Author's note: Got a big surprise coming up, though you're going to have to wait just a little longer. I know. I'm evil.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kim Possible™ or any character, location or event from that said show. Or any other Disney character. I do have…
Ch 12: Parade of the Stars
Ron looked up from organising his array assorted weaponry and stared blankly at the bulkhead, lost in thought.
….
'The same goes for you.… Cousin.'
….
Since returning from… the future or whatever; all he'd had on his mind is finding the Weapon…. His sister! Of getting to her before Shawn. Adrenaline running but stuck in this tin can; he'd wanted to climb walls! Only he couldn't. There'd been no gravity once they left the space station.
It was all he had could think about these last few hours. He had tried to keep busy; tried to keep his mind clear. But it was always there at the back of his mind.
….
'It that it Zorpox? Are you running?'
Dozens upon dozens of heavily armed Iguana's bashed their way into the room and surrounded the rebel's. Kim held Wade a little more tightly.
….
He'd been there for… what? A day? Less?
It had all been so real. It had been real. He'd been… shot. In the rear! Beat up. Winded, knocked out; punched through a wall!
He'd made a friend….
Met his little sister; faced off against Shawn….
Lost everything to Shawn.
And he was the only one who remembered it all. The only one who knew what happened.
Even his wounds had vanished as if it never happened.
Ron threw a spanner at the bulkhead in a burst of anger. Was he losing his mind?
….
'There're still your nightmares!'
….
He examined the friendship bracelet around his wrist. The one Kimi had gifted to him.
It had all happened. He was sure of that.
But that wasn't to say it wasn't a nightmare.
….
Iguanas took up position around Hana and Kimi.
'It that it Zorpox? Are you running?'
'The same goes for you…. Cousin.'
….
The cargo bay hatch opened and Frederick hurriedly entered. Ron shook his head and snapped out of the memory.
'AUTOPILOT INITIATED. TIME TO TARGET 10 MINUTES.'
'Are you sure about this monkey?' he eyed his furry companion, glad to have something else to complain about.
'YOU SAID QUICKLY. THIS IS THE FASTEST WAY.'
'I know but….'
'EVERYTHING OKAY. AUTOPILOT WILL LAND SHIP AT L.A.X….'
'It's not the ship I'm worried about,' Ron frowned reluctantly at their transportation. A certain space pod in was far too familiar with….
'It's how we're leaving it.'
'STOP BEING BABY.'
'Expressing concern about suicide is not being a baby!'
Ron couldn't explain his anxiousness. Surely he'd performed crazier stunts in his time (though off the top of beanie he couldn't think when….).
'ZORPOX WOULD HAVE LOVED IT.'
That was probably true.
'Hey,' Ron said sternly, 'Zorpox was…. Not right, that was cheap shot.'
Zorpox would have loved it. But Zorpox had no fear. He cared for nothing. So he had nothing to lose.
Ron was scared. He was scared because of an irrational; mind numbing fear in the back of his head that said maybe Shawn already had his little sister. Maybe he already had Hana.
He was scared…. Scared that the next time he saw Kim… she wouldn't accept… wouldn't forgive him. Turn away, no matter what she had said earlier.
And…. He was scared of Bonnie! But that was self preservation.
Frederick noticed Ron's agitation. He frowned. 'FRIEND RON CHOSE BRILLIANT TIME TO LOSE HIS NERVE.'
Ron sighed. Then, unexpectedly, laughed. 'Sorry. Sorry I…. Bad time to lose that infinite confidence huh?' He rose and began a final check of the space pod.
'YOU MEAN EGO?'
Ron chuckled. 'Yeah, That,' he took a breath. 'I guess I felt a little overwhelmed by the situation. Like the old Ron.'
Frederick turned his head sideways. 'WHAT IS RON NOW?'
Ron opened the pod hatch and shrugged. He flashed Frederick goofy grin. 'Something new.'
He paused before entering the pod. 'You did wash this thing out right?'
'GET IN OR I SHALL BITE YOU.'
Rufus scampered as fast as he could after Electronique. There was no way he was going to leave his human to that freaky pale witch. He would catch up to her and free Bonnie!
Somehow….
Running a mole rat marathon up Main Street, Rufus entered a war zone. Tanks crushing stalls under their treads, WEE troops rounding up those hidden in the rubble; super heroes taking the fight back to the WEE….
'…?!'
Rufus had to rub his tiny eyes and look a second time. It was… real super heroes. The ones he watched on Saturday morning TV shows. All of them!
And they were kicking butt!
'I am losing patience Kim Possible. Give me my weapon!'
Rufus saw them, Bonnie and Shego. And Electronique.
Irritated, stressed and running out of time; Electronique seized Bonnie roughly, using the hoverboard to lift her high into the sky.
Rufus shrieked. The villainess was serious this time.
'CALL YORI BACK NOW!'
It was a space shuttle. A space shuttle flying over the city. Hero and Villain alike lifted their gaze to thee sky to see an incredible sight. The battle just stopped.
A great thunderous roar filled the vacuum of sound. An object detached from the shuttle and streaked toward the earth, retro rockets firing. Around her people ran to take cover.
KKRAAASSSH
Even decelerating, the object slammed into the ground, bounced; and lodged itself in Smashmouths float. Its cooling boosters were still hot enough to set the float alight. Smashmouth and the rest of the musical accompaniment were quick to jump overboard.
A mechanical whirring, quiet, yet thunderous in the silence, could be heard as the pod opened. And with the orange flames at his back a figure emerged.
'What was that? A bounce? Where'd you learn to fly!'
'WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT FLYING?'
'I hate you monkey.'
The contrast between the night and flames obscured details. The figure was just an outline. A cap, beanie and claws.
It was enough.
Kim gasped. 'Ron!'
'Could… this be a distraction?' Senior asked with a low voice.
'I thought you'd taken care of him,' Bonnie murmured to her captor. 'What use are you, honestly?'
Electronique growled at the hero in her grasp.
'Oh snap.' Anxious, Shego fought with her chains. 'Please snap, please.'
In the light of the fire Ron stood, terrible and imposing. The light glinted off his red glasses, and his livid blue skin. The effect made him look demonic. The panicked call went out among the WEE forces and actors alike. 'The dark lord! The dark lord has returned!'
'That's probably not a good start…,' Ron mentioned to Frederick beside him.
'DO SOMETHING SCARY.'
'Oh, you have nooo idea how scary I can be.'
Ron lifted one of his improvised weapons out of the pod. Using a signal drone thruster and a pressurised oxygen warhead he'd fashioned an impressive rocket launcher. At the very sight of the weapon there was a general gasp and a few screams. Many ducked to the ground.
Ron tracked the weapon across the battlefield looking for a target. Not knowing just who he was shooting at, actor and villain alike yelped and ran whenever the weapon swung in their direction. Finally, after three full surveys of the field Ron settled on a target.
'Oh, that is so not good,' the driver of WEE mole groaned when the launcher device settled on his vehicle. The crew scrambled out the hatch while those surrounding scattered in panic.
'Scary enough for ya?'
'BOO-YAH.'
The drone thrusters fired and raced toward the mole. The explosion knocked the scattering crew to the ground.
Throwing the launcher aside, Ron spread his claws. 'Boo-yeah! Get ready for a smack down in Toon-town!'
He strode toward the nearest bunch of WEE. An evil smile painted across his blue lips. Most of them dropped their weapons as they were running away.
Electronique watched as her men ran in the face of Zorpox. She cursed the quivering, pathetic cowards. Never mind her quivering hands or icy chill that consumed.
'Would you stop shaking me like that?' Bonnie complained from her grip.
'Quiet!'
'Oh. Oh…, I get it. You're a little worried about blue boy down there. Well don't worry, I'll protect you.'
A red hot rage almost overcame Electroniques chill. 'But who's going to protect you!'
A grapple hook wrapped around Electronique's hover board and a yank almost toppled her.
It was too much to grip Bonnie as well; she let the young heroine drop.
Ron stalked headlong into the fight. Frederick dug around in the pod for his own equipment. There was a whole cache left for the monkey, cobbled together from space station equipment and fine tuned to bring the hurt.
As Frederick strapped on a thruster pack and mechanical claw arm he had to wonder: how in blazes did Team Possible ever compete with this guy? Did he even want to win; or was he just having too much fun?
Reaching for a set of set of grenades packed with NASA strength, heat tile super glue, Frederick's sensitive ears picked up on a steady hum…. Or a throb?
Digging around further to find he source, a mysterious blue glow drew his attention to the travel bag under his seat….
'Could… this be a distraction?'
'Huh?' Kim absently replied. 'Oh…! Right. Um…. I need to save Bonnie and Shego. And then maybe with Ron we can turn things around.'
A chill shook Senior at the thought. But he only responded with a sombre. 'I'm sure we can.'
Kim noted the total lack of enthusiasm and she couldn't blame Senior. With Ron on the loose she didn't feel all that enthusiastic herself, though for a different reason. He'd saved her; at Eden Base he'd saved her. She didn't know what that meant. She had no way to tell what Ron's agenda was. About the only thing she trusted in right now was that Ron a score to settle with Electronique. Beyond that….
Beyond that she couldn't let Ron threaten Hana.
'He wants Electronique. We use that. For now.'
'In that case Miss Possible, if you and… Zorpox can hold things together here; I believe I may have a solution to all our worries.'
'A solution…?'
'My dear, you will know when you see it. Though first I may require assistance from a certain Dr Drakken….'
Senior sneaked away from the battle while everyone was distracted; and he took several Disney 'heroes' with him. Senior was a cunning old snake. With his resources and skills he could have given WEE a run for their money. Actually he probably would have them running after their own money.
Kim had faith in Senior whatever was planning. Sure the plan involved Drakken. The mad doctor didn't have the best track record in stressful situations but….
It was a simple task to free Shego; the guards were too busy scampering out of the path of Ron's big rocket thing. The hardest part was catching the one with the key, she'd had to shoot a grapple around his legs and drag him back.
Kim laid out her plan while unlocking Shego's chains. 'Alright Shego. We need to keep them at bay until Senior comes back. I'll rescue Bonnie. You do what you can to keep the WEE disorganised.'
'Stuff that Princess!' the green villainess yelped. 'I'm not sticking around with Zorpox on the loose; I am outta here!'
Kim looked up from her task. 'Shego!'
'Save it.' Shego refused to make eye contact and crossed her arms; acting all tough while her composure fell apart.
Blasted Zorpox. It's always the same.
Kim gently took Shego's cheek in her palm.
'Hey, we've been through this….'
'I'm not listening.'
'Shego, look. I know Ron can be….'
An explosion cut Kim off as a mole vehicle blew up behind her. Shego shivered a little but Kim refused to flinch.
'…. Can be a little intimidating…. But we've been through this before. I'm here. We can do this. Together.'
'I'm not part of your team Princess,' Shego growled, letting some anger rise. 'The peep talk is not going to work this time.'
'We need you Shego. We don't stand a chance without you.'
Shego didn't respond, but her expression read 'you're going to have to do better than that.'
Kim appeared to give up, went back to work on the chains. 'Ok, you can go. I won't tell anyone you ran at the first sight of Ron.'
That got Shego steamed.
'Hey Princess! I am not running! I'm not scared of him.'
'I know.'
'I'm not!'
'I know!'
'Fine! I'll help.'
'Please and thank you,' Kim smirked. 'Now just remember, if you run into Ron use those breathing exercises mom taught you.'
Before Shego could think of an angry retort Kim had removed the chains and was going after Electronique. She already had her hairdryer in hand.
'Blast it Princess!' Shego cursed. 'I'm not even working for her anymore and still…!'
Frustrated, Shego set out to hurt something.
'But who's going to protect you!'
Her grapple hooked around Electroniques hover board. A strong pull and Kim almost toppled the villainess from her perch.
Electronique dropped her prisoner. Kim was ready. She leapt for Bonnie, catching her in mid-air and setting her friend down on her feet.
'Superheroes?' he best friend asked.
'Had to work with what we had on hand.'
'Next time you deal with the crazed electro villain. I'll incite the riot.'
Kim quickly unlocked Bonnie's chains. 'Pfft, let you scream at them. They'd side with WEE.'
'That's it!' Electronique screamed down at the pair of teen heroes. 'I've had enough of cat and mouse. Time to fry!'
Her declaration was followed by a massive blast of lightning. There was no dodging it. It sizzled hair and fried brain cells. Anyone else probably wouldn't have survived.
The blast even shorted Electroniques hover board.
'Strike!' a newcomer in a bright yellow jumpsuit declared. Hideous face was dominated by a long nose and sharp teeth. Strapped to his back was a large battery pack.
'There's only one true queen of electricity in the Disney kingdom lady,' his geeky high pitched voice declared, 'and that's… wait I mean King. And that's Megavolt! '
'I already like this guy!' Bonnie cheered.
'Really?' Megavolt sidled next to her. 'Would you consider going on a date with me?'
'Ew! Get away from me.'
'I thought you had a thing for rodents Bee,' Kim added wood to the fire.
'Hey! There's a person underneath the mask you know.'
Both teens ignored him. 'Just... Just don't even start ok. I'm still holding you responsible fo…, Rufus!'
'Rufus? Rufus!'
'Rufus…! You already have a boyfriend? Uh-oh.'
Megavolt's romantic advances were cut short. Electronique was back. She was growling. And she was overcharged.
'How dare you!' she shrieked.
Kim and Bonnie dived aside. Bolts of lightning slammed into Megavolt, giving the poor actor a nasty jolt and a few burns. Most of the energy, however, was simply absorbed and recycled by his power suit.
'Ow…. Um, how dare you!' Megavolt sent her electrical energy back at her.
Electronique countered. Forks of lighting extended from each combatant. Neither seemed to have the upper hand.
'I said it first!'
'Well…. I prefer truth to dare!'
'Wha…, huh?'
'You first; what's your phone number?'
Howling abuse, Electronique charged the rodent, tackling and repeatable jolting him. The two electro powers wrestled in the dirt and clay brought up by the mole miners. Zapping and clawing and biting…; that was just Electronique.
'Would you go out with me?'
'NO!'
'Come on, I whip up a good fried chicken.'
'I don't like chicken!'
'I didn't squat about chicken….'
'Aarrrrgh.'
Fickle the loyalty of a henchmen Ron mused. A few weeks back all these men were part of his legions of doom. They would cause destruction and sow chaos globally on the whim of their master. Many of them took pride in what they did and who they served. Because Zorpox was a sly mastermind. A cunning warrior. An unstoppable force.
Then Electronique took control. There was probably confusion at first. Maybe regret at how things had turned out. But it really didn't matter to them. The master had changed. Their purpose remained the same. So they carried out Electroniques whim.
But they hadn't forgotten their previous master. The stories and whispers they'd heard. Zorpox's legendary ruthlessness (grossly exaggerated). His skill in close combat (kinda inaccurate). The pleasure he derived from the pain of his foes (that one was technically true). That he collects the spines of his foes as trophies (no idea where that one came from; but Zorpox tried to encourage the rumour by ordering a large supply rock polish).
Now the WEE minions were torn. Caught between duty to their new mistress and the terrifying presence of Zorpox the Conqueror, they're only options to fight or flee. A great deal chose the second option.
The few who choose to fight were bold. But they were also intimidated. Ron used that to his advantage.
He cut his way through his foes, laser sharpened claws slicing through shock sticks and laser rifles. The shocked troopers gapped at the remains of their weapons.
Ron saw a large group running toward him. He threw a special grenade he'd whipped up with medical supplies. Dozens of tiny needles, each containing a numbing agent, struck the surrounding WEE minions. They lost feeling wherever they were struck.
Then the needles started oozing red food colouring.
The result was exactly what Ron had hoped for, the screams of the 'dyeing' on the battlefield.
Terror was his weapon.
A trooper managed to get a behind Ron. He tapped his trigger three times. Satisfaction as all three blasts struck Ron square in the back.
It didn't even slow the madman down. Ron spun round and snatched the stunned minion's weapon, crushing it in his mechanically augmented hands.
The cape had dissipated the energy of the blasts.
One opponent came at it with a knife. Ron placed his beanie on the opponents head. It instantly extended into a giant bag, trapping the foe.
Another managed to land a blow against Ron's cheekbone with his halved weapon butt. The blow knocked off his red glasses. Ron hit back by attaching an anti-grav generator to the offending minions belt. A strong uppercut sent the man to the stars.
The sight of their comrade disappearing into the darkened sky, his cries for help fading away, gave pause to the WEE minions. It was this pause that let them get a good look at the man they were trying to take down.
Lack of his trademark beanie and glasses made Ron no less scary. Underneath was a mat of scruffy, purple/pink coloured hair and glowing red eyes. They saw his face wasn't actually completely blue either. It was half blue, half deathly pale.
Like Braveheart had returned from hell. And he was ticked off.
Ron picked up the fallen glasses and checked their functionality. The HUD was still working. Motion tracker seemed fine. But the rear view camera was snow. Sighing he put them back on.
'Ready for round two?'
Most hurried to flee. Still more arrived to take their place. For Ron the desperate battle began all over again.
He had the advantage now. This new group was even less sure of themselves. Yet Ron realised it was only a matter of time. They'd been caught off guard by actors in super suits. Now terrified by with Ron's theatrics. But they weren't going to let that stand. Not for long.
These men were some of the best. Not Drakken's usual thuggish riff-raff or some Hench Co product. These men were the remaining elite from Gemini's WEE or ex-soldiers hired by….
Well actually I hired them.
And sooner or later they're going to run me through with those drill tanks.
Honestly, Ron felt some guilt over fighting these men. Most had served him loyally in the past, followed his orders. And switching allegiance to Electronique had been nothing personal. Just business.
Then, so was beating the stuffing out of them.
Another trooper managed to land a blow to Ron's head. The blasted motion tracker went down. Cursing, Ron unhooked a gadget from his belt.
A repulsor gun, reworked from one of Dr Possible's prototypes for VTOL capable landers. It worked by repulsing the very air. A zap and a bunch of henchmen were thrown away like Drakken's dignity on karaoke Fridays.
Ron smirked. That worked well. But they'd be back soon. He used the respite to play with his glasses, tapping the lens.
The snow on the rear view camera formed a fuzzy image.
Ron dove forward. He wasn't fast enough.
The cape was sliced in half, his body armour cleaved.
'Ah…!' Ron yelped, stinging from the shallow cut running across his back. He dropped the repulsor.
'Stabbed me in the back! Hey, this armour's meant to be knife proof.'
He got no sympathy from the man responsible. He just raised the Lotus blade in an offensive manner.
'How do you… just turn up like that? Honestly?'
'It is called being stealthy,' Fukushima explained. 'Try it sometime.'
'I should have surgically attached a bell.'
'I mean, your entrance had style,' Fukushima continued. 'Did make it easier to find you.'
'Are you sure finding me is really what you want? Most people seem to be running away.'
Fukushima gripped the Lotus Blade tighter. Similar thoughts had crossed his mind. But it was too late now. It was time to find out once and for all.
'You're not the Unstoppable. And I'll prove it.'
Static from the brawl behind them messed with the pair of teen heroes' hair. Later they would have serious bad hair day issues. Right now they had bigger problems.
'Hana?'
'Don't know,' Kim admitted. 'Rufus?'
'I think, back at the crash site.'
Bonnie paused. 'Zorpox…?'
'Probably on our side…,' Kim tried, and failed, to put a positive spin on that stitch.
'You can not be serious.'
'Well he seems to making mincemeat out of those henchmen over there….'
'Kay! If he knows about Hana then we're sun….'
'I know.'
'You're the chosen one! You can't let that happen.'
'I know!' Kim yelled. 'I know,' she said again, quieter.
The outburst drew Bonnie back. Kim looked away.
Bonnie had always known Kim had still kept a faint hope of saving Ron from himself. She'd be a pretty dense best friend if she hadn't picked up on that. But it was something they'd never talked about. Kim felt very self-conscious over the foolish hope. She knew her BF wouldn't understand. She was right.
So Bonnie pretended not to notice. Partialy to spare Kim the awk-wierdness. But mostly...
Bonnie didn't want to have to be the one to tell her Ron was too far gone. Secretly, Bonnie feared Kim losing her hope more than Zorpox.
Now she regretted every word she'd just spoken
Kim raised her gaze again. Their was a fire in her eyes Bonnie didn't expect to see.
'We need him right now Bee. We can't win without him.'
'Okay Kim,' Bonnie said softly.
'But he can't escape,' Kim accepted. 'Not this time. Not now that everyone knows about Hana.'
Just like that Kim was in mission mode. Her voice was filled was steely determination.
'I'll do it,' Bonnie instantly volunteered. 'I'll take in. Unharmed. I can do it.'
The words surprised both of them.
A flash of gratitude crossed Kim's features. But her voice was all business.
'Help the giant rodent man,' Kim ordered.
'Whoa! I've tangled with Electronique once today. It's your turn.'
Kim brushed off the protest. 'Please and thank you.' She ran off toward the desperate cries of WEE henchmen.
Cursing, Bonnie wondered if she was wrong to not talk to Kim about Ron. After all, who had a stronger spirit than Kim Possible?
Author's Note: The moment I saw Electronique in Stop Team GO I had one thing to say. "Megavolt could take her." Since then I've always wanted a showdown between the two. I didn't know how at the time. It was almost a year ago. But I knew such a conflict was inevitable.