Twenty minutes later, Kim and Ron arrive at the revolving glass front doors of the Spencer Hotel and Spa. As they walk on the red carpet underneath a canopy,a young bellhop wearing a red coat with gold buttons, red pants with a black stripe running down each pant leg, black shoes, and the all too familiar red bellhop hat greets them.
"Good afternoon."
"Right back at you," responds Ron.
Kim stops and pulls out her kimmunicator. She presses a few buttons and a mug shot of Monkey Fist appears on its small screen. "Hi. Were looking for this man?" She shows him the picture. "He might have stayed here last week or so, and probably acompaniedby a hoard of monkeys dressed up as ninjas."
The bellhop shakes his head. "Sorry, I haven't seen him or the monkey ninja hoard, but you may want to try the front desk."
"Thanks," replies Kim.
Kim pushes the revolving doors and enters the spacious red carpeted lobby filled with several small sofas and wooden tables strategically placed for easy movement. She approaches a middle aged African American man in a black suit, white dress shirt and blue tie behind a large, polished wooden desk.
He smiles at her as she stops just in front of the front desk as Ron follows behind her. "Hello, may I help you two?"
"Hopefully. We need to ask you a few questions about this man," says Kim as she shows the mug shot of Monkey Fist to the man behind the front desk.
"Before I do, I have to ask you a question or two."
A slightly perplexed Kim responds. "Okay?"
"Are you a cheerleader?"
"Yes. I'm captain of the Middleton Mad Dogs cheerleading squad."
"And I'm the Middleton Mad Dog," Ron proudly exclaims.
"I bet you are, young man. By the way, do you have a unique hairless pet?"
Immediately, Rufus pops out of Ron's pocket, climbs up Ron's leg, jumps on the desk and raises his arms in the air. "Ta-duh."
"Hey, you're good. I bet you rule at twenty questions," says Ron.
"Hardly, sir. I have some information for you left behind by Lord Monty Fiske. He expected two meddling teenagers, one a red haired cheerleader and the other a buffoon who carries a naked mole rat in his pocket, to be asking questions concerning him. To save you some time and get to your climatic confrontation with him sooner, he instructed me to inform you that he is on his way to Guam and expects your arrival as you attempt to foil his latest plan. He said that is all you really need to know and looks forward to defeating you once and for all. Then he gave a villainous laugh and headed to the Middleton Airport in our courtesy car. I trust my assistance is no longer needed unless you two would like a room."
Slightly dumbfounded, Kim responds, "Ah, no. Thanks for all that."
"You are most certainly welcomed," the man says as a large smile forms on his face.
The man turns his back on them and busies himself at the computer while Kim, Ron, and Rufus, who has climb on Ron's shoulder, head back outside to their awaiting ride. Passing by the young bellhop, who says a friendly farewell to them, they climb back into the black SUV's back seat. The vehicle begins to move forward as soon as the door closes. Inside Kim and Ron, sitting next to each other, struggle to understand what has just happened.
"This is so against tradition," an annoyed Kim says. "We're the good guys and part of that is to figure out on our own where the villain is. We go, surprise the bad guy, exchange remarks, fight, win, and do it all again the next time. What is this world coming to?"
"I guess the times are a-changing," remarks Ron.
"And once again we're playing on the bad guy's terms. Just once I would like the bad guy to play on our terms."
"Focus KP. This screams trap, unless he wants us to think that this is a trap when it's not. So if we go then we wouldn't be walking into a trap unless it is a trap. Then we would be walking straight into a trap. Oh he is good."
"Right," Kim states while rolling her eyes. "Let's just play it safe and assume it is a trap."
"Unless…"
"Ron!"
"Fine." Ron crosses his arms and sinks into the back seat.
The kimmunicator beeps and Kim pulls it out of her pocket and answers it. "Inform me Wade."
"I found a few things about the Mask of Gauduelme," says Wade.
"A.K.A evil monkey mask," Ron chimes in.
Wade continues to inform. "According to legend, this mask has the ability to steal a person's soul just by looking at them. However, the mask must be worn by special individuals who destiny has chosen to wear it in order for the soul stealing can begin."
"Special as in mystical monkey magic special," Kim coolly responds.
"Yup and there is some good news. These individuals are immune to the mask's powers. So Ron, you don't have anything to worry about."
"Except for Kim," Ron says in a serious tone. He turns to her. "Sorry Kim but you're grounded for the rest of this mission. From here on out it's just me and Rufus. We can handle Monkey Fist."
Kim's eyes narrow at Ron, which causes Rufus to quickly return and hide in Ron's pant pocket as a sudden tension fills the space of the SUV. Even the driver feels it as he adjusts his posture in the driver's seat.
"What!" responds an irate Kim.
Ron immediately senses Kim's dismay and anger at his command but his love for her makes him stand firm to his decision. "If Monkey Fist uses that mask on you, he'll take your soul. What if it's permanent? You'll be gone forever. I can't take that chance."
Kim understands Ron's love motivated concerns for her well being but her love for him won't allow her to back down from this. "This isn't your decision. It's mine. I am not letting you walk into a trap and face Monkey Fist alone. He probably knows that the mask won't work on you. That makes you dangerous to his plans and a major obstacle to get rid of as soon as possible. This may be why he wants us to know where he is. We need each other and like it or not, I'm going."
Ron knows all too well that when Kim makes a decision concerning a love one's welfare, nothing is going to change her mind. He relents on his position but not on his concerns for her. "Okay, Kim. I know your mind is made up. I just want to say two things before I drop this. First, don't ever under any circumstance look into those eyes."
"Because…"
"They are so freaky and the source of its evil."
Wade jumps into the conversation.
"Ron may have a point. According to legend, the soul stealing Gaudeulme sent a ball of fire from the heavens to his small but fiercely loyal followers to help him gather souls. The ball of fire encased a red gemlike substance that the followers used to fashion eyes for a mask that only Gaudeulme's high priest could wear and use. The followers transformed the remainder of the gemlike substance into a large prism that amplified the mask's power in order to collect more souls. Before they could use it, a warrior from a far off land possessing the same powers as the priest, stole the mask and took it back with him. The followers hid the prism in Gaudeulme's temple in hopes that the mask would return to them so they could complete Gaudeulme's directive."
Kim asks Wade a question but she already knows the answer. "This temple wouldn't be located in the present island of Guam, would it?"
"Yeah, well what's left of it anyway. It seems to be a large underground cavern with several small alcoves connected by an intricate tunnel system. I'm going to set up a ride for the both of you at the Middleton Airport."
"Please and thank you, Wade."
The kimmunicator's screen goes blank as Wade signs off and Kim places it back into her pocket. She leans over and instructs the driver. "Driver, could you drop us off at the Middleton Airport after making one other stopover?"
"Yes, Ms. Possible."
"Thank you," Kim says as she leans back into her seat. She turns to Ron. "And the second thing?"
Seriousness takes over Ron's mood as he reaches out with both hands and places Kim's left hand between them in a gentle, loving squeeze while locking his eyes to hers. "Promise me you'll be extra careful. I don't know what I would…"
Before Ron can finish, Kim moves her free right hand, places it gently on the back of Ron's left hand and brings the melding of their hands close to her heart while never breaking the lock that their eyes have on each other. In fact, the eye lock intensities.
"You won't lose me and I won't lose you," Kim says with unyielding conviction.
For a moment they remain in that position. Then slowly they disengage and free their hands from their love meld and simply hold hands during the remainder of the drive in silence.