KI do not own any Disney characters named herein and am only borrowing them to tell a nonprofit tale meant for entertainment purposes only.

Kim Possible: Impossible Journey

By LJ58

10

"So, you were lost in a maze of lava tubes," Betty asked incredulously of the group in her office.

"Huge tunnels," Shego nodded. "Frankly, I couldn't figure out how she figured out which way to go half the time. Most of the time, the compass didn't even work."

"Magnetic deposits," James Possible nodded. "It caused major interference and kept standard compasses or scanning devices from working very well. It was almost blind luck we found her and Miss Go at all."

"Fortunately, our genetic tracking program helped," Jim and Tim smiled.

"Really. So, you could use that to track….anyone?"

"Forget it," Kim shot. "I've already seen how the right people misuse tech for the wrong reasons. The boys have already agreed to shelve that one for emergency use only."

"Now, Kimberly….."

"I've already heard about Du's latest insanity. Just tell me you found out who was behind it? Or do we need to…?"

"GJ already investigated, and shut down that particular plot," Dr. Director assured the group in her office that had come in for a belated debriefing after Kim had already given her own abbreviated version of his adventures to the press to assure the world that she was still very much alive.

Said debriefing also included Shego's own version of events that suggested she was not only not back in villainy but had been there as Kim's double agent before a mishap had almost cost them both their lives. The head of Global Justice still doubted that one, but every one of those with Kim was backing the comet-powered woman's story.

"And what did they find; exactly," Ron asked with surprising bluntness.

"It turned out to be a rather clever plot by Lucre this time," Dr. Director told them. "Only considering the equipment involved, the duplicitous nature of the plot, and scientific manipulation of the available tech, I have to wonder if Jack Hench himself weren't also involved. Only we still have no direct evidence…."

"We'll find out," Jim and Tim declared.

"Right," Ron nodded at them.

"This is still a GJ operation," Dr. Director told them, "And without evidence…."

"So, what did you do to Will," Kim demanded curtly, looking more than curious, and rather angry herself after hearing all the man had been up to supposedly to aid the world, by ridding it of her.

"He's been transferred to sanitation," the head of GJ said dryly. "I rather doubt he'll be making field agent again anytime this decade. If ever."

"Good," Kim nodded. "I trust he knows if I see him again anytime soon, I'll be….displeased," Kim asked bluntly.

"Actually," Betty atypically smirked now. "When he heard you were back….he screamed. And started crying."

Ron and Bonnie both sniggered.

"He still got off light," Jim and Tim muttered, and Kim had no doubt they weren't finished with the duplicitous agent.

"I'd have fired him, but frankly, he knows too much, and I don't think I would care to trust his sense of honor after all that has happened," Betty admitted.

"So, you have smartened up," Ron drawled, and Shego sniggered now.

"I have an entire agency to oversee, Ronald," she growled. "At the time, Du did seem a good choice for a senior commander."

"Right," every single one of those standing before her drawled skeptically.

The one-eyed senior agent only shook her head.

"So," Betty turned back to Kimberly. "You don't have anything else to add to your report?"

Kim glanced at the ceiling, looking thoughtful, and shrugged. "No, that was about it. Phosphorescent walls and some surprisingly thick foliage likely created by the bright, semi-conductive gases that illuminated the larger caverns. We were lucky we were able to breathe that stuff. I guess the plants balanced out the other gases by creating a small oxygen bubble. Still, it was pretty….stark. Frankly, I'm shocked the accounts of Verne made it seem so easily managed. It was a confusing maze down there, and I was starting to think we'd be lost forever," she declared.

"Fortunately, you were not," she nodded and dismissed them after adding, "We would still like you to come back to GJ, Kimberly. And, Dr. Possible, I do hope you'll be settling the matter of your borrowed….vehicle?"

"About that," James smiled, all of them have reached a consensus that the tunneler should suffer a timely breakdown so no one could try to use it again.

"I'm not going to even ask," she had declared.

No one else commented, and they headed out of the office and reached Dr. Possible's van before Ron asked, "You think she bought it," as he eyed Kim.

"Maybe about half. Still, hopefully, she does still trust us enough to let it go. The last thing we need is for someone thinking there is anything down there to find."

"Somehow, princess," Shego murmured as they all climbed into the van that was packed by the time they all climbed inside. "I don't think anyone else would manage half as well as you did."

"Or you," Kim added with a grin aimed her way. "Remember, you were there, too, and helped a lot."

"Right. I was a great help," she muttered sourly.

"Hey, you saved our butts when we fell in that pit…."

"That was you."

"You helped find that tunnel we could use to get to the underground world…."

"That was you," Shego drawled.

"You helped us reach it," Kim sputtered.

"Let's just be happy you both made it through that madhouse," Ron declared.

"Hear, hear," Shego agreed. "So, subject closed, and let's never even think about it ever again. Agreed?"

"Absolutely," Ron, Bonnie, and Kim all declared.

Then all three eyed Dr. Possible and the twins.

"Agreed," Kim all but growled at them, especially the boys.

"Fine. But what a waste of scientific information, and possibilities," the twins complained.

"Well, there is always space," James Possible reminded them happily. "And as I pointed out, some of your devices and programs are going to be very helpful on my next probe."

"Hoo-sha," both boys grinned, and high-fived one another.

"So, I guess you're going to be leading….Team Possible again," Bonnie asked quietly as she sat on Kim's left side, with Shego on the far side. The boys sat in the far back, with Ron taking shotgun in the front.

"Probably," she smiled. "After the past few months, I'm ready for some plain old ordinary missions," she laughed as Shego just eyed her.

"Uh, well…."

"Bonnie has been working with us, me and the boys, since you…..disappeared," Ron told her. "She's probably wondering if you want her to stay."

"You have," Kim turned to ask the brunette.

"Yeah," Bonnie said sheepishly. "I can fight….pretty well."

"As good as Kimmie," Shego asked blandly.

"Well, as good as the twins," Bonnie admitted. "We've all been sparring, and learning from Ron, though."

"If you really want to stay, and help out, we'd be more than glad to have you, Bon," Kim told her. "Of course, getting rides may be more difficult with so many new members," she laughed.

"About that," the twins said from the back.

"What is with them and that stereo-speak," Shego muttered as she glared back at them.

"They're Tweebs," Kim shrugged. "Although this is one time I don't mind. You guys really saved our butts down there."

"So, did you ever figure out what the weird yellow beam was all about," Ron asked her as they fell silent on the trip over.

"No clue," Kim admitted and eyed Shego. "You?"

"I was too busy watching the lizards to really notice anything," she admitted.

"She was scared of them," Kim explained.

"I was not," Shego seethed. "I was….cautious. Careful. You were the one wanting to play tag with the things."

The twins sniggered, but Ron only shook his head.

"What," Kim demanded of him.

"Well, that does sound like you, KP," Ron said, very glad he was in the front seat just then as her father added, "I have to admit, it kind of does, sweetie."

"Jeez. I was…. You know what, never mind. The whole sitch? Never happened. Not a bit of it. So we won't discuss it again."

"But…."

"Not one thing," Kim snapped at Ron.

Shego only grinned at her.

"So, what are your plans now," Ron asked Shego. "I mean, after KP kind of bailed you out with Dr. Director, that leaves you free and clear again."

"I….don't really know. I gave my word that I was out of the biz, though. I intend to keep that word," she told them all as she eyed Kim. "Maybe I'll leave you my number this time, though," she told Kim, "So we don't have to repeat any similar craziness."

"Uh, why would Kim need your number," Ron frowned. "I don't get it."

"Stoppable," Shego deadpanned, "That doesn't surprise me a bit."

"So, what are you going to do," Kim asked as they climbed out of the van after reaching her family's home. For now, she was staying back home since her own apartment had been closed up after she seemed to have died. Again. No one hung back as the others headed inside while Kim and Shego faced one another in the drive. "Now, I mean? You taking off again?"

"I figured I'd just blaze, and try to figure that out myself," Shego admitted. "I'm not hurting, but even if I can live on a beach for the next fifty years that would admittedly be kind of boring," she sighed. "Maybe I'll look around, and see what kind of jobs I might be able to snag."

"You could join Team Possible," Kim grinned.

"Oh, no. I did the hero bit, Kimmie, and I wasn't impressed the first time."

"No. I think you just catered to Hego's fantasies, and that's not the same thing. I'm not going to demand you join us if you don't want to try it, though. I just… I'd like to see you, and maybe….talk more. About….things. You know, stuff we kind of….almost talked about….before."

"Oy," Shego sighed, and studied the redhead. "Are you saying you want to date," she asked bluntly.

"Well, maybe not date. Or…not at first. I just thought…. I started feeling….something, and I kind of thought we might at least be….friends. Maybe… You know…something else might come up, but….."

Shego reached out and put a finger over Kim's lips.

"You're still nuts, Kimmie. My number," she said, pulling out a card from her new purse she handed her. "Don't share."

"I wouldn't…."

"Not even with the Nerdlinger?"

"I can be discreet."

"Right. Like with Bets about our….trip down the proverbial rabbit-hole? Anyway, call when you get your head straight, and maybe we can both figure out what we're doing then," she grinned.

"Shego," Kim said as the woman pulled out a cell phone, and began to dial it, obviously calling for a ride. "I really am glad you were there. You helped more than you admitted, and we both know it."

Shego sighed and shook her head.

"And you wouldn't have even been in that mess without…."

"Drakken," Kim cut Shego off to declare.

"On that, we both agree. I should let him know I have completely, and permanently quit, too."

"Be careful. We don't want someone to think you're there to break him out again," Kim grinned.

"Oh, they won't. See, I just remembered that my old contract is still in effect. Which means if I have genuinely, and forever quit, he now owes me severance equal to one year's salary," the comet-powered woman smiled. "I wonder how he'll react to hearing that one."

"I think I can guess. How much do you make…?"

"Shame, Princess," Shego smiled as a taxi showed up just then, and the driver just gaped at them. "We haven't even gotten to the first date yet, and you want my financials?"

Shego burst into laughter at the redhead's expression and then turned to the taxi with a backward wave. "Later, Kimmie. Don't forget to invite me to your next graduation," she grinned as she climbed into the cab without caring the driver looked ready to have a heart attack. "Maybe we can make it a date," she teased, winking as she closed the door behind her.

"Airport," she told the man, not planning on a flight. She already knew Kimmie's Nerd had arranged for her jet to be parked at a private hangar, and she wanted to check it herself before she visited Drewbie one last time.

~KP~

Kim lay staring at the ceiling that night, and still couldn't sleep in spite of finally being back home, well-fed, and actually fairly rested and relaxed just then.

Her mind kept churning, and all that seemed to fill her thoughts was the fact she had 'talked' to a herd of giant reptiles, and they had somehow understood and accepted her promise. She still had no idea who or what might be behind the weird underground world that was far more than Verne's hapless adventurers had indicated.

She wondered how that professor had managed to escape, and if he had been let go, too, rather than actually escaping.

She wondered about those skulls and the lives they represented.

Had they been someone unwilling to compromise, or protect whatever it was they had found?

She was still pondering her confusion when the room around her seemed to glow a faint yellow, and suddenly an older man with a stylish mustache and very dated clothing stood before her looking more phantom than real as he nevertheless locked eyes on her with a wry expression.

"Miss Possible is it," the man drawled in a thick, German accent.

"Are you….? No," she frowned.

"I am, and I am not," the man smiled, and gave a half nod. "I am a simulacrum based on your knowledge of the man you recognize. I am here as I am to better speak to you, and assure you that what you discovered is not for nefarious purposes. In truth, it's very important to the future of your world. Hence, the purpose of my visit to ensure you uphold your vow."

"It is," she exclaimed.

"Oh, my, yes. The underground world, however, cannot be found or tampered with, or the critical work being carried out there could be undone. If that happens, the fate of your world might become….suspect."

"I don't understand," Kim sputtered and sat up to stare at the seeming phantom that only eyed her as casually as if he were discussing the weather.

"Of course not. Nor will you. Not for several decades. In time, however, it is felt you will begin to understand, and when you do, your vow to hold the secrets you do know must be held inviolate. I cannot begin to stress how critical that is for everyone involved."

"So, your….puppet masters down there could still reach us if they felt we were…a threat," she frowned.

"Your terms are not quite…correct. Still, trust was favored over threats, or actions on their part. The protection of Life, after all, is our ultimate goal."

"That's what I try to protect, too," she nodded firmly.

"This is known. That knowledge gave the impetus to grant you trust."

"So….if not puppet masters, what are….they? May I ask that?"

"If you require a label, consider those as yet unseen as…overseers. I must go now. This communication was for your ears alone, and your parent is about to interrupt. Be well, Miss Possible, and be wary. Not all those about you will accept your tale. Just as some of your predecessors who returned were not completely….accepted."

"What happened to them….?"

She realized the yellow light was gone, though, and her mom was standing in the door eyeing her.

"Kim, are you all right?"

"Uh, sure, mom. What's the stich," she asked carelessly.

"I heard you talking, and I was worried you were about to run off again after you just…."

"No. Just…thinking out loud," she smiled. "Don't worry, I'm still giving myself time to fully recover before I rejoin Ron and the team. I have to figure out how to get my apartment back, too. Not to mention registering to get back into my graduate program, and finding another job."

"Just give yourself time, sweetheart," Ann told her. "And don't forget this is still your home. You don't have to run off again so soon," the older redhead assured her.

"I know, mom. I do. 'Night," she said, and lay back down, pointedly adjusting her covers.

"Goodnight, Kim," her mother said quietly, almost wistfully.

Kim lay there, eyes closed, and mind still churning as she considered the telling visitation, and all it revealed. Or didn't.

Whatever was down there didn't have to say a word. Yet it had pointedly sent her a message in the form of Professor Lidenbrock as if feeling the man's shape would be more…acceptable.

Overseer?

A purpose she couldn't yet see, but might discover herself in the future?

She frowned, but forced the thoughts from her mind, thinking she might discuss them with Shego, but only Shego. While the others had shown up and seen some of the world below, only Shego could fully understand what they had experienced.

No, that was a message she would keep to herself for now.

Just in case.

To Be Continued….