Well here we are again everybody. Last time Kim and Ron went through the ceremony to somewhat link their Kis and Sensei could see them in doing so. Now did I mention that Ron has an unusual shaped Ki? No, well you all might want to file that away for later in the ARC. Now something tells me that there was more to this bonding than Sensei and Ron admitted to, come to think of it.
And it seems Ron is getting better at digging out information too, I wonder if Jerome is going to make another appearance? Speaking of villains lining up it seems that there is another bunch of troublemakers getting in line. We'd better keep an eye on them too!
Now I know there are comments and wonderings about James Possible (the overprotective douche-bag rocket scientist-CB) and how his mind works and I mentioned this in the last chapter.
Finally Sensei (and Yori) have a little surprise for Ron there and all sorts of stuff going on here.
And guess what, ST-103 has posted one million words with this chapter. We all knew I was full of it now we have proof.
Now for the accolades thanks CB for all the work you have done as a friend and beta, I wonder when we're gonna get the go ahead to post those original tales that we worked on? You know I could tweak them a little….
Also thanks to everyone who has read 'The Hunter' so far and even more so to those who have kept reading what I have put out over the years. So the reviewers for the last chapter of 'TH' are: Pbow (or are they just that good?); readerjunkie (I'm all about making your days good my friend); CB (no James isn't and Anne doesn't know this…yet); Jimmy1201 (Eric is giving you bad vibes…he ought to, he gave me bad vibes just writing about him.); Mahler Avatar (yeah I've been known to write in the gray area, welcome aboard….and you might want to grab your favorite drink and fasten in….tight. This flight might get bumpy.); Fighting Chicken (man I've been a fan of yours for like ever, good to see you aboard too….uh what I said to Mahler….well take it to heart and grab an airsickness bag too….you might want to grab a dozen.)
Soooooo what are we gonna see in this chapter? Well Wade finds out some information and then there's going to be some action too. Ya just can't have many chapters without action in FF…..well I don't seem to be able to. My characters tend to get busy.
And KP's roomie loves food and guess who is a great cook?
Anyway it's time to get this show on the road,
ST-103
XXXXX
The Hunter: Book One
Chapter10
Cambodia:
(Hiro-chun, take point, Stoppable-san you have rear guard. It is good that Rufus-san stayed back at Yamanouchi for his own safety.), Yori whispered to the two males as they removed their chutes and stashed them under the dense foliage.
The two black clad young men nodded in assent as their eyes narrowed behind their masks. The Japanese teen moved out a few moments later followed by his mate with the American taking the rear; the blond kept track of what was going on behind them.
Quietly they traversed the dense jungle until they could no longer see. The lithe ninja snapped her fingers once to get the attention of her comrades. When they stopped, she sat down in the Lotus Position and began to levitate.
The Japanese male was silent as was the American. At one time he would have screamed his head off at the spectacle he now faced, but not anymore….but he still had trouble learning how to 'fly like Sensei' himself. Aware that Yori was going to look around he turned and faced the way that the small party had come, keeping watch for anyone who may be watching for the covert ninja team to give themselves away.
'The next time I see Monty I'm gonna kick his Monkey Butt for having to search to find him.', Ron thought as he glanced over his shoulder to see the dark form flitting this way and that without a sound. 'I wish I was as good as Yori, I swear she could sneak up on a ghost.'
Within ten minutes he felt, rather than heard, Yori return. With a glance the party moved on again, as silent as a ghost in the night.
Mentally Ron Stoppable, former world class slacker, took inventory of the weapons that he had been issued for this mission and hoped they were going to be enough for their assigned mission.
XXX
An hour earlier:
The three teens studied the map they had been given. Hiro asked, "Is that a stream that seems to run under the temple?"
"Yes Hiro-chun, but they do not seem to be connected, the stream then becomes a waterfall of nearly fifty meters in height less than eight hundred meters after it gets past the Temple. I think as long as the Temple has a very secure foundation must be at the base of the Temple for it to last as long as it has.", Yori explained.
Ron considered, "Could it have been an escape route? You know like Drakken sometimes as a way out of his lairs when they blow up."
"I do not know, but be prepared for a trap.", Yori replied.
"It wouldn't be worth grabbing if there wasn't something real bad protecting it, I remember just how much KP hates snakes.", Ron mentioned one of Kim's phobias.
"Ron-san when we get to the Monkey Temple it will be your honor to enter and retrieve the talisman. Hirotaka-chun and I will guard the doorway while you are inside. The object can only be handled safely by one who has been given the Monkey Power. You must, however, keep the artifact out of Monkey Fist's hands at all cost.", Yori confided to her friend, "We think that he has found a way of turning it into a weapon of significant importance, therefore we must keep it from him."
Ron frowned, "What does this thing do anyway Yori?"
"From what is stated in the scrolls somehow it merges with a host as long as the host has been accepted by the Mystical Monkey Power and it changes the host in a way that we do not understand.", Yori explained, at a loss here due to only being given information on retrieving the talisman and not much else.
"So we don't know what it does or how it does it, but we know that we have to keep Monkey Butt's paws off it?", the blond American asked.
"That is correct, but it is very important and Sensei told me that it is worth my or Hiro-chun's life to make sure Fist doesn't acquire this talisman.", she replied as she stared at her friend with her dark exotic eyes.
Ron gave her a half smile, "Then it is worth mine, make sure that KP has backup if something happens...OK?"
"That has already been taken care of Ron-san.", Yori responded.
"Thanks I'd hate to screw up on a promise 'cause I was dead or something...KP would be real heartbroken don't ya think? Bet she would be in mourning maybe two weeks...Maybe she'll find a real Erik this time.", Ron snorted making light of the situation trying to ignore the lithe ninja's visual barbs at him. 'Her Dad though, would be celebrating; he'd probably pass out cigars.'
XXX
Cheer Camp:
"Alright girls, once more through the grinder…..and make sure you keep those smiles up.", Beth Barns yelled encouragement as she started the count again.
Twenty minutes later the ten girls stopped all of them sweating in the Georgia July heat as they sat down with their water and electrolyte replacement drinks.
"Well what are you going to do after the exercise tonight Kim?", Sarah Welcome asked her roommate as both girls stretched to keep their muscles loose.
"I think I'll grab a snack and then call Mom and Dad. I'd love to call Ronnie up, but I won't be able to for a couple days.", Kim replied to her friend.
"Are you sure he's not straying a little over in Japan. He doesn't seem to have any 'proper' supervision and that Japanese girl was very pretty."
"I think I can trust my boyfriend Sarah, I've known him for thirteen years. I know he's worried about me straying, but I'll clue you in...I won't, I don't think I could find another Ronald Stoppable.", Kim smiled as she remembered his freckles and big ears. Silently she touched the locket that now meant so much to her.
"I hope not Kim, that's a pretty unusual name you know.", Sarah giggled teasing the red headed heroine.
"You know what I mean."
"I was just kidding you."
"Alright girls, let's go over it again.", Beth called out clapping her hands to get them moving.
X
"Girls, Guys, all the coaches have told me how hard you've each worked on these routines. I just want you to know how proud the staff is of you. As you suspect there are cheer coaches from around the country watching the younger guys and girls to fill out their college rosters. So after we are all done tonight we are going to make them available for questions. Don't be surprised if some of them make you offers for a 'dream' college education.", the camp leader told them.
X
Sarah and Kim were walking to the cafeteria, "That's some pretty good news Kim. What did you think of it?"
"Oh what news is that?"
"There are college coaches going to be here. When I was a senior in high school there wasn't anyone at the camp I went to. I just sort of walked on. I didn't even have a ride my Freshman year.", Sarah told her, "I think there are a few girls that are looking for a way to go to college."
"Oh I didn't know, I thought that you had always been on Scholarship.", Kim replied.
"I wasn't, but I'm glad I got a chance. I like where I am. It worked out pretty well for me and I'm getting a great education.", Sarah paused.
"Sooo are you going to take a scholarship if you get offered one Kim? You're smart, athletic and pretty. Our coach at WV is very interested in you."
"Thanks and I'm flattered Sarah, but I'd like to see where Ronnie is going to go. I'd sorta like going to school with him.", Kim informed the older cheerleader, "We've sorta planned on it. If let him get out of my sight some girl might grab him."
"I guess….does he have any cheer experience, I mean he could try out like I did...There's really not as much room and most of our guys won't graduate for a few years. So I don't know.", Sarah told the red headed teen.
"I like cheerleading Sarah, but I like being with Ronnie more. I'd hate to be away from him for four years. Anyway his grades are good enough for Upperton and Ron has that experience from being Mad Dog the mascot even if Bonnie had him voted off the team for dating me.", Kim replied.
"What? Someone interfered with you dating a fellow member of the cheer squad? Was there some sort of rule at your school against it?", Sarah's eyes flashed dangerously as she stopped and stared at her roommate.
"NO there wasn't a rule against that, and Ronnie, because of the backbiting, never thought of himself as a member….he was the mascot. But Bonnie is the top of the 'food chain' and she feels that it's her right to tell people who they can talk to let alone date.", Kim gave the older girl insight into how some things seem to work at Middleton.
"Anyway Ron bucked the system and they knocked him off. She won't bother me because she knows that I'm the best cheerleader within two hundred miles and she wouldn't win any competitions without me on the squad.", Kim explained, "What she doesn't realize is without the mascot we won't get the extra points that the other squads who do have mascots get...And Ron was one of the top mascots in Colorado. So we're gonna be hosed this year."
"You should raise a stink..."
"Sarah I don't need to be on a winning squad. I've already had several corporations offer to sponsor scholarships for me."
"Have they offered that to your boyfriend?", Sarah asked.
Kim hung her head, "No the offers were only for me, everyone always overlooks Ron. No one has offered him anything except for that Japanese school that he's at right now."
"You know, you guys may not even be together by the end of your Senior year. Things can change and people can grow apart. You should at least keep your options open even if you don't come to West Virginia.", Sarah advised then thought, 'I wonder what they teach at that Japanese school, I guess I could check with the Dean of Students Office when I get back. Cause it seems a little weird.'
The red headed heroine stared at her, "You watched what happened the other night. You know how I feel towards Ron Stoppable, how can you think that I would ditch him so fast? I've already had my fill of what most people think are 'hotties'...I just have my own idea of what it takes to be one and Ronnie is the embodiment of 'hottie' in my eyes."
"Ok Kim, just relax."
"I know that I should Sarah, it's just that everyone puts Ronnie down. After all the times he's stood in the way of exploding machinery, taken on goons and other whacked things just to keep me safe... I just wish people would give him some credit. So I can tell you the school that lands him there is gonna land me too.", the red head's eyes furrowed, "I won't mention it to any college trying to get me to go there, but that's what's going to happen."
Sarah calmed her friend down, "Relax Kim, let's eat then relax for the routines tonight. It's going to be fun and it'll show us how far we've come."
"Yeah sure, sorry about going off on you like I did, I just get protective of my guy.", the teen heroine smiled thinly, though her eyes looked cold.
XXX
Delta Flight 359:
"Well honey, are you looking forward to getting home again?", Dean Stoppable asked his wife of twenty years.
"Sigh, yes Dean I am. It's going to be lonely without Ronald around for a while. Maybe we could invite the Possibles over for a cookout. I'd like to spend time with Anne.", Barb told her husband.
"I hope James holds off on his comments about Ronald. He's starting to get on my nerves.", Dean replied.
"Keep your peace Dean, if Kimberly was your daughter you'd probably be the same way.", Barb responded.
"Sigh, I know it just irks me the way James has turned out since the kids have been dating. Sometimes I think that it might have been better if Ronald hadn't backed her when she started the web site to get babysitting jobs.", Dean shook his head at the memory.
"When you think of it from that happening to saving the world and fighting bad guys didn't take that long. I wonder if Yahweh had that in mind for Kimberly and Ronald when they were four?" Dean mused.
"I don't know, but as many times as they've gone into bad places and with the types of people they are facing now...I just think that they're living on borrowed time before someone tries to take our babies from us.", Barb worries out loud.
"The kids know and they're willing to put their necks out there to help everyone else. I wonder how history will remember them in fifty years?", Dean grabbed Barb's hand and kissed it.
"I just hope they're alive in fifty years.", Barb sighed knowing there was no way she was ever going to keep her son from supporting the young woman who almost had become their daughter over the years.
XXX
Teleconference:
"So we are agreed then. I already have Monkey Fist's vote and his initial 'contribution' to the fund. He is not able to take part because he has an operation going on, but I have a video clip in case anyone needs to see his confirmation.", Sheldon stated as he counted votes .
"I like the idea Gemini, but just how far is this contact willing to go? There are several things that we individually and as a group have decided not to pursue since it could turn us into bigger criminals. If the word ever got out then our incarceration would be a lot more violent. So far we haven't been put in with the general populations..", Dr. Drakken warned him and the rest.
"Mr. Director... this person that you have been in contact with seems to be a cultured man. Why does he insist in his prospectus that all options be on the table? If he begins to kill innocents I am afraid that we will become targets of various governments in a very final manner if they decide we have become too much of a problem.", the old man spoke with a Spanish accent, "I agree with Mr. Lipsky here that we shouldn't be tied to this group of people too closely…that is unless you feel up to taking on the militaries of several major countries at the same time."
"I will insist that 'Eric and his friends' do not identify with us. Now to the next part, the proposal asks for the use of material in the way of devices. Are we able to help out our 'allies' here without drawing attention to ourselves?", Sheldon asked the group collectively as he finger quoted as he spoke of the group that was going to perform this action.
Finally one of them nodded, "As long as identifying marks are removed and the colors are changed I think my company can help out there sort of as a public service. If anyone asks I can either provide information that we had been broken into, or the articles were knockoffs of our quality merchandise."
"Gee Jack with all the screwing up that happens to your stuff , to call it 'quality' is giving yourself a lot of credit don't you think?", Shego snarked from her own monitor drawing snickers from several of the attendees.
"Shego, HenchCo is not involved in lethal avenues to help you all work on your various plans. If you want guns you can get them even at Smarty Mart. It's just plain bad for business.", he retorted, "In the long run I think we are saving lives."
"Or making lots of money.", Shego shot him down.
"Aye I agree with the green lassie Jackie. Your prices are a wee high.", the bald Scot commented to the unsettled group; all were slightly taken aback as it was highly unusual to see him without his ugly headgear on.
"My prices are under what the market will bear Killigan; remember you didn't have a way of making those golf balls. We had to retool for a whole week just to get yours done.", Hench told him with a frown, "Remember you came to me not the other way around."
"That conversation can be held later without the rest of us being involved.", Gemini told the two trying to keep the peace. "I suggest that as long as we aren't named we go ahead with 'Eric's' plan. Is there anyone who disagrees?", the twin to the leader of the international police agency asked.
Only one raised a hand. "Yes Shego what is the problem?"
"The Princess was supposed to be mine.", she told them, "She is my enemy, I have to fight her enough."
"Stay out of it until the plan is completed.", Drew hissed, "I warned you about going this route."
"But she has a cute butt in that white suit of hers don't you think?", the mint hued villainess snarked back, "Just think of this as the final way of breaking her."
"We break her boy toy then we break her emotionally. The Princess would never recover and she will be of no use to any Police Agency in the world. And I'll blackmail her to make sure she complies.", Shego snorted.
"We'll talk about that later Shego, at one time I had her sidekick here and offered him to be my Agent Alpha, but Possible and Betty rescued him. As a result, I then planned on making the girl of you're affections take his place. I can see that we might have to share her.", Gemini chuckled.
"She's not the girl of my affections….I'm more into big buffed guys you dolt, I just want her long enough to dominate and break her, you can have her when I'm done.", Shego said evenly as she pulled out a file and began to sharpen a nail.
"I think I can work with that, of course if you want to use her after that you'll have to deal with me.", Gemini responded.
"Don't worry I won't need her. I just want her so that she won't be of any use to the good guys.", Shego smirked.
"Then it is set, everyone involved please contribute to the account by the end of the week. When I receive the funds I will contact 'Eric' and his merry band of thugs to give them the go ahead. I will call when the arrangements are finished. Till then have fun.", Sheldon broke the connection.
XX
Later. Senior Island:
The tall buff and tanned teen looked at his Father. "Papi, I think this is wrong. I know that I am an irresponsible teen, and am not real villain material, but think...what they are planning is heinous. What would Moma think of what they are planning?", Junior asked the older Senior.
"I have thought so as well, but didn't want to say anything my son. What should we do?", the old billionaire asked in return, "Are you still considering her your 'Blue Fox'?"
"No Father, it's just this is immoral even to me."
"We have already promised the money. Let us not do anything in an active role and just go about our own plans and stay away from the rest.", the Senior suggested.
"Junior I will give this much thought. I must look in my book of villainy for the answers. Let us go to dinner and talk this over, but don't you agree that we should provide our share of the funds?"
"That is fine father, but later you must excuse me because I have to work on my tan if I am going to be a pop sensation.", the buff teen replied.
"Ah yes my Son. I have some things to work on as well, I will see you later outside by the pool.", Senior turned and walked to his study.
XXX
Middleton:
"Mom did you enjoy the vacation?", Wade Load asked.
"It was very relaxing honey, I think that it would be a nice investment like you suggested.", Mrs. Load told her son thinking back to the talk they had a couple weeks before, "What are you going to do with Kimberly and Ronald being out of town for the next couple weeks?"
"Well I thought about taking some classes through the online service and want to work on my next PhD. While I'm doing that I'll upgrade the security on my systems. Maybe I'll get in touch with Kim and Ron too.", he replied, "You know just the average type stuff."
Thelma Load snorted, "Normal for you honey, but not for everyone else."
"So what are you going to do Mom?"
"Since you just love stores.", she heard him snicker, "And you're growing so fast, I think it's time for me to get you new clothes."
"Uh, Ok Mom, as long as I don't have to go shopping I can deal with that.", Wade smiled.
XXX
Global Justice Headquarters:
"Well how are our two missing team members doing during their time out of the saddle Will?", the one-eyed Director of Global Justice asked with a small smile.
"Miss Possible is at her cheer camp down in Georgia and Mr. Stoppable is in Japan. As of now they are both on schedule...well we know Miss Possible is. One of our Agents is watching in the background, and over the last several days she appears to have become very perceptive. As for Stoppable all we know is that Possible talks about him all the time.", Du stated having memorized the reports.
"In your opinion do you think they are getting too close to become a good team?", Betty inquired.
Will thought before answering, "No, no I don't. I think they've been close friends long enough; it's like they know what each other is thinking. In my opinion I think that when they finish high school we should offer both a place in the organization. We've had husband wife teams before and it has worked out."
"Even if they're romantically involved? If one got killed it could emotionally destroy the one left behind.", Betty put forth.
"Ma'am at this point if one got killed the other one would as well. They may not be able to live without each other. We might have gone past the point of no return here. The best we can do is have them together.", Will advised.
"I don't know, what would happen if they broke up and were in GJ?"
"I don't think that both would stay. If that happened I think Stoppable would leave because he couldn't handle being in the same place as Possible.", Will answered after thinking about the question.
"Will if you had your choice which would you prefer in GJ?"
"Stoppable...Sure, Possible has more skills, but look at it this way; Stoppable knows how to take orders. And he's getting better all the time. So if we want someone who follows direction Stoppable is our guy. If we just want pure ability we go with Possible, the problem with her is she's used to being in charge and the focus of a mission. I don't know how well she'd take direction.", Will told Betty.
"So you're saying that we should keep Stoppable and cut Possible? I'd like to have her as well. Let's just hope that something doesn't happen to their relationship then.", Betty mused.
Agent Du replied, "I doubt if Possible would worry about it if they broke up. She is much more focused than Stoppable. I'm sure that we would lose him. I think that he could disappear if he wanted to."
"How could he disappear?", the one eyed director focused on her 'top' agent.
"If Stoppable could channel Zorpox again he'd find a way. Possible never came close to that with all the stuff they've been subjected to. For the time being why don't we watch them and see what happens.", Will advised.
"Sigh, I suppose you are right. They are both still too young to be making the decisions that we ask them to. Let's just monitor the situation for now and be prepared to make the offer to both of them when they graduate from high school. It will be a nice surprise for them.", Dr. Director told Will.
XXX
Wade Load's Home:
The super genius was in the third hour of studying current events that Team Possible usually watched over. 'Man I wish that Kim and Ron were on top of this.', Wade worried as he noted the reports about the villain known as Monkey Fist seemed to pop up several times from sources that he used to keep track of Monkey worship.
'Well the reports all seem to come from Cambodia. Kim's too far away even if she could break free and she left orders…. Maybe I can get Ron instead. He could go check it out...He's even in Japan and it's not that far away.' Wade thought as he began to look up current data on Ron's chip.
'Uh oh, it's offline. How long has Ron's chip been offline?', Wade's hands now flew over the keyboard as he pulled up information.
The African-American pre-teen genius looked in awe, 'He's been offline since he got to Japan...How was he able to do that?...And I still can't let Kim know. Well I'd better call, she was supposed to talk to him, they even had a schedule setup.'
Taking a deep breath Wade made his decision and hit a button that gave him a direct connection to Kim's Kimmunicator.
In moments Kim's image came up. "Hi Kim, uh how's cheer camp going?"
"It's been real good Wade, we have a major exercise tonight. Right now we're getting lunch and then some rest before we dress for the program.", Kim told him.
"Hey that's great, uh have you heard from Ron lately?", he asked.
"Yeah Wade, he's doing great too. I'm going to talk to him in a couple of days...Why?", the red headed heroine asked in return.
"Oh just saw a couple of things that might interest him. You sure he's in Japan?"
"Yeah Ron sure was a couple days ago when I talked to him last. We had a nice talk, I miss him though. Why?", Kim asked, now quite interested in Wade's questions.
"Oh nothing much, I saw a couple of things online and I thought that if he had room in his carryon I might be able to get him to carry it home for me.", Wade lied.
"Sure, I think he would Wade. I uh have to go and get some rest for the competition tonight. I'll talk to you later. Want me to have Ron give ya a call?", Kim inquired.
"Not a problem Kim, I can call him up. I have him hooked up on 'Wade speed dial' too ya know. Have fun at the cheerleader thingie.", Wade smiled
"I will Wade I can give you a call later after we're done tonight, but I have to focus and relax right now. Good hearing from you.", Kim shut off the connection.
XX
"Who was that guy?", Sarah asked.
"My tech person Wade.", the red headed heroine responded.
"So he's the famous pre-teen genius huh?"
"Yeah he comes up with all the gadgets that we use from the Kimmunicator that we talk on, to the laser lipstick to the grappling hooks. He's always working on stuff to make the Team better.". Kim replied.
"He sounds pretty smart."
"Well he's about thirteen I guess and he already has his first PhD, and is always working on more. He might be trying for a second one for all I know.", Kim told her roommate.
"Wow! Let's head back to the dorm and take a nap Kim."
"Good idea Sarah."
XX
'Well I can't call on Kim, I'd better call Ron and Rufus.', Wade mused, 'Well Lord Fiske is more Ron's continuing problem than Kim's anyway. Maybe I can get him to do a quickie mission?'
Wade punched the button for Ron's Kimmunicator, 'Huh he's got it on silent mode; he must be asleep. Maybe the vibration will wake him?'
After about three minutes Ron's image came up. "Yeah Wade what do you need?", Ron whispered.
"I've got a hit on the site Ron. It's Monkey Fist Ron, he's up to something.", Wade told the number two in Team Possible.
"Where's Monkey Butt at?", Ron inquired, "I'm sorta busy here."
"Cambodia, can I get you a ride there?"
"Nah, I can get there faster from where I'm at. I'm a lot closer."
"Are you sure Ron, it's not a problem..."
"Yeah I'm sure. I'll take care of it so don't worry about it. I didn't need help that one time remember? So I'm good. Uh how was your vacation?"
"It was good Ron, are you having fun in Japan?"
"Yeah a lot of fun, you know me...ah listen Buddy I have to go the instructor is looking at me funny and I don't want them to take away the only way I can talk to KP...I'll talk to you later, bye.", Ron shut off the connection.
Yori just glared at Ron from the side and the blond shrugged and pulled his cowl back up. 'I shouldn't even have had the Kimmunicator even on. I wonder how many bruises that will cost me?'
In moments the three were moving again.
X
Wade was thinking, 'Maybe I'll just see what's going on around him.' The African-American genius began typing to 'force' the communications device to begin recording.
'Whoa, what's Ron doing in the jungle... hey, there's no jungles in Japan...Hold it Ron wasn't surprised by Monkey Fist...I wonder what is going on?', Wade began to watch and listen to what was now being picked up by the device, smiling as he remembered how much Ron had wanted one originally and how long it took Kim to authorize it for him and letting some of her control go.
'I wonder if Kim knows where Ron is. I wonder if I should tell her?...No I'd better not, she'd freak out for sure just like she did when during Christmas that one year...I'll ask him when he gets back.', Wade worried.
XX
The African-American genius continued to get readings from Ron's Kimmunicator. 'You know this is sorta like what I thought Ron might be running into when he goes after Fis...Holy Shit, Ron's already after Monkey Fist...how did he know? I'd better have a few satellites ready to handle the feeds and get some more soda for my fridge...Hey I'm getting heat sources close by, I wonder who it is? I'd better watch to be sure that Ron's gonna be ok.' Wade mused as he began to worry about his friend.
While doing so he began to look over any communications that he had missed while on vacation and streamed it to another monitor and put a set of headphones on and raised one side so that he could monitor two things at one time. 'Now let's see what's been going on.'
The team's tech guru's jaw went slack as he played through several videos that had gone directly to the site while he was on vacation.
XXX
"Alright Kim let's head down and get warmed up with our team, we're gonna wow those coaches and judges.", Sarah Welcome urged her friend of only a couple of weeks to get moving.
"Are you sure that everyone's wearing their hair in a ponytail?", the red head asked as she finished hers up.
"Yeah I'm sure, all that hair moving the same way and in time might make the difference.", the older cheerleader replied.
"Ok I used to wear it that way before I went with my recent style, I'm glad you guys didn't say pigtails instead.", the red head lamented as she picked up her bag following Sarah out of the dorm room.
"Why is that Kim?"
"In Middle School I had to wear braces, and I got all those metal mouth nicknames that you hear about. A few years before that I finally got my 'rents to let me wear a ponytail instead of the pigtails I wore most of the time."
Shuddering, "You can only imagine what I would have looked like in braces with pigtails. The only one who didn't pick on me at school was Ronnie. He's always been there for me.", Kim smiled showing off her famous teeth now.
Snort, "I had to wear them too, but Mom and Dad never did put me in pigtails. I wore a ponytail for a couple years though."
XX
The African-American genius smiled as he listened in to Ron's Kimmunicator, Kim's Kimmunicator and the recordings from their conversations over the previous couple of weeks. 'Wow, there's that Yori girl again. I wonder what is going on?', Wade noted as he put the feed from Kim's device into the background so he could see what was going on.
Wade, being a little less patient than he should have been, began paying more attention to the recording than what was going on with his team leader.
X
'Wow so Kim and Ron are bonded somehow, but why and what difference does it make? I guess I'd better do some research into that.', he mused as he began to look online about the possibilities of what he had witnessed over the last two hours.
Wade pulled up the histogram of Ron Stoppable's mental and emotional readings that he had kept over the years. 'It's a good thing we gave him his own Kimmunicator, it's a lot better than the chip. Let's see how they compare...About the same...except now he's a lot calmer than he usually was. Hmmm, maybe I'd better get a current reading off Kim too.', Wade typed in a series of commands and the Kimmunicator began to scan the red head who was carrying the device.
'Gee she got something out of that little ceremony too. Not only is she calmer, but Kim seems to have lost some of her less redeeming qualities, looks like she's more relax...a lot more relaxed almost as much as when Ron marinates.', the genius mused as he delved deeper into the mystery.
Wade ran across the briefing on the plane moments later, 'Oh man not good not good and I can't let Kim know.'
XXX
Cambodia:
One figure kept scanning behind him deftly feeling for the short sword he carried across his back. 'We're getting close I can feel it.', Ron worried as he glanced over his shoulder at the black form that moved from shadow to shadow up the trail from him as he tried to keep her in view while keeping watch behind them. "Ssss."
Again Ron glanced. With a slight nod he blended into the foliage; moments later a short stout Englishman in Safari clothing walked by, oblivious to Ron and his comrades.
'They're close, Bates' is here.', Ron thought as he felt rather than heard Yori moving to the rear of Fiske's manservant.
Ten minutes later Reginald Bates was trussed and secured to a large tree. He had a gag in his mouth that was held in place by a piece of cloth torn from Ron's dirty black undershirt. 'I hope he enjoys this as part of a payment for bringing me out here.', Ron stared at the manservant before he kicked the older man in the 'nads effectively dropping him to his knees.
Ron then leaned over and whispered in his ear, "The next time I have to come out and meet you in some god forsaken hellhole will be the last time for you prick. You assholes know I hate dealing with monkeys."
While this was going on Wade Load was quietly recording all the data for future conversations with the blond teen, but winced at the teen's comments at the end. 'Ron sounds as pissed as I've ever heard him. Well I suppose he's on edge.'
X
The three came across two bands of Monkey Ninjas who seemed to be looking for something. They silenced them all without much problem.
Within two hours the two Japanese patted the American on the back and watched him disappear into the unlit hole that was the open doorway into the ancient Temple. Then they both turned their attention on the jungle surrounding the temple their friend disappeared inside of.
'I hate cobwebs.', Ron groaned to himself as he felt some more of them brush up against his face. Ron glanced over his shoulder at the light that represented his way out. 'Growing up sucks sometimes Kim...You left that part out didn't ya?', Ron mused as he thought back to the incident at the tree house before prom when she told him they'd always be tight.
X
The over cultured face of the English Lord came into view in front of Hirotaka. "Who are you and what are you doing here?", the villain known as Monkey Fist demanded as Yori also turned to meet the threat they now faced.
"We are here to ensure that any chances of the talisman that you are pursuing will be beyond your evil grasp forever.", Yori hissed as she and her beloved moved to ready stances in the face of the genetically enhanced villain and his simian allies.
"Monkey Ninjas aaaatttttttaaaacccccckkkkkkk.", Lord Montgomery Fiske shouted at the top of his lungs. The diminutive black clad monkeys charged the two ninjas without a second thought.
X
Without a light the blond American teen used his left hand against the wall to guide him along the inside passageway of the unlit temple.
'I wish I had some light. Oh well I always find whatever it is that we're looking for...I just hope that it doesn't hurt tooo much.', Ron's frown was invisible in the darkness.
X
(Yori-chun we are overmatched, there are too many of them for us to defeat in battle.), Hiro shouted to his lover.
(Yes I know. We must lead them away and circle back.), Yori yelled back as she leaped at seven monkeys in front of her trying to buy Hirotaka some time.
"You eight come with me, the rest keep these two busy.", Monkey Fist ordered his simian ninjas as he tried to work his way behind the two with the others that he picked to follow him.
Yori's move did indeed give Hiro some much needed room, the problem was that she had left her back open and two of the monkey ninjas struck at her undefended back with their small staffs temporary stunning the Japanese girl as she fell to her knees gasping in pain.
Hirotaka didn't have a choice as he grabbed her arm and pulled his lover to safety, moving further away from the temple opening that they had been trying to defend.
Seeing his chance Monkey Fist took his monkeys and raced inside.
X
Ron finally came to a soft glow in front of him. 'Daylight? It's a big room there must be an opening somewhere letting in daylight?', he mused as he looked around. 'There, what's that? It's the same symbol that was on the map. I just have to feel around.' The American teen began to do just that. In a few minutes he had covered most of one wall. He could now hear footsteps coming his way.
Seeing the symbols again Ron noticed a carving of a hand in the wall next to him. Taking a deep breath he slammed his hand down on the carving. Slowly a portion of the wall began to recede leaving a pedestal with a small stone object on it. Knowing that the rope that ran through a hole in the object that was about the size of his hand he quickly put it on over his head and began to leave the way he had come in except for one thing…..make that a bunch of things.
"Well, well Ronald, it is nice for you to obtain the talisman for me. Please be a nice buffoon and hand it over before I have to hurt you.", Monkey Fist taunted.
Ron seeing his way back to safety cut off by the nine figures in front of him blocking his way back to the outside to Hirotaka and Yori the American teen backed away.
"Just hand it over and we will leave Ronald. You can trust me.", Monty sneered, wishing that he could cut the heart out of the boy who had stolen his great quest for power.
"Sure, trust your Monkey Butt you freak. Come get it if you think that you're tough enough.", the American hissed knowing he was trapped and knew that his chances were very slim at the moment.
"Oh no, not me my young adversary, I do not intend to bloody my hands again. My Monkey minions will get the talisman from you Ronald.", Monkey Fist laughed insanely.
"And you know that only those who have been accepted by the power may touch the talisman without fear of being injured, that shows how much you care about your little friends.", Ron told him trying to stall for time as he noticed three of the monkeys beginning to cautiously cross the floor to get to him.
One of the little pests then stepped on a stone and a distinctive crack followed by a stone grinding on stone was heard by all. Ron continued to back away as a hole opened up between him and his adversaries. Both Ron and Monkey Fist watched in amazement as the hole began to enlarge taking up more and more room as the floor began to disappear.
Monkey Fist watched in awe as more and more of the floor just fell away into nothingness. "Stoppable, jump here quickly, we will catch you in return for the talisman.", he urged the American teen.
"Screw you Monkey Jerk, I remember my orders. You're not supposed to get it.", Ron screamed back as his skin crawled in fear.
Monty laughed and picked up a monkey and threw it at Ron. The American teen caught the animal in midair and with a flick of his hands snapped the monkey's neck.
"I have plenty of willing friends Ronald, you can't beat them all."
"Then I'll take it with me then. Goodbye Monkey Butt.", Ron yelled as he stepped off into nothingness.
X
"Noooooooooo. My talisman.", Monty screeched as the blond American disappeared into the hole which was taking up most of the room and forcing the Englishman and his monkeys back out of the room.
X
As Ron Stoppable fell he held onto the artifact with one hand making sure it was safe not knowing what was going to happen to him. Ten seconds later he landed in frigid fast running water as was carried downstream. 'There is light ahead.', Ron mused as he shivered with the cold. In a flash he was in the light again and also in the middle of the stream. 'Gotta get to land.', he worried when he heard the sound that he really didn't want to hear.
"Oh crud.", Ron moaned as he looked further downstream with terror in his eyes as he noticed the fast moving stream didn't seem to go on forever..
The teen hero didn't even think to swear as he found himself airborne going over the waterfall. Seconds later the boy found himself again making another water landing, this time knocking the wind out of him. He passed out as the water sucked him down.
XXX
Cheer Camp:
Sarah Welcome was beaming, "We did fantastic tonight Kim, we have a right to feel proud of ourselves. Come on let's head over to the snack bar with some of the girls to celebrate. They already are there waiting for us."
"Yeah Sarah that sounds like fun, we did pretty good and I had a dozen coaches wanting to talk to me about cheerleading in college. I hope they didn't take it the wrong way when I told them that I was going to college where Ron was going to attend.", the young red head replied.
"Well Kim I don't think you saw there were several of them that were making calls on their cell phones when you got done with your spiel. Who knows? You might have gotten that boyfriend of yours a few acceptance letters already.", Sarah told her.
"Yeah I guess, you...Oh God.", Kim gasped as she suddenly felt cold and weak.
"Kim, Kim are you alright?", a very concerned roomie asked.
"I...I don't know, I need to stop for a minute...I'll be fine.", a now extremely ashen and trembling Kim Possible told her weakly.
"Do you want me to use the call box?"
"Call box, what is that?"
"On most college campuses they're all over the place. They have blue lights and sirens when you push a button. They call emergency personnel to the place you pushed the button.", Sarah explained and pointed, "Like that one over there."
"Oh, I didn't know what those were; I'll be OK in a minute Sarah but thanks anyway."
A few minutes later the two young women were again walking slowly towards the snack bar to meet up with their friends suddenly Kim stopped again. "Ron?", she asked with a trembling voice.
"Kim are you sure that you're alright?", Sarah responded seeing the younger woman turn almost white.
"I...I don't know, give me a minute OK, something just doesn't feel right. It's kinda hard to explain.", Kim stopped again and walked over to a bench and sat. She pulled a water bottle out of her bag and took a drink.
"Are you sick or something?"
"No...I just felt like something very bad happened that I can't describe. I'm feeling better already Sarah, the water must have done the trick, I must have been dehydrated or something. Let's go meet the other girls.", the red headed cheerleader from Middleton told her.
XX
"Hey guys come on over and sit down.", Lisa Benson laughed motioning to Sarah and Kim to sit with them, "Did we ever kick butt tonight?"
"Yeah we did. Kim you sure stepped up and made an impression to the coaches and judges, I'll bet one of the big universities offers you a ride based on your performance.", Julie Rigthorp added.
"Yeah I guess.", Kim replied with a blush not mentioning that she already had several offers.
Sarah spoke up suggestively, "I think Kim has an offer already, but she hasn't told me yet."
"Yeah I got four so far.", Kim responded.
"Wow that's pretty good and with your grades I know you could take one of the best ones. Where are you planning on going?", Lisa asked looking to score some good gossip.
"Where my boyfriend goes."
"You mean the Stuckable guy? If you get a good offer you should go with it and worry about the rest later. I mean he'll always be there and you'll be able to meet some real cute guys, but they may not come around if you have a boyfriend.", Julie advised.
"I am going to college with my boyfriend guys, I've already chased the 'hotties' and I am so over that part of my life.", the teen heroine informed the group, then sighed, "Ron Stoppable is the only one who understands me. He might not be very good in school, but he has a PhD in the art of taking care of Kim Possible."
"You're setting yourself up to lose out.", another girl told Kim.
"No I'm not, anyway how many boyfriends want me running off at the drop of a hat to diffuse a bomb or foil an attempted kidnapping or go off to some place to keep a dam from coming down or something. I mean Ron and I have done everything, we've fought sharks and ran out of exploding lairs. I put my life in his hands time and time again, why shouldn't I trust my heart to him as well?", Kim asked the girls.
"Well your boyfriend is sorta dorky looking Kim, I still think you can do better.", Julie told her.
"I like the 'dorky' look. Listen Ron and I have met some pretty famous people; Kings, Presidents, actors, Professors and I don't think that I could deal with all that if he wasn't with me and I just want to make a lifelong commitment with him. I've known those big brown eyes and that messy hair my whole life...No you guys can have the cutie guys I'll keep my Ronnie.", Kim replied.
"Well we're just trying to help you Kim.", another girl at the end of the table told her, "I mean I'm dating a star football player who has a very good shot at the NFL."
"And I'm dating a guy who is only seventeen and is already chef material girls. He could end up being one of the greatest cooks ever. Now just think, gourmet dinners every night for the rest of my life.", Kim left that thought hanging.
"He cooks?", Sarah asked, "You sorta left that out didn't you Possible."
"No he creates, I don't want ya to steal him from me Welcome.", Kim chuckled as she rolled her eyes, quite aware the girl loved food, having heard her go on for hours on the topic when spitballing in their room.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Every time Ron called then you'd take up all his time and I wouldn't have any left, I'm not sharing him. If you two ever meet I'll have him 'create' something for you.", Kim promised.
"Create? I like the sound of that. Maybe I could drive out your way on later on this summer. You know we have a basketball game at Colorado State in November maybe we can meet up then.", Sarah put in to see Kim's reaction.
"Sure sounds like fun, but I'm gonna spend a lot of time marinating with Ronnie on the beach at the lake.", Kim smirked knowing that a full report was going to make it back to the girls at the table soon enough, "Maybe Ronnie could cook for your whole cheer squad."
"It's a date then.", Sarah smiled knowing that she might like the outcome of this, "And what's this marinating thing?"
"Yeah here's to then. 'Marinating' is Ron's term for relaxing if it was a college course of study he'd be a professor.", Kim replied not noticing that the other girls had gone quiet and took a drink from her soda.
XXX
In a lair south of Denver:
The one eyed villain looked over his notes, 'Well we are almost done, I hope they are as well. I'd like to see what they have for us, well we'll know soon enough.'
XXXXX
Disclaimer: Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable, Rufus, the Doctors P, Steve Barkin and the rest of the characters from the show 'Kim Possible' belong to the show's creators and the Disney Corporation and not me or CB. That being said if I owned Kim and Ron they'd still be on primetime and I'd be making money hand over fist.
Speaking about money we don't make any of it off this little hobby of ours, it is just to give us some entertainment and our shrinks some reasons to think about locking us up in padded rooms.
There are some real good stories out there; there are two that come to mind…well four. Check out G-go's latest as well as Captain Kodak's Mahler Avatar's and the fine work that Charles Gray has just about finished. You guys have done real good, so give yourselves a pat on the back.
I'll see you down the road,
ST-103