O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love
our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth:
deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in
your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Shego held her breath as another blow collided with her chest. She wouldn't let them see her cringe! She wouldn't let them break her!
O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us,
in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront
one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work
together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
That last one…hurt! She had to have broken a few ribs by now. Her meta-human enhanced healing should prevent any damage to her vital organs but...she hadn't evolved enough that she couldn't feel a beating. But…it could've been worse. At least they were only using their hands. They…they hadn't even asked her any questions yet.
Back in Hawaii, Harper had done a masterful job of keeping Shego's attention on her. Shego was secure enough to provide her that comment, at least. She didn't even hear the gunman coming as he hammered the butt of his gun against Shego's head, making her entire world go dark. There was…she had no idea how much time had passed or even the time of day it was. She'd barely had time to register the tiny cell she was being held in or the asbestos-lined gloves that had been firmly secured to her hands before two armed men had marched in and leveled a SPAS12 shotgun at her and bean bagged her in the leg. The bruise seemed rather insignificant now but it had likely served their purpose, keeping Shego from focusing enough that they could get her to interrogation.
One of the interrogators delivered a swift kick to Shego's hip, bringing about a sickening pop.
"Do…your…worst," Shego croaked out, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"I'm sorry," One of the men barked, throwing a left hook into Shego's jaw. "I didn't catch that last bit."
"I said…do your FUCKING WORST," She barked, lunging out as far as her restraints would permit. "You think I'm scared of you? You think you can hurt me? I've stared into the depths of the blackest abyss and spat in Satan's eye. I say do your FUCKING WORST because you will get NOTHING from me! DO YOU HEAR ME, HARPER? YOU'LL GET NOTHING! MY WIFE IS GOING TO MAKE YOU REGRET THE DAY YOU WERE BORN! DO YOU…"
…SMACK…
Damn it; that…that was going to mean a visit to the dentist. F…funny really; dentistry was an aspect of her family's healing powers that no one really knew…the extent of. This…this may be a great opportunity for some learning, always finding the silver…lining and all that. But she could do this…she WOULD do this! Her biometric ID was foolproof and by now, Wade had to have zeroed in on her location and Betty and the rest of Global Justice was planning to blast their way in and when Shego finally got her hands on Motor Ed, he was going to hurt so bad that Drakken's mother would feel a tickle. However long it would take…she could resist…
"Do…you hear…the people…sing, singing th…the songs…of angry…men? This…this is the…music of…the people…who will NOT be…slaves again!" No, she was no Gracie; but…"Never underestimate the power of words". Her first day teaching at Middleton when Kimmie was pregnant, she'd taught that simple phrase to her English class. With the right words, you could change the world. That song…in her mind, she was in Carnegie Hall, dressed a flowing white Chanel evening gown, surrounded by Kim and 3000 other people and her daughter was center stage, the spotlight shining down as she belted out those words. "The blood of the martyrs will water the petals of France!"
"Brahs; seriously, why don't you give me a crack at the dudette; we go way back. If nothing else, she needs to stop those MAJOR buzz kill tunes."
Shego blinked away a smear of blood and brought her eyes up. Amazing; Motor Ed had signed with one of the most evil organizations in existence…and he looked as idiotic as he always did. The greasy mullet and the tattered jeans and tank top… "Ed, are you fucking OUT of your mind? People have DIED and you're acting like this is some kind of a game! The Council is intervening and…"
"Dudes," Shego could see him turn back to the other guards. "Give me and the babe some privacy."
The guards seemed to act without even a second thought, vacating the room and leaving the two of them. Ed began pacing back and forth…like he was trying to decide exactly what to say… and dragged a chair from the table, planting it squarely in front of Shego and sitting down. But there…Shego COULD see something was drastically different, the look in Motor Ed's eyes. For as long as Shego had known him…she really couldn't blame MIT for giving him the old heave ho. You could see from the look in his eyes that everything was just a big joke to him. But now…there was a seriousness in them…bordering on fanaticism…that despite the tremendous amount of pain she was in, made a shiver go up her spine.
"Sheg, brah, sorry they roughed you up so bad," He…he actually pulled out a towel and started dabbing at her cuts. "Harper can be a little serious."
"'Harper can…'…Ed…what in the Seventh Circle of Hell are you doing?"
"Shego…there's so much I have to tell you, so much I've learned. It…it is like hearing 'Stairway to Heaven' for the first time and then having Robert Plant tell you that it was all about you. What we're doing here…is changing the world, making it a better place! Man, met Catharina at this Van Halen reunion concert and…Shego…I'm in love!"
He was…this…ALL of this…all of the lives and the destruction and…and nearly getting Kim killed was…was for his GIRLFRIEND? Shego could feel the plasma building in her, flowing through her like the dark blood that gave her life, looking for an outlet. "You…attacked…a SCHOOL," Shego shrieked, fighting against her bonds with a newfound energy, "FILLED WITH CHILDREN! HOW IN GOD'S NAME IS THAT MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, YOU PIECE OF SHIT? HOW CAN YOU JUSTIFY THAT?"
"They'll understand when they're older. Besides, it's not like it was your kids."
"BUT IT WAS! THE MOMENT YOU ATTACK A CHILD…ANY CHILD…YOU'RE ATTACKING MINE! BEFORE THIS IS OVER, I'LL RIP YOUR GIRLFRIEND OPEN WITH MY BARE HANDS!"
"Give it time, Shego. You'll understand in time."
KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP
Gracie…was…she was starting to freak out right now. Aunt Betty had pulled her out of the simulator and the only words she'd spoken were an order to follow. And so she had; but that look…that look said that someone they both cared about was in danger…and Momma was the only one on mission right now. Mom had been…fuzzy…on the details as she sometimes had to do. All Gracie had been told was that Momma was headed to Hawaii to pick up some people and…there were other people on those islands that Gracie cared about, Billy's older brother Hank, Mrs. Ford and Eliza. Millions of scenarios played through her mind, each more dire than the next.
"Aunt Betty…Aunt Betty, please…tell me what's going on."
If anything, Aunt Betty seemed to run even faster. Gracie could only pick up the pace. There wasn't a lot of time to get her bearings but by the cross-sections they were passing, it looked like they were heading to the CIC. At least there, Gracie could get some answers…or at least find Mom. Three intersections and a left turn later, true to her prediction, the pair emerged into the massive hive of the Command Information Center. Gracie immediately started looking around for Mom…what was…where was Mom?
"Tell me we have a lock on her location by now,"
"Aunt Betty, what…"
"I want every sensor available tracking their trajectory and every possible location based on that information!"
"Aunt Betty…"
"Gracie?"
She knew that voice. She knew it but…it wasn't coming from any speaker that she could see. She slowly turned around until she came face to face with…Uncle Wade. If Gracie was nervous before, things had just skyrocketed to a whole new level. But…Uncle Wade had used holograms before and…Gracie slowly brought her hand up to her face and…he was real. Uncle Wade was here…in the flesh and…and…she couldn't move.
"Gracie…Gracie, snap out of it," Uncle Wade gave her a gentle shake.
"You…you're really here. And…and Momma is…" She gasped.
"In need of your help," Uncle Wade finished. "She's in trouble and you and I are the only ones that can help her."
That…that statement seemed to help Gracie focus; Momma was in trouble and…and Gracie could help her; she began repeating it over and over; Uncle Wade guided her over to a free table and sat her down. It…it still blew her mind, Uncle Wade actually being here in the flesh. In other circumstances…no; she had to focus on the job at hand. Something had happened in Hawaii and Momma was in trouble. Whatever Gracie could do to help, she'd do it without a second thought.
"Uncle Wade…nobody has told me a thing. What happened to Momma?"
"Okay, Gracie…it…it's like this. Your Momma and two others went to Australia to try to stop a theft. In doing so, your Momma found out that Scarlet Crane, the organization behind the thefts, was going to try to kidnap Sophie Ford and her daughter. Shego managed to prevent that…but only by drawing their forces away from the town and getting captured herself."
"Where…where are they taking my mother; who has her?"
"The one leading the party was Motor Ed. Her biometric ID has her being taken somewhere west. Global Justice thinks the Far East, maybe Myanmar. But Gracie…this is something that…I don't even know where to begin. I almost feel like I'm out of my element with these people. They…create chaos…for the sake of chaos only. They…no; I can't go into that now. But whoever is behind Scarlet Crane, they can hack into the computer system of any vehicle and bring it to the ground like a rock."
As if to drive that point home, a shrill siren sounded from one of the computer screens, signifying a downed plane.
"God…Kim may never forgive me for this but Gracie?" Uncle Wade…Gracie had never seen that look before and…and it simply terrified her. "The last thing your mother told me…she ORDERED me…to keep this from Kim. I…I know you're treading on the line that your parents set for you but…Gracie, we're going to get your help with this."
Wha...why would Momma say…Gracie had to keep this from…? This…this was too much…she…she needed something to… "Uncle Wade…I…I don't know anything about computers or hacking or…I'm…I'm a pilot…
"Which is exactly why we're going to need you," Aunt Betty looked to Gracie for the first time since arriving, as if waiting for those words. "Before your mother was taken, she, Alec Hardison, and the US Navy were able to expose a fatal weakness in their strategy, one that I can think of none better to exploit it than you, Gracie. Tell me…if our fighters can't penetrate their defenses because of the computer systems embedded in literally every facet of their design, what do we need?"
"S…something…if the computers are the problem…we need to fight without…them," Gracie breathed, trying to focus her mind on Aunt Betty's words. "We need fighters without…" In that moment, the gears simply clicked into place. She'd been face to face with the solution when Aunt Betty had found her. They needed fighters that couldn't be brought down…and the greatest example of those were WWII fighter planes, P-51 Mustangs, Supermarine Spitfires and Seafires, P-47 Thunderbolts, ME-109s, and P-40 Warhawks. It…it was staring her in the face the whole time! She'd been so quick to get jumpy that she didn't even see it. She looked to Aunt Betty for confirmation and got it.
"I'm pulling together every antique fighter that's still flyable, mostly P-51 Mustangs and Supermarine Spitfires but anything and everything available. There are two Global Justice Super Carriers prepping for departure in San Diego Harbor. The moment that your mother's signal stops and our forces can identify the location, Gracie, I want you to begin drawing up a plan of attack. You and I will keep any and all air defenses busy while a Global Justice strike force of 5000 troops attacks from the sea. We'll disable their equipment and the moment we're clear, an armada that would rival Normandy will descend on them and blow them out of the water!"
This…what in Heaven's name were the odds? Gracie had prepared for…this exact situation? She'd spent weeks working on that program and…God certainly worked in mysterious ways. Although…David going up against Goliath wasn't quite enough of a parable for what was to come but…this was a sound strategy. Scarlet Crane…whoever they were…seemed to deal with such advanced technology, both offensively and defensively, that this would be the mother of all curveballs Global Justice could throw at them. Momma…Gracie couldn't pretend to understand her logic in this move but…logic or no, Gracie was going to get her out!
KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP
At least Gracie is distracted.
Betty looked at herself in the Ladies' Room mirror. How in God's name was she not completely gray haired? And Shego Possible was SO not helping right now. What the Hell was she thinking with this hair-brained scheme? Given time, a matter of days and some help from Mr. Load, they could've broken Scarlet Crane's encryptions and Betty could've ordered a few payloads worth of tactical ICBMs and turn that place into a pile of scrap iron. But…DAMN IT! Betty was having trouble with this and Kim…Kim was DAMN well going to have a problem with this. How could Shego have done this to Kim? SHEGO had wanted Kim to talk to one of the GJ Psychiatrists and SHEGO had cautioned Betty about letting Kim get involved…and her last words are "Don't let Kim come and get me"? Betty heaved a sigh and splashed some cold water on her face. Right then, she came to a decision. No matter what Mr. Load's objections, this was going to happen.
Betty pushed the door open…and practically collided with Mr. Load himself. While it did greatly underscore the gravity of the situation, she could never get used to seeing this man here in the flesh instead of on a computer screen or holo-projector. "Mr. Load, I understand your concerns but I CANNOT let this go on." She marched down the corridor before he could get in her way.
"You…are you crazy?"
"Maybe…but one way or another, I'm not keeping this from Kim."
"You…Dr. Director, Kim's in no condition to handle something like that. I mean…she's hanging on by a thread while she tries to cope with…"
"You think I don't know that, Mr. Load? But I need Gracie for this mission and…Kim has to know."
"Doctor…you can't do this. Kim is part of my family and…"
He didn't! That half-finished statement was enough to stop Betty dead in her tracks. Betty had never heard anything so pompous in all her life. She turned and fixed Mr. Load with an emotional finger! "Don't you DARE finish that sentence! You have the gall to think that you're the only one who cares for that family? You think you're the only one who has nightmares about the fate of someone that she considers to be your own…and you were the one that ordered them there? I…I will never forgive myself for what transpired in Auckland and…if you think for one minute that I'm letting Kim on this mission, you need to have your head examined. But I will NOT keep this from her!"
She was not going to take this. Mr. Load could suck on it for all she cared. Betty marched down the corridor towards the parking structure. She wasn't sending anyone to do this in her stead and the least she could do was look Kimberly in the face when she said this.
KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP
Anne gazed at the 36 year old woman knocked out on the couch and still saw the freckle-faced five year old that she'd cradled in her arms during so many thunderstorms and so many bad dreams. Their lunch had been wonderful but…the physician in Anne could see when someone had had a trying day and simply needed some sleep. So a cup of peppermint tea…and nearly six hours later…Kim was snuggled up with a warm blanket, her head nestled on one of Nanna Possible's homemade pillows. James was out picking up the twins and Nicky, like his mother, was currently snoozing upstairs. Gracie was currently at Global Justice and would be taking a bus back for a family dinner that could HOPEFULLY get Kim's mind off of things. Anne just had to keep what was going on from Gracie. The poor dear was…well…exactly like her Mom and it would crush her if she knew that Kim was suffering so much emotional pain right now.
There was a soft but firm knock on the door, pulling Anne from her internal musings. Jim wouldn't be back by now so…who could that be? Anne got up and marched towards the door, looking through the peep hole and…Betty Director? Shego was on mission…and Betty was standing on their doorstep…this wasn't good! Anne threw open the door, looking into the troubled gaze of her daughter and daughter-in-law's friend and sometimes employer.
"Where's Kim?"
"She's…she's asleep. What's happened? Where's Shego?" Doctor Director looked to hesitate so Anne motioned for her to come in. She looked into the living room, seeing Kim still sound asleep, and motioned Doctor Director to the kitchen. The woman took a seat at the counter and Anne turned to face her. "Doctor Director…what's happened to my daughter-in-law?"
"Mrs. Possible…Shego's been taken prisoner by the cyber terrorists she was tracking. She…she and Kim have been working with an organization known as Leverage and…Scarlet Crane tried to make a move against one of the members' wives and their daughter. They were…attacking a school and…Shego led them away. She…she let herself get captured so…so Mr. Load could track her and we could identify their location."
Anne…this was…
"Tell…tell me that you have a plan."
"We'll be ready to go in thirty six hours. These terrorists…they're cyber-warfare capabilities are dangerously advanced so we're going in with technology that's…quite simply…'antiquated' doesn't come close. The only scenario we can come up with that stands a chance of succeeding is to take a squadron of WWII-era planes to knock out whatever defenses they have so we can punch a hole for our forces to get through. For that to work, I need pilots who are equally skilled in both jet combat and prop combat. I…I know I shouldn't be asking…I shouldn't even be SAYING this but…the only other person I know of who is up to the task is Gracie. Without her, I don't know if we stand a chance."
Anne was…why? WHY was this happening? Shego was captured, being subjected to God knew what and…and the only solution was to send Gracie…into a warzone. Anne couldn't think…she had no idea what to do. Kim…Kim needed to hear this. Anne couldn't make this decision for her granddaughter…and yet…if Kim heard all of this, if she heard that her wife was in danger and her daughter had to risk her life to bring her back…could Kim handle it? Anything was possible for a Possible but…
…THUMP…
Both women whirled around to see Kim, sunk to her knees, eyes bloodshot and…Anne didn't know about Doctor Director but she was up and moving, trying to get to Kimmie. She put her arms around her daughter and looked Kim in the face.
"Bring…my…family…BACK!"
KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP
"Kimmie, wherever you are, I know I'm probably going to pay for this harebrained scheme in some subtle and probably not so subtle ways…but I'm in an extraordinarily large amount of pain right now. So…here's hoping that you take that into account when rendering a verdict."
It was a small mercy that Harper hadn't decided to put in an appearance during Ed's interrogation but…only a small mercy. Ed had…Shego could still feel the lump in her stomach talking to Ed had given her. He was…insane! In that little cell, with Shego beaten and bleeding, the villain proceeded to lay out the past few months for her. Harper was in fact Catharina's older sister and had been her right hand for as long as she'd been born. Ed and Catharina…they really DID establish a…might as well call it a relationship…over of all things, 1980s hair bands. He…he didn't make any big revelations about the organization itself but…Anarchists didn't even do them justice. Shego had met anarchists; she'd even worked for a few in her darker days. But these people…Maui was only just a small taste of what they had planned. There were…events…that the public hadn't even heard of, thousands of people who would…never be mourned…and Scarlet Crane did it…to free them, free them from…life! Shego would never be able to unhear what she'd been presented with! And she'd seen that look in Ed's eyes before, like a mad dog. She'd seen it on Heinrich Dementor's face right before Kim had put a three-round burst into him, that look of…abandonment…of abandonment of humanity, of the very thing that the Council strove to keep from breaking.
She hadn't seen hide nor hair of Ed in hours…which, given how she was feeling right now, was probably for the best…but they'd turned her over to Harper, who had taken it upon herself to break Shego, now keeping her in solitary confinement in the pitch dark. The crazy bitch was welcome to try but she'd likely never tried isolation on an English teacher before. She always had the voices in her head to keep her amused. She wasn't sitting alone in a dark cell and you wouldn't be able to convince her otherwise. Right now she was sitting in a New York café with her literary idol, Maya Angelou, sharing a fine bottle of Pinot Noir. Charles Dickens was running late…as usual…and the pair had just poured a glass for Agatha Christie. There was a plate of watercress sandwiches that were absolutely scrumptious and…all that was missing was Kim…and George Lucas.
"You think you can break me?" Shego grunted out. Eventually…given A LOT of time…her meta-human enhanced healing would heal her without a scratch but…a part of her… a VERY small part of her…wished that Gracie would somehow finagle her way into going along so this oh so memorable pain could be taken care of in an instant. "I can go for days, you psycho bitch! Sophie and Eliza Ford are safe…you can't get anywhere NEAR my family! You're not going to kill me! I can keep this up for days!"
How long had it been anyway? Two days? Three? That was the only thing that was grating her nerves. Her mental clock was good. Under normal circumstances, she'd carve days into the wall or some other prison movie classic but…her captors were clever enough to keep her limbs bound and line the restraints with asbestos. But…there was manipulating and then there was just simply mildly annoying. Any time now, and if Wade had obeyed her order, Kim would be safe at home while Betty rode in to the rescue, bust her out of this cell, and then turn her loose on Ed and Harper. Every blow, every leer, and every asinine comment was building up inside her into a white hot fury that was going to obliterate anything that got in its path.
"When I get out of here, Harper, you're going to see a monster like nothing in your darkest nightmares!"
Author's Notes:
This one took a little while to complete but I'm happy with it. Hope you are too.
