Thank you to everyone who reviewed the novel and I hope you continue to enjoy the tale as it moves along. Well, let's get on with it, shall we?
Ron sighed, wondering when he was going to be allowed out of here. He needed to be out there searching for Kim, not tied to a bed! This Shadow person was going to pay; Ron didn't care how powerful he was! At his anger, his hands began to glow with his Mystical Monkey Power.
Still... I can't blame them too much for wanting to look me over. Ron admitted as his eyes wandered the hospital, looking at the IV in his right arm. He had taken quite a beating last night, which was supposed to be a happy occasion. His wrist had been popped back in, although it was still not quite one hundred percent functional. Ron looked down, seeing a string of blue and purple bruises covering his body.
"I really thought I could beat him..." Ron shook his head sadly. Once Shego and Kim had been defeated, he knew it was up to him. For a few moments there, he truly believed that he could actually win; channeling his power, having Shadow on the run. Only too late did he realize that it was a ploy to wear him down. I bet Kim would have seen through it. Ron berated himself. And because I didn't see it, Kim's gone. It's all my fault.
The door to his hospital room opened and there stood his parents, who tried to get their emotions under control, but after a brief effort, failed and all but run towards him, crushing him in the tightest hug that they could. "We were so worried about you, son." His father smiled. "I'm glad to see you're awake." Unless Ron was badly mistaken, both of his parents had been crying.
"Yeah, it's good to see you too." Ron responded, biting his lip to keep from crying out. "Look, I've got... lots and lots of bruises, so..."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Ronald." his mother immediately let go.
"Great, so when can I get out of here?" Ron asked. "I need to go find Kim."
"They'll be releasing you tonight, but you're not going anywhere until your injuries heal." His father looked at him sternly.
"As a matter of fact, I'm not sure you should be going on any more missions at all." His mother added.
"What? I've got to get back out there!" Ron protested. "KP's counting on me and I'm not letting her down. I've already done so once; I won't do it again!"
"Well, once your injuries heal, we can talk about it then." His father declared, which was normally out of character for him. Normally, they didn't talk about things at all, merely dropped a bombshell and said: "This is our way of telling you."
"It doesn't matter what you say; I'm not changing my mind about this." Ron said determinedly, his adrenaline wanting nothing more than to hop out of his bed and search right this minute.
"Ronald Stoppable, you will lay down this instant and rest!" His mother exclaimed. "Your girlfriend can wait!"
"No, damn it, she's can't." Ron continued to argue. Usually, he simply accepted anything they said, no matter how much he may have hated it, but not today, not about this. "He's doing God-knows-what to her and your brilliant suggestion is to let him?!"
"I agree, she can't wait." James Possible and his wife Ann walked into the room. His black eyes gazed at Ron coldly. "What I want to know is... how could this have happened in the first place, Ronald?" His hands were shaking, struggling to control his anger.
"We walked straight into a trap." Ron sighed. "Me and KP got a call about some new device that Drakken and Shego were after, but it turned out that it was nothing more than a ruse. I tried to stop him, but... I failed and now KP's gone." There was a hole in his heart as he said those words.
"Do you know who he is?" Ann asked.
"We've never encountered him before." Ron shook his head. "The only name he gave was Shadow; does that mean anything to you?"
"No, it doesn't." Mr. Possible stated. "Now I hope you're not going to take up too much time in this place. My daughter's counting on you to get her back."
"Yeah, nothing's keeping me from her." Ron promised. "I don't care what he throws my way."
"Good to know, considering that this was your fault in the first place." Mr. Possible glared at him, taking a step forward.
"What do you mean, this was my son's fault?" Mr. Stoppable demanded, climbing to his feet. "How can you possibly blame Ron for this?"
"If he knew what he was doing, none of this would have happened!" Mr. Possible screamed, ignoring his wife's effort to get him to calm down. "Perhaps you should have paid a little more attention to what Kim was trying to teach you instead of slacking off all the damn time!"
"Just hold on a minute!" Mrs. Stoppable joined the argument. "If anyone's to blame, it's her! Your daughter's been dragging him on missions for years and you have the audacity to blame Ron when it's her irresponsibility that got her into this in the first place?"
"My daughter?" James screamed. "He's the one who's too inept to protect her. When she gets back, the first thing we've going to talk about is finding a new sidekick! You've really screwed up this time, kid..." He pressed his face right next to Ron's. "And if you don't find her, you and I are going to have a long talk."
"James, get ahold of yourself!" Ann exclaimed, trying to mediate the conflict, but none of the others were paying any attention. "You know as well as I do that this isn't Ron's fault!"
"Are you threatening my son, James?" Mr. Stoppable put himself between them. "If you so much as touch him, I promise you, I'll Sue you out of everything you own!"
"Look, Dad, I appreciate you standing up for me, but... he's right." Ron sighed. She's going to hate me for failing her. Some sidekick I am... However, they were paying no more attention to him than they were to Ann.
"And if you dare send a lawyer after me, you can join that boy in a black hole!" James screamed, his anger growing more and more. Logically, he knew that there was nothing Ron could have done, but his distress and fear overcame his rationality. "That boy is responsible for Kimberly and whatever happens to her..."
"Don't even think about trying to put the blame on him!" Mrs. Stoppable screamed. She was, if anything, angrier than her husband. "It's your daughter we have to blame for this mess. Her arrogant, stuck-up attitude, the way she takes Ron for granted, the way..."
"Shut up, woman!" James bellowed. "Don't try and make excuses for him! It was his responsibility to keep her safe, his responsibility to look out for her, and he failed! You don't deserve her, you never have! You hear that, Ronald, you worthless sack of..." He got no farther as Mrs. Stoppable slapped him across the face, ending his tirade.
"Don't you ever insult my son again." Mrs. Possible, her voice becoming dangerous. "I'm tired of you blaming him for your daughter's stupidity. I should have put my foot down a long time ago!"
"Shut up, all of you!" Ron yelled as loud as he could, startling all the adults in the room. He turned to James. "You weren't there! You didn't see what he was capable of doing! He defeated me and Shego and KP at the same time! I did everything I could to stop him, and... it wasn't enough." His voice dropped to a whisper and he pulled his knees against his chest.
"You can't blame yourself, Ron." Ann looked at him, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"God, I... it's my fault." Ron moaned, burying his face in his hands. "You're right about that, Mr. Possible. But I'll get her back, I promise. KP's everything to me; I can't live without her."
"Son, if this... Shadow is as dangerous as you say he is, you can't go back out there." Mr. Stoppable tried to persuade him otherwise. "If he was able to beat all three of you, what chance do you have of beating him alone?" He glared at James, all but daring him to say something.
"I know, but I've got to try, for her sake." Ron insisted stubbornly. "Look, Mom, Dad, I know you're trying to help, but... can you please give me some space for a while? I need to think about what I'm going to do."
"All right, let's give him some space." Ann declared, all but dragging her husband out of the room, who had least had the decency to show some regret. His parents reluctantly left as well, saying that they'd be right outside if he needed anything.
Okay, I've got to give this a try. Ron thought, trying to meditate and use his powers to accelerate his healing. Only problem was that he had never paid any attention to it at Yamaguchi, an act he was now sorely regretting. He took deep breaths, trying to get his emotions under control, but without Kim... it was like he himself was torn in two.
Sweat dripped into Shego's eyes as she punched another Synthrodrone, while dodging an attempt pile drive by two others. She panted, her moves becoming slightly slower, her reflexes starting to wear down.
This exercise had gone on for twice as long as her normal daily routine, but Shego refused to stop. As long as she fought, she didn't have to think. She didn't want to think, didn't want to feel.
Never thought I'd ever see Shadow again. Shego shuddered. He was the most frightening man he'd never met; the only one who had ever come close to inspiring that kind of fear in her was Zorpox, but Shadow... he was worse. She hadn't seen him for over a year, but on their last encounter, he swore that she would pay for her betrayal.
Shego stopped the training exercise, sitting down on a chair and collapsing. None of the henchmen were foolish enough to go near her, not in the mood she was currently in. I've got to see him, Shego sighed. She didn't want to, and found excuse after excuse, but eventually, she ran out of them and was left with no other option.
She walked through the lair, the henchmen tripping over themselves to get out of the way. Shego pressed her palm against the door and walked in, attempting to brace herself for what she was about to see.
Drakken was lying on his bed, to the sound of an EKG machine. It was strange to see him like this, so weak and injured. Shego's nose wrinkled at the smell of burnt flesh. She clenched her fists in anger. Sure, she had shot her fair share of plasma blasts at him when he annoyed her, which was almost a daily basis, but she had never done anything like this.
Try as she might, she was unable to keep the voice out of her head: "I'm sorry, Miss Shego, there's nothing more we can do for him now. I... only wish his chances were better. That's all I can say." The physician's words echoed through her head again and again and even the most intense training regimen was unable to silence it.
What should she say? What could she say? When Drakken received the information about a new device, he of course rushed off to obtain it. Shego came along, primarily to fight Kim Possible, who would surely arrive shortly after they did. It was what she lived for, competing with a worthy opponent, although she'd never admit as much to her. There was one other reason as well, but she refused to think about that.
"Uh... hey, Doctor D; how ya doing?" Shego said quietly. She took a seat next to him, ignoring the smell. Part of his lab coat had been melted to his body. "Look, I'm not good at being sentimental or anything, but... please don't die on me, all right?" She heard that some people in comas could hear what was going on around them and Shego hoped that Drakken could hear him now. "I've really gotten used to having you around."
What surprised her was her sincerity. At first, it was just a paycheck and a chance to fight, but... Drakken had grown on her, for all his bumbling ways. She'd been with him for years and had learned to actually care about him. Great, I'm becoming soft. Shego groaned, slapping her face with her hand.
"And I promise you, Shadow is going to pay." Shego looked intently at him. She knew his real name, but refused to call him anything else. He was a newcomer to the villain scene, had only been active for a few months, but he rapidly built up a reputation for being both intelligent and ruthless. And now that Kimmy's in his grasp, it's going to grow even more. When Shego looked at him, she saw into the eyes of a killer.
She replayed the fight over and over in her head, trying to figure out what she could have done differently to prevent this. The most obvious of them was not falling for the bait Shadow had used. Before that, it looked like they might actually get the upper hand. Okay, rule one: don't let my anger get out of control. Shego told herself.
One thing did confuse her, though: why did he let her live? Based on the brain scan, she was lucky not to have any brain damage from the savagery of his attack. Even so, she used one of Drakken's devices to scan her brain for any problems... while hoping that using his inventions wouldn't be the cause of it. There weren't, apart from an ugly concussion.
There were only two things that came to mind. One: that he decided to send Drakken to the brink of death in order to torment her mind. Two: that she somehow still fit into his plans. Either one was quite plausible with him.
"And I'd better come up with a plan to free Kimmy," Shego sighed, knowing that she was going to need her help. "One more thing to kill him for: making me rescue my sworn enemy."
The first thing Kim noticed when she regained consciousness was a pounding headache. I'm definitely going to be feeling that for a while. She thought, trying to take note of her surroundings.
As her eyes opened, the pain from her injuries came back to her, but surprisingly, they were little more than a dull ache. Certainly surprising, considering the beating she took during the fight. Kim pulled her leg, only to find that there was a chain holding her in place. There was very little light in her cell, barely enough to see her restraint.
However, since only her right leg was chained, Kim was able to get to her feet, albeit unsteadily. Obviously, the paralyzing effect of the drugs had not yet fully worn off. She moved slowly and as far as the chain would allow.
Okay, I'm awake, and my mind's working. Kim thought. Now I just have to figure out a way to get out of this. Her eyes were adjusting to the very dim light in spite of the fact that her night vision goggles had been taken from her.
"Good to see you finally regained consciousness." Shadow stated, turning up the lights. Kim blinked rapidly, unused to the sudden barrage. "Of course, the dose was measured very precisely. I knew to the very minute when you would be coming out of it. The paralyzing effect should wear off in another couple hours; I can't very well let you do something foolish, can I?"
Once she adjusted, she was truly able to see her opponent for the first time, as he was no longer hiding his face. He had red hair, although it was a considerably lighter shade than her own, black eyes, and looked to be from his late 20's to his early 30's. The most visible characteristic was a scar going from his forehead and down his right eye. There was a horizontal one across his left palm as well.
"All right, get it over with." Kim sighed. "Tell me your latest plan for taking over the world, brag about how nobody can ever stop you, and what death trap you plan on putting me in."
Shadow did nothing but give a slight smile at her. "Oh, I have no interest in conquering the world, Kimberly." He explained. "You must be mistaking me for your typical enemies. No, my goals are far, far simpler. You'll find out soon enough."
"Not a chance!" Kim exclaimed, her brain searching for options. She knew she couldn't beat him in a fight. However much she didn't want to admit it, Shadow was a more skilled opponent than she was.
"Very amusing, Kimberly, truly." Shadow smiled. "I think I'm going to enjoy your company."
"You can't even give me a hint?" Kim complained. Okay, I can't fight him hand to hand, but if I reach into my pocket... She looked around for her equipment.
"Looking for this?" Shadow asked, holding her laser lipstick in his hand, along with her laser pen that she intended to use against him. "Or this? As I mentioned before, do not mistake me for your other adversaries. I made sure to confiscate all of your equipment before we arrived. Your communicator is gone, along with all your hidden escape items. The homing beacons that Global Justice implanted inside you have been deactivated as well and on the slight chance that there were any I had missed, this place is shielded."
"What do you want with me?" Kim demanded, telling herself not to give into her fear. Just hold firm; you've beaten everyone else. You can beat him too. She was only partially successful.
"Our game's just begun; I can't reveal that to you just yet." Shadow grinned. "I think this is when you scream at me: 'you can't get away with this!'"
"Okay, you're not interested in world domination, and you won't tell me what your goals are." Kim sighed. Even more dangerous than I thought. Kim worried. Not only is he powerful, he's intelligent. What am I going to do now?
"So you're finally starting to understand," Shadow laughed. "I'm sure you'll be quite comfortable here. I've watched you for quite a long time, you know." That sentence made her shudder with revulsion. "You've had quite an impressive career."
"God, you're disgusting!" Kim screamed at him, struggling against the chain, trying to tear him apart. She knew it was futile, that she couldn't beat him even if she did by some miracle break free, but she was acting on pure instinct.
"Careful, I wouldn't want you to strain anything." Shadow warned. "I imagine you have quite a few questions for me, and while I would be happy to answer all of them, the time for it is not now."
"Can you at least tell me how long I've been here?" Kim asked, trying not to sound like she was begging.
"Approximately six hours." Shadow informed her. "It's good to see you once again, Kimberly. My only regret is that it could not be under different circumstances."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Kim demanded. "I've never met you before!"
"Then perhaps your memory isn't as good as I believed," Shadow replied, talking as much to himself as to her. He rubbed his chin in contemplation. "Never fear, Kimberly, I have no intentions on making this your permanent home."
"Then when are you letting me leave?" Kim asked suspiciously. He was just trying to play with her mind, give her the illusion of hope so that he could shatter it. Knowing it did not stop a small glimmer from showing up, however.
"There are many lessons that you will have to learn before I can free you, and rest assured, you will." Shadow spoke with confidence. "Now... what was I going to say next? Oh, yes; meals will be every four hours, and you are welcome to explore this room to your heart's content."
"My cell, you mean." Kim growled at him.
"Details, details," Shadow waved off. "Adios, Kimberly; it's time to put the next phase of my, in my not so humble opinion, brilliant plan." He turned his back on her, although Kim would bet anything that he was ready for an attempt she made at an attack. He simply walked out of the room, the metal doors sliding shut behind him.
The instant he disappeared, the chain released Kimberly, allowing her maneuver around the room. It was certainly an impressive cell. It had a vanity, a closet, posters of her favorite bands, even a box fan to help keep the air circulating inside. The room would have been a pleasant place to be, except for the fact that comfortable or not, it was still a prison.
She set down on the bed in the left hand corner, which was even more comfortable than her own, and thought about her next move. Kim had several possibilities that floated in her head. The problem was: none of her escape plans appeared workable.
Kim gulped, now feeling real fear course through her veins. She gasped for breath, trying to hold back her tears. She had faced many foes in her line of work, ones that made her feel angry, determined, upset, enraged, even frightened, but this was the first time that Kim Possible had ever felt helpless.
She curled up on the bed and let her tears flow freely. Please find me, Ron...
Amazing; I'm actually writing this story at a pretty rapid pace. Hopefully, I didn't write anyone as too out of character. The next one should be up in a few days, in spite of the fact that my days off work are now officially over.