Chapter XIV: Underneath the sleeve
Kim and Yori arrived at the center square and what they saw surprised them. Fifteen robots prowled the square. There were not ordinary robots. These were something else.
"It looks like a pack of hunter-killers to me," Wade said as he scanned the mall.
"Hunter-killers Wade? That is so Terminatorish," Kim whispered, trying not to be heard. "And if Ron would hear you he'd say that the hunter-killers were flying Terminators."
"I bet he hasn't heard that they're making a new Terminator film," Wade smiled as he typed in his keyboard. "Back to the robots…"
"They seem to be looking for something," Yori observed.
"But what?" Kim looked around and tried to think of a reason for the sudden attack.
"One of us must get to the other side, Kim-san," Yori suggested. "It seems like they are protecting the corridor."
"That's my cue," both girls nearly shouted in surprise. Ron was already beside them, hiding from the robot's view. Even Yori, trained in the art of concealment, failed to notice his approach.
"It's too dangerous, Ron," Kim said, trying to slow her heart.
"KP," he smiled. "Believe me when I tell you this but I've seen worse." Strangely enough, she did believe him. "Been through hell and back. And I don't mean that philosophically. So? What's the plan?" Kim was still wondering about the 'hell and back' comment when Ron paced his hand over his eyes to block out the light.
"Ron-san. What are you doing?" Yori asked. Realizing what he was doing, he dropped his hand to his side.
"Sorry," he smirked. "Force of habit."
"What other habits did you pick up in that planet?" Kim asked.
"Eating while dodging bullets," Kim did a double take. She didn't expect that. "Trust me, KP, when you're on the run it's hard to eat mashed taters and rice meals. Sandwiches are better. Doughnuts, now that's a perfect snack when on the run."
"Ron, focus," Kim blinked. She missed this. Ron's chatter made her relax, even in the direst of situations. But eating while dodging bullets? That was so Ron yet not Ron. They need a lot of catching up to do.
"What's the plan?" Ron asked.
"Attacking them with our fists is out of the question," Kim said as she looked at the robots. "And I don't think we have anything with us that could penetrate that metal hide."
"Yeah, we do," Ron smiled as he drew out his long colt and gave it to Kim, butt first. Kim blinked. How he snuck a gun inside a mall she couldn't figure out but she was surprised that he was handing her the gun. Taking the gun, she noticed that it was quite unique.
At first she thought it was a Mateba with its barrel aligned to the bottom cylinder of the revolver but further inspection made her change her opinion. It was a top breaker. It was rare to see top breakers. Schofields and Webleys were the more famous of the bunch but Ron's felt… special.
"You can fire a gun, can't you?" Ron asked not sure in the last four years she had learned new mad skills.
"I'm certified with handguns, sub machineguns and rifles," Kim said as she hefted the revolver with both hands. It was heavier than it looked.
"Good," he smiled. As he gave her a couple of reloads. "You shoot them while I distract them. Ready?" Ron was about to stand when he was pulled down by two strong yet feminine hands. "What?"
"I don't know about this," Kim said worriedly. "Things have changed since you disappeared. We had stronger enemies and a few close calls. This was not like then."
"I agree, Stoppable-san," Yori said. "It is wise to be cautious."
"Kim, Yori," he gave them his trademark goofy smile. "This is me. While being cautious is good, sometimes, you just have to go with the flow." And with that, he suddenly jumped from the second floor railing down to where the robots where.
"Damn it Ron," Kim harshly whispered as she stood up to give him cover but was surprised when Ron was already meters away.
She was amazed at his speed and agility. The robots were, for a lack of a better term, were curious about the lone man in red running in the middle of their paths. Some of them didn't have the chance to react. Their systems were shorted out from the bullet that pierced through its head.
Kim initially was surprised by the recoil of Ron's revolver. She had fired .45s before but this had more of a kick to it. She almost missed the robot and hit Ron instead. But Ron was running as if he trusted her completely. Accurate as she was, she couldn't aim the hefty gun any faster.
Kim was thankful that Yori was with her. The young ninja was throwing shurikens at the ones that she couldn't get. She could see him from her peripherals, he was dodging laser and automatic fires while running towards the end of the corridor. He was good. Better than before. He looked clumsy but he was focused. It was like watching an odd form of parcour. He kept on going trusting on her to have his back.
Yori suddenly cried out. Kim was so focused on the robots below that she completely missed the unit that suddenly appeared in their way. Kim aimed and fired but it came in a click. She was out. She didn't have time to reload as the robot charged its laser. Yori couldn't help her since she was blocked by another unit.
All Kim could do was close her eyes and wait for the inevitable. Shots came in bursts. And then silence. For a while, Kim thought her death was painless. It was a comforting thought but she still didn't give Ron her answer and that made her regret. She waited for four years and now he was back, it was over.
"Kim-chan?" YOri's voice came through the darkness. At least she had company. "Kim-chan, you could open your eyes now." Open her eyes? Would she see heaven? Slowly she did and blinked in surprise. She was still in the mall and in front of her still stood the robot. But it was missing its head.
"What happened?" she asked Yori.
"Ashamedly I too closed my eyes so I did not see," she admitted. "I found the robot headless as well."
"Ron?" Kim cried out and quickly looked at the floor below. She was amazed to see him just standing there, all robots gone. Kim and Yori sighed in relief but something was weird. Ron's left arm was smoking. Was it on fire? She didn't think so but something was definitely off.
"All clear," Ron called out as he waved his sleeved arm at them. Blinking, Kim reloaded and went down to the floor below. Yori followed, looking at the wreckage, seeing if anything was still functional.
"Anything?" Kim asked as they reached him.
"They were looking for something," Ron said as he walked further in. "Or someone."
"I would like to think "for something," Kim said as she handled Ron's gun at the ready.
"I would too but they were scanning at the people, not objects." Ron said with a shrug. "But that's just me."
"I noticed it too," Yori frowned. "They were disinterested at the people when the looked at them. They were looking for someone."
"But who?" Kim asked.
"One-chan?" Ron paused as someone called out. Alert, he looked around to see a young Japanese girl hiding behind one of the pillars. There was something familiar about her, something that was close to his heart.
"Hana-chan?" Yori ran towards the little girl and hugged her. "Daijobou?" she asked.
"I'm all right," the girl smiled. Ron stood in shock. Was this his sister? Since he was back he didn't get a chance to see his family since Mrs. Possible said that they were away at that time. Ron smiled, his heart warmed. He always wondered how she turned out. To his relief, Hana turned out fine.
The young girl looked at Ron oddly and blinked. She was wondering where she saw him before. He had a smile that felt familiar. A pleasant, almost goofy smile.
"Oni-chan?" she ventured. "Ron-nichan?"
"Hi, Hana," he smiled. The girl immediately flew to his arms and cried. Ron held her dearly and began to cry. He had missed his family. Four years was a long time.
"Hana, darling. Where are you?" Ron looked up and smiled again as two figures approached them. They hadn't changed a bit, much to his relief. When the two saw him and Hanna in his arms, they stood there in shock and then smiled. No words were needed. Ron, while carrying Hana went towards the two and all of them shared a hug.
Kim and Yori smiled as they watched the four. They gave them a moment to themselves.
After four years, the Stoppables were reunited again.