Deceptions and Robots
Chapter Three

Authors notes

This long chapter took a while because of three reasons. The first is it's longer than usual, I had to get to the cliff-hanger but I also had to expand the B story so you get more! Thirdly I was hit with writers block on every story I'm working on at the moment.

Hope this makes up for the slight gap in updates!

'So your great plan has no flaws does it?' Kim growled from inside the portable tape player.

'How was I supposed to know the batteries were going to run out?'

'That's what batteries do Ron. Run out!'

She heard him sigh; 'I'm sorry Kim. I got more...' he trailed off and she was left listening to the clacker on his bikes wheels.

'Ron. I'm scared.' she said after a moment.

'KP?'

'You don't know that this is like. I can't see, feel, anything. It's all black, no warmth, no cold, no wind. I'm not breathing, I try but there's no air and no me to breath it in. I'm freaking out here and... and I'm sorry for shouting at you. '

Ron had heard Kim like this before, not often but once or twice. She really was sacred; 'It will be okay Kim.'

'Will it?' she asked in a small voice.

'I promise' Ron said reassuringly

Wade typed in a handful of commands. His search had turned up nothing on a purple face, only now his system had slowed to a crawl. It wasn't the first time Spyware had tried to get past his Firewalls, but he could count the times someone had bypassed them on one hand.

Nothing happened. His software should have nuked whatever got in with a smiley. Whoever had hacked him was good. Wade tried to disconnect from the net, instead he had disconnected his own keyboard. Hitting the kill switch he had wired to the side of his computer nothing happened. Reset, the Off switch, Wade even pulled out the plug; nothing happened and for the first time he regretted his choice of wireless internet.

Staring at the still working computer Wade couldn't begin to guess how it was still working. On it's own a text document opened and something was typed on the screen; "---Greetings Wade Load---". There was a long silence. "---I have control over your computer. Speak and you will be heard---"

'You hacked my system and are using it to talk to me?' Wade was stunned

"---Yes---"

Sitting back down Wade glanced at his camera, it was recording. 'Who the hell are you? No one can get past my security.'

"--- I am Telatran 1, the Autobot supercomputer. Your computer query was logged by my database and this terminal was traced. Security was evaded, system core is intact. All interface now linked to my sensor relay.---"

'In other words; you sliced into my OS and set up my equipment as a remote?'

"---Yes---"

If someone had the ability to do that his post as the best hacker in the world was in trouble. 'So what do you know about this face I'm looking for?' Wade asked, it was worth a shot after all.

It appeared to one side of the document, spinning in it's own little VR. "---The Decepticons. Major Cybertronian faction dedicated to galactic dominance. Current leader; Megatron. Current location; Earth, Decepticon undersea command bunker.---" The symbol stopped spinning and was replaced with a different, orange, face. "---Now authorised to display further information. Autobot commander, Optimus Prime, requests direct visual interface. Confirm?---"

Wade thought for a moment, it sounded very much like an automated system. Somewhere he was talking to a computer. he got the impression that this Optimus guy was it's programmer. 'Okay.' wade said carefully.

The screen flickered black and then faded into gold. In the middle was an armoured head. A blue helmet and a grey face plate were separated with two glowing blue eyes. 'Greetings; I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots. Why are you looking into the Decepticons?'

'My friends were kidnapped last night. They escaped but one of them was... changed. We found the face and I searched for it. From the sounds of it, the Decepticons were the ones responsible.'

'Megatron will use any tools available to him, but what use could a human be to him? You said changed, who and how?'

Wade was very careful right now, he didn't know how much he could trust these people, and the way he said "human" wasn't comforting. 'My friend, Kim, and she was put on a black cassette tape.'

'Ravage. But what point is there... unless... Telatran 1 access news recordings; subject Kim Possible. Summarise.'

Wade watched as the text box reopened "---Kimberly Ann Possible; human female. Status; active. Known background; Described as a teenage hero Kimberly Possible is a freelance bounty hunter and trouble shooter. Visual record shows abilities beyond human specifications.---"

'A prototype, as it were. Is this the "Kim" you referred to?'

'I wouldn't call her a bounty hunter but yes that's her.' Wade wondered Just how much they knew about him and Kim.

Optimus Prime brought a blue hand to his face plate, like he was stroking a non-existent beard before caching himself in the act. 'Megatron kidnaps a prominent human prototype and removes her intellect, most likely installing Ravage's brain pattern in it's place. He'd know we have all the information about her so when he attacks with Ravage it frames the humans. Thus destroying our alliance with your government.

'Given the current situation that scenario is not outside the realms of possibility. Frankly I should have been expecting it but for Megatron to resort to this he would have to be desperate, or he doesn't care about the consequences. Do you have any way of contacting your friend?'

'So Stoppable; Possible's ill and you have a tape recorder.' If Kim had a head she would have banged it against a desk, but if she had her head she wouldn't be in this sitch.

'That's right Mr Barken, sorry I'm late I couldn't find the batteries.'

The Vice Principle (so called because of his Principles of locking you in detention like a Vice, or so Kim believed) growled before muttering; 'Just sit down and be quiet.'

Three times Kim wanted to jump up and ask a question and each time she almost landed Ron in trouble. Then Barken asked for the homework. Somehow "Kim's ill" worked just as well as "Kim's trapped on this cassette tape" for avoiding homework from the former Special Ops seal. 'Stoppable. What excuse do you have this time? Or have you finally got around to:- "The Mole Rat ate it."

Kim tried not to laugh but she couldn't hold it in. Luckily several other giggles and the indigent shout of Rufus hid it.

'No Mr Barken, he hates it as much as me.' Ron answered innocently and without a beat, getting even more laughs.

'Well I hope you've learnt to enjoy detention Stoppable.'

There was a rustle and Kim had some idea what Ron's "side trip" to his locker was about. 'Sorry sir I can't go to detention. Anyway I've already done it.' With a shock Kim realised that just like Barken she had assumed he hadn't.

As the class continued Kim was glad she couldn't fall asleep, at least not until the batteries ran out again. The hum in the background and the rolling of the tape reels had a soothing effect, that and Barken droning on Kim basically zoned out of the whole lesson. That was shattered by the school bell. awakening from the half dose she was reaching for her books and pen before she remembered the problem at hand.

The familiar scrape of chairs sounded distant but when tow people shouted at the same time it didn't. 'Ron!'

'Felix, Monique! What's wrong?'

Mon was the first to answer 'What's wrong? We hear Kim dumps you like last week's homework and then has you drag a tape player around like a slave, and you want to know what's wrong?'

'Dude what happened?'

'Felix this ain't the time, alright.' Ron said weakly, 'I have get to Kim's next lesson.'

'What about yours?' Mon asked.

'What about mine?' Kim could almost see her best friend blinking

'Man she has you well trained doesn't she?' Mon said scaldingly. 'You gotta say no.'

'he can catch up on her own notes.' That was Felix. 'I wouldn't care how long I'd known her, or how good a friend. that girl's got to learn she can't drag you around the world...'

'Who else will do it.' Ron snapped. 'You, "sit and spin"? or you Mon, you'd spend half your time gossiping about Brick Flagg, the only kid in school who'd score less than me on a IQ test, and about Club Banana. I'm sick and tired of being ignored, having the school bullies the only other people who remember my name!' Ron was raging, big time. 'But you know what REALLY makes me mad? Want me to tell you? When someone asks Kim why she gives me the time of day. Because one day... one day...' Suddenly he stopped, like all the air had been used up. There was a deathly silence 'Because one day she'll ask herself that. And there won't be an answer. And I'll lose her. I can't lose her.'

'Ron... I...' Kim whispered. She had to say something, anything. She needed him not because she was a fricking tape but because she couldn't see a life without him, her rock, to lean on. Ron must have dropped her, she felt the fall like missing a step on the stairs. She knew she should have felt it but just didn't Then there were footsteps running and another motor chasing them.

'Urm... Kim? I'm going to give you this thing once I've gone back to what's just been said. You need to hear it...' Mon said sadly

'Not again. Mon. Never again.' Kim said

'Kim?'

'It's a long story. Find somewhere private and we'll talk.'

Ron knew Felix would find him. Hell anyone could find him, he never was good at hiding.

'Mister what you doing sitting outside?'a little girl from kindergarten asked. He was outside the fence, just under the shade of the big tree in he middle of the pre-school.

'Being miserable. Don't get to close or I might get some on you.' Ron grunted, With that the little girl fled.

'That wasn't very nice of you.'

Ron looked up and saw Felix wheel is way up the little hill just outside of school. 'Sorry about back there.' he mumbled.

'No, what you said was fair. Being called "sit and spin" wasn't cool, but I'll make you pay for it next time we go two player verses on Zombie Blast 3.'

'Don't think I hurt her that bad. Didn't mess up her life and hold her back. Unlike someone else.' Ron said. Changing the subject, he wasn't exactly proud of the last few minutes.

Monique checked the stalls in the girls toilet, they were alone. She then dragged the bin to the door and jammed it there to keep people out. 'Okay, spill girlfriend.'

'I got trapped on a cassette tape this morning.' The little thing said sadly. Monique flipped that around the back of her mind. Yep situation normal for Kim.

'Not that girlfriend, Ron. What happened? What's left of your brain get scrambled in the process?'

'It was before I told him. I... I wish I could cry! I want to hit something and scream! I want to feel something.' As usual Kim was stubbornly missing the point, or trying to. 'I'm going to get the guy who did this to me and he's going to wish he was never born.'

Monique got the feeling Kim was deliberately trying to change the subject, she wasn't about to have that. 'That's good and what are you going to do about Ron? Say sorry and then teach him to sit up and beg?'

'What?'

'Kim look at what that boy does for you. You have that perfect high school moment, at the dance no less, then you play the best-est best friend card. You're not stupid girl, Ron digs you big time and all you're doing is hurting him.'

Felix frowned 'So you hold Kim back?'

'Someone has to. Looks like it's me.' Ron said, self mockingly.

Something didn't sit right with Felix about that 'Explain this to me:- Why do you have to hold her back, what from?'

Ron looked at him, shocked. 'I promised her Dad. On the first real mission he gave us the lift. He told her to be careful, I said I'd look after her. You don't know her Felix, Given half a chance she'll try to punch out God. She needs someone to help hold her back, or she'll do something stupid, 'cause she thinks she can.'

'Ron, that was years ago man. I don't believe this, she drags you across the world to fight mad scientists, evil monkey masters and mullet loving petrol heads because of a promise you made to her dad?' Felix shook his head 'Dude, we've been following the wrong hero.'

'Huh?' Ron asked

High in orbit the most sophisticated monitoring satellite in that half of the galaxy focused down on Middleton. Tracing the transmissions it was ordered to and relaying it back to its Volcano Base.

'I think your confused Mon. Sure Ron likes me, we're best friends but not like that.'

Monique had got used to some strange things being friends with Kim. Not least of them Ron. 'Kim; you've had it so good for so long you don't know what going on. Kim, any girl would jump to have a boy stand up for them like he does. So what if he's not the best looking boy in school.

'Hey! Ron's no Brad Pitt but he's still... Ron...'

'Rufus is better looking than Ron Kim.'

'Now hang on.'

'Hear me out girl No girl can spend that much time time with a boy and not ask what if there's more between them.'

'I haven't. Sure Ron's a boy and I'm a girl. But I'm the head cheerleader and Ron's only the team mascot because no one else would wear the costume.'

'Uh huh. And this tells us?'

'He has WAY too much time on his hands?'

'Look man; you made one promise. Once. Years ago. Kim's a big girl now, but you still follow her around the world.' Felix almost growled.

'I'm nothing if not a man of my word.'

'"Your nothing", "nothing", "nothing" Have you heard yourself? You help save the world daily.'

'Kim saves the world I get in the way. I can't even look at a plane without being scared!'

'And you still do it. Because of a promise.'

'NO STUPID, BECAUSE I LOVE HER!'

'I knew that. Heck, half the civilised world knows that! The problem is Kim, she's still with the other half. If you don't tell her someone will. Or worse someone will move in and you miss your shot. You got lucky with that Eric.'

'Synthodrone. He was a Synthodrone.'

'And next time?' Felix pressed

The Autobots had terminated contact shortly after learning how to contact Kim, the robot on screen had politely thanked him and vanished. Taking whatever was keeping his computer running off-line in the process.

Wade plugged everything back in and watched his computer reboot. When the desktop reappeared, in the bottom corner the red face of the Autobots was there. Just like a normal icon. Selecting properties he read the program.

It was a direct link to the super-computer that had hacked his system like it was a pre-school calculator. With it he could directly access the Autobot shared mainframe, with trembling hands the super genius started the program.

Optimus Prime noted that the human had activated his link up only absently. Megatron would have to attack now, his basic programming almost demanded it. Once his sadistic plan had failed he would follow it up with raw rage and brutality. The human child he had kidnapped would be ruthlessly crushed and he would use what distraction the attack provided to obliterate the Ark and whatever defences Prime left there. There was only one course of action:- Go there himself and protect the humans while leaving the bulk of his forces for the inevitable battle.

Tapping the comm button on his wrist the flip up monitor showed static 'Ironhide, what time is the shuttle due to land?'

The red security commander appeared on the screen. 'A few Earth hours Prime. Why?'

'I'm heading to the co-ordinates the Sky-spy is over. Forward it's location to them and have them meet me there, unless they hear otherwise.'

'Why Prime?'

'Just incase this is a trap. If not I need the Ark ready for a full Decepticon attack. If I'm right Megatron will throw everything he's got at us.'

'... And if your wrong you'll need some one to bail out your skid plate?'

'That; and set up a crossfire if I'm right.'

An uncomfortable silence had fallen like a heavy curtain. 'Next time? I don't know. I don't know if I can take it this time. If she pulls the best-est best friend card again I... I...' Felix watched as Ron almost broke down crying. Suddenly the boy stopped and his face set like rock. 'I'll carry on. I'll be me, the tag along blond who somehow fails to completely let the bad guy's get away.'

It was like Ron had pulled a mask down. The young man had pulled all his feelings and emotions down and locked them up. For the first time Felix was scared, not just for his friend, but of him. 'You okay?'

'Sure. Man, I almost made a fool of myself then! Come on I'm missing Kim's class. Who knows, I might do better in that one than my own.' Ron was back to normal and Felix wondered if he was acting.

'Dude, really. You're not okay.'

'No, but I am Ron Stoppable. And when I'm not okay somethings wrong.' Ron forced a smile and Felix realised just how good an actor his friend could be.

'Kim he's willing to jump out of planes. Face mad scientists and psycho's henchmen for you. Most boyfriends wouldn't. He's closer to you than your parents.

Remember when you told me about your first period?' Mon asked

The teen hero still felt embarrassed about that. She had heard of it of course but bleeding for no apparent reason still freaked her out totally. Ron was like a rock when she phoned him. He reassured her and helped to build up the courage to talk to her mother. The moment she rung back and explained it to him, in front of her mother no less, he was concerned but supportive. Even when he fainted a full minute later.

Later, when she and Monique had become close friends, she said how much she could have done with a close, female, friend at the time. Mon had been shocked at the time, but the more she had got to know Kim and Ron's relationship she found it quite funny.

'Kim, Ron does love you. Not as a sister. Not as a best friend. As a man loving a woman and you know something, I'm willing to bet you love him. If you were going to spend your life with anyone by your side who would you prefer. Someone you've known forever or some stranger.'

Kim didn't have an answer. She heard Mon unlock and leave the bathroom. Outside they ran into Ron and Felix. 'Here you go Ron, you dropped this.' In dead silence Ron must have taken her prison and gone to her first class.

Not a word was said.

'Those two.' Monique shook her head.

Felix could only silently agree. The two of them loved each other more than even a Hollywood movie character. The only problem was that neither could accept that the other would care for them the same way. 'Ron's scaring me, I think he's giving up.'

'I think she's waking up. Their living proof that opposites attract.'

'I don't think so. Ron's more of a hero than we give him credit for.'

'You know I think your right. Kim can be slower than you think at times.'

'So where does that leave us?'

Monique smiled 'I don't know, late for class?'

Optimus Prime cruised down the highway. He would never admit it but outpacing every other truck on the road was great fun. The small holographic projector Wheeljack had built sat in his passenger seat, projecting the image of a nondescript driver next to it.

The oversized lorry turned off and headed to the small city of Middleton, to the other drivers on that road it was just another truck going about it's business. All be it a little faster than all of them.

Ron walked into the gym hall, the cheerleaders were gathered at the far end. He felt horrible. The way he had treated Felix, Mon, the show he made of himself and letting down Kim. If there was anything he never wanted to do it was hurt her.

The same could not be said of Bonnie; So, loser, Kim dumps you then has you play lapdog. Ha, loser.'

The Kim-tape whistled sharply; 'Hey guys! Sorry I can't be there but Ron volunteered to do this so here we go.'

'What the...' Tara frowned.

Kim continued; 'Ron and I recorded this before coming to school, just for you guys! So listen up. We all know what we're doing and thanks to Ron and Wade I've got ears everywhere. So let's get going!'

Bonnie looked shocked before laughing; 'Nice joke Probable, don't believe you. If you had ears everywhere you wouldn't be played so easy.' She looked at him with a horrible smile.

Ron got feeling this had something to do with him. 'Huh?'

'She wouldn't believe you anyway.' Bonnie gloated. 'I convinced her to dump you. Guess being head cheerleader was more important to her.' The other Cheerleaders laughed.

'What did you do?' Ron growled, most of the girls backed off but Bonnie kept on smiling.

'It was SO easy! "You're dating the mascot?" "Don't you know the Rules." She dumped you like a bad cheer. Guess it wasn't true love after all.'

'You convinced her to brake up with me because of some rules?' Ron couldn't believe it, Bonnie could be a bitch but...

She shoved him; 'No you idiot. I was head cheerleader until little Miss Perfect came on the scene. I want to take her down. Cheer-leading takes dedication, effort and looks. Your Best-est friend thinks she can do it before breakfast. I'm making it my mission to make her as miserable as I can.'

'Bonnie.' Kim''s voice hissed from the tape player. 'If I had my body back I'd kill you, you cheating bitch!'

'Wha...' Bonnie went white with fear. Ron was so lost in the revelation that he didn't notice she wasn't looking at him or the tape.

'I''m really in here and I just heard every word you said.'

'Please Kim don't kill me! Please! I didn't mean it.'

Ron was about to say something when another voice of Kim spoke up. 'Give me the cassette tape, human. or face oblivion.'

Other than the obvious "Human" being used as an insult. And the fact that the only other Kim like voice was attached to the mind swapped body of Kim Possible, the Russian accent really told Ron this wasn't his friend talking. Turning around he saw Kim's hijacked body pointing a large and nasty looking pistol at him.

'I'm going out on a limb and saying that's not good.' Ron muttered, raising his hands.

'You are correct about that human. I want the tape back.' the Russian voiced Not-Kim said coldly.

Kim shouted back from inside the tape; 'And I want my body back.'

Ron decided to point something out at that point 'K.P, you've got a gun.'

'And I would not shoot you, then everyone here, if you give me that tape.'

'For someone interested in a tape you sound like a broken record much.' Tara muttered.

'I have to KP. If I don't...'

'Do it Ron.' she said, it sounded like she was choking on the words. 'Bye Ron.'

'Don't say that.' Ron handed the tape over. 'It's not over yet!' He shouted, knocking the gun away he tackled Kim's possessed body over and wrestled her to the ground. 'Rufus! Get her shoes!'

'Get off me!' The hijacked body shouted but Ron was sat on her midriff, all his weight holding her down.

'You made a big mistake dude. I know Kim, and I know her weakness! Tickle Attack!' That was Kim's most closely guarded secret and the only effective weapon against the dreaded Puppy Dog Pout.

Rufus had her by the feet while Ron sat on her stomach. Between laughs the thing controlling her body shouted 'Megatron; I can not control this form!'

It was at that point Ron saw the coolest thing of his life so far.

Megaton growled. He never suspected humans had an external control override! He transformed back into robot mode. Armour plates expanded, components shifted and the vast mass that had been shifted into subspace realigned. The small semi-automatic pistol became the giant leader of the Decepticons in a blink of an eye.

Standing up he pushed against the building's roof and towered over the pathetic humans gathered at his feet. "That would have been SO cool if it wasn't going to kill everyone here!' A half familiar small human sat on Ravage's stolen body.

'YOU!' Megatron bellowed, ripping the building's roof apart. 'You are the one responsible for disrupting my plan! You caused the damage to my base!' Megatron blew a massive hole in another part of the ceiling with his cannon. 'I will savour this moment.' Charging it to full power the most feared Decepticon in history had every intention of using the same firepower used for levelling mountains on the small human.

Optimus Prime was just pulling up to the building when a purple blast decimated the roof. A Decepticon was already attacking, and from the looks of things it was Megatron himself. The Autobot leader didn't waste an astro-second. Flipping the top of his trailer open the auto-turret rose, tracked the location of the shots and fired through the wall.

At the same time the cab section transformed and he jumped through the opening he had made. 'Prime, not again!' Megatron was clutching his smoking chest.

'This time and every time Megatron. I will not let you harm the humans.'

His arch nemesis chucked. 'How predictable. I was ready for you this time!' he jumped through the shattered covering, pointing at the horizon. Six jet fighters were scaring the sky.

'Starscream and the seekers!' Prime gasped, it was trap. Their strafing run would destroy what was left of the building, crushing the helpless humans. Atomising them if a laser blast hit one. There wasn't enough time to shoot them all. That left one option.

Aiming his Ion rifle Optimus dived in front of the children, using himself as living shield. He hit two of the jets, one was clipped on a wing and had to pull out the other took he blast dead on and fell from the sky like a brick.

The four remaining jets returned fire. The roof was completely destroyed, falling girders knocked his rifle from his hand. Some shots hit, cracking armour and causing more damage. But the humans were safe.

'A fools gesture Prime!' Megatron landed with a foot on his chest. Stamping down Optimus felt his chassis brake under the incredible force. 'But where are your Autobots?' There was a long pause, Optimus saw a damage report spin past on his HUD. A lesser machine would accept 60% damage as a defeat, but he was Optimus Prime and there was still innocents in danger. 'Your alone? You came alone!' Megatron burst out laughing.

Optimus craned his head around, luckily his tracking system was still working. The Seekers had turned and were coming back, slowly. His gun was intact under the rubble, with luck he could get it lose in time. Megatron was busy gloating. He could do it.

Ron pinned the struggling body of his best friend. Less than five foot away the giant robot that had saved them was at Megatron's mercy. Behind him the cheerleaders had fled and somewhere in the distance the school fire alarm was screeching.

The evil robot pointed his massive laser cannon down and the red one moved. Hammering the back of the other one's knee their saviour lifted half the roof off his gun arm like it was paper and fired it over Ron's head. Four shots.

The planes were all blasted out of the sky before Megatron got back to his feet. Red kicked out at the same knee he had punched but his enemy was too fast and took off again

Floating there the giant silver robot tied to fire at the floored hero only to be shot down. Struggling to his feet the red one looked down at the three of them. 'Ronald Stoppable?'

'Yes?'

'I am Optimus Prime. I have to get you two away from here.' Optimus looked to the right before being hit by an explosion. The tank Ron and Kim had seen the last night bulldozed through the one remaining wall.

Optimus Prime was swaying on his feet. Smoke billowing through the broken glass on his chest. Ron was amazed he hadn't collapsed and then he saw it. Megatron once again aimed at his foe. And again the tank swung around.

'Watch out!' Ron shouted the instant the two fired. The broken robot was caught between two blasts. Dropping him to the rubble covered Gym floor.

End Chapter Three