Dear Potential Reader:

The characters appearing in this tale are not mine, they belong to the Mouse-eared Empire. I am merely borrowing them to tell my own story. This story is not intended to generate profit; it was written strictly for my enjoyment in writing and, hopefully, your enjoyment in reading.

This is a sequel to the tale "A Servant's Loyalty." It is not time to look a little into what has become of Montgomery Fiske.

That said, please enjoy...

Prologue:

How does one measure time?

How does one measure time when he has no clock or watch? Does he look to the sky, to see it get light and dark? What if he cannot see the sky, does the beating of his own heart serve to track the minutes and hours that pass?

What if his heart isn't beating?

What if his eyes couldn't tell light from dark, what if his ears couldn't hear the sounds around him?

The last sight Lord Montgomery Fiske had seen was an infant, twirling him around as if she were dancing with him before leaping onto him and sending him tumbling to the ground. He had only a moment to contemplate the consequences of his defeat before all went dark...or was it light? All he knew was that he had lost all sensation, could not feel his limbs or judge the time that had passed. If he understood the terms of the pact to which he had agreed, he would now be forced to serve the Yono, but what did that mean? Was he serving even now, merely by existing? Was he existing? Had he been here for seconds or for centuries? Was he anywhere?

And then, he was somewhere.

There should have been some sort of dramatic entrance; falling from a great height, perhaps clawing his way out of a grave. Instead, he found himself standing, wearing his usual attire, in what appeared to be a lush jungle.

"Welcome, my latest asset."

Fiske spun, recognizing the deep voice but flinching anyway when he saw...

"Yono?"

The monkey-demon didn't respond, at least not with words. A slight smirk showed on his muzzle and Fiske was wracked, head to toe, inside and out, with searing pain. Moaning in agony, he fell to the ground.

"You may now call me master," the monkey informed him. "Or even Master Yono." The pain ended and Fiske gasped at its memory even while he struggled to his feet.

"Very well, master," he replied. "How am I to serve you?"

"A refreshing lack of false bravado and defiance," Yono noted. "You amuse and disappoint me at the same time that you impress me. Follow."

The small primate strode through the jungle, Fiske quickly fell in behind him.

"I make a point to personally greet my new acquisitions," Yono told him, with no more emotion than a man explaining to another how to get to a grocery store. "This gives a few moments for questions, so that I do not need to make messy examples. I prefer a quiet and orderly realm."

"May I assume that I am in hell, master?" Fiske dared ask.

"It has been called that," Yono answered. "And many other things. What you chose to call it matters nothing to me. What should matter to you is that this realm is mine, and it is me. My will holds sway over all."

"As you just demonstrated," Fiske noted.

"Yes, my latest coin," Yono smiled. The monkey turned and looked at Fiske. "Your very body belongs to me, to do with what I wish...which reminds me, you do not need all that you currently have." The Yono's eyes squinted, ever so slightly, and pain rushed through Fiske once again. It was not as severe as when Yono punished him and was quickly gone, leaving Fiske feeling...empty.

"I have left you your lungs, mouth and tongue," Yono informed the man. "So that you can answer me when I speak to you, but you have no need for a nose." Involuntarily, Fiske's hands flew to his face, confirming that blank flesh sat between his mouth and eyes. "I have left you your ears to hear, and your eyes to see. Your limbs remain complete and hale," Yono continued, now turning and continuing his journey, pulling Fiske along by sheer presence of authority. "Yet other systems have been removed; circulation, digestion, waste extraction, reproduction, you need none of these here, so I have removed them."

Again, involuntarily, Fiske patted at his body, confirming that a certain appendage was now missing.

"You...monster!" Fiske blurted. "Why have you taken these from me?"

"Fool!" Again, pain dropped Fiske to the ground. "I have not taken them from you! Did I not say that your very body was mine? I explained this to you not a moment ago; you do not need them, so I removed them!"

The pain ended. Fiske scrambled to his feet and rushed to catch up to his master, who had not broken his stride during his latest admonishment. He noted that the trail Yono followed was going down a slope, and the ground was growing muddier with the descent.

"Now, you must also know that there is no escape," the evil monkey informed him, once again calm. "You will probably try at some point, but will find that there are no walls to bind you here, this realm is now the limit of your existence. This is now your infinity, for eternity, all for the deal you struck with me."

"And how long has it been since I fell at the Yamanouchi School...Master Yono," Fiske scrambled to add the title, seeing the smirk start to reappear on his tormentor's face.

"It is a pointless question," Yono laughed. "Time passes much differently here than it does where you used to dwell."

"How can that be...master?"

"Because I chose it to be so."

They continued to walk, and the ground continued to descend. Fiske noted that there was wildlife, but it was an odd mixture. There were the birds, amphibians and reptiles that he expected to see in a jungle, but they were an odd mixture of those he had seen in jungles in Southern Asia, Central Africa and even South America. Some, he didn't recognize. There was the occasional rustle in the underbrush, and he wondered if the rodents and other small mammals making such noises were also from many, diverse locations. Then, the hooting and yammering of a happy band of monkeys sounded through the dense foliage.

Looking up, Fiske saw the troop arrive. Much like the other fauna he had observed, it was a mix of Asian, African and American primates. The creatures shrieked their reverence towards the demon, but howled at Fiske with disdain.

They continued to walk, with the ground growing wetter. The Yono didn't seem to notice, he simply drank in the monkeys' adoration as he traveled. His feet made no mark in the mud, no splashes in the water and his robe remained clean and dry as the muddy trail gave way to a waterway through dense reeds and water-dwelling trees. Fiske slogged along, struggling to maintain his pace as the water slowly rose to his waist.

"Ah, here we are," Yono noted. The waterway had emerged from the high vegetation to reveal what must be a shallow lake. Lily-pads and other floating plants coated its surface, but there were no trees to block the view across the water. On the shore, perhaps a half-mile to their left, a band of perhaps two-score, human figures were tearing at the ground and cutting the vegetation.

"They are draining this lake," the Yono told Fiske. "You will join their labors. I will know when you finish your task. I will make a suggestion; it will be quicker for you to swim to them than to struggle through the swamp and jungle. If you take too long to take up your first task, I will be displeased."

And then, the Yono was gone. Deciding that he had no other choice, Fiske waded deeper into the lake, then started to swim. Slimy things slid along and around his legs and unseen, aquatic life circled around him. Choking back a shriek of fear, he continued to swim. As he approached the workers, he noted that monkeys infested the trees above them, howling their disdain and occasionally showering the humans with fruit, sticks and fecal matter. Sighing at his lot in life...or the afterlife...he set himself to endure what he must.

As he waded out of the deeper water, a man came forward to meet him. From the man's complexion and build, Fiske guessed him to be from Southern India but his attire appeared antiquated, from centuries past. The man stood before Fiske and presented his arms, held across his chest, right above the left, displaying that they were covered with tattoos that consisted of innumerable dots.

Unsure what to do, Fiske offered a slight, greeting bow.

"Display your arms!" The man snapped at him. "Or are you new here?"

"Actually, I am," Fiske retorted.

"Ah, fresh meat! Follow me!"

With nothing better to do, Fiske did as directed.

"For each labor you complete, Master Yono will tattoo a spot upon your arm," the man told him.

"How long has it taken you to acquire yours?" Fiske demanded.

"We do not count time in days or years," he chortled in return. "You will see soon enough. Time is only counted in labors. Should you harm one with more tattoos than you have, you will be punished." He gestured towards the monkeys, who were once again showing the workers with debris and filth. "Harm a monkey, and all humans nearby will be punished."

By now, they had reached the other workers. Fiske didn't have time to study them before the apparent leader seized a stick and prodded into the water. In response, another man, with rocks lashed to his ankles, lurched from the muddy ditch.

"Master Yono has ordered us to drain this lake, and the swamp that surrounds it," the leader announced. "To do so, we are digging a channel to lower ground. As a newcomer, you will spend more time digging below the water."

The man who had just been freed from the lake removed the rocks from his lower appendages. Not wanting to create trouble, at least not until he knew more about his situation, Fiske tied the rocks to his ankles, took up a sharpened stick, and plunged into the muddy, reeking water.

When you lived an abnormal life, normalcy was abnormal.

Kim thought of this as she and her boyfriend retrieved their bags from the overhead bin and waited in line to exit the plane. She tried to count the times that the two of them had crossed the Atlantic, but quit when she reached two dozen. She then reflected on the fact that the two of them had actually done so on a passenger airliner four times. Most of the time, they were in a cargo bay, they occasionally wound up on a military or Global Justice aircraft. Actually queuing up to go through customs seemed oddly...odd...for someone so used to international travel.

"Miss Possible," a voice addressed her as she stepped off of the jet bridge and onto the concourse. She turned to see a middle-aged man in an impeccable suit.

"Yes," she answered. "Mister...?"

"It's actually Earl Snidely," the now identified nobleman informed her. "And perhaps I could have a word with you and your companion...in a more private setting. I can assure you that your baggage is currently being delivered to this location, and that you will more than save any time you spend speaking to me by not having to go through customs."

"Let me guess," Ron spoke up. "If we don't agree, the customs officials will become suspicious and decide to give us and our baggage a very, very thorough examination?"

"I had hoped to avoid crass threats," the man assured the duo. "But if it should come to that...yes."

"So I guess it's time to talk," Kim shrugged.

"This way, if you please."

Lord Snidely offered a light nod before turning and leading them on a course away from their original destination. Ron offered a slight snort at the nobleman's choice of words before falling in step with the redhead. Kim offered her boyfriend a conspiratorial smirk at the implied choice of courses. Although she didn't know if she appreciated his sarcastic tone towards Snidely, which might have caused some unnecessary animosity, she had to admit that the blonde probably wouldn't have picked up on the implication even a couple of years ago.

For all that she both liked and loved her companion, she had to admit that Ron could be foolishly stubborn at times but somehow, Coach Roughman had managed to drive some lessons into that thick skull. Ron was attending Upperton University on a football scholarship, and his natural athleticism, enhanced by his years of sidekick activities, simply wasn't enough to keep him on the team. Faced with the prospect of losing his scholarship, and a resulting separation from her, he had knuckled down and started to work at becoming an outstanding football player.

Games aren't won on the field, they're won during the preparation, was one of Coach Roughman's favorite sayings, and Ron had come to accept it. Not only that, he had applied that lesson to other aspects of his life. Exams aren't aced during the test, they're aced during study time. Missions aren't accomplished in the villain's lair, they're accomplished in the planning. Somehow, the acerbic coach had made Ron take life more seriously, so the two of them also attended a dojo at least once a week, who's Sensei was most likely a Yamanouchi plant, during the off season. The results had been wonderful.

His grades had come up, the missions were going more smoothly and the two of them were closer than ever. She grinned, thinking that perhaps the saying could be expanded; dates aren't made successful during the date, they're made successful in the day-to-day interactions.

"Ah, here we are," Earl Snidely announced, breaking her out of her daydream. The nobleman led them into a conference room, one that was probably reserved for members of some airline's executive club. It was clear that this Earl had a respectable amount of authority if he could acquire such a room. "Please, won't the two of you be seated?"

The two followed his suggestion, sitting side-by-side on one side of the table, making it most convenient for him to sit towards the center of the table, opposite them. He offered a brief, shallow smile at having been preempted from taking the head of the table.

"Miss Possible," he began. "Before I am so crass as to ask your reason for visiting Great Britain, I shall explain my reason for doing so. Your celebrity precedes you and while I don't suggest that you bring trouble where you tread, you often stir up existing trouble in the process of eliminating it. That said, I must ask you now, what brings you to the kingdom?"

"We're investigating some odd goings-on at the Fiske Estate," Kim answered, deciding to match honesty with honesty.

"Ah..." the earl offered a short nod. "It seems that when you visit our fair isles, you spend the majority of your time either at the Fiske Estate or Killigan's Island."

"You didn't seem very surprised that we're checking out Monty and not Duff," Ron observed.

"I'm not," Snidely admitted, now steepling his fingers in front of his face. "And I note that you admit that you intend to investigate dear old Monty, not his property. You realize, of course, that he hasn't been seen for well over a year, and that the Queen herself has seen fit to declare him legally dead?"

The two teens looked decidedly uncomfortable.

"So you know more than what the general public does," Snidely concluded. "Perhaps you even know the...special circumstances...of Fiske's status?"

"Why don't we quit the word games?" Kim suggested. "We know that Fiske was turned to stone, we're pretty sure that at some point, Dr. Amy Hall recovered him and that Mr. James Bates recovered Fiske from Amy and brought him back to his estate."

"I must admit that your directness has a certain charm to it," Snidely offered her an approving nod and smile. "But I must now ask, what has prompted you to investigate at this time?"

"Our technical support man has detected anomalies in the purchases that Bates is making in Fiske's name," Kim answered. "Shortly after Monty...got into trouble...the estate's purchasing became very practical; no antiquities, religious or spiritual items. For a few weeks after Bates purchased a statue and had it delivered to the Fiske Estate, these purchases remained practical. However, he has recently purchased some items that are supposed to have supernatural value."

"And this makes you suspect that Goodman Bates is up to something...out of the ordinary?"

"We made a deal with him, when he was in America," Ron answered. "We kept out of his way while he got his master back. He was supposed to bring Monty back here, then leave sleeping monkeys lie. He's not doing that."

"If your suspicions prove accurate, he's betrayed me, as well," Snidely sighed. "He's supposed to keep me appraised of any alterations to the current situation. He has proven to be a steady, if unimaginative, caretaker for Fiske's estate and finances. Every financial transaction he has made has contributed to the maintenance of Fiske's properties, or has enhanced Fiske's wealth." Snidely fixed the teens with a firm gaze. "Every move that Bates has made has been to benefit his master, therefore I must conclude that the purchases you describe are for the same reason...but how do they benefit Fiske?"

"I think we both have the same suspicions," Kim answered.

"Indeed," the earl took a deep breath. "Let me pose a question to you, what harm will come should Bates succeed?" He held up a hand, silencing Ron's answer. "I understand that the two of you have a history of animosity with Monty, and I fully acknowledge that he was in the wrong and an aggressor most of the time. However, the two of you have regularly defeated him, so why wouldn't you be able to do so in the future?"

"Only a fool allows an evil man to continue his schemes," Kim grumbled. "All of the times we've stopped him have been very close things. If he had just planned a bit more, if we had been a bit slower..."

"Miss Possible, my position within Her Majesty's government has made me privy to information outside the scope that most enjoy. While I don't know the details, it is suggested that the worldwide invasion last year wasn't turned away simply by that Drakken chap's plants. Certain rumors persist that two teens played a key role."

Neither teen chose to comment.

"If the two of you have evolved to the point that you can stymie an extraterrestrial invasion, what threat could Fiske pose to you?"

"It's not just Fiske," Ron grumbled. "It's what he's involved with. I don't know the details, but anything that messes with Fiske could involve...something else."

"Something that frightens even the two of you," Snidely finished. The nobleman thought for a short time. "Very well," he reached a decision. "While I have a bit of a free hand, it would be best to work with you rather than against you. Please conduct your investigation."

"Let me know if you find anything," he continued, handing both teens a business card. "You may have difficulty believing this, but you will find me surprisingly open to accept certain ideas that stretch the bounds of logic. By extension, I am open to certain suggestions that you may come up with."

"Earl Snidely?" Kim asked. "Just what is your job?"

"Why, to make sure that Her Majesty's nobles don't create too much trouble," he smiled at her. "If the two of you will make your way to customs, you will find that your baggage has already been passed through, and the officials will stamp your passports and see you on your way. You have undoubtedly already arranged for transportation, so I will not interfere." He paused. "I suspect that Bates is deceiving me and for a cause that he feels is right. If your suspicions prove true, it is perhaps time to take a certain statue out of his possession."

Nodding to the man, but not wishing to discuss the situation any further, the two teens left him and made their way to the customs check. As promised, their baggage had already been passed through and probably hadn't even been checked. The officials asked them few questions, welcoming them into the country. Once through customs, it was a short wait for a delivery van to show up. The driver thanked Kim for helping him some years in the past with an infestation of myopic porcupines before driving off to the south, towards the Fiske Estate.

Kim had long ago learned the value of being unpredictable. Even though the British Government had learned that they were visiting the kingdom, there was still an excellent chance that Bates remained blissfully ignorant to their proximity. There was a village just a few kilometers from the mansion, and it was here that the teens left their ride. A quick check of the topographic map, projected from Kim's wrist-mounted Kimmunicator, confirmed the route they would take. Without further discussion, they started their approach.

The first leg of the journey followed a stream bed, keeping a low hill between the teens and the mansion and circling around the structure so that they would approach from a side that Wade's thermal imaging scans revealed to be rarely occupied. Both nearly jumped out of their skins when a masked figure suddenly stood from a clump of heather.

"Stoppable-san, Possible-san, I humbly ask your forgiveness for startling you," a familiar voice emerged from behind the mask.

"Yori?" Ron asked, his eyes almost as wide as his mouth.

"What are you doing here?" Kim demanded, her voice perhaps a touch more harsh than it should be, due to being frightened.

"Yamanouchi has certain concerns about the activities surrounding Lord Fiske," the young woman explained, pulling off her mask. "Experts have unearthed additional information about the nature of the Yono, which bring up dire concerns about DNAmy's possession of the statue. We at Yamanouchi lost track of Dr. Hall, so Master Sensei dispatched me to determine if either she, or the statue, are here. Shortly after I arrived in the country, I was informed that the two of you had acquired tickets to London. I waited here, upon your most likely route of approach, to suggest we combine forces and information, should you be performing the same investigation."

"That makes sense," Kim nodded, her voice now much more reasonable. She quickly outlined what they knew about Bates' trip to the U.S., his purchase of a statue, and the odd purchases Wade had discovered after delivery.

"It is as we feared," Yori told her friends. "Possible-san..."

"Yori, since we aren't in Japan right now, maybe we can skip the honorifics," Ron interrupted. "It will save a little time and I'm sure you're capable of mimicking English and American ways of speaking."

"Perhaps you are correct," the ninja nodded. "Kim, Ron, when we saw footage of the United Nations' ceremony honoring Dr. Drakken for repelling the invaders, we noted that Fiske's statue was in the possession of Dr. Hall."

"Yeah, I was wondering about that," Ron mused. "How did she get into Yamanouchi to dig him up?"

She did not," Yori informed him. "When the Yono is dormant, his temple is always found in Simian Canyon, no matter where it appears when he is active."

"So it's a supernatural thing," Kim noted. "Why hasn't Yamanouchi put a watch on the site, or tried to get someone to build something over the site?"

"More supernatural manipulation," the ninja answered. "Over the centuries, any building constructed in Simian Canyon quickly collapses and any occupants suffer losses. While people may wander the area with no misfortune, any who go there to watch the area seem to suffer misfortune. I believe that an agreement between powers greater than us dictate that those who are reckless enough to call upon the Yono will have access to him."

"Okay, so Amy didn't have to deal with the ninja," Ron shrugged. "She dug Monty up, so what's the big deal?"

"Just as the temple is always found in Simian Canyon, the Yono is always found upon it when it is unearthed," Yori told him. "The three of us, Rufus and Master Sensei saw Fiske sink into the ground. I know that none from Yamanouchi told anyone about this and I doubt that either of you did so. As the statue that Dr. Hall had with her matched his expression and posture exactly, it can not be a fabrication. She could have only obtained it by dealing with the Yono."

"So you think that the Yono is active again?" Kim asked. A hand went to her mouth, while her boyfriend rested a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"We at Yamanouchi cannot be certain," Yori admitted. "But from what the researchers say, an act of patience is not in the Yono's nature." She paused a moment. "I understand your concern, as Master Sensei shares it. The two of you, as well as Rufus, were turned to stone the last time Yono walked the Earth." A sudden, curious look graced her features. "Where is Rufus-san, anyway?"

"He stayed home for this one," Ron answered. "Since we were traveling commercial and going through customs, it would have made things a little complicated."

"Interesting, is it not," Yori commented. "That entering a country by stealth can often be more simple than doing so by legal means?"

"We need to focus," Kim informed the two.

"Of course," Yori offered a small bow of contrition. "We are faced with a mystery. While you have tracked Fiske from Dr. Hall's lair in Colorado to here, we need to know how she obtained him in the first place. Depending upon the bargain she struck with the Yono..."

"It could be loose, right now," Kim finished for her, shuddering.

"So, will you agree to pool resources with me, so that we may better solve this mystery?" The ninja asked.

"Of course," Kim rallied herself and used her Kimmunicator to project an image of the route they intended to use to infiltrate the mansion. The ninja produced a smartphone, with a similar route highlighted. The three compared and combined their plans for the next several minutes, before realizing that they had another option. Kim and Ron returned to the village, then walked boldly down the lane leading to the mansion. Kim found it more difficult than she liked to keep her mind on the mission.

For one thing, Yori made her uneasy. It wasn't that she didn't like the ninja; Yori was a smart and kindly person. If it wasn't for the fact that they lived on opposite sides of the world, the two of them would probably be very close friends. Yet, Kim never forgot that the ninja was, in fact, a ninja; she had been trained to behave in a manner to gain others' trust. While Kim had dealt with Yori long enough to know that the kindly young woman was the real Yori, she couldn't forget that Yori's loyalty was to a mysterious school, with its own agenda. The redhead had no doubt that the Japanese girl could turn either vicious or manipulative, in a heartbeat, should her service to the school require it.

In a moment of embarrassed honesty, Kim also admitted to herself that she didn't like Yori being around Ron...at least when she wasn't close by. While she had no doubts to her boyfriends loyalty...or her loyalty to him...she could never completely forget that Yori saw him as a guy well before she did. Kim didn't think of herself as the jealous girlfriend type, but she and Yori were a great deal alike and if Ron had fallen for her...

Shaking her head slightly, she put such thoughts out of her mind. Fiske had been bad enough, but the Yono was on a completely different, and worse level. She didn't understand much of how the whole "summon the Yono to do your bidding" thing worked, but anything the Yono did couldn't be good. She caught her breath, remembering the horrible time that she had been turned to stone...

She shook her head again; this wasn't the time to get distracted. She had to act, now, to save others from that fate. There would be time to be frightened later.

The two teens walked with a purposeful stride down the lane, spending a great deal of time in full view of the mansion. Any questions about being spotted were answered when, as they approached the front door, it opened and Bates emerged.

"Miss Possible," he greeted them politely enough. "And Mr. Stoppable. What an unexpected honor! May I ask what brings you to my master's door?"

"We just happened to be out on a stroll," Kim answered. "And since we were in the neighborhood, we thought we'd pop by and call on an old friend."

Bates' only answer was a steady look.

"Now that we have the false pleasantries out of the way, maybe we can be honest with each other." Kim told him. "We tracked your sudden purchase and shipping of a statue when we saw you in the States. We'd like to see if it is what we think it is."

Bates seemed hesitant.

"It's easier this way," Ron told him. "We could have simply came in a back window and looked for ourselves. This way, there's no damage, no misunderstandings, no bonking of heads crawling through basements and no slipping and falling while trying to sneak in through high windows. Everyone wins."

"O-of course," the servant stammered a touch. "P-please, won't you come in?"

He held the door opened and ushered the two inside. Now that he had adjusted to his surprise, he was the efficient host, guiding them through the vestibule and to the main hall. There, Kim and Ron both caught their breath.

"As you can see, I recovered...what was left...of my master," Bates informed them. "I felt it appropriate that he be left here, where he can watch all who come here as guests."

"He can't see..." Kim murmured.

"Miss Possible?" Bates prompted, then noted that she was trembling. "Is there something amiss?"

"You don't hear or see when you're stone," her voice was barely a whisper. "You don't feel or breath. You...don't do anything. Everything is just...nothing."

"KP," Ron whispered to her. Either his voice, his hand on her back, or the two combined seemed to snap her out of whatever spell she was under. She shook her head and her eyes suddenly focused.

"I understand the symbolism," she told Bates, her voice now firm. "But I have something else to ask you. Are you alone here? We read an interesting news article about a pickup full of monkeys and a Sasquatch on Mount Middleton shortly before you shipped the statue over here."

"I'll admit that some of my master's monkeys were here when I assumed my caretakers' duties," the man confessed. "And that I found some more of the lads when I went to Japan trying to find m'lord. There are...certain officials...who appointed me to this position who know all about it."

"We'd like to see the monkeys," Ron suddenly announced.

"And why is this?" Bates demanded. "You realize I have a job to do here!"

"Because if you don't, we might have to use the less polite method, later," Kim told him. "Mister Bates, let's make something clear, your master tried to kill both of us, so we don't like him. You stood by while your master tried to kill Ron, so we really don't like you very much, either. If we become suspicious that you're doing something else...like maybe consorting with the thing that turned him to stone..we just might do something rash and consider it an act of self-preservation."

"Are you threatening an Englishman in his own abode?" Bates snarled at her.

"Yes," Kim answered, holding a steady gaze on the man.

"Very well," he grumbled. He produced a small bell and gave it a quick ring. Moments later, a monkey, wearing a workman's overalls, showed up.

"Bring your fellows to the main hall," he instructed the small primate. "We have guests and it was nearly teatime, anyway."

"Bring all of your fellows," Ron instructed the monkey, as it was about to turn and dash off. "Nobody stays hidden."

To Bates' shock, the monkey bowed to Ron before scampering off.

"The lads follow my instructions, probably out of loyalty to my lord," Bates announced. "Why did this fellow listen to you?"

"Because of what your master forced me to become," Ron grumbled at the man.

There was tension in the air, but it was lessened a bit when two monkeys, wearing attire similar to Bates', showed up and started to set the table. As soon as the table was prepared to receive diners, more monkeys began to troop in.

"We're used to taking our tea in shifts, in the servants' dining room," Bates informed the teens. "But since you've insisted on seeing the lads all at once, we'll do this all at once.

"We appreciate it," Kim assured him. "And we didn't want to be troublesome. I hope you understand that what Fiske uncovered was...horrifying. We needed to make sure that it wouldn't see the light of day again."

"I suppose I should understand," Bates allowed, sipping at his tea. "I mean, the two of you deal with some nasty folk. I suppose that the consequences of failure sometimes means that you have to forfeit manners."

"Unfortunately," Kim sighed. "You are a gracious host, so I hope that we can put this unpleasantness behind us."

"I'm more than willing to let bygones be bygones," Bates agreed.

"So perhaps you could answer a couple more questions," Kim suggested. "And we can avoid further threats and disruptions."

"Certainly."

"You recently purchased several books from China, Vietnam and Cambodia," Kim noted, in a casual voice. "As well as some artifacts. These were either magical or religious, the translation isn't perfect. Why did you purchase these items?"

"These were the sort of objects my dear, old master dealt with," Bates answered. "I honor his memory by enhancing his collection."

"So why didn't he obtain them?" Now, Kim's voice was anything but cordial.

"I suppose he never had the time," Bates sighed. "I know that you didn't agree with his goals, I'll even go so far to say I don't agree with them. However, you have to admit that for the last couple of years, he was completely obsessed with defeating the two of you. He didn't have the time to conduct those activities that he did before meeting you."

"True enough," Kim nodded. "But why would you think these particular artifacts will enhance his collection? They don't really fit in with the collections he had already established."

"I'll admit to hardly being an expert," Bates shrugged. "They became available, so I took steps to obtain them."

"Strange," Kim carefully dabbed a drop of tea from her lip with a napkin. "According to my findings, the various museums and governments that owned these artifacts hadn't advertised them for sale. In fact, it would have taken someone with connections within the artifact trade, as well as significant research, to track them down."

"I understand your technical support man is a genius in several fields," Bates countered. "But don't you think that ancient artifacts are a bit beyond his purview?"

"Possibly," Kim offered a slight wave. "Mr. Bates, have you associated with any of Fiske's old associates?"

"Of course," Bates shrugged. "I have purchased and sold several artifacts, as well you know. In addition, managing his estate requires me to regularly deal with his tenants."

"Let me rephrase my question," Kim responded. "Have you had any contact with his associates of a more...morally ambiguous...sort?"

"Indeed," Bates nodded. "I had to deal with several smugglers to get those of these lads who were in Japan, back here. I also dealt with the Scottish chap, Killigan, and the blue fellow, Drakken, when I was searching for Fiske."

"Any others?" Kim insisted. "We suspected that Amy held Fiske up on Middleton."

"We took m'lord from her by force," Fiske answered. "The last I saw, she was bound in her own lair as we fled."

"Then your eyes are very poor, indeed!" Another voice announced. Yori, with a wrist lock on DNAmy, burst through another doorway. "I found this doctor in the laboratories below, where she was studying both mysticism and science. It appears she was seeking a method to convert stone to flesh!"

"James, you've done a very bad thing," Kim told her host, rising to her feet.

"I didn't want it to come to this," Bates waved the monkeys to their feet. "I only wanted to do my duty."

"It won't come to this!" Ron suddenly shouted. "Monkeys, don't fight!"

Some monkeys got to their feet; some stayed seated. All looked like they didn't really know what to do.

"These monkeys can't take the three of us," Kim told Bates. "It isn't too late! Just give up!"

"I don't have a choice!" Bates snarled back. "Fiske is my master!"

"Earl Snidely has even more authority!" Kim snapped at him, holding up her Kimmunicator. "And I've been transmitting this conversation to him the entire time."

For a moment, silence reigned in the Fiske Mansion; then Earl Snidely's voice sounded over the speaker.

"I hope everyone present realizes that violence will accomplish nothing at this point," the remote nobleman announced. "Mr. Bates, your loyalty to your master is admirable, but your deception towards me is unforgivable. It is clear to me that you are up to something, I need to know just what, but I cannot trust you to tell me."

"I think it's obvious," Kim spoke up. "This bunch is trying to bring Fiske back!"

"I'll admit it!" Bates snapped. "What's the harm?"

"The harm is in the unintended consequences," Yori announced, her voice calm despite the fact that she was maintaining her hold on Amy. "What destruction will the Yono be able to inflict upon the world, if you succeed?"

"I don't understand," Ron admitted. "What does the Yono have to do with Fiske? Wasn't the deal done when Hana defeated Monty?"

"That contract was fulfilled," Yori confirmed. "But a new one was made. Only one here knows the details of that bargain." With a quick move, the ninja yanked both of the geneticist's hands into view. "She does not bear the Yono's mark, so she did not strike the usual agreement with the demon. It is vital that we learn what deal she made!"

"I have ears!" Amy protested. "I can hear you talk!"

"Then prove you have a tongue!" Yori snarled at her. "Tell us of your meeting with the Yono!"

"Er..perhaps the doctor will be more inclined to speak if she's properly seated," Bates suggested. "And with a cup of tea in front of her."

"You have already irritated me a great deal," Snidely informed the host. "But proceed."

Surprisingly, Amy rallied quickly once shown some proper courtesy.

"I had been watching poor Monty for years," Amy explained. "So I had a couple of really cute mole/bat hybrids watching what he was up to. When he left for Japan and didn't come back, I came here to find out where he went. I was able to follow his research and realized that this nasty Yono creature had led him astray, so I went to Japan to have a word with the nasty monkey."

"What deal did you strike with the demon?" Yori demanded.

"I was getting to that! He asked me what I wanted destroyed and I told him that I didn't want anything like that, I just wanted my Monty back. Then he told me that those who called on the Yono paid with their souls for his services and I told him that I wasn't about to pay such a price and that I wasn't an angry person, so I didn't want anything broken. He was angry at first, then he told me that I interested him and asked what I would provide if I didn't give him my soul. I...couldn't come up with anything that he'd want, so he asked me what I did. When I told him that I created new creatures, he made a suggestion."

Four sets of human eyes, and several sets of monkey eyes, remained locked on the geneticist. Far away, Earl Snidely listened intently.

"He described a creation that was easy enough for me to make," Amy finally continued. "It was a primate, but large. It combined the upright posture of a human with the bulk and strength of a gorilla. It was similar to the lovely creations I made to help me up on Mount Middleton, but the Yono was willing so sacrifice a little brute strength for more agility and speed."

"So, you created such a beast for the Yono?" Yori demanded.

"It wasn't a beast!" Amy shrieked at her. "It was a lovely, beautiful creature! The Yono offered to give me Monty's stone form in exchange for this creation...but he made some more requests for it."

"What sort of requests?" Kim asked, fairly certain that she wouldn't want to hear the answer.

"Odd requests," Amy answered. "You see, when I make my creations for others, my customers usually want creations that already have certain skills, like fighting, tracking or carrying heavy loads. The Yono didn't want any of that, he just wanted the sasquatch."

"So how did you effect this exchange?" Yori asked her.

"Why, I returned to one of my laboratories and created the sasquatch he wanted," Amy told her. "After that, I sealed the little darling in a suspended animation chamber and smuggled it to Bangkok. There, I made the exchange with some rough looking men."

"Where did they take this sasquatch?" Yori pressed.

"You've never done smuggling, have you dear?" Amy looked more condescending than angry. "You don't ask these questions of each other."

"But you're always careful with what you create," Kim pointed out. "Were you willing to risk that they were going to be cruel to the creature?"

"The Yono had worked too hard to get my little darling!" Amy protested. "When someone works that hard to get one, he isn't going to be mean to it!"

"But you would want to be sure," Kim insisted.

"Fine!" Amy threw her hands up. "I had some more of my cuddly little dears with me and the rough men didn't know they were there. They told me that the men discussed moving the sasquatch north, across Laos and eventually into China."

"I believe that I will need much more to report to my sensei," Yori noted. "And I believe that Earl Snidely will also wish to know a great deal more. However, it is clear to me that the Yono has manipulated Dr. Hall, and this may have dire consequences for all of us. Somehow, he is benefiting from having Fiske's remains returned to the Earth. Might I suggest that moving Fiske to Yamanouchi is a wise precaution?"

"The name Yamanouchi is known to me," Snidely's voice sounded from the Kimmunicator's speaker. "And from what I know, Yamanouchi and Fiske have an antagonistic relationship. Mister Bates, while you have proven to be a capable caretaker for the Fiske Estate, it is clear that you cannot be trusted with your master's remains. I have been forced to deal with the supernatural, in the execution of my duties, and I know that returning one from the dead is seldom a good idea. It is clear that Dr. Hall and Mister Bates were planning on recovering the man and the fact that they did not see fit to explain this to me makes me question the wisdom of allowing them continued access to Fiske. Miss Yori, if you will be so kind as to provide me with a means to communicate with someone of authority in Yamanouchi, I'm willing to negotiate transferring Fiske to the school."

"But My Lord!" Bates protested. "You yourself said that Fiske was best kept here, in his ancestral home!"

"That was before I knew the depths of your deception," the absent nobleman answered. "I'm forced to reconsider. Perhaps a monastery dedicated to martial training, and unfriendly to him will be a more safe holding location."

"With your permission, Earl Snidely, I shall contact my Sensei on your behalf," Yori offered.

"Delightful young lady," Snidely commented. "Miss Possible and Mr. Stoppable, I would be most grateful if you make sure that Bates and Hall do not disturb Miss Yori while she contacts her superior. I would also appreciate you making sure that they do not move Fiske. I am making arrangements now to take him into protective custody pending this hypothetical agreement between the Crown and Yamanouchi."

Both DNAmy and Bates looked like they had been punched in the stomach.

"I would ask that no violence take place on the estate, and I am willing to bargain for it," the nobleman continued. "Dr. Hall, you are still wanted for several, petty crimes; but none were committed on British soil. If you do not resist, I will see to it that you have forty-eight hours head start before I notify any international authorities."

"But..." Amy began to protest.

"Miss Possible, I understand that you are strongly affiliated with Global Justice," the nobleman continued. "If you will agree to this delay in reporting the bad doctor's whereabouts, I will consider it an act of cooperation, which will leave the Crown in the agency's debt."

"Agreed," Kim stated.

"Dr. Hall, the choice is yours, but the forty eight hours starts now," Snidely informed the geneticist.

Looking like she was about to cry, Amy rushed from the room.

"As for you, Mr. Bates," Snidely continued. "Lack of resistance will mean a lack of damage to the estate."

"Aye," Bates sighed. "I should have known I'd not get away with it."

"You should have informed me," Snidely told him. "Fortunately, no harm seems to have been done. Now, if you will excuse me, I have negotiations to perform."

Kim decided that it might be a good idea to work with grateful governments more often. Earl Snidely clearly had some authority within Her Majesty's government. Within hours of him declaring his intentions for Fiske, a full battalion of soldiers showed up at the estate, ostensibly on a training mission, in case a rebellion called for the securing of priceless artifacts. Soon, Fiske had been crated up and hauled off to a location that Earl Snidely assured them they would be better off not knowing, accompanied by Yori. It wasn't the only expression of the Earl's authority.

Shortly after the soldiers carted off Fiske, a fine car showed up to pick up her and Ron, then whisked them off to London's Heathrow Airport, where first class tickets, and a letter from Earl Snidely, awaited them.

"As a representative of the Crown, let me say that it is our pleasure and privilege to provide you with fine accommodations on your return journey," Ron had read, doing his best to mimic the man's voice and accent. "While I understand that the two of you will certainly tell your technical support man and Global Justice what transpired at the Fiske Estate, I hope that you will see the benefit to Her Majesty's Government if you were to limit your discussions to this individual and organization. I do not like to make threats, but I feel compelled to point out that as a great power, the goodwill of the British Government will be of benefit to your activities, while our irritation could prove most detrimental. Now that the unpleasant business of threats are out of the way, let me express my hope that we may continue a relationship of mutual respect and assistance. Best wishes to both of you."

"Well, that was more or less what we expected," Kim told her boyfriend.

"True," Ron agreed. "But what did you think of my accent?"

"Well...do you remember that show, where the British actor tried to mimic a western drawl?" She asked, deciding to compromise between honesty and kindness.

"Yeah..."

"You probably sounded something like that."

"Ah, man..." Ron grumbled, as Kim smirked, caught his hand and led him to the ticket counter. To their pleasant surprise, they found first-class tickets waiting them for a flight to Denver, plus a connecting flight to Middleton. They had just a few minutes to purchase a couple of magazines and snacks before the flight started to board.

"Maybe there's a good thing about being so tired," Ron grumbled, as they settled into their seats. "It's a ten hour flight, so spending the first eight asleep will make it seem shorter."

Kim could only agree. They hadn't had any sleep for close to twenty hours now, and even fit, young people were feeling the strain. The first class seats were large and roomy, and could form the sleeping compartments once they were at cruising altitude. This was a little disappointing; if they were flying coach, they could raise the arm between their seats and snuggle on the way back. They had worked things out well before; the trip to the mission was all business but they were free to indulge in as much couple time as possible on the return.

She chided herself, it was hardly charitable to criticize being moved to first class.

She realized that she had a problem when she tried to get to sleep; the sleeping mask and noise canceling headphones did their job just a little too well. She found herself sitting up suddenly, sweating profusely and with her heart hammering in her chest. She tore off the mask and the headphones, gasping for breath. She looked at her Kimmunicator; she had only been asleep for a few minutes.

"Is it what I think it is?" Ron asked her. For all that he was a deep sleeper, the young man was wired into her well enough that he automatically reacted to her sudden moves.

"The...same thing as Japan?" He asked her. She could only nod, trying to relax her heart and breathing to a normal level.

He could only sigh, then rolled onto his side on the seat. Immediately, she joined him. Feeling him spoon up behind her and hold her hand. There had been problems the last time they were on a mission involving Yori and Fiske, problems that she thought she had put behind them. It was sobering to know that they could resurface so easily. She could only hope that the cuddling would be enough for her this time.

Yamanouchi was a school influenced by tradition, but not ruled by it. While tradition held that anyone reach it by climbing the mountain, it wasn't a solid rule. While most of the supplies were brought in on the backs of the students, as much to toughen the students as to keep secrecy, Sensei didn't hesitate to allow certain, heavy items to be brought in by more modern means. Thus, when a certain statue needed to be delivered to the school, quickly and discretely, the old man had no trouble petitioning the Japanese Self-Defense Forces for a utility helicopter to perform the deed. The old man observed the delivery himself, first watching the crate lowered gently to a courtyard and then the masked figure leaping from the cargo bay to land noiselessly on the ground. He waved the helicopter away. Once it was out of sight, the figure removed her mask and more people emerged from the surrounding buildings to converge upon the crate.

"Yori-chan," Master Sensei returned the young woman's bow. "I send you to England to discover what you could of the goings on at the Fiske Estate, yet you return with Fiske himself and a mutually beneficial interaction with the British Government. I am most pleased at how you have exceeded expectations."

"My thanks, Master Sensei," Yori bowed once again. "I had assistance."

"As you reported," Sensei replied, approving of her honest modesty. "Yet a mystery has been uncovered. While your report indicated how Dr. Hall obtained Fiske, I would prefer to hear it from you, with the opinions that you did not include in an official dispatch."

"Of course, Master Sensei," the young ninja described the interrogation session, including the expressions and gestures displayed, while several other students disassembled the crate.

"I have also brought the notes and results of Dr. Hall's research to turn Fiske back to flesh," Yori concluded, gesturing to a couple of boxes that had been sealed in the crate with the statue. "Dr. Hall was utilizing both science and mysticism."

"Very well," Sensei nodded. He now studied the stone form he had last seen sinking below the ground near this very spot. "I believe that the main training hall be an appropriate place to leave this fool. It is almost continually occupied, so the risk of theft will be minimized. It will also serve as a lesson about making foolish bargains with powers you do not understand, to all students. In the meantime, we must seek to learn what the Yono intends to gain by allowing him to be unearthed."

"I am ready to go wherever is required," Yori assured the old man.

"As I know you are, child," Sensei smiled at her. "However, for the moment, the search will be conducted by old men and women, who will study dusty tomes and gather intelligence from our many informants. Let those of us who have become too old for action to narrow down the search, so that the younger and more energetic may expend their efforts in a productive manner."

Sense's hidden smile grew even wider when he noted his student's subtle relaxation, indicating that she was pleased to have at least a short time to recover from the long journey.

"Tell me, child," he stated in a conversational tone as he led her from the courtyard. "What about young Stoppable and his sweetheart? Were they still an effective team?"

"I could not tell," Yori admitted. "While they played their distraction role perfectly, the nature of the mission did not require conflict."

"Those are the best missions," Sensei nodded his approval. "Do they continue to show affection towards each other?"

"I did not observe such," she confessed. "They were supportive of each other, yet I did not notice...romantic affection...being displayed."

"Interesting..." the old man mused.

"Is this important?" Yori asked.

"That is the riddle of information," Sensei chuckled. "One often does not know it is vital until it is needed. Thus, it is always better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

A/N: My thanks to Joe Stoppinghem, for beta reading.