Author's note: In addition to previous disclaimer, I do not own GI Joe Renegade. I have expanded upon the source material available to me (in other words, I made up a lot of stuff) and I've ignored several rules
of reality in favor of plot. Hopefully, it's still a good story.
Special thanks to LoveRobin for doing a proofread. I've made some changes since then, so any errors please blame on me.
Batman led the group through the hallway past Superboy's room. When he reached the door, it slid back, revealing the youth. "I heard there was something up," Superboy said coolly, falling in line behind Batman.
"I told you he had great ears," Megan whispered to Kim.
"Whassup, Supe?" Wally asked, munching on a cookie.
Superboy eyed Kid Flash coldly and then reached out with super-speed, grabbing one of the last remaining cookies from Wally's hand. "That's what we're waiting for Batman to tell us."
The briefing room was deep in the heart of Mount Justice. In addition to a large computer screen, it featured a holographic display system that could be used to display three dimensional images. For now, Batman simply used the two dimensional screen. He walked over to the wall-sized display, pulling a remote out from his utility belt.
The screen displayed a logo, shaped vaguely like the Omega symbol.
"Hey, that's the logo for Cobra Industries!" Wally said, pointing at the screen. He pronounced it as 'Co-Bray'. "They make great pie."
"They also make various military combat systems and pharmaceutical supplies," said Robin.
"Correct," said Batman. "There have been various internet rumors of illegal activities by Cobra Industries and its CEO, Adam DeCobray. However, I have not yet been able to find any conclusive evidence of wrongdoing. In fact, except for only a very few, discredited internet sources, there seems to be no indication of any corporate wrong doings going on at all."
"So, they're clean?" Wally said. "They're good guys?"
"Uh-uh," said Robin. "Large corporations always have at least one or two bad apples. When you have that many people, someone is going to be rotten. Normal day-to-day business practices at that level of corporate circles operate in the realms of moral greyness. The only way a company comes across that good is if they're seriously covering up something."
Batman nodded. "I've been keeping Cobra Industries under low level surveillance, but something recently came up." He pressed a button and the image changed to display five pictures. Four were obviously ID photos, the last was a blurred image of a man dressed in a black suit with a face mask completely covering him.
Batman gestured. "These four are military personal who are accused of breaking into a Cobra facility. Since then, they have been on the run, assaulting various Cobra locations in a stolen Cobra next-generation military transport." He pointed at the blurred image. "They are sometimes accompanied by a person reported to be a ninja. None of the four have anything in their background that indicate they were likely to go rogue.
"A few minutes ago, I was alerted to an alarm from a Cobra food distribution warehouse, indicating the rogues have broken in. However, there is no sign the company plans to contact the authorities. I want you to go in, try to capture the rogues, and find out what Cobra is hiding," said Batman. "Priority one is to avoid being captured yourselves. Priority two is finding out intel from Cobra. Priority three is their capture. Any questions?"
"Yeah, I've got one," said Robin. He pointed at Kim. "Is she coming along?"
"Yes," said Batman, just as Kim was saying "No."
The Dark Knight stared at the redhead for a moment, then snapped out a single command. "Explain."
"I'm NOT a member of this team," she pointed out. "You asked me here to have me consider. Fine, I've considered. I'm not a spy, I'm not a sidekick..."
"Junior partner," interrupted Wally.
"I'm not a junior partner," said Kim, accepting the correction. "I'm not your commando. I'm Kim Possible. It's one thing if a company asks me to stop a break in, or if I definitely know someone is trying to steal something for evil purposes. You want us to go in and we don't even know which side are the bad guys!"
"Thus the term, Reconnaissance." said Batman, voice gravelly. "You and Robin can enter and disable the security system. Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Miss Martian can then deal with the four military soldiers while you two search for information. If the ninja shows up, you and Robin can deal with him."
"Are those pointy ears just for decoration?" Kim said."I am NOT going on this mission, I am NOT joining the club."
Kaldur was the first to speak. "Excuse me... I think..."
Batman raised his hand, causing Kaldur to stop. "Fine. Change of plans. Arguing has wasted enough time. Robin and I will deal with this. We'll take the Batwing, it's faster in atmosphere then Miss Martian's ship. The rest of you stay here until I return to take Kim Possible home."
Superboy snorted. "I don't care either way," he said. "I've got more music to listen to."
"Awww, I wanted to go on another mission," grumbled Wally.
"I could take her in my ship," offered Megan. "I mean, since you won't be needing me."
Batman grunted and turned, his cape swirling as he stalked out, Robin hurrying to keep up. Despite the fact the man seemed to move with a steady, slow tread, Robin had to almost run to keep up.
"Was that a yes?" Megan asked.
"I'm not sure," Kim admitted and turned, to discover Aqualad staring at her. "What is it?"
"You actually said 'no' to Batman," said Kaldur, studying her closely. "That is not an easy thing to do."
Kim shrugged. "I'm not like you guys. I don't run around in tights and a cape."
"Neither do I," said Superboy. He turned, waving a hand in farewell. "I'm out of here."
"I understand your reasoning for refusing." Kaldur said, speaking slowly as he considered his words. "There are times when I am uncomfortable with our role we play in the battle between good and evil. However, not every victory can be won in the light. As Batman has told us, the bad guys are getting smarter. Knowledge is power, and our enemies know that."
"Yeah, and knowing is half the battle," said Wally, quoting the Cobra Industries commercial. "Are you sure you don't want to stick around with us, now that the wet blanket is gone?"
"I'm sure," said Kim, following the only other girl there as she headed for the exit. "I know that. Look, it's getting late, and even if I don't have to worry about school for three months I need to get back home."
"I was not going to ask you to rethink your decision." said Kaldur. "What I wished to know is why your... 'Attitude', I suppose, to Batman. From everything I have learned from Aquaman and Robin, he is a great man worthy of respect."
Kim took a moment to gather her thoughts. "Kaldur, I agree. Batman is an amazing person. He's a non-meta who manages to hold his own against beings that are one step from being practically gods. He's saved or helped to save the world more times then I've saved cats. I know I was coming across as... snippy. But look at it from my point of view. That man has to be one of the most terrifying people on the planet. It's overwhelming."
"You weren't overwhelmed." Megan said. "I mean... I know what it's like, being afraid, but you didn't sound afraid."
"If I hadn't kept on the aggressive, I'd have been wetting my panties." said Kim, frankly.
"Oh, so you ARE wearing them." said Wally. He began aware of several set of hostile glares aimed at his direction. "I'm a speedster, I'm supposed to tell bad jokes."
"So, you are displaying aggression to keep from displaying fear." Kaldur said, wanting to make sure he understood correctly.
"Yeah. Come on, doesn't Batman scare you guys?"
"No." said Kaldur. "I admire him, but I know that if necessary, my liege will protect me from him."
"And I'm a lot faster then anything Batman's got." bragged Wally.
"Kim doesn't have our advantages." said Megan. "The fact that she can do, and has done, so much means we should admire her as much as Batman. Maybe more."
"I apologize if my question has made you uncomfortable. I thank you for coming to visit with us." Kaldur bowed, respectfully. Kim found herself trying to duplicate the bow, impressed by the Atlantean's demeanor.
"Are you SURE you're wearing..." Wally started to ask, only for Kaldur to reach out and grab him by the back of his shirt, pulling Wally away.
"I guess we had better be getting you home." said Megan. "Come on."
Kim and Megan walked down to the hanger to discover that the Batwing long gone, leaving only the large black and red egg. Megan gestured at it and the egg reformed, shaping itself into a sleek-looking aerodynamic craft. The side of the thing rippled, creating a round doorway.
"Impressive," Kim admitted, stepping through the doorway and looking around. "Does she have a name?"
"Not really," said Megan behind Kim. "I just call her 'Ship' in my mind. Go ahead and take one of the seats."
Kim sat down in one of the four seats scattered around the ship's interior, surrounding a central seat. The chair shifted underneath her, readjusting to provide personalized support. Megan moved to the central seat. Two control rods rose from the floor. Megan placed her hands on top of the rods. The ship floated up, hanging about a foot off the ground.
"Don't forget to opaque the view screens," said Kim. "Batman doesn't want me to know where this base is."
"I trust you," said Megan, smiling at Kim. "Besides, maybe I want to prove that you're not the only one who can defy Batman."
Ship floated toward the hanger door, passing through it. There was no feeling of acceleration as they flew up high into the atmosphere, then set off toward Middleton. After a moment, Kim stood and walked over to one of the view screens, entranced by the sight of the world passing beneath her with no sensation of motion.
Kim was silent, staring out the window. She was startled when Megan spoke.
"Are you leaving because... of me?"
Kim turned, startled. "What?"
Megan looked nervous. "I know I don't make a good first impression. Growing up, the only person I spent time with was my uncle. I don't know much about how to act around Earthlings. Oops, I mean, humans."
"No! It wasn't you. You seem really nice," Kim said. "If it's anyone, it's Batman. I don't like the way he maneuvers people around like pieces on a chessboard, and I don't think it's right that he uses you kids as spies. I mean, you're what? 16? 17?"
"Well, in Martian years I'm 16," said Megan. "In your Earth years, I'm closer to 48."
"Oh...," said Kim. "Um..."
"It's OK," said the green girl. "Martians age slower then humans do, so I might as well be sixteen."
"Well, if you're really 48, how come you don't know how to act around humans?"
"I only started being able to reliably shape-shift about a year ago. Until then, I had to live hidden, with just television and my uncle occasionally for company."
"You know, just because I said I'm not going to be on the team, doesn't mean we can't be friends," Kim offered.
"You mean that?" Megan said, looking up with a smile.
"Sure." said Kim. "I know what it's like, having to deal with a house full of boys while trying to be a hero."
Megan stood up, impulsively hugging Kim. Kim found herself hugging Megan back. For a moment, the two women just stood on the bridge, holding each other.
"Um, Megan?" Kim said. "Um... not to ruin the moment or anything, but don't you need to fly this ship?"
Megan pulled back, one hand moving up and thumping her forehead. "Hello, Megan... I'm sorry. The ship can fly itself, but it needs me to guide it to where it's going. I'm sorry."
"Hey... don't do that," said Kim. "You're just... enthusiastic. It's nothing you should beat yourself up for."
"You're so nice... not like the others."
"Well, girls got to stick together, you know."
There was a moment as Megan and Kim stared into each other eyes, Martian and Human. Around them, the Ship flew though the air over Colorado, but inside was only silence and the sound of two people breathing. Then Megan moved forward, pressing her body against Kim's, arms wrapping about Kim's body as she kissed the other girl.
Kim froze, startled, and then...
...felt herself soaring over vast, red sands... Megan's last memory of Mars...
...traveling to Earth in Megan's ship following her uncle, the last two survivors of their once proud race. Staying in the ship, learning English from television shows while having to hide, afraid humans would consider her a monster...
...In those years of loneliness, beginning to be afraid she was a monster, that she could never measure up...
...meeting Robin and the others she had hoped to find friends, but they were so confidant. Unlike Megan, they had grown up around humans, around people. The only one who could have known what Megan felt was Superboy, because like her he had grown up away from people; she in hiding, him in a Cadmus laboratory...
...Superboy rejecting her, choosing solitude over her, only further reinforcing Megan's feelings of inferiority...
Kim found herself back in her body, hands thrust out to push a very disappointed looking Megan away from her. "What was THAT?" Kim demanded.
"What was THAT?" Robin demanded, ducking behind a crate. An explosive bolt flew through the air where Robin had just been, impacting the wall and leaving a small crater behind.
"Cobra Crossbow C-17," said Batman. "Designed for situations where you want a weapon that can be fired without noise."
"Yeah, really stealthy," Robin said, pointing at the crater. "Too bad, the weapons those other three are firing are making so much noise." More weapon fire followed, setting fire to the crate he was behind.
"Priority two," Batman said. He pointed toward where the computer room was.
Robin nodded, firing his grappling claw toward the room. He jumped off, partially obscured by the smoke from the crate. Batman stood, throwing a set of exploding batarangs at the group, distracting them.
Once in the Cobra Facility's computer room, Robin ran a cable from his gauntlet mini-computer to the larger one. The computer used Cobra proprietary hardware, but Robin was able to bypass the connector port and he'd previously written a program which let his gauntlet spoof a Cobra thumb drive.
From there, Robin began working, alternating between using the keyboard and his gauntlet.
"Robin."
Robin didn't react. From experience, he was used to the way Batman could seem to materialize right behind him at any time. "I've got the sprinklers on and I'm trying to download the warehouse database now. The security system keeps trying to lock me out, so I've only got it about halfway done...," Robin reported, working furiously.
"Sprinklers aren't going to be enough. There's a methane gas leak. You need to shut it down before the whole building explodes.
"Got it," Robin typed in a new set of commands, switching menus. He managed to stop the gas leak and was trying to find a way to vent the explosive gas already present when he was interrupted by a metal shuriken flying through the air, smashing the monitor's screen. Batman grabbed Robin by the shoulder and pulled him back just before the shuriken exploded, destroying the monitor completely.
Robin and Batman both looked at the black garbed figure standing in the doorway, wearing a visor that completely covered his face. He was already preparing another throwing star. Batman gestured, a batarang seeming to magically appear in his hand.
"Arashikage Clan?" Batman asked.
The figure nodded.
"You are aware your master is dead?"
The figure nodded again. Robin had the weird feeling that was something the ninja had already known, but still felt great sadness about.
"Why are you doing this?" Batman demanded.
The figure pointed at the Cobra Industries logo at the wall, then made a slicing gesture with his hand.
"The people you are working with are criminals. If you all turn yourselves in, I can...," Batman stopped as the figure threw the shuriken at the floor of the doorway. It exploded, releasing a cloud of smoke which hid the ninja from view.
"Robin, keep working!" Batman ordered, then leaped through the smoke.
"Yeah, yeah...," the Boy Wonder muttered. He turned back to the computer. With the monitor destroyed, he was forced to work through just his gauntlet. He just hoped he had time; at least the gun fire had stopped, and it would probably take more then one of those shurikens to set off a major explosion. Several exploding at once, however, would probably be enough to trigger some major fireworks.
"We've got what we came for! Let's motor, Joes!" Duke ordered.
"We're out of here!" Tunnel Rat said, following Roadblock into the Coyote, their renamed transport.
"Snake-eyes!" Scarlet shouted, into the smoke. "It's time to go!"
"Snake Eyes?" Batman asked, blocking a sword strike with his armored forearm. The two were fighting on a second story catwalk mounted to the walls of the warehouse, allowing a view of the destruction down below. "Is that your use name?"
The ninja nodded, stepping back. He held the sword up, taking a second to inspect his blade after the strike. Batman took the opportunity to glance at his own gauntlet. The armored mesh was slit, the carbon-ceramic composite plate beneath the mesh visibly cracked. Batman wasn't sure how many more hits he could block like that before the armor in his suit was completely compromised.
The ninja suddenly began jumping and leaping in the air, whipping his sword in a pattern of random seeming slashes. Now it was Batman who stepped back, trying to spot the pattern, and realized too late that in addition to slicing through the air, the ninja had been slicing at the wall.
Snake-eyes landed lightly from his latest slash and then delivered a powerful sidekick, aimed at the center of the slashes he had cut in the wall. The section obediently broke open, providing a custom egress. Snake-eyes bowed low toward Batman before leaping through the hole. Batman started to follow, only to stop as he saw a metal cylinder the ninja had left behind.
Snake-eyes landed on all fours on top of the Coyote, then easily slipped inside through an open window.
"What kept you?" Tunnel Rat asked facetiously.
Snake-eyes shrugged in non-answer, as the grenade he left behind exploded. He looked back to see two caped figures, clearly outlined by the exploding building, watching in silence as the Joes drove away. Snake-eyes turned to Scarlet and began making several complex hand gestures.
"What's he saying?" Tunnel Rat demanded.
"He's asking a question." said Scarlet. "He wants to know, who was that masked man."
