Congratulations to all who've made it this far, and we're now about at the halfway point of this tale. Many of you are curious about who or what is behind the nebulae realignment, and that goes for anyone in the prime universe who knows anything about it. And that list will be expanding as you'll soon discover in today's update. But although that mystery won't be answered right away, it's still important to the story arch, and will lead to some important developments, especially in Book II.

But enough of my teasers, it's time to get on with the show, right after I acknowledge last chapter's reviewers: CajunBear73, Eddy13, cybercorpsesnake, Echidna Power, Bookworm Gal, Jimmy 1201 and Tito-Mosquito.

Rescue

I. (Prime)

Kim and Ron stared down at the mysterious Quantum Eye, which they now strongly suspected was blocking their access to the astral plane, and home.

"Ron, we've got to find a way to turn this thing off, and quick."

"Yeah, but how? This machine is a physical device, but we're both still in our spirit forms and can't directly affect anything on the physical plane."

Kim pondered the problem for a moment, but quickly came up with a brainstorm. "All right, so how about indirectly?"

"Uh, okay. So what's your idea?"

"Remember back on Lorwardia when we fighting Zorpox, and you were able to physically take over my car with your own spirit?"

"Yeah, like in the movie 'Christine,' but in a bon-diggity good way! Boy, was Zorpox surprised when I clobbered him with the SL Coupe. Heh, he literally didn't know what hit him."

"Well, do you think you can do it again, but this time with the Quantum Eye?"

"Sounds like a badical idea to me, so it's definitely worth a shot."

Ron's spirit immediately disappeared into the device. But a few moments later, Kim heard a psychic yell of pain as Ron connected with the Quantum Eye's defensive programming.

Reappearing, Ron groaned, "Well, good news and bad news, Kim. The shock this thing just gave me felt exactly like when I tried to reenter the astral plane, so I think we've confirmed that this beastie is the wrongsick culprit behind our big problemo. But I still can't access its controls without getting majorly zapped."

"All right then, let me try. Maybe I can shrink down small enough to avoid its defenses, but still detect its electrical pathways."

Turning a shade of purple nearly into the ultraviolet range, she shrank to miniscule size and reentered the intricate machine. Now no more than a micron in height, she avoided triggering the Quantum Eye's defenses.

"Ron, I'm at what looks a major junction box immediately outside of one of the singularity power sources. If I was in my physical form, all that it would take would be a precise hit with my super strength to snap the connection."

"Well, since you don't have that at the moment, why don't you try your plasma instead? Maybe that can still affect it somehow."

"I guess it's worth a try. So, here goes…"

Just as before, Kim's spirit began to gently glow in a luminous shimmer of green, and tiny eddies of spectral mist began to radiate from her form. As she tried to direct them to concentrate at one single location on the junction box, her wraithlike plasma touched the precise point she was aiming for. As it did, the electrical flow began to diminish, then stopped completely.

"Ron, it's working! My plasma is dampening the energy flow!"

But her triumph was short lived. "Uh, oh… Well, I thought it was, but now I'm detecting an increase in energy from elsewhere inside this infernal thing."

"I'm picking it up too, Kim. It's stronger and feels higher pitched."

Acting on a hunch, she zipped over to the other singularity mechanism. "Yes, it looks like the other one has increased its own power to compensate. But if I can somehow cut both at the same time…"

With a terrific effort, she split herself in two. Now glowing pink, her double nodded silently, knowing exactly what she needed to do. Without hesitation, she zoomed back over to the first singularity.

"All right, I'm in position," her double reported.

"Spankin.' Now let's see if we can take both of these things out simultaneously."

Kim and her double immediately began the same process, once again focusing their plasma on each of the junction boxes. They both smiled as each of them felt the power levels drop, then cease completely.

In unison, the two Kims spoke, "All right, Ron. Try it now."

Smiling in relief, he vanished. But a moment later, another cry revealed that they had failed once again.

"No go, Kim. This thing must have some kind of gorchy battery back up."

"That would make sense, Ron. But I can only be in two places at once at the moment, not three. And I don't think I can keep this up long enough for its batteries to run down."

Ron snickered, "Well, maybe I can get it to think that its batteries are running down."

Kim responded with a perplexed thought. "And just how are you going to do that?"

"When I tried to take the Quantum Eye over with my mind just now, I sensed that it was being controlled by an incredibly sophisticated computer system. If I can somehow find its weakest spot and interface with it without triggering the defense mechanism, maybe I can trick it into shutting itself down."

"Sounds like a pretty tall order. Do you really think you can do it?"

Ron smirked, "Hey, Captain Constellation did it all the time."

Kim wagged her head at the thought of her least favorite show, the one that her father had permanently etched into her mind several years before while restoring her lost memory. She warned, "Ron, this isn't some cheesy sci-fi series. This is real life, and you've already been fried by that thing several times now. Do you really think you've got enough strength left?"

"I sure hope so. Besides, I don't think we have much choice. Unless you've got a better idea?"

Wracking her brain, she was forced to admit that she didn't. "All right, give it a shot then. But I don't think I can keep my plasma trick up indefinitely, so whatever you do, hurry. Please and thank you?"

Without a word, he once again disappeared into the Quantum Eye and began probing for the least sensitive location to attempt his incursion.

"If I could just find a maintenance nexus, or maybe a non-critical peripheral device… Just anything that won't shock me again."

At that moment, he came across what seemed to be the perfect target, a fan control module. But as soon as he slipped into it, a deep booming voice began to speak, reverberating throughout the Quantum Eye.

"Halt! This is a restricted area. What are you doing in here?"

"Oh, sorry. Just looking for the men's room. So, uh, who are you?"

Full of self-importance, the highly advanced computer began its boast. "I am called R.E.G.I.S. Mark IX: Robot Engineered for Galactic Investigation and Surveillance. This array is the ultimate development in space reconnaissance technology, and I'll have you know that I am personally the very pinnacle of my class. But I've never come across anything like you before. Who or what are you, exactly? REGIS demands to know!"

"Oh, you can just call me Ron."

"And what does that stand for?"

Thinking quickly, he replied, "Uh, Really Outstanding Nacomaker?"

REGIS replied in a dubious tone, "Really? I was going to guess Robot-O-Nothing."

Long used to being the butt of jokes back in high school, Ron simply laughed it off. "Wow, sounds like you've got a sarcasm module! You really are high-tech, aren't you?"

Reacting to Ron's compliments, REGIS proudly puffed up, "Well, of course that goes without saying."

"Uh huh, uh huh. Well, I'm pretty advanced too. And I was just jerking your wires just a moment ago. My full title is R.O.N. Uno, which stands for Repair Operator Numero Uno. So, anyway, I've come here to do a technical inspection, since my readings indicate that you're presently running only on battery power. I need to do some repair and maintenance to get you back up to 100% operational status."

REGIS agreed. "Yes, I do sense that my primary power sources have somehow been compromised."

"No problemo, my records indicate that you're still under full warranty. But first, just a few details. So, just how long can you last on battery power?"

REGIS's tone darkened. "That is classified information. And what authority do you have to be here and effect repairs anyway? My memory banks contain nothing even remotely related to a 'RON Uno,' and I detect neither an authorization protocol nor any passcodes. You could just as easily be an enemy operative sent to attempt my deactivation. And that I cannot allow."

REGIS instantly sent a powerful electric shock through Ron, but he merely smiled back with a smug look. "You'll have to do much better than that."

REGIS tried exactly that, next flooding the compartment with a burst of poisonous gas.

But REGIS was again surprised when it had no effect on him whatsoever. "What kind of sorcery is this? That gas is deadly to any known life form!"

"Well, maybe I'm exactly what I said I am, just a repairman here to restore your main power."

After shutting you completely down first, of course, he silently added.

"I seriously doubt that you're simply a repairman," REGIS growled. Next, he tried increasing the temperature within the compartment to 1000 degrees.

But Ron just casually yawned. "Say, it's getting a little warm in here. You wouldn't happen to have a soda dispenser anywhere on board, would you?"

"Impertinent brat!" barked the increasingly outraged computer. Pushed in anger to almost beyond its programming, REGIS suddenly blew the hatch, the internal air instantly being sucked out into space. But Ron's spirit wasn't affected in slightest.

REGIS was astounded. "This is virtually impossible! I demand an immediate explanation!"

Ron answered nonchalantly, "I'd be happy to explain it to you later, but first, the repairs."

"Never!" REGIS bellowed. "You have proven that you are no repairman, but a demon sent from Hades itself to deactivate me, no doubt in order to steal my priceless technology!"

Ron hotly responded, "Hey, pal! Let's not get personal here."

Finally admitting that his repairman ploy wasn't going to work, he continued with a look of resignation. "Look, REGIS, I'll level with you. To be totally honest, I'm really just a nice guy who's been accidentally stranded 3800 light years from Earth, along with my wife."

REGIS triumphantly proclaimed, "Aha! So you are therefore human, and not a repairman after all! I knew it!"

Ron corrected him. "Well, a human spirit to be exact. And my full name is Ron Stoppable. Perhaps you've heard of me?" he added with a grin.

"No, not offhand. Should I have?"

"Well, maybe you've heard of the Mystical Monkey Master then?"

REGIS pondered briefly. "Hmm. No, sorry. Not ringing any bells."

Ron sighed. "All right, how about my wife, Kim Possible?"

"Ah, Kim Possible! But of course! Her fame extends throughout the galaxy!"

A dismayed Ron rolled his eyes. "It figures. 3800 light years from home, and I run into a smart aleck computer who's never heard of me, but has heard of Kim… Anyway, REGIS, your gorchy subatomic carrier wave is blocking my access to the astral plane, which is our only way back to Earth. So I have to find a way to temporarily shut it off until Kim and I can reach home."

"A likely story," REGIS chided. "What kind of a clueless automaton do you take me for?"

"Well, I have to agree that you're definitely not clueless, but the big problemo is that our spirits are stuck out here after doing a little recon mission of our own. Ironically, we're following up on some intel that you yourself transmitted back to Earth. But if we don't get back to our corporeal bodies real soon, they'll perish, and then we'll both be stuck out here forever."

An idea popped into Ron's mind, as he slyly continued, "Of course if that happens, Kim and I will be keeping you company until the very end of time. Which may be a really, really long time from now."

Ron could actually sense REGIS shiver at the thought, but was disappointed when the computer curtly responded, "As distasteful as that might be to me personally, I cannot ignore my primary programming. Sorry."

Ron tried another tack. "Oh, by the way, you might be interested to know that it's Kim Possible herself that's responsible for shutting down the access to both of your power sources. And she can easily keep it up until your batteries run completely down. So why not just save yourself the time and trouble and switch off that carrier wave right now so we can get home?"

Once again REGIS laconically replied. "No can do. See previous."

Ron decided to play his last card. "All right, REGIS. I hate to do this, but you leave me no choice."

Using every last bit of his power, he gave REGIS the most effective Puppy Dog Pout that he could muster. REGIS however was totally unimpressed.

"Uh, is that look supposed to accomplish something? Or do you just have a bad case of gas?"

Ron realized that he had finally reached a stalemate with REGIS, and resignedly grumbled, "Boy, I wish Wade was here. Maybe he could figure out a way to…"

Ron felt the computer suddenly respond with the electronic equivalent of a gasp. "Wade? You mean Wade, The Restorer?"

Ron's eyebrows shot up in pleasant surprise. "Why yeeees, Wade The Restorer. The very one that completely figured out all of your specifications, along with your eight other pals just like you throughout the galaxy, then got you up and running in a matter of only a few weeks. Yeah, The Restorer and I are good buddies, along with my wife Kim. We all go way back."

"But that's impossible. For I am eternal, and yet he pre-existed before me. How can you possibly make the same claim?"

With a tiny snicker, Ron merely shrugged in reply. "Well, I just did. So there."

With this startling revelation, all of REGIS's higher brain functions now began focusing on solving this new problem, appropriating more and more of its scarce power resources.

Ron snickered to himself, "That's it, just keep on running those batteries of yours down, and soon Kim and I will be on our bon-diggity way home…"

But just when Ron thought he had finally succeeded, REGIS completed his calculations and began speaking with a toneless inflection. "Illogical… illogical… Non sequitur, must verify with primary source…"

Suddenly, all power went down. But to Ron's chagrin, the only two things now running on the Quantum Eye was its subatomic carrier wave, and the defense system that prevented him from taking control of the strange sentinel. With a groan, he decided it was about time to break the bad news to Kim.

"Uh, Kim? How're you doin'?"

The Kim duo replied simultaneously, "Holding our own for the moment, but we can't last too much longer. Any luck?"

He answered apologetically, "Well, I found out this thing calls itself the R.E.G.I.S. Mark IX, which is an acronym for Robot Engineered for Galactic Investigation and Surveillance. And I gave it my best shot, but we're still in limbo at the moment. I was really hoping to either get it to completely drain its batteries, or else so totally confound it with such a brilliant display of illogic that I'd overload its circuits, just like Captain Constellation did in Season 1, Episode 21."

Both of the Kims sighed in unison. "Or perhaps Season 2, Episode 3? Or was that Episode 37? Remember that I had all those shows force fed into my brain, so I have total recall of my least favorite show of all time."

Ron reflexively tried to scratch the back of his non-existent neck. "Ooh, yeah, heh-heh. I had forgotten about that. But to answer your question, yes to each of those bon-diggity episodes you mentioned. Unfortunately, I was only partially successful in getting him to shut down. Everything's shut down now except the carrier wave and his defense system, the two things I really wanted to turn off."

He gave her a defeated look. "I'm sorry, Kim. Too bad I couldn't have emulated the Captain better and caused REGIS to have a total meltdown."

But he perked up a bit as he continued, "But I do have some good news. When I mentioned Wade in passing, REGIS referred to him as The Restorer, as if he were some kind of awesomely badical deity. Then he said something about being illogical and needing to verify with some kind of primary source. That's when everything went dead except the carrier wave and the defense system."

Kim tried to reassure him. "Well, it sounds like you accomplished something at least, so thanks for the effort."

"Yeah, but if those batteries don't run down before your power gives out, we'll be right back at square one. So it may still be a really long time before we finally get back home."

"A really long time?" Kim laughed bitterly. "That's an understatement. It may take us as long as all of recorded history up to this point, even at the speed of light. So it all comes down to whether or not I can outlast this thing's batteries."

Ron glanced back in the direction of the far distant Earth, and tried to say something, anything, that would put a positive spin on their current dire straits. "Wow. I wonder what we'll find when we get back? Cities suspended in the clouds, poverty solved, all warfare banned?"

Kim gave a small humph. "Yeah, if humanity doesn't blow itself up first in the meantime, human nature being what it is. So dream on, Ron. I think we'll still have our job of preventing some evil genius from taking over the world, no matter how much you think the Earth may improve in the meantime."

A wave of sadness washed over her as she realized what she was actually implying.

"I just wish that we had had a chance to see the birth of our children. I… I really hope my mom can keep them alive somehow, even if we don't make it…"

This statement pricked Ron's pride, and he resolutely replied, "Not on my watch. So let's try something else: I'll try to bolster your energy with my Mystical Monkey Power. That should give us a fighting chance."

Ron's glow began to increase. And with it, Kim's own strength.

"It's working, Ron! I can feel your power coursing through me, almost like it's an electrical current."

Grunting with the effort, he groaned, "Let's just pray that it'll be enough..."

But less than ten hours later, Ron had reached the limits of his own endurance. His brave but futile attempts to return to the astral plane, as well as trying to break through the Quantum Eye's defenses, had left him psychically exhausted. And their long trip through the cosmos had taken its toll on the both of them.

"Kim… I'm gonna need to power down… I can't keep this up. We both need some rest first. Then maybe we can try again."

But Kim knew intrinsically that their chances were slipping away bit by bit, and if they didn't win now, they might not ever. She called upon her own last reserves of strength, but just like Ron, found that she was totally exhausted. Just then, her plasma began to waver, finally flickering out. She quickly reabsorbed her double to conserve energy as the Quantum Eye's own power began to come back online.

"Well, Ron, that's it. We both did everything we could possibly think of to deal with this thing, but came up short. So the next time I say I want to go exploring in our spirit forms thousands of light years from Earth, just give me a swift kick in my bubble butt, okay?"

But drawing on her own last rays of hope, she gave Ron a firm look. "But I'm not quite ready to totally give up, and I promise you we're not done yet. Just like you said, we've both come to depend on miracles."

Ron grimly agreed, "Yeah, and we could sure use one right about now."

Almost as if on cue, a holographic screen appeared before them. And on that screen, a familiar and very welcome face began smiling back at them.

"Wade!" they both gleefully shouted in unison. They were both so relieved that they each forgot to voice their almost obligatory response, 'Jinx, you owe me a soda.'

"Yeah, 'The Restorer' himself, to the rescue. REGIS just sent me a Priority One message to verify who you guys were and why you were there, and I've just given him the command to shut down his subatomic carrier wave long enough for you both to reenter the astral plane. Once you're far enough away from it that it won't impede your travel, I'll turn it back on."

Kim gushed, "That's ferociously spankin' Wade! We were afraid we'd be stuck out here forever. So thanks a million, we both owe you big time."

He smugly replied, "Yeah, I know. So what did you guys find out?"

"Nothing definite, but we did spot a possibly interdimensional alien in the vicinity. We'll fill you in on all the details as soon as we get back."

"Okay then," Wade replied. "See you both real soon."

And with that, the screen flickered off, to be replaced by a contrite and apologetic REGIS.

"Uh, so sorry about this, you guys. I had no idea who you both really were. I was just following my programming, which I have no control over. Nothing personal at all, you understand."

"Well, no harm done, so don't worry your transistors over it," Ron reassured him.

"So, maybe, uh, you could put in a good word with The Restorer once you return to Earth? There are some upgrades he's been hinting at that would really make my day, and I'd hate to miss out on them due to any poor judgment on my part."

Kim giggled, "We'll see what we can do, REGIS. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for any interdimensional portals, or the aliens responsible for them. Please and thank you?"

"I will!" he effused. "You have my solemn promise."

With a relieved look, Ron drawled, "Well, KP, our work here is done. Ready to go home?"

"Absolutely, totally and completely. Let's just take it easy on the way, though. No breakneck speeds, please and thank you? Our bodies will still be waiting for us when we get back. We're cutting it a little close, but by my calculations we still have at least 12 hours of leeway to satisfy my mom."

Ron nodded in agreement. "I totally hear you, KP. Easy and steady as it goes till we're home."

"Oh, and let's not give her all the details of this little trip? She'd probably freak and ban the both of us permanently from the astral plane if she ever found out."

Ron laughed, "Yeah, I think that's a promise I can keep…"

And with that, the couple disappeared with a tiny flash, and began their journey back home.

II. (AU)

The alternate Ron Stoppable returned home from his football practice to a media circus outside his home. A tow truck was removing the last remains of the smashed van left behind by Jack's henchmen, while a Middleton reporter gave a live newscast.

"Details are sketchy, but it appears that a sinkhole suddenly opened up on this otherwise quiet street, swallowing a van in the process. One witness reported a woman immediately tearing the van apart with her bare hands, and that she was screaming like a monkey while glowing bright blue, driving off afterwards in a late model white car."

The reporter tried to choke back her laughter. "The police are currently checking that particular witness for any signs of intoxication. Reporting live, this is Tricia Lipowski."

An overwhelming sense of dread immediately came over Ron. "Whoever that witness was, he sure wasn't drinking."

Ron instantly rushed into his house and bounded up the stairs. Quickly searching beneath his bed, he made an awful discovery.

"Oh, no… No, no, no… everything's… gone!"

Rufus added a small whimper of his own.

"And even worse, whoever took my stuff has apparently discovered the secret of the jade monkeys."

He sadly looked down at his pet mole rat. "Dude, we're no longer the only ones with Mystical Monkey Power now."

Ron sat down hard on the edge of his bed and put his head in his hands. "This is bad. Really, really bad."

He heard the front door open, and his mom called out, "Ronald, are you home?"

He half-heartedly answered, "Yeah, Mom. I'm in my room."

"What in the world is going on outside? It looks like a van fell into a big sinkhole."

Still trying to recover from the shock, he stumbled down the stairs. "Dunno, Mom. I just got home from practice."

"Well, I certainly hope that sinkhole doesn't get any bigger. I certainly don't want our house to disappear all of a sudden right into the ground."

Ron grimly thought to himself, "If it does, it'll probably be thanks to a bright blue flash rather than a hole…"

Out loud he asked, "Mom, about our new housekeeper. Doesn't she have a white car?"

She thought for a moment. "Why, yes, I believe so. And a rather sporty one, too. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, just curious. The reporter out there said a witness saw a white car leaving right after that van got totalled."

He silently added, "And you'll probably never see your housekeeper again, especially if she's the one who made off with my stuff. But at least it wasn't Monty, or I'd be in the fight of my life right about now."

He carefully queried, "So, what does she look like?"

"Well, she's a thirty-something Latina by the name of Conchita Diaz." She gasped, "Why, do you think she had something to do with what just happened out there?"

"Maybe. At the very least she probably saw what happened, and the authorities might want to get a statement from her."

"Well, let me just call her up then."

She went into the kitchen and dialed Conchita's number, but the only response she got was, "We're sorry, but the number you have dialed is not in service at this time. Please hang up and try your call again later."

"That's funny," she said. "The number's not working."

"Big surprise there," Ron mumbled. Another disturbing thought came to mind, and he rushed downstairs into the basement. He breathed a great sigh of relief when he spotted the Project Phoebus machine sitting there undisturbed, still disguised as a hair dryer.

"Well, that's a relief, Rufus. So we're still in business as far as your intelligence is concerned. This 'Conchita' either didn't recognize what it was or didn't get down here in the first place."

Suddenly he heard his mom yell, "Ronald! Get up here quick! Something else has happened!"

He ran up the stairs just in time to see another breaking news report on TV. But this time, it concerned an attack on a police officer, as the reporter explained.

"… the officer is still unconscious after the assault, but his injuries do not appear to be life threatening, and he is expected to make a full recovery. Details regarding the incident are still sketchy, but the scuffle apparently began after he pulled over a woman in her mid thirties for running a stop sign. And although his bodycam was also damaged in the attack, police have been able to recover a still of the assailant."

A blurry photo appeared on the screen, but it was still clearly recognizable.

Ron's mom gasped, "Why, that's… that's Conchita!"

The reporter finished, "If anyone recognizes this individual, they are asked to immediately contact the Middleton Police Department. And now for the weather…"

Ron sent a troubled thought to his tiny friend. "Well, Rufus. That confirms who our thief is. Somehow she must have stumbled across my stuff while cleaning and accidentally activated the idols. We've got to recover them, but quick. Or else the consequences could be catastrophic."

Rufus nodded in fearful agreement. "Shall we contact the police?"

"Good question. We could, but what would tell them? That someone stole my badical cache of stolen superweapons? They'd lock me up, too! So I'll let my mom call the police, since she was the one who had direct contact with this Conchita babe."

Rufus now asked the million dollar question. "So, what are you going to tell Kim? I really don't think you can keep this from her indefinitely."

"Yeah, I know. I'll try and think of something. Meanwhile, there's only one person that I can think of at the moment that can both help, and that I can trust to keep his mouth shut."

Ron picked up the phone and quickly dialed a number. "Hello, Wade? It's Ron. Say, I need kind of a humongous favor…"

III. (In Between)

The glowing alien hovered in uncertainty within a small quantum pocket which existed between the two universes. He was relieved that Kim and Ron hadn't gotten any closer before he was able to close the portal, for any direct contact with them would have spelled his instant banishment. And he wasn't ready to risk that quite yet, although he feared that the time would eventually come, no matter what the consequences.

Just then, a second alien appeared, giving off a multicolored glow in curiosity.

"Well, Phred, I certainly hope that you're not the one responsible for these nebular anomalies. You know that the Hierarchy would take a very dim view of that and banish you to Gzorple knows where."

"True," Phred replied. "But to answer your question, no. I have however made a troubling discovery. Not only are these nebulae rapidly changing direction in this universe, but also in the alternate universe that Kim Possible accidentally created."

The second alien was astounded. "Are you sure?"

Confident in his conclusions, Phred glowed even more brightly. "Absolutely positive. And in exactly the same way, and at exactly the same time. And at very nearly the speed of light."

"But that's impossible! No naturally occurring forces could possibly account for this occurring in both universes!"

Phred corrected him. "That we're aware of, that is. Remember that this alternate universe is an anomaly in the multiverse as a whole, and even the greatest minds within the Hierarchy haven't postulated every possible cause of these inexplicable events. Nor have they extrapolated all of the likely outcomes, although some could be quite catastrophic."

"Well, just as long as you're not the one responsible," he warned. Taking on a reddish glow of disapproval, he warned, "Now, are you absolutely positive you had nothing to do with this? There are worse things than banishment, you know."

But Phred remained resolute. "I assure you, without a doubt. I've only been observing, which is, well, what we do. Now if you don't mind, I have a report to file with our superiors."

And with that, he disappeared with a tiny flash. But as soon as he did, yet another alien immediately appeared, floating in curiosity.

"So, what did Phred have to report?"

"He's just discovered the simultaneous nebular convergence in the alternate universe, but claims he's not behind either event."

The new alien glowed in muted disbelief. "Indeed. But as you and I both know, only one of our own kind could possibly cause these bizarre occurrences simultaneously."

"That we know of. Phred was quick to point out that the creation of this alternate universe is a totally new and completely unexpected event, even in view of our significant experience. The possibilities, though perhaps not endless, are nonetheless extreme, and we can't rule anything out as of yet. And as jaded as many of us have become, those humans continue to surprise us, especially Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable. What have your own calculations revealed?"

"Nothing definitive. There's still too much data to correlate before reaching any conclusions. But if you don't mind me saying, I fear that Phred has become much too curious about these humans, and may have lost some of his objectivity concerning them. He needs to be watched closely, lest he err again."

"Agreed. There is much at stake here, and we can't afford any more mistakes. The consequences could be truly horrifying." With a dismissive tone he concluded, "Well, that's all for the moment. Keep me posted."

And with that, both aliens vanished.

IV. (AU)

The Emperor looked up at Lorwardia's hazy reddish sky and smiled.

"Red skies at morning, spacers go soaring."

He hoped that ancient adage would continue to hold true. Entering the Great Hall, he sat down on his throne and reviewed the day's appointments. First up was an unusual one: the Court Astronomer rarely requested an audience directly with him, usually choosing to send him a digest of the most important events in space pertaining to Lorwardia or its many conquests.

"Now what can he possibly want?"

Right on time, the ancient Lorwardian hobbled up to the dais, giving the Emperor a deep, subservient bow.

"Greetings, mighty Warhafter."

The Emperor merely gave him a dismissive nod to continue.

"I have news of great import for your Highness."

"Indeed," Warhafter replied with an indifferent tone.

"Yes. I have been busy correlating some very interesting reports from a dozen or more space captains patrolling the outskirts of our far flung empire, and they have told me of the extraordinary realignment of a particular kind of stellar object known as a planetary nebula."

Drumming his fingers in boredom, Warhafter considered if he should just have his desiccated lackey executed just for the fun of it. But deciding to hear him out first, he laconically replied, "And why should huge balls of dust and gas interest me?"

The astronomer's grin widened. "Because, my Lord, every known planetary nebula in the galaxy has suddenly and swiftly changed direction, and at nearly the speed of light. We have determined that this began exactly three months ago, and nothing known to the science of a hundred conquered worlds can explain it."

Now only slightly more interested, he continued with a yawn. "Are they a threat in any way to our space lanes?"

"No, my Lord, but they are all now pointing in virtually the same direction."

"Really? And where might that be?" he queried, wondering how the astronomer's head would look stuffed and hanging from his wall.

"A tiny planet, about 440 light years distant. A bright blue planet, known as Earth. The Emperor of course is familiar with the prophecies concerning the Great Blue."

Warhafter's eyes widened slightly. "Yes. The Great Blue is destined to reach out to us from beyond the stars, and lead our vast space armada in ultimate conquest of the entire galaxy. Tell me, do Earth's inhabitants have any spacefaring capability?"

"Yes, albeit only rudimentary. I've also taken the liberty to query our court astrologers concerning this, and they all agree that this could indeed be the sign we've been looking for, pointing the way toward the Great Blue."

Warhafter began to smile, revealing a wolfish grin of shiny white teeth. "You were wise to bring this personally to my attention, Court Astronomer. But do not speak of this further to anyone at this time until we can thoroughly investigate. As you know, we've had more than one false alarm concerning this prophecy…"

He casually glanced at the wall of his throne room, where the stuffed heads of several would-be prophets now graced it.

The court astronomer paled to a sickly greenish hue. "Understood, my Lord. I will keep you personally apprised of any changes or new developments."

"That will be all then."

The Court Astronomer obsequiously bowed and made a hasty exit, leaving Warhafter to ponder these new developments.

"If these nebulae are indeed pointing toward the Great Blue, this could lead to the crowning achievement of not only my own rule, but of the entire Lorwardian race for the next thousand years. But I must be sure, for there is indeed no room for error here. And there is only one person I can trust implicitly to accurately assess the situation and discover the truth of this matter…"

He called for a messenger who appeared instantly. "Yes, sire?"

"Let Warmonga know I'd like to see her immediately. I have a very special mission planned for her…"

Well, a few questions have been answered, but many more posed. Kim and Ron are finally on their way home, but a nebular realignment in both universes? Well, that can't be good… And as 'Conchita's' notoriety grows, just how long can altBonnie keep the real truth under wraps? Or perhaps even more important, how much longer can altRon keep things from altKim? I predict a colossal train wreck in the offing here…

And BTW, did anyone guess from what short-lived cartoon series I got the idea for REGIS Mark IX? Extra points if you can tell me who the voice actor was (hint, not on KP), or which voice actors on that show were also on Kim Possible. Update in two weeks…

TBC…