Atlanta, Georgia

A redheaded woman opened the door of a corner cafe close to her family home.

At the ringing bell the owner of the cafe, Keisha Taylor, broke into a blinding smile and quickly rounded the counter to enthusiastically hug her favorite customer.

"Shana Honey! Oh My God I am so happy to see you! God Child I have missed you!"

Shana O'Hara, code name Scarlett, hugged back with equal fervor. Leaning back she grinned back at her lifelong family friend. Adoring the glow in her chocolate brown cheeks and the sparkle in her beautiful brown eyes.

"Missed you too Keisha! This place looks fantastic! Dad told me you've been doing great! I'm so happy for you!"

Keisha's plump cheeks blushed and she said, "I've been truly blessed. Customers like your Dad and brothers helped me build my dream. I've been very lucky."

"Luck had nothing to do with it. You are an amazing cook, smart, strong and have an incredible work ethic. You busted your ass for this place and you deserve all the success you can handle."

"Girl, you are going to swell my head so much I won't be able to fit through the door. Let's sit down and catch up, but first, what can I get you?"

Scarlett grinned, "Do you even need to ask?"

"Pecan pie and hot chocolate?"

"You know me well!"

"You got it, Joey? Pecan pie and hot chocolate for my friend please."

They sat at a table and in the kitchen, a young man smiled as he sprinkled a powder into the hot chocolate.

Near Osaka, Japan

The Cobra Ninja known as Storm Shadow entered his retreat on alert.

The grounds around the small house looked disturbed. Looking around, his dark intense eyes missed nothing.

Everything appeared to be in place

Storm Shadow sighed as he put down his bag. Life as a Cobra operative tends to wear on ones nerves and could make one paranoid.

But that was precisely why he was here. He needed the quiet of his personal retreat to relax . He was so tired of battles, war...all of it.

He opened a small cabinet and lit a stick of incense, then blowing it out to smolder as he knelt to meditate.

He breathed deeply as he let his body relax. He felt so deeply relaxed he didn't realize the incense smelled...off until it was too late.

His vision blurring, he staggered towards the incense, but fell when within arm's length and lost consciousness.

Somewhere in the Louisiana Bayou

Zartan reclined in his chair, regarding the box containing his latest payment from Coming bra Commander.

It had been hand delivered by a robot, which was highly unusual but who cared?

He opened the box and was caught by surprise as a noxious gas blasted him in the face.

Zartan coughed and choked, his eyes watering until he succumbed to the gas and passed out.

A log cabin in the High Sierras

Snake Eyes was chopping wood outside his cabin, enjoying the crisp, clean air and the cleansing effect it had on his mind.

He was a loner, had been for a very long time. Even among his teammates, he really wasn't close to anyone...except her.

He gave his head a shake. 'Don't go there man. She is so not in your league.'

He saw Duke flirt with her, but knew it really wouldn't go anywhere. Duke was very popular with the ladies, and was not serious about her.

She was fierce...in her confidence, in her beauty, and in battle. He admired and respected her immensely.

Hence why he would never approach her...to saddle such an incredible woman with him...no. He did not deserve her.

All of the sudden he tensed.

He had been so lost in his thoughts of what could never be his normally sharp intuition was distracted and now a prickle of danger flooded his senses.

Too late, the dart hit him before he could react and he quickly lost consciousness.

Meanwhile in Atlanta

Shana and Keisha sat at a table and chatted as she ate her pecan pie.

"Okay honey, have you snagged yourself a man yet?"

Shana smiled, "No. There is one guy who flirts. He's strong, handsome, but I just don't feel..."

"In love?"

Shana nodded

"There's no one who gives you all the warm tinglies?"

Shana blushed, "Well there is one guy. He is protective, gentle mysterious. He has always been there to help me with training, support, friendship...I just wish..."

"Wish what honey?"

"He was injured in a chopper accident years ago, his face was burnt and scarred, he wears a mask to hide his face. He keeps everyone at arm's length. I wish he would let me in..."

"You want to be a lot more than friends with him, don't you?"

Shana gave a wry smile, "Am I that obvious?"

Keisha took a sip of her coffee with a smile, "A little. Well I have full confidence it will work out. That your dark knight will carry you into the sunset."

Shana laughed, "You always were a hopeless romantic."

"Hopeful romantic honey, hopeful."

Shana brought her hand to her head suddenly and looked a bit distressed.

"You okay honey?"

"I'm feeling a bit dizzy, think I'll go home and lay down."

"Let me walk you home Shay."

Shana waved her off, "You have a business to run. I'll be fine, it's only a couple of blocks."

"Are you sure?" At her nod she remained concerned. "All right but you text or call when you get home safely, you hear?"

"We will go to dinner later, Italian?"

"Bring on the pasta!"

Shana grinned and left.

As she walked she felt less and less steady. Finally having to stop and lean against the wall beside an alley way as her vision swam.

'What the hell is wrong with me?'

She tried to take a step but her legs started to give out and she was sinking to her knees. Just as a man's arm snaked out to grab her and pull her into the dark alley.