Posse 4

I.

Ron grinned to himself as the grapple gun cable hauled him up into the caf' ventilation ducts. "I knew KP wouldn't be able to handle Jesse's list. She may hide it good, but that red hair doesn't lie. Jesse doesn't know how close he came to being vertical."

"Ron." Kim growled as she flexed her arms.

"Whassup, KP?" Ron decided not to mention 'the Ron', Kim looked steamed enough.

"Did you really pay for a business just to fire some poor man?" Kim looked more than tweaked.

"Naw, KP, I bought the business but I didn't fire the guy, turns out he's got family problems."

"Then what was that all about firing him?"

"Got to keep the peeps nervous, Kim, and especially Bonnie."

Kim shook her head in bemusement, "What did you do to him then?"

"He isn't a real good salesman, but he's a whiz at floor display and layout. I promoted him to store ambi-ain't manager."

"Ambiance, Ron." Kim rubbed her nose for a minute, "Ok, never mind that, We're going after Drakken, he's stolen the diamond."

"Coolio, we'll get the diamond back, and maybe...Kimbo, I still think that was my destiny." Ron's eyes began to lose focus as he smiled in remembrance.

"Yeah, right, and stopping his evil scheme will just be a bonus." Kim pulled her Kimmunicator from her cargoes. "Wade, call in some favors, we need an airlift..."

Ron covered the Kimmunicator screen with his hand, "Whoa, whoa! Kim that won't be necessary. The Ron spread a little fetti, you got your little some-some."

Kim looked at her best friend. "Hmmm."

II.

Ron floated down, last in the stick of jumpers, laughing to himself. Kim had definitely been impressed with the robot plane, even calling it "Wow worthy." Now, if Drakken performed up to his usual standards, the plan would fall into line.

Susan lay on the bed, leaning back on her elbows. "Ron, I just don't get it. What exactly is it you want me to do? If Princess goes after Dr. D., and you know she will, sooner or later, am I supposed to just roll over and quit."

"Nope, just be your usual self. 'Course, you can't kill her or cripple her, but other than that, meh, a few bruises and bumps. Par for the course."

"I thought you were her friend."

"I am, Susan, her best friend, and she's mine. Always has been, always will be." Ron said calmly.

"Then I don't understand." Susan puzzled.

"It's simple, Suzy, I..."

"Hold it, Susan, I like, Suzy, not so much." Shego growled.

"Fine, I can live with that, Susan." Ron grinned. "What would happen if you took a dive in a fight with Kim?"

"Well, she...and then I...what dive? I don't take dives for the cheerleader."

"Just askin', Susan. I'll tell you what would happen. KP may not be the most perceptive when it comes to people, but fighting? She'd know in a second. And then she'd start digging, wanting to know why."

"And that would lead back to...?"

"Me, us, I mean the us in the contract, not that there is an us, but she might think...Maybe I better shut up now."

Susan's eyes half lidded, "Maybe an us? Maybe it would be so good..." Her voice was low and sultry. She burst into giggles at the panicked look on Ron's face. "Sidekick, you are sooo easy to play."

Ron rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "Yeah, well, I..."

"Never mind, Ron, you've got my number, so if there's nothing else?" Susan stood and strode toward the window.

"No, no, business as usual..."Ron began, only to slap his forehead in annoyance, "Oh man, I almost forgot."

Susan turned at the window, "Forgot what, Boss Man, you reconsider the dive?"

"Nuh-uh, I was going to tell you you're no longer wanted. Whenever you decide to come back into the light, you'll be able to."

Susan whirled, then fell back, sitting heavily on the window sill. "You...you want to expand on that a little bit?"

Ron grinned, "It's amazing what a large campaign contribution, some information, and some small, you'd be surprised how small in some countries, bribes can get you. Your are now, and have been for some time, a deep undercover DEA agent. Congratulations." Ron walked over, reached past Susan to pull the tethered hover car close. "Can't have one of my peeps wanted by the law." He guided her into the car. Before she could gather her wits, he smiled, "Good night, Susan. See you the next time KP finds you." Ron shut the window, then pulled the drapes firmly shut.

Ron brought his thoughts back to the present when Drakken crowed, "The perfect fit!"

"Yeah, on my pinky!" Ron yelled. Kim looked at the mercenaries looking at her. "Um, ah...Kim squad, attack?"

III.

Kim was dumbfounded at the debacle that had just occurred. In spite of professional reinforcements, Drakken had gotten away with the diamond, the laser, and worst of all, Ron! How could this have happened? How could she have allowed this to happen? Wade's image coalesced on the Kimmunicator screen. "Wade, I need a cross reference on all online retailers. Look for major spendage in shipping addresses."

Wade sipped his soda calmly, "OK, why?"

"Because if there is anybody stupider with money than Ron, it's Drakken."

"I'll get right on it, Kim." Wade's image faded.

"Watch that girl with the glowing hands, she's trouble. Thanks a lot for the news flash, 'professionals'." Kim continued to rub her forehead.

IV.

Shego looked over at Ron as she counted the money Drakken had just handed her. A faint scratching had come from the ceiling. With her back to the mad scientist and his newfound peeps, she raised one eyebrow in question. Ron gave a short nod and a quick wink as the grate fell to the floor.

"KP!"

"You're busted, Drakken!" Kim yelled.

"OK," Shego shoved the wad of cash in her leg pocket, "here we go, showtime." "No, he's dirty rich, but you'll be busted when I'm done." She flared her hands.