I do not own any Disney or Marvel character named within, and am only borrowing them for a work of fiction meant for entertainment purposes only.

KimPossible: X-Factor

By LJ58

Part 10:

"Still no word," Jean asked Kim who was sitting in the computer room at the communications post a day after their return.

"No," she frowned. "And this isn't like them. Even Wade hasn't been able to figure out this sitch."

Jean nodded. Wade had been dropped off at his request, and went back underground, and by now, according to Kim, had likely dug in deeper than ever as he continued his role as Kim's eyes and ears on the world.

"So, how did they catch the Nerdlinger anyway," Shego asked. "Did he tell you?"

"Well, yes. But it was a bit embarrassing, and I promised….."

"You so have to tell me," Shego grinned mischievously. "Or you will not get any sleep for the next….. Oh, three days."

"No," Kim asked skeptically.

"No. I figure that's about how long you can hold out with me bugging you until you give in. So why not just give in now, and...?"

"Fine," Kim sighed, being rather tired already just then as she had been doing all she could to find some clue about her family. "Just don't tell him you know."

"You have my word," Shego grinned, leaning over her shoulder as she came over to stand beside her. "Now, give."

"He still has a weakness for those gourmet cupcakes."

"Huh?"

"He ran out, and risked going to the store himself to get some. Unfortunately, someone was paying attention, spotted him on a public security camera, and tracked him back to his place."

"So, the genius got nailed because he had a…..sugar craving?"

"Something like that."

"And I thought Dr. D could be dense," she said, rolling her eyes. "You find anything out about the folks yet?"

"Not a clue. I used Wade's satellite, though, and I've been getting some weird readings."

"How weird?"

"That's just it, I'm almost certain I've seen this spectrum before," she pointed at the computer monitor she was studying as she spoke. "But one thing is certain, that's no stealth cloak like I've ever seen. Something else is going on. I just can't quite figure it out. Yet."

"What about brain-boy?"

"He's working on it from his end, but hasn't gotten back to me yet. I think he's still moving some things, and resetting his security in his new place. He didn't want to risk returning to the old house, even if the professor did supposedly neutralize Betty for now."

"You don't think it will stick?"

"Who knows," Kim sighed. "Still, when you are as obsessed as Betty seemed to be of late, can even someone like Professor X really change your mind?"

"That's a good question. So? What next?"

Kim eyed the computer screen, and turned to look up at Shego. "I have to go to Middleton."

"You do know that GJ is still watching the house."

"Yes, which makes me think more is going on than we thought. If Betty is backing off, as she seems to be for now, then why keep the people on our house? Unless they know more than we do, too?"

"You think something….happened?"

"I don't know. But I'm going to find out. I'm going to pack, but you can stay here if….."

"Not a chance, Kim," she stated firmly. "Whatever we have going, I'm not going to risk losing it by having you run off and disappear on me again."

"I never…." Shego simply raised a single brow.

"All right. Let's get packed. I want to head out before dark."

X

"You really going to just let them go," Jean asked as they watched the pair loading things into the Roth outside the mansion.

"She knows she can always come back. Frankly, I think even I would be hard-pressed to try telling that young lady what she can, or cannot do, though."

"Speaking of which," Logan drawled as he leaned against the window frame, eyeing the redhead apparently snapping at Shego over something as the other woman just laughed. "You never said why we couldn't let old Bets have our girl? You holding out again, Chuck? Because I'd really like to know….."

"You remember when I was a guest of the Shi'ar?"

"Hard to forget," Logan growled irritably.

"I learned a few things while I was with the empress," he told them. "Things that Kimberly is not yet ready to know. Suffice to say, her entire family plays an integral role in potentially pivotal events yet to come if the records of the Imperium are anything to go by. She, however, is the lynchpin upon which all else hinges. That, however, is all I dare say at this point."

"Professor, did Lilandra know you saw those records?"

"Yes, Jean. She was the one that let me see them."

"What are you thinking," Scott asked.

"I am wondering if the empress let you go with a reason? We all know those people don't do anything without a reason."

"True," Logan agreed. "But we have another problem just now."

"Yes," Charles agreed, glancing toward the window. "It seems that we are about to have guests."

X

"Ladies," the man in the olive drab helicopter smiled grimly as he stood in the hatch. "We need to talk."

"And we care why," Shego spat as she eyed the stocky man with a thick, handlebar moustache.

"Trust me, you will. If you will come with me," he asked, gesturing to the open hatch. "Someone needs to see you. Now."

"Suppose we just follow you."

"Not my orders, Miss Possible," the man stated, proving he knew her. "I'm to take you straight to where you're going."

"And that is….?"

"Trust me, Miss Possible," the man said with a faint smile. "You want to talk to this man."

Kim shrugged, eyed Shego, and said, "Why not?"

"You know, it's that attitude that gets you into so much trouble?"

"What attitude," she huffed, both of them walking toward the helicopter as Logan led the X-Men out of the mansion just then.

"Dugan," he growled.

"Logan. Long time, no see."

"Does everyone know that guy," Shego complained as she looked back at the man.

"I get around," Logan smirked.

"He gets around," DumDum Dugan nodded, speaking at the same instant as Kim jumped into the helicopter.

"Staying, or going," she asked as she looked back at her.

"She's going," Dugan told her as Shego shot him a caustic look, but climbed inside with Kim.

"What's going on, Dugan?"

"Just a little friendly debriefing, Logan," the mustached man drawled. "Fury may want to talk to you, though. You might want to….."

"Fury knows where he go," Logan growled. "I'm done with him."

"We'll see," Dugan drawled, and slammed the door sealing the cargo hold as the aircraft rose into the air.

"Might want to buckle in, ladies," he nodded.

"I'd rather not," Kim told her.

"Why not?"

"Last time someone offered me a ride, the buckles were less than….friendly."

The man smiled crookedly. "Trust me. These are," he told her, and took a seat himself to strap himself in on a bench seat across from theirs. He knocked on the pilot's door, and spun a finger when one of the men looked back. "Punch it," he told him.

"Whoa. Nice turbines," Shego grinned, showing no alarm at the acceleration.

"My car's faster," Kim murmured, eyeing her 'watch.'

"So I've heard. First fusion-powered engine I've heard of that didn't explode."

"Can you answer a question for me?"

"If I can," the man nodded.

"Why is Shield interested in me?"

"Shield," Shego frowned. "Crap, are you saying…..?"

"He's Shield," Kim nodded as her as Shego stared at her, then at Dugan, and then back again.

"What gave me away," he asked. "I'm pretty sure I'm not carrying any identifying sigils this go-round."

"You're not. This bird is," she said, pointing at a life vest with a very familiar logo to those in the know.

"Well, I like that. Nick is going to have someone's hide. This whole bird was supposed to be incognito."

"It's always the details that trip you up," Kim agreed. "So, what's Shield want with me?"

"Both of you, actually. And as I said, ladies, I'm just the errand boy. You'll have to wait to speak to the big man himself for your answers."

"Do we get to walk away afterward," Shego asked bitingly.

"That's entirely up to you," the man smiled knowingly.

"I really hate government lackeys," Shego grumbled.

Kim only chuckled.

"What," Shego fumed. "These guys wouldn't give you a straight answer if you gave them a lifetime supply of rulers!"

Dugan smirked at that.

"You'll find out soon enough. There's the Helicarrier now," he pointed out the port window.

"Wow," Kim murmured, staring at the massive, airborne carrier.

"Better than your car," he asked teasingly.

"Apples and oranges," she told him flatly as Shego just stared.

"Don't worry," Dugan told them as the jet copter landed easily on the wide deck, and he pushed the door back. "We're completely safe up here. Just follow me, and I'll take you to control. He's expecting you."

"Lucky us," Shego huffed.

Ten minutes later, and several decks later, they were led into a crowded control room with as many men as machines, and everyone busy at something.

A single man turned to face them as they stepped off the lift that carried them up to the control deck, and Dugan simply gestured for them to go on without him.

"Ladies," the tall, fit man in a dark blue utilitarian uniform nodded at them as they stepped into the control deck. "Welcome to the Helicarrier. I'm Director Nick Fury. I run this little party."

"Gah, another one-eyed poser," Shego grumbled as Nick Fury eyed her with barely feigned patience. "Let me guess. You guys have to poke out your own eye to get this kind of gig?"

"Shego. Behave."

"Possible, let me start by saying I know all about your little party with Elizabeth's people on her island getaway."

"That right," Shego asked, lifting her chin as she tensed for trouble.

"That's right, Miss Go. Or should I say, Miss Gordeaux?"

"Namedropper," she growled, looking more than a little upset.

"I've got quite the file on both of you. Especially you, Gordeaux."

"It's Shego," she spat.

"We'll get to you soon enough," he said, walking over to stand before Kim. "Let me be blunt, Possible. I'm not looking to arrest, or detain you. Either of you," he said, glancing at Shego.

"No," Kim asked, as Shego blinked in genuine surprise.

"No. Frankly, Elizabeth crossed a line lately, and we were about to pull her back ourselves. Only you and your new friends did the job for us. A bit messy, but….I understand that is your style."

Now Kim was glaring.

"Walk with me," he said, leading them out of the crowded control deck to a side room that was more private. He waited until they were inside, and closed the door.

"We do need to talk. Frankly, you represent a certain….dilemma. But, you also represent a solution. To several issues we're facing. You know what Shield is all about?"

"Yes," she said briefly. "I didn't realize you were connected to Global Justice, though. Or vice versa. Want to explain that one," Kim asked him.

"Fair enough. Elizabeth began as a subdivision for Shield research and development, but soon proved invaluable as a covert weapons-ready militia when needed. Considering her past effectiveness, we gave her the authority she wanted, and let GJ go its way. When it became apparent she was getting into slightly unethical research and experimentation….."

"Slightly," Shego hissed. "Do you know what that harpy…..?"

"Calm down, Gordeaux," he shot her way. "It might interest you to know that it was Shield that arranged for you and your brothers to be freed back when Global Justice first detained you."

"Detained? That's a fancy way of saying…."

"Shego, calm down," Kim murmured, putting a hand on her shoulder. "He brought us here for a reason, let's find out what it is before we lose our tempers."

"Fair enough," she growled. "But if Cyclops here doesn't stop with the name-calling, I'm tossing him out the nearest window. Even if I have to make one," she added.

"Lady," Fury growled, his good eye narrowing on her. "Don't call me Cyclops."

Her sneer was eloquent.

"Back to the matter at hand," Kim asked, clearing her voice loudly as the two seemed ready to engage in a very serious staring contest.

"Fair enough," Fury nodded, and turned to face her again. "Four days ago, a small house in a small suburban Colorado town vanished."

She stared at the digital map that came up on the wall he tapped.

"Middleton. That's my family's house."

"Exactly. We've been monitoring the phenomenon, and have been more than a little alarmed at some of the readings. Readings that indicate the spatial anomaly is starting to expand."

"Spatial….anomaly," Kim groaned, staring at Shego as something finally clicked.

"Not again," Shego, who was no fool sighed, knowing what Kim had guessed.

"I'm guessing you have a clue?"

"Pan-dimensional vortex inducer," both woman said as one.

"I was afraid of that. Want to tell me why one was being held in your family home?"

"Actually, knowing my brothers, they built their own," she sighed.

"I see," Fury murmured. "I'm sending you two there at once to deal with the matter. Your files indicate you work well together, and that you've experience with this….kind of thing."

"You could say that," Kim sighed.

"Surely that's not the only reason you dragged us out here," Shego grumbled.

"Not at all. That was a pretty ballsy stunt you two pulled off out there in L.A. when you infiltrated the regional HQ," he said, and flipped a small coin toward Kim.

She caught it, and recognized the wireless tap immediately.

She didn't bat an eye as Fury told her, "Strangely enough, Elizabeth's people overlooked that little toy completely. It was after your friend started hacking too deep, and getting into our files that we noticed the link."

"And," Kim asked.

"In the wake of all that's happened, we'd like you to hold another impromptu press conference. Only we'll be giving you your speech this time, and in turn, we'll give you a few….concessions."

"Such as," Shego asked practically when Kim pocketed the transceiver, and waited for the other shoe to fall.

"First of all, a complete, if conditional pardon for you, Shego," he stressed.

"What kind of conditions?"

Both had asked at once, and then glanced at one another, smirking slightly.

"Just one, beyond the obvious need for you to keep your nose clean. And I mean squeaky. Otherwise, you will remain in the company, and unofficial custody of a provisional Shield agent. One Kimberly Anne Possible."

"Suppose I don't want to join," Kim asked.

"No one wants to join. Ask Logan," Fury smirked. "We draft you, and you accept. Period. Besides, the odds are we won't need you that often, or at all. But if we do, and if we call, you will answer."

"And Bets," Shego asked.

"We both know she's off your backs for now. Xavier is pretty thorough with his mind games. It took me five minutes debriefing to guess what he had done after talking to her. Now, your ride should be on the flight deck by now," he said knowingly, glancing at her Kimmunicator. "So, get your butts out to Colorado, and put a stop to whatever is going on there. I'll be arranging the speech, and the broadcast, but you two don't say a word until I set it up. Any questions?"

Just one. You guys buy those patches in bulk, or do you just….."

"Watch it, lady," he growled, then glanced at Kim. "Get her out of here. Before I reconsider her role in this little game."

"C'mon, Shego," Kim sighed. "Let's bail."

"With pleasure. Later, Cyclops," she waved over her shoulder.

Kim was almost certain she could hear Fury grinding his teeth.

"You just can't play nice," Kim sighed as they walked through the control deck to the lift where Dugan was waiting on them. "Can you?"

"What? He started it."

Kim rolled her eyes.

"Dugan," Fury shouted just then. "Get that woman off my ship. Now."

Even as the lift doors parted, two men in striking costumes stepped inside, and both woman froze to stare.

"Ladies," the muscular giant wearing form-fitting armor, and carrying a massive hammer nodded at them. The masked man wearing red and blue, and carrying a shield simply nodded at them as Kim couldn't help but gape.

"That was…..!"

"Yes, it was," Dugan told Kim as the lift began to rise to the flight deck.

"Still, I thought he'd be older."

X

"So that was Kimberly Anne Possible," Captain America mused as he met Fury, glancing back after the departing women. "I thought she would be….taller."

"Indeed," the thunder god at his side smiled. "Her deeds would suggest she was a veritable giant to hear one speak of her adventures."

Nick rolled his eyes. "Never mind the ladies, gentlemen. Come in here," he gestured. "We have another issue to handle. I've found Weapon X."

"Logan," Steve Rogers asked. "Then he did survive the devastation at the Hydra Base?"

"Was there ever any doubt," Fury grumbled.

"Not in my mind," Thor chortled in amusement.

X

"How did….? When….?"

Dugan was still sputtering after Kim de-cloaked the Roth now setting near the jet copter Dugan had brought them in, and Kim smiled.

"I did tell you my ride was already here," she told him as she opened the door, and Shego climbed in on the passenger side. "Do me a favor, Mr. Dugan. Tell Fury I'll think about his offer."

She climbed into the car, and then Dugan chortled as the unlikely little vehicle rose into the air on powerful turbines before speeding off to the southwest so fast it almost made his neck pop trying to track their departure.

He only shook his head as he imagined how Nick would take that little parting statement of hers.

To his surprise, the man only laughed.

To Be Continued…