Evil eyes behind their smiles
You swallow it up when sincerity lies
Lock me up, label me "dangerous" files
Fear of the unknown, so scared of my style
Alert the press and address the states of emergency
We the crew you love to hate
First mistake, you were never ready
Dance with the dead, better be ten times more deadly
This is me, I'm always the same
Virus in the system, crash the mainframe
Uprise, now fall in line
Roll with the pack or get left behind

"Masterpiece Conspiracy" by P.O.D.

Divided We Stand

It's been two days and Global Justice still had no clues on Ron's location. Apparently spending so many years chasing criminals gave him a good idea of what they were doing wrong. That only made the more volatile agents angrier.

Not that Kim could do anything to try and calm them down if they found him right now. She had been dismissed the day before while they questioned a possible co-conspirator.

"Heard anything about Wade?" Monique asked as the two waited in the long line at Gary's Diner. They were getting take out and then heading back to Kim's.

Kim sighed in response. "No. They won't let me see him. They say it's a conflict of interest."

"They had no problem sending you after Ron." Her friend pointed out.

"I think that was more about making sure the other agents didn't kill him in cold blood. They were… are really angry."

"You don't think he really did it do you?" Monique asked looking at Kim expectantly.

Kim looked at the floor, not being able to meet her eyes. "I just don't know Monique. I don't want to, but they have so much evidence against him. It's almost undeniable at this point. I don't want to think it, but it looks like he really did."

Monique didn't even have a chance to say anything as the sound of skin hitting skin rang out. Kim was nearly knocked off her feet by the hard slap. She could only stare in shock at her attacker.

"You selfish bitch!" Bonnie screamed angrier than Kim had ever seen her. She'd been in line a few people behind Kim and Monique and had heard the whole thing.

"Bonnie I…" Kim started. Bonnie just glared and cut her off.

"Don't! I'm talking now and you will listen!" She told Kim in a tone that brooked no arguments. "Tell me one time Ron hasn't been there for you when you needed him! You can't can you? Because there isn't one! He has always been there for you! Now, when he needs you most you're going to abandon him and think he's capable of murder! I thought you were supposed to be his friend for crying out loud! I thought you cared for him! "

Bonnie continued to glare hatefully at the stunned Kim as she turned and headed for the door. "I guess I was wrong."

---------------

Lord Montgomery Fiske's castle was huge. Despite its size he was the lone occupant. Once he had a butler, Bates, but he had long since let the man go. There was simply no need for his services anymore. Fiske rarely spent time in his family home these days.

When he did he would often only use one room. The library that doubled as his study. It was in that very room that he first discovered the legends of the Monkey Master hidden among the scattered books. It was there where he was now, simply sitting in a chair staring at the fireplace. A glass of scotch was held in one of his hairy hands.

"You don't have to be so quiet Ronald." He said without even turning towards the entrance. "I already know you are there."

Ron stepped from he shadows and took a seat in the chair next to Fiske's. "That would be a whole lot creepier if I didn't know how you did it."

"Yes." Fiske said as he poured two more scotch and handed one to Ron. "It would appear sensing the monkey magic in us is a trait we both share."

A companionable silence filled the room for a long time afterwards before Fiske spoke again. "If you're here than what I felt is true. The Ancient One is dead?"

"Yes. He was murdered. I buried his body in his favourite mediation spot." Both men touched a small silver ball that hung from their necks. They had all been given them when they had left the temple.

"I know I wasn't given his secrets. Neither has Anton, I spoke with him just yesterday."

"It wasn't me either." Ron said, answering the unasked question.

Fiske shook his head and sighed. "God I hope its not Kit. I'd rather the secrets died with the Master than have them in that man's hands!"

Ron simply nodded his agreement and downed the rest of his scotch. Fiske poured him another before changing the topic.

"So, I hear you've given up your foolish heroics and joined the side of villainy."

It was Ron's turn to shake his head and sigh. "I was framed."

"I thought as much." Fiske admitted. "And before you ask I don't know anything about it and you can't stay here. I have enough problems without Global Justice breaking down my door… again."

"It was worth a shot." Ron said as he downed his second drink and stood to leave. "Thanks anyway."

"Ron." Fiske called him back and handed him an envelope. "I have a remote base in Ireland. It's a warehouse like structure. Shear cliff rising from rocky waters surround it on three sides. Only one way in from the ground. It's yours."

As he watched Ron go Fiske thought back to what he had discovered while training under the Ancient One. That perhaps his destiny wasn't as great as he had once imagined. Perhaps his destiny was to aid one whose destiny was.

---------------

The black, unmarked Global Justice van moved swiftly through the darkened streets of Upperton. They were under orders to transfer the prisoner to a secure holding facility. To the guards it seemed a tad overkill for a kid in his mid teens, but they had seen stranger.

Wade sat rock still cuffed in the back of the van. He ran over scenario after scenario in his head, had been for since he was taken into custody. The super genius was no closer to any answers though. One minute Ron was coming back from visiting an injured friend in Japan and the next was a murderer on the run. With him as his accomplice as far a GJ was concerned.

As Wade ran through a list of who could pull something like this off the sound of breaking glass shattered his concentration. A gurgling sound could be heard coming from the driver and the guard in the passenger seat. They were both dead from the shuriken in their chests before the van swerved to the side and straight into a pole.

Smoke began to fill the interior as a small pellet was thrown through the broken glass. Before the guard in the back could regain his composure the door was sliced open and a throwing star sent sailing into his chest. The shuriken strike killed him before he hit the ground.

As the dust cleared Wade looked upon the attacker with terror in his eyes. The man was dressed completely in black and wore a smooth, featureless metal helmet.

"Wade Harris, my employer has need of you!" Came the distorted voice of Caesar.