Dr. Drakken has severely upset Shego by announcing the time and location of Kim Possible and Shego's wedding ceremony on the In-Terror-Net. Now Drakken must not only prevent some of Kim's old foes from crashing the ceremony, but he must face down and defeat the deadliest, most powerful villain of them all... the Alchemist. -KIGO-
Author's Note: Thank you to all the readers who have kept up with The Specter of Death. This is the third story in that series, after Robots & Redemption. This is a KiGo story set in the TSOD Universe approximately a year after the conclusion of TSOD itself. However, Dr. Drakken is the main protagonist, rather than Kim and Shego. I think you'll still like it. ;-)
Disclaimer: Kim Possible and all IP as it is presented in the canon animated television series is Copyright and Trademark by the Disney Company. This is a non-profit fan fiction piece.
Kim Possible: TSOD – Wedding Elements, Chapter One
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
Drew Theodore P. Lipsky, aka Doctor Drakken, winced visibly at the scream emitted by his former sidekick, current friend, and daughter-figure, Sheila Goldberg, aka Shego. Drakken was dressed in his traditional dark blue double-breasted coat and trousers with black gloves and boots. His pale blue skin was visible only at his face, which was framed by slicked-back black hair tied in a long ponytail. By contrast, Shego was dressed in a green sweater, black jeans, and black boots, to compliment her pale green and long, luxurious raven hair with an impossible green undertone.
When Shego and her fiancé, Kim Possible, had come to visit Drakken at his new lair outside of Middleton, the lair in which he worked on consulting projects for Global Justice, he had looked forward to a pleasant social call filled with karaoke and Coco-Moo. He hadn't expected this tirade out of Shego. It was taking him back to bad places in his mind, back when he and Shego were still villains and Shego would threaten him and insult his intelligence daily.
"I, uh," Drakken started to stammer. "I invited Eddie to the wedding and..."
"First off," Shego growled, her emerald eyes lit in a definable fury, "I didn't want Motor Ed invited to my wedding; he's a gay-bashing douchebag. Second off, you didn't tell just Motor Ed. You posted the time and place of the wedding on your public profile on the God-damned, mother-fucking In-Terror-Net!"
"Well," Drakken replied, squaring his shoulders and drawing upon his inner reserve of courage... all four ounces of it. "It was the easiest way to get the word to Eddie."
"Who I don't want at my wedding because he's a fucking bigot!" Shego reiterated. "But now, not only does Motor Ed know the when and where, so does every other God-damned villain on the In-Terror-Net!"
Drakken blinked a couple of times in confusion. "Okay? And?"
Shego screamed in primal rage, throwing her head back and nearly ripping her hair out of her scalp. She spun and looked at her fiancé, who was standing near her.
"Kimmie, you take over, before I cave in to the impulse of frying his ass to a crisp and feeding his carcass to Senior's shark."
Kim Possible watched as Shego stormed out of the room. Kim was dressed in a simple violet sweater and black jeans with black sneakers. Her red hair, which had been long and luxurious throughout most of her high school years, was now cut short, tapered on the sides and in the back with bangs that teased her eyebrows.
Once Shego was out of the room, Kim turned her olive eyes to meet Drakken's dark eyes.
"Drew," Kim sighed, trying her best to smile patiently at the mad scientist. "I'm sure Sheila wouldn't be anywhere near as angry if it were just her we were talking about."
Drakken's brow furrowed. "What do you mean, Possible?"
"Sheila is going to be marrying me, Drew," Kim replied, placing a gentle hand on Drakken's shoulder. "If Sheila was still a villain and was marrying another villain, she'd probably want as many villains at the wedding as possible, just to get a good fight in. But, she's marrying me. The hero who put most of the villains on the In-Terror-Net behind bars multiple times in the past six years."
Drakken rose a brow to that, still not quite understanding.
Kim closed her eyes and sighed. Obviously, another tactic was needed.
"Let's try this, Drew," Kim said, looking back up at the mad scientist. "Let's pretend it's three years ago."
"Okay," Drew nodded. Okay, thinking back to a simpler time. This he could do.
"Now," Kim began. "Let's pretend you're in your secret lair, plotting your next scheme to take over the world, when you find out that Ron and I are getting married. By sheer brilliance on your part, you've discovered not only when the wedding is going to be, but where."
"You and who?" Drakken asked, scratching his head.
Kim shook her head. Drakken could never remember Ron's name. "Not an important detail. Just that I'm getting married and that now you know when and where it's going to be."
Drakken thought for a few moments. "Okay, I follow you."
"You're still a villain and I've been thwarting each and every one of your ingenious plots for the last three years," Kim added. "Now you know where I'm going to be while I'm going to be the least on my game, because I'm going to be emotionally invested in my wedding. How would you use that information?"
Drakken closed his eyes and waved his hand as if it were no big deal. "Sheer simplicity itself, Possible. I would have Shego steal the components I needed to build a nefarious new ray gun designed to entrap everyone at the wedding, including you, in blocks of solid ice. You would be powerless to stop me, since you wouldn't want to risk anyone at your ceremony by battling either me or Shego. Once I had you in my grasp, I could begin the pleasure of exacting a much deserved revenge on you..."
As Drakken opened his eyes to gaze on Kim with evil glee, he saw her standing akimbo, a knowing smirk on her face.
Drakken blinked a couple of times while realization settled into his brain.
"Oh," he finally muttered. "Ooooooh!"
"What is preventing the other villains from doing that to me now?" Kim asked.
"Um, Shego?" Drakken replied, tapping two index fingers together in an abashed slouch. "Um, everyone on the In-Terror-Net knows to not upset her..."
"Drew," Kim said softly, drawing Drakken's eyes to her own. "Sheila is going to be in a wedding gown. A magnificently beautiful wedding gown. I haven't seen it, since I'm taking on the role of the groom-figure and the groom isn't supposed to see the gown until the day of the wedding. But Monique has promised me that it's going to make my head swim. And the Seniors donated it to Sheila. Can you imagine what sort of gown would be so expensive that we had to ask the Seniors to spring for it?"
Drakken gulped at that thought. "Wait, aren't the Seniors paying for the whole wedding?"
"You get my point, Drew," Kim replied. "The thing is, Sheila is going to be in a gown that she couldn't possibly effectively fight in, even if she wanted to. And she isn't going to want to. She's going to want to keep that dress and give it to our daughter. Drew, both Sheila and I are going to be sitting ducks. And now all of the villains have the information they need to plot their revenge against me. And they might be willing to hurt Sheila in order to hurt me."
Drakken slumped his shoulders in shame. "I should have thought of that."
Kim smiled thinly and gave Drakken's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "It's okay, Drew. We'll just have to reschedule the wedding, that's all. Just don't go announcing the new date to all of the villains. That's all we're asking."
"If Shego will still invite me now," Drakken sighed and turned his head away, obviously sad.
"I'll talk to Sheila," Kim said. "I'll have to give her some time to cool down, but she'll listen to reason once she's fumed for a little bit and mostly likely sparred with me for an hour or two. It was an honest mistake, I'm sure. I'll make sure you can still come to the wedding."
Drakken nodded, still not looking at Kim.
"Look, I better go check on Sheila and make sure she's okay," Kim explained, releasing the mad scientist's shoulder. "We'll probably be heading out now. Try to cheer yourself up. I heard there's a new karaoke lounge in Upperton that hasn't heard your voice yet. You might head there, sing your heart out, enjoy some Coco-Moo. I'll even see if I can con Sheila into coming with me and we'll meet you there tonight?"
"I would like that," Drakken said, looking up and risking a small, sad smile.
Kim flashed a crooked smile and punched Drakken's shoulder playfully. "You got it, then. Catch you later then, Drew."
Kim started to turn away to exit the room when something flashed in Drakken's mind.
"Wait, Possible," Drakken said. "Go get Shego and bring her back in here. I have something to show you two."
"I'm right here, Doc," Shego said, walking back into the room. "And, no, Princess, I'm not going to any karaoke tonight. Not after what Drewbie did."
Kim stuck her tongue out at her fiancé. "Don't make me cash in some of those favors you owe me."
"What?" Shego stopped and blinked disbelievingly at Kim. "There's a huge difference between you doing the dishes on my night and me going to karaoke with Doctor D."
"But I thought you liked karaoke nights with me, Shego," Drakken said.
Shego snorted in response.
Kim smiled devilishly. "You're right, there is. That's why I'm willing to cash in all 15 nights of dishes you owe me for this one night of karaoke."
"15?!" Shego meeped, stiffening up. "God damn, I need to do dishes more often."
Kim smirked. "You're right. You do."
"Okay, fine," Shego sighed. "We'll go to karaoke night. But only because I love to hear you sing, Cupcake. And you're calling in a huge number of favors to do it."
Kim strode up to Shego, wrapped her arms across Shego's shoulders, and kissed Shego softly. "I love you, Sheila."
"I love you too, Kimmie," Shego replied softly. "But I'm still pissed at Drew." Shego then glanced up balefully at Drakken. "Okay, Doc. What the hell did you want to show us?"
Drakken nodded and strode over to a nearby display case. He reached inside of the case and drew out a purple ray gun.
"You remember how you two asked me to look into ways that the two of you might be able to have children?" Drakken asked.
"Yeah," Kim replied, subconsciously reaching up to stroke Shego's cheek, even though Kim was looking at Drakken. "I also remember how you said you were going to need time to go over DNAmy's notes, since Monkey Fist killed her and she can no longer help you on such a thing."
"Well, I have a prototype of a device that just might be able to aid you," Drakken said proudly. He held up the ray gun. "Behold, the Alpha-Wave Gene Recombinator!"
Both Kim and Shego blinked a couple of times, then turned to each other. They blinked a couple of times and then turned back to Drakken.
"Okay," Kim finally ventured. "What does this... Alpha-Widget Gene Comb-thingie do?"
"The Alpha Wave Gene Recombinator!" Drakken corrected. "I swear, Possible, you're as bad with remembering my inventions' names as Shego is with remembering your sidekick's name."
Shego started to open her mouth remind Drakken that not only was it him who couldn't ever remember Ron's name, but also that Ron had passed away almost two years ago. But Shego decided against it and simply sighed resignedly.
"As you will see shortly," Drakken continued, cackling maniacally, "with the Alpha-Wave Gene Recombinator, I can take two creatures and combine them genetically into one creature."
Punching a button on a nearby console, Drakken caused a section of the wall to turn and reveal a cow and a pig. The cow looked up and mooed curiously, while the pig continued to munch away at the slop in the trough in front of it.
"Behold, the genius that is the Alpha-Wave Gene Recombinator!" Drakken declared, aiming the ray gun and firing it.
Kim and Shego watched in shock, amazement, and more than a little bit of horror, as the ray beam enveloped the two farm animals and in a bright flash of light, revealed a new, singular creature. It had the head and forefront of a pig, the hind end of a small cow, and long horns on its head. The poor creature teetered precariously on an engorged udder.
Shego stood, slack-jawed, pointing absently at the new amalgam creature as Kim scrunched her face in disgust and convulsed violently.
Drakken spun around and beamed proudly at the two women. "So, what do you think?"
Shego's eyes twitched noticeably. She was apparently unable to pull herself from her slack-jawed pose. Kim took a deep breath and steeled herself.
"You developed this... invention... in order to help Shego and I have children?" Kim asked carefully.
"Indeed, I did!" Drakken replied, his smile speaking volumes for his pride. "With the Alpha-Wave Gene Recombinator, we can create a child with the genes of both you and Shego. Absolutely brilliant, isn't it?"
"Um, Drew?" Kim continued, trying to be as gentle as she can. "I think... I think the idea is for Shego and I to create a third life using our genes. Not for Shego and I to combine into one person."
Drakken blinked a couple of times and turned to look at the cow-pig. "Um, well, I suppose you do have a point there. I hadn't quite worked that into the Alpha-Wave Gene Recombinator's concept..."
Shego facepalmed herself and fell back onto the floor. Kim simply chuckled and shook her head.
"It was a good first try, Drew," Kim smiled, trying to play the role of the optimist. "Maybe once you get the kinks worked out, the Gene thing will be a marketable invention. But Shego and I were hoping for something more personal. Like a means for one of us to bear the children naturally. Like a retro-virus or something."
"Well, um, yes," Drakken muttered, glancing sadly at his ray gun. "About that. You see, that is going to take a few more years of me studying DNAmy's notes, assuming that they're even complete enough for me to get a full understanding of what she was capable of doing..."
Kim stepped up to Drakken and put a hand on his shoulder. Drakken glanced up to see Kim smiling at him.
"Drew, there's no rush," Kim said. "It's not like Sheila and I want the baby right this second. While you do your research, Sheila and I will enjoy the first few years of our married life for ourselves. When she and I are ready to have children, I'm more than certain that you'll have worked out how to help us get them. Trust me, if anyone can do it, you can."
Drakken smiled meekly. Kim was always so positive and reassuring. Why couldn't Shego be that way?
Shego finally stood up and snorted. "Well, as charming as these family moments are, I'd like to get out to this new lounge and get tonight done and over with. I want to hear Kimmie sing sweet nothings to me from stage while I block Doc out."
"I caught that, Shego," Drakken smirked. "I may be absent-minded, but I have senses like a hawk. I caught that subtle slam."
"Good, cause I meant it... Drewbie!" Shego laughed, sticking her tongue out at Drakken.
"And I wish you wouldn't call me that!" Drakken huffed. "I'm not a child anymore!"
"Neither am I," Kim added, "but I've warmed to Princess, Pumpkin, and Cupcake." Kim then turned to Shego. "And you, m'lady, quit provoking the poor man. You remember what Drew's doctor said about his nerves."
Shego nodded grimly at that. Six months ago, Drakken had been diagnosed with a stress disorder that affected his heart. Too much stress and he was liable to suffer a heart attack. As much as Shego found Drakken annoying, she still loved him like a father... yes, she was ready to admit that and had done so a little over a year ago when she saw the man in ICU after the villain Electronique blew up his lair... and she didn't want to see Drakken die. Shego was sure she couldn't handle it.
Kim turned back to Drakken. "Sheila and I are going to swing by our house here in town so we can get dressed for tonight. We'll swing back by to pick you up and then we'll go sing our hearts out."
Drakken smiled at that. Kim smiled back, gave Drakken's shoulder one last reassuring squeeze, then turned and walked with Shego out the lab door.
As the door shut, Drakken sighed and looked at his ray gun. "Well, you were a good try," he admitted. "But I guess it's back to the drawing board."
With that, Drakken turned and aimed the ray gun at the cow-pig and fired. The beam hit the amalgam creature and exploded in a bright flash of light. When the light cleared, the cow and the pig were once again separate creatures.
"Now I have to figure out a way to sell these back to the farmers' market without them being wise to my experimentation," Drakken mused lamentably.
The lounge turned out to be nice, very nice, much nicer than any of the other lounges to which Drakken had gone. But, then again, he was usually content to remain in Middleton to sing karaoke. This was Upperton, which meant a much better venue. The cover charge had been relatively steep, but Drakken insisted on paying anyway... he owed Kim and Shego at least that much, after how he'd botched their wedding plans.
Drakken sat down on the stool that was on the stage. Tapping at the mic and smiling in satisfaction at the slight feedback, he gazed out over the audience. It was a full house, being a Friday in Upperton. The full house made Drakken feel better. He always had a good time with an attentive, involved audience.
Up at the front, Kim and Shego still sat at the table they were sharing with Drakken. Kim sat attentively, wearing a beautiful pink dress, smiling encouragingly up at the mad scientist, who was still dressed in his "villain attire." Shego was dressed in a provocative green and black minidress and was turning heads, but she was trying her best to block everyone out and tolerate the evening by nursing the drink on the table in front of her.
Drakken smiled gently back down at the two women and then cleared his throat.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Drakken began. "I dedicate this song to someone very special. You see, I met her just a little over ten years ago, when I was a shadow of the man I was to eventually become."
Suddenly, Shego was looking up in surprised shock at Drakken.
"You see, she was barely a teenager then," Drakken continued. "A wisp of a woman. She was beloved by the media and her fans, but she was lost and confused. So I took her in and gave her a home. I chose to make her a part of my evil family. Since then, I have watched her grow up into a strong and independent woman. I wouldn't be where I am today if it hadn't been for her. And now... now I get to watch her get married to the person that she has grown to love. Arrogantly, like a father, I'll watch it with pride and a little bit of sorrow. I'd like to think that I've taught her all that she knows about villainy and being a leader. But the truth is, she's taught me everything I know about being a man. This is for you, Shego."
With that, Drakken cued the music, which started playing. It was a soft and gentle song with a prominent piano melody. Shego's eyes went wide as she recognized the song. Drakken allowed opening bridge to run its course before he leaned into the mic and started singing.
I can't remember when you weren't there
When I didn't care for anyone but you
I swear we've been through everything there is
Can't imagine anything we've missed
Can't imagine anything the two of us can't do
Through the years, you've never let me down
You've turned my life around, the sweetest days I've found
I've found with you... Through the years
I've never been afraid, I've loved the life we've made
And I'm so glad I've stayed, right here with you
Through the years
I can't remember what I used to do
Who I trusted, who I listened to before
I swear you taught me everything I know
Can't imagine needing someone so
But through the years it seems to me
I need you more and more
Through the years, through all the good and bad
I know how much we had, I've always been so glad
To be with you... Through the years
It's better every day, you've kissed my tears away
As long as it's okay, I'll stay with you
Through the years
Through the years, when everything went wrong
Together we were strong, I know that I belong
Right here with you ... Through the years
I never had a doubt, we'd always work things out
I've learned what life's about, by loving you
Through the years
Through the years, you've never let me down
You've turned my life around, the sweetest days I've found
I've found with you ... Through the years
It's better every day, you've kissed my tears away
As long as it's okay, I'll stay with you
Through the years...
Drakken closed his eyes and allowed the closing bridge to run its course before standing up and stepping off of the stage.
"Thank you, thank you!" Drakken called to the rest of the audience. "You're too kind!"
With that, Drakken sat down at the table with Kim and Shego.
As the next singer approached the stage, both Kim and Shego looked at Drakken. Kim was smiling brightly. Shego... Shego was absolutely speechless.
"Not a bad showing of myself, if I do say so myself," Drakken smiled, glancing between the two women.
"That was beautiful," Kim breathed. Drakken wasn't as good at holding a note as Shego was by any stretch of the imagination. But Kim knew the song and the thought behind Drakken singing it to Shego had been... beautiful.
Shego suddenly broke down crying.
Drakken's heart sank. "Sh... Shego?"
"Doc," Shego gasped, trying to reign in her emotions. "Did... you really mean all of that?"
"Well, it was hard to express those sentiments before, between snide comments, kicks, and flaming punches," Drakken admitted. "But, yes, I did mean those words. When I took you in, I thought I was doing you a favor. Instead, you made me a better man. Even if you hadn't meant to."
Shego shook her head. "No, I meant to. I knew you could do so much better, be it as a villain or whatever. And eventually you did. That you're saying all of this now, it means so much... Oh, God, I hate mushy stuff in public. This is so fucking embarrassing!"
Kim smiled and took Shego into her arms, letting the ex-villainess cry softly into her shoulder. Kim then looked at Drakken and mouthed out the words "Thank You" silently to the mad scientist.
Drakken waved the words off. "Bah! How do you kids say it these days? No big? Besides, that was just me finally getting the courage to finally say what I should have said years ago."
Kim smiled, understanding.
"Oh, by the way, I've come to an executive decision," Drakken suddenly said.
"This is a good lounge?" Kim wagered a guess.
Drakken chuckled. "Well, that too. But what I was going to say is that you shouldn't change your wedding date."
Kim blinked and looked at Drakken curiously. "Que?"
Drakken nodded. "Don't change your wedding date. I don't want you two to go through that much stress because of something stupid that I did. I'll keep vigil over the ceremony and make sure none of the villains crash it. I've got the technology and the henchmen to do it. It's the least I can do."
Kim smiled gratefully at Drakken, still comforting Shego. She had finally settled into just snuggling into Kim's shoulder. After a couple of songs, Shego reached across the table and took Drakken's hand into her own.
Drakken knew at that point all was right in the world.
In a dark, cavernous room, a lone figure stood at a giant computer console, glancing over the contents of the screen. Despite the shadows of the room, a toothy grin could still be seen creeping across the figure's face.
"Ah, so she is going to be getting married," the figure said. "That amuses us. We killed her first love. It shall be nothing for us to kill her second love. We shall attend this wedding. Then we shall finish what we started twelve years ago."
With that, the figure turned, a billowing cape trailing behind it, as it strode out of the room and into the darkness.
[END CHAPTER ONE]
Note: The song that Drakken sings is Through The Years by Kenny Rogers. Can you imagine John DiMaggio singing that song? Hah!