Days of Hana
The Lights and Stars
by unwrittenaria
Disclaimer: KP belongs to Disney and the creators, although now that we're getting MVC3 and technically Marvel is under Disney... Assist Character anyone?
Middleton Space Center
"And this Hana, is the Middleton Space Center, you'll want to try getting in early for the annual little Rocket Boosters Day open house. The rocket-shaped cookies go quickly, believe me." Said a young blond to his little sister.
Hana seemed quite keen on what Ron was describing, and paid careful attention to his every word, never blinking.
Kim rolled her eyes at the indoctrination of the little girl into the cult of Rocket Boosters set up by her father and maintained by her boyfriend. Then she shook her head and smiled a little to herself. I guess it was fun...back when I was eight, she thought (with slight admiration at Ron's capability to preserve his enthusiasm) Hana might as well get her chance to enjoy this while it lasts. And she looks adorable in that little rocket booster t-shirt.
"Alright Ron, let's not hype up the Rocket confectionery too much, I hear they may be replacing them with coloring kits and pamphlets this year. Or at the very least, the open buffet of baked goods is over." Kim said as they strolled the halls of the center. Taking a moment here and there to point out displays and points of interest to Hana when it seemed appropriate.
"B-b-but Kim! No more glazed frosting cookies in rocket shapes! Coloring kits are good for Hana now, but..." He wiped away genuine tears. "Goodbye open snack bar. Some of my fondest childhood memories end today." He brightened up at Hana who was looking curious. "Don't worry little sis, there's still the pixie girl scouts! They have the most awesome-"
Hana seemed confused, then promptly forgot what she was confused about and reached out to touch the display glass of a miniature space center model.
Kim had her hands on her hip and a mock angry look when Ron turned to her. "Fondest childhood memories...?"
"Well sure, you were there with me when we first went." Her boyfriend smiled. "Felt like yesterday, finding out while we were watching Captain Constellation, and Mr. Dr. P coming in to give us the good news."
"Ugh, don't remind me. Although I appreciate being in there... if I didn't think it was all about the cookies." She said.
Rufus was alerted by the mention of cookies. "Y'ummy!" before chittering fondly at demolishing a small fleet. The naked role mat decided that sometimes it was better to be smaller, if it meant getting fuller sooner.
"If memory serves KP, you had 3." Ron said as he lifted Hana up higher so she could see the display better.
"Only because you took too many to hold in your pockets, Ron! I think we drove mom crazy coming back." She said, Ron's plan to embarrass (and take the heat off himself) her backfiring.
"Well... they were there on a plate, begging to be eaten Kim. I was doing my duty to cookie lovers everywhere! Now that I think about it, there hasn't been a lot of kids showing up to these open houses recently." He frowned thoughtfully. "Well Hana, looks like it's up to you to usher in a new age. Get all your baby friends to show up!"
Hana seemed to laugh at Ron's tone then quirked her head at a doorway.
"Glad to see you're enjoying Rocket Booster Day Ronald." As always. "So Kimmie, this the new Stoppable I've heard so much about?"
"Hey dad, yep, here she is." Kim said presenting her boyfriend and his little sister for inspection. She had a feeling her father was going to talk about...
"Well done Ronald. Looks like one happy camper and a real cutie! Almost as cute as Kim-" (Kim developed a deadly cough rather suddenly) James said proudly. "So how's she finding Rocket Booster day?"
"Hana's loving it Mr. Dr. P! She's psyched for the test launch probe, or the cookies. I also got Fredricks' care package right here!" He held up what looked to be medium brown cardboard box. "He mentioned he wanted some banana cake and some toys in his last e-mail. Apparently space food isn't all that it's cracked up to be."
"Well Ron, you did fly up there last time, want to bring it up yourself?" James joked.
Ron paled. "Heh, good one Mr. Dr. P. I'll uh... pass on the outer space adventure. The last one was good enough for me."
"Thought you got over your Fredrick issues Ron."
"Fredrick's cool KP, it's the space alien monkey's the Ronster's worried about."
"No such thing Ron."
"Kim, Kim, Kim. There's like a billion universes out there, one of them must have evil space alien monkeys."
"Hmm, you may be right Ronald." James unfortunately, failed to notice the deadly glare Kim was shooting his way. "We're certainly hoping to find alien life someday. Hopefully, it'll be more pleasant than evil monkeys though."
Kim was frustrated. "Dad, don't scare my boyfriend... more."
"It's a possibility Kimmie-cub, besides Ronald chances are they'll be friendly if they ever do show up. C'mon let's show some of that ol' Captain Constellation spirit?" He smiled every blocky tooth showing.
Kim repressed the sigh as the two male figures in her life cheered the dreaded catch phrase. She took some heart that Hana seemed perturbed (if excited at what the shouting was about).
"Say Kim, mind showing Hana here the space module? See if she can figure out the new interactive displays, we're testing it for the next tour group."
Kim nodded taking Hana into her arms giving Ron a reassuring wave, before entering the next room. With all the times we've done this I could lead the tour. She winced at the thought, as much as she loved her father and their time together, she so didn't want to face another group of kids wondering whether she was a babysitter for the day.
Ron was about to walk in after them when he heard Mr. Dr. P clear his throat. Nerves once again frayed as the young man wondered what the father of his girlfriend could want from him.
"So Ronald, we had an interesting talk with your parents a couple of weeks ago." The normally cheerful rocket scientist was carefully even about his tone of voice.
"Uhmm... if this about that paint trap I sprang picking Kim up I just wanted to say I'm really-"
James waved off the oncoming apology. "No worries Ron, that wasn't what I meant. Jim and Tim learned something... if anything we should apologize for sending you home with paint all over you."
"It's cool Mr. Dr. P, Wade got some kind of paint thinner, thinned the paint right off me!" Ron said waving his hands at the thought of an apology.
Patient and forgiving, good qualities. James mused to himself. Out loud he said "I meant the business of you and Kim being godparents to Hana, Ronald. Your parents told us about it."
Ron's eyes got comically wide and his mouth formed an 'o'.
"Parents huh? Crazy I know, me and Kim being god parents. I'd apologize but they just kinda sprang it on us. Kim seemed fine with it, so I said we'd give it a shot, but I mean I totally get it if you're worri-" Ron babbled on uncontrollably while James waited for the poor boy to wind down.
Several minutes later (and with Ron looking like he'd pass out) he felt it was time to step in.
"Ronald," He gave a laugh. "Anne and I are proud of you and Kim, and we're more than happy to take care of Hana." Abruptly his jovial good nature disappeared and Ron was faced once more with James Timothy Possible. "Now Ronald, I've heard from Kim how great a brother you are, and everything points to that being true. Just to be clear though, you aren't thinking of taking care of a daughter any time soon are you?"
Ron gulped, "Thanks I uh- what? NO! I mean no? No SIR! We aren't- I uh Kim and me haven't...." He flushed which James marveled at (for its rarity) before continuing on.
"Good, I'm not saying that isn't in the cards at some point. I just think it'd be best if-" and here even James seemed a little red. "it was a while, until such things... get discussed. Do you understand what I'm saying Ronald?" Heavy emphasis on the discuss.
The freckled young man in front of him nodded so hard he was worried he'd sprain something. "Understood Mr. Dr P, uh you can trust me with Kim! She means the world to me, and I'd never do anything to mess that up...er on purpose."
"Good, that's what I thought Ronald. I don't know if I should tell you this, but Kimberly doesn't always ask for my advice. Out of the handful of times she has, half of them have been about you. You make her happy, and as long as you continue to do that we won't have to do any deep space explorations."
"R-right, gotcha Mr. Dr. P." Ron smiled weakly.
"Now what say you and me go check up on the girls." James thumped Ron's back comfortingly with his usual grin.
Hana was in heaven. There were brightly lit buttons of various colors and shapes everywhere! If only Kim would let her go so she could explore the fascinating toy with all the pushable pieces.
Kim decided she'd rather hold onto the little girl before she went and bashed everything in sight. Then again, this whole section was designed as a replica for kids. Maybe it'll be okay?
She stepped closer to the launch pad and watched closely as Hana reached out. A little hand depressed the biggest and largest flashing red button on the panel, which resulted in the satisfying image of a rocket taking off in the video screen, even as speakers produced an authentic audio track corresponding with the events. She had it on good authority everything was real.
For the next while Hana followed the bright flashing buttons and was rewarded with the sounds and sights of a real Rocket launch sequence. Needless to say she was engrossed by the whole thing, and Kim found herself a little impressed as well.
"So what'd you think Kim?" Said Frank.
"Oh, didn't notice you Frank." She felt a little strange calling her dads friend and colleague by his first name, but agreed when he said he saw her little enough and didn't want to feel old when he did.
"It's a real hit with Hana here."
"Still baby sitting Kim?" It had been a running joke between them ever since she was 10 on Rocket Booster Day.
"Sorta," She replied with a grin. "This is Hana Stoppable, my boyfriend's adopted sister."
"Oh I heard something about that from James."
She held up Hana as if to say "this is her."
"She's got the eyes of an explorer, that's for sure." He grinned widely as he squatted down to eye level with the little girl. "Maybe you'll go up in one of these when you're older little lady?" He grabbed her hands and waved them around.
Hana was amused and giggled while she gripped the hand shaking her harder. Frank winced a little as he removed his hand smiling. "Quite a grip she's got there!"
"That's Hana. Strongest baby in the world." Kim joked.
"And the cutest!" Interjected Ron coming in.
"I'd disagree, but I'm biased." James said with a fatherly smile.
"Well I don't want to steal your thunder James. What about we get thing started?" Frank said clapping his hands, rubbing them in anticipation.
"This the big project you've been working on for the last few weeks dad?" Kim asked curious.
"You got it Kimmie. Been cooking this up for the kids. Behold:" James said with a flourish pulling the cloth off a spherical glass bubble floating suspended halfway up in the air.
"You guys finally perfected bubble blowing soap?" Asked Ron.
"Sorry Ronald, although I'll put that down on my to research list. It's not the bubble you need to pay attention to. It's what's inside. Frank if you would."
"Roger." Frank gave a smart salute and then pulled one of the levers on a side panel near the bubble. Immediately material seemed to form from the center until a fully formed rocket engine took shape in suspended animation.
"Woah, that's... that's... uh Kim what am I looking at?"
"You're looking at a small scale application to our Hephaestus project. We're using the nanobots to create working replicas of... well anything that we've got pre-programmed into the computer. There was some leftover material, and I figured it could be a great way to demonstrate parts and more to the kids." James said proudly.
"Uh... so just in case Kim doesn't know what that means exactly... let's say you simplify it a little for her...."
"Ron, it's like recipes for machine parts, only the machines assemble themselves."
"Badical! Can we try making other stuff like the new-"
"How about we demonstrate a few more models." Said Frank loudly in an attempt to get the demonstration back on track.
For the next twenty minutes the small group was treated to a shifting display of working machine parts, items like space suits, miniature working models of Rockets, and the space station itself. Hana had pressed her face and hands against the glass, focused on the magic toys that moved and changed by themselves. Frank and James got a laugh at her distorted features reflected in the bubble.
"Fish?" She inquired turning her head to address her brother, trying to make a connection with something she remembered.
"Not quite Hana. Although that's a pretty good guess!" James said delighted.
Hana concentrated on the shifting parts that now showed a docking sequence for a space probe with the station and slapped the glass excitedly when it made a hissing noise. It's certainly very impressive thought Kim."Thumbs up dad. Kids will love this!" She said proud of her father.
He stood a little straighter. "No problem Kimmie-cub I made it with you in mind. Gotta find some way to inject new life into the open house if I want my teenage daughter to show up." He said jovially.
Kim sighed then shook her head giving up. Oh well it was only once a year and this would probably be her last time anyway for awhile with college coming up. "Sure dad, we'll stick around since it's the weekend. Don't think I could drag us away without letting Hana color some rockets anyway." She smiled at the boys.
"Alright KP! Hear that Hana? Someone's going to get to play with crayons. Yes they will!" He said resting her on his shoulders again, partly so she'd stop mashing her nose against the glass.
Rufus was having fun exploring some of the buttons open to the "crowd". He hopped around the controls shifting the rocket through several pre-determined "mission" scenarios. Hana clapped her hands in appreciation eyes wide with interest.
All in all it was shaping up to be a fun day so it was almost no surprise to Kim when the security alarms went off.
"What on earth?" Asked James in confusion.
"I didn't trip over any buttons or wires I swear KP!" said Ron looking around as the red lights bathed the room.
Hana looked around curiously. Sensing her brothers' worry she clutched onto his neck a little tighter snuggling into his frame.
"Don't think this sitch is your fault Ron. Dad where's the-"
A small explosion rocked them and James and Frank fell on their butts. Ron was shaky but had grabbed onto the console. Kim of course had kept her precarious balance.
"Who-?"
"Greetings Fräulein Possible! It is, how to be saying this... good to be SEEING you again, yes?" said a squat man with a bucket helmet. The figure emerged on a floating hover car from a newly blasted ceiling.
"Dementor" the teens replied together. Kim couldn't help belatedly adding a "Jinx." before focusing on the sitch once more.
Kim's wristwatch Kimmunicator trilled and Wade began automatically speaking. "Kim security alarms just went off at the Middleton Space Centre! It's-"
"Professor Dementor, we know Wade. He's here with us now." Kim answered without taking her eyes off the small super villain.
"Yes Professor Dementor is here. And there will be no stopping me this time Kim Possible. I am here for-"
"The nano tech which you'll use to create an assortment of mechanical devices, including the PVI?" said Kim matter-of-factly with a smug smile.
"I hate to be agreeing with Drakken, yes, but you are indeed getting on the last of the... NERVES. How am I supposed to do the evil ranting when... you will not let me FINISH the ranting." Professor Dementor snapped angrily.
"You rant, and Kim kicks your behind back to jail. We're just speeding it up!" chimed Ron.
"Sorry Professor, Rocket Booster Day is for kids only, and despite your stature you're so not a kid." She settled into a familiar pose.
"Oh, oh, so now the hero is down with the hurtful mocking then. This is poor parenting, no? For that I do not think I will be going with no nanobots today."
"Now Kimmie-cub, we know better than to make fun of someone for their size. Even if they are a super villain, everyone deserves respect. You should apologize, there's no need to be mean."
"Dad?!"
"Now Kim..."
"Argh. Fine–" this is so flawed "Okay Dementor, that last one was out of line. You're still going home without the tech." She said gritting her teeth. "Why do you need it anyway? Don't you have nano-jet packs or whatever?" Kim griped.
"The henchmen were getting antsy, yes. It is in their contract that they be involved in some form of larceny every week. They are premium Hench co henchmen so it is driving me up the ceiling if I invent everything." He replied honestly with a shrug. "Apology accepted, but I do not think so Kim Possible. Henchmen, get that BUBBLE!"
Ron got in the last word of banter. "Hired help just isn't worth the trouble it used to be, huh Kim?"
With a shout several henchmen began to rappel in from the hole in the ceiling, and two more squads streamed through the doors.
Kim moved like lightning, making a prodigious leap into the air knocking out the henchmen that were still rappelling down. She landed nimbly, crouched down as senseless bodies fell to hang with a snap from their harnesses. Even as she exploded forward she noted that Ron was mostly on the defensive protecting her father and Frank from a couple of henchmen.
Professor Dementor was getting angrier as he watched his henchmen get taken apart. Oh well, he had prepared for this and with a push of a button his hover car moved over the globe with a clamp appearing from the bottom.
"KP he's making a move for the bubble!" Ron said as he tripped over a few guards, and a few of them luckily falling over their comrades into a pile.
"On it Ron!" Kim yelled back her new fighting style and anger at the way Professor Dementor was ruining her father's big day, made putting down the henchmen an even faster thing than usual. One of the last henchmen threw a a wild swing at the elusive heroine with an energy staff and she simply ducked and hit the joint and elbow, following with a double footed kick off the chest that put him down for the count.
"KIM!" Shouted out James in worry. She whirled around to see the stick twirl through the air, still alight with crackling power, to hit the clamp sending shocks throughout the bubble and the vehicle. The clamp shorted releasing it's prey and the bubble landed with a hard thunk cracking open slightly, while Dementor was frazzled.
"Oh, and now I am to be getting shocked by my own weapons yes? I DO NOT think so Fräulein Possible." He mocked, then spotted the crack and pressed another button on his control panel revealing a vacuum like appendage snaking out from the side.
In all too brief a time the nano bots (which were back in their deconstructed forms) were sucked up and whisked away. Kim ran forward desperately just missing the craft as it flew up. "Much thanks Kim Possible and Doctor Possible, with your technology Professor Dementor will now have access to all of the world's technology! I bid you a not so very NICE day!" he laughed manically.
"KP what do we do?" asked a rather harried Ron making his way over the broken tiles and unconscious henchmen. He reached her just as she was about to whip out her hairdryer, only to remember she hadn't packed it.
"Not to worry Ronald, there was a built in fail safe for the bots, we learned out lessons after the last Hephaestus project." said James. "It's unfortunate that he got his hands on the bots themselves. They were an upgraded prototype, I'd hate to imagine what he could do if he figured out a way to engineer them himself."
Kim seemed to smile evilly at this. "Say dad, the control panels for the nano tech, how far does the signal go?"
James looked to his daughter in appreciation. "Several hundred meters at least, possibly up to a mile. We've got a dedicated satellite relaying everything in the space centre."
His daughters' grin widened (and Ron got a brief cold feeling in his spine) before she moved quickly to Ron. "Need to borrow Hana for a moment. I think she might appreciate solving this sitch."
"Hana?" asked a befuddled Ron.
With no time to lose Kim took the toddler who was again emulating some more kicking and punching from her perch in her brother's arms (presumably imitating herself), and set her in front of the display buttons.
"Hana I want you to have fun now. Press everything you see here okay? Rufus feel free to join her." she said with another slightly evil smile.
Hana seemed to understand, pressing various buttons while Rufus jumped around pressing things in sequence.
"KP how's that going to help?"
"You'll see Ron, and so will Professor Dementor." She said darkly under her breath "Teach him to crash Rocket Booster Day."
Several hundred feet up in the air above the Middleton Space Center.
"Haha and now I will be taking over the world!"
Suddenly it seemed like half the warning indicators on his craft lit up. A few sparks and smoke started to appear, and while he knew he had taken damage from that spark rod earlier, it shouldn't have been this bad.
His jaw dropped, the bots! (Dementor refused to bang his head against the controls, the reverberations from the metal helmet gave him a dreadful headache.) He'd forgotten to get a Hench Co hover car with the stasis field holding cell. Rotten luck. As his controls failed to respond he did his best to level the craft that plunged suddenly as the engine failed. Another warning signal lit up, and there went his escape pod.
He aimed for the only opening in the building. The world tilted upside down as he spiraled out of control and Dementor closed his eyes desperately – SCHLUMP*
What is this? The concussive force of being piled face first into pink jello?
Even as he tried to push and crawl his way out the material seemed to cling and suck him in. It took up most of the floor and had half of his ride entrenched in it's gooey grasp.
"Sorry Professor, that's Wades' improved batch of elastic constricting agent lipstick. Triple the volume, and double the stick factor."
"Alright KP!" Ron danced a silly dance swinging Hana around in celebration.
Professor Dementor was trying to rant angrily, unfortunately the elastic formula had sown his mouth shut. It looked to be a good thing too the way his face was turning red from the bottled up rage. It took a bit but they had the rest of the goons rolled up into the big sticky mess (Kims' mission gloves had a special coating) and out into pavement. A quick ring up from the Kimmunicator to GJ made the whole mess go away (faster than you could say secret service platform tunnels.)
"Well done Kimmie. Now to fix the center before the next group comes for the tour." Said James clapping his hands. Frank suggested using the improved tech with the reconstruction and within an hour they had the place cleaned up more or less. Just in time for the new batch of recruits.
"We heard fireworks or something over here, and there seemed to be a laser show, Janice couldn't help but notice the open day today. So here we are." Kim over heard one of the mothers talking to Frank.
All in all it seemed like it was going to be a record turnout year for the space center. Thought Kim glad to see the crowds of children.
She turned around to see her boyfriend instructing the most recent inductees.
"Now I don't want to say ignore the pamphlets and coloring books, but make sure you remember to say you loved the cookies, okay? If we work together there might even be a chance of cake next ye-"
She shook her head, and grabbed his arm dragging him away from the (possibly) all too impressionable youth he was trying to brainwash. "Let's jet Ron. I think dad's going to have enough on his plate. Where's Hana and Rufus?"
"They're doing the docking sequence. Check it out KP." He pointed to the dream team who were beside themselves with fun, operating the buttons in tandem recreating space missions in the recently fixed bubble of nano bots. The infectious fun being had by the little girl and her partner/pet/mascot(?) was spreading to a highly appreciative audience of children and adults alike.
"Looks like we got an astronaut in training there Kimmie." James said happily putting a fatherly hand on both their shoulders.
"She'll be back next year for flying duties Mr. Dr. P! Hana Stoppable goes to space. It can be a sibling bonding thing, ya know when she's a teenager and we have nothing else in common!" Ron said earnestly.
"I'll consider it Ronald." James said with another grin, still pleased with how well things were turning out.
Kim silently reached up to grasp her father's hand. Well, I guess this wasn't so bad after all.
Authors Note: One part chapter! Decided to mix it up a bit. Next time it might be a two-parter or 4 or uh... back to 3 again. Not sure which. Chapter titles were changed for fun, and one of them was a shout out. Thanks for looking in on this, and for the reviews, etc.
Oh and uh to the people from Japan reading this. Apologies if I butchered anything when they were in Japan. Mostly working off the cartoon, and movies... which uh may not be the most accurate portrayal. No offense intended whatsoever. (and a preemptive apology to any cultures I trample in the future to say nothing about the fast and loose definition of what nano tech can do :P)
Omake:
1)
"Ronald I wanted to ask you a favour." Said James a little nervously, which scared Ron quite a bit.
"Uh sure Mr. Dr. P. You need it you got it! Unless uh you want someone to try out a test probe in which case..."
James laughed. "I heard from Kim that you've got quite the restaurant set up at school. Some of the people at the centre and the hospital have even said the take out was praiseworthy. I was wondering if you could get me and Anne a reservation for lunch next week."
Ron brightened up. "Sure thing, anything for the two Dr. Ps'. Mind if I check with my organizer?"
"Sure thing Ronald."
"Rufus, table for two next week for lunch. What've we got?"
The pink table seater extraordinaire whipped out a digital pad (wade designed and sized for naked mole rat convenience) and a few clicks later looked up nodding chattering. "O'kay hi'nk" He said holding up the tablet for confirmation.
The details were settled and James was pleased to have a nice place for a lunch date, something that hadn't happened in awhile with his work and his wifes' equally busy schedule. "Thanks again Ronald."
"Anything, although you should probably tell Kim. Might be awkward if she's the one serving you guys."
"Kim works as a waiter?"
"Only part of the time, she's the one managing the cheerleaders who agreed to help. Bonnie of course declined. Most of the rest of the cheer team is on though. I guess the extra credit, and free meals were a pretty good incentive of Kims'."
"I'll talk to her tonight."
"See you guys next week then! I'd recommend the Asian fusion style as an extra." Ron winked at him.
"I'll be sure to keep it in mind. Now what say we get some more of those cookies out."
"Now you're talking Mr. Dr. P!"
2)
Fredrick eagerly awaited the box of supplies from his friend Ron. His one year mission had been extended, and for all the high tech advancements of the space shuttle/base some creature comforts could only be found on earth. He dug around finding various toys, and the much desired Banana cake.
He fished out a few photos that hadn't been e-mailed to him. He recognized friend Ron and friend Kim. This new third figure was a stranger to him. It was a little one. Fredrick scratched his head with his tail as he wondered if friend Ron and friend Kim had mated to produce offspring. By their colorings (made easier by all of them posing together) it was unlikely. He shrugged and ate some more of the banana cake with joy. He unloaded the rest and found a foil wrapping at the bottom carefully packed away.
What did friend Ron send me? He couldn't remember asking for something like this in his list of requests to his pal back on earth.
Bue-no Nac-ho Naco? Fredrick puzzled it out in his mind. What friend Ron want Fredrick to do? Sniffing hesitantly he bit into it carefully and...
Preview:
"We know your secret Ron."
"Uh Director, if you're talking about that secret Ferret Costume I can explain..."
"We've been recording you and we've noticed some startling details about your sister Ron.
"Director Betty I can explain."
"Glad one of us can Kim."