Disclaimer: I do not own Kim Possible, any of the other characters from that show, or those from any other media I may reference in my stories.
I have a bad habit. I get too many story ideas that I don't think I can make work on their own, and then tend to add them to other unrelated stories I do start. This story is no exception. Shego's Halloween activities, for instance. So, I'm going to try and wrap up some of the extraneous plot lines in this, and maybe the next chapter. If some of you think I should make an effort to do them more justice as separate tales, let me know, and I'll try.
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During the afternoon, quite a number of people took note of an object hovering in the sky over northern Middleton. It was one of Drakken's hovercraft, this one a two-seat model with an enclosed cockpit. It was directly above the tract of land for the proposed resort hotel.
Inside it, Drakken sorted through all the documents he'd collected from City Hall on the proposed development. He'd consult them, then study the land below.
He also had maps of the utilities for both Upperton and Middleton. The two cities' governments had disputed development rights for the land below since they'd both expanded close enough to each other to care, sometime in the mid '80s. It was still an absurdly sensitive sore spot for some on both sides ever since a decision had been made in Middleton's favor, since theoretically Upperton had plenty of room to expand northwards.
One point of contention was routing utilities to the site, the current proposal being certain to be a great inconvenience to some home-owners. The second problem concerned access to the Interstate. Approaching from the East, it passed between Middleton and Lowerton, curved slightly northwards, then continued due West. Two 'Business' branches split off from it East of the cities, and then rejoined it on the west side. One of those passed through Middleton just south of it's mall, the other went into Lowerton. A separate four-lane state highway connected Upperton to the Interstate, running on further northwards to the state line.
The current proposal intended to run a new road from the 'Business' route to the hotel site, cutting through Pine Hill Estates, a '70s era housing development with fifty homes and a small school, which currently constituted the cheapest housing in the city. All the homes were occupied, and it would be necessary to relocate many of those living there if the proposal went through. Since few of those people currently owned their homes outright, few of them would profit in any way by being moved.
Drakken studied the proposed route with a frown, then shifted his gaze to a narrow road running from the state highway to a point north of Pine Hill, before meandering north into Upperton. The only building along the route was the National Guard Armory, built in the fifties. He then shifted his attention to another large building just at the city limits well to the south. It was incomplete, work having stopped on it the winter before, as the company planning to expand into Middleton had had to file for bankruptcy. It was also convenient to the Interstate, and the main East-West streets of Middleton.
Nodding thoughtfully to himself, Drakken leaned back in his seat and began to think...
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Kim didn't know exactly why she felt like it was her that was in trouble. She sat quietly in a chair in the Principal's office, flanked by her parents. Across the room, Ricky Carroll was seated between his own parents. The adults were all standing. Ricky was fidgeting, his father looked puzzled, and his mother had a sour look on her face.
Principal Cooley sat behind his desk, studying what appeared to be an MP3 player sitting in front of him. It looked very similar to the device containing the medical scanners Kim used in conjunction with her Kimmunicator. Cooley pressed a switch on the device, and Bernadette Barr's voice, and that of a student who'd visited her earlier complaining of nausea, came from the device's speakers. After a few moments listening, Cooley switched the it off.
He then looked at the Carrolls. "This device was in Ricky's locker, receiving a signal from a 'bug' planted in the nurse's office. It's voice-activated, I'm told." He looked at Ricky. "Son, where did you get this device? And don't tell me someone else put it in your locker, I know better!"
Ricky squirmed in his seat, until his mother firmly prodded him with a finger. Then he reluctantly replied. "I got it in the mail, anonymously. There was just a note, saying I could really impress the other guys on the...on the site, with what I could learn with it!"
Cooley nodded. "Information about Miss Possible's exploits, you mean? But why put it in the nurse's office?"
"Because Kim hangs out there when she's excused from gym class, so I thought I'd hear some good stuff, without any background noise to foul it up." Ricky replied, head down.
"And did you hear any 'good stuff', young man?"
Ricky shook his head. "Not really, it was all girl stuff, until yesterday, then there was something good!" He looked up, and added defensively, "But, I'm not responsible for that lame 'Bionic Babysitter' stuff!"
"No, but you chose to expose a device that Miss Possible might have used to save her life at some future point, if her enemies were unaware of it." Cooley pointed out, sternly.
Ricky's head drooped again. "Yes Sir. It was all I had..." At this point, the office door swung open, and Steve Barkin entered, with Tim and Jim Possible. "Here's the last of our interested parties, Sir!" Barkin snapped, as if to a superior officer.
Cooley nodded. "Thank You, Steven!" Then he fixed the Possible twins with a cool gaze. "As for you two, do you have any idea why you're here?"
Looking around at the other occupants of the room, the twins noticed that the Carrolls all appeared puzzled, while their own parents looked real unhappy, Kim looked morose, and Mister Barkin...well, looked like he usually did. "I Think.." Tim began, "We're busted!" Jim finished.
James Possible slowly released the breath he'd been holding. "Well, at least you're not going to make this difficult, boys!"
"What's going on here, what do they have to do with this?" A bewildered Mrs Carroll asked.
Cooley drew in a deep breath before speaking, "Well, it seems the Possible boys are the ones who sent that eavesdropping equipment to your son!"
That only made the woman more confused. "What! But why, if he used it to spy on their own sister?"
Cooley shifted his gaze to the Tweebs. "Boys, would you care to answer that?"
"He's always spying on her!"
"Always trying to listen in on her conversations!"
"Asking everyone questions about what she does..."
"...trying to get the other girls in her gym class to tell him if she's got scars, and where they are!" That caused Ricky to practically melt under his mother's glare.
"And then he goes and writes those stories about her on the Internet..."
"...and he makes all the stuff up!"
"I don't make it all up!" Ricky blurted out, "I just try and interpret some of the facts!"
"That's still considered 'making it up', young man!" Barkin admonished him.
Cooley addressed the Tweebs again. "And what did you hope to accomplish? Did you want Ricky expelled for what he did?"
They both studied the floor, shuffling their feet nervously, until Jim answered, "We just wanted to stop him, and Kim wouldn't let anyone mess with the websites, or that kind of stuff! We just wanted someone to catch him, and make him stop! She's our sister, and we've got her back!"
Something like a strangled sob came from Kim. Everyone's attention shifted to her. "Miss Possible, are you all right?" Cooley asked, concerned.
Kim, looking a bit pale, nodded, "I'm all right, can I step outside, though? I need a drink of water, or something!" she stammered out, anxiously.
Face full of concern, Cooley nodded. "Of course, we don't really need you here at this point, anyway. Why don't you go back to the nurse's office, and let Miss Barr look after you? Final bell is in fifteen minutes, there's no point to going to class. This should only take a few more minutes, then you can go home with your parents. But first, I understand why you scanned Ricky's locker, to locate the recording device, but I wouldn't want to encourage you to violate your fellow students privacy in the future, you understand?""
"Yes Sir, I wouldn't have done it this time, but...I won't do it again, I promise!" Kim stammered as she stood up. Her mother put her hand on the girl's shoulder, whispering "Kimmie?" Kim gave her a wan smile in return. "I'm fine, Mom." She murmured, then nodded politely to Mister Barkin when he opened the door for her, and slipped out.
"Well..." Cooley began, before Ricky Carroll interrupted, "Hey! Since they gave me that stuff, am I off the hook?" The withering looks the adults present sent at him answered that question clearly. He huddled in his seat, muttering, "Guess not."
"As I was saying, this whole matter deserves punishment, obviously!" Cooley stated, "However, I'm not sure what good making this whole mess public would serve. Therefore, we will decide on two levels of punishment for all three of these young men. The first level will be carried out discretely, as long as the details of the matter do not become public knowledge. Not even as a rumor, boys! However, if the matter does become public, then we'll have to make an example of all three of you, is that understood?" First the Tweebs in unison, then Ricky nodded acknowledgement. "Good! Now, your parents may see fit to act as they choose, of course! Steven and I will discuss this matter, and inform you tomorrow as to what measures the school will take in this matter. Now, if you three will step outside, we'll discuss this matter with your parents."
"One thing first, if I may?" Anne Possible asked. She looked at Ricky. "Did you listen to any of the conversation I had with Miss Barr, a little while ago?"
He shook his head. "No, Ma'am, I don't listen to the recordings until I get home! Ma'am, I'm sorry, I wouldn't want to hurt Kim, honest! But...the website is the only place...I don't know what to say!"
"That's all right, Ricky, I actually do understand." Anne replied. "But you need to think of the consequences to others of your actions, not just the benefits to yourself! Gaining acceptance is all well and good, provided no one else gets hurt in the process!"
The grown-ups' discussion went well past the final bell, and all three boys ended up huddled together on the one couch not visible through the window in the hallway door as their fellow students evacuated the building with their usual haste. And they couldn't remain silent for long, either.
"I'm not sorry we did it!" Jim declared hotly, "You guys are always writing those lies about our sister!" Tim showed his support with a an affirmative nod.
"I don't write lies! I only write stories about her missions, the true stories!" Ricky snapped back, then suddenly looked uneasy. "Well, except for the one about the nanobots, which is actually the only one of mine they've published so far. They take some of the stuff I give them, though, and make up stories from it, which makes me mad! I shouldn't have told them Miss Barr has a prosthesis instead of a foot, they really made a stupid story out of that!"
"That's not even a secret!" Jim answered derisively, "Everyone in town saw the picture of her with her family last year, when they let her out of the hospital to come home for Thanksgiving! Well, she didn't get national coverage, I suppose, but it isn't a secret!"
"But we didn't know then that Kim was involved when she lost her foot." Tim added, and Ricky's interest was piqued. Jim noticed and scowled, "It's not a secret anymore, Ricky! It's all over the news today, some spy mission went wrong, and the wrong people got hurt, and Kim helped save them!" Then he calmed slightly, "And a bunch of the bad guys were killed."
"Kim didn't kill any of them, did she?"
"NO!" both Tweebs shouted. The door to the Principal's office swung open, and Barkin scowled out at them. All three red-faced boys assumed the usual position, hands in laps, heads down, until the door closed again. "Kim would never kill!" Jim hissed. "But she was probably right in the middle of it when they were killed." Tim added quietly. The Tweebs exchanged suddenly concerned glances.
"She hides too many things!" Jim exclaimed quietly.
"Never hides when she's mad at us!" Tim responded.
"But this isn't like that, this is major! And she doesn't like to worry Mom and Dad!"
"She got upset when we said we had her back! But why?"
"Because she didn't have ours? Oh, Man, she must have been the one to figure out what we did!"
"And she told on us?!"
"Well, Duh! She's Kim, she wouldn't let Ricky get punished for something he didn't do! Aw, Man, we blew it, big time, didn't we?"
The office door opened again, and their parents emerged, exchanging parting words with Cooley and Barkin. Then Anne's eyes locked onto the immediately apprehensive Tweebs. "Okay, boys, let's collect your sister, and head home! And don't ask what's coming, you'll be told when we get there, trust me!"
Soon the four Possibles were headed for the Nurse's office. Anne looked back and saw the Carrolls behind them. "Ricky is going to apologize to Miss Barr, before we take him home." His mother explained.
"Hey! Possible party!" Everyone turned to see Ron coming up behind them. "I was waiting for KP, she hasn't come out! And her jacket is still in her locker!"
" She's waiting in the nurse's office, Ronald, and does Kim know you know her locker combination?" James asked with hint of suspicion.
"Oh, sure! I mean, she didn't exactly give it to me, but she knows I know it, so to speak!" Ron stammered out nervously. "And why is she in the nurse's office? Is she feeling sick again?"
Anne smiled reassuringly, "No, Ron, she's...fine, it's a long story, we'll give you a ride home, and tell you about it!" Ron caught the grimaces on the Tweebs' faces, and correctly interpreted possible significance of Ricky Carroll's presence suddenly registered as well. "Aw, please tell me this didn't come from me and my big mouth, that day!"
As they approached the Nurse's office, they saw Bernie, apparently locking up.
She in turn was curious to see them. "Hey, everyone, how did things go at the Principal's office? Sorry I couldn't be there, had a minor medical emergency with the girls' field hockey practice!" Then she saw the worried look growing on Anne's face, and possibly the others. "What's wrong?"
"Isn't Kim with you?" Anne asked. "She left us earlier, saying she needed a drink of water, maybe some fresh air? Mister Cooley told her she should come here, didn't she?"
Bernie unlocked her office again and stepped quickly inside without replying. There was a walkie-talkie in a battery recharger on her desk. She took it out and switched it on, then pushed the transmit button. "Guys, Mel, have any of you seen Kim Possible in the last half hour, it's Bernie here, come back?"
There was a pause, then came a reply. "Hey, Bernie, it's Ezra. I saw her going out Exit 3 a while back, but she probably didn't stay out long, she didn't have a coat or jacket, and it's getting pretty nippy outside. Didn't see her come back in, though. Normally would have said something to her, being outside during class, but since it was Kim...well, you know?"
"Yeah, I know Ezra, Thanks!" Scowling, Bernie returned the radio to it's holder, and turned to Anne. "Consider me officially worried!"
Anne nodded in grim agreement.
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"Sorry, Ron! Her Kimmunicator's still in the nurse's office, she must have forgotten it!" Wade's worried face on the viewscreen of the Ronnunicator twisted in concentration as he typed rapidly, "I'm accessing the video surveillance cameras around the exterior of the school now, and the traffic cameras nearby, to try and see which way she went when she left! I'll get back to you, as soon as I have something!"
"Okay Wade, but please find something, anything!" Ron was seated in the front passenger seat of Bernie's car as the pair skirted the outskirts of Middleton Park.
Only authorized vehicles were allowed inside the park itself, and Ron intended to go in on foot if they didn't spot anything in the next few minutes. Anne, Jim, James and Tim were also out searching in the Possibles' two cars.
It had been an hour since school let out, and the sun was disappearing behind the Rockies to the west, the temperature in the low forties and dropping.
Peering out his window, Ron angrily shook his head. "I can't believe she's been in pain, or something, and I didn't know? Or, maybe I did, maybe I just didn't read things right!"
"Like what things, Ron?" Bernie's eyes tracked a Middleton PD cruiser crossing their path ahead. She had been of the opinion that the police be involved immediately, but had acceded to Kim's parents' wishes that they wait for a hour or two, before making things official.
"Well, like, a few weeks ago I walked in on her studying recordings of her cheerleading practices on her computer. I mean, she sometimes studies them to see if the team has the routines down, but this was different! She was looking at pictures of herself, not the other girls. Ones from early last year, and from earlier this year. And she asked if I saw any difference between 'the girl', her words, in last year's pictures and the recent ones. And I was confused as to what she wanted. I usually know, you know?" He looked pleadingly at Bernie, who nodded encouragingly.
He drew a deep breath before continuing. "It was just that, when I came in, the expression on her face seemed sad, for some reason. Not attentive, taking notes, the usual when she's studying that kind of thing. So I finally said I thought her moves were smoother in the newer pics, and she went 'oh!', as if that hadn't been what she'd been thinking about. Then she saw the look on my face, and snapped out of it, became all smiles, and I let it drop. I do that a lot with her, sometimes I wonder if it's the right things to do, but I do it anyway."
Ron turned an expectant look towards Bernie, who shook her head as she replied, "I don't think you're at fault at all, Ron. You used to be her confidant in everything when you were kids, but even with the bond you share, that had to change when you grew up. And what's bothering her now has been growing inside her slowly for a year, I think. So, she might not have realized anything was wrong herself, not really. And when she did, she didn't understand what it could be, or where it started, because she 'recovered' in her own mind, from what happened last year and put it in her past. She was reluctant to dredge it up again, so she's subconsciously disassociating her current problems from that event, leaving her confused. Studying those pictures was probably an attempt to spot some visible change in herself, maybe to see if someone else should have realized she had a problem. Tell me, has she done any more missions for GJ since then, with or without Will Du?"
Ron thought for a moment. "Just one, without Will, and it was a milk run, in July. She took the place of a senior GJ Exec's own daughter during a week-long trip to the Mediterranean, because there was a possibility of a kidnapping attempt. And there was, but it was headed off before Kim became involved. So she got some sun, saw some sights, and came home pretty cheerful, to tell the truth. Made me a little jealous." They were pulling up to one of the main entrances to the park. "Let me out here, I want to search the park on foot!"
"Okay, but let me get a spare coat from the trunk for you to give her, if you find her." Bernie pulled into the entry and parked, but before they could get out, Wade called back.
"Ron! I definitely have Kim on camera crossing Bridger Avenue, two blocks West of Main Street, headed North, twenty minutes after she left the school!" The boy genius reported.
"Aw, Man! She didn't come anywhere near the Park, then! She isn't heading for Old Hillary's Farm, either. I wouldn't have minded finding her there, singing to the cow again, as long as we found her!" He re-fastened his seatbelt as Bernie pulled back out into traffic again. "I don't know where she could be going, that far North! Wade, pass the word to her Mom and Dad, Okay?"
"You got it, Ron!" Wade replied, and signed off.
Bernie sighed in frustration. "I don't think she's going to a particular place, Ron, I just think she's trying to get away from something, even if she knows she can't!"
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"Okay, this is stupid! Wait, how many times have I thought that since I left school? A dozen? More? Then why am I still walking away from the people who love me, who could help me? So they won't find out something's wrong? So they won't worry? Well, I'm Oh for two there, aren't I? They know something's wrong now, and they have to be worried! So, why am I still walking?"
"Cold, Shoulder hurts! Blood flow affected by the cold, do you think? Duh! Recent operation, still mending, of course I'm being an idiot! Painkillers back at school. Didn't want to have them at all, but Mom insisted! Only used them...four, five, maybe six times! No Kimmunicator, left that behind, along with my coat, Grrrr! Not that I need the Kimmunicator, though, I could flag down a policeman. Then everyone would find out I'm nuts! So what? Like they're not going to figure it out if I die of hypothermia? Why am I acting like this?"
"Why don't the good things keep me warm as long, anymore? Only Ron, but even with him...I feel it so much more when he's not there, and I don't think it's in a good way. I love him, he keeps me...me. But I used to be able to float on the rush from a successful mission for a week, or more, two weeks if we saved someone! But this past year, the buzz doesn't last as long. Is it all about what happened last year? Should I have talked to someone, like Will tried to suggest when he came to visit? 'Tried' being the operative word! So careful not to suggest that he'd needed to talk to someone, but an 'amateur' like me should seek help? That had to be the worst way to talk to me!"
"Feet hurt. Where am I? Huh? The water park? Closed, naturally, so I'm trespassing. But I can sit on the bench, 'til my feet stop hurting. But, should I stop? I should be looking for help, not sitting here...I did sit down, I thought I hadn't decided yet? Okay, am I thinking rationally at all?!"
"The Wizard of Oz? Why think of that? Ron's dream was so much fun, if definitely weirdsville, while mine was so...dark. Rufus instead of Toto, but they wouldn't let me take him, I needed a 'little dog'. So I had to find a little dog before I could start the adventure. In the forest, which was...on fire? Oh! Of course, the forest fire, the little girl's dog, back in May? I couldn't find it, but it turned up alive and well, three days later. But I took risks to find it, crazy risks! If Ron had told Mom and Dad the truth about the shape I was in afterwards, they'd have grounded me! But the worst part was telling the little girl I'd failed. And even after I found out the dog was alive, I was angry at myself for the risks...I couldn't rationalize them anymore, I wonder why?"
"So Dark, cold...I have to get up, get moving again, towards my family, not away! But I don't want to go back...back where? Whatever's bothering me is inside me, not back there, I can't run away from it! This is stupid! There, I thought it again, a dozen and wha..."
A bright light suddenly enveloped Kim, sitting on the bench beneath the trees surrounding the closed for the season water park. She shaded her eyes against the glare as the source of the light descended from above. When it reached ground level, a dark shape appeared, blocking part of the light.
"Kimberley Anne Possible, as your arch-foe, I am officially exercising my right to abduct you, in this case for your own good!"
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James Possible and Tim were in the Old Town shopping district when his cellphone buzzed. He pulled to the curb before checking it to discover a text message.
[James. Kim with me, and safe. Taking her to lair.
Intend her no harm. She needs to talk to someone
different, and I certainly qualify. Might be best if
Anne comes to fetch her, she'll probably be in mood
to talk to her mother by then. You have my word, She
will come to no harm at my hands...Drew.]
James studied the message with a variety of emotions playing across his face, then sighed heavily. "What is it, Dad?" Tim asked him, "Is it about Kim? Is she all right?"
James looked at his son for a moment, then nodded. "She's...safe." He began to dial Anne's number as he spoke.
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Doctor Drakken walked across the floor of the lair, and up a short flight of steps to the glassed-in lounge that overlooked the main floor. It was the only room in the main area with full climate control, and right now it was toasty warm.
Kim was huddled on the couch against the rear wall, her feet shoved in a footwarmer of Drakken's own design, and a blanket was draped around her. A table sat in front of the couch, with a computer terminal built into it. As the door opened automatically to admit the scientist, she looked up, an expression of abject misery on her face. "I can't believe I'm sitting here!" She spoke plaintively.
"Imagine my surprise, and I invited you!" Drakken replied, setting a tray down on the table, then sitting in one of the well padded swivel chairs flanking the couch. The tray held two mugs full of hot chocolate, and two burgers with lettuce and tomato. "Those are veggie burgers, by the way." Drakken added.
Kim eyed the food dubiously, but when the smell reached her nostrils, her stomach announced it's opinion of the sitch quite loudly. A little color appeared in her cheeks, which was a good sign as far as Drakken was concerned. She'd been pale as a ghost when they'd arrived.
She continued to look dubious, but reached out to pick one of the burgers up. Even then she eyed it critically up close. "Are you going to scan it, before you eat it?" Drakken asked with mild sarcasm lacing his voice.
Kim snorted. "I'm not Ron, you know!" And she took a bite, then began to wolf the food down in a very unladylike manner.
Drakken's eyebrows rose in consternation. "What are you referring to?" Kim paused in her eating, and blushed faintly. As soon as her mouth was clear, she explained, "Ever since Ron learned you owned stock in Bueno Nacho, he's been scanning his meals there. Especially if there's someone new behind the counter!"
It was Drakken's turn to snort, but in amusement. "He scans every meal before he eats it?"
Kim grimaced. "Well, he usually remembers to do it first, but not always. He chipped a tooth on his Ronnunicator trying to...never mind."
Drakken was truly amused now. "Well, please don't tell him I also own stock in Cow 'n Chow, and J. P. Berrymore's Pizzatorium, or he'll give up fast food altogether!"
Eyes wide, Kim gulped down a mouthful of burger. "Really? Both of them?"
"Oh, yes! Who do you think designed the new animatronic band at J. P.'s to replace the ones Junior wrecked?" Drakken replied with a satisfied smirk, then added, "I suppose you'll be scanning them for death rays, and the like, at the earliest opportunity?" Kim fidgeted guiltily, then took up her mug and took a swallow. It was a bit hotter then she liked it, but she didn't mind.
Drakken studied the girl carefully. On the flight up, he'd used a concealed medical scanner to check her out. He'd put it in for Shego, who sometimes took a beating on their capers, but she didn't like him making a fuss over her. Kim's core temperature had been down, but not dangerously so, except possibly in her surgically repaired shoulder. But even that appeared all right. Which left only the question of the explanation for her actions.
"Tell me, Kimberley, why were you behaving so foolishly? What could bother you so badly, that you would so recklessly disregard your own health? I mean, in a manner other then swinging around on a thin line, battling giant robots and mad monkeys, that is?"
Kim gazed steadily at him for a moment, then looked around. "Where's Shego?"
"She's in Go City, at the moment, Kimberley."
Kim's eyes widened, and she nodded. "Oh, the Haunted House for charity? I've considered going to see that, because I hear it's a good show, but...it's probably not a good idea, she might not be able to...do her act properly, if I'm around."
Drakken sighed in exasperation. "Well, she doesn't need to know you're there, does she? I mean, I don't want you two to get chummy, or anything, but there's no reason for you not to go, though you'd have to go tonight or tomorrow, and I don't see that happening now, I'm afraid. But now, back to my question, what's bothering you so badly, to make you act this way?"
Kim started on her second burger while she considered answering. Then a stubborn look came across her face, and Drakken thought she'd refuse to discuss the matter, but instead, "Well, I betrayed my brothers, but I did it for the right reason; and Will Du and Professor Dementor have seen me naked, while Ron hasn't, at least not under circumstance where he could appreciate..." She suddenly blushed furiously, "And...well, I think I'm nuts! How about all that?"
Drakken was momentarily taken aback. "Well, let's...take them one at a time, shall we? Um, in order? What was that about your brothers?"
Kim explained about the eavesdropping device, Ricky Carroll, and her brothers' role in what had happened. Even as she did, she seemed to withdraw slightly into herself, tugging the blanket tighter. "I told them I'd have their backs, but that didn't last long, did it?" She ended morosely.
Drakken was silent for a moment, lost in his own thoughts."So many times I would have liked to have reduced her to this sort of state, so why do I feel motivated to help her out of it? Because it wasn't my own doing? Is this compassion, or ego? Sometimes, I'm a bigger mystery to myself then to anyone else!" Then he roused himself, and addressed the girl. "Your actions were consistent with your own character, and as young as they are, I'm sure your brothers understand. They did something against your own code, they couldn't have expected you to act any differently. Let's move on. Now how do I ask this, without seeming lascivious? Oh, well! How did my Teutonic rival come to see you...unclad?"
That explanation had him rolling his eyes with exasperation. "That fool! So desperate to come up with new inventions his sister can't claim control of! He can't even afford to try and steal the Pan Dimensional Vortex Inducer these days, which is something of a relief, frankly speaking! So tired of seeing that on Villainnet every other month! All right, that's explained. Now, how did the 'Pride of Global Justice' manage to violate your privacy?"
"You might reasonably substitute one letter in that description, where Will is concerned," Kim replied somewhat more animatedly, "And it was mostly my fault! I was called on a mission rather abruptly, and teamed with Will, and by the time we reached our destination, I was kind of gamey." She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the memory, "Due to the suddenness of the mission, that is! Anyway, I was hot, tired, frustrated with his attitude, as usual, and I made two mistakes. Since we had to wait for a contact, I went to take a shower, and forgot to lock the bathroom door, and then got the hot and cold water taps mixed up!"
Drakken winced and nodded, "I Know that feeling all too well! Foreign travel is full of pitfalls!"
Kim rolled her eyes, and smiled amiably before continuing, "The upshot was, I screamed, and Will, who'd just finished lecturing me on not letting my guard down, dashed to the rescue, and saw it all! At least he seemed as embarrassed as I was, and fled so quickly he strained something in his back, so I had to massage...uh, let's let it drop there, shall we?" She commenced to finish off the remnants of her meal.
Drakken sipped at his own chocolate for a moment. "There's still got to be more to it then these little upsets, but how to get it out of her? Or should I? She really needs professional help, obviously. Is it depression? I don't think so. So, what...oh! Almost forgot!" He reached into his pocket and drew out a stack of mail. Seeing Kim eyeing it curiously, he explained, "Went by the Post Office today, before doing a little research." seeing her look become suspicious, he just smirked, and began to go through his mail. He also activated the computer terminal and let it warm up.
As Kim finished her hot chocolate, a small burp escaped her lips, causing her to blush slightly. Drakken pretended to ignore it, though he smiled slightly, then frowned as he read the return address on one missive. He opened it up and perused the contents with his lips pursed.
When he'd finished, he looked up at Kim. "It seems I've been invited to 'Big Ed' Barr's little Halloween shindig tomorrow night, along with one guest!" As Kim's curiosity showed clearly on her face, Drakken tapped the re-folded letter on his knee. "Hmmm, he wants all the candidates there." He shrugged. "I suppose to say which one he's backing for Mayor. But me? People are beginning to show a distinct lack of respect for my past, I must say!"
"Well, it might surprise you, but there are quite a few citizens of Middleton who actually don't know that you and Candidate Lipsky are one and the same!" Kim told him, "But on the other hand, Big Ed would know, if anyone did. So, the invitation is deliberate, he must assume that your political interests will prevent any bad behavior on your part."
"Hmm, 'never assume'! But, it might be a good idea to attend, but who to take? Shego won't be here tomorrow, and Mother..." he shuddered. "Perhaps I'll go alone, that might be the wisest choice." He began to type on the computer keyboard, and was soon frowning again. "She's gotten into my voicemail again, how does someone who specializes in genetics...well she does have computer skills, to be sure..." he clicked on a link, and DNAmy's voice filled the air. "Oh, Drewkins! I was wondering, if you become Mayor, whether a job running the City zoo might be possible? That is, if the position of First Lady isn't available?"
Kim blinked several times rapidly, then focused on Drakken. "I'm so glad neither of us had a mouthful of hot chocolate when we heard that!"
Drakken's expression soured. "Don't be too happy, I have a stomachful that's taking on a life of it's own right now! I may have to search for the big pink bottle shortly! First, though, better see what message Mother left me." He clicked another link, and the message began.
"Son, this is just to let you know your cousin Eddie is back to normal. As long as no one let's him look at a reflective surface, that is! I'm sure he brought it all on himself, I can't understand how your good example didn't turn him around, and make him a respectable citizen!" Kim covered her mouth to hide the wide smile blooming on her face. "Now, another thing, Son, now that you're in the political arena, you need to straighten up your act! So, if you're going to marry that girl..." and Drakken cut the message off. "I'll listen to the rest, later." He muttered lamely.
Kim fought to keep a straight face. "Um, what did Motor Ed do to tick off Shego so badly?" She asked. After a moment's hesitation, Drakken explained. Kim's eyes widened, then she scowled deeply. "What could have possessed him? Who was he trying to impress? You say it was a biker site, not a villain one? Hmmm! And then he goes and gets the idea to try and steal my Uncle Slim's truck!" Drakken flinched guiltily, but Kim didn't notice. "He seems a little desperate himself, lately! Or, just plain stupid!" Then she looked out into the lair, and her eyes nearly popped out. "Mom?"
Drakken turned to see Anne Possible, escorted by a henchman he'd posted at the entrance, standing in the middle of the floor. She spotted them at the same moment, and marched towards the steps up, a stern look on her face.
Kim shot to her feet, and began to look frantically for her shoes and socks. "What's she doing (hic) here!" Kim covered her mouth, but another hiccup followed. She sat back down, blinking, eyes fixed on her mother's approach.
Drakken stood up as Anne entered. "Drew Lipsky, you have some explaining to do!" She began. Kim hiccuped again, and Anne's gaze went to her daughter, and the mugs on the table. "Firstly, what did you give my daughter to drink!"
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When Anne pulled into the garage, James was waiting. Kim had fallen asleep in the passenger seat. Her father gently unhooked her seatbelt and picked her up. She barely stirred as he carried her through the living room. Ron, Monique, Bernie, and the Tweebs were assembled, but remained silent as Kim was carried through. James took her to the first floor guest room, as Anne rushed upstairs to get her nightclothes.
"Well," Bernie broke the silence, "She's all right, and obviously not going to be talking to any of us tonight, so we might as well go home. Ron, Monique, I'll give you both a ride, all right?" The pair tore their eyes reluctantly from the door James and Kim had gone through, and nodded. They waited for Anne to come back down, and exchanged good nights, and Ron received her assurance that he'd be the first to know if Kim would be attending school the next day, though Anne doubted it.
Later, Anne roused Kim to help her change for bed. Kim remained silent throughout, as Anne studied her shoulder carefully, before helping Kim into her top. While she was arranging the pillows to protect Kim's shoulder, her daughter looked at her. "Mom?"
"Yes Sweetie?"
Kim swallowed, then spoke in a soft voice, "Mom, I think I need to talk to someone."
Anne looked at her with a touch of pride. "I think so, too, Sweetheart. We'll decide just who it should be tomorrow, okay?"
Kim nodded solemnly. "'Kay!" Anne kissed her on the forehead, then turned the light out, rose and went to the door. "Goodnight, Sweetheart."
"'night, Mom."
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I hope I get the next chapter in before Halloween night, but I'm not betting on it.
Anyway, Please Read and Review.
