Chapter 7

The trip to the lair wasn't very long, and the GJ hover jet dropped them off about a mile from the entrance. Kim was tempted to use her speed for the first time, but resolved to keep it quiet until necessary. She warned Ron not to say anything.

They trekked through a valley and up a steep trail, and finally stood in front of the iron doors to Drakken's lair.

"KP, aren't we going to do our usual sneak in?" asked Ron, a bit confused.

"Yeah, sneaky," added Rufus.

"Nah, I thought I'd mix things up a bit this time," Kim replied, and rang the doorbell.

Seconds later, Shego's voice came through the speaker by the doorbell. A camera lens was set above it. "Well, this is a surprise. Waddaya want, Possible?"

"What you stole, what else?" asked Kim, crossing her arms.

"What I stole? What are you talking about?" came the annoyed voice. "I haven't taken anything in months."

"Yeah, right," said Kim, holding up her wrist so the Kimmunicator was visible, "I've got evidence that says different."

"I don't think so, but I'll bite. Hang on a sec..." the voice cut off, and after some fifteen seconds the door was opened by Shego herself.

"Get in and hurry, don't want to let the bugs out," she said, stepping aside.

"Don't you mean let the bugs IN?" asked Ron as she closed the door behind them.

"No, Stoppable, I mean 'out'. Dr. D's working on some mutated grasshoppers and they somehow keep getting out of the cage. It's really annoying, but he doesn't want me to french fry them," she replied, "Follow me."

The heroes followed the villainess down a corridor to the main laboratory, where Drakken was found peering into a microscope. He looked up when Shego cleared her throat.

"KIM POSSIBLE!! And the buffoon! What do you want?" he yelled.

"The Pan Dimensional Vortex Inducer! What did you think?" said Kim, forcefully.

Drakken held up his hands. "Oh, no. Not that thing again. I learned MY lesson about it when we came across 'Mr. Sit Down'. My back still hurts. Never again! And I MEAN it!"

Kim and Ron looked at each other, then back at Drakken. "Okay, then... Who did you steal it for, Shego?"

"I didn't steal anything!" she protested, "Let's see your 'evidence'."

Drakken came over to see as Kim pulled up the security footage. The villains watched as Shego moved through the picture.

"That was taken last night at the facility it's kept at," said Kim.

Shego studied the pictures, then announced, "That's not me. It's not even a good copy. Dr. D, don't you have some kind of software so we can get a better look?"

"What? Oh, of course," he replied, and went over to sit at a computer. He entered some commands. "Okay, Kimberly Ann, sync it over here."

She tapped some buttons on the Kimmunicator, and a copy of the footage was transferred.

Heroes and villains alike watched the video on the computer's much larger screen. Then they ran it again.

"Stop it... there," said Shego, and the footage freeze framed. "Now, Possible, what's wrong with this picture?"

"You mean besides you being where you shouldn't be?" asked Kim.

Shego balled a fist and growled, but controlled herself. "Look at it. For one thing, the hair's too short." She held up the end of her knee-length tresses. "Notice my hair isn't cut."

Kim studied the picture. "Okay, agreed."

"Another thing, the colors on her outfit are reversed from what they should be," she pointed at the screen.

Kim looked at the woman in the frame, then at Shego, who turned and took a similar stance for comparison.

"You're right. It isn't you," admitted Kim.

"Finally the light dawns," said Shego, rolling her eyes. "Dr. D, can you enhance the face? I wanna know who's doing a bad impersonation."

Drakken fiddled with the software's settings, but gave up after a few minutes. "Sorry, the face is entirely in shadow. Nothing there to enhance."

Suddenly Rufus jumped from Ron's pocket onto the table. He pointed at the picture, and made motions frantically. The humans in the room stared at him.

"What happened, Stoppable? Your rat finally lose it from being in your pocket too long?" asked Shego with a smirk.

Ron glared at the alabaster woman. "No, he's seen something we need to look at."

Rufus gave up trying to make them understand and ran over to the keyboard. He pushed Drakken's hands out of the way, and started entering commands.

"Hey!" said Drakken, annoyed.

Rufus stopped and pointed at the screen. Everyone looked.

The naked mole rat had shifted the focus to the lit door on the left, and increased the magnification. A figure could be seen standing there, obviously male, but otherwise indistinct.

"Okay, someone else was there..." said Shego, actually impressed, but unwilling to admit it.

Rufus entered more commands, and the figure suddenly snapped into focus. He was wearing a distinct, recognizable uniform.

"Gemini!" said all four, in unison.

"Jinx! You all owe me a soda!" said Kim, quickly.

"Aw, man, not again!" groused Ron.

"As if," frowned Shego, "When you go visit him, let me know and I'll meet you there. I'll take credit for my crimes, but not someone else's. I'm putting a stop to it before it gets worse." She cracked her knuckles for emphasis.

"Yeah... I'll be sure to do that..." said Kim in a skeptical voice.

"I mean it, Princess, my reputation is at stake here," she said.

"But wouldn't something like this help your reputation?" asked Ron.

"Of course not, Stoppable! That was sloppy and amateurish. I'd never let myself be caught on camera like that," Shego retorted.

"Ah, I guess that's true..." he responded.

"Wade, are you getting all this?" asked Kim.

"Yep. Shego's right, that isn't her. Good work, Dr. Drakken," was the reply.

"Ah... thank you," said Drakken, uncertainly.

"Well, sorry to have bothered you," said Kim, "C'mon, Ron." She turned to leave, Rufus jumped into Ron's pocket, and he followed.

"Hold on, Princess," said Shego.

Kim stopped walking, and turned her head so she could see the villainess behind her.

"You think you can just come waltzing in here, making accusations without evidence, then walk out again, without any consequences?" Shego asked, hands on hips.

Kim folded her arms and half-turned toward the older woman. "You're just looking for an excuse to fight."

"Well, doy!" said Shego, looking to the heavens, "I haven't had a good scrap in months, and you're just what the doctor ordered." She smirked.

Kim turned fully toward her, and a slow smile spread across her features. "Okay, then, since it means so much to you,
we'll have your little scrap." She took a ready position.

Shego grinned and took her own position.

"Uh, hey, Doc, I think we'd better get out of the line of fire," said Ron, pushing the villain toward a ladder.

"What? Oh, yes, of course, this way," Drakken answered, and they scrambled to safety.

"I am serious, Pumpkin, call me before you take on Gemini, I want some payback," said Shego. "Nobody uses me for a fall guy."

"All right, I will. Probably be a few days," answered Kim.

Shego nodded in agreement.

"Okay, bring," said Kim, and Shego launched herself toward the hero.