Questioning

It doesn't even seem like a big deal to them.

They're happy about it, sure. At least he thinks they are. They keep trading smug little smiles with each other that give him shivers up and down his spine.

But they're not excited. They're not jumping up and down and high-fiving each other and shrieking, "Look at us! We took over the world!"

How can they not be excited? It's the biggest deal ever.

"You can't just take over the world in the time it takes to order a pizza!" he bursts out.

Because it's not fair. He's been trying to do this for decades - trying with everything in him, devoting his whole life to it. Trying, trying, trying, hoping that one day he'll get it right. And then they just waltz on in and have the planet conquered in fifteen minutes, not even beside themselves with joy.

They're - they're acting like they do this every day.

He thinks back to Warmonga's words the first time they met. This is standard planetary domination equipment, she said.

He swallows hard. Maybe they do do this every day.

"You can't." Kim Possible's voice jolts him out of his thoughts. "Apparently, they can."

He doesn't snap back at her, because she doesn't sound like she's throwing his failures in his face. She sounds - scared. And that scares him.

He's never seen Kim Possible scared, at least not for longer than thirty seconds or so. For her to actually sound like she doesn't know what to do - well, he knows they're doomed, then. Because she's beaten Warmonga before. She's saved the world about a gajillion times. Even from someone as tough as him.

But now she looks as helpless as he feels.

"Silence, prisoners!" Warhok booms. His deep voice makes the inside of the ship vibrate - and with it, his own knees. He turns then to Warmonga and his face does something far too cruel to be called a smile. "Our conquest of the planet is complete."

No way. No way, no how.

But one look at the scene before him and he knows Warhok's right.

On several screens the aliens have mounted up, giant machines are scampering around on four legs like huge, evil spiders, smashing buildings - from the tiniest little shacks to huge skyscrapers. People are fleeing from them, and even from across the spaceship he can see the fear on their faces. They're running. Screaming. Crying.

It looks familiar. Way too familiar. But he can't quite put his finger on what it's reminding him of.

Until he glances at the Lorwardians themselves. They're laughing and exchanging nods as if they're watching the latest comedy instead of people running for their lives from them. They look like they're having a blast as they watch. As they watch.

His stomach, which has been surprisingly silent up till now, wakes up loudly and angrily. His brain's not seeing giant spider-machines anymore. He's seeing Diablos with their red paint and their evil smiles and their blaster arms.

He glances down at himself, relieved to see his good ol' blue lab coat instead of the shiny, sparkly suit. He's even happy to feel the flower petals around his neck, because it means he's not reliving that night.

His eyes keep going back to the aliens, though. And a question wanders into his brain and won't go away.

Is that what I looked like?

It churns in his stomach and burns in his brain until he can't keep it in anymore. He has to ask someone. And there's only one person here he can ask.

He clears his throat - roughly, because it feels clogged. Allergies, probably. With his luck, he's probably allergic to whatever type of flower he's turning into.

"Kim - " he begins quietly.

She turns and looks at him, face questioning.

"We said 'Silence,' Blue Deceiver!" Warmonga snarls.

He shrinks back and gulps. If they could conquer Earth in less than half an hour, what could they do to little old him?

"Yes, ma'am," he whimpers. Kim Possible shakes her head silently.

Warmonga does that shouldn't-be-called-a-smile smile. "Take the prisoners to the dungeon," she says with a wave of her hand.

The little platform they're on begins moving, and he chances a glance backward. Warhok's still examining the screens, but Warmonga's looking right at him. He shivers. There's something in her eyes - an evil darker and deeper than any he's ever imagined - ever knew existed.

Another question comes in then, one he's almost thought a couple of times, but one he's always managed to cut off before the whole thing showed up and changed everything.

Is that what I want to be?

He peeks over at Kim, but she's not looking at him. That's okay, though. He doesn't need to ask her that question. Because, deep down, he already knows the answer.

No.