The converted Boeing 707 knifes through the black, night air high over the Pacific. Its high powered engines roar as it carries its cargo of military supplies on what would normally be a routine mission except for the fact that this shipment also includes two determined teenagers bent on saving the world.
During the sixteen hour flight Kim, dressed in her mission clothes consisting of a black shirt that showed her midrift, black shoes, and gloves, green cargo pants, a brown utility belt, and her brown knapsack, attempted to get some sleep, which lasted only five hours. Ron, also dressed in his mission clothes consisting of a black t-shirt, shoes, and gloves, gray cargo pants, and a brown utility belt and knapsack, hadn't been able to sleep because the images of the mask would haunt and terrify him as soon as he closed his eyes. The same held true with Rufus.
The red, gemlike eyes terrified them the most. They illuminated the darkness with just enough light to make it seem that the red glowing eyes of a demon watched them. Never looking away, they just stared at them. They stared right through to their souls. Then the red light intensified until it engulfed and swallowed everything: the darkness, their bodies, and their souls. Only the light remained. To Ron and Rufus, their fear intensified as their distance to the mask shortened.
So it didn't surprise Ron that the plane, according to one of the crewmen, Lt. May, would arrive at their destination in thirty minutes. Kim, who awoke an hour before, began to prepare their gear. She noticed how on edge Ron appeared, which was not aided by his sudden insomnia. She stood up from her makeshift bed consisting of a blanket, and her knapsack on one of the welded metal seats and made her way over to Ron, who sat up next to his knapsack hugging his knees on another seat across from her.
Kim sits next to him, wraps one arm gently around him and pulls him close to her. Ron offers no resistance to her and in fact welcomes her close presence.
"How are you feeling?"
"A little better now," Ron says as he offers a weak smile to her.
"You didn't get much sleep did you?"
"Well, when approaching evil I find I don't really sleep very well." A small sigh of relief escapes his lips. "I'll just be so glad when we land and get this mission over with."
Kim sheepishly smiles and says, "Yeah, about that Ron…"
The island of Guam lay only a few miles as the Boeing 707 matched its flight path to fly directly over it. Lt. May, a thirty year old officer wearing a grey jumpsuit with a miniature U.S. flag sewn onto his left sleeve, assists Kim and Ron into their parachutes. This sudden revelation of parachuting to the island instead of landing at the small airport the military built on the island does not sit well with an already on edge Ron. Lt. May notices it immediately.
"What's wrong kid? Kim says you two do this all the time."
"True, but that doesn't mean I'mcoolwith junping out of a plane at thirty thousand feet," says a slightlynervous Ron.
As Ron puts on his green helmet, Lt. May gives a reassuring smile and a healthy pat on the top of Ron's helmet. Lt. May then approaches Kim who already has her blue helmet on and strapped.
"Thanks again for the lift Lt. May," says Kim.
"It's the least the Air Force can do after you recovered that lost experimental fighter plane," responds Lt. May.
"It was no big. I'm sure the Air Force would have found it inside the adjacent hanger eventually."
Lt. May makes a final check of the cargo bay before he moves toward the back near the bay door. He attaches a strap hanging from the ceiling to a clip on his large leather belt. He then puts on a pair of parachute goggles. Kim and Ron do likewise. Lt. May stands next to the control panel of the cargo bay door and turns his attention to a red light situated just above the panel. Kim turns around to Ron and smiles as she finishes her finally check. Ron returns the gesture with a weak smile and makes his final check. Rufus, strapped tightly to Ron's chest, puts on his goggles and gives a thumbs up to Ron. Kim brings her focus toward the eagerly awaiting Lt. May. The light changes to green and Lt. May presses the button that opens the cargo bay doors. Red flashing lights around the cargo bay announce the opening of the bay door. Like a gigantic monster's mouth, the bay door slowly gapesas the air in the cargo bay whips around them becoming violent andloud. Kim focuses intensely on the every opening door and on the jump she will make shortly. A few moments pass until the bay door opens to its designed wideness. Kim gives a thumbs up to Lt. May, who returns the gesture, and runs out into the dispelled blackness of the early morning sky. After a few seconds, Ron follows suit.
The sun peeks steadily over the horizon as the sky, a canvas of melded red, yellow, and orange, slowly breaks up to reveal the peaceful light blue hidden underneath. In the midst of this backdrop, two lone figures gracefully drift downward toward the vibrant green mass, which becomes ever more detailed the closer their descent becomes, sleeping beneath them. They begin to make out the outlines of a few concrete buildings standing watch over an unconscious island, asphalt roads with hardly a car on them, houses still engaged in their dreams and a solitary airport waiting to give relief and rest to tired airplanes. They all pass below them as they drift into the surrounding green tropical forest. The gentle ocean breeze that propels them to a large grassy clearing protected by tropical trees of varying height and size swims in their chutes and fills their nostrils with the soothing scent of the ocean.
Kim pulls on her control cords as she lands feet first in the clearing's cushioned middle as her chute falls into a clump behind her. She pulls off her helmet and removes her goggles as she fixes her red hair with her gloved right hand. Kim looks upward to see Ron having trouble controlling hischute and hits the ground hard while his chute settles on top of him. Quickly, Kim removes her parachute and rushes over to check to see if he sustained an injury. Ron pops up from the ground and struggles mightily to free himself from the grips of his unrelenting parachute. Kim grabs the parachute and removes it off Ron as she just sighs with a smile on her face at the typical Ron-ness.
"I could've gotten out on my own," a slightly upset Ron exclaims.
Kim just gives him an incredulous look and a cocked eyebrow.
"Eventually," Ron adds.
Rufus gives him a reassuring pat on the chest. "Sure you could."
Kim reaches into her pant pocket and pulls out her kimmunicator and contacts Wade while Ron removes his helmet, goggles, and parachute. "All right Wade. We've landed."
"The remains of the temple should be a quarter of a mile north of the clearing. There should be a dirt path leading straight to it."
"Can you give us a preview of what's ahead?"
"Hold on." Wade furiously hits the keys of his keyboard "I can't penetrate the cavern with thermal imaging, but I'll keep trying. However, thermal scans do indicate several small heat signatures surrounding the outside of the site."
"Monkey ninjas," Ron exclaims.
"No doubt," confirms Wade. "Listen guys I have a theory about the powers of the mask. I think it can allow the user to control minds. I found references stating once Guaduelme possess a person's soul, his or her will unites to the will of Guaduelme or more specifically the will of its high priest."
Kim asks, "Any idea of how to break the mojo?"
"Well, nothing solid but you can simply take the mask away from Monkey Fist. If he doesn't have it then he can't control his victims…"
"or…" Kim adds.
"You could smash the mask's eyes since they seem to be the source of its power according to the legend. No eyes, no power."
Ron takes the opportunity to make a clear informative statement. "I just want to take a moment to point out in case no one is aware that this mind controlling mask is…"
Kim and Wade finish his sentence in unison. "evil."
"Just wanted to make that clear before we go on."
"Point made," Kim says nonchalantly. "Thanks Wade and we'll keep in touch."
"Good luck you guys," Wade responds.
The kimmunicator's screen goes blank and Kim places it back into her pocket. She turns to Ron. "You ready for this?"
"Not really but as long as you're with me I can face anything."
As he says these words, Ron looks into Kim's eyes, places his hands on her shoulders, and embraces her in a love filled hug, which Kim gladly accepts and reciprocates. After a few eternal moments in the comfort in each other's arms, the two brake the hug and make their way to the dirt path leading to the temple ruins and Monkey Fist.