Boilerplate Disclaimer: The various characters from the Kim Possible series are all owned by Disney. All registered trade names property of their respective owners. Cheap shots at celebrities constitute fair usage.

The Moment of Truce

Drakken's hovercraft lacked sufficient instrumentation to make night flying safe so team Senior spent the night in the south of France. Shego insisted Junior take the group out to a nice restaurant for dinner, and pointed out that she and Kim needed appropriate evening gowns for the meal – to be added to the expense account.

At the end of the meal Kim suggested they return to the hotel as quickly as possible rather than lingering over coffee and dessert. Shego backed Kim up on the suggestion, knowing the redhead wanted to get an early start on the search of Señor Senior, and feeling vaguely proud of herself for asking Kim to join the team and proud of her 'little sister' for being so responsible.

"Those two just want to hop into bed," Lucre thought. "I think I'll have something else."

"We're leaving at dawn," Shego warned. "And if you're not up you can kiss any money or hope of a job goodbye."

"Of course there is something to be said for a good eight hours of sleep," Lucre agreed.

They remained in touch with the bank manager in London. Helping one of the bank's largest depositors was good business. He gave them the name of the first hotel where one of Señor Senior's credit cards had been used. It had obviously not been used by Senior; who was attending his hurriedly called business meeting in London at the time.

The desk clerk refused to divulge any information to Shego. The green woman was getting ready to threaten him with bodily harm, and Kim getting ready to stop Shego from hurting the man for doing his job, when Lucre came in with news. Twenty Euros, slipped to the bell captain, produced the information that an American woman, attractive, probably in her mid to late forties, had arrived at the proper time to be user of the card. He reported that she had checked out of the hotel two days after arriving. The bell captain did not know her name, but provided enough of a description to narrow it down to approximately eleven million women in Europe and the US.

"But you don't know it was her," Shego snarled, unhappy about Lucre discovering information of potential value without her ordering him to do it.

"Ticket purchased, Chicago to Venice. Chicago's in America," Lucre reminded her smugly. "Churchy le feam."

"I think he means cherchez la femme," Junior suggested. "But who… Francis, could the Rotelli family have an American branch that you overlooked?"

"No, not possible," Lucre told him, sweat dripping from his palms. He could have missed someone. It would have been easy enough to miss someone. The Rotellis had connections in many countries. "Women who might have it in for your father? Widows of men who your father beat in business? Jilted lover?"

Junior shook his head no. Lucre turned to Kim. "It would take someone with a lot of brains and muscle to take on Senior. Can you think of women villains who could do it?"

Kim had already been thinking. "There just aren't a lot of women criminals like–"

"I resent that," Shego interrupted. "And it's sexist too."

"You don't count," Kim snorted. "And–"

"And why don't I count?"

"You're not a villain on your own. You work for Drakken. You're hired muscle and–"

"And you're damn close to a broken nose."

"You didn't do it," Kim told her firmly. "You're too young, remember?" Shego opened her mouth to speak, then closed it and let Kim continue. "I'm just talking from my own experience. Most of the villains I've met are men. DNAmy… I'm not even sure if she counts as a villain – more of an ethically challenged geneticist. Summer Gale nearly caused a disaster, but that was a publicity gimmick gone wrong."

"Never heard of her," Shego muttered.

"You wouldn't have. Adrena Lynn had a show on television with fake stunts. When I exposed her she got nasty and kidnapped someone, but she wouldn't have done anything with Senior. Camille Leon…"

"I know Camille," Junior commented. "We attend some of the same parties. But she is too young."

"She also has the ability to look like anyone," Kim said. "Did you know that?"

Junior shook his head no.

"She is also broke," Kim commented. "A fact she tries to keep hidden; and she's willing to steal to maintain her lifestyle."

"But why would she do anything to my father?" Junior wanted to know.

"I can think of a couple billion reasons," Shego told him. "Sounds like there is no particular reason to suspect her. But Camille would have a motive, she moves in circles that might give her an opportunity, and as far as description she…" Shego turned to Kim, "She can really look like anyone?"

"Yeah, pretty much. I don't know how much control she has in terms of size, and of course her clothing doesn't change, but she can make herself transform to look like anyone."

"Makeup?" Lucre asked.

"She really changes," Kim told him. "Some kind of nanobots or something. It was a kind of cosmetic experiment gone wild. I've had trouble with her a couple times. We need to decide on some passwords for identification purposes – just in case."

The London bank manager had another hotel in Venice with charges to Senior's account, and a very expensive restaurant nearby. The maitre d' at the restaurant was shown a photo of Señor Senior and had a description of the woman who had eaten with him, which tallied what the description from the bell captain. Junior had a feeling of excitement, certain his father would soon be rescued. And Shego began to suspect that this whole mission was going to go terribly, terribly wrong.

"It sounded like the two of them were just here, eating," Lucre pointed out. "Are you sure there's a problem?"

"Father never goes anywhere without telling me where he is going and what he will be doing," Junior answered. "I have not heard from him in days. He can only be the greatest of peril in such a situation."

"We need someone in the lobby of the hotel," Kim pointed out. "If he's a captive we don't know if how many people at the hotel might be working with whoever is holding him."

"Well, I cannot sit in the lobby," Junior protested. "I am too well known. And you, Kim Possible, and you, Shego, are also famous." He turned to Francis Lurman, "You must serve as lookout. Let us know if you see my father. Look for women matching the description we have been given."

"We don't know how big a gang it might be," Kim warned Lucre, "don't try anything heroic."

"Me?" Lucre gasped, Kim's warning suddenly making him feel like he might be in danger. "Don't worry, I won't try anything heroic."

Unsure how long they might have to wait the other three found a nearby hotel.

"I do not wish to stay here," Junior sniffed. "It does not meet Senior standards."

"We're not spending the night, blockhead," Shego growled. "It's close. When we get a call from Lucre we can be there in three minutes."

"But Seniors have a reputation to uphold!"

"You have a father to rescue," Kim reminded him.

"Family honor means everything to my father. It is already bad enough that our arch-foe, Kim Possible, will be used in his rescue. He will be deeply mortified to–"

"Just shut up," Shego growled. "You're giving me a headache."

Junior shut up.

Junior watched television, Shego paced, and Kim read a novel for her American Literature class as they waited. It was more than three hours before Lucre called.

"He says we should come immediately," Junior told the women.

"Why? What did he see?" Kim asked

"What did you see?" Junior asked over the phone.

Junior's brow furrowed. "He is very vague in his answer," he replied to Kim.

"Maybe he's in trouble. Or maybe he's worried about who might hear him in the lobby," Kim suggested. "Let's move."

Lucre confirmed Kim's suggestion of being worried that some of the gang might be around the lobby when the other three arrived. "Your dad came in just before I called," he told Junior. "He and the woman got on that elevator and went up to the top, eighteenth floor."

"Was anyone else with them?" Kim asked.

"Just the two of them."

Junior was excited, "We must rescue him! Let us take the elevator."

"They could have someone watching the elevator on the top floor," Kim warned. "Better use the stairs."

"Stairs?" Lucre said, turning pale. "Eighteen floors?"

"You can try growing wings and flying," Shego suggested.

"I'll stay in the lobby and watch your backs," Lucre suggested. "Besides," he added pointing at Shego, "she was hired to break heads. I was hired to do computer work. Just watching here in the lobby makes me nervous."

"Please, we must hurry," Junior urged.

Shego shook her head, exasperated. "Fine. But if Princess here says stairs we use the stairs."

"How do we find what room he's in?" Kim asked Shego about the seventh floor.

"There won't be many rooms at the top," the green woman pointed out. "I'll just open doors until we find him."

"Open… doors… how…" Junior gasped. He could last for hours on a dance floor, but stairs were an exercise to which he was unaccustomed.

"I'm a thief, remember?" she pointed out. "I have picks for conventional locks, and a wonderful doohickey for electronic."

The door at the top of the stairs was designed to keep thieves from climbing the stairs and entering the top floor, but it had not been designed to keep Shego out. There was no difficulty finding which room was being used. The entire top floor was comprised of the penthouse suite. The green woman realized more strongly than ever this mission was a mistake. All hell was about to break loose, but as long she got paid she'd just try to enjoy it as much as possible – and stay out of the way of the fireworks.

"Open the door," Junior whispered.

"You're sure that's what you want?" Shego asked.

"Of course. We must save my father."

Kim found Shego's reluctance odd. Shego didn't seem to mind a good fight, and Kim felt certain the two of them were capable of handling any kind of challenge.

Shego worked quietly, and eased the door of the suite open. The entryway was huge – large enough that the white grand piano in one corner could almost have been overlooked. One open door to the left showed a conference room. To the right was a dining area, with a kitchen visible beyond.

The three who had broken into the suite were absolutely quiet. Noise came from behind one of the closed doors, some sort of physical activity. "Father!" Junior shouted and ran for the door, certain his father was being tortured. Kim kept pace, ready to face whatever waited behind the door.

Shego chuckled softly and stayed in the antechamber. Amusing as it might be to see this first-hand there were times when keeping a low profile was more appropriate.

Junior didn't bother with the knob, he hit the door hard with his shoulder, splintering the latch and door jam.

The man and woman in bed did not appear in need of rescue. She grabbed a sheet and pulled it over herself and Señor Senior. It is not clear which of the four might have been most surprised by Kim and Junior's sudden appearance.

"Father?"

"Junior?"

"Kim Possible?"

"Dr. Renton?"

Under the circumstances Senior did a remarkable job of keeping his voice calm as he told Junior, "I suggest you leave the room now, my son."

Junior appeared incapable of moving at the moment. Kim, red-faced with embarrassment, grabbed his shirt and pulled him backward. In the antechamber they found Shego rolling on the floor, laughing hysterically.

"You knew," Kim spat in an angry voice.

"I suspected," Shego chuckled.


Things were understandably tense for the six as they sat at the restaurant that evening.

"… technology used in Felix's wheelchair to help others. But bringing the cost of manufacturing low enough to make mass production feasible was going to take research. I presented it more as an investment opportunity than an actual grant or charity at the Chicago conference," Dr. Renton explained.

"I found her proposal most interesting," Senior explained. "It promised both a monetary return if production was practical, and also benefited those in need of greater mobility. I asked her to dinner that evening to discuss further details."

"But he was leaving for London the next day," Dr. Renton continued. "He suggested we continue the discussion in Venice after his business meeting."

Shego pressed her lips together firmly to keep from smiling, she was unaccustomed to hearing the activity in the bedroom described as discussion. Although some people did count it as business.

"But why did you not call me and let me know of your plans?" Junior protested.

"Parents must, in time, learn to let their children make decisions for themselves, my son. Children should show their parents equal consideration in making decisions for themselves."

"You could have called me," Junior repeated.

"Under the circumstances you should have called me," his father pointed out.

Three pairs of eyes were focused on Junior, "You said you called him," Shego growled.

"I said no such thing. Father does not like to be disturbed. I said I called the hotel in London and they said he had checked out."

Kim's voice was raised in disbelief, "You thought he had been kidnapped, and you didn't even try to call?"

"I told you, he does not like to be disturbed. He always tells me of his plans. So when he did not call it could only mean he had been kidnapped."

"My son, I appreciate your love for me, and the fact that when you felt I was in danger you assembled a most formidable team for my rescue. But should similar circumstances arise in the future you have my permission to call me."

"I still get paid, right?" Lucre demanded.

"Of course," Shego assured him. "Junior wouldn't dream of stiffing me and my assistant here."

Dr. Renton spoke to Kim, "I would, um, appreciate it if you didn't mention anything to Felix."

Shego spoke quickly, before Kim had a chance to answer, "Of course she won't say anything. She's too nice. But I have a question, did you just crawl in the sack with Senior here to improve your chances for funding, or did he hint at funding in hopes of getting you into bed?"

Senior and Dr. Renton glanced nervously at each other. Before either could say anything Shego grabbed Kim by the shoulder and whispered, "Let's get out of here before the fight starts."

"That wasn't nice," Kim said softly as the two left the restaurant.

"Hey, I'm not a nice person, remember?" Shego reminded her as they walked to their hotel. "I'm angry. Senior was too busy making whoopee to give Junior a call. I've had days of that idiot Junior, and Lucre is even more annoying. Kim Possible announces to the world that we're–"

"I did not announce it to the world!"

"You announced it to Lucre, which is the same thing. And we'll need to shoot some videos for your buddy to doctor before I can head to Canada for some R and R. The only way things could get worse is for these damn pigeons to take a crap on me." Shego aimed a kick at one of the birds looking for crumbs on the Venice street.

Accustomed to dodging the feet of tourists the startled bird, and its brethren, took flight, making Shego's day even worse.