send me on these little milk runs by myself."

"Really?" Chase scoffed. "Then next time I'll send Wuya with you."

"She's useless and untrustworthy."

"Oh?" Then take the bulbous ninja."

"Tubbymora? Pass. He's slimy."

"Cyclops then—"

"I need a team, Chase! People who I know have my back when I'm going into this kinda stuff."

"Jack, please, I've had ENOUGH teenage angst for the day," Chase declared, rolling his eyes. "I don't have time to search for ways to deal with your trust issues."

Jack opened his mouth to argue, then frowned. Chase furrowed his brow and rubbed the bridge of his nose, his eyes closed tight. He tilted his head.

"You have a kid?" he asked.

"What?" Chase questioned, staring at him. "I...no, I have no children."

"Then what other teenager has been in here?" Jack asekd. "'Cause last time I checked I'm the only teen groupie you've got."

"He━"

"Uncle?"

Chase visibly twitched. Jack's eyebrows raised high as a boy about his age appeared on one of the balconies above Chase's throne. He had black hair, shaved at both sides, with green streaks splicing through it. The top looked much like a fallen mohawk, combed to hang in front of his eyes. His eyes were like Chase's, only brighter and with thicker pupils. He was pale and stick thin, as tall as Jack, and was wearing a black ripped t-shirt and black jeans that were tight enough for him to put the legs into his combat boots.

"What's going on?" the teen asked. "Who's this?"

"Stryker, I asked you to stay in your room." Chase called, an exasperated look on his face.

Jack thought he also heard a hint of a whine in Chase's voice.

"It's boring in there,"Stryker complained, kicking up and sitting on the balcony rail. "You didn't give me anything to do."

He squinted down at Jack, a puzzled look on his face.

"So who is this?" he asked again. "And why is your cat eating him."

"He's…" Chase started, looking back at Jack. Jack raised an eyebrow and drooped his eyelids. "He's one of my employees."

He turned back to Stryker and gave a forced smile.

"Please go back to your room."

"What's his name?" Stryker asked.

"Uh━"

"Jack Spicer, evil boy genius," Jack interrupted. "Newfound cat hater."

Chase growled at him as Stryker gave a short laugh.

"'Evil boy genius', huh?" he asked Jack. "Then what're you doing with my uncle?"

"Stryker, go back to your room!" Chase commanded, his voice echoing off the walls.

The two exchanged glares, the tension thick between them. Finally, Stryker flipped back onto the balcony and headed to his room. Chase gave a quiet sigh of relief, a rare look of sadness passing his face. He composed himself as he turned back to Jack, who suddenly wished he was a turtle.

"Now then," Chase started, his lizard eyes glowing fiercely. "I have another job for you. It's simple. Simple enough for even you to accomplish."

"...Riiiiight…" Jack said. "Because we both haven't heard that before."