For the lawyers, I don't own any Disney character mentioned herein, nor am I trying to profit off them. Just telling a story.
KP - Clean Slate
By LJ58
Part 4: In which Kim finds out a few truths of her own, the Possibles rally, Shego gets a job, and secrets come out. Meanwhile, Drakken plots.
"They got away from us," Betty stated without preamble when she walked back into the apartment four hours later. "Unfortunately, while we had a description of the car, they abandoned it, and apparently went to ground."
"So, they could be anywhere," Ron murmured, looking somber himself now.
"Yes," the woman said as she watched Shego lock and secure the door again after she entered. She gave the green-skinned woman a curt nod, then walked over to eye Kimberly.
"Explanations now," Kim asked quietly as she looked up at her expectantly.
"What she said," Shego nodded firmly as she came up behind the head of GJ. "Because, let's face it, you likely tipped our hand but good by parking a half dozen of your clueless errand boys outside."
Ron frowned himself at that.
"She's right. They might have been looking for her all along, but since not too many people know Kim moved here….."
"Damn. I'm sorry, Kimberly. This whole situation has me responding like a rank amateur. I'm just worried….."
"Explanations, and then we can decide if we should worry," Kim declared, still unusually quiet.
Betty sighed, not familiar with this side of Kim who was eyeing her as she sipped at the fresh tea Shego had made her after their impromptu meal.
One in which Shego had threatened Ron's life if he so much as mentioned cheese.
"How much do you remember about your own past, Kimberly? Has it all come back yet," Betty finally asked her.
"Well, I still have a few holes, but I think I've got most of it back in place," she smiled, tapping her head.
"All right. Do you remember when you were two and a half, and your father brought you to the….main hub of the original colony ship?"
"The….what," Shego frowned as Kim just looked puzzled.
"He did," she murmured in response. "Funny, I don't recall that one."
"You were two, KP," Ron told her. "Even I don't remember what I did at two."
"I do," Betty and Shego both declared blandly, and then glared at each other.
"The point is, you got into something you weren't supposed to see. Or, rather, something got into you."
"Huh," Ron echoed the confusion that covered Kim's expression.
"Let me go back a bit more to better explain it to you," Betty suggested, now speaking to Kim alone. "You recall the H'raaglyn were forced to flee their world, and their sector by an intergalactic conflict?"
"I remember that part of the history," Kim nodded.
"Very few know, even among our own, that among our ancestors was the last surviving member of the royal house of Z'Kaara. Traditional rulers of our ancestors' world."
"Really," Kim blinked, setting her cup aside. "So, is that why Robbie was so hung up on the royalty thing? Was he related….?"
"No. You are."
Kim blinked again. Then again.
"Tell me you're kidding?"
"There is more to it than that," Betty informed her, only then taking a seat to eye her across the narrow expanse of the living room.
"There usually is," Ron sighed.
All three women looked his way.
"What? There is? I've always said there was, and there usually is. So, what is it," he asked.
Shego shook her head, but drawled, "For once, monkey-boy actually makes sense. Spill, Bets."
"Don't call me Bets," she shot back heatedly.
"Can we just get to the part where this all makes sense," Kim asked.
"You are related to the Z'Kaara, Kimberly," Betty told her. "But so were a few other survivors. What makes you….special….is that day when you were visiting the hub. You see, the last genetic matrix of the deposed Z'Kaara herself was stored in a lab there."
"Uh-oh."
All three again looked at Ron.
"What? It's obvious. Even to me," he sputtered.
"Please, go on," Kim said, frowning as she did.
"Dr. Possible was….distracted. By what, I don't know. It's immaterial."
"Let's face it, that guy is always distracted."
"Shego," Kim huffed. "My dad…."
"Is loopy. Face it, Kimmie. He's a walking accident."
"All that aside, he is not the issue. Young Kimberly accidentally triggered a robotic lab-tech that injected the genetic matrix of the last Z'Kaara into her."
"Why would you even keep something like that," Ron asked.
Betty eyed him, then looked firmly at Kim.
"That matrix was preserved by our ancestors after the crash because a prophet among us had foreseen that the princess would rise again to become the galaxy's sole hope of peace in the future. Not the world. The galaxy."
"Oh….snap," Shego frowned.
"Shego," Kim asked.
"Think about it, Kim. Big, green, and dumb came looking for some galactic hotshot not long ago. Suddenly Bets drops this one in our laps? I'm guessing this is not a coincidence."
"For once….I agree with Shego," Ron said somberly, eyeing Dr. Director.
"The Z'Kaara, by rite of birth, had access to…..tremendous powers. Powers of mind, and body. Powers that transcended the ordinary even by H'raaglyn standards," she told them. "We have been watching you ever since that day, Kimberly, waiting to see if the Z'Kaara legacy would manifest in you."
"Because dodging lasers, and beating up super villains is so ordinary," Ron asked.
"That…..is nothing…..if half the tales of our ancient history are true," Betty finally told them. "But there is one thing you cannot overlook. The creatures that brought that war to our ancestors' home-world were…..unnatural. They were part machine, part organic. As Ron pointed out, they do not look real, because they can shift their consciousness between bodies so you cannot truly kill them unless you wipe out their entire hive. That was why we lost. Our ancestors didn't know the nature of this….pestilence when they faced them. We do."
"But….if you guys are related to the ones that ran away…..? How did you learn anything about these…..things," Ron asked.
Betty eyed Ron somberly, then nodded.
"Boy has a way of cutting through the BS," Shego murmured. "That's a very good point."
"Because, these creatures have come to Earth before now, too. Usually, they stand out, and we are able to intercept them. Neutralize them," Betty told them. "They seem to be learning. This is the first time they evaded our teams."
"But Ron can still see them," Kim pointed out.
"True. Unfortunately, an aspect of the Z'Kaaran legacy remains troublesome. Whoever does hold her, literally has the right to rule not only our world, but any world the H'raaglyn call home."
"But…you guys…..live here," Ron slowly realized.
"Exactly. If they take Kimberly, they not only consolidate their hold over the worlds our ancestors left behind, they take this planet by default. And Kimberly would give them to the power to do it."
"But….we could still fight," Ron sputtered as Shego only frowned.
"The things we face aren't ordinary villains, Ronald," she told them. "Recall, I told you they are part machine. Their captives are made over in their image. If they get their hands on Kimberly, or on anyone they think might aid them, they replace their brains with cyber-tech that controls their mind and body, making them just one more link in their galactic hive."
"So, if Princess here has half the mojo you claim, and they plug her into that bunch of wannabes….?"
"She could literally become conqueror of the entire galaxy without any ability to resist their commands."
Kim's jaw dropped.
"That's one reason why I'm here again," Dr. Director said, standing up to eye Shego. "Shego. You are now hired as a full-time, official member of Global Justice."
"Say what," the woman hissed, glaring at the leather billfold held out to her with a certain ID and badge inside.
"It's the only way to ensure you have access to the authority you'll need to cut through any red tape in your primary mission. Your only mission."
"And that is," Shego demanded hotly.
"Guard Kimberly. Get her out of Upperton. Get her undercover. Keep her safe. Use that badge as necessary, but do not let anyone near you, or her. Anyone that does not approach you with my personal clearance, even if it is her best friend, is to be considered hostile."
"Dr. Director….."
"Kimberly, as of now, we are going on the offensive. I'm gathering GJ, and most especially all our H'raaglyn kindred in this region before I put out the alert to the rest of our people. If they are here, we're all in danger. Only this time, there is no place to run. And, Z'Kaara, or not, you are not in any condition for a fight. So let us fight for you," she told her curtly, then surprised them all by bowing, and adding, "Princess Kimberly."
"And what about me," Ron asked quietly. "You can't expect me to just….."
"I need you working in tandem with Will Du. We're going to bait a trap, and try to lure these agents back out into the open. If we can take them before they can escape again, we have special holding devices that keep them from body-hopping. Then we can learn what they might know, and what they are up to here."
"How's that going to work," Kim asked. "Even I know you need bait for….."
"Your father has already agreed to play the bait."
"Now just one min….."
"They're already watching him," Betty cut her off. "We'll exploit that, and use your family to lead them right to us. Don't worry. Ron will watching them, too. As of now, if necessary, you will have to kill to survive this one, people," he told Ron and Shego.
She stared hard at Kim as she spoke, though.
Ron said nothing, but his lips thinned, and he glanced away uneasily.
"Shego. You have ten minutes. Use Kimberly's car, and leave stealthily. Once you're away, Dr. Possible is in position to leave a blatant trail right to this apartment."
"Where I'll be waiting," Ron murmured.
"Along with my….errand boys," Betty nodded, "Who will make it look all the more convincing we are protecting someone here."
"I get it. You were already bating the trap by having them outside in position," Kim nodded. "While your real intercept team is likely cloaked somewhere else?"
"At least your instincts are still good," Dr. Director nodded at her. "Now, move. The clock is ticking. When I said ten minutes, I meant nine minutes and forty-three seconds."
"She's right, Kim," Shego said with surprising alacrity as she only then slid the badge into her familiar costume's equipment pouch. "Let's go. I'm good, but you need to grab what you need, and let's use the back way to the garage."
"Use these, too," she said, holding out small MP3 players.
"Holo-masks," Shego murmured, taking the devices. "I've heard about these. Never could find one."
"You mean steal," Betty murmured knowingly as Shego took the devices while Kim went to their bedroom to pack. "We kept these classified for a reason. Hard-light holographic masks are virtually undetectable, and unbeatable. Which is why I'm giving them to you. You two have to disappear. Starting now."
"Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to Kimberly," Shego told them both as she walked into the bedroom after Kim.
"Ready to save the world again, Stoppable," Dr. Director turned to face him after Shego disappeared down the hall.
"Goes without saying. Especially since it means saving my best friend."
"Good. Because you're the bait," he was told as she held out another holo-mask to him. "You get to play Kimberly when they show. Because we know they will show. Only you'll be the only one that can tell us who they are, so you have to be in place to see them coming."
"I get it."
"We both know you've killed before, Ronald. It's part of your…..calling."
"Doesn't mean I like it," he told her, taking the small device, and eyeing it.
"That's what makes you a hero, instead of a madman," she told him approvingly.
"Kim won't kill. I don't think she can."
"Shego can. And she will."
"So, you think we can really beat these things that ran your folks off your own planet," he asked abruptly.
"The H'raaglyn of history were pacifists, and favored diplomacy to war. They were unprepared for the militancy of a race devoted to war. We, Ronald, have learned much from our time among humans. We will fight. And we have to win. For all our sakes."
"Gotcha," he nodded, and clipped the device onto his belt.
"Just press the button in the center when you're ready to activate it. I suggest waiting until Kimberly leaves. Seeing herself might be….disconcerting."
"Don't I know it."
Betty's brow rose over her good eye.
"I just meant…. You know that time when we switched bodies…..? It was…. Never mind."
"I read the case file. Interesting debriefing. Now, focus."
"We're going," Kim said, walking out carrying two suitcases. Shego had a backpack slung over one shoulder.
"Activate your masks now. You'll look like me and Ronald, and no one will even look your way while you make your way to the garage."
"Too obvious," Shego drawled, and tapped her activating button. "I altered the program, and downloaded new images," she said as two neighbors from a floor below now shimmered into view to replace Kim and Shego's distinctive appearances. "We'll shift again in the elevator. And then get to the parking lot before we change again.
"That'll keep anyone from tracking us."
"Good idea. You should know, you're on your own for now. Don't contact Wade, since they might be able to hack even his signals. That said, we also deactivated your usual homing beacons so no one can track you. Go to ground, Shego. You're good at that. Just remember, you're helping keep an entire galaxy free this time."
"But….no pressure, or anything," Kim drawled, now looking like a pudgy, blonde with glasses rather than her own wiry, if pregnant self.
"I'll do what needs doing. You just put out the fire, Bets," the tall Goth girl growled. "C'mon, Kitten. Time to bail."
"Good luck, KP," Ron told her.
She tossed a smile over her shoulder, and said, "Just keep my family safe, Ron. I'm counting on you."
"I've got their backs, Kim. Don't worry," he assured her, his face hardening even as she left, and the door closed.
"Time to change," Betty said, and became a very convincing copy of Shego when her holo-mask hummed to life.
"Man," Ron groaned, looking down at himself. "I even feel fat," he complained, looking at his newly swollen apparent abdomen. "Why couldn't I be….."
"People tend to be cautious about approaching Shego. They'll deem even a pregnant Kim Possible less harmful, and be less wary around you because of it. We'll use that strategy to our advantage. Now, get ready. I'm cuing Will to send Dr. Possible our way. Hopefully, he'll have a tail with him."
"It would be nice if we could wrap this up before morning," Ron murmured, and walked over to pull the drapes, letting anyone out there see that Kim Possible was still in the house. So to speak.
"That, Ronald, is unlikely. Just stay focused. These creatures did not take over half the galaxy by being careless."
"Only half?"
"The Lorwardians have most of the other half. It's a tug-of-war over who wins now."
"With Kim being the rope," he realized.
"Exactly."
"So, what happens when the green guys figure out that Kim is the legendary warrior they were looking for all along?"
"Let's hope they don't. You obviously noticed they're not big on brains at their best. Most of what they have is stolen tech taken from pillaged worlds. If we're lucky, they'll never even learn Kim is the Z'Kaara."
"But if they do?"
Dr. Director didn't answer.
Ron found the silence more disturbing than anything she could have said.
KP
"I don't understand," Dr. Drakken fumed, eyeing the computer before him. "Where are they?"
The henchmen behind him wisely did not reply.
"Two women of their unlikely character cannot just vanish. It is….inconceivable! I should be able to find them."
The henches remained silent.
"After all, logic suggests that when young people marry, one of them moves in with the other's family. I monitored Shego's family of buffoons, but they remain clueless. The Possibles are not hosting Shego and that….treacherous redheaded baby-machine, so…..where are they?"
"Uh, Doc," Lars dared speak up. "Do you think maybe they bought their own house?"
Dr. Drakken turned to glare at the big man, eyeing him coldly.
"Shego? Buy something? Possible, perhaps, but….Shego? I find that unlikely."
"Uh, but maybe she was being…..sneaky?"
"Sneaky? Yes, she would be sneaky. Shego is all about sneaky. Sneaking off to support our arch foe rather than finally defeating her. Sneaking off to play house….! Ugh! As if we were not enough of an evil family for her," he ranted.
Lars wisely did not reply to that one.
"Didn't I take her to karaoke night? Every Friday," he stressed.
"Maybe that's why she left," one of the henches dared suggested.
Dark eyes narrowed, and a small, gloved hand pressed a button.
Drakken chortled as a hole opened beneath the man, and he was immediately sucked down into the ground with a whooshing sound as the man's wail faded behind the closing hatch. Along with something that snarled viciously.
"I see why Gemini likes this timeshare lair," the blue-skinned madman grinned hugely. "I could get used to this one," he said as he eyed the remote in his hand.
His henches all looked around uneasily.
"So, ah, Doc," Lars asked. "Where do you think Shego might be…..hiding?"
"It's obvious," Dr. Drakken stabbed a finger into the air. "My genius has led me to the most obvious, and therefore correct answer."
"Which is," Lars asked hopefully.
"We follow Dr. James Timothy Possible, and let him led us to the happy couple. Just before we make them all unhappy," he grinned manically. "And then…..with Kim Possible and Shego's baby in my hands," he tittered, "The world shall finally be mine!"
"You're taking over the world with….a baby," someone blurted out.
"Who said that," Drakken turned to glower at his men.
Twenty-four fingers all pointed at the guilty party.
Drakken smiled wickedly, and the man cringed.
"Just for that," he said, his eyed dancing with cruel intent. "You get to change the diapers when we do get the brat."
Not one man there commented.
KP
"You didn't have to come along, dear," James said uneasily, as he kept checking the rear view mirror, and glancing at the small, digital console in his van's dash.
"Nonsense. This is Kimberly we're talking about. Besides, from what Dr. Director said, we have to make this look convincing if we're going to actually lead these people into her trap.
"Mom's right, dad. Besides, we have a few surprises of our own waiting if anyone thinks they're going to grab our sister!"
"Boys," the two adults groaned.
"It's nothing serious. Just an auto-containment unit that is tied to a smart-drone we built."
"A smart-drone?"
Two hands rose, holding up overly fat watches.
"See," stereo voices declared. "We can launch up to five containment drones that latch onto the target we indicate by laser, and….instant prisoner."
"That's clever, boys. But….one at a time. All right," James grinned.
Ann said nothing, simply shaking her head.
There was no way that was simple, terrestrial tech, but she wasn't saying anything. This was her family they were risking, after all. Right now, after all Dr. Director had said, and didn't say, she was willing to do anything to save her daughter. And her grandchild.
Then Ann had a thought.
"What if you can't contain them," she asked the boys. "Or they break out."
"Then we bring out the big guns," the two boys smiled less than innocently.
To Be Continued…..