Author's notes: Sorry about taking so long to post this next story, but between my 'puter going to silicon heaven and personal stuff, it's been difficult. Thanks, as always, goes to Love Robin, my beta reader, and all of the people at the kpslashhaven forum, where I post my rough drafts. Everything right, credit goes to Love Robin, everything wrong, the blame falls squarely on my shoulders.
CHAPTER I
one
Wind tore at Kim's hair, ruffling mission clothes while plummeting earthward from the Global Justice jet which was her ride. The passage of the air stung tears from her eyes, and roared in her ears with the unique song that was free fall. She looked up to see Shego in her familiar green harlequin cat suit, the sun playing along the design, looking back at her. Suddenly, the pale woman flashed an all too rare smile, as big and as goofy as any which Ron ever wore. The smile softened the malachite woman's normally sharp features with an expression of pure joy as they careened earthward. The woman's black painted lips moved, but the words were torn away with their rushing passage through air normally still. "What!" the teen shouted.
The former thief's mouth moved once more. Once more the younger skydiver failed to hear. Making an adjustment to her posture, spreading arms wider, subtly increasing her surface area, Kim slowed enough to lift to the other's side. "What was that!"
"I said...," the pale woman repeated, "...that I love that moment right before you open a 'chute! Don't you!"
Laughing, the redhead nodded agreement, eyeballing their altitude from horizon and swiftly expanding ground, reluctantly reaching for her release. There was an altimeter function on her Kimmunicator watch, but when Ron was not along she preferred relying upon her own instincts and senses; flying by the seat of her pants. Her companion also reached. Parachutes, hunter green and sky-blue, simultaneously opened and an island below them went from rushing upward at break-neck rate to drifting toward them at a lazily sedate pace.
"Almost a shame to open that 'chute. It ends that rush you get from free fall, but the view...the view makes it worth while." Shego said, as they drifted down, still grinning. "That, and the butt kicking we're about to perform!"
Kim grinned tightly, and focused, looking for any surprises or booby traps on the way down. While Señor Senior Senior was not her most dangerous foe, he was highly intelligent, and rich beyond all belief. He also did not make some of the mistakes that other villains did, as he was sane. Any he did make were of the classic variety, though, and on purpose as it was "traditional". For him, villainy was a hobby he took up, thanks to Ron, to fill his twilight years. This caper though, was bizarre beyond all reckoning.
two
The four toned beep sounded from her Kimmunicator, bringing her out of a dead sleep. Not the sleep of the innocent, she smiled to herself, looking over at the other two occupants in the bed, but of the exhausted. Grabbing her robe, wrapping it on while getting up, she activated her watch once modesty was satisfied. "Hey Wade, what's the sitch?"
"Hi, Kim. There's been seismic activity emanating from Señor Senior Senior's private island, slowly building in intensity. He's demanded every man, woman, and child on earth pay him one penny, or he's going to create a tsunami of epic proportions. He said that the money wasn't important, it was just to show that he could do it," explained the heavy set, African American youth who was her tech specialist.
"Weird, that's not really his style. I'll grab Shego, and let Ron have a break, he's really been overusing his Powers, lately. Have my ride pick me up here at Shego's, please and thank you!"
three
Right before hitting the jungle canopy, Shego swiped a plasma covered claw across harnass straps as Kim shrugged out of her own shoulder straps. Both used the tree branches and foliage to slow themselves down, before rolling to perfect landings, alert, and ready for any attacks or traps that might be present. They slowly straightened when it became apparent that nothing was going to spring on them.
"You know, if he's going to drag us all the way out here, he could've at least made things interesting with a trap or three!" Shego complained, looking disappointed.
"I know. This isn't like him at all. Something is really weird about this mission!"
to be continued...
