Chapter 3

I.

Kim paced her room. Where was Ron? What was happening to him? That ghastly vision with Sensei horrified her. Her Ron was fighting somewhere and she was unable to be with him.

A frantic scrabbling at her window announced the arrival of a very agitated Rufus at her window.

"Rufus! What are you…?"

The naked mole rat scurried up her arm and wrapped his little arms as far around her neck as he could.

"Hinck...Kim-Kim…Ron gone…Ron gone."

Kim stroked Ron's trembling pet soothingly. "Gone, Rufus? Ron's gone where?"

All Rufus managed as he clutched her neck was to repeat, "Ron gone, Ron gone."

Kim tried to calm the quivering mole rat when he suddenly dove onto her bed, burrowing beneath the covers. "Rufus, what…"

She felt him, before she saw him. Ron, but not Ron. An apocalyptic judge stood there with absolutely emotionless steel eyes. Dried blood stained his wrists, arms, and the right hand holding a sword. His gi torn almost to ribbons, revealing a gaunt torso from which all softness had been burned. A sight she would never forget, try as she might.

"R…Ron?"

The sunken eyes gazed into her frightened emerald orbs. Gone were the soft chocolate pools she loved, in their place were pale spheres of indeterminate color. Neither hatred nor love, anger or sorrow, had a place in that cold gaze. Wishing she could join Rufus, Kim held her ground as the figure paced forward.

"Ron, I…I…"

His cold eyes silenced her. His hand cupped the back of her head, holding her in place. The eyes bored into hers, reaching to her most intimate thoughts, her most hidden memories. A short nod and he turned to leave.

"Ron, please, talk to me! What's going on?" Kim choked when she remembered her instructions, "Sensei, stop him."

Sensei's energy field materialized in front of the stranger. "Stoppable-sama, you must…"

"Little tiger," the words came from some unknown depth of ice, "you have done well, protecting and serving us. Do not attempt to bar our justice."

Kim was confused and frightened. "Us? Justice? Who has Ron? What is this thing?" Her eyes blinked. For a moment she had seen a figure in ancient armor, a full black beard, carrying a short sword.

"Stoppable-sama, please, you must not leave. You have frightened your love. Remember your oath, your promise."

The figure shuddered, and then turned back to Kim. Gentle hands cupped her cheeks, caressing. For a moment, the eyes were again a loving chocolate. He tenderly kissed Kim's lips. "My beautiful KP."

The steel returned. Releasing her, the stranger strode past Sensei and down the steps.

II.

"Ok, Doc," Shego hurried after her boss, "I'm impressed you know more than English. Now what does it mean?"

Dr. Drakken halted. "Shego, do you remember your Bible?"

"Some, why?"

"Do you remember the story of the writing on the wall?"

"Vaguely."

Drakken drew a deep breath and turned to look at his assistant. "Those words are the words written on the king's wall in Babylon."

"Translation."

"We have been chosen for judgment."

Shego paled, "It's only been six hours! How could he have found out so quickly?'

"He? What are you talking about, Shego?"

Shego ignored him. "I would have bet that he wouldn't listen to her, or even go near her."

"Shego? Who…?"

"Don't you understand, Doc? It's Stoppable, he's found out."

"The buffoon?'

"Doc, you didn't see him, I did." The green villainous grabbed her luggage. "I'm gone, and if you're smart, you'll come with me." She almost ran toward the exit.

"Where are you…Shego...come back here."

III.

Kim recovered from her shock, "Sensei, what just happened here?'

"Miss Possible, Ronald-sama has performed what I did not believe possible. He has found a third path."

"Explain."

The old man appeared shaken. "During his stay with us, Stoppable-sama achieved an understanding of the blade he could not explain. He said that he felt it, as if it were part of him. I had always understood from the ancient texts that there were only two choices, the dark or the light. He has found a third."

"Sensei, I don't understand." Kim was becoming even more agitated.

Pondering his answer, the wise man finally spoke, "He has become justice."

"But, surely that's good?"

"Think, young one, how many misdeeds have gone unpunished? How much leniency has been shown to you in your short life? Then think of the wrong done to you and Stoppable-sama."

Kim's face whitened, "Oh my God, Ron." She grabbed her kimmunicator. "Wade, get me a ride, now!"

"Where to, Kim?"

"Where's Drakken?"

"Last location was his mountain lair. Why?"

"Get me a ride there."

"Kim, isn't it a little late to fight him for this morning?"

"You don't understand, Wade, I'm not going to fight him, I've got to save him."