A/N: In this story, the ninja still have the Destiny's Bounty. You can think of this story as pre-great devourer or as a slightly AU fic. Whatever works for you.

Jay flexed his arms uncomfortably, trying to keep the grocery bags from sliding further downwards. A row of grocery bags were lined up on each arm as he sat at the bus stop. The heat was quickly increasing during the wait for the bus, he wiped the sweat off his forehead. He was quickly regretting that decision to leave the golden weapons back on the ship. Zane, who was currently sitting next to him with his own cluster of bags, stared blankly ahead, seemingly unaffected by the heat.

He couldn't help but shoot a small glare at the nindroid, which went unnoticed. They'd probably be back at the ship by now with Kai and Cole if Zane hadn't been distracted by that sleazy salesman. Jay then had to stay behind while the others left and spend the next hour trying to convice Zane why they didn't actually need five tons of pineapple scented manure. Though he couldn't really blame him, even people with a very heightened sense of human behavior could be fooled by a blatant act of manipulation.

He stared at the large digital clock on the building across from them. The next bus would be there in about another ten minutes.

"Excuse me, are you the ninjas I've heard about?" Jay looked up in surprise, before him stood a tall red headed man. The man bit his lower lip and fidgeted with his coat, obviously quite nervous.

"Uh, yeah. You okay?" Jay asked. The man gripped the sides of his coat tightly and stared pointedly at the ground. Jay was almost afraid that he was going to start crying.

Sighing deeply the man continued, "My name is Adam Sullivan and about a week ago, my fiance was murdered." Jay's mouth flew open in shock.

"You have our deepest sympathies, sir," Zane bowed his head.

"Thank you," Adam cleared his throat, "The police are still investigating the matter. But recently, someone had broken into our house. I think... I think they were looking for this." He pulled a small, silver flash drive out of his pocket and held it out for both ninja to see.

Jay raised an eyebrow, "What is is?"

"I believe it's a flash drive," Zane replied.

The blue ninja rolled his eyes, "I know it's a flash drive. What I mean is, what's on the flash drive?"

Adam sighed, "I wish I could tell you, but even I don't know. Amara had never been all that talkative when it came to her research. For some reason, someone wants this and they want it enough to kill for it. I need you to protect this, just until they catch whoever killed her."

The bus turned a corner, the grocery bags were now taking up the seat in front of them. Jay stared at the flash drive in his hand, trying to wrap his head around how he managed to agree to this. All he did was show the tiniest bit of uncertainty and the guy just burst into tears. He just wanted the guy to stop crying, that's all. He sure did start crying pretty quickly though. Jay shook his head and sighed, "Hey, you think that guy was manipulating us?"

"Not really, Adam's always been a sensitive person." Okay, that definately wasn't Zane's voice. As far as he could tell, Zane wasn't a woman.

He looked over at the woman sitting in the seat across from them, "You know Adam?" Personally, he was pretty surprised that he hadn't noticed her before. She was quite a few years older then themselves, probably in her late twenties or early thirties. She wore a flowing white robe with silver trim. A golden chain headpiece rested on brown hair that went down to her knees. She had a rather regal and confidant aura about her, a bit humorous considering they were on a public bus.

"I know everything," the woman shrugged.

"Oh," Jay chuckled nervously, "Of course."

He felt Zane lean close to his ear, "Was she making a joke?" Jay looked at him with uncertainty, not really sure how to respond.

"No," the woman responded, "Like I said, I know everything."

Zane stared at her with bewilderment, "Really?"

Jay elbowed him in the side and whispered, "Zane, remember what I told you about people like this?" He watched as a look of confusion swept over the nindroid's face before being replace by realization.

"Oh, right," Zane nodded, "Some people are just crazy."

"Right," Jay nodded. A slight chill ran down his back and he had the feeling he was being watched. He had a rather sinking feeling that it was the crazy woman. Cautiously, he turned his head to the side. "Holy-" Jay jerked his head back in shock. Sitting on the outer edge of her seat, with her face just a few inches from his own, the woman smiled slyly at him.

"I assure you, I'm not crazy," the woman smiled, "I know everything about the past, present, and future of the world."

"Really?" Jay looked at her skeptically, "Can you prove it?"

The woman smiled, "Do you see that guy riding the yellow bike?" Both Jay and Zane peered out the window next to their seat. A man was indeed riding his bike on the sidewalk, he was going pretty fast too. The woman continued, "He's about to crash into that magazine stand." True to her word, the man did indeed crash. Jay winced as the man was sent flying forward. Now, he could have just assumed she was just really observant, but this woman hadn't even been looking in the same direction they were.

"How did you know that was going to happen?" Zane questioned, "Do you have a sixth sense?"

The woman laughed and shook her head, "No, I'm not psychic or anything."

Jay frowned, "Then how did you know he was going to crash?"

"Perhaps if I told you who I was, then you'd understand," the woman smiled , "Hello, people call me many names throughout the world, but you can call me Fate."

"Alright, let's say you really are "Fate"," Jay frowned, "What exactly do you want with us?"

"Fate" sighed, "It's about that flash drive. Adam was correct when he said someone was after it. But the person after it is far more dangerous than he could have imagine. They have managed to exist outside of the myself, making them harder for me to predict. If they get their hands on that flash drive, they'll become all the more dangerous."

"What's on this thing anway?" Jay looked over the small device.

"That's a very special secret," Fate winked, "But let's just say it's the answer to the question almost everyone wants to know, but doesn't need to know."

"The meaning of life?" Zane guessed.

"Maybe," Fate shrugged passively, "However, that's not all I wanted to warn you about. In the events of protecting the flash drive, one of the ninja will die."

Jay's heart skipped a beat and he stared at her in horror, "Wh-who..." He couldn't even bring himself to finish his sentence. Fate stared sadly at her feet, before finally looking up. Her gaze locked quite pointedly on Zane.