Chapter 3
Complications


September 20th, 2013


The case was at a standstill for Kim and Ron. There were no helpful leads, no signals to be found, and the Director had marked it a non-priority at the moment. Normally Kim would just ignore it and focus on smaller missions, but even when she was on those missions, she couldn't shake this one. She'd like to say it was the fact it was still not done that kept her awake at night, but she had several cases like that and they never kept her this unfocused. Still, she was trying her best; focusing on work, missions, house shopping. It hadn't gone as planned so far; graduate, college, graduate, work, house. That was the goal, not a year later living at home and her boyfriend at his. Though it was easier for him to stay the Kim's then with at the Stoppable's with Hannah barging in.

The only alone time they'd managed to get thus far was stowing away in the tree house and that was done now that a hole had formed in the floor, making privacy null and void. She looked up from her desk and across the large office of other agents in thought, wondering if maybe one of her colleges knew any place for rent or sale, but her eyes found something else. It was one of Shego's students, Paulson, maybe. He was thin and strong looking, Shego's worst student from her notes that she had accessed when she still suspected Shego in this mess. He had all the potential, but none of the drive. But that wasn't why she was staring at the dark-haired guy, who looked like he had way too much product in his hair, it was who he was talking too. Joss was laughing at something he had been saying. She was happy her cousin seemed to be fitting in with the others. She smirked and shot Joss a text, which she watched her pick up and open. The flicker of panic across her face didn't go unnoticed, and with a quick word, Paulson left rather quickly. Kim looked confused and re-read her text, 'You're not fooling anyone.' It had been a jab at the fact she was clearly flirting.

"Joss," called Kim as she walked quickly passed her, Joss halted and smiled.

"Hey Kim, what's up?" asked Joss, she looked startled.

"Are you okay?" asked Kim, she held up her phone, "Did you think no one noticed?"

"I don't know what you mean," said Joss, her shiftiness was odd even for Joss.

"Your flirting," said Kim with a small laugh, she saw Joss' eyes go wide and her face red, "What were you talking about?"

"N-Nothing," she stammered and smiled, "Uh, yeah... Maxwell's... he's kind of cute."

"Oo, Maxwell, first name basis," smirked Kim, "Any details on that?"

"Uh, we ohm.. We met at orientation and well, yeah. He applied in the security division, but instead took special ops," she was rambling, and she suddenly stopped talking, "He's sweet."

"Go you," winked Kim, "Just don't let Uncle Slim find him, he'll end up hogtied."

"Well..." Joss gave a wink that caused them both to burst into laughter.
"Possible," Kim looked up to see Ron and Shego by one of the hallways, Ron waved frantically.

"I got to go, Joss," said Kim, and she hurried over to where the two stood, "What's up."

"Well we reached out to some of our old friends," said Shego, "Looks like a few others had some equipment go missing."

"Yeah, and Drakken cross-referenced them and is pretty sure they know what they're making, and it's not good," said Ron as Shego held up her own tablet to show a sketch of the Bio-Dome now complete.

"What's it do?" asked Kim, a little uneasy at the large sketch.


It was apparent that Drakken and Shego were, in fact, working the case on their end. Kim supposed that having your extremely secret facility broken in and your life intruded on would do that to former villains. As they left Global Justice for a better look at the sketch, Kim's focused turned to Ron as she drove behind Shego.

"Did Shego come find you?" asked Kim, Ron shrugged, "Ron?"

"I was actually talking to her when Drakken called her," said Ron, Kim raised a brow, "I ran into her when I went to the cyber division to talk to Wade."

"We work at the same place for years and never run into each other, but suddenly..." Kim raised a brow.

"I may have been hanging around areas that I could run into her," shrugged Ron, Kim looked confused, "Just idle talking about everyday life."

"Like what?" asked Kim, "You can't tell people about missions we go on that are not cleared..."

"Not work Kim, life. Same thing I talk about with Monique and Wade, just a different perspective. You know the opinion of someone who isn't in the 'mission' business anymore," said Ron with a shrug, "Life doesn't revolve around the next villain to stop or case to solve."

"I know that," said Kim, she felt like there was more to be said, but they were there.

They had followed Shego to what they thought was another Monarch facility, but there were grossly mistaken. They were in a suburban neighborhood with large beautiful homes and well-kept lawns. The house they followed Shego into the gate was clearly theirs. Flowers wrapped around the house in vines if colors, which seemed to move on their own. The gates inside the area were regular, unlike the stone gated entrance, and rod iron.

"Don't step on the grass," was all Shego said as they followed her up the steps.

"You have a nice house," said Ron as he and Kim followed Shego through the house and walked into a nicely decorated living room, "Wait, is that a Megatron S7?"

"Yes, Drew decided we needed a much large television," said Shego with a smile and eye roll, she looked at her watch, "He should be here soon, did you want anything to drink?"

"I'm fine..." Kim began, but Ron responded even quicker.

"Sure," he looked enthused to be here, Kim... wasn't sure how she felt.

There was something so strange about seeing Shego and Drakken's photos on the wall, pictures of kids, and family gatherings. Pictures of them with other people, some well known she might add. A weird mixture of emotions plagued her as she saw pictures of her other Villians, some still current, in photos in everyday attire. She looked at Ron, who seemed to be transfixed on similar things but grinning. Kim's eyes fell to the mantel where a medal sat behind everything, as if uncertain it should be there. Kim recognized it, Drakken's medal... it looked so out of place there but cared for. Her mind ran to her own diploma, locked away, fighting with her mom not to hang it. Not because she wasn't proud of her graduation, her success... but the reminder of that day. Kim took a deep breath, something told her that they were still as flawed as she remembered, but in a different way. It was a strange relief from somewhere she didn't know.

"Hi," both Kim and Ron jumped and looked to see the chatty girl from the daycare, Athena. All smile, round freckled face, and now that Kim noticed, a slight green hue to her skin.

"Hey," said Ron, a large grin on his face, "Athena, right? I'm Ron."

"Yeah, you're Ron Stoppable. I saw you on the news," said Athena, Ron's grin seemed to get even wider, "You lose your pants a lot." His smile fell, "It's funny, we take bets with Eddie."

"Pft," Kim fought a laugh and quickly smiled at the other twin who said nothing but sat on the couch, "Hi. I'm Kim."

"We know," said the other, her hair was longer, and her green were every bit as judgmental as Shego's, her skin seemed so pale it might have been a tint of blue.

It was an awkward silence amongst the girls and Kim had never felt more uncomfortable around children in her life. In a weird twist, it was Ron who seemed more comfortable and began to talk to them about the socks that one wore and using Hannah as a topic breaker. Kim looked around the house again, nothing in this place looked like the lairs she remembered from Drakken and Shego, until the kitchen. The steel appliances and harder look seemed to be the only thing in this part that seemed to bring some sort of strange warmth to her.

"He's in the lab," said Shego, she handed Ron a Yohoo, "Just go down the stairs on your right."

"Thanks," said Ron as he and Kim followed her direction, he looked at the girls, "Good luck at karate tomorrow."

The two walked down the stairs, and Kim had the immediate reminder of every lair that the duo had owned. She wasn't sure why she was so relieved, she tried to sort it out in her head but as they reached the bottom step, it was like stepping back in time. She remembered the last incident with them, the Pollinator, and with it the Lawardians. Kim shook her head as the flashback of the alien ship came back. Drakken sat at a massive drawing table, where blueprints and sketches were scattered about, but more importantly, lists of missing or taken items and what was a possible answer to them. Drakken looked every bit the mad scientist they remembered. His blue coat may have retired, but the white one he wore, along with his insane looking micro goggles, caused Ron and Kim to exchange a look.

"Whoa, it's five years ago," said Ron, Kim saw the flicker of a grin on Ron's face.

"Certainly seems that way," said Drakken, he spun around on his chair, "The most likely situation, is a self-inducing bio-dome. Creating a controlled toxic environment as I thought, but more concerning is creating a portable version of it. Which means they can move it, which would be a problem. It would take a while, but that capability is what they're working on. Problem is... if a signal is read, it could be gone just as fast."

"Why would someone want a portable one?" asked Ron.

"It would be easier than magnifying it, like you thought," said Kim, Drakken nodded, "Move it from location to location. Probably because they didn't get all of the blueprints. What are the ramifications."

"Genetic issues, break down of environment, pollution of ground waters and atmosphere. It would be a more concentrated radiation with even more side effects," said Drakken, "I don't think they are looking for World Domination, so much as sending a message."

"You knew that in the office," said Kim, "These things just clarified it."
"Madness comes easy," said Drakken, taping his head with a gloved finger, "But I think I may have found the signal patterns for your little computer friend. Problem is, that means it would have to be at least stable to be located. If they're smart, they'll test it without making it mobile first. That would give at least a chance... if their overconfident... then no idea."

"This is pretty elaborate, but why did they need your blueprints?" asked Ron, indicating to the trashed ones around the edges.

"Outsourcing is very useful, but my blueprints for my own creations were always too... complicated to use. I outsourced a lot, but only because it was easier to get parts. But since Henchco has rivals now in sales... a lot of these items are much easier to come by in today's market," said Drakken.

"And you know this..." said Kim with a raised brow.

"It's always good to have contacts," said Drakken, a smirk on his face, "Also, sometimes they have better specials on things I need."

"Is that legal?" asked Ron with a raised brow.

"Where do you think most governments get their stuff from?" asked Drakken with a cocky smirk.


The weeks that followed did nothing on the mission focus, other than waiting it out, but Kim was learning something new about herself as she again found herself looking at pictures on Shego and Drakken's social media. She had learned that Ron may be right about more than one thing; one it was obvious that Drakken and Shego, no matter how insane it felt to think it, we're not villains anymore. Two... she may be... a little jealous. The idea that her two former enemies were living a happy picture perfect life... it was so foreign to her.

More so, because she'd always thought she had all of her enemies pegged, that there was nothing more to them then world domination and chaos... but thinking it sounded childish and immature... clearly everyone has layers... Domestic just wasn't something that came to mind all the times she and Shego battled it out or they foiled Drakken's crazy schemes. She scrolled through the pictures and posts, all common, all basic, picturesque existence. There were pictures and friends of happy looking other people in picturesque lived. It felt more like a show than a life, she looked at a family beach picture.

"Creeping again?" asked Ron, Kim dropped her phone as Ron stood behind her in his pajamas, "No judgment. I still think if we friend request them, we might see more than... what did you call it, 'PleasantVill-an."

"Ron, stop trying to trick me into friend requesting them," said Kim, she put her phone down, "Going to bed early? I thought you were watching the game with my Dad."

"Jim and Tim broke it, and I don't want to hang out on his computer with him," said Ron, flopping on the bed, "You know KP, I was thinking."

"If it pertains to either Drakken, Shego, or nostalgia, I'm out," she said casually as she flopped next to him and her head on his shoulder.

"It had to do more with the case than them," said Ron, choosing words carefully, Rufus made a noise of contempt, "Yes it did, Rufus?"

"Fine, what is it?" asked Kim, petting Rufus casually.

"Well, Drakken's idea is only a theory. What if we find the marker, go there, and then what? How do we stop it when we have no idea if it's right or not?" asked Ron, Kim stared, "We don't know anything about them, or if it's a them. Other than their Shego rip-off."

"We've handled cases like that before, what's the big deal," said Kim, though she did think he made a valid point.

"Scenario. We find them, there's more than let's say four, the device is similar but not enough to Drakken's design. We try and stop a possibly toxic nuclear bomb thing, and Wade's signal has no accurate read. It was different when we had at least names to go with it. These "millennial" villains are way different Kim. All secrets, shadows, and broody."

"Millennial villains?" asked Kim, she groaned, "You've been talking to Monique again."

"Yes, but I coined that," said Ron, "I mean, I know I hated on Dementor and his painted doomsday device but in all honesty, at least it's commonplace. Would it be nice to have some Dr. Drakken variety... yes... but complete obscurity... no."

"God, your not going to try and convince Drakken and Shego to be Villains again?" asked Kim, "Because we talked about you turning people into Villains..."

"No... No... But... What are the odds that if something spiked, we could convince them to put 'Drew and Sheila' on hold for a bit," said Ron, Kim looked at him and sat up, her mind racing, "We made a good team once. Why not a second time."


"No," said Shego, a look of annoyance and aggression in one.

"What if the design isn't similar... Drakken would know..." Ron began.

"No," she repeated and headed down the hallway towards her training room.

"Will you at least think about it?" asked Kim, "Four is better than two and we don't know who we are up against, save for your copy cat."

"Don't you have other members of GJ to harass or your super genius," said Shego, still walking away from them.

"Yes, but you have a power advantage over baby Shego and there Drakken's stuff that was mostly stolen... Besides Wade's a genius, but Drakken is the mad designer," said Ron, Shego stopped and looked at them with stern eyes.

"Let me ask you, would you two ask any of your other clients to help you?" asked Shego, Kim froze, "That's right. Because we are your clients. When it became Monarch property, it became our issue. I am aware our items are less priority over stopping something possibly dangerous. We have given you all the information you need, just like anyone else. Plus more. The rest is up to Team Possible."

"Wow," said Kim, something agitated her, Shego's demeanor, was nothing like Shego, "The Shego I know would be on the first plan to kick someone's ass for messing with her stuff."

"That Shego didn't have anything else to lose," said Shego, she said nothing more but walked into her room where her students stretched.

"I knew we should have started with Drakken," said Ron, Kim was glaring, "Kim? Kp?"

"Nothing, Ron. I told you it was a lost cause," said Kim, dismissing it with a wave of her hand.

"We should still ask Drakken, maybe he will help?" asked Ron, Kim rolled her eyes, "Shego doesn't speak for both of them."


"What did Sheila say?" asked Drakken as he loaded the dishwasher, he was home for the weekend while Shego was working.

"Not a lot," said Ron, Kim rolled her eyes.

"No?" asked Drakken.

"Yeah," said Ron with a shrug.

"Then, no," said Drakken, pushing the button to start the dishwasher and put away dry ones.

"Just because she says no," said Ron, who has started handing Drakken dishes, Kim facepalmed.

"It's so clear you two aren't married," said Drakken, taking dishes from Ron, he looked at them, "Any reason why?"

"Actually that you bring it up," began Ron.

"No," said Kim, Ron shrugged.

"Fine, never mind," said Ron, Drakken smirked, as his point clicked slowly for Ron, "Oh..."

"How certain are you about the device?" asked Kim, Drakken waved his hand and made a so-so face.

"50%, maybe 70% sure," said Drakken, he looked at the clock on the wall, "Word of advice, Sheila will be home in about fifteen minutes, so unless you want to deal with her having said No already, you should leave."

"And if we do?" asked Ron, as Kim was already heading them both to the door.

"I could offer you another drink, and it might be your last, you never know," said Drakken with a shrug as he closed the cabinet.

"Ron, let's go," said Kim, and they were off, less than seven minutes later, Shego walked through the door.

"The girl's napping?" asked Shego, as she gave Drakken a kiss.

"Yeah... what happened to your eye?" asked Drakken, indicating to a slight bruise forming.

"Paulson called in sick today, so I sparred with Lopez. She's probably my best student," said Shego with a sigh, "How was your day."

"The girls and I played scientist," said Drakken with a smirk, "And I tinkered with the mobile weather machine."

"Aw, you know I like to watch that," said Shego, with a mock pout, "Who played the assistant then?"

"I did," shrugged Drakken, "You should know the throw pillows Mother got us, are now gone."

"Thank god," sighed Shego, "Fire or Stained?"

"Melted," said Drakken, Shego raised a brow, "I may have had to have a talk with Val about doing experiments without my supervision."

"Poor kid, my resting bitch face and your insanity. Either she's going to be a fantastic Villain or president," said Shego, she looked at the table, "Why are there two Yoohoos and a diet coke?"

"Hmm..." Drakken looked at the items in question, "I was thirsty?"

"... for diet coke?" asked Shego with a raised brow.

"I'm having an affair," said Drakken after a long silence.

"Kim and Stoppable were here..." said Shego with a glare, "Uhg, I told them no!"

"So did I," said Drakken, his wives hands aglow, "No need to go on a maiming spree."

"I know, it's just... erg, there so infuriating," said Shego, "Who waltzes in and asks their former nemesis to help them on a mission?"

"You did... and I mean we were still enemies as the time. The whole Lawardian thing," said Drakken with a shrug, Shego relaxed and looked uneasy, "I don't know why I said that..."

"No, it's true," said Shego, she hopped up to sit on the counter, "But that was different. It was life or death and your dumb ass got kidnaped."

"I know, I was there," said Drakken, Shego scoffed and smiled, "But it was the last time we all saw each other, and maybe they just took a chance and asked. No need to get worked up."

"It's not that," she pulled him over to her, with very little resistance, "A part of me, actually thought about it. Then I remembered the girls, our life, and it just made me angry."

"Our lives?" asked Drakken, he looked concerned, "Sheila, if you want..."

"No, I don't want to be a labeled villain, or anything. I wasn't angry about our life... I was angry that I even thought about risking this life for a few minutes of excitement, and maybe a taste of the old one," said Shego, she rested her head against Drakken's.

"Are you bored with our lives?" he asked, his hands locking with hers.

"No," she smiled, "I love our home, our lives, our friends, everything. Every day I look at our girls and think how smart, adorable, and possibly psychotic they are and it makes me so happy."

"We should probably tell people there creative versus psychotic, we love it... school psychologists really don't," said Drakken, Shego rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around Drakken.

"I also love coming home to a husband that cleans the fucking dishes for once, and even after such, still manages to smell like chemicals, oil, and mint... is that a cologne you have or something?" she asked as she sniffed him.

"Yes, it's called Mint De Mad Science," said Drakken, she rolled her eyes and pulled him into a kiss, "You sure your not bored?"

"No," she said softly as she kissed him again.

"Certain?" he asked with a raised brow.

"Yes, I..." she looked at him and smirked, "Maybe... have anything exciting to do?"

"Oh yes," grinned Drakken.


"This was not what I had in mind," yelled Shego as a snowball flew at her, "Athena, your supposed to be blocking Mommy."

"I can't see," said Athena wiping her glasses, only to be hit again, "Val!"

"Duck!" yelled Val as she and Drakken dove at an onslaught of snow from the other two.

"I saw green, dear," yelled Drakken as a snowball flew passed him with a glowing tail.

"No idea what you're talking about," laughed Shego.

"Daddy, we should make the ice machine I told you about," grinned Val.

"We might have some..." Drakken was cut off by more snow.

"Hey! No machines, except this one, " yelled Shego, Drakken stuck his tongue at her, just as she whaled him, "Ha!"


Elsewhere Wade sat behind his desk typing a new program sequence for encrypting when his spectrometer began beeping loudly. A signal reading had hit for Drakken's specks on the device. A glowing map showed one of several large islands near India, the flashing continued and then faded, Wade hit a button on his computer.

"What's the sitch, Wade?" asked Kim, clearly in a restaurant setting.

"We got a hit on the specs. Looks like it's in India," said Wade, "Or rather an island North of it. Pack some cool clothes, it's a hot one."

"Thanks, Wade," said Kim and she hung up and looked across the table, "Ron, looks like we have a location. I'm going to go change."

"Yes, I heard. Waiter, mind if we take this to go?" asked Ron, looking around the fancy restaurant, "Kind of a save the world and dash situation."

"Of course, Mr. Possible," said the waiter, Ron went to correct him, but ignored it, "Maybe someday, right Rufus?"

"Ryea," said Rufus with a groan and a sigh.


To Be Continued