I do not own nor have rights to any of the characters contained within this story.

AN: Thought I'd get this short one out before I left for the airport.

pureangel86: Does this chapter answer your question?

Chapter 16 – Some Surprises

- - - Wade Load's Room - - -

Never being truly satisfied with anything Wade was going over the recording he had made of the latest mission. As he traced Ron's energy signature that had been recorded during the last mission he was paying particular attention to the huge spike in energy that had been recorded just before Ron had entered the central area where the laser had been set up. It had been necessary for Wade to rescale his program because of the amount of energy being generated was nearly ten times greater that any he had recorded before.

When Ron had entered the room Wade had noticed that the energy discharge from the laser had caused some interference that made following the energy Ron had been generating difficult to trace. For the last hour Wade had been working on a filtering program that would eliminate the interference and give him a clear track of Ron. As he applied the filtering program to the recording he was pleased (but not necessarily surprised) that the filter worked perfectly.

He was able to clearly separate the energy being generated by Ron from all of the other energy sources in the room. As the filtering program continued to clarify and separate the various types of energy Wade noticed a separate source of energy similar to Ron's that was being generated. It was much weaker and seemed to coming from around the area of Ron's thigh. After studying at this for a few seconds Wade suddenly sat up quickly and thought "Rufus! That's got to be Rufus. And he's got the same type of energy signature as Ron! Man, I should have thought about filtering earlier."

As the filtering program continued to refine itself he was able to distinguish Ron's energy from the energy that Rufus was generating very clearly and as the two, now separated, energy sources stopped in the center of the room Wade sat back with a very satisfied grin on his face and sipped on his soda.

Suddenly Wade sat forward so fast he nearly fell out of his chair. As he stared at the screen he started typing furiously on the keyboard in front of him. Showing clearly on the screen were now three sources of the Ronergy (he had to call it something didn't he?) instead of just the two he had been tracing just a moment ago. As he pinpointed the third source it slowly increased in power until it was slightly stronger than that being generated by Rufus but still a fraction of the energy being generated by Ron. He traced the energy to a vent high in the wall on one side of the room and, not having to check the mission logs, knew that it was this vent that Kim had used to enter the room.

A few moments later he saw that two of the energy sources left the room suddenly, "There goes Ron and Rufus" he thought. And the third energy source that he now thought of as Kim's reduced slightly in power but continued to be strong enough to trace. He watched in fascination as the third source entered the room from the vent and moved slowly toward the panel where he knew the self destruct button had been. He then followed it out of the room as it moved very quickly to the exit and then out of the lair before it had been destroyed.

After calculating the speed that Kim had left the complex he saw that it was fast. Not as fast as Ron was capable of moving but much faster than anyone normal could have moved. As Wade sat back in his chair he thought "Well, I wondered how she had been able to get out so quickly. I guess now I know."

- - - Possible residence - - -

Kim had sat with Monique and Felix for about and hour. She had quickly stopped crying and started asking Felix and Monique questions about Ron. The most important question was always answered with an 'I don't know.' Kim was soon convinced that neither Felix nor Monique had any idea about where Ron was. As soon as Felix and Monique left (Monique wasn't through shopping yet) Kim sat for a few minutes collecting herself and then went upstairs and changed into sweat pants and a sports bra. She was now in the garage stretching in preparation for working out. Physical exercise always helped her think and she had a lot to thing about at the moment. There was a small workout area near the back of the garage that she used to keep herself in shape, nothing fancy, just a punching bag hanging from the ceiling a set of weights and some assorted resistance equipment.

If Felix could have seen Kim at that moment he would of felt a little justified. Kim was starting to get mad. As she warmed up she just kept thinking "How could you do that Ron? Why would you do that? When I find you I'm going to knock you on your skinny little butt." These thoughts continued as she finished her warm-up and walked up to the bag hanging from the ceiling. When she threw her first punch at the bag she was surprised as her fist went right through the bag. Kim just stood there for a moment as sawdust ran from the bag and formed an ever growing pool on the floor. As she withdrew her hand the sawdust spilled even faster from the destroyed bag. She stood there watching the deflating punching bag as it swung slowly in front of her thinking "Wow, I must have hit a weak spot. It was an old bag; I've been using it for about three years now. Guess it's about time I got a new one anyway"

Still looking at the bag Kim walked over to the wall. There was a set of weights attached to ropes that ran up the wall to a set of pulleys with handles secured to the other end. She turned her back to the wall and grabbed a handle with each hand. The added weight at the end of the rope was supposed to add resistance as she punched forward to help develop he upper body strength. As she threw her first punch the weight zipped up the wall and as it met the pulley it ripped the entire pulley from the wall. The weight flew forward, breaking the rope, and sailed across the garage to thump heavily into the garage door cracking the wood before falling heavily to the floor. Kim just stared it the weight and then at the handle she was holding with the broken rope still attached. "Funny" she thought "All my equipment seems to be going bad at the same time."

She just dropped the handle and reached behind her for a mat that was rolled up and standing against the wall. She unrolled the mat on the floor and decided to just do some pushups 'till she could check out the equipment and replace or repair any more of the defective stuff. She had never counted her pushups, she just kept going until she couldn't do any more and then forced herself to do two more with kind of a 'No pain, No gain' attitude. As she started her pushups she continued to think about Ron and Sensi and about everything she had heard and learned in the last few hours. Suddenly she heard a voice calling her from the doorway to the house. Looking up she saw her Mother standing there and stopping her pushups rolling into a sitting position on the mat. "Sorry mom, guess I just zoned out. What were you saying?" Anna just smiled at her daughter; she knew that whenever Kimmie wanted to think she would come out here and push herself physically to the point of exhaustion. It was then that Anna spotted the destruction of the bag and the pulley ripped from the wall. Anna just blinked and thought "Kimmie must have really been thinking hard today" but said "Dinners almost ready sweetie, you've been out here for three hours. That's enough for today so come on in and get a shower before dinner okay?"

Kim stood and said "Okay mom, be right in" as she rolled up the mat and stood it against the wall again she suddenly thought "Three hours? Why would mom think I was out here for three hours? It's been twenty or thirty minutes at the most." When she entered the house she went directly up to her room for fresh clothes to change into after her shower. As she was reaching into her closet for jeans and a blouse she glanced absently at the clock on her nightstand and froze as she saw the time. "My God" she thought "It's after 6:00 PM, I've been doing pushups for three hours!"

- - - In a small jet heading toward Middleton - - -

Shego was fuming. "Dr. D. and that bunch of jerks that call themselves villains just want to sit around and talk about things." She was thinking "Well I'm not built that way. I like action and even if it is bad villain form I'm going to get some answers from the princess one way or another. Dr. D. keeps telling me I'm 'just a sidekick' so going to look for Kimmie isn't really breaking any of their stupid super villain rules anyway." Knowing that she wouldn't get to Middelton until the morning Shego flipped on the autopilot and sat back into the seat to relax and plan on what she would do to the little princess to get the answers she wanted. As she closed her eyes there was a wicked grin forming on her face and a dim green glow formed around her hands.

- - - Yori - - -

Yori felt as though she had failed after her talk with Ron. Her real reason for coming to be at Ron's side was not to advance his training, even thought those results continued to astound her, but to do all in her power to reunite Ron and Kim. As Hirotaka entered the large suite of room she shared with Yori he saw that she was seated on the floor in the sitting area deep in mediation and he quietly backed out of the room and closed the door to give her the privacy he knew she needed.

Yori was mentally seated on a stone bench in the gardens of the Yamanochi School waiting for Sensi to join her. As she watched Sensi approach she was preparing her apology for failing so miserably. When Sensi had reached the bench Yori stood and bowed deeply before speaking.

Yori: "Master Sensi, I seek your forgiveness. I have failed in my mission. Stoppable-san and Possible-san are no closer now than they were before I spoke to Stoppable-san. I fear I may had driven Stoppable-san further away as a result of my unworthy interference."

Sensi: "Be seated my child. You have no reason to ask my forgiveness as you have not failed at all but succeeded with a greater speed that I could have hoped for."

As Yori took a seat beside Sensi she was confused. How could Sensi possibly consider anything she had done as a success? When she turned to face Sensi she saw he was waiting to speak again.

Sensi: "I see the confusion in your eyes young one. Please allow me to explain. The task I set you was a most difficult one, bringing two people together, when separated by a breach such as the one that existed, was a task I felt may take a considerable time. I fully expected a year or more before to pass before that breach could be bridged. The solution you happened upon, though unconsciously on your part, was remarkable in its simplicity"

Yori: "But Master! I did nothing. I spoke of Possible-san only recently and Stoppable-san has forbid me to speak of her again. I see nothing but failure in my actions Sensi. How is it you see my failue as a success?"

Sensi: "Yori-san, you are too close to the problem to properly see the solution that has already begun to bear the fruit of success. By giving Stoppable-san the abilities and confidence you have provided he has already rededicated his life to the protection of Possible-san. As his protectiveness grows his love grows also. He has already reached the decision to spend the rest of his life with Possible-san. He has yet to realize that the decision has been reached but time and your constant example will soon bring his to that realization."

Yori: "My example Sensi? What example?"

Sensi: "The example that Stoppable-san sees whenever he looks upon the love and togetherness that you and Hirotaka share. Surly you realize that I sent the two of you, above all others, to Stoppable-san in his time of indecision for a reason."

Yori: "Forgive me Sensi, I should have remembered that you never act in haste and that each of your actions are part of a whole unseen by those of us that do not possess your wisdom."

Sensi merely smiled at his favorite student and grand-daughter and reaching over grasped her one of her trembling hands with one of his own rock steady ones.

Sensi: "I am proud of you my sweet one. Your success deserves much praise. You no longer need concern yourself of the outcome for an unbreakable bond has already been formed between the two. Possible-san now shares the power, strength and trueness of soul of our young warrior and he, in turn, shares the dedication and goodness of heart that was once hers alone."

As Yori looked at the old man that was so much more than a teacher and guardian to her she saw in his face the truthfulness of what he had said. She no longer felt she had failed but was now filled with the satisfied glow of success.

Sensi: "You must now return. I think that you deserve to see the seeds of your efforts grow into what will become a great oak of success. And remember young teacher, I am proud of you."

With this said Sensi vanished leaving Yori alone for a moment before she too left the mystical garden and returned to reality in her rooms at the Roberts home.

Hirotaka was seated at the kitchen table with a soda and the latest motorcycle parts catalog when he sensed Yori walking into the kitchen. "That must have been a really good meditation session." He thought when he saw the happy and loving smile that was etched on her face. She reached for his hand and pulling him from his seat lead him back upstairs to their rooms. Two hours later Hirotaka, who was tired but completely satisfied, thought to himself "A really, really good mediation session."

- - - Ron - - -

Ron was in his rooms relaxing while paging through his stack of 'Cooking Today' magazines. His mind wasn't really on the articles though. Since returning from the mission in Arizona he had noticed that the Band on his wrist was constantly glowing now, a very dim glow but unlike the dull blue it had been before when he hadn't been drawing on its power. About three o'clock that afternoon it had brightened slightly and stayed that way about three hours before returning to it's now normal dim glow. Noticing the time he stood and left his rooms for the kitchen expecting Yori and Hirotaka to be waiting dinner on him.

Coming down the stairs he was passing through the entry hall when he heard soft murmuring coming from the sitting room, as he entered he found Hirotaka sitting on the overstuffed couch in front of a very cozy and inviting fire in the fireplace. Snuggled very tightly and comfortable in his arms was Yori. They both smiled up at Ron when he stopped in front of the couch. "Anyone want dinner?" he asked but knew the answer immediately. From the looks of things they had another two or three hours of snuggling to do and would then probably go straight up to their rooms.

Ron noticed that Yori looked at the Band on his wrist and she had undoubtedly noticed the constant dim glow it was giving off now. But instead of commenting on it she simply had looked up into Ron's face and smiling even more broadly had snuggled deeper into Hirotaka's embrace. Ron simply shrugged as Hirotaka said "No thank you Stoppable-san, we are just fine" As Ron left the room he decided that he wasn't that hungry yet and returned to his rooms. He hadn't been sleeping well since Arizona so he lay on the bed and closed his eyes intending to take a quick thirty minute nap before getting himself something to eat. With his eyes closed he failed to notice that the Band on his arm was glowing more brightly and that there was also a glow showing through the lid of the long wooden box sitting on his dresser. He was asleep within two minutes.

When he opened his eyes again he knew that he wasn't really awake yet, but neither was he in the field with tree-house above his head where he typically retreated to think about things. He was in a glade at the base of a mountain, and as he looked around at the spectacular view, he noticed two men walking toward him. Both were dressed in the fashion of ancient Japanese warriors but Ron could tell by the way they approached him that neither was threatening. As they approached the older of the two men spoke in Japanese. Ron was shocked that he had no problem understanding him as he said. "Welcome young Master. It is time we met. I am Toshimu whose spirit resides in the Lotus Blade and my companion is Kumatsu of the Band. We have come to speak to you of your destiny and a choice you must make."

Next - Ron speaks to spirits and Shego Arrives….