I in no way profit from these writings. Kim Possible and assorted cast are the property of Walt Disney. The following fan fiction in no way reflects Disney's original intent nor its intended characterization of any of the parties, real or fictional, that are contained in this story.

This chapter gets a little dark. For those of you that have had the patience to wait for updates to my 'New Beginnings' series I started writing this because I have no experience writing things this dark and needed the practice without contaminating the original story. Any comments or suggestions are welcome to help me home those skills.

Please read and, those of you who can, enjoy. And as always R&R

The Wanderer

By: obbiejoe

Chapter 2 – Meeting Mr. Perfect.

Ron knew there wasn't much time but the habit he had developed during the last eight years had served him well so decided his first order of business should be getting the lay of the land from someone who knew what was what, in this case that meant Bob.

It took only a few minutes to get the four people, six if he counted himself and Yori, sitting at a large table that was spread with plans for what Ron recognized instantly as strike – counterstrike scenarios. As he usually did, Ron opened the discussion. "So tell me Bob, how many of Drakken's goons are around here?"

Ron watched the four locals flinch when he said 'Drakken'. Calling the so called ruler of the world by anything other than either 'Your Majesty' or 'Emperor' was punishable by death. Ron was pleased when they quickly settled down, others had not and had refused hear Drakken referred to or call him by any but the decreed titles no matter how privately they met.

He got even more hopeful when Bob answered him. "Honestly, His M… ah… Drakken doesn't have any troops stationed here any more. When the mine petered out they just left lock stock and barrel and took what ever they could carry of ours with them."

While that sounded like something Drakken would do it didn't explain a few things. "Then how did Yori get hurt? I thought it was during an attack?"

Bob was quick to explain, "Oh it was. It just wasn't from any of… Drakken's people. It was the scavengers that came in behind him. They set themselves up in the City Hall and told us the town belonged to them now, anyone who stood up to them was shot where he stood. There wasn't much we could do at the time since Drakken's people took anything that could be used as a weapon with them."

Ron steepled his fingers in front of him, it was a common story and one he had heard many times over the last eight years. Some of the roaming gangs were worse than others, some were just plain degenerates, but a couple of times, not many, but a couple, the gangs actually brought a bit of law and order back to the town. He didn't want to think about those times and the decisions he had been forced to make so he gestured to Bob to keep going so he could get a feel for the situation this town faced.

It was the woman, who had introduced herself as Mary, who picked up the story. "We've had to go so far as to hide the children Mr.…. ah…Sama. My sister's fourteen year old daughter was one of the first ones to catch their eye. They took her and kept her for almost six months before they, well, I guess they got tired of her and threw her out. She hasn't been right since we found her wandering around without a stitch on a few hours after they tossed her out."

Mary sat back in her seat fearfully when Ron's eyes flared. "Have they taken any others?"

Bob answered this time and a relieved Mary relaxed a bit when Ron shifted his attention to him. "Constantly, most times more than one at a time. That's what… ah… Miss Yori got involved in, one of their sweeps for new girls. They noticed her and five of them came to get her. We helped as much as we could but it was her that took them down all but one of them, and she did it with a broken leg."

Ron looked over at Yori and saw the small nod telling him that she was fine and that what he had heard so far was the truth. Bob's voice brought Ron's attention back to him. "We were able to hide the bodies but it's been six days or so. It's not unusual for the sweep team to take a few days to return, they like to have a few days alone with the new girl before they bring her back to the others. If they haven't missed them yet that will soon, very soon, and when they do, well, they'll send out a larger party to find them."

Ron made his decision, the Vanguard was still several hours away, hours he could spend making sure that the area around here, where he intended to bring the Possible family, was safe. Looking at Bob he asked his first post decision question. "Are all of them still holed up in the City Hall?" When he got an affirmative response he asked his second, and last, question. "And just where is this 'City Hall'."

Bob stood and turned a map around so Ron could see it and then pointed out where they were and where the City Hall was located. Ron stood and looked at Yori. "I'll be back in a little while Yori. You guys got the first five, the rest are mine."

Everyone stared open mouthed as Yori, the girl who had taken down four of those monsters by herself just smiled and bowed her head with a small, "Hai, Chosen One. I shall rest while you cleanse the town of those vermin."

As Yori stood and walked toward the cot she had been resting on earlier the others at the table grew even more fearful of the young man who had just been in their midst when he flared a dazzling blue for a moment and then… simply vanished.

As they stared at the spot where the Wanderer had been moments before they heard Yori's voice call to them from the cot. "I believe the Chosen One requested you make preparations for visitors. There will be four of them, two adults and two young men who would be almost twenty by now. They are very dear to the Chosen one and he would wish them to be comfortable when they arrive."

Yori suppressed a small giggle when the four people at the table all but tripped over themselves leaving the room. She knew they would have had suitable accommodations ready even if she had not spoken but couldn't resist the temptation. Calming herself she laid back and closed her eyes with a small smile on her face knowing that tomorrow would she would be witness to at least a little of the Chosen One's long delayed vengeance.

Across town, in an out of the way back alley, a shimmering light coalesced into the form of a young man wearing a red and black jersey. The last bit of colorful light to die was a blue swirl in the eyes of the teenager. He walked out of the alley moments later and smiled as he turned toward the large building that had, at one time, been the political center of the city.

Seeming without a care in the world the young man casually skipped up the wide stairway in front of the building with his hands in his pockets and whistling a tune under his breath. Just as he reached the top of the stairs two large men who hadn't seen a shower in months walked out of the shadows and held their hands up to stop the young man from going any further.

The young man stopped and smiled up at the two men. "Hi. I'm here to apply for the job." The two thugs looked at each other for a moment before the largest of them looked back at the young man with a snarl on his face.

"There ain't no jobs here. 'specially for someone like you."

The young man gave them a crestfallen look. "Aww gee. You mean I came all the way over here for nothing?"

The shorter of the two smiled and leaned toward the larger man whispering to him. The large man looked over at his cohort and smiled before turning to the teenager again. "Now that I think about it, there is a job we need you to do. Come with us."

The teenager smiled widely and followed the first man back into the shadows as the second man fell in behind the teen. Exactly seven seconds later the teen walked back out of the shadows whistling again as he wiped at a curious dark stain on the sleeve of his jersey. Walking up to and into the front doors of the old City Hall the teen looked around for a moment before calling out as he walked further into the building. "HELLO! IS ANYONE HERE?"

Just as her reached the old reception desk that was littered with bottles and cans, most of which having had contained alcohol at one time, another man, equally filthy entered from a hallway. "HEY! How'd you get in here? Where were Mike and Carl?"

The teen turned and indicated the door he had just entered through, "Oh, you mean those two guys outside?" When the man raised a pistol at the teen he simply smiled at him. "Ya know, they were kind of rude. They told me to do something I really, really didn't want to and when I said no they actually told me I didn't have a choice. Anyway, they got so insistent that I had to kill them."

The man with the pistol smirked at the teenage. "Yea sure, and just how did you manage to do that smart ass."

With a smile on his face the young man's hand swung up so quickly the guard hadn't even seen him begin the movement. The flash of a glowing blue blade lit the area momentarily and just as the now decapitated head of the man flew from his shoulders the teen softly said. "Like this."

As the teen walked back into the hallway the guard had come from he started to shimmer in a blue light. Before he took three steps the teen was gone and in his place was the form of the Wanderer sliding a glowing blue sword into the scabbard on his back.

The next ten minutes would have been extremely confusing to anyone who was watching the building from the outside. The sound of gunfire and yells seemed to come from every room that had been occupied at the same time. A strange blue light lit the windows seemingly at random moving from room to room and from floor to floor with no discernable pattern.

At the end of ten minutes there was silence, complete silence. Lights that had been on still blazed in the windows but none of the previously constant noise of habitation could be heard. Suddenly the doors opened and seventeen young girls dressed in rags and sheets slowly walked down the steps and into the street followed by a tall dark clad man with a sword strapped to his back.

At the edge of town, on the wooden sign that proclaimed 'Entering Woodbury' and boasted a population of ten thousand, a blue light carved letters deep into the wood. When the blue light dissipated carved in the wood beneath the population was the notation.

THIS TOWN PROTECTED BY RON STOPPABLE! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Instead of returning to the basement meeting room Ron spent the next forty five minutes making sure the girls he had released were returned to their homes. He handed each child into the arms of their elated parents after touching their forehead to remove the worst of the torment that had gone through. Not all but enough so they had a more than even chance at full recovery.

The last child he was forced to leave with a family that was not her own when he was quietly informed that her parents had been killed trying to protect her when she had been taken. The family he left her with had been neighbors and promised him they would take care of her as though she were their own and, after searching their faces, he believed them.

When he reached the basement he repeated the odd knock that his original contact had used as a signal and the door was answered once again by Mary. Mary quickly escorted him to the back room where he saw Bob and the other two who had not given him their names sitting at the table while Yori rested peacefully on the cot.

As soon as the others saw who had entered they stood. Bob looked hesitant but after a moment asked the question they were all most likely thinking. "Well, is there a chance of getting rid of them?"

Without a smile Ron sat at the table. "It's already done Bob. I'm afraid you'll have to do a bit of a cleanup at the City Hall though, none of them would willingly leave in peace. I also found several girls there and I returned them to their families."

The three men sat down quietly. It was Bob who broke the ensuing silence. "John, you better get a crew together and get started on that… cleanup. Try and start before morning if you can, the less people who see what happened in there the better. And you better pick up those other five while your at it."

One of the men stood and Ron reached out and grabbed his arm as he walked past. "Try not to include the parents of any of the girls who had been taken. There are three more of them in there who won't be going home, it was too late to help them by the time I got there." The man looked down at the stranger sitting at the table and saw the sorrow etched on his face.

He hesitantly reached down and took hold of the stranger's hand. "I understand." As soon as his arm was released he slowly made his way out of the room and Ron heard the outer door close softly moments later.

Ron looked over at Bob who was staring at the tabletop. "Bob? I'm going to get the Possible's in a second. Where should I bring them. Here?"

Bob looked up and wiped his eyes before he answered. "Ah… No. We've got a few people getting one of the vacant houses ready for them. Miss Yori told us there would be four of them, is that right?"

Ron lifted his hand toward the Northeast again and the remaining two men again witnessed the strange blue glow for a moment before Ron answered. "Actually, it looks like there are six, another older man and a young woman. I think Mr. Possible's brother and his daughter are with them, will that be a problem?"

Bob rose from the table. "No. Not at all Mr.… ah… Stoppable. The house is large enough so even you and Miss Yori can stay there if you want. It's the large white house five door east of here, you can't miss it it's the only white one on the block."

Ron Rose and held out his hand. "Thanks Bob. And please, call me Ron, Mr. Stoppable was my father."

Taking Ron's hand in the offered shake Bob forced a smile clearly understanding what Ron implied by 'was' his father. "No problem at all… Ron. And thank you for, well, all you've done so far."

Ron's eyes reflected sorrow again. "I only did what I absolutely had to Bob. I just wish there had been another way."

Twenty minutes later a muted blue light formed into a human shape a quarter mile from the mine where Ron knew there were people hiding. He didn't want to just appear in their midst since, if he was right, it was the Possible family and he was sure Jim and Tim would have a few surprises ready for any uninvited guests. As soon as the form was solid it took off at a jog directly toward the mine.

Tim Possible looked up from the old scavenged TV monitor he was staring at and poked his brother who was nodding off beside him. "Hey Jim, wake up. It looks like we have company coming." Jim Possible quickly confirmed what his brother saw on the dusty screen and quickly stood and made his way back to the living area they had hastily set up in the old mine.

Three minutes later James, Anna, Slim and Joss Possible had joined Jim and Tim at the mouth of the mine. Each of them was carrying makeshift weapons that had been fashioned and built by Jim and Tim. Tim whispered quietly. "I know someone's out there but somehow they're not showing on the screen anymore." He reached for a small pad of buttons next to his 'watch station'. "Should I flush them out?"

James Possible was about to answer when a strangely familiar voice called out. "Hello the mine. Don't set off any of the explosives Tim. I'm a friend."

James looked around at the others and saw each of them nod at him in turn. Quickly getting over the shock that whoever had called out not only knew about the explosives they had buried but knew they were about to set them off the Possible family had decided to take a chance, but each of them raised their makeshift weapons toward the sound of the voice. Taking a chance was one thing, being foolish was another thing completely.

James raised his head slightly, but just slightly. "Who is it? If you're a friend show yourself."

The voice called out immediately. "Okay Mr. Dr. P. I'm coming out. Just be careful where you aim those things, I never really trusted anything the tweebs put together."

Anna Possible gasped and she quickly turned to look at her husband who was already looking at her. "It does sound a little like him." He whispered as Anna's eyes began to water slightly. It was Joss who yelled out next unaware of the hopeful look that had just passed between Anna and James. "Just keep your hands up varmint and sashay out into the open where we can see you."

The voice answered with a chuckle. "Okay Joss, I'm sashaying." Moment later a tall shape walked around the side of the one remaining building with his hands above his head. When he got to within ten feet of the entrance of the mine he called out again. "Hold your fire, I'm going to take my hat off."

When he did there was a collective gasp from the Middleton Possible's and James had to reach down to keep Anna from rushing over the barricade they were couched behind. "No Anna, we can't be sure yet. You know how tricky Drakken can be. That could be one of those Syntho-drones like Eric." When Anna relaxed James called out again. "How do we know it's really you?"

The figure standing outside the entrance of the mine smiled. "Well, Syntho guys don't bleed right?" Everyone raised their weapons again when the figure outside the mine pulled the sword from his back. The figure then slid the edge of the sword across his other hand opening a gash that bled bright red even in the dimness of the evening. They all heard the exclamation. "Owww. Man that hurts."

Five minutes later Ron was sitting inside the mine and while Anna bandaged the cut on his hand he was talking to James, Slim and Joss. Tim and Jim were still at the entrance watching the TV screen. "Like I said, I can't explain everything right now, they'll be here by morning. I have to get you guys into town and get back out here before they do."

The reunion had been emotional but short lived when Ron explained his reason for being there. It was Slim that voiced the obvious. "Well, if they're coming here why in the dickens do you want to come back out here sport?"

Ron looked at Slim. "They're just an advanced party Mr. Slim. I have to make sure they're… ah… taken care of before I go after the Vanguard."

Everyone that heard that statement flinched. They were well aware of what the Vanguard was, they had been only one step ahead of them for years. Anna stopped bandaging Ron's hand and stared up at him. "The Vanguard? You can't face the Vanguard Ron, not alone. We just found each other again we can't loose you now."

Ron looked at Anna and smiled. Then he held up the hand she had just bandaged and unwrapped the meticulously wound bandage. "Don't worry Mrs. Dr. P. I'll be fine." Everyone gasped as the still seeping slice on Ron's hand glowed blue for a moment before sealing up leaving clean unblemished skin behind.

It took another three hours and a bit more convincing before Ron and Yori were headed back to the mine in the truck the Possible's had been using. Yori looked over at Ron. "What is your plan Stoppable-sama?"

Ron looked back at her. "Well, I kind of had to change it a bit Yori. Originally I was going to have you just be there to cheer me on, you know, kind of like a cheerleader. Besides you deserve to be in on this from the beginning considering… ah…." Ron looked at the jagged scar on Yori's left cheek that she absolutely refused to have him remove. "Everything, ya know. But now I'm afraid I have a special job for you. You have to keep and eye on someone and keep them safe."

As Yori looked quizzically at Ron he pulled to the side of the road and stopped. Opening his window he called out. "You may as well ride up here with us Joss. The road's a little bumpy form here on."

Three minutes later Ron was once again headed toward the mine but there were three people in the cab now instead of two. Joss was looking at Ron around Yori. "How'd ya-all know I was back thar Ron? I know ya didn't see me climb in."

Ron simply smiled but Yori answered her question cryptically. "The Chosen One had ways of knowing things Joss-san." As she turned to Joss with a smile she added. "I have found it best to just… ah… 'go with the flow?' when he is involved or I would be filled with unanswered questions."

An hour later the sun was beginning to brighten the sky as Joss, Yori and Ron sat just inside the entrance of the mine finishing sandwiches Ron had prepared and brought with them when Ron stood and looked out at the brightening sky. "They're here." Was all he said.

Ron was standing in the shadow of the mine entrance watching three forms make their way toward him without any attempt at stealth. The red and black suited form in the center swept his arms to both sides and the two eight foot tall battle droids immediately moved to both sides in a flanking maneuver.

Looking to both sides the center figure waited until the droids were in place before he called out. "You may as well come out. I know you're in there. And to quote an old TV show 'resistance is futile'. Moments later a tall dark clad figure wearing a hood slowly walked from the entrance and stopped twenty yards away. The red and black suited figure waited a moment studying the figure before he called out again. "Where are the rest of you? I want you all out here right now or I start throwing missiles into there."

For the first time the black clad figure spoke. "The Possible's aren't here any more. It's just me."

Surprise registered on the face of the other figure for a moment before he sneared at the black clad warrior. "And just who are you?"

Ron reached up and pulled the hood from his head and just stood there with a smile on his face. He saw recognition on the others face just before the red and black clad figure called out with an obvious sneer in his voice. "Stoppable."

Ron's smile widened. "Well hello to you too 901, I'm really glad they decided to send you first."

Continued in Chapter 3 - First Encounter