"I don't like the idea of you jaunting off to the Caribbean for the movie thing," Simon Stagg said in a fatherly tone. "I just don't want you to get into trouble out there."

"Daddy, that's what you say about every movie I do, and I always come home without a scratch."

"I'm not being unreasonable, child."

"I'm not a child anymore, father. I'm 25, and I'm going to make this movie," she said as she stormed out of his office.

Simon looked to his bodyguard Java and spoke to the point. "Well, I knew there would be no dissuading her. How did I miss that she was going to be trying out for this movie. I want you to insure that no harm comes to her. You know what dangers lurk on that Isle . . . and please be discreet . . . " Java nodded affirmative. He was a massive, hulking man that could be silent if he needed to be. "I'll be there before they are." He said, and turned to leave.

"One more thing. Only interfere if there is a clear and present danger to her and her alone. I care nothing for the others . . . obviously."

Java nodded again and closed the doors to the office.

Simon dialed the phone.

"Eric. Yes, you know who this is. Listen carefully; I want to insure that you have the right mindset going into this venture. There is information in that temple that I need to learn the final resting place of the Orb of Ra. Failure to return the information to me will result in a most dire situation for your poor fathers company. Success will insure that it survives, and that you will be the one running it."

He was stopped at a light and decided to call Dane Whitman.

The phone rang three times, and a voice at the other end answered. "Hello, Garrett Industries."

"Yes, I'm trying to reach Dane Whitman, I was given this number."

"One moment, Mr. Whitman is in the Research and Development lab today, let me transfer you."

Dan waited for Dane to pick up, accompanied by the lovely ‘80's flashback tunes that came over his earpiece. How bizarre that Thomas Dolby's 'She Blinded Me With Science' was the song playing, Dan thought.

"This is Dane. How can I help you?" a friendly voice finally came over the phone.

"Hi Dane. My name is Dan Cassidy, and I was given your name and phone number by Rex Mason. He said you might be able to help me get ready for an upcoming movie that I'm going to be in."

"If Rex gave you my number, then there's no problem. What do you need training in? Swords, lances, spears, or something else?" Dane said, a genuine interest in his voice. He obviously loved sharing his knowledge.

"I have to do some sword work, and I have a trident that doubles as a lance in two scenes. You'll also be training Wayne Tarrant. He's in the movie as well."

"No problem. When do you guys want to get started?"

"Well, we leave for the Caribbean island of Ile Du Diable in just under a week for initial shooting."

"Well," Dane said, "I can give you guys some basics, but I can't start for two more days. My Uncle is out of the country on some family business, and I can't get away till the day after tomorrow. Not sure if I can hit everything you'll need in that short of an amount of time."

Dan's mind was starting to race; he really needed the right training. "Hey, how'd you like to take a little trip for a few weeks? On Verner Brothers."

"I guess I could. I have about a days work to finish up, and then . . . hmmm . . . nothing that can't wait till next month sometime."

"Let me see what I can do. Thanks." Dan said as he hung up the phone, a huge smile forming on his face. "Add one weapons expert to the crew."

"Nothing that I know of, besides the fact that Sapphire is in the Blue Devil movie," Simon said truthfully. Simon did not know whom Eric had made his secret little deal with, but hearing Stagg's name mentioned sent chills up and down his spine. "Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering really. My nephew happened to see Mr. Stagg's bodyguard, you know . . . Java, come out of our offices late the other night, and records show that Eric was the only one left in the building at the time."

"Well, with Sapphire being in the movie, maybe he dropped off, or picked up something for her," Simon said, hoping he didn't sound like he was grasping for straws. "You know how the Staggs can be."

"That may very well be it, but that's what has me concerned. I so know how they are. So, I'd like you to keep your eyes and ears open just in case. I have reason to believe that there's more to it than that." She paused as she walked around the desk. "I also find it odd that Eric wants to go on this shoot. You're usually the one that accompanies us, because he hates to travel. Maybe I'm just too pessimistic by nature. So I want you to go as well. Things will run themselves here alright while we're gone."

"Sure thing, Marla," Simon said as he thought to himself, I'm going to kill Eric.

She remembered Dane Whitman very clearly. He was an honorable man, and would hopefully help her as she settled into her new life in the states.

She was not going there to make a better place for herself though. She was through with the comforts of a well led life. She had sold most everything she had once owned in preparation for the task ahead of her. She was in search of her husbands' murderer, Takeo Yamashiro, who was also her brother-in-law. He had betrayed and killed Maseo.

She had studied for the intervening years since Maseo's death. Martial arts and the use of a Katana. The Katana used to slay her family. The sword, while a bitter reminder of her husbands' fate, was also a source of comfort. It allowed Tatsu to communicate with him through the sword. In fact, all the souls of those killed by it were trapped inside the Soultaker.

She had no place to stay once she arrived in California, but knew fate would guide her.

She picked up her duffle bag, and weapons bag. No weapons on her person, in today's security conscience world most of the possessions that she had left would be stowed away in a special area of the plane.

She hailed a cab once she reached the street. She was on her way to destiny.

Gopher completed the necessary course work for school that would allow him to go with the crew for two weeks. He loved location shooting.

Irwin worked feverishly on his new cameras, and on a new project . . . his old Cheeks the Toy Wonder doll.

Dane completed his project, and prepared his equipment for the journey.

Norm and Marla and the director prepared things for the shoot.

Simon and Eric visited their father. They assured him that things would turn around for him soon. He was less than assured, and told Simon as much before he left.

So Dane had agreed to go to the Caribbean with a movie troop to train its stars and stuntmen in the fine art of hand weapons. He had been a swordsman for more years than he cared to remember. He had always loved the Errol Flynn swashbuckling movies of old. He took that love and transformed it into a hobby that had made him one of the best hand weapons experts in the world.

As he approached the parking area, he saw the jet that was set to take them to their location. "Geez . . . I see they spared no expense . . . or something like that," he mumbled to himself. In front of him was the biggest private jet he had ever seen.

"We what?" Dan shot back. He was busy packing his equipment towards the rear of the passenger cabin.

"You guys are featured in the 'So, from what we hear . . . ' page. They're talking about the Blue Devil suit."

"Lemme see that, Gopher," Dan said as he snatched the magazine away from Eddie.

James Jesse, the co-constructor of the Blue Devil suit, pulled his attention away from the schematics of the suit he was looking at. "What's it say. Not a lot I hope, considering nobody should know anything about it yet."

"Let's see," Dan said as he leafed through the magazine. "Here we go . . . 'The suit boosts Cassidy's already impressive acrobatic skills a hundredfold.'"

James laughed. "Keep going."

"'Even steel-reinforced walls cannot withstand the power of the device. His partner in mechanical crime, James Jesse, estimates that the suit is at least as durable as a heavy tank.'"

Dan flipped through the pages a little more. "They hit just about everything that we put into it. Great."

James looked at Dan, smiled and said, "You know . . . if I didn't work with you on this, I might feel inclined to steal it."

Dan looked up from the magazine . . . "You know . . . I just thought that as well. Kinda like deja vu . . . "

Java was told to stay out of sight, and that's what he did. He simply watched the man go into and out of the temple for a couple days, making sure that nothing came out with him that might disrupt the plans that his employer had.

He had spent the last few days working his way into the temple. He had finally found a way in that didn't require him disturbing anything that he didn't have to. A pushed aside door here or there, and a few larger rocks that blocked entrances.

Once inside the main temple, He had worked his way into the main chamber with little effort. There were tables, or maybe they were alters lining the walls. There were also quite a variety of images carved into the stone walls. He looked at them using the light from his flashlight.

"Looks like this place was used for some nasty rituals," he said to nobody in particular.

Rex had seen a lot in his 40 plus years on Earth, but nothing prepared him for what happened next.

One of the images on the wall in front of him began to shimmer.

Rex froze in his tracks, and stared at the image as it began to move. It was like he was looking through a scrim. He could see what appeared to be movement, but he couldn't quite tell what was happening.

That's when he heard a hissing voice behind him.