Kim Possible: Redemption
(A/N: Third up today.)
Mayhem In The Caverns
"Where is this cavern anyway?" Monkey Fist questioned.
"We never followed it to the end, no thanks to Killigan," Drakken retorted.
"Aw shut it. All we need t' do is find our trail," Killigan stated.
"Our trail wasn't even beaten down! We stick to Amy's path this time," Drakken stated. "It should lead us right to the mouth."
"Et's so long though," Killigan complained.
Monkey Fist seized the map from Drakken and looked over it, saying, "Are you joking? DNAmy's path is far shorter that the path you two sketched out."
"Exactly!" Drakken agreed.
"Fine! Ah'll do et yer way," Killigan sulked, crossing his arms in annoyance and scowling.
KP
Eventually the group found themselves looking up at the cave's mouth. "Here goes nothing," Drakken stated. He handed the night vision goggles to Duff and Monkey Fist, the latter of which looked at them disdainfully before putting them on, then led the way cautiously in. Monkey Fist clambered along the boulders and walls as his cohorts walked.
"Which way do we go?" Monkey Fist questioned on reaching the first chamber.
"Ah think we go left," Killigan remarked.
"No, if we had stuck to the trail, we would have gone left from U," Drakken stated. "To get back to U from V, we have to go right."
"Sounds plausible, except as I recall you do not really have the greatest track record now, do you Drakken?" Monkey Fist insulted. "I'll take my chances with Killigan. We go left."
"I'm the evil genius, I think I know how to read a map!" Drakken insisted, rolling up the map and sticking it in his partners' faces.
"Ack, half the time ye do no' know what yer talkin' about," Killigan insulted.
"I do to!" Drakken stated.
"Then why hasn't the world fallen to you yet?" Monkey Fist bit, smirking coldly.
"Right back at you Monkey Boy!" Drakken shot.
"Ye can go whataiver way ye want, but Ah'm headin' left," Killigan stated.
"I'm with the Mad Golfer on this one," Monkey Fist said.
"Nrrgh, fine, get lost! Don't expect me to come back and save you!" Drakken said.
"The feeling is mutual!" Killigan and Monkey Fist barked back.
"Here, you take the map! When you finally figure out I'm right, come see me, just try it," Drakken stated, shoving the map into Monkey Fist's hands.
"Unlikely!" Monkey Fist said. With that, Killigan and Monkey Fist turned to head to the left. Drakken grumbled something under his breath, then turned to walk away. Glancing back once more he hesitated. What if they were right? No, impossible, he knew what he was doing. Still… He bit his lower lip, then sent out a vine. It quickly crept towards the golfer's golf bag and attached itself without the two noticing. Ariadne's golden thread, Drakken wryly thought to himself. With that he turned and walked his own way. He knew perfectly well what he was doing. Just, in case he was wrong, though, the vine would lead him to them.
KP
"Are ye sure this is the right way lad?" Killigan asked Monkey Fist, who was examining the instructions on the map.
"Considering that your first choice in path was right and Drakken was wrong, it should be," Monkey Fist replied, quickly becoming uncertain.
"Ah was no' the only one who thought he was wrong," Duff defended quickly. "Ye' were no' lookin' t' follow him."
"That's because Drakken has the tendency to be a bumbling fool if he isn't focused enough on something," Monkey Fist retorted, examining the map and turning it every way he could, trying to figure out where they could potentially be in the mountain.
"Ack, no matter how we're farin', he must be a thousand times worse," Killigan stated.
Drakken, meanwhile, watched the ground and cave walls closely, going by memory. They hadn't made it this far on their way through the cave the first time. Maybe he should have kept the map. No matter, he'd taken it upon himself to remember the path he and Killigan hadn't followed down to the last letter, no pun intended. After all, he'd known long beforehand that they wouldn't find their way back to the hole Killigan had blasted. Shocking to realize he could actually be competent when push came to shove, wasn't it? Sure enough, soon he heard the sound of wind and saw light in the distance. He smirked and ran towards it. Grinning, he looked up at the window of light Killigan had blasted open for he and Monkey Boy. "Jackpot!" he exclaimed, pumping his fist into the air and laughing victoriously.
He looked back the direction he'd come, smile falling. Now to the question of whether or not it was worth his time to go back for the Mad Golfer and Monkey Boy. He hesitated. It wasn't like he needed them to get through the cave, right? Right? He wasn't sure, however, if he could remember the rest, and they had the map. It's not like he owed them anything though. They would be fine. Sooner or later they'd find his vine and follow it back. However, he wasn't entirely sure he could get through the jungle on his own. Maybe he could, but it would be one heck of a hassle. He preferred things the easy way when he could get it. Nrrgh, fine, he'd go back for them. He walked around a stone a couple of times then headed back, ensuring his vines continued to lead the way while still allowing slack for Killigan and Monkey Fist to draw out. To do that, they had to be attached to him. If he had to go back, he'd still leave room to be led here again in case he got disoriented. Thank goodness they could reach so far.
KP
"An underground river. There, do you remember this!" Monkey Fist demanded, getting agitated very quickly with the golfer.
"An underground river! We naiver passed one o' these!" Killigan exclaimed.
"What! You mean we're lost!" Monkey Fist demanded. If there was one thing they both knew, they'd passed through enough chambers to be up to the point Drakken and Killigan had broken out, and there was no sign of the hole. "Idiot! You picked the wrong path!"
"Ye were the one who had the map!" Killigan shot.
"What good is a map if we weren't even heading the right way to start with!" Monkey Fist demanded.
"Oh like these chambers do no' all join up somewhere!" Killigan barked.
Monkey Fist shoved him, saying, "You make yourself sound like more of an imbecile every time you open your mouth!"
Killigan shoved him back, shooting, "It's ye who's supposed t' be the jungle expert!"
"Jungle, yes, caves, no!" Monkey Fist shot, pushing him back.
"Ye did no' think ye might need to use a cave at some point en time!" Killigan demanded, shoving harder and sending Monkey Fist stumbling back a step or two.
"How dare you shove the ultimate monkey master! I am an expert of Tai Shing Pek Kwar, endowed with powers beyond your comprehension! Who are you, Killigan, who are you!" Monkey Fist shot.
"Monkey master! Hah! Ye mean yer the master o' lawn ornaments!" Killigan insulted. Monkey Fist growled then dove at Killigan with a vicious monkey shriek, fully intending to attack. Killigan, though, was just quick enough to whip out a nine iron and swing it right into Monkey Fist, throwing him back into the shallow underground stream. Monkey Fist broke the surface sputtering and coughing. "Bring it on Monkey Boy!" Killigan challenged.
"Oh gladly," Monkey Fist hissed loathingly as he rose slowly, eyes flaming. Killigan raised his club, ready to strike again if Monkey Fist tried anything. True, he couldn't hope to beat the man with skill, but maybe with demolitions he'd have better luck.
KP
All at once, however, a roar pierced the cavern, freezing the two to their spots, wide eyed. Blankly they looked around, then at each other. "Tha' can no' be good," Killigan remarked.
"Oh rot. Killigan, please tell me I was the only one who heard that," Monkey Fist said.
"Ah wish, Monkey Fist," Killigan answered. It growled again, and the two swiftly moved back to back with gasps, both ready to attack. The noise stopped as suddenly as it had begun, however, and the two relaxed their fighting stances. "Maybe it was the wind?" Duff offered.
"Y-yes, wind," Monkey Fist answered. Both knew, however, that the chances of it being wind were slim to none.
"How about studyin' the map once more," Killigan suggested.
"Right," Monkey Fist agreed, as eager as Killigan to forget what they'd heard. Not that he couldn't have taken it on, of course. Hardly anything was a match for Tai Shing Pek Kwar; he just, didn't want to go into it at the moment. He felt around for the map but could find nothing. He frowned, then stiffened up. Killigan instantly caught on. The two gasped and turned to look at the river. Sure enough, the map was floating away far out of their reach, disappearing into a crevice! "Oops," Monkey Fist said.
"Ack, are ye daft lad! How could ye have lost the map!" Duff demanded.
"Me! You were the one who knocked me into the water!" Monkey Fist shot.
"Maybe ye' should no' have been jumping at ma throat!" Killigan barked.
"Maybe you should learn that you'll live a far longer life if you learn to control your temper!" Monkey Fist retorted.
"Why ye wee…" Killigan began, as the two prepared to tear into each other once more.
Just then a voice cried, "Killigan, Monkey Fist, I've found the hole Killigan blasted!"
KP
The two turned, surprised. "Drakken!" Killigan exclaimed.
"How did you find us?" Monkey Fist questioned.
"Look in Killigan's bag," Drakken replied.
"Huh?" the two others asked, exchanging glances. Duff removed his bag, and the two instantly spotted the reason. Drakken's flowering vines. Now normally they would have said something to incite some argument, but they weren't really in the mood. Drakken had, after all, just told them he'd found the right way. The farther away from that mysterious roar they'd heard, the better.
"Go figure," Monkey Fist remarked.
"Ye were right," Duff said in shock.
"Of course I was right!" Drakken shot. "Now come on."
"A wee small problem, Monkey Boy here lost the map down the stream," Killigan said, jerking a thumb at Monkey Fist.
"You were the one who knocked me in!" Monkey Fist shot.
They were about to revive the circular argument when Drakken cut in, saying, "No matter! I'm sure between the three of us we can remember where to go." They looked at him in surprise. He hadn't joined in the argument. It was a miracle!
"Um, aye," Killigan agreed, still surprised.
"Whatever are we waiting for then? Let's get going," Monkey Fist said, nervously looking around. Drakken raised an eyebrow. Why were they so eager to leave here? Had they seen or heard something? No, couldn't be, they'd tell him if it had been something serious. He shrugged, then the three walked back, following Drakken's vines. Honestly, Drakken hadn't begun to imagine how useful his powers could be. He was actually reluctantly growing a little fond of them. No matter. They would wear out soon enough, he assumed. Still, he wouldn't mind, anymore, if they stayed for a little longer.
KP
"So, where do we go from here?" Drakken questioned when they reached the area Killigan had blasted opened.
Killigan looked around rubbing his chin thoughtfully, then replied, "Ah seem t' recall comin' from tha' path there." He pointed towards it.
"As long as you haven't screwed this one up, we'll be fine," Monkey Fist stated, heading towards it. The other two followed. For a time things went well, Drakken and Killigan able to judge correctly their path through most of it. Monkey Fist aided them from his memory of the topographal layout of the mountain, and when he suspected something was off, he was usually right. It was around chamber P, though, that things began to fall apart. It was around then that they became a little too confident. That was a great weakness in many a villain, and these three were no exception.
"Only three more chambers to go and we're out of here! I can't wait to actually see daylight again!" Drakken excitedly exclaimed.
"I concur!" Monkey Fist agreed eagerly. This darkness was a little too much of a remnant of the statuesque state he'd been in for so long.
"To the right!" Drakken exclaimed. Laughing victoriously, the three turned that way. Duff felt something was wrong about that direction, however. It didn't sound correct. Then again, they'd made it this far without mistakes, why should now be any different? So he kept quiet.
KP
"Um, where are we?" Monkey Fist finally questioned, looking around confusedly. This didn't seem right. They'd been walking a little too long before finding any chamber.
"I don't know. It should be right," Drakken answered, looking to Killigan for confirmation. The golfer shrugged, just as confused.
"Wait, there's a chamber right ahead o' us!" Killigan exclaimed, pointing. Quickly the three raced in, grinning. Their grins fell, however, on entering it.
"Wait a minute. This isn't right. It looks too small," Drakken remarked.
"Mind trick?" Monkey Fist suggested.
"Maybe," Killigan uncertainly said. They caught the tone and looked at him curiously.
"Killigan…" Monkey Fist warned, catching the worry. "What is it?"
"Well Ah assumed we were goin' the right way, et just did no' seem right to me when we took the right path," Killigan answered. Now wasn't the time to bat around the bush.
"Tell me you're kidding," Monkey Fist stated.
"Hold on you two, there's still a chance we're on track," Drakken uncertainly said, looking around. "We go left now. Let's press on a little further before giving this path up for wrong."
"It does look familiar," Duff uncertainly said.
"Oh really?" Monkey Fist questioned, not believing a word of it. Duff just shook his head negatively. Monkey Fist sighed in annoyance, but nonetheless followed Drakken and Killigan. He wasn't about to branch off in this cave alone. Not with some unknown creature potentially lurking there. He paused a moment, looking back cautiously. Nothing. He hesitated, then entered the other cave with the others. Moments later the three screamed in alarm and came tearing out of it as quickly as they could, Drakken covering his head, Killigan ducking low, and Monkey Fist on all fours. A swarm of bats flew out after them, shrieking and squeaking as they hit the ground.
They watched after them in alarm. "Quick, they're heading for the outside! We need to follow them!" Drakken exclaimed, instantly running off without waiting.
"Wait far us lad!" Killigan called. He and Monkey Fist leapt up and pursued the doctor through the cave, forgetting their original intended trail.
KP
They broke out into another chamber. "Where did they go?" Monkey Fist demanded.
Drakken looked around uncertainly, then answered, "I'm not sure."
"There laddies!" Killigan exclaimed, pointing on seeing a last retreating group. "Come on!" The trio instantly raced after them. All at once, however, they seemed to disappear, and the three froze once more. "We lost the wee rodents!" Killigan exclaimed, agitated.
"Well, do we at least know the general direction they were heading?" Drakken questioned.
"I think it was to the left," Monkey Fist answered. "I spotted a group heading down there."
"Ye did? Ah spotted a group headin' straight," Killigan stated worriedly. The three blinked blankly at each other, then looked from one path to the other.
"Eeny meeny miney moe?" Drakken suggested.
Killigan and Monkey Fist frowned, but Monkey Fist answered, "Oh why not. What have we got to lose anymore? Go for it."
Drakken quickly recited the rhyme and ended pointing left. "That way," he declared.
"Right, be prepared far anythin'," Duff stated.
"In order to do that, perhaps we should tell him," Monkey Fist suggested.
"Tell me what?" Drakken questioned.
"Err, nothin' lad, lead the way," Killigan replied. Drakken raised an eye, but nonetheless headed off first.
"Care to tell me why we're keeping silent?" Monkey Fist questioned Killigan.
"It's Drakken, enough said," Killigan simply replied. Monkey Fist was about to tell him that wasn't a good answer, but he cut off. Actually, that was really all the explanation he needed.
He shrugged, saying, "Fine." The two followed the doctor into the cavern.
KP
"So far so good," Killigan remarked.
"True. Nothing bad seems to be happening," Drakken said. "Maybe we're on the right track." Just then they heard a roaring sound and froze, gasping. "Wh-what was that?" Drakken finally managed to question.
"Can we tell him now?" Monkey Fist demanded of Killigan.
"Tell me what!" Drakken demanded, getting angry very quickly, vines reacting to his thoughts and springing maliciously into the air as he leaned over the two, barely restraining himself from seizing their throats with his hands.
"We heard a roar a while back," Killigan innocently answered, grinning blamelessly, trying to pacify their partner.
"And you didn't think I would like to know?" Drakken shot.
"Not at all, we knew you'd want to know. It was what you would do if you had known," Monkey Fist stated. "Namely shut completely down."
"Better back there than here!" Drakken exclaimed, now panicking. He whirled to stare into the cave. All of a sudden they heard a slight clucking sound. Panic fell to confusion for both Drakken and Killigan. "A cluck? What is this, a chicken mine?" Drakken questioned, confused.
"A chicken! All tha' far a chicken!" Duff exclaimed angrily.
"How did it make that roaring sound, though?" Drakken mused aloud. Just then they noticed that Monkey Fist didn't seem confused at all. In fact, he looked more shocked than before. "Um, Monkey Fist, hello?" Drakken said, waving a hand in front of the man's eyes.
Monkey Fist suddenly shook his head viciously, then leapt up, crying, "It's a Basan! How can that be, though, they don't live in caves! They're supposed to be outside!"
"A what now?" Killigan questioned.
"A basan. A mythical Japanese monster that lives in the mountains. It resembles a chicken. But they're not supposed to be malicious," Monkey Fist mused aloud. Pacing back and forth he continued, "Sure they breathe ghost fire, which would probably account for the roaring sound, but they don't hunt victims down to kill. The thing usually vanishes if human eyes are laid upon it. Its fire isn't even hot enough to burn. At least not according to the Ehon Hyaku Monogatari."
"Books have been known to be wrong befar," Duff remarked, assuming it was a book he was talking about, and nervously backing away as he stared ahead in fear. Monkey Fist and Drakken, on noticing this, paused. Slowly they turned only to find themselves staring at a fowl-like figure that glared at them unhappily. There was a moment's pause, then all at once it clucked loudly and ran at them. Drakken, Monkey Fist, and Killigan screamed in horror and turned to flee.
KP
"This is ridiculous. I shouldn't be running! That bird is no match for Tai Shing Pek Kwar!" Monkey Fist stated. He slid to a halt and whirled, leaping at the basan with a battle cry.
"Monkey Freak, get back here!" Drakken ordered.
"Yer insane man!" Killigan shot. Monkey Fist attacked it over and over. It simply paused and watched him curiously. It may have been able to feel, and it was big enough to be attacked, but this strange man's assaults more intrigued it than hurt it. Soon enough, however, it got annoyed and flapped its wings as Monkey Fist pounced, blowing him back. He grunted in pain as he hit the ground, then looked up in shock.
"I'm thinking we should probably run!" Drakken stated, pulling him up.
"Leave the wee critter t' me," Killigan stated, dropping a few golf balls onto the ground. Preparing to swing, he cried, "Fore!" Sending them at the creature, the Basan screeched in pain, flying upwards. Furious now, it breathed fire right at Killigan. Killigan gasped and dove. Monkey Fist had said the fire shouldn't burn, but he wasn't about to test that theory. The bird swooped, and Killigan felt Drakken and Monkey Fist pull him up. The three ran once more.
"That's what you get for picking an unwinnable fight," Drakken said to them both.
"Aw shut up and run!" Killigan ordered, annoyed.
"There's the chamber, we're going to make it!" Monkey Fist exclaimed. He began laughing in relief, though it was more a monkey sound than a human. All at once the basan landed right in front of them. They gasped, sliding to a halt.
"Turn around!" Drakken ordered, turning to flee. Monkey Fist darted passed him and Killigan to gain the front, and the trio ran. Drakken looked back. It was preparing to swoop again! Oh boy, here went nothing. All at once he whirled and summoned his vines. Instantly he controlled them, forming a web in the cave as quickly as he could. Monkey Fist and Killigan watched in shock. Sure enough, the basan hit it and was stopped. It tried to scratch through, but the vines were no easy task to break. Killigan and Monkey Fist raced to Drakken and pulled him free of his vines.
Instantly the three ran down the cavern, hoping and praying the exit was near. After all, some of the bats had been flying this way, and the basan had to have entered from somewhere. If Monkey Fist's description of the creature was correct-and both Drakken and Killigan were certain it was, after all he was a scholar, archaeologist, and explorer-then the bird must have come inside from somewhere close. All at once they saw light. "Ah can no' believe it. An exit!" Killigan exclaimed.
"About time!" Monkey Fist stated. All at once the three burst from the cave and slid to a stop, panting and gasping. They caught their breath, however, on seeing where they were. It was a bamboo forest clearing. A stream ran lazily by it, and butterflies and birds of all kind flew away or scattered, insulted at their appearance. Sun beams shone down on the pasture bathing it in beauty. Beauty wasn't usually something that appealed to villains, but then again they were outside!
"We-we made it…" Drakken finally said in shock. "We made it! Yes!"
"But this ai'ent where we entered Drakken, and now we have no clue where we are. The map is gone," Duff said in a strained voice. Instantly the mood was killed, and the three looked blankly around, completely lost. "Um, any idea where we are, Monkey Fist?" Killigan hopefully questioned.
"Not a clue," Monkey Fist answered. Just then they heard the shrieking of monkey's and looked quickly up. Monkey Fist grinned widely, exclaiming, "My monkey ninjas!" They shrieked in delight and swung from the trees, each one tackling Monkey Fist to the ground and crawling all over him. Monkey Fist laughed in glee, then rose up from under them, though some clung to him, one even perched on his shoulder. Facing the other two, he stated, "I don't know where we are, but they do." Drakken and Killigan sighed in relief.