Author's note: This story started from a challenge to use five words in a story (which I've underlined) and then certain people refused to let me not publish it so I tweaked it to become a prologue to an episode and then wrote an epilogue to give this little story some closure. To those people I say thanks for the inspiration and thanks to traw for being a wonderful beta as always.

This chapter takes place a couple of months before the events in "Nine Dragons"

Prologue

The man sat in the shadows where no one could see his face as he studied the chess board before him. His lips were pressed tight as he considered his options. To an outsider the scene must have appeared odd for the man had no opponent as the only other person in the room stood silently behind the man. That person stood so still that that an outsider may have been forgiven for mistaking him for a statue as he kept a silent guard over his master.

The man shifted slightly in his seat as his mind raced through various options before him. After a period of time that seemed endless, the man's right hand swiftly picked a piece and moved into a position where it threatened the absent opponent's king. "Checkmate," a cold voice declared, its sound echoing throughout the almost empty room.

Victory won, the man paid no more attention to the odd game as he rose from his seat. The room returned to silence as man remained deep in thought; for the chess match had never been just a simple game.

For the opponent was not imaginary but real, the prize was not control over a board but control over nations, and the pieces were not wooden but people whom the man hoped either to manipulate into doing his will or eliminate from the game all together.

As the man had moved the pieces about the board a plan had formed in his mind; a plan that would made his enemies pray to their gods for mercy.

All it would take would be a couple orders placed in a few well chosen ears and things would set in motion that in a few months would bear fruit. The wait didn't bother the man for he was meticulous in all of his plans; he didn't believe in failure.

And this time his plans would not be thwarted. This time McGarrett would die but not before the man was thoroughly humiliated and disgraced. Mere death would not be enough to satisfy the man's thirst for vengeance.

Wo Fat grinned evilly as he thought of his plans for his arch nemesis. McGarrett had vexed him for years but now his time had run out. Soon he would control the board and King McGarrett would lie defeated at his feet.

Let the deathwatch begin.