"It's always been odd... no matter how dangerous the situation gets, nothing lethal had really made contact. I kicked Shego off a building and into an electric pole which collapsed on her and it didn't kill her! But now... ever since the lorwardian attack, it seems like whatever was keeping the lethality off was gone... the skirmish in Nevada was only a teaser of what was to come... makes me wish I stuck to babysitting sometimes... but not too much."
- Kim, reflecting on the Nevada Skirmish, as recorded in her Liber Memoriarum
"Yesterday, one of Team Go's older enemies, Aviarius, attempted to attack the city airport, only for Team Go to defeat them. The airport is closed until further notice as GCPD SWAT investigates and ensures that there are no remaining 'heat seeking hummingbirds' left. Unfortunately, Aviarius escaped the crime scene by threatening innocent lives as a cover. We take you now to the Go City Police Department for an interview with Police Chief Sanders."
- News report on a super-powered battle in the Go City area
Chapter 2: Gauss and Check
July 10th, 2007
7:00 AM Local Time
Barracks 1A
PBD Firebase Alternate-3
Nevada, USA
Beep beep be-beep; Kim groaned as Wade called, rolling to the side of her bunk and grabbing the Kimmunicator; she was in the only barracks that had bunks for women (there were more men than women there, due to coincidence) "Wade... you know what time it is?"
"Sorry Kim; but Dementor's drones are moving in on a nearby military testing ground; the alarm's going to go off in a second since Dementor is PBD's area of authority..."
The various women in the barracks were groaning as they woke up from Wade's loud voice... Then the klaxon alarm went off with low, long beeps.
"Nice timing Wade..." Kim sarcastically commented as she looked around.
"Well, meet me at the testing zone; I'll highlight the coordinates."
Kim sighed, knowing that Wade was near Ron bunk wise so Wade would probably wake Ron up if the alarm hadn't already. She pushed the covers off and opened the locker, grabbing her mission gear.
XX
1 Hour Later
Near the Gauss Tank Testing Zone
Nevada Desert, USA
Kim nodded as she pulled out her second hairdryer that had been converted into a gadget, colored red with a distinct black coloring for the metal rather than grey, "OK Wade, what's the new mod you have for this one?"
"Electro-Magnetic Scrambler." Wade explained, "EMS for short;"
"Like the one I used to foil Lil Diablo and Dementor's stealth goons, right?"
"Right; there's some modifications though. Smaller EMS rounds, it's more like a pistol than anything, but it's just as good against small targets like stealth field generator equipped henchmen. Also good for busting anything with a hefty amount of electronics, like synthodrones, so you'll probably need it."
"You know I'm not a gunslinger, Wade," she commented with a frown, "Even if I'm a good shot."
"Hey, it's this, or trying to jam lipstick into every armored drone or using the environment to rip them open." Wade responded, "Besides, the worse it can do to a human is give them a mild burn and a shock... or, if you hit them in the groin, knock them into next week from pain alone." Wade winced at that, putting a hand protectively over his nuts.
"Right," Kim responded slowly and hesitantly as she holstered the new EMS into her other pocket, "So Wade, why you coming along?"
"There may be tech problems with the Gauss tank; besides, this is a good time to get some salvage or scan the drones you scrap. I'll stay out of the way; promise."
Ron shrugged, "Well, that'll make it easier. We can kick butt and chew bubblegum while Wade's scanning tech that we might use later. Sounds like a bon-diggity deal to me."
Kim just shrugged, "Come on, let's go. PBD can't do everything itself."
Indeed, PBD soldiers were already engaging synthodrones in the area, according to the blips on the Kimmunicator. Here's a great way to start my day...
XXX
Secret Lair
(Alaska)
Dementor shouted angrily, "No, you stupid drones! YOU DO NOT CHARGE A TANK LIKE ZHAT!" He bashed his head on the console in frustration as the synthodrones rushed the exposed Gauss tank as it was in the wide open... each drone that tried got blown apart as the rounds fired ripped through a dozen drones in one shot. This is why I do not like using technology designed BY THAT PILLSBURY BLUEBOY!
"Sir, we've detected Kim Possible and her sidekick entering the area." Fantine reported.
"Fräulein Possible and her so-called boyfriend... vhere did zhey come from?" Dementor asked, irritated beyond measure now.
"Unknown, they were likely were in the area when we began."
"Of all ze rotten luck..." Dementor let the drones go on auto for a while as he thought... "Vhat can I use... vhat can I use..." He scrambled his mind for the blueprints he'd committed to memory... then remembered he had none of them nearby, and the MSPF could only make drones. Of course, Drakken would keep it from being dual-purpose... this is what I get for using stuff made by that incompetent nincompoop... He turned, sighing. "Vell, I suppose I could disassemble ze factory and move it away while ze drones already there keep ze Americans busy... Hrrrrm. But then zhat hero thief will chase it down und have her computer geek track it's connection."
"Isn't there something we can get from staying involved, and just moving out anything they don't know about?" Myron asked.
"Hrrrm..." Dementor said, "Why... YES! Myron, you vill become a brilliant henchman, I think, if not more!" He smiled, looking at it, "Well, this would be a good time to test ze new drones, no? Fantine, have the factory use the materials it has available to construct ze knew Blitztod-armed drones. I vant the cheerleader and her SO-CALLED BOYFRIEND TO RUN LIKE LITTLE BUNNIES!"
"Complying; production will commence once the last Standard-Issue synthodrone has been produced."
"Good," Dementor said, smiling as he reassumed control. "Now, let's see if ve cannot maneuver zhese drones better, ja?"
XXX
Near Gauss Tank Testing Zone
Nevada Desert, USA
Kim punched the drone in the gut, causing it's systems to reflex like a human, giving Kim an opportunity to hurl it into a conveniently sharp rock pile nearby, causing the drone to melt. Ron was trading blows with another drone, fighting with more confidence than usual. She could hear the sound of the Gauss Tank firing; they were close. Wade was scanning one of the heavy synthodrones that she had taken down by breaking it's leg open. Ron suddenly was attacked by another heavy synthodrone, which picked him up like a rag doll.
"Hey wait... whoa!" Ron was sent flying, Rufus left behind, spinning in the air and getting thwacked away by the heavy drone, landing near Ron, while he was slammed into Wade, the two of them landing in a not so neat pile with Rufus landing with a squeak nearby.
Sighing, Kim turned to attack the two drones bearing down on her; she went for the heavy, sliding under it and leg sweeping it, causing the top-heavy synthodrone to collapse... nearly crushing her, but she rolled to the side before it hit the ground. The second drone advanced on her menacingly, but she went on the offensive, grabbing it and flipping it over, slamming it on top of the heavy and she pulled out the laser lipstick, jamming it practically into the drone's neck and turning it on, burning through...
Then she was knocked away by a sturdy push from the heavy synthodrone, sending her into the air. Landing on her back and having the wind knocked out of her, the drone advanced with its powered gauntlets activated, she slid to the side to avoid getting crushed by the drone's attack, not even bothering to try and hit through the drone's armor; she knew it was tough enough to make normal men (or as normal as Dementor's goons got) something close to invulnerable to her in direct hand to hand combat.
X
Ron pushed himself off Wade, "Dude, better timing..."
"Sorry," Wade said, "Didn't expect you to be a projectile."
"Yeah, that's a role usually reserved for Drakken's goons." He looked over, "Think we should help?"
"Nah," Wade said, "I'd just get in the way. I need to finish the scan anyways."
Rufus groaned before his eyes widened, seen by Ron by the corner of his eye; Rufus began chattering rapidly.
"Say again buddy?" Ron asked, turning... to see a half dozen synthodrones moving up, power gauntlets activated. Oh crud... Ron thought, knowing that Kim was too busy with the heavy to notice. He started jerking his arms, "Come on, stupid monkey magic, fire off already..."
X
Kim ducked under the heavy, bringing her legs to swipe it out from below, and she rolled out of the way of its landing, jumping up and coming down with a solid kick, hitting it's face and breaking through, the circuitry and electronics crunching beneath her foot, which was now covered in synthogoo. Gross... she thought as she pulled it out as the drone announced its terminated operations. She heard a distinct howling whistle... and looked up just in time to see one of Dementor's grenades flying at her!
Hand springing away, she evaded the explosion by a short shave, dirt kicked up by the explosion hitting her and getting into her hair.
"Hahaha! Bombs away!" shouted someone; Kim spotted him; one of Dementor's goons equipped with grenade-like explosives. I'm just glad I thrashed most of them in Alaska, she mused as she began dodging grenades thrown.
"Come on, I've dodged plasma, chucked 'nades aren't a problem!" she taunted as she grabbed one of the grenades in mid-air and threw it harmlessly to the side. The good news was the grenade's didn't have a very lethal yield, but they still hurt. The grenadier shouted in irritation, then ran away as he threw his last grenade. Kim leapt over the grenade, the small yield not having the power to reach her at the heights she could jump. She landed on her feet, her legs buckling to absorb the shock of the landing, but Kim didn't notice; she was used to it after several years. She turned, and saw two more drones were coming from where the grenadier was. That's what he was keeping me busy for, she mused, rushing the first drone, doing a handspring to propel herself at it frontally, her feet crashing into the drone, staggering it. She knocked it back by bicycle kicking in it as she came down, landing on her feet while the drone was kicked away.
X
"Come on... come on!" Ron said as he kept making increasingly crazier gestures to try and fire off his powers... the first drone was almost on him... He got punched in the chest, knocked back and on the ground. He leapt up again...
Suddenly, he felt the surge, and his leap became a midair summersault a mere twelve (point five) inches from the ground, his foot slamming down into the ground with an echo; he caught a flash of light blue that likely had surrounded him and heard a simian sound echoing off as he slammed his foot into the ground, and the ground in front of him shook, small shards of it splintering in a shockwave. It was not as far as he knew he could do, but it was just what he needed. The updraft of small stones ripped through the dozen synthodrones, causing them to begin to leak... THIS I can handle, he thought, making a karate noise and charging the first drone, blocking the punch and returning it, knocking it into another drone and sending the two to the floor. Rufus cheered from where he was sitting, leaping onto the rear drone and biting it's head before leaping down from the falling drone.
Ron ducked as the third drone advancing punched high, the drone's feet becoming melted slushy as it tried to fight. Ron simply kicked it as he flipped backwards, knocking the drone over and stressing the body, causing the drone to rip in two... synthogoo sprayed all over him.
"caw, gross!" he exclaimed, wiping his shirt as he tried to get the goo out. The remaining two synthodrones had melted into nothing more than piles of green sludge.
Wade ran over and nodded to Ron, using some gadget Ron couldn't recognize to scan the drones for anything that'd be useful. Well, Wade does like tech.
X
Kim slid gracefully under the drone's fisticuffs and hit it from behind with her elbow, causing it to stagger forward. She leapt at it and grappled with it, holding it by its sides as she pulled it around as the first drone recovered, and slammed the two together, causing them to land on top of each other like lovers making it.
"Get a room," she said smirking as the two drones untangled awkwardly. She rushed the second drone and threw it into the rocks, the strength put behind the throw causing the rocks to break through its skin and causing it to melt. The first drone attacked again, missing as Kim slid under and tripped it up. She came in from behind as the drone turned over, straddling it as she kept it pinned and punched it in the closest thing to a face synthodrones had, hitting it until her hand broke the relatively fragile cover. She pulled her fist, covering in goo, and shook it to the side as she got off of the drone, most of the goo coming off, but not all of it; some of it stained. She looked over to Wade, who was scanning one of the drones Ron had taken down. Wait, where'd those drones come from? she wondered, before shrugging.
"Come on," she said, "We're almost there."
"Hang on," Wade said, scanning the most recently taken down heavy, "I just need to scan... alright, go on ahead, I'm just going to salvage the gauntlets, might learn something."
Kim shook her head, "Come on, Ron," she pulled him by his shirt.
"Hey wait, where's Rufus?" Ron asked, putting a hand in his pockets.
"With Wade," Kim answered, before a pair of heavy drones leapt out in front of them.
"I got the right one!" Ron shouted, rushing headlong into it and colliding with it, only to bounce off uselessly as the drone's Balmung armor took the kinetic force and knocked it right back out. She knew it'd happen before Ron had even attempted it; she'd tried that before and it never worked, and it was against a real henchman too. Ron slid by Kim's feet as she charged, leaping into the air and landing on the left drone's shoulders, causing the other drone to bring it's fists down to try and hit her, only to crush it's allies' head.
"Heavy-Synthodrone number 111 is suffering friendly fi..." it melted as its head was split open like a watermelon hit with a two-ton hammer as the powered gauntlets hit. Kim landed behind the second drone, turning, but the drone had reacted swiftly and was already moving to confront her. She did a back handspring, getting clear of the heavy synthodrone, and drew the EMS. This should slow it down, she aimed at it and pulled the hairdryer's trigger; a distinct electronically generated sound echoed as the EMS charge was sent out using whatever propelling system Wade used, and hit the drone in the armor, causing it to spasm in pain, the drone crying out in a voice that struck a faint cord of pity, "Err-err-error!"
She didn't waste time; she rushed the drone, coming from above and brought it to the ground, punching a hole into the head with several repeated punches, her hand again covered in synthogoo.
"Hey Kim I... whoa." Wade said, Rufus riding on his shoulder, "Yeah, I'll get scanning." With that, Wade moved to the drone Kim had beaten the pulp out of and scanned. Ron had pushed himself up and shrugged, before the two continued on.
They heard another blast as the Gauss tank fired again in the distance. They ran up, taking out the trio of drones that had charged them easily; Kim took the first one and used it to slam into the second while Ron tackled the third and brought it down. Kim's wrist Kimmunicator beeped and she answered; she had audio only as a soldier with a Seattle accent was shouting in horror;
"This is Gauss-One; enemy are using some sort of new electric disc projectile... HOLY SHIT! SYSTEMS OFFLINE! THEY'RE BREAKING INTO THE...!" Static consumed the rest of the message, but the scream was vividly in her memory now.
"Come on!" She shouted, sprinting forward and launched herself over a heavy synthodrone as they reached the test site; it was a large area with a variety of slabs marked with big bull's eye targets. Some were destroyed, others weren't. Huge piles of synthogoo was piled with the remains of drones that had been vaporized by the Gauss tank's coil gun... oddly, the tank itself, what looked to be an M1 Abrams modified to hold the system, was also stripped of its usual machine gun ports. That was a bad idea, she thought, the main cannon can't fire fast enough to hit all the drones...
From a cliff, several disc-shaped projectiles were hurled at the tank again, the discs cackling with electricity as they flew; one hit the top of the tank, causing it's top hatch to open. Synthodrones rushed at it from the side, dragging the crew away as Kim threw another drone out of the way trying to reach them...
She felt a kick hit her from behind, sending her skidding into the dirt as she heard loud, horrified screams of men struggling, screams that were cut off with cruel snaps...
XX
Dementor Secret Lair
(Alaska)
"Vell," Dementor said, "Zhey actually got into ze Gauss tank. Have the drones get inside und turn it against Fräulein Possible!"
Myron looked at it; "Drones are losing though; watch her throw them around."
"Yes, vell, the soldiers are dead, zhat will hurt her morally as she couldn't save them, despite being able to 'do anything'." Dementor snorted, "Hrrrm. Shame ve do not have anything to watch her cry over the corpses. That'd would be amusing."
Myron frowned, wondering if that was really a good thing to see. Must be a villain thing; guess I'll get it eventually... still, it unnerved him.
XX
Gauss Tank Test Zone
Nevada Desert, USA
Kim rolled over as the drone tried to jump onto her, evading the drone and picking it up from behind. She flung the drone into a squad of other drones, causing them to entangle themselves in each other, giving her a chance to sprint towards the tank crewmen. A pair of heavy drones stood in her way; she drew the EMS and fired a round at the left one, leaping onto the head of the right one and jamming the next EMS round into its head directly. The first drone collapsed malfunctioning, while the second had its head explode, sending Kim back and onto the rear of the tank, covering her chest in synthogoo. Gross! she thought, leaping off and picking up the next standard drone near the tank crew by its arm and spinning, sending it into another pair of drones.
"This is PBD Patrol-3, we're almost there, Miss Possible!"
Kim didn't answer, she just charged the next drone near the tank crew and knocking it backwards through sheer spite, punching it in the face hard enough she hurt her knuckles doing it and breaking through the fragile skin.
She heard Ron shouting "Booyah!" as he spun around, a brief flash of blue surrounding him as he punched a heavy drone in the chest, staggering the superiorly armored drone and causing it to slam into the drones behind it, causing them to fall. Ron then went low, sending drones in various directions with a variety of maneuvers that he'd been practicing with her. She would of smiled at Ron's developed skills, if she wasn't fighting a heavy drone herself, avoiding the deadly gauntlets as it aimed to punch her into the next county. She slid under the drone, then brought her fists up in a dual uppercut, getting under the armor's protection and getting into the drone's unarmored weak spot. That's... wrong. she thought as she pulled her hands out and leapt up, kicking the drone in the face, before turning to another standard drone charging at her, which she slid under, tripping it, then punched repeatedly in the face until her hand was covered in even more synthogoo. That's going to stain for good, she thought before looking around... there were no drones left.
"KP!" Ron shouted, "These guys are... ohmygod... they're dead!"
"WHAT?" Kim asked, rushing over and kneeling next to them, checking the pulse of one of the crewmen; and she felt that his neck had been snapped.
She heard boots thud, and rose up, only to see a group of PBD soldiers coming up, covered in synthogoo. "Sorry we're late ma'am; Patrol-3 reporting for duty."
Kim nodded grimly, "Get these guys out of here... we need to confirm if they're alive or..." she swallowed, "Dead."
Ron looked at her, concerned. Wade was nearby, he wasn't bothering with scanning the drones, and ran to the side of the tank, pulling out what looked to Kim like repair tools. "We need to get this thing out of here," Wade said.
Kim rose, "Alright;" she leapt on top and pulled Wade up, and he slid into the tank. A PBD medic was checking the bodies, and she looked at her watch... Kim turned away from the sight, closing her eyes. It hadn't been very bloody for a death, even with the piles of synthogoo on them, and she knew it could be worse... but she hadn't seen death that up close and personal. Not yet.
Ron hopped onto the tank and put a hand on her shoulder, "Hey, KP, you alright?"
"Not really," she answered, blinking out a tear, "It's just... we should of been able to get to them."
"I know," Ron said; she couldn't see him, but she thought he'd turned his head. "Scares me too... I could hear the screams..." she heard him shiver, "Come on, let's see if we can help Wade... maybe check for any straggler drones."
"Hey, can you two come in here?" Wade asked; they slipped in. Kim knew tanks were cramped, but this was closer quarters than she was used to. Wade was wiring something, and he smiled as he finished wrapping tape; "Alright," Wade explained, "I think I managed to get the tank's systems on; we can drive this thing out of here."
"Where's the military?" Kim asked, "Their response time is really slow."
"They're pinned down by drones about a kilometer and a half to the north; they found the synthodrones factory, but they can't get to it; some sort of turrets in the way and they don't have heavy gear."
"We can disable that," Ron said, cracking his knuckles.
"Better idea, the tank," Wade said, "I got the main gun working again; Kim, you drive, Ron, you load it, I'll keep the systems from overheating..."
"OK!" Rufus said, hopping next to what looked like a trigger. Kim glanced at Ron, and he shrugged, "Hey, we can do something."
"I dunno..." Kim said, "We're pretty much... no, we are commandeering a US military vehicle; we don't even know how to drive it!"
"It's not that hard," Wade said as he connected something else, "Probably a manual somewhere..."
A PBD sergeant was at the top, "Hey, Possible; we just got a call from the military; they want the Gauss Tank out of here, but there's no airlift; the tank's too heavy. Closest base is by the synthodrone factory, and they want it there to support their men hitting it."
Kim frowned, "That's a bit too much of a coincidence."
"Oh yeah." the sergeant said, "Anyways, they say we're cleared to use it to help their men, and we got a pair of people who can drive, but no one to aim. Possible, up for gunning?"
"You sure?" Kim asked, frowning, an uncertain edge in her tone.
"You aim and your friend can load." the PBD soldier said. "Besides, they need to field test it anyways; why not now?"
"Check with the military commander; it's their vehicle." she answered. The image of the dead tank crew flashed before her again... "If they don't mind us borrowing the tank, we'll do it."
"Alright; let's get the thing moving first."
Kim inhaled as the sergeant talked to someone on the radio... she looked at the system for aiming the tank; it wasn't difficult to figure out, but she wondered how they were going to coordinate; there weren't any functioning systems to coordinate, it'd be manually told... We're eighteen for crying out loud, she thought, and now we're manning a tank because Dementor decided to go murder on a group of innocent soldiers doing their duties... she clenched her synthogoo stained fists.
X
Wade bit his tongue as he finished rewiring the tank's electronic systems, muttering to himself; "Connect the red wire to the main transmission gear, reconnecting the main gun to the electrical power generator... aaaaannnddd... there! Alright, we can drive and shoot now!"
"Understood!" said the PBD soldier who had taken to driving the tank, "Patrol-2 will join us and help escort us to the enemy position, then we'll use the tank to give the army help against the turrets."
Wade stumbled as the tank rolled into motion... he wiped sweat from his forehead, Jeez, they weren't kidding when they said tanks were hot, cramped interiors... He took a step back, bumping into the small steps used for the top hatch, which was only mostly shut.
XX
Dementor Secret Lair
(Alaska)
Dementor watched as the American military had finally responded and was attacking his synthodrone production, but he dismissed it; the drones had done their part and confirmed his new devices worked. And I got to bloody that pesky hero thief and strike a morale blow to her. Not a bad trade off; the new Blitztod grenades certainly do their work, ja?
He paced, wondering what his next move would be... "Fantine!" he said, "Sever all ze connections, have ze synthodrones go on auto for their combat and let zhe Americans end this engagement. Nothing more to gain. Order any henchmen left to get zhemselves as far away as possible before disconnecting. Don't vant them to interrogate anyone."
"Yes sir."
"Uh... Professor?" Myron asked.
"Vhat?"
"Doesn't this seem a little wanton; I mean, it's a combat action, but I think that it crossed into overkill."
Dementor frowned, wondering if Myron had the stomach for villainy... Maybe he doesn't... in the sense of a complete monster. A good villain has some standards, knowing when to cross the line.
"If it vas helpless civilians, I vould agree, Myron. But zhese are soldiers, who knew ze risks when they signed up. I may be a villain, but I vill not descend to the level of that swine..." he trailed off, and Myron seemed to be considering the events.
X
Gauss Tank Testing Zone
Nevada, USA
Sergeant Wallace Greens ducked as the drones advanced again, removing his now-empty clip and putting another one into his M16. He activated his radio, "This is Echo-Four-One to Echo-Four-Lead, we're holding position but we can't advance. Repeat, holding but cannot advance. We're also running low on ammo, repeat, running low on ammo. Over."
"Echo-Four-Lead to Echo-Four-One; we copy. Ammunition is on the way. PBD is going to clear you a shot; they've reclaimed Project Flower. Over."
He felt relief, hoping the tank crew, men he knew, weren't hurt.
"Yes sir! Echo-Four-One out."
"Negative; you should be aware that PBD called in Kim Possible since she was with them."
"Repeat, sir!"
"PBD brought Kim Possible along since she was with them; she helped rescue the tank. They say the crew was dead though, despite their best efforts."
He paled; Frankie... Charlie... damn it! Why couldn't they save them? I thought they could do fucking anything! He paused before responding.
"Ten-Four... sir. Echo-Four-One out." He glanced over as a dozen drones advanced; he rose out of cover and opened fire, ripping all twelve down with several bursts from his M16; "That's for my friends you motherfuckers!" he shouted before ducking into cover as the pair of automated turrets turned to fire whatever sci-fi like weapon they had; some sort of laser. The lasers flew over, discharging and sending rock tumbling down onto his helmet, causing him to partially blank out before he recovered, in cover. He glanced over, "Private Johnson! You throw your grenades yet?"
"No sir!"
"Get as close as you can and throw them at those damn gun turrets, we need to mobilize, NOW! Men, lay down suppressive fire! Keep them distracted!"
He rose and fired at the left turret, trying to get its attention, moving up to the next set of cover. The blasts soared over him. Really bad aim; good! he waited for a brief pause, then rose again, firing. Johnson moved in close, and threw his first grenade. It soared over and landed right under the turret, exploding, sending flaming shrapnel into the air. One of the pieces of metal landed on his arm, burning; he brushed it off right before he loaded a new clip into his now empty rifle... Damn it! Last clip! Where's the goddamn supplies...
"Hostiles incoming!" shouted PFC Morne, firing his rifle, then it stopped shooting... "Crap!" he ducked... and was out of ammo. Greens rose and fired two careful bursts at the incoming drones, four drones collapsed as bullets went through... then a gold-colored armored drone charged out, absorbing the stray bullets from his two previous bullets.
"Shit!" he muttered as it closed, snapping the bayonet on his rifle into position, and as the heavy drone charged up, he thrust the bayonet... only for it to hit the armor and break, one of the shards slashing across his arm lightly. He got picked up by the drone, held by the scruff of his Kevlar, and thrown back, his rifle clattering uselessly on the rocky ground he was standing on a mere second ago.
XX
"Target as twelve o'clock!" shouted the PBD driver, "Possible, can you aim for it?"
"Aiming..." Kim said, shifting the aim, seeing the laser turret. "Ron?"
"All loaded!" Ron said, then grunted as he hit his head again, and he grabbed one of the extra helmets lying around, putting it on his head.
"On da way!" Rufus shouted, pushing against the firing trigger. Instead of a sturdy THUD like Kim was expecting, it was a more whoosh, accelerated with a lower sounding thud. The round sped out, accelerated by a non-explosive force, sailing forward into the turret. "Looks like a hit!" Kim said, "Knocked out one of the laser turrets!"
"Patrol-2, there's enemy infantry in the cliffs, clear them out, we're sitting ducks here!" the driver shouted, "We're going in to help the military. Possible, targeting's at your discretion!"
Kim just nodded, looking for something that was threatening... she saw one of the heavy synthodrones near the soldiers positions... smartly, the soldiers were getting out of the way. "Ron, heavy syntho!" she shouted, shifting the aim. Sweat was sliding down the side of her face as the heat from the engine continued to pound at her.
"Right..." Ron said, grunting as he lifted the shell and slid it into position, "K, it's set!"
Rufus pulled... nothing fired.
"Wade?" Ron asked, "Why isn't it going zhoom!"
"Hang on!" Wade said, "Circuitry's loose!"
XX
Private Annabelle Webber of PBD ducked as the synthodrone armed with the electric discs threw one over her head... her rifle was empty, and ammo was coming soon... Damn it! she thought as she glanced out of cover... the drone threw another disc, this one sailing over and nearly taking out her sergeant. She activated her rifle's under slung bayonet, the electrically-created blade springing to life; she leapt over and sprinted, driving the rifle up into the drone, punching through it's pathetic protection. It dropped a disc, which exploded in a shower of sparks, knocking the gun out of her hand and burning her arms.
She blanked out as she landed roughly on the rocks; she could feel the bruises forming already. Great... just great... she thought as she pushed herself up. Her sergeant ran up, pulling her up, "You alright, private?"
"I think so..." she said, looking at what was left of her rifle... she reached for her service pistol... it was there still.
"Get back and get checked by the medic; we'll continue on, catch up if you can." the sergeant said, "Men, come on! We're almost there!"
XXX
Sergeant Wallace Greens groaned as he looked up... the drone was advancing on him menacingly...
"Prepare. For. Doom." the drone said, the words echoing mechanically.
"Where's the damn cheerleader..." he muttered in response as he tried to pull himself up, reaching for his service pistol, hoping he could at least shoot the open head... the drone began to move...
When suddenly it exploded; he saw in a blink-and-you'd-miss-it moment a projectile speeding past, going through the drone and impacting on a rock formation nearby, causing the rocks to be blown into rubble.
"Hot damn!" shouted a soldier nearby, "They really sent help!"
Rubbing his head and getting back down into cover, he crawled forward, looking for his rifle... He stopped, glancing over... PBD was advancing steadily, firing their fancy weapons and getting through while the Gauss Tank was moved up... Those idiots! Orders were to get the thing back to us, not use it on the offensive! He had quite a few complaints to register with command... he keyed his radio... or thought he did; it was destroyed by the fact that he slammed into a hard rock face. Amazing I'm still awake, he mused, before stumbling to the ground, uneasy. The squad's medic was nearby, "Hang on sir!" the medic said, his medkit open nearby, the green cross with a white border stained with blood as he tried to stop a soldier's bleeding... likely from shrapnel.
XX
Wade checked the wiring; "Alright, it's good for another shot; aim for the center, there should be a power source visible..."
"The big glowing thing in the middle?" Kim asked as she looked through the scope, "behind a vent saying 'Power'?"
"That'd be it!" Wade said, blinking several times as he tried to cope with the heat. Funny... they never bring up how hot and cramped it is in the movies or games... and I don't think I blame them.
He glanced at Kim; she was focused now, but he knew that the failure was affecting her. Man, this is going to be ugly... he glanced at his arm; he didn't notice he was bleeding, and it was soot covered from the smoke generated by the overheating systems. This 'Gauss' gun is really impractical right now... powerful, but impractical.
He heard another burst as the tank fired; he asked, "What'd you hit?"
"Got the power," Kim said, and Wade heard secondary and tertiary explosions. "Think that worked..."
"This is Echo-Four-Lead to Gauss Tank, come in."
Kim answered as Wade was checking the systems; "Possible here; sorry we had to borrow the tank... Commander?"
"Major, actually. I'm aware; and considering the alternative Miss Possible, I'd rather it be in your custody than these robots. I have a read that you took out the main facility, is that true?"
"We knocked out the power to the facility, Major. Seems it was explosive."
"Understood. I'm sending a crew out now to recover the tank and see what we can analyze from the wreckage of these things. Thanks for the assistance again, and pass my thanks on to your friends and PBD, we appreciate it."
XX
"Copy that Major." Kim said, "Possible out."
"Echo-Four-Lead out." She hung up, rubbing the sweat off her face again, only to accidently slather a small amount of synthogoo on her face. She noticed that she was smelling worse than Ron after football practice. She glanced to the PBD driver, who nodded, "You might as well get out; there's nothing else we can use this on."
"Systems are too hot anyways," Wade said, fanning himself, "Man, the tech is good, but the life expectancy sucks."
"And heavy," Ron said, rubbing his sweaty, dirt covered arms. His hair was tucked under a helmet, which was a good thing as he bumped his head against the tank's roof a few times. She pushed open the half-broken hatch and pulled herself outside, the fresh air almost knocking her out after being stuck in the cramped, hot, sweaty tank. She looked around; PBD and regular army soldiers were looking at each other awkwardly, then they started looking through the mess of hundreds of destroyed synthodrones. A sergeant walked up to Kim, and put a hand on her shoulder tightly; the man's face was covered with grime and a slash cut; he looked her in the face.
"So. You showed up after all." he said, growling. Kim glanced for a nametag... "Greens" was hardly visible on his chest, practically covered in dirt and synthogoo.
"We couldn't leave you to rot," Kim answered, raising an eyebrow.
"Like you left Frank and Charlie to?"
"Who?" Kim asked, blinking; she didn't recognize the names at all... except for two kids at school, sophomores at this point.
"Corporals Frank Castle and Charlie Miller; assigned to drive the experimental Gauss tank from Firebase Echo-Seven-One while it was being experimented with by the scientists operating out of said firebase."
Kim blinked; then she realized he was talking about two of the dead tank crewmen... she closed her eyes, glancing down as the memory of their glazed eyes, the expressionless and eternal gaze with their half shut eyes, the mouths just hanging open, leftover of their terror before their necks were snapped by the heavy synthodrones.
"Couldn't bother yourself to save them, could you?" the sergeant added, snorting, "And you call yourself a hero. Go back to Middleton; this isn't a place for the timid or childish combat rules. This. is. reality."
Kim looked him in the face, and said to him, "You think it's easy to look death in the eye, Sergeant? Knowing that you might of been able to do more if you'd just been a little faster?"
"You think it's hard to carry a gun and use it? You fired a tank just fine. Why can't you use a weapon so you don't have to waste time punching your way..."
"SERGEANT GREENS!" shouted someone, a captain, from a distance, "What are you doing?"
"Sir!" Greens said, snapping to attention and shouting back, "Discussing events with Miss Possible, verifying the fate of the tank crew."
The captain walked over, stepping through the puddles of goo. He was covered it dirt too, but his brown beard was still visible. "Possible?" he asked, looking at her as he stepped next to her. He offered his hand, "Captain Horace Duncan, pleasure to meet you, even in these circumstances."
Kim accepted, shaking, "The same. How's the sitch on your end?"
"Not too bad; some wounds, and a fatality, Private Joe Smith, but otherwise we got off too lightly for me to be comfortable."
Kim raised an eyebrow, "Huh?"
"This victory was too easy; it was like whoever was behind this was using this as a distraction. I assume it was this Drakken fellow?"
"No; another whacko. Dementor, probably, the drones use his gear."
"Ah; the other mad scientist running around; yes, I remember him... four years ago he swiped something from a lab we were stationed near." The captain shrugged, "All I know is that you recovered it when we completely missed him. Thanks again, for that, and for the help today. Sergeant Greens, get your men together, you're going to escort the Gauss tank back to base. I need to report to the Major."
"Sir." Greens said, saluting his commanding officer. Kim could tell that he didn't approve of her, though... and he was angry.
And I don't blame him at all, she thought, sighing, I let his friends down... and now they're dead. We should of been faster...
"Don't mind him;" Duncan added as she watched him leave. "He's a bit bitter; never really approved of your heroics, thinking you were sticking your nose into buisness that isn't yours. Just ignore him."
"Right..." Kim slowly answered, "He's not the only one, you know. I'm just surprised that people can do that, considering how many times I've stopped these take over the world schemes."
He shrugged, "They say stupidity is infinite. Sergeant Greens is no idiot, but he has an opinion. Best let him keep it; it's his right and all." Ron was trying to avoid the synthogoo as he walked up, making awkward leaps. Captain Duncan looked at him and asked, "Why's he still wearing an army helmet?"
"He borrowed it... hit his head in the tank a few times."
"Ah... we'd like that back."
Ron stumbled up and asked, "What?"
"The helmet you're wearing, mister Stoppable..."
"Oh, right," Ron said, taking the helmet off and handing it over, his hair a sweaty mess; "Sorry; hit the roof a few times."
The Captain nodded, taking it and putting it under his arm, "I'll return this. Thank you for the assistance, Miss Possible, Mister Stoppable. I'll make sure we get you and PBD in the record for the assistance."
"No big," Kim answered, trying to sound normal. Captain Duncan nodded, and returned to his men. Kim looked at Ron, and he nodded.
"We did good today, KP. Really; if we didn't get in there Dementor would of done a lot worse."
"I know," she said, putting a hand on her arm, "I just... I just feel like we could of saved the tank crew. They didn't deserve what they got."
"Come on," Ron said, offering his hand, ignoring the fact that her glove was still stained with synthogoo, "Let's get out of here." She accepted, and they started walking away...
Only for Ron to slip in a pile of synthogoo and land back-first into a full pile, splashing it everywhere.
"Oh; ugh! Ron!" Wade shouted as he got a full spray to the face, covering him. Wade was spitting it out, and shaking his hands trying to get it off of the gadget he was using.
XX
XX
One and a Half Hours Later
PBD Firebase Alternate-3
Kim looked at Ron; the two had showered and were sitting in the base's lounge; some PBD patrols had finished their rounds and the alert had been cancelled with all the drones gone... but no henchmen had been captured, and they only had confirmation that Dementor had been behind the attack to show for all that'd happened. And to think it cost five people their lives; four tank crewmen and a soldier, with a dozen more wounded... Kim thought as she rubbed her finger on the table in a circular motion, sighing, The world's out to be cruel these days... ever since Graduation, the old tradition seems to have disappeared, and now it's full lethality. Oh who am I kidding... it's been full lethal, it just hadn't been competent enough to connect.
"Something wrong KP?" Ron asked while Rufus was sleeping on the table.
"No..." Kim answered, closing her eyes for a moment as she looked at some of the PBD soldiers who had their arms in splints, one had crutches. She recognized the sniper; he had a field day, knocking out several drones with his high-caliber bullets thanks to the structural weakness of synthodrones.
Ron shrugged, "Alright. I'm here if you need me."
Kim glanced over at the clock, then shook her head, "We're leaving tomorrow, you know."
"Yeah," Ron said, "Heading back to Middleton to catch a flight to Japan and then I got training for a few months, probably. Hopefully I'll be back in time for college, though." Rufus woke up as Ron was talking.
"Probably;" Kim said, glad to have something to take her mind off of what was going on, "I'll probably get called on to get Dementor, so I might not stick around."
Ron paused, then he spoke, sounding disappointed, "Oh... OK. Alright; I get it. You have to keep around, I guess."
Rufus chattered at Ron.
"Hey, come on, I'm allowed to be annoyed that we have to spend time away from each other..." Ron said back, forgetting Kim was in earshot. Rufus chattered something back. "Oh come on now, I'm over that!..."
Kim just excused herself silently as Ron and Rufus started chattering at each other. She walked down the hall; two PBD soldiers were standing guard outside of the technology lab.
"So, Frank," the first one asked, "Any clue on the new supers that showed up?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, I read about that. Why you asking, Charlie?" asked the second guard.
"Well, with the fact that bunch of new folks now have powers, we're going to get called on a lot, aren't we?"
"Oh yeah. Just glad we have folks like Possible around to help though; some of those guys hit hard..."
They didn't notice Kim as she stood right in front of them, crossing her arms with an amused grin; they just kept on talking.
"Oh yeah; did you see that dude with the wolverine claws?"
"Marvel's gonna have a legal headache, ain't it?"
"Possible would be able to slam 'im into a ditch though, if they fought."
"Chances of that happening? Ten to nil. I find that energy gal more interesting; seriously, girl with gold energy, an' slinging it around like a gunslinger and blasting gangsters off of freeways with her powers going off on the baddies like Fourth of July? I'm surprised the guards didn't notice the fight sooner. Pfft, Brits. And they wonder why they lost the Revolutionary War..."
"Yes," Kim interjected suddenly, shaking her head with a smile, "I'm surprised the guards didn't notice."
The two guards looked at her, one of them looking like that he'd just shat bricks. By the smell, he did. She pulled out her ID card, which was issued to her for her stay and allowed her access to the technology lab.
"Oh, uh... yeah... uh..." the first guard, Charlie, muttered, "Sure, go on in." Frank looked at him, shaking his head. Kim walked past, the door opening automatically with a faint whoosh. Wade was inside, tinkering at one of the workshops with a pair of gauntlets that looked like they'd been salvaged.
"Wade?" Kim asked once Wade put down the device he was using. She walked up behind him.
"Oh, hey Kim." Wade said, "Just cracking open one of these gauntlets; see if I can't reverse engineer it." He gestured over, and Kim followed him to what looked like a set of schematics. "Alright, the power gauntlets were derived from some of the new energy supers; not unlike Shego, but much more stable."
"Her powers were unstable?" Kim asked, frowning. They'd never seemed unstable to her, and she'd taken hits to the face from them.
"When separated from her, yes. You won't believe how hard it was to figure out how to modify Ron's Kimmunicator to amplify her powers when you two were going after that Idol. When Ron and Drakken switched brains, remember?"
"I remember," Kim said, frowning, "I'm just glad she returned it. Considering the modifications to it, I'd of thought she'd of kept it. Anyways, what's the stich on these gauntlets?"
"Well, the problem is that they need some sort of DNA sequence; Dementor probably uses samples from an energy super he either captured or recruited. It shouldn't be hard to replicate in a GJ lab, but we need more samples. There's also circuitry that's unique to the design, meaning that we need more samples if we're going to try and replicate."
"Wait, what?" Kim asked, frowning, "Run that again."
"These things are, if we're right, much more controllable than the current electrogauntlets that're in circulation, so less risk of lethal hits. GJ would love these replicated. Heck, you may need them too; with some of the supers hanging around, you may need it to get through some of them. You remember that walking stone wall three weeks back?"
"The one who tried to attack the Upperton police department and break out one of his super buddies, only for me and Ron to take him out once we de-stoned him with a mix of super-sticky bubble gum and Ron's over aged Five-Alarm Sauce?"
"That's the one. I didn't like the look of that fight, it was way too close, even if he couldn't hit as hard as he could take it, the fact that PBD showed up by the time you finished with him was a bit of a warning sign to me. Usually they show up a while after."
"Well, the PBD base in Upperton did get a much better commanding officer," Kim responded, "I thought their response time was just faster."
"Anyways," Wade said, cutting memory lane off, "I don't think the actual replication will be too difficult, the problem is that battle damage tends to leave me with only parts... I can get most of what I need from any gauntlet, but some parts break. A full sample would be best, but it's going to take some trial and error."
"So in other words, if I find useful tech on one of the drones, grab it and bring it over?"
"If you can." Wade said, "Not a high priority though. The scans are more important, it makes it easier for me to determine what we're looking at. Turns out the first scan on those gauntlets exaggerated their power because battle damage caused them to amplify beyond their safe limits, secondary scans revealed that they're weaker, but still dangerous."
"Right. If I do find anything useful, I'll make sure to get a scan of it; though make sure to let me know when you need samples, alright?"
"Sure thing. Oh, by the way; I got a call from the airport. Everything's set for us to be there once we head back home."
"Alright, thanks Wade. Sooner Ron gets a hang of his powers, the better."
"You're figuring he's stepping up now?" Wade asked, "Full time hero, not just a sidekick?"
"He's been one for a while now, even before he got his powers unlocked."
"True. Still, he needs training, or he's not getting through anything with that magic stuff." Wade paused, then added, "I'm a bit worried he'll outpace you; I mean, you're basically a certified badass, Kim, but you're only human."
"Oh that's ridiculous," Kim said, feeling her cheeks heat up, "I don't need magic or any of that fancy glow to take on anyone packing it; I've been doing it since Freshman year, not going to change now." She stared Wade directly in the eyes.
"True." Wade said, backing off, "I'm just saying; some might start to wonder why he's the 'sidekick' when he can go nuts like he did."
Kim just gave Wade a look and shook her head, "Look, when Ron gets his training, I'll be glad, but I'm not going to just sit around, I'll train harder if I have to, but I won't get outpaced by some fancy magic and every hack with glowing body parts." She turned away.
X
Wade watched her leave, exhaling slowly in relief. "That was close," he said once Kim was out of earshot. Note to self, never imply that old-fashioned melee is outdated by new magic and tech when she knows sixteen styles of kung-fu and knows where you live...
"Hehehe," said one of the other technicians, "That went well."
Wade just gave the technician a glare, "Least she didn't look at your DeviantArt favorites page, mister rule thirty four."
XX
XX
The Next Day
July 11th, 2007
Middleton, Colorado
Kim glanced around as the Sloth crossed the town border; there was still wreckage leftover, a pair of destroyed lorwardian walkers just resting nearby, next to the sign that read:
Welcome to Middleton
Home of the Middleton Mad Dogs
"Man," Ron said as he looked at it, "World's not going to be the same, is it? And to think there's still dozens of those hanging around, all ruined, disabled..."
Vines were growing on the right walker, flowers popping up regularly. Drakken's vines still grew, but didn't expand too far. Probably for the best, she thought, Or it'd screw up the ecosystem...
"So," Wade asked, "We going to stop by my house first?"
"Yeah," Kim said, "We need to unload your tech stuff."
"Right;" Wade said, "I'm just glad my house didn't get hit too badly; I'd hate to have to go to the science center to do any tech work." After Wade said that, Kim heard a tremendous snap...
"Incoming!" Kim shouted after she began swerving the Sloth out of the way as a large tree fell; the kinetic force of the crash sending Ron into the window. "OW!" he shouted as his face met the window, and Kim hit the brakes, the Sloth coming to a stop, the two left wheels almost coming off the pavement as she hit the brakes hard.
"Anyone hurt?" she asked, catching her breath as adrenaline surged through her body in response to the near-death situation.
"No..." Wade said, panting and almost hyperventilating.
Rufus gave a negative; Ron however simply said, "Ow..." again; his cheek looked like it might be swelling.
Kim nodded, "Ron, there's a med-kit in the glove compartment; no ice though."
"I'll be fine..." Ron said, rubbing his cheek.
They drove on, coming up next to Wade's house; unlike most of the houses, it had survived... mostly. Wade got out, and Kim popped the trunk open. Ron also got out, and started carrying Wade's portable workbench and laptop inside.
"Now hold it right there!" said a woman... Wade's mother, Mrs. Load; "You go off with just a note and now you come in and expect me to just let you in like that?" Come on... Kim thought, sighing and getting out. She walked over, watching Wade wince.
"I... uh... I can explain, Mom..." Wade said, his veins popping as he tried to figure out how to explain. So, he didn't mention he was leaving either... Ron probably told his parents, considering Hana.
"Explain what, boy?" Mrs. Load said, staring down Wade hard enough that Kim thought he would melt like chocolate in the summer heat, "That you just get up and leave, thinking I'll be just fine with it?"
"I... uh... I..." Wade was glancing at Ron, trying to get some help.
"You want Wade out of your house?" Kim asked, stepping in before it got ugly.
"Oh yes," his mother said, her angry look a reminder that hell hath no fury, "If he can just take off, he can find his own way."
"Mom... come on!" Wade said, practically pleading at this point...
"Wade, get in; you can probably stick with the Tweebs for a while." Kim said, and Ron nodded, and he added:
"Or my house maybe... my room's probably empty."
"Uh... sure." Wade said, backing off quietly. They put the equipment back in the trunk and got back in; Kim drove over to her house; it was a short, uneventful drive.
-X-
Kim looked what was left of her house, plus some of the reconstruction that had been done while she was down in Nevada. By the looks of it, most of the basic structure had been repaired, like most structures around Middleton as the reconstruction went on. It wasn't fully insulated, but it had all the roofing and walls back, offering some protection from the elements. Hope it gets insulated by winter, she thought as she looked at it; Or it's going to be a cold one.
She pulled in next to her dad's car, which was still intact. Putting the car in park and turning the emergency brake on, she turned the car off and got out, as did Ron and Wade. They walked up to the front door, and Kim inserted her house key, opening the door.
"Mom? Dad?" she asked... no lights were on. "Jim? Tim?"
There was no answer... it was weird. Where are they? she wondered...
Something clattered; she instantly pushed Wade behind her and entered a defensive stance, listening, hundreds of scenarios playing through her head as she began thinking of what villain would try to kidnap her family or hold them hostage. Most of them, it turned out.
"Kim, I..."
"Not now, Wade." she said, putting a finger to her mouth to gesture for him to be quiet. She started creeping ahead, listening...
They crept down the hall, near the Tweeb's room... she heard more... and slid the door open just a fraction...
"Hoosha!" she heard, and dropped her guard. It's the Tweebs, she thought, relieved. She knocked on their door, and heard them shout, and a mad scramble. She pushed the door open a bit...
To have two twins with the same brown hair and a little over half her height pointing what looked to be homemade projectile launchers at her; the angle of attack would of been extremely painful against a man.
"Oh... hey Kim!" the Tweebs said together, putting down the makeshift weapons.
"Didn't think you'd be home..." Jim began,
"... so early." Tim finished.
"Where's mom and dad?" Kim asked, frowning.
"Work." Jim answered, "Why?"
"Wade needs a place to bunk," Kim explained, filling them in on the events with Wade's mother. The Tweebs glanced at each other.
"Well..." Tim said, frowning... "If they're fine, guess he could stay with us..."
"Why not?" Jim asked back, "He's a cool dude."
Kim saw Wade smile out of the corner of her eye. She glanced at the clock; Alright, got a few hours until we need to be at the airport; four hours early for international flights, even if Ron's not carrying much besides his Kimmunicator and a few other toiletries... and Rufus.
"Alright; well, I need to clean up after the car ride. Basement bathroom still working?"
"Yeah." Jim said.
"... don't worry, we aren't making anti-matter." Tim finished, and the two grinned at each other.
Kim hit her forehead; Last time the Tweebs brewed anti-matter, they nearly blew up the house and coulda nuked half the neighborhood if they forgot to use the right protection... least they took it to the science center after that. There's shielding there for those kind of accidents...
"Come on, Wade," she said, "There's an unused room in the basement you can use. Set up in there, I guess. Don't get too comfortable; the 'rents might not want you to stay too long."
"Sure." Wade said.
XX
Thirty Minutes Later
Ron walked up the stairs, and cracked open the door... the battered thing, somehow salvaged from the house before it got demolished, fell off its hinges and collapsed. "AW man..." he said, shutting his eyes just in case.
"Ron!" Kim shouted from her room loudly.
"Sorry KP! Door fell on its own, I swear!" he shouted as he stepped backwards, missing the step, slipping and bouncing down the stairs. "Ow oof ow ow ow ooff WHOA!"
Rufus squealed in horror as Ron kept hitting the stairs, until he landed on the landing. He rolled over, on his back, and sighed. Why me... he wondered.
"Come on up, Ron." Kim said after a minute, standing at the top of the stairs wearing casual clothing.
"Heh, right." Ron said, blushing in embarrassment from his awkward landing. He heard Rufus snigger. He walked up; Kim's room was empty, so much it surprised Ron despite the fact he knew most of the room had been destroyed in the lorwardian attack; the only furniture was a chair that had been pulled up from the wreckage and a sleeping bag that was tied up in the corner with a pillow next to it. One of the surviving Cuddle Buddies dolls was sitting near where Kim's bed had been before the house was destroyed, and there was a footlocker with a hand scanner in the corner near the closet, which Ron suspected was holding the battle suit.
"So... uh..." Ron awkwardly said.
"Just sit down, Ron. We need to talk."
Oh fuck. Ron thought, worried it was that kind of talk... his heart rate accelerated, Oh no, I should of KNOWN this was coming! We're not even going to wind up in the same college, are we? Is she jealous of my power? Is she worried it'll wreck our relationship? Hundreds of scenarios played in his head; leaving him light headed as he sat down.
He could imagine it now; a tearful rejection, claiming necessity for his sake... "No, it's not you Ron... it's my enemies; they're getting to the point where they might send assassins, I don't want you caught near it when it happens."
Kim? Worry about assassins? Yeah right... said the logical side of his mind, which was often low key, she's thrashed dozens of them that tried to get her between missions; no one save the 'sins were hurt.
He worried it was jealousy... "Ron... I can't keep up with you if you can just go magical like that... I dunno, it's... I don't think it's you, it's the magic..."
Hundreds of images was running through his mind; some of them gross...
"Josh was curious about us after all that's happened and well..."
Ron savagely slammed that train of thought to the side and crushed it like a soda can under a giant robot warrior's boot heel, Monkey ain't Kim's love anymore; he had that shot, he lost it, he doesn't get a second chance. He tried to satisfy his mind with the memory of finding out Josh wasn't with Kim anymore, but he had some difficulty in his shocked state.
He sat down in the chair as Kim paced... he started inhaling and exhaling sharper...
"Look, Ron... I know this sounds weird, but I'm worried about your; what did Sensei call it; Monkey magic? I don't know much about it, but... I want you to be careful... I'm worried about what it'll do to you."
"What do you mean, KP?" Ron asked, his voice choking.
"I'm worried it's going to cost you," Kim said, sighing, her voice steadily becoming more strained as she tried to find the words, "I'm worried about your safety Ron; I'd go through Hell itself and then some to rescue you... but I don't think I can rescue you if the price of your magic, something you never really had a choice in, is something like what happened to Monkey Fist..."
Relief exploded out of Ron as he sighed, sagging in relief, Alright... it's not that talk...
"Ron?" she asked, frowning, a worried look in her eye, "You alright?"
"Sorry. I thought it was the other kind of talk for a second."
Kim looked at him like he was crazy for a second(which, as Ron admitted to himself, he was), then laughed, walking over and giving Ron a light punch to the arm.
"Ron... you... oh..." she kissed him, catching him off guard. He closed his eyes, and waited, putting his hands around her as she did the same. After a few seconds more, they let go.
"Well... you know me; paranoia and irrational fear, secret weapons!" Ron said, trying to make it sound like a joke, but he wasn't sure if he was doing too well. Kim laughed lightly. Ron thought he saw the Tweebs for a moment peaking in.
"Just be careful, Ron," Kim finished, "We don't know a lot about this magic stuff; for all we know, it could be dangerous. I mean, look at Hana; she's a baby and she's already superhuman."
"You know, I got a feeling that's just a teaser..." Ron said, instantly regretting it. Kim gave him a playful slap along the face.
"Watch it, magic boy, I still know sixteen styles to your one. Seventeen to two if we count street fighting."
Ron laughed, "Wouldn't have it any other way, KP."
The door opened and he heard Kim's father shout, "Jim! Tim! I'm home! Any sign of Kimmie?"
XX
Doctor James Timothy Possible walked through, glancing around. Ain't home sweet home yet, but it's almost there, he thought with a sad, internal sigh as he looked at the bare walls. He'd seen the Sloth outside, so he had to reckon Kim was home. That, or someone was on a one-way trip to a black hole.
He glanced up, seeing Kim and Ron at the balcony. "Hey dad!" Kim said, coming down the stairs and embracing him in a hug; he returned it, a little surprised at how hard she could squeeze. He glanced up and saw Ron standing by the balcony, Rufus on the railing.
As Kim let go, he asked, "So, Kim, how was Nevada?"
"Oh, just fine." she answered, though he had a funny feeling something had happened down there.
"That's great, Kimmie," he said, then frowned, "How's Ron? Or Wade?"
He saw Kim's face blank as she suddenly remembered something, "Yeah... about that; Wade needs a place to hang for a while; his mom threw him out."
"Hrmpf." he said, frowning, thinking it through briefly. He trusted Wade, and knew he wouldn't abuse the hospitality. "Alright, he can stay for a few days, but I trust he can find better arrangements, or figure out how to make up with his mother."
"I'll let him know; he's in the basement's spare room right now."
XX
Four Hours Later
Middleton Airport
Ron pulled the backpack over his shoulders as he looked at Kim; their ride was going to show up shortly, but airport security was being extremely paranoid; there were even PBD riot soldiers guarding it. Least Sensei's got an agent on the ride this time, Ron thought, amused, recalling the information that was sent about it; it wasn't any private jet or anything that'd raise flags, it was a small import/export plane that would be picking up some of the local science center's equipment, which would then be delivered to Japan where most of the factories had been knocked out during the alien attack, though reconstruction was well under way, some parts needed to be brought in. Ron would be going along incognito; supposedly just to make sure it got over alright considering that a few cargo flights had been intercepted by an airborne super working for some pirate group working out of the Pacific in an as-of-yet unknown area. Not that Ron was worried overall about that; if that happened, he was sure he could beat the guy.
"Well Kim," Ron said, smiling, "Guess this is goodbye, unless you want to come?"
"I'd love to," Kim said, "But Wade said that GJ needs me for some operation soon."
"Dementor?"
"Probably."
"Alright; just be careful; if anything happened to you..."
Kim smiled, "I'll be fine; I've beat plenty of Dementor sitches, this one won't be any different."
The two hugged, then, naturally, a kiss came. They broke it after a few seconds, needing to breathe.
A Japanese man wearing a formal suit walked up and nodded, "Stoppable-san, we're ready to leave."
Ron nodded, "I'm ready when you are. Let's get the security done... see ya, KP."
"See ya, Ron." Kim responded, waving. Rufus popped out of Ron's pocket and waved too, and Ron walked with the man, who was one of Sensei's ninjas, towards the security checkpoint.
X
Kim turned, walking... and nearly slammed into a PBD soldier who seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Oh, sorry," Kim said, taking a step back.
"It's alright;" the soldier said; his goggles weren't over his eyes, instead on his forehead, revealing his steel grey eye color; he looked like a veteran member of the PBD. "I was looking for you, Miss Possible. Brigadier General Malta wishes to speak with you in the near future. He knew you'd be here, so he sent a memo down."
"Alright; when's he available?"
"He has a full schedule in the next two days, but he can meet you this weekend."
"Alright then, I'll call him back." Kim said, nodding, "Anything else?"
"No. Off the record though, I'd suggest you keep an eye on your friend... not that I'm sayin' he's untrustworthy, but this fancy magic stuff may do some nasty things to him, and you two've had enough crap piled on you without adding some magical stuff to it."
"No big, he'll be fine. He's tougher than he looks." Kim sounded confident... but somehow, she wasn't so sure herself... He's right; we don't know anything about this 'magic' stuff... I just hope Ron knows what he's doing... getting turned to stone and surviving is something I don't even want to about...
The soldier walked off, and Kim frowned as she thought some more.
Beep beep be-beep.
"Wade?" she asked as she answered, glad for the distraction.
"Sorry Kim, but I'm getting a very weird visual on a biker gang; seems they're coming straight for Middleton. ID and iconography match ups confirms they're the Hel's Demons biker gang. They'll be here tomorrow morning."
"The gang that sacked Littleton in early June?" Kim asked, her senses alert as she realized that very soon Middleton might be under attack, and the time frame was extremely accurate, because it'd mean that Ron wouldn't be able to hang around... Guess it's going to be me against a gang... hasn't stopped me before, won't stop me now.
"The same gang." Wade answered, "And they definitely have at least one super, so you're going to have to take that guy on. I'll get you in touch with Officer Hobble, he's getting a SWAT team ready."
"A SWAT team?" Kim asked, frowning, "Wade, the Tri-City area only has one."
"I know. And it's Middleton's. I'm sending PBD a heads up since there's a super being in those bikers. MPD should be alerting the city soon, so you'd better get back and change. I think this'll be a battle suit mission."
"If it isn't bugged; alright Wade, I'm on my way back." She hung up.
XXKPXX
XXRSXX
End Chapter
Author's Notes:
- Drones; they're cannon fodder, no use denying. Dementor, of course, being more competent than Drakken, arms them and armors them... though cannon fodder has its use, as Dementor still uses the old drone design.
- Kim is a 'natural' hero, as in she has no super powers of her own, just two fists, to feet, and a lotta whallop. The TV Tropes term is "Badass Normal". Ron, however, is more of a 'magic' origin hero one because of the fact that he's swimming in MMP right now... even if he doesn't have too much control or the ability to call it on hand. Sure, Kim's outpaced by supers in some areas, but she's badass enough not to need powers to maintain a similar level of combat. But as Wade said, natural abilities only go so far, but that's why she carries gadgets, right? I suppose technically when she dons the battle suit or when she used the Centurion Project she was more of a 'tech' hero, but that's usually temporary. That, and the battle suit is still buggy. ;)
- Rufus is somewhat hard to write, less because he's an complex character or I don't like him and more that it's hard to fit him into a fight scene because this is a little naked mole rat when I have people a few hundred times his size duking it out. I'll probably work to slip him in and let him have some fun with vents, but as far as a normal fight goes, he'll probably be in Ron's pocket or mentioned sliding out, so I can throw Ron around without having to think "Jeez, what's it like for Rufus in there?"
- Dementor was always more serious than Drakken, more competent, and this was to sort of exemplify that. Dementor's more willing to kill, though he's not wanton about it and generally keeps it limited to what would be an ROE for a military outfit (namely, combat targets only). He's trying to take over the world, and nothing spells out (viva) La Resistance like wanton slaughter randomly; no KP villain is that kind (except Warhok/Warmonga, but that's another can of beans entirely).
- I've also started making a number of in-universe documents, for those who are interested. They're usually short and tagged at the end to help create the setting more, but if there's no or few author's notes I'll put in some of the longer ones to the end. Feel free to PM me if you're curious on any that were mentioned or want larger copies for personal reading; but it'll never be required to understand the story (For example, Wade's report on synthodrone composition).
-=Document Recovery: "HenchCo Training Program Ad"=-
- Source: Villain's Digest Magazine
Heroes got you down? Your legion of terror unable to beat a single cheerleader and her slacker boyfriend? Then you need to train them up!
Presenting, HenchCo's Training Regiments, with budgets and plans for every grade of evil villain!
-"Basic Bad": A simple, cheap, but excellent program for those who want their henchmen to have basic skills, including simple hand-to-hand combat, basic technical skills, and a brief regimen in weapon usage. Perfect for those on a tight budget or looking to just have foundations before taking over the training themselves. With this foundation, your options of further enhancement are limitless, and for those who don't do so, this investment will ensure basic competence in every minion!
-"Stormtrooper B-Gone": Want a real legion of terror who can handle those pesky Global Justice blue shirts? Sick of having graduates from the hapless stormtrooper's academy of marksmanship as minions? Worry not! With a little cash investment, we'll train your henchmen from people who couldn't hit a barn's broadside to being able to blast a bulls-eye at 100 meters. "Basic Bad" included for free in this package, so save your cash and get your competent henchmen today! -Note; HenchCo is not responsible for any weapon-related mishaps during training or loss of accuracy and competence after training is over; speak to your local HenchCo representative for refresher courses (not included with the initial purchase).
-"Glamorous Elite": This excellent program is the next best that money can buy; just ask Professor Dementor! Henchmen receive a full coverage of the usage of any villainous technology, including basic magical device usage for the scheming magician! Even genetic manipulation comes with this thorough, complete package of training! With additional training regimens, multiple refresher courses offered over a long period (pending filled payments, of course), and even chances to put your own spin in on how your henchmen are trained and in what, this is the ideal training for a villain seeking large groups of loyal, dependable, superior henchmen!
-"I am ze Uber-henchman!": Super heroes throwing your guys around like cardboard boxes? Getting blown away by fireballs? Henchmen unable to even dent that flying brick? Then you need ze Uber-Henchman! The ultimate training program, using a full dosage of carefully-screened and tested experiments and genetic manipulation to give your own henchmen superpowers to take on those pesky heroes, you're elites will be the bane of henchmen everywhere! No poor Global Justice agent will last more than five seconds against them, and their best will still fail. (Note; HenchCo not related to any post-training regimen incidents in relation to their powers, or damages caused by such).
-"Train your Dragon": Every villain wishes they had a dragon... well, they don't exist, I'm afraid, but why not have a powerful sidekick? This top-of-the-line program is discussed in detail before we begin to turn that lucky henchman (or henchwoman) into the ultimate, one-man army. This in-detail training program is pricey, yes, but the value of one powerful henchman can be worth an army of basic bads. Superpower enhancements included! Pick that lucky minion and turn him into your trusted lieutenant who can kick ass and take down heroic names today! Have the bane of heroes and heroines everywhere as your loyal henchman!
-=Document Ends=-
