A lone figure could be seen making his way up a little known trail in the Sierra-Nevada Mountains. His gold hair gleamed in the sun and his brown eyes blazed with the fire of purpose. Ron Stoppable moved along the trail with a speed that would have impressed his best friend Kim Possible. And for a fact it did impress her as he followed along a few yards behind. It had taken her three days to find Ron. From Bueno Nacho she had gone straight to Ron's house only to find out that he had already left for the airport. When she looked in his bedroom she found a bloody towel in the bathroom and Wade's microchip in the sink.

"Wow," said Wade, "he must be really determined to keep his destination a secret if he had the guts to dig that chip out of his own leg. Now Kim was worried sick and about to die of curiosity at the same time and that is what led her to where she was now, surreptitiously following her best friend up the trail. Ron continued up the trail for another mile never slacking his pace. Kim was amazed.

"I've never seen Ron acting so mysterious and sexy." Kim stopped dead in her tracks, "I can't believe I just thought that!" she promptly turned and banged her head against an oak tree before continuing after Ron. After walking another fifty feet Ron suddenly turned right and emerged into a pristine garden. In ground on either side of the walkway were the best looking vegetables plants and fruit trees that Kim had ever seen. There was also lush green grass and Flower covered trellises.

When Kim looked back at Ron from her hiding place she saw him approach a dark-haired boy about his own age who was sitting there apparently meditating. Ron sat down facing him and remained perfectly quiet until the boy opened his eyes. The boy's face widened into a smile.

"Ron Stoppable," he said, "it's good to see you."

"You to Andrew," said Ron.

"I sense that there is something that you came to discuss with me and my family."

"You're right, as usual my friend," said Ron

"Come on then," said Andrew rising to his feet in one fluid motion revealing himself to be the same height as Ron, "My Father and Grandfather usually have their afternoon tea right about know so you are in luck." Rufus popped out of Ron's pocket.

"Yummy tea." He said rubbing his paws together

"Would your lady friend care for some too?" said Andrew turning toward the path.

"Rufus is a boy." Ron replied

"I wasn't talking about Rufus," replied Andrew calmly, "I was referring to the Red-head that is hiding behind that Trellis near the edge of the garden." Kim emerged from behind the Trellis with a sheepish look on her face. Ron looked at Kim and then back at Andrew. He pointed a finger at Andrew.

"Oh you're good," he said.

"How did you know I was back there?" asked Kim, "some sort of Psychic surveillance?"

"No," said Andrew with a smile, "just the simple fact that white lilies don't camouflage red hair very well."

"KP," said Ron, "I'd like you to meet my friend Andrew Caine. Andrew this is my best friend Kimberly Anne Possible." Andrew shook Kim's hand.

"Pleased to meet you," he said, "any friend of Ron's is a friend of mine." Just then they rounded the corner in the path and Kim found her self standing in the doorway of a Shaolin Temple. Andrew stepped forward and pulled the rope to ring the bell. Within a few minutes the door was opened by one of the monks and Andrew, Ron and Kim stepped inside. Andrew led them through the Temple which was filled with the mild scent of incense burning and monks who were doing all manner of things from meditating and practicing Kung fu to tending the plants and making tea. Ron was walking along trying to look austere like Andrew. All at once they reached the living quarters. Andrew led them to the dining area. When they entered the room they came face to face with a brown haired gentleman who appeared to be in his forties.

"Kim," said Andrew, "this is my father, Peter Caine." Just then a gentleman who appeared to be in his early sixties with shoulder length gray hair entered the room carrying a tray on which was a Chinese Teapot.

"Kim," said Andrew motioning to the older gentleman, "this is my grandfather Kwan Chang Caine." Caine smiled and bowed to Kim. Just then an Impish goateed gentleman that looked to be in his mid- to- late seventies stepped out of the shadows and placed a hand on Andrews shoulder.

"How are you my son," he said in his soft voice.

"Very well, my friend," Andrew replied patting the hand on his shoulder.

"Kim," said Andrew turning to her, "This is Lo Sing but he prefers to be known as The Ancient."

Lo Sing bowed to Kim, "they call me that because I am so old." Kim looked back at the tray in Caine's hands and suddenly noticed that instead of the four teacups- one for each of the three gentlemen and Andrew- there were seven teacups one for everyone including Rufus!"

"Okay," she said, "this is majorly freaky, how did he know to bring teacups for the rest of us."

"KP," said Ron, "I learned a long time ago that if you try to figure out Master Caine all you'll get is high blood pressure and a headache."

They all sat down at the table and Andrew poured tea for all of them. Rufus dove straight into his teacup and sucked up all the tea. Andrew and other sipped their tea slowly.

"Ron," said Master Caine, "we are waiting to her your story." Ron grinned and leaned over to Andrew, "Your grandfather is two for two."

"It's like this, Masters Caine," said Ron sitting down his teacup, "a Few nights ago back home there was a robbery at the archaeology museum that resulted in the death of Dr. Vince Gaines the chief archaeologist. When KP and I examined the body we found a mark pressed into the center of his forehead," Ron paused long enough to take a piece of paper out of his pocket and hand it to Andrew's grandfather, "that is a tracing of it I not positive but I think it is the sign of the Chi-ru (Chee-ROO)." As soon as Master Caine unfolded the paper and look at the marking his face lost all traces of humor.

"You are right," he said as he passed the paper to the others at the table, "it is the seal of the Chi-ru."

"What would the Chi-ru want in Middleton," said Andrew's father Peter as he looked at the paper.

"I think it might have something to do with the clay tablet that was stolen." Said Ron

"Um, Excuse me," said Kim waving her hand, "What are the Chi-ru and how does Ron know about them?"

"That," said Ron, scratching his head, "is kind of a long story."

TBC: Please review!

Next: Ron's Story