I do not own the Disney characters named herein, and am only using them for a nonprofit tale meant to entertain only.
Kim Possible: The Possible Factor
By LJ58
11
"We have contact. A signal is getting through," Will shouted at Dr. Director.
"Who is it," she asked. "NORAD? D.C.?"
"The Possibles," Will exclaimed, staring at a pair of young, twin faces that were grinning smugly at them.
"Where are you? How did you manage to broadcast….?"
"We were looking for Kim. We don't have her new frequency, and our homemade battery doesn't have the juice to scan the frequencies," one of them admitted.
"Homemade…..battery?"
"No big. A basic potato battery adapted to function off the cafeteria's suspect offerings," the other twin winked. "So, have you heard from Kim?"
"We lost contact during the attack. These things are attacking worldwide, and they seem to be shutting down power stations, defense grids, and then rounding people up."
"We noticed. They tried corralling a bunch of kids here," the other twin, Tim, Betty thought now from his speech pattern she had been trying to learn for a while. "But we slapped together a few blue lasers, and cut them up."
"You….slapped together….blue lasers? With enough power to take out those….things," Will sputtered.
"You deaf," Jim huffed. "It's no big. They seem to have a weakness for UHF sound, and light. Blue lasers were the logical defense."
"We have some experimental units in research. Get on it," Betty shouted over her shoulder at several of her men. "Boys, if you hear from your sister, you have to tell her that the mother ship is staying in geo-synchronous orbit directly over the heart of the nation. We're not sure their intentions, but the fact they are now moving to rounding up people isn't a good sign."
"Duh," both boys muttered. "Listen, we just wanted to let you know the kids here are safe, but need help."
"We all do," Betty told Tim. "Try to hold out. For now, you're on your own."
"Well, that's no real surprise," Jim complained as the channel went down.
"Or any help," Tim muttered.
"I hope you boys have another idea," Steve Barkin complained now. "Our emergency shelter isn't designed for long-term housing, and….."
"Zip it," Tim told him. "We're thinking here," he said as they ignored the very frightened students huddled around them in the school's shelter.
"Hicca-bicka-boo," Jim suddenly smirked.
"Hoo-sha," Tim smiled hugely.
"Boys….."
"Don't worry, Mr. B," they grinned. "We're on it."
And Steve Barkin felt ice grip his spine as the boys headed for the exit.
KP
Ron grimaced as he saw the ruin of his house when he managed to finally reach it after bailing out of his car miles back.
He had literally fought his way to his home since, finding out that his strikes were growing more, and more powerful even as his fear for his family had him moving faster than he would have once believed.
"No," he rasped, and moved toward the back of the house from where he stood across the street. "Bonnie," he shouted, heedless of the nearest robot that stood at a drunken angle staring with its huge eye in another direction.
Only as he approached did he realize that a steel post from a street sign had impaled that eye, and it was no longer reacting to anything.
He glanced around, seeing the ruin of his house, and then saw movement to one side.
"Bonnie," he shouted, seeing the worried brunette peering around a broken wall where she had been huddled. "Thank God! Hannah….?"
Bonnie turned, and Hannah smiled up at him, carelessly swinging around a piece of some kind of electronic device from the end of a long wire.
"She…. She stopped it from….. She stopped it," his wife just babbled, staring at their toddler.
"Good, girl," Ron smiled, scooping up their child, and hugging her as she babbled her delight.
"Goo' gi'l," she agreed with a wide smile.
"We have to get out of here," Ron told her. "It's not safe."
Bonnie's expression was eloquent.
"Where do we go?"
Ron looked around.
"Middleton. We may have to walk, though. I…..kind of lost your car," he grimaced.
"Ronnie, I think that's the least of our worries just now," Bonnie moaned. "But….why Middleton?"
"Because, Kim, and Wade are there. You can bet, whatever is happening, they're getting ready to strike back. And, it'll be safest in the school there. They have that new underground shelter the state finally built this year."
"Yeah. But….it's a long way on foot," she frowned fretfully.
"Don't worry," Ron told her. "I won't let anything happen to you. Either of you," he said, smiling at the grinning child that seemed to have no fear.
"I suddenly wish Yori were back already," Bonnie moaned.
"I get the feeling she's probably busy just now, too," Ron said, and glanced around before leading her back the way he had come.
KP
"Dad," Kim hissed, seeing five of the huge warbots in the center of the Space Center's wide field, Dr. Possible, and all his coworkers surrounded by an electric fence formed by their limbs.
"If they're like the one that nabbed me, taking out one will shut down the whole fence," Shego told her as they sat in the car, staring down the slope toward the Science Center where they had used the forest to approach while the flash drive downloaded whatever Wade had in mind.
The download was still running, which was why Kim was holding back. Until it finished, all the systems were now offline, including the Roth's shields.
"If the stealth works once it's installed, we can roll right down to them, and surprise them."
"Right. I don't see any of the guards, or security."
"Maybe they were taken somewhere else?"
"Maybe," Kim murmured. "But why do that if they have dad, and the others still out there?"
"Are you seriously asking me to figure out alien invasion tactics," Shego grumbled sourly.
She sounded a lot less….nice just then, but at the moment, Kim didn't need nice.
"I'm just trying to figure this out. Why take some, and leave others?"
Shego just shook her head.
"Maybe they only want soldiers?"
"Then why were they trying to grab us?"
"Oh, I don't know? Maybe because we're openly defying them, and shutting down their robot toys every time they jump us," Shego asked sardonically.
"Touché," Kim grimaced just as the dash chirped. "I think it's ready….."
"Darn right I am, sweetie," the dash drawled in a very convincing sarcasm.
"Sweetie," both women echoed as Shego just gaped.
"Your car talks now?"
"Actually, I'm the AI running this junk heap, hot stuff," the voice drawled in reply to Shego's query.
"And you were programmed with attitude," Kim frowned at the dash where the small computer console was blinking in tandem with the speech patterns.
The AI made a sniggering sound. "Wade felt like you enjoyed attitude from those around you. Especially certain partners. So he patterned me off his old file tapes of Shego."
"He what," both women sputtered.
"Never mind that now, Red. Aren't you supposed to rescuing pops?"
"Dad. Yeah. Can you go stealth now?"
"Stealth. Shields. Defensive lasers. I got it all. You ready to go?"
Kim glanced over at Shego, and smiled.
"You ready?"
Shego just shook her head.
"Let's just get this over with," she grumbled. "I'm already tired of these guys."
"Okay…. Uh, do you have a name," Kim asked the AI.
"Name? It's a freaking computer," Shego growled.
"Actually, it's Ani. Autonomous Neural-Interface. Ani for short," the car replied.
Shego rolled her eyes.
"Less talky, more action," Shego complained.
Kim eyed her, smirked, and declared, "You're starting to really sound like yourself again."
"Who else would I sound like, Kimmie," she shot back. "Now, put it in gear."
"Ani, stealth mode, and get us inside the fence, and right next to the two bots on the end."
"Here we go, girls," Ani declared even as the car moved on its own now, rising just high enough on its powerful thrusters to clear the security fence before settling down, and rolling toward the two nearest warbots.
Kim touched something at her belt, and her battle suit began to hum.
"I thought I was….."
"You take one, I'll run interference to let dad, and the guys blaze. There are five of them out there," Kim reminded her as the car slowed to a stop, inches from the nearest warbot.
"Right," Shego sighed.
"Ani, when we pop out, raise your shields, and plow into the others. That seemed to work before."
"Oh, I think I can do better than that," the car's AI snidely retorted. "But I don't want to ruin your outting, so I'll surprise you."
"Surprise…."
"Just go," Shego shouted, and leapt out, hands blazing, and the eleven scientists gaped at the green-skinned woman in torn clothing that had just appeared out of thin air.
"Dad, get ready to run," Kim shouted, appearing next as she jumped out, too, and seemed to appear out of nowhere behind Shego.
Shego, meanwhile, slammed both blazing fists into the nearest leg joint, even as Kim jumped, dropkicking the other warbot in the nearest leg as the electric fencing shorted out with a sputtering spark, and then failed completely as the two big drones fell over, and slammed into the ground with heavy thuds. Right before the three others began to turn on them.
"Go," Kim shouted as she and Shego both turned to face the others.
Just before bright, yellow beams of light slashed out from the front of the invisible Roth, and cut one of the warbots completely in two.
"Whoa," Shego gaped, watching the smoking machine fall in opposite directions at once, and then explode, damaging a fourth machine.
By then, Shego jumped at the fifth, even as Kim raced to intercept the damaged fourth as the scientists just stood and gaped.
"Wow, you guys aren't big on self-preservation at all, are you," Shego remarked as she turned away from the now broken war machines. "Why didn't you run?"
"And leave my Kimmie-cub alone," James Possible sputtered. "Besides, you don't get to see alien robotics this close every day. Why, the things I'm guessing we can learn…."
"Dad, not now. We need some space suits."
"But…..they destroyed out rockets, honey," James sighed. "I'm afraid there is no way for you to even reach those aliens at the moment without….."
"The Sloth can get me there. I just have to have a space suit in case they don't have an atmosphere we can breathe," Kim told him. "We may be running out of time here, dad. We need to go. Now."
James stared at her, then his peers, then at Shego.
"I suppose you're going, too?"
"Who else is going to watch Kimmie's back," Shego snorted.
"Well, the thing is, we only have two functional suits at the moment, and….."
"Perfect," Shego said. "Let's grab them, and go," she told Kim.
"Now, just one darn minute….."
"Dad, I love you, but this is too dangerous for you. Stay here, and stay hidden. We still don't know why they're rounding up people, but it's not likely for anything good. So, hide. Promise," she demanded.
"What about your mother? And the boys?"
"Mom's at the hospital. It doesn't seem to have been hit, and they have an underground shelter. I'm sure she's fine."
"And the boys," he asked. "They could be terrified….."
"C'mon, dad? The Tweebs?"
James sighed.
"Tick-tock, Doc. Let's get those suits," Shego demanded.
KP
"We have limited power off our VTOL batteries, but the main auxiliaries are still down," Will told Dr. Director. "We have just enough for lights, and some emergency communications. But….it's not looking good."
"Obviously," Betty Director frowned, staring at the few images the still working satellites allowed. "They seem to be herding people into large groups in every city, or town."
"Yes, while keeping all the military separate from the civilians, which implies they know something of our defense structure."
"Any word from Possible?"
"Not yet. Most of the region is still under a communications blackout. I'm not even sure EBS is still functioning at this point with most of the power outages now near one hundred percent," Will said as he turned from sliding one of the few functional blue lasers into his own holster.
"There. We have a satellite over the region. Get me a look at Middleton, and find Kim Possible!"
"Working," Will agreed, taking over the system himself as the tech only stood aside, and shook his head.
They grimaced at the first images that came up.
"Looks like they were hit just as hard. Most of the populace seems to be contained around City Hall, and only the hospital, and Science Center seem to be untouched."
"Wait, there. Focus on the Center," Dr. Director shouted, indicating one monitor. "Is that….."
They stared as they saw Kim and Shego, in some kind of heavy uniforms, climbing into the Roth.
"Broadcast on both their channels. We have to contact them," she said, not missing the rubble of more than a few of the robots laying near the car now starting to rise into the air.
"They'll shoot her down if she's flying," one of the techs realized.
Right before they all saw the car vanish.
Just vanish.
"Did they…..? What did they do," someone asked.
"They didn't explode," Dr. Director grinned. "I suspected they were working on a new stealth cloak when I saw some of the gear the boys were buying up lately. I think they made it work."
"How does one agent in an invisible car help us," one of her men sputtered.
"You obviously weren't paying attention," Will pointed out. "They were wearing space suits. They obviously intend to intercept, and engage."
"In that car," the man sputtered.
"Recall who is in that car," Dr. Director remarked. "Have you gotten through?"
"Still too much interference, and our power output isn't strong enough."
"Yet those boys contacted us with a…a potato battery," Dr. Director spat at the tech who protested their limits.
The man had the sense to cringe.
"I'd be very interested in seeing that battery," Will remarked.
"All right. How many working lasers do we have now," Dr. Director turned.
"With mine, fourteen," Will told her.
Betty nodded.
"It's a start. Keep working on more, and get me one. We're going topside, and starting our own offense. Let's move."
KP
"You sure you're all right," Kim asked, seeing Shego shaking her head one time too many.
"I'm just feeling….weird. Ever since that laser grid zapped me….."
"If necessary, stay in the car," Kim told her. "I don't want to risk…."
"No way, no how, Pumpkin," she shot. "I may not be in the world-saving biz any more, but there is no way I'm letting you face whatever is up there without backup."
"Too bad I couldn't have found Ron. I imagine he could be anywhere just now."
"If he's smart, he's taking care of his wife, and baby," Shego said quietly.
"Yeah. He probably is," Kim murmured as they flew straight up, nearing escape velocity. "Hang on, I'm about to hit the hyper-thrust."
"Hyper…..?"
Shego howled as the car roared, and a fist slammed her back into the seat as she felt as if she were being pulled right through it, and out the back.
"Hang on," Kim grit out. "Ani, lock on to any functioning satellites, and find that alien ship!"
"It's not an issue, Kimmie," the AI informed her as the g-forces suddenly eased, and they were abruptly arching up, and over the planet. "Look starboard, sweetie."
"Holy…"
"Your dad is going to be so pissed he missed this one," Shego exclaimed as she gaped at the massive, alien vessel that looked like a massive cylinder with a split nose curved like horizontal fangs, and a tail and wings flaring out only at the rear of the massive vessel. "Wish he was here just now," Shego added after a moment. "You know, instead of me," she said curtly.
"Shego?"
"Are you telling me that thing doesn't scare you," Shego demanded.
"I won't say I'm not afraid," Kim told her quietly, staring the Roth toward the orbiting ship. "But I'm even more worried about what they may do to our world. And our friends."
"Our friends," Shego asked after a moment.
"You do have friends now, Shego. I think the past year has pretty much given you that much, if nothing else," she told her. "I know GJ wasn't your idea job, but at least you don't have to worry about jail, or…..anything else now."
"No. No, just alien invaders that are here to harvest our brains."
"What," Kim burst into laughter.
"I know. What am I thinking? If they want brains, they seriously came to the wrong planet."
Kim grinned.
"Let's find a way in," she said as Ani closed on the ship, and began to move down one side.
"Scanning now, Red," Ani told her. "This thing is off the chart, but it looks like there may be several obvious hatches near the stern under one wing. Shall I plot an intercept?"
"Yes. We need to get inside, and find out what we're up against," Kim told the AI.
"And, while you're at it, come up with a plan, and find a way to stop a ship full of invaders," Shego added. "Because anything that big has got to be stuffed to the gills with monsters."
"We're going to find out. Ani, once we're inside, you try to find any communication dishes, or whatever, and take them out. Then, use your lasers, and target their engines. If we can't find their system, or stop them, you can at least disable this thing."
"Understood. I'll be standing by, so if you have to evacuate, I'll be close."
"Activating life support," Kim said, touching a stud on her wrist.
Shego did the same.
Transparent helmets rose, and sealed themselves over their heads even as the hiss of pressurization filled their ears.
"I'm green," Kim nodded at the light on her glove. "You?"
"Doy," Shego huffed.
Kim couldn't help but grin. "Looks like there's an open hatch," she said, right before debris came spilling out of the hatch in a long line.
"Trash? We're seriously going into a trash chute," Kim was asked as Shego stared at the still open hatch.
"You got a better idea?"
"Short of knocking on the front….door? No," she admitted.
"Depressurize, and let us out, Ani. And stay on com. We may need to call you."
"I'll be waiting," she said through their suit radios, even as the car's cabin hissed now, and then the doors both opened.
Shego tried very hard not to vomit as she went spinning out of the car, and then slowly regained her equilibrium.
"This is why I hate space," she complained as she found the controls for the built-in suit thrusters, and followed Kim toward the alien ship.
"I don't know. So far, it's been kind of fun."
"Kimmie," Shego growled, then followed her into the ship even as the hatch suddenly snapped shut with a clanging reverberation they felt even through their suits. "You need a new definition of fun."
A yellow light on a nearby hatch blinked, then turned green, and the panel slid open to show a corridor outside.
Even as the green light lit up, they felt near normal gravity pull their bodies down to the hard deck, and they landed in a low crouch as Kim glanced around.
"Ani? You there?"
"Scanning the ship for external transmitters," she replied without hesitation. "No luck so far. Or, I'm not seeing anything that might be obvious, at the least."
"Great. So, what now, Kimmie?"
"We find the engine room, and do some damage. Then, we find communications, and shut down whatever signal is controlling to those robots."
"And if we run into something….alien?"
"Do you have to ask?"
Shego shook her head.
"You seriously think we can take on an entire ship full of….."
They both peered around the corners of the door.
"No one so far," Kim said. Maybe they're all eating, or something."
"Or polishing their ray guns, so they'll shine when they kill us," Shego grumbled.
"I don't remember you being this pessimistic," Kim remarked as she headed down one side of the huge corridor.
"Then you weren't paying attention," Shego shot.
"You know, I was thinking….."
"There's a first," Shego complained anew.
Kim just shot her a glare.
"What," Shego asked.
"Have you noticed how big this corridor is?"
Shego looked up.
"Yeah. Pretty big."
"I'm thinking, our invaders may be…..pretty tall."
Shego looked up again.
"You think?"
"Yeah. Let's find the engine room. Suddenly, I'm feeling a bit more concerned about our chances here."
"Now? Now, you're worrying?"
"Well, at least we made it this far," Kim grinned, and kept going.
Shego shook her head, wanting to strangle the redhead. Wanting to grab, her and run, too.
She just wasn't sure which to do first.
"Hey, Kimmie," she suddenly asked. "I just had a thought."
"Yeah," Kim asked, peering around a corner at a junction they reached.
"Think we'll get hazard pay for this one?"
"That's what you're thinking about?"
"Well, yeah," Shego agreed. "Because if we're risking our lives here, I'd like to think we'll get something out of it."
Kim paused, and looked thoughtful.
"You know, that would be nice. A bonus, at the least. I mean, so far, we're the only ones that likely have made it this far."
"Because anyone else with brains is probably running for their lives," Shego pointed out.
Kim looked back at her.
"I'm scared, too, Shego. But in just nineteen hours, I graduate, and then we're going out to celebrate. Remember? Nothing is going to get in the way of our date this time. Nothing," Kim stated firmly, and marched around the corner.
To Be Continued…..