Maybe I should go and search for Drakken. Ahhh no not yet. Its still so nicely warm.

Shego dove her body a bit deeper into the warm water. It was filled with shampoos of different sorts and a mild aroma thingy. Said thingy was small, circular and was dissolving into very many small bubbles who climbed up her back while she just lay there.

"Hmmmmmm that's good." Every small bubble that moved along her body eased the tension inside her. And her muscles. She loved bathing. Not just because it was very relaxing. It also made her forget her bad past with her mom who always made her work her ass off. Me-go and We-go (the one an egoist the other could split up in two beeings) who never gave her credit for the hard attempts to keep the family from falling apart. And the two hyperactive twins for which she was a better mother then her mom. No one ever gave her credit. Until she left and became a thief, money had been her credit, her reward. Finally someone paid attention to her skills and for that she was there at all. But that wasn't the thrill. After a few times it got boring. And money didn't replace someone to talk to. Someone who would say things like: "How's it been today?" or "Nice to have you back." instead of "Did you clean up my pants?" and "Where is my lunch?".

Then Drakken had come into her life. At first she wanted to backstab him and the pay was the only thing that kept her from that. But after her first robberys (which had been very exciting compared to the lousy harmless thefts she had done before) she had noticed a difference. Ohhh I still remember the first time I came back with one of his stupid science-thingys. What he had said that day was what triggered something inside her. "Ahhh excellent work shego! When I... we took over the world you shall have at least the half of it. Or we can reign together... If you would want that. Great work Shego I am proud of you!" After having said that and taking the device from her the blue man had left. But not for long. He never left her for long.

What had surprised her that day had been: Admiration. Thankfullness. Someone showed that he was happy when she did something. And even when she was just there. She let herself slide a bit deeper into the foam.

Ummmm so good. And what had happened the second time? Oh yeah the princess came up. His own "invention" collapsed among the building and I had to shove him out of the ruins. That had been a painfull day. But somewhat nice too. How was that again...

---

She stood before the burning remains of their first lair (not the one on the haunted island) and hid from the upcoming police, carrying the knocked out doctor with her. "Assistent oh yeah! (she sighed and put him down behind a bush) I should be in charge." After that she kept waiting while patting her feet. Patt-Patt-Patt. Again he didn't move. Patt-Patt. Nothing again. She shouted at the man: "Urrrgh if you don't wake up now I'm gonna run off and leave you here!" But nothing happened.

"Pfff fine get a new 'assistent'!" And with that she stomped off, unnerved. But a bit slower then she wanted to. And she even looked over her shoulder many times to check on him. And she looked around for cops way too often. And listened for sirens a bit longer then necessary.

She sighed and her shoulders slumped down among her head. Why am I doing this? I should just run away. There are enough people who want to employ me. But the fact was: She knew none of these people. And she also didn't know where they were and didn't have any money among her. So she had been lost without Drakken. Fine. Please. But I'm not gonna beg him or something. He should be happy that I stick with him. No: That I HAVE to stick with him. Maybe for a weak or so. And then I'm gonna leave.

Drakkens voice came from somewhere behind her: A long moan and then words: "Shego? Are you there? I need help..." and he collapsed into a trash-can before finishing the sentence.

"Doctor D? Wait I'm coming!" She ran to his prison and pulled him out with an old burger-packing that 'decorated' his head.

She smiled sinister: "Nice hat Doc I didn't know you prepared yourself for Halloween." Come on pick the fight I wanna see you angry.

But no angry remark or order came. Instead he pulled off the packing and wanked around like asleep or drunk. His usual hair and a bit of red were seen. "Uhhhhh I think I should...desinfect that..." and fell again, but this time Shego picked him up and supported him.

"Where were you? I was worried... cops you know..." Worried? He...missed me?

"I...errrm... was looking for... medicine!" Why do I lie to him?... I better treat wound at his head...No I should just leave. Oh I see he needs my help. But I could just call the ambulance. No they would arrest him... Angry at her inability to just leave him she eyed him deeper. He almost looks like a puppie just now. Fine. Please. I'll drop him somewhere and then I'll leave him. It was boring with him anyway.

"Oh yeah... Medicine. I have a room in a motel nearby where we can get your wounds treated and lay low... uuuuuuh."

"Hang on doc just tell me where." After this Shego walked him to the said motel, a shady and lonesome place. For the first time she didn't feel disappointed because of helping someone. Drakken rested on a couch in his room and she looked for medicine in the bathroom. Luckily, there had been some. While coming back to Drakken, who clutched one gloved hand at his head, she spoke: "What do you mean with MY wounds? You're the only one injured."

"No... the back of your right shoulder looks bad. Might already have an infection... uhhh."

She frowned and looked. He was right. "I didn't feel that how-"

"Blood-poisoning: you won't get far without proper treatment." Oh yeah sure lame excuse to make me stay over night, moron. At first Shego had believed that he would be one the many men who wanted to hit on her. But that impression turned to the opposite. He respected not only her skills.

He also respects my privacy. She smiled a bit at that thought and made herself more comfy in the bath-tube.

"If you let me treat that... I mean if..errm. If that's not too much against your privacy and...ummmm-"

"Don't sweat it your wound first."

"No I insist on-"

"NO Drakken I insist on something else!" Something else I like about him. He listens to me. At least when I'm not mocking him.

Grumbling the doctor turned around to give her a better view of his head. She put a bit of the desinfecting ointment into her hand and rubbed it on his injury. He squelched and she put her hand back. "HARR this burns. Umm but no matter how much I resist keep on okay?"

"Fine doc." So she continued. He bit his teeth to not scream and she pressed a bit harder only to see him wave his arms around. It looked funny to her. One plaster later the doc went back to talking: "Now to your wound." She shuffled a bit at that comment. "I mean you don't have to take your suit of or something!" He quickly added. Men touching her wasn't the most common thing to her. But she obeyed and turned around. And shuddered a bit when the burning ointment came. But he carefully massaged into her back so it didn't hurt much. It even felt nice...somehow. That's how I came to like massages at all.

When he was finished with the plaster she got up and moved to the door. But the door was just near the entrance to the bedroom.

"Umm you can have the bedroom Shego. I mean if you want to stay. I could umm (he cramed up a few dollars from his pockets) buy you another room!"

She didn't turn around.Don't look don't look don't look Until he interrupted her sentence with one almost magical sentence:

"Umm Shego-?"

She turned around to face him Oh great now he DID make me turn. You mean little trickster-

"-thank you for not leaving me behind... I mean that no one has ever cared for me except my mom and... I just wanted to say thank you before you leave. I had hoped you would stay but... I mean you saw clearly that I'm a loser and just slow you down and...stuff." Does he look sad? Yes he does. Almost like a puppy. Wait no don't hink of cute litlle helpless- Oh great. He did it again.

She frowned. "I'm not leaving. Just always knock and never come into my rooms okay?"

A smile crept up his face: "Of course Shego! And when you feel better we shall attempt world domination once again!"

"Whatever just don't bore me." Was the answer when she smashed the door, trying to look pissed. But in thruth she smiled as she went to bed. A nice warmth had spread out not only on the injured back of hers when she had fallen asleep.

-->

Okay fine I'll go and find him. Just five more minutes. She looked around and saw a small botlle of shampoo with a red ribbon around it. She took it and read a small car that glued on the kitshy ribbon. It said:

" Dear Shego: Happy Annual-day! Remember? Six years ago we met and I just wanted to say thank you again for the positive turning you gave my life back then and still give. I would not have continued to conquer the world if you wouldn't have come. I know we fight often and I boss you around much. I'm working on that and I'll try to not piss you off so much. And could you please tell me when your birthday is? I still don't know. Yours in Evil: Drew Lipsky aka Doctor Drakken."

She sighed. "Ohhh...that's just... too nice from him... " Whie smiling warmly she got out of the water and put her new clothes on. Then she marched past a henchmen and told him: "If Drakken comes here without me tell him that I'm searching him and that he shall phone me."

The henchman, surprised on the fact Shego had talked to him with respect and without ANY mocking or sarcastic comment, looked at her quizically. And Shego smiling was indeed a rather rare sight too.

He still does it the old trickster. Roaring the engine of the hovercar came to life. He still makes me know he needs me. And that he appreciates me and my work. That somehow makes it all worth. Even losing everytime. And his childishness. And... everything.

She drove with high speed through the dawning day towards the signal Drakken's beeper made. Soon she was at a house that looked rather mangled. It's front-door was kicked to shreds. After turning off the engine she entered the house and noticed that it was empty. But the signal was there. So Drakken had to be there too. At least did she believe that until she saw Drakkens old jeans lying on the ground of the parents sleeping room. And the jeans had the beeper inside them.

"Oh great that moron." While going down the stairs she noticed a note lying on the kitchentable. Oh yeah just the same hung above the broken door.

It said: "Dear Bonnie: We are at a place named "Drakken's Lair" A man named Drakken is among me and had that idea. If you don't know where that is I have set up a map in my working-room. Just look at the console and take one of the printed copies that lie around there. And I'm sorry that I can't supply you with weapons to defend yourself with. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look at the videos. With love: Dad."

"Strange I haven't met any cars on my way out. Weird. But at least I don't need a map to find "Drakken's lair". Hell I live there!" So the pissed off shego went back to her car only to see some moron touching it and mourning weird. She gave him a fat kick to the jaw and sped back to her home. After about ten minutes she was at the site.

"Ahh that sportscar must be their ride. What is that? (she narrowed her eyes a bit) knives? Stuck within the roof? Weird. And why is the door open? I'll give the henchmen hell of a speech for that."

Her hovercar stopped a few meters from the front entrance. "Strange all the tools lying around. Like as if someone would have searched for something. Well I'll just get through the door and see -"

Ronald Stoppable came through it, ignorant to her. Ahh this could be fun

---

Ron turned and held his rifle towards one of the henchmen who ran after him. He aimed his shotgun and pulled the trigger.

Tfwammmm and the man's head split into splattering pieces of meat. Another henchman ran through the door swinging a huge crowbar at him. But another loud

Tfbammmm made him fall behind without both a head and a torso. them or me them or me

Number three got out and received just same punishement after Ron ejected the used shell. It felt good, almost righteous as the shaft slammed into his shoulder when it fired another deadly messenger at number four, who came out too. He ejected another shell and was ready to fire when he spotted Shego just standing there, stunned for the mere second he had needed to end four lives. She'll get at me when I'm done with these lackeys. Remember the training remember the training Again the metalmade deathbringer spat out another steam of death at an undead henchman and an empty shell to Shegos feet. More persons came out of the door. This time no henchmen. It was Henry, still clad in his blue-battledress and holding his m4 to the door while running backwards. After that came Lonnie, Connie, and Helen. At last, Drakken came out.

---

Shego was no longer surprised and ready to attack Ron when Drakken came out, holding a pistol in his hands and aiming at something behind the door. He fired thrice and sickening sounds proved point-blanc hits.

"To the car!" The blue-clad commando shouted while shooting into the room through the door that was no longer blocked by Drakken. Someone screamed as loud as a man could: "FOOD!"

"You are going no-where buffoon!" I hope he's angry at that. I love to mock people. But nothing came as reaction.

Except that Drakken shouted over the noise of a firing assaultrifle: "The place is gonna self-destruct! Run!"

And fired another two rounds at something inside the lair. Shego couldn't believe her eyes to see Drakken like this. He looks so... determined and unstoppable. And why isn'i he fighting with the buffoon? He looks quite serious too. And what the hell are they shooting at? I'll look. She jumped over their heads, making a salto in the air and noticed that the commando had to reload. Drakken spotted her shortly before she reached the door, but couldn't react in time. Her eyes widened at the sight.

Whatever this man had been before was barely recognisable. It seemed to be the henchman she had talked to. A skinny and longgrown man. A 2 meter long tentacle that ended into a huge claw rose out of the left face of the "man" Also his arm was a gruesome-looking sichel-blade as long as a man himself. And on the back seemed to grow a small skorpion-tale. It grew before her eyes, and in merely a half second had doubled its size. Both legs were replaced by four spider-like legs that went upwards from the body to knack in a 90-degrees angle into crow-clawed "feet". The other arm seemed to be a huge barrel that went through its shoulder, making it look like a very big bio-cannon. It began to glow at the inside. And the huge tentacle-clawthing reshaped into a meterlong swordtipped blade that crashed down to her. She wanted to jump behind but knew she would be too slow.

Everything passed through her mind again. The day she had met Drakken, the day she had a massive fight with him and apologized, the moment when she had a funny water fight with him after they had accidently fallen into a lake. But one thing bothered her: I want to tell Drakken-

"Master, Master, where's the dream that I've been after?"

A hand smashed onto her shoulder, throwing her forward. She felt the mass of a foreign body and the huge blade that stroke through the air just where her head was before. Two loud bangs erupted abover her other shoulder. And the blade didn't hit her but something else.

---

Ron watched the girl named Lonnie beeing cut intwo, her head and upper body beeing seperated from the rest by the blade that seemed to glide through the concrete. Connie, who hadn't watched moved to the "Hovercar" that some far, far away voice mentioned in the same moment. Everything inside him stopped suddenly. Even his heart gave out. But it regained its knocking as if mocking his thoughts.

"Master, Master you only promised lies"

Lonnie Rockwaller, the girl he had fallen in love with was dead. The girl that somewhat liked him (even more than Kim) had stopped to exist just a few minutes after he had met her. He knew she somehow loved him, there had been signals. He wasn't sure about girls and about how to interpret their words and behaviour, but that had been clear.

One of these signals was that she somewhat threw him to the ground before the blade had come.

Drakken came out of the building while towing Shego among by grasping one of her hands. But Ron didn't care. He also didn't care that he was pulled somewhere by some unknown force. Appearently that force felt like a hand, if he still felt it right. What he doubted very much. And said force wanted him to somehow live on. If he could manage that. He felt like if his heart would have been ripped out by that blade without killing him. Like as if a sadistic man would draw pleasure from his suffering.

"Laughter, Laughter all I see or hear is laughter"

He had told her about Kim on their ride to the lair, she had been very understanding. Maybe that would explain why he had heard her voice say one thing before he impacted the ground: "Be happy with her"

---

Shego suddenly sat on the drivers chair, Drakken beside her, and turned on the engine. She couldn't think in that moment she just did it like she had done it many times before. And she was ready to drive but Drakken held her shoulder. Somehow that gesture indicated Wait. A loud sound came to her ears while she turned and saw a gigantic blue beam cut through the massive lairs wall. It was about of 3 meters high and bride, and it flew into town mocking the miles they away from the cities core. And a figure disappered in the beam.

---

Henry's wife died in the massive outburst of bioelectrical whatever that fueled the huge beam. Right before his hands. He couldn't believe that she would be there no more. He had planned to live with her again even though they were divorced. He knew she would have accepted him again if he would have turned his back on work and live for the family.

"Laughter, Laughter, laughing at my cries"

But no more. Never again would he feel her arms around him. Never again. His past was spoiled, his future lay in scatters and the present was crap anyway. And the blue beam that seperated him from the vehicle thinned and died down, showing the huge thing as it packed the molten wall and stood inside the hole, screaming for food again.

Like a machine, filled with nothing but impulses he rose his rifle and fired the underslung grenade-launcher. A huge bang erupted and the creature was flooded with napalm, burning but not yet killing it. However he ran for the car.

It's huge tentacle came for him but he rolled underneath it. A second stroke from its 5 meterlong tale missed becaue he ducked and ran on. As soon as he jumped onboard the hover-device the green-blackclad woman turned the ignition and drove on, narrowly evading another strike from the burning creature only by speed. A look at the timer built into his clock showed 00:01 seconds remaining until destruction. A gigantic fireball enlightened the night together with one scream. And as he saw the entire town beeing enlightened by the huge flame the creatures scream echoed inside him.

Yeah we're nothing else than that anymore:

"Food"