Disclaimer: I don't own Kim Possible.
R&R please, and thanks to Mengsk, CajunBear73, screaming phoenix, and Sacred White Phoenix, who reviewed my last chapter. Your input will always be greatly appreciated.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"How"
There was no answer. Ron looked directly at Monty, who was looking at the scroll on the wall. He turned his gaze to Anna, who was once more rapidly twiddling her thumbs. "How did I die."
Reluctantly and with a sigh, Monty turned his gaze upon Ron. "There was a terrorist attack. They seized five of the Militaries Nuclear Bombs and prepared to launch them at five different locations: New York city, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, and the Tri-State Area." Monty crossed his arms behind his back. "Naturally, Team Possible was called to neutralize the threat. You come in at the last minute, brawl with the terrorists, and win. Unfortunately, the nukes were launched before you could disarm them."
Ron and Kim waited a few minutes. The silence dragged on. Finally Kim decided to break it. "Then? What happened after that."
"Well, the details are sketchy, as I was still a statute when this all happened. But from what I understand, Ronald somehow absorbed the explosions. He took it all himself. The fire, the shrapnel, the radiation. He took it all. Unfortunately, do to his lack of appreciation from the general public, he was unknown until then, and his body was...well, let's just say no one but your closest friends even knew what you looked like. But your name was passed on, and you were revelled as a hero world-wide. Unfortunately, most experts say it was that same selfless act that you preformed that brought the 'Dark One' into power."
Kim and Ron both started, Ron going so far to step backwards. "How?" Kim asked-or more truthfully, demanded. "How did Ron's... heroics... lead to some evil dictator taking over the world?"
"Dictator?" Monty asked, something of a sickened humour in his voice. "Oh no, my dear girl. The 'Dark One' is in no way a dictator." Monty turned around and moved towards the far wall with the single scroll. He took down the scroll and took out a small blue package from his coat, then threw said package at the wall. The package burst, and the blue substance seeped into the wall, causing the outline of a door to appear. Monty pushed at this, and it swung open. "Come, I have something to show you."
They travelled up through a rocky tunnel, with torches every ten feet-or-so providing the gloomy illumination. The ground was gradually getting stepper as they went, until they nearly had to climb the last bit, until they reached a flat landing that lead to... a rock. But then Monty waved them over to it and, very slowly and quietly, pushed the rock out, causing it to swing open on unseen hinges.
They found themselves upon a rocky terrace, over looking a large field. Nothing of interest immediately presented itself to them, until Monty led them around a rock to face a certain part of the field. And suddenly they realized why they had been brought to this place.
In perfect alignment of row upon row upon row, as far as the eye could see, were soldiers.
The men and women marched in perfect time, regardless of size or weight differences between them. They moved in perfect harmony in a strict, deliberate formation, not a step out of line. Every soldier was donned with uniforms of vibrant red and pale gold, looking like the beginnings of a sunrise. In the centre of the platoon were four soldiers carrying a large standard. Atop the pole was a large, billowing silver flag, with the design of a large gold phoenix with black eyes emerging out of crimson flames.
"The 'Dark One' is not a dictator, Miss Possible. He is a Warlord."
As if on cue the soldiers broke formation and charged an obstacle corse. It seemed simple enough: a series of trenches, some with barbed wire over them; a moderate sized bit with a spiky bottom; and a wall, smooth as glace on both sides. And also several people with guns were stationed all about the place, tracing the oncoming army with there scopes.
"Those people you see in the obstacle corse," Monty whispered, looking gravely down upon them. "The ones dressed in black and dark blue. They are drones, dressed in the colours of the resistance, and are programmed to act like the different members of a resistance platoon." The first troops of the charging army came into range of the resistance drones, which began to fire there guns at them. "They practice with real bullets." Monty informed them gloomily. "The 'Dark One' and his generals don't want the troops to ever forget what it feels like in a real battle." Suddenly a group of the soldiers rolled the last fifteen or so feet and plunged into the trenches, moving through with ease and precision. "The trenches are changed everyday, with walls and traps placed in new locations every time." Monty said, nodding towards it. Immediately, resistance drones began to fall from knifes appearing in different parts of there body. One drone moved forward and launched herself at the foe with an AK47 in hand, but fell to the ground seconds later by the soldier's knife thrown into her abdomen.
"They're deadly accurate with those knives of theirs." Ron whispered, as he watched the solders march on by: every resistance drone had been taken out in a couple of minutes.
"They try not to fire a bullet if they can avoid it." The troops began to rush towards the pit. "Here, you'll want to see this." The first soldier reached the pit with two comrades right on his tail, and jumped without a moments delay. The soldier then reached behind him in the first few nano seconds and grabbed his first comrade, and threw him across the pit. The momentum caused the thrower to flip backwards towards the third soldier, who pushed him back up and then leaped after him. The first soldier grabbed the third and again threw him across, this time using the momentum to increase his own distance and rolled to safety on the other side.
But that wasn't the end. Using the momentum of the roll, the first soldier launched forward and landed on the supporting hands of his two comrades who launched him upwards towards the wall. The second soldier rushed to the base of the wall and cupped his hands for the third to jump on and launch upwards. The third soldier reached up and his hand was grasped by the first soldier, who was by now directly above him. The first soldier launched the third the rest of the way up the wall, then reached the second member, who had jumped up to meet him. The second launched the first up the rest of the way, then bounced off the wall at a slight diagonal, to be caught and swung up by the third soldier who was lying outstretched at the top of the wall. The second soldier was swung up onto the top of the wall, then they all jumped off the wall on the other side, landing with a roll then launching to their feet, their guns out and readied. The rest of the soldiers were filing in behind them, having just accomplished the same task. A course that would have taken a good, strong modern day five minutes took this entire platoon about three.
Monty touched Ron and Kim's shoulders and gestured for them to follow him back into the headquarters.
"Shouldn't we stay and watch some more?" Kim asked, turning to face Monty. Ron turned around, a sickening feeling in his gut.
"No." Monty answered, heading towards the door. "Once they're all in position, they will shoot at this position." As he passed a rock he pointed to the target dummy concealed behind it. "Let's try not to throughly test how good their aim is, shall we?"
The three scurried into the cavern and closed the door behind them Ron heard shouting, the grinding of metal on tracks, and the sound of gun fire. With a horrid feeling, Ron knew that not a single shot missed...
**********************************************
Monty pushed the great stone door closed and turned to face them. Anna bowed to them as they entered the dodjo. "Sensi, the high council will be meeting in twenty minutes to review the data William gained during his brief imprisonment. Also, after the meeting, you are to assess are five new recruits fighting capabilities. Oh, and mother say's dinner will be ready at six."
"Thank you, Anna." Monty said, bowing back to her. He turned to Ron and Kim. "I apologize, but I must be going. Anna will give you a tour, and show you to your quarters. Also, if there is anything-"
"Wait." Ron interrupted, moving forward. "You didn't answer the question. How does my death cause the 'Dark One' to rise to power?"
Monty sighed, then gestured for them to sit. He stood, looking down at them, like a substitute school teacher about to tell a sad story to a group of rambunctious six-year-olds. "Ronald, after your... sacrifice... the terrorists wanted revenge. But seeing as you were dead, they couldn't do anything to you. So they went after the next best thing: your family."
Ron stiffened immediately. Everything seemed to grow dull and faint. The room became a blur. The faint sounds of food cooking of in the distance vanished, along with the slightly wafting smell of cinnamon and mixed vegetables: all were drowned out by the beating of his heart, and the cutting voice of Monty.
"They hired Dr. Drakken. Then, a week later, your house was bombed. They had timed it so that your parents, sister, and mole-rat were all their when the bomb exploded. They had also attempted to catch young Miss Possible in the explosion, but luckily she had stepped outside and only got slight burns from her proximity to the blast." Monty paused and took out a pocket watch.
"Then?" Kim asked, a hint of impatience in her voice. "How does this tie into the 'Dark One'?"
"Well, the 'Dark One' is... strange. He and Ronald shared the same views, hopes and dreams for the world, though obviously their methods of making these ideas reality differ. When Drakken bombed Ronald's house, the 'Dark One' rallied together a group of 'Ron Stoppable' fan's, and marched upon Drakken's layer. The only one who walked out alive was the 'Dark One.'" Monty turned away and began to replace the scroll on the wall as he continued. "After that the 'Dark One' went into hiding, as he was charged with the murder of a 'public hero'. He disappeared, and then two years later he came back with an army and conquered the world. Some say this would never have happened if Ronald had not died. Personally, I agree, but only because the 'Dark One' would probably have died in the nuclear explosions."
Monty straightened up and turned to face them. "Now, I must be going. Anna, give them two more bracelets, and show them around. Answer any question they ask as long as there is no one around to here them. You've gotten this far, no sense letting everyone know you're here now."
"Father." Anna said cautiously. "Is there anyone I may reveal the mis-"
"Yes, you might as well tell Benedict." Monty cut-in, striding towards the door. "If he doesn't here it from you, the entire resistance will know in less then an hour. I still don't know how he found out about the pendulum... Anyway, they'll be staying in the dome-room, be back for supper, and try not to let the entire cavern in on the secret." And with that he was out the door.
Anna looked delighted. 'Let's go immediately. I'll show you the main buildings, the pool, and then we'll hit the training centre. Oooh, I can't wait to tell Benedict!" Anna grabbed their arms and practically dragged them out the door.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ajsfhykljhaishfvheiyhfyafcg
Just in case you were worried I was getting too serious.
