Ace of Evil 2 (The Return of Ace) by Anfkc
Chapter Four: Escape
Character Isle's protective force field has allowed it to survive underneath the ocean. Ace, aware of this, is in jail planning her escape and the renewal of Character Isle. Ironically, Ace's jail buddy is Shego, and when Ace is rescued by none other than a floating, moving island which came from under the sea and rejuvenated once again, she allows Shego to escape with her.
Escape for our 2 villains…FINALLY! Now the real adventure begins.
Days, and days, and days, and days, weeks, and weeks, and weeks….and still no escape. The wait was unbearable, thought Shego. Every single day Ace would just give orders and listen to status reports and still no escape!
But Ace knew the wait was over. She didn't mind to tell Shego this…she loved to watch her impatience. It was quite entertaining.
Last night was the last night Ace made contact with Griffin concerning the reconstruction of the island.
The new and improved Character Isle was finished and ready….for a little test run.
Because the mass was so large, it would take a few days for the island to reach the prison her and Shego were at. But those days flew by. Ace secretly, from the guards and from Shego, listened to Griffin as he gave her the status of their location. And they were getting closer.
The one afternoon, Shego filed her nails. Ace read a book. Ace got tired of the book. She slammed it shut and threw it across the floor of the cell, impatiently. She sat deep in thought. She was a little squirmy. Shego noticed. She was almost going to ask, "What's your problem?", but decided not to.
Everything was hasty. The room was too quiet, too still. It was like this for hours.
Now, for Ace it was all just too impatient.
Then, Ace heard static, and then Griffin's voice. She held the device to her ear, enjoying his sweet, sweet words.
"Get ready, we're closing in."
Shego raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"
Ace deeply inhaled, and then deeply exhaled. Her mouth slowly turned to a slightly sinister grin.
"Ace?" Shego asked, getting a little weirded-out.
Ace stood up from her cot. She slowly sauntered over to Shego's side of the cell, peering out the barred window from a distance.
Shego raised an eyebrow.
Ace had been staring straight through the bars, with a serious, zombie-like expression. Shego stood up, and looked out the window.
Shego just caught glimpse of the sunny afternoon light when it began to darken. Neither Ace nor Shego said a word. Neither had the ability to speak at this moment.
Slowly, ever so slowly the sky began to strangely darken from the west.
It came…slowly…as Ace moved closer to the window.
Slowly, the sky darkened.
Slowly, the two could hear shouts and screaming.
Coming…closer…unbearable to ignore.
Shego was now a bit frightened. It was like silent footsteps.
"Wha….what is that?" she whispered.
Slowly…Ace moved closer to the window.
Slowly…she inhaled deeply…
Despite the screams, and the shouts, and the sun's rays being blocked, it began to appear out of nowhere. It could not have been hidden, now.
Character Isle was floating…floating…and progressively flying over the jail.
The sun was completely blocked out now. The only light that was visible was the purple from the force field, similar to the effect of a black light. It was on and over the island, swirling violet and protecting it from any damage.
The island—the complete island—was hovering over the jail. It covered over it for miles. Just imagine! The entire landmass of an island hovering over a single jailhouse!
Ace soon realized the military must have been accompanying the island's path, for the two prison mates heard dozens of booms and explosions miles away—they were attempting to fire at the island.
Ace smirked. As a former general of the military, she knew their tactics well. And they were weak.
Shego's eyes were as wide as their sockets could allow. Her mouth was as agape as her jaw could allow. She could not say a word. It was the scariest thing she's ever seen. And she doesn't scare.
Ace simply smirked.
Character Isle was now fully over the jail. All Ace and Shego could see was a purple glow in the near pitch-black darkness.
Shego jumped when No. 4 appeared at the cell's window. She couldn't get a clear view of what she looked like, besides a faint purple shadow of her face and figure before them. She didn't know who she was, or how she was at the window in mid-air, and frankly, she felt like she didn't know Ace at all. Not after all this. She really underestimated her…a lot.
"How are ya, Ace?" No. 4 greeted.
"Just get us out of here!" Ace sang impatiently.
No. 4 placed a bomb on the barred window. It ticked and flashed a red light slowly at first, then violently. Ace and Shego hurriedly backed away.
The wall exploded. Crumbles of rock and metal flew back towards them, and they were hit in several places, most likely later to form some bruises. Shego ignited her hands to defend herself—it was the first time Ace witnessed the action. Shego had never mentioned it.
"Well, well!" she awed.
"C'mon, Ace! We got to go! Griffin is waiting. Is she tagging along?" No. 4 indicated Shego.
"Yes." Ace responded, and the broken wall, now clearly visible from all the dust of the explosion, opened up more purple light. Shego could now see this mysterious figure was hovering on some kind of device. It looked like a cross between a hovercraft and a witch's flying broomstick. She did not remember she was a drone.
A rope ladder dropped down from the island, apparently. Ace grabbed on to it and began to climb up and out of the broken cell. Sirens could now be heard over the military's explosions.
Shego grabbed on to the rope. She looked up.
All she could see was that the force field had been open for their entering, and, what Shego believed to obviously be the bottom of the island, was some strange looking opening—it had an odd design she could not make out.
Nevertheless, she jumped out of the cell and climbed the rope. Though, she didn't need to, for the rope was being pulled back in. She held on, as Ace continued to climb upwards above her.
No. 4 followed.
Shego didn't know how, or when, but she seemed to just suddenly be in a large chrome control room. The rope must have pulled her through the bottom of the island and into a building. It was her first view of the island from the inside. Technology surrounded her…very high-tech technology. She didn't even want to attempt to know what some of the stuff surrounding her did. Even working with Drakken and in all her years of stealing technology, weapons, and machines, she had never seen any of the stuff even similar to what surrounded her.
From his cell, Drakken viewed the unbelievable, alien-like island just as Shego had. She did not know she was inside with Ace, its leader.
Shego frantically looked around. Though she knew she was on the island now, she did not know where she was. Or who any of the people around her were. They were all frantic, working non-stop, shouting every so often.
Then, she remembered her cell mate. Where was she?
Shego saw, on some tall, big platform, a man stood patiently with his arms folded behind his back. He looked…almost like a part of the island's authorities. He had that certain aura around him.
Just then, Ace appeared. The entire room went silent, Shego curiously viewed, as her body stepped out from a sliding metal door to the left. Ace had changed out of her orange prison uniform into a uniform of a green military coat, brown pants, and brown boots.
Then, every single personin the room got down on one knee.
They all slowly bowed their heads as Ace walked through the room and up onto the platform with the man.
Shego took it all in. It was such a glorious scene.
It was as if a King or Queen was being inaugurated. Such respect in the room…such grandeur…such silence.
Ace unexpectedly spoke. Her voice boomed across the metal base:
"CHARACTER ISLE! My people…I have returned to you with view of the outside world. I have gained much knowledge of their ways and their lives. And I can assure you we are back in good hands! We will rise again! We will take our revenge!" Ace eyed Shego.
A few moments passed by of more silence. Then,
"WE WILL TAKE OUR REVENGE!" Ace repeated.
The room changed its aura…it was stiff, and hasty. The message seemed to float around the atmosphere, bouncing around from person to person—'Ace has returned!' 'Ace has returned!!!'
Shego bowed to Ace as well.
It didn't take long for Shego to be filled in on most things. The man up on the platform was the ever-so-famous Griffin she kept hearing about. And the woman on the flying device who blew up their cell was No. 4. Shego seemed to fully understand the reputation Ace had as a leader. She received full view of her in action. And at times, it was scary. At others, it was celebrated and deferential.
Ace assured Shego they would be heading back out to sea at their regular spot. Ace offered Shego a tour of the entire island. She accepted.
It was almost time for the tour when 'something came up'. Ace had no choice but to do her business as leader—so instead she sent No. 4 to show Shego around.
Before they went, Ace asked No. 4 to place Shego a room in a hotel by the island's beach.
"You have a hotel here?" Shego asked, slightly amused. The idea kind of set off the island's powerful aura.
"Well it is a nation. We pretty much have everything." No. 4 playfully responded.
The two set off.
Despite Shego's wonder at the tour so far, she couldn't help but postpone the rest for the next day—the two had stopped at the beach hotel, and Shego couldn't help but feel the need to relax immediately. No. 4, a fan of the beach's natural relaxing powers, accepted to join.
Frankly, the two seemed to bond almost immediately. They were both strong, independent, powerful women with a love for spas, beaches, and malevolence.
Before long Shego found herself in quite the nice position;
The day was sunny and warm. Shego and No. 4 were relaxing on the Isle's beach, lying in lounge chairs in their bathing suits and soaking up rays. Though it seemed like a beach it wasn't…because there was no water. Not really. They could only see the sky for in reality, the island was still hovering over land, and flying its way back to the ocean.
Actually, Ace had made-up an invention in where hologram-like scenarios could be made, like waves crashing on the sand. But neither woman really cared.
As Shego began to lather on some sunscreen, she sighed, turning to No. 4. She wore a large straw sun hat and large sunglasses.
"I wish it was a little warmer. There's a bit of breeze here. You feel it?"
No. 4 moaned.
"Mm? Oh. Yeah. You want me to change it?"
"Change it?" Shego asked, confused. "What, don't tell me you can change the weather here, too?"
"Sure I can. You see that large, swirly thing above the island?"
Shego looked up. It was hard to see, but behind, or through the sky she could see strange swirls of almost clear but tinted….plasma…stuff. It wasn't the force field. It was something….else.
"I don't know what it's called….Ace has some weird name for it. But it was her invention, and it forms the weather all over the island. That's how we are able to have a beach, forests and jungles, a desert, mountains, etc. etc…"
"The island has all that?" Shego almost wished she'd taken the rest of that tour.
"Mm-hmm. The thing separates different weathers for the different regions. So, it can be raining in the jungle and be smoldering over the desert at the same time. And you can alter it if you want, too, like you can do vice versa—make it rain over the desert and make it hot and sunny over the jungle, but Ace wishes for everything to be as natural and close to the real thing as possible. But simple little changes like taking away a breeze are fine."
No. 4 took out a little remote from Shego doesn't know where, and pressing a button, Shego felt the breeze fade away. She looked up; the clear swirling plasma was changing colors and moving faster.
"Cool, huh?" No. 4 smirked.
Shego contemplated for a minute. She considered the weather changing invention, the force field….
"Hey, from the outside the force field was like a purple color. Why can't we see it now?" Shego asked.
"Well, it's fairly invisible only when either the monitors sense danger or when something or someone tries to damage or attack the island."
"Huh." Shego replied.
A few minutes of silence went by before Shego got curious again.
"Hey…uh…can I ask you something?" she asked.
"Sure."
"So…you're a robot?"
"Yup."
"But you don't seem like one."
"I shouldn't."
"What do you think, you know, when you consider the fact you're not a real person?"
"I don't know. None of us are real. I mean, it doesn't feel like anything, really, considering we're not out of place when it comes to population or society or whatever. I guess I just don't think. Well…I mean I think, just not about that. We were made to be as similar to humans as possible. And we are. There really isn't too much of a difference. When you think about it, Shego, we're very much alike. And along with our species, our purpose is the same all around, too: to serve Ace and follow her orders. Of course we have our own lives like regular beings, but it's almost like having a mother—you follow her orders, no matter what, because she brought you into this world and its your job to pay respect." No. 4 responded. Shego thought it to be a very content answer. And, Shego never really thought of her mother, and certainly not like that. Not since a loooong time ago.
Minutes went by, and the two continued to lie in the sun.
Everything seemed to be quite peaceful and relaxing. Shego was enjoying the moment. Then, it hit her:
"Hey, how are you even 'soaking up rays'? Does that even work with you?" Shego asked, jumping up from her chair and facing the drone.
No. 4 laughed. "No, that's the one thing we can't do."
"Soak up rays?"
"Feel."
"Really?" Shego asked.
"Yeah...Ace figured it was a benefit to not feel… she was keeping in mind the pain and how it makes us weak."
"Well what about the good feelings? Like this, relaxing on the beach, or…I don't know, love?"
No. 4 made a face. "I suppose since we've never felt it, we can't miss it. But certain things aren't considered feelings…at least, not for me. Love, for example, is an opinion."
"How?"
"Don't know…just is. I can't feel love, but I can be in love."
Shego made a face, like she still didn't quite understand. "Do you ever think about that?" she asked.
"Nope."
And no words were spoken after that.
It was later in the day. Shego and No. 4 would be continuing their tour tomorrow.
Shego was settling in the hotel's room. Only about two or three more people were residents with her at the moment. No.4 was helping Shego settle when it hit her:
'Dr. D'
Shego had a weird, zoned-out, guilty expression on her face. It soon faded away. But, No. 4 had caught it.
"What?" she asked.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing. It's nothing."
"No, what? You had this weird look on your face."
"Oh…well…it's just that my boss is still in jail. It's not like a feel guilty or anything, I've busted out of jail without him before, I just…remembered him, that's all."
"Your boss?" No. 4 asked.
"Yeah…his name is Dr. Drakken. I'm his sidekick aaaaand we tend to do our main capers together and stuff…you know, he's my boss. I work for him."
"Did you go to jail from working with him?"
"Before, yes. But this time, no…"
No. 4 made a face Shego could not describe. It was kind of like a mixture of confusion and consideration.
Before she knew it Shego found herself in the base, once again, with No. 4 by her side and standing in front of Ace and Griffin. She now got a good look at him—or, at least, the best look she could get. He was all bandaged up. Never having read the novel, she didn't make the connection. All she saw him as was a gruff, powerful, almost militaristic kind of man with bandages and goggles for a face, and almost fancy-like clothes. He wore an emerald shining vest, a black tie, a white cotton button up shirt, and a black overcoat with black pants and shoes. Shego could tell his manner and impression were similar to Ace's. No. 4 wasn't—she was more like Shego herself, if anything.
Shego began to tell Ace about Dr. Drakken, and described their past evil plots and history with their arch teen foe Kim Possible and her sidekick, Ron Stoppable. After a very long, very tiring explanation, Ace stretched her neck. Griffin and No. 4 looked curiously to their master.
"What are you thinking?" No. 4 asked.
"Looks like we have another villain to break out."
"Wait…what?" Shego asked. "You want to break out Drakken?"
"Of course. I think I'd like to meet this man. He seems like an interesting fellow."
"If by interesting you mean pathetic, then yeah he's really interesting."
"It sounds as if you do not like your boss."
"Well one, technically he's my boss but I don't think of him like that. I walk to my own tune, not his. And second, I think I'd think higher of him if, oh I don't know…he was actually ruling the world by now. I mean, I don't usually say this to other villains, but compared to anything I've seen, you've got some serious props here. Better than anything Drakken's ever owned." She said, indicating the technology.
Ace sighed. Griffin and No. 4 seemed almost discomfited and uneasy.
"Villain…" Ace moaned as she walked away from Shego. Obviously she still did not accept the title.
Ace had sauntered over to another part of the base. Her back faced the three.
"We'll go for your Dr. Drakken tomorrow, Shego." She shouted across the room. "And I suggest you get a good sleep tonight…you and No. 4 still have that tour to do."
And with that, she walked out of the base.
--
Kim's Kimmunicator beeped in the hallway. She was in the middle of walking to Sixth period class with Ron.
"What's the sitch, Wade?"
"KIM. Remember Ace, militaristic leader of that island you and Ron sank?"
"Yeah, what about her?"
"Well GET THIS. Ace's cell mate was Shego, and somehow, the both of them were busted out by what witnesses call 'A floating mass of land surrounded by some purple type of force field'."
Kim, and Ron who was listening with her, looked completely awestruck.
"What." Kim asked. It sounded more like a statement than a question.
"You heard me." Wade responded. "You didn't sink the island, apparently. And now it's flying around like one big…FLYING ISLAND!"
"Okay…as impossible as that sounds, it sounds cool." Ron stated. Rufus indicated he agreed.
As baffled and misbelieved as Ron was, Kim was able to shrug it off. She'd seen too much in her crime-fighting days to shock easily.
Kim rolled her eyes. "Seriously! What is it with villains and islands?"
Ron looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"Well, the Seniors have an island, Drakken and Shego have an island, Duff Killigan has an island, Ace has an island…"
"Yeah, but the Seniors, Drakken and Shego, and Duff Killigan aren't obsessed over their island nation."
Kim considered the thought. "True."
Apparently, the two had a new mission on their agenda. Ace and Shego had escaped. And most likely, they would be looking for revenge.