Jackie looked up in surprise when he saw who was opening his cell door. "Captain Black?" he gasped out in shock.
"Shh!" Captain Black responded quickly, silently motioning for him to follow. Confused, Jackie did as bid. To his continued surprise, the police did not interfere with Captain Black walking him out. In fact, as best as Jackie could tell, they were pretending not to see them. With this cooperation, it wasn't long before they were out of the precinct. "Here," Captain Black spoke up again as he handed over all of Jackie's things that had been confiscated when he was arrested, along with - surprise again - the Pink Puma and the Snake Talisman. "Now we can talk."
"What is going on?" Jackie demanded immediately. "Am I still a criminal? Are Jade and the others alright? How did you get the Snake Talisman back? And where did you get the Pink Puma? I don't understand anything!"
"Officially, you're one of my field agents and the local precinct has tendered a formal apology for interfering in a long running operation against the Dark Hand," Captain Black explained simply. "You aren't really, of course, but it worked as a cover story to get you out of jail once we had both artifacts in our possession again. And while we weren't able to catch any Dark Hand agents, the Op is classified as a success, since we were able to gain a prominent member of the criminal community as an informant and unofficial agent."
"What?" Jackie demanded, confused. "Who?"
"The Viper," Captain Black explained. "She's one of the most notorious jewel thieves in the world, and she works for us now."
"How did you manage-" Jackie quickly cut himself off, shaking his head. "You can't trust her!"
"Your nieces sure seem to think otherwise," Captain Black countered.
Jackie groaned, putting his hand to his head. "What did they do this time?"
"Managed to convince one of the most skilled members of the criminal community that it was better for Audrey III to consider her an ally than food," Captain Black explained quickly. As Jackie stared in amazement, Augustus changed the subject. "Now, you need to go back into the museum and give the Puma and Talisman back to the curator. He'll thank you for your efforts on their behalf, apologize for not listening to you earlier, and then you'll be able to head home without any trouble, and this incident will be officially wiped from your record."
"Really?" Jackie gasped out, stunned but relieved. "But...isn't it bad to just leave the Snake Talisman out like that?" He lifted the Talisman out to look at it.
"Don't squeeze it too hard," Captain Black interrupted quickly. "It's not the real one. It's a fake Viper made to try and trick the Puma out of your girls, but they expected it and caught her in a trap with Audrey III. Since she went to the trouble of making it, we're using it to try and lure out the Dark Hand, letting them think your release was of higher priority than securing the Talisman ourselves, especially when the museum's getting another security upgrade."
"Then you'll be watching the museum?" Jackie asked curiously.
"No," Captain Black countered. "The fake's been hollowed out and filled with Audrey's thorns. If the Dark Hand takes it, it will likely break and the thorns will embed in flesh, letting Audrey track them anywhere. With luck, this will lead us right to the Dark Hand's primary base of operations."
Jackie grinned widely as he carefully set the fake Talisman back down. "Wow. You think of everything, Captain Black."
Captain Black glanced away. "Actually...that was Jade's idea. And it was Sweetie Belle who figured out how to hollow out the fake Talisman without breaking it or letting that be noticeable. And Scootaloo and Apple Bloom who figured out how to craft the 'thorn bomb'." He shrugged his shoulders. "Your girls have good heads on their shoulders. When they grow up, they'll be good assets to whoever they end up working for. Consider them scouted."
Jackie groaned as he hung his head again. "Bad day..." he moaned. "How am I ever going to get them to behave now?"
"Oh, one more thing," Captain Black mentioned. "I won't be out here when you're done in the museum. The girls will be waiting for you at the airport. I suggest you head home immediately. The less time you spend here, the less likely someone will poke holes in this flimsy cover story of ours, and the safer you'll be."
"Thank you, Captain Black," Jackie offered fervently. "I owe you one."
"I'll keep that in mind while I'm dealing with the paperwork for this mess."
With a chuckle, the pair of friends parted ways.
Valmont frowned as he went over the information he'd been able to gather regarding the situation in New York. While he didn't doubt that Chan was working with an actual law enforcement agency in this matter to counter their efforts to gather the Talismans, he didn't buy the story of him being an official agent. No official agent would let a child along, for one thing. And beyond that, 'official' agents were disavowed if they failed as spectacularly as Jackie had in trying to acquire the Snake Talisman. This stank of a setup.
As such, he'd sent Ratso in with the Eyes of the Dragon to check. Sure enough, there was no response from the artifact to the Talisman now on display. It was a fake, likely set up specifically to trap them somehow. As per his orders, Ratso had casually vacated the museum the moment that had been discovered. Nobody suspected anything, thankfully. Ratso's innocent seeming face and genuine good nature when not beating someone to a pulp had been very useful in such ways before. It was difficult but fruitful to find an agent who could be either teddy or grizzly with ease.
And so one more Talisman had fallen into Chan's hands, beyond the Dark Hand's reach...for the moment. However, Valmont was not deterred. He would continue to watch, and wait. The perfect opportunity would present itself. It always did, one way or another. Perhaps Chan might even be...useful. That first encounter had shown that he could be leveraged. All that required was to find the right leverage, and the right moment to apply it.
And he did, after all, have four young female relations he obviously cared deeply about who had a penchant for getting into danger. And Shendu would be overjoyed to eliminate such creatures of powerful good magic as threats.
"All in good time..." he murmured to himself. "Yes. All in good time..."
Seems the girls came up with quite a... bombastic idea.
Pity Jackie didn't get much to do in this part, he was practically... ignored.
Shoulda guessed Valmont could... sniff out what they were up to.
I see you are treating Valmont as he should have been always portrayed in the series, smart and patient.
Oh boy, wonder what Valmont's going to try next in his attempts to grab the Fantastic Foursome. (Yes, that's what I'm calling them now.) You'd think he's go ahead and learn already, but then again he is Valmont...
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I don't know... I think the girls did a great job dealing with a... thorny issue.
They even helped to... plant a trap!
That's actually a brilliant explanation for Ratso's presence as a relatively high ranged agent. He seems like that goofy slightly out of it guy that you don't quite like, but can't quite hate either. He's a decent face and front from some operations.
A very special guest "one more thing" from Captain Black!
Valmont's either about to bite off more than he can chew or veer into complete monster territory. Or both.
I am particularly interested to see how Valmont's fall from grace will go, if it still happens. To go from crime lord, to demonic host, to petty thief, to a mere bus driver.
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
I like this mental image. Heck, I can easily see Ratso in the antique shop delivering a ransom note when some punks bust in to rob the joint and helping Uncle and Jackie beat them up. I can also see him reading a book to the girls if they're captives while he's guarding them.
Guess the bomb was a dud, after all.
7483828 Was the bus driver part in Season 5? I don't recall that.
7483828 When was he ever a bus driver? I don't remember that in the series.
Well, they had good ideas. Alas, the bad guys ain't stupid.
7483898 Cameo in a season five episode, think it was the series finale.
7483768 Never noticed that until you pointed it out! But now I'm laughing because he's doing it! It's like a infection!
7483968 I see.
Is anyone laughing right now?
Because it's almost as if he's about to commit a classic villain mistake and capture the real people and ponies in charge of getting talismans instead of their favorite supervisor.
Wow. Please tell me I'm not the only one who wants to introduce Valmont to the Dark Knight. Capable as they may be, any self-respecting criminal knows you don't target the children. That's the quickest way to get far more than just law enforcement coming after you.
Chapter Thirty Seven
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 24
"One More Thing!"
\
Chapter Count: 1
Total Count: 43
7484188
He never was that smart. I mean he is already dealing with sealed evil in a can. If memory serves me correctly by the end of the series he was a cabbie I think.
7483898 Just about a half-second cameo in the final episode.
THose ARE very convincing arguments.
7483740 Uh, you might want to change that, I know a couple of guys who might sue.
blogs-images.forbes.com/benjaminmoore/files/2015/08/fantastic-four-movie-josh-trank-blames-fox.jpg
The big guy might not though, which is worse.
7486768 thank you
This is, needless to say, a terribad idea.
The only thing worse than messing with Jackie is messing with those four. Especially if you try to take them on while they're together.
7483740 eh...
I'd rather call them The CMC. Ya know; Chi Marked Crusaders. They're magic/chi levels are so high Shendu almost ("almost" as in it is currently impossible since he is a statue) crapped himself!
Celestia: You did what to my ponies?
Shendu: Eeeep!
Equestria - back to the present;
Sweetie Belle : While Jade talked to the thief Viper, we switched the Pink Puma from her pocket. Then we gave both the jewel and talisman to Captain Black, so he could get uncle Jackie out of jail afterward.
Rainbow Dash : Awesome! You girls not only wacked the bad dude but also saved the secret agent singlehoof!
Bon Bon : [thinking] Hmmm... maybe I should scout the CMCs into the organization. They have such a wonderful background.
7483795 Or we're about to be treated to little shop of horrors II!
7592487
7483758
Ouch! >_<
Bud pun bad pun bad pun
Wat kinda knee hurts the worst?
a punny