Disclaimer: The characters featured in this story of mine are the creations of Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle. That's about it, really. Oh, yeah, there's something in there about Disney, too, but don't worry about that.

Chapter 1 - You'll Never Find...

(...a lair...Tuesday morning...)

The location is, as expected, very cavernous. All the better for the laughter to reverberate. If there was one thing he loved about his work, it was the maniacal laughter...even when it was much ado about little. In his mind, his plans were masterworks of genius. The well of his mind bore many ideas, plots and schemes for taking over the world. Even when they failed, he was raring to try another. Unfortunately for Dr. Drakken...

"Shego!"

...the well has run dry.

"Shego!"

"What?!"

"Come here!"

Shego walks in and sits at a table. Drakken gets up from his chair and walks around.

"As you know, I am always ready with a plan for world domination; a scheme that will bring the world to its knees!"

"Uh huh, and let me guess: this is the part where you tell me about your latest 'great plan'?", Shego remarked, using air quotes.

Drakken raises his finger, ready to speak...but he quickly drops his hand.

"Actually, this is the part where I tell you that I can't think of anything."

Shego looks at Drakken.

"You're serious?"

"Pretty much."

"So, I can go on vacation?", the green and black-clad woman perked.

"No! Besides, you're not due for a vacation until July."

Shego lets out an exhausted sigh as she slumps back in her chair.

"Between the two of us, I'm sure we'll think of something."

(...the halls of Middleton High...a couple of hours later...)

A gaggle of students roam about. Josh stands at his locker and puts his books inside. He closes the door and sees Bonnie leaning against the wall.

"Hey, Josh", she said, flashing a smile.

"Hi, Bonnie."

"You know about the dance this Friday, right?"

"Of course."

"I just can't wait. You know what would make the dance even better?"

"What's that?"

"If I had someone to go with me." She leans in close to him and winks.

"Wow. I'm flattered, Bonnie, but I'm afraid I've got other plans."

Bonnie's eyes went wide at this news; she was not a girl to whom guys said 'no'. The excitement and passion in her voice faded away.

"Oh."

"I'm sure you'll have fun without me."

"Yeah, sure."

Josh walks away.

"See you later, Bonnie."

"See you."

Bonnie shuffles down the hall, oblivious to the crowd around her.

'How in the world could Josh reject me? We're made for each other. This will not stand.'

An expression of anger and determination fills Bonnie's face as she runs through the hall.

(...Drakken's lair...an hour later...)

The blue-skinned mad genius paces while Shego files her nails.

"I can't believe this. In four hours, we haven't come up with even a half-decent plan."

"You see, that's not entirely true."

"How do you mean?", Drakken said as he stopped pacing.

"About an hour ago, when you thought of filling the air with knockout gas, but then the logistics got in the way."

"Oh, yes."

Drakken continued his pace. After a few moments, he stops.

"You know, I am thisclose to just chucking the whole damn thing and going back to baking."

Shego stops filing and looks up at Drakken.

"Whoa. You used to bake?"

"As a hobby, then I got a job in college before...the unpleasantness."

Shego's chuckling arouses his attention.

"What's so funny?"

"I'm just trying to picture you in the get-up; with the white apron and that ridiculous hat."

"I'm so glad that you're enjoying this."

"Well, excuse me. So, what did you bake?"

"What didn't I bake? Pies, cakes, all kinds of pastries. My specialty were these cookies with fruit filling. They were--"

The look on Drakken's face turns to one of sudden realization.

"That's it."

"What's it?"

"My latest scheme!"

(...Middleton High...a few hours later...)

The students make their way out the front door. Tara walks out next to Brick, but she seems detached from her surroundings.

"Next season can't come fast enough. We are gonna kick so much..."

As they continue walking, Brick notices Tara's far-off look.

"Tara, is everything all right?"

"To be honest, no."

"What's wrong?"

"We've been together for a while now..."

"Five of the best months I've ever had."

"...but, well...I think we should see other people."

"What? But why?!"

Tara sighs.

"In the five months we've gone out, you haven't done one romantic thing for me."

"What about your Christmas present?"

"You got me a bowling ball...with your name on it."

"I thought you liked bowling."

"What, because we went that one time? Some first date that was."

"But you and me watched the Super Bowl."

"Yeah, you, me and your teammates! I couldn't hear the game over the shouting."

"Why didn't you say anything sooner?"

"I didn't want to hurt your feelings. You were so sweet and, for a while, I was willing to deal, but it got to be too much waiting for you to do something really romantic for me. That's what couples do."

"Tara..."

"I'm sorry, Brick."

Brick looks down as Tara walks off. She wipes away a tear.

(...a warehouse...that night...)

Two burly men load gas tanks onto a truck.

"How many more of these do we have to load?"

"Just a couple more."

The driver sits in the truck listening to the radio. Suddenly, there's a thump from outside. The driver lowers the volume and rolls down the window. He looks left, then right; the coast is clear. He notices a shadow cast on the ground. He soon makes the mistake of looking up.

"Hi."

Shego jumps to the ground and, on her way down, drags the driver out through the window. She knocks him out and jumps into the truck. She starts the engine.

"You don't need to take off yet, Vinnie! Hey, Vinnie!"

The other man looks over at Vinnie on the ground. The truck disappears down the road, guitar music drifting through the air.

"Ugh, country!"

Shego scans for a better radio station and stops on a station playing classic rock. A burst of static interrupts the drive. Shego looks over at the CB system above the radio. She picks up the receiver.

"Yeah?"

"Breaker, breaker. What's your twenty?"

"Come again?"

"Sorry, Shego. I trust you have the tanks."

"That's a 10-4. What are these gas tanks for, anyway?"

"All I can say is that they are important to my plan."

"I don't see why you can't just tell me what these are for."

"And ruin the surprise?"