Global Justice Travel Tube Terminus, 15 minutes after Ron's escape.
Kim brought coffee to her shaken mother and a fuming Monique. After Batman had stopped Agent Du from shooting Ron, Du had gone ballistic and ordered everyone to the travel tubes. Kim had started to argue with Du about taking her mother to Global Justice but she had to admit that he was right once he pointed out that the regular police would arrive at any moment, especially after the gunshot and that her mother would naturally be subjected to hours and hours of police interrogation if she stayed.
Kim not wanting her mother to have to go through that had then agreed and with much cajoling on her part finally manged to herd her mother and Monique into the travel tubes.
Kim noticed as Batman joined them for the return trip that he had paused long enough to retrieve the television news camera from one of the dead bodies and had brought it along. As Kim tried to calm her upset mother and an almost enraged Monique she could hear Du and Batman arguing over it a few feet away.
"No outside recording equipment is to be allowed in Global Justice. It will need to be destroyed immediately." Du nearly growled at Batman.
"Are you just generally incompetent or stupid?" Batman countered. "The camera was in use at the time of the murders and may contain valuable information."
Kim resisted screaming as she once again heard the two started bickering again. Although to be fair, it was Du that did most of the constant bickering while Batman usually remained silent and just ignored the agent completely. Du hated that the mysterious dark armored man was a vigilante, or as Du called it, an amateur that thought he was above the law but what he hated most was that Dr. Director allowed the man to continue being cowled and did not order him to remove his armor or theatrical disguise.
Batman had explained to Dr. Director that in his home dimension he had a very public identity outside of his crime fighting one and since Ivy, Harley and the Joker were now in this dimension and if they were to become aware of his real identity it could seriously endanger his friends and associates lives once he got Joker, Harley and Ivy back to their home dimension.
Since Dr. Director fully planned on letting Batman return to his dimension with his homegrown batch of crazies after they recovered the Pan Dimensional Vortex Inducer rather than having to deal with them in her dimension from now on, she allowed him to remain disguised. That and as long as Batman was wearing that ridiculous costume she knew he could not move freely in the outside world and had to stay working with them. To Dr. Director's mind that level of control over an unknown asset was a definite plus.
It was unfortunate that Du did not see it that way. To him it was just more crass favoritism for a new amateur from the Director and more proof that she was going 'soft'. Why the cowled crime fighter wasn't in one of their high tech cells was just beyond Du. He knew they could handle this Joker person along with Harley, Ivy and the rest of Stoppable's gang. They didn't need some crazy with a bat fetish help.
Kim turned her attention back to her mother when she noticed her hands were still shaking slightly. Kim knew her mother was not one easily disturbed. She was a surgeon after all and as Kim had learned recently if almost accidentally from Dr. Philestein, her mother had faced death many times with her patients when things didn't always go to plan but then again as Kim reminded herself; her mother had never faced grinning corpses before. That was a new one to even Kim.
"Ron didn't hurt you did he?" She asked and wished she could immediately take it back when she saw Monique's outraged look and her mother's own shocked one.
"Of course not Kim! How could you even ask that? You can't possibly believe that Ron had anything to do with all those dead people up there!" Mrs. Possible asked.
"I can tell you how she can ask that." Monique stated in her 'oh I am so pissed right now' voice. "She has started believing the downright dirty lies this top secret cop shop has been putting out about Ron. Kim I.D.E.K.Y.A."
Mrs. Possible still upset that Kim would believe Ron would have anything to do with the dead bodies outside her home turned and raised an eyebrow at Monique in question.
"That is Monique speak for she doesn't even know me anymore." Kim supplied having figured out what Monique had meant only from the years she had known the African American woman and her unique abbreviating skills. "And Monique, Global Justice has had nothing to do with the news reports coming from Africa or the U.N.'s decisions on Ron!" Kim quickly defended Global Justice.
"The deaths outside your home were committed by a man known as the Joker." Batman supplied as he examined the television camera in his hands. The layout of the controls was slightly different than what he was used to from his home dimension but the principle was the same. There was a video tape inside the camera that was recorded rather than a 'live action' feed in which the signal would have been sent directly back to the news agency the camera man and reporter had been from. This greatly relieved Batman to find out. He could only imagine what panic might have been created if the citizens of the town above them had been sitting down to dinner with the news on in the background and had looked over to see the Joker slaughtering dozens of paparazzi and news people.
"You call that thing we met a man?" Monique asked.
This caused Batman to look over in her direction. "You saw him?"
"I should say so." Mrs. Possible replied. "He had me tied down to my own dining room table and Monique here tied to a chair next to the table. He had laid out on the table beside me a bone saw, rib spreader and heads of lettuce and who knows what he might have done if Ron hadn't shown up and saved us!"
"Saved you? Or was Stoppable just checking on the actions of a henchman he ordered to invade your home?" Du said with a cocky sneer on his face. Du immediately had to jump back as Monique with a snarl leapt up and tried to wrap her hands around his throat. The only thing that saved him was Kim reacting quickly and nearly tackling Monique as she lunged for Du. "Easy Monique easy." Kim tried to soothe Monique only to have the woman push her away.
"You are just as bad as he is. When you saw those bodies you assumed Ron had something to do with them as well." Monique stated as she sat back down in her chair after glaring one last time at Du, who had the good sense to stand slightly behind Batman using the cape crusader as a partial shield from her wrath.
"Mo' what was I suppose to think? We arrive and the first thing I see is Ron standing in the middle of my parent's yard surrounded by dead bodies."
Monique opened her mouth as if to answer Kim but then just shut it again and shook her head as if Kim's actions defied reason and she realized she would just be wasting her breath.
"What happened next?" Batman asked bringing them back to the topic at hand.
"Well Ron showed up with two of those robotic women, I think they are called Bebes and started to head towards that Joker fellow and Drew, um, I mean Dr. Drakken pulled a device out of his pocket and used it on the Bebes. He called it an electromagnetic pulse weapon." Dr. Possible explained.
"Was it effective against the Bebes?" Du asked looking at her from around Batman's cape. Global Justice was suspicious that the activities in Africa against the Tazo government were the metallic women of Dr. Drakken's even if they hadn't gotten any concrete evidence to support it yet but if Dr. Drakken had a weapon that worked against the metal women then Global Justice might have the edge they needed when it came time to retake the town once and for all.
"No, it wasn't." Monique stated flatly and tried to share a look with Mrs. Dr. Possible.
Mrs. Possible however had been staring at her daughter and missed the warning look. "Not entirely anyway, it seemed to only shut down their eyes and interfere with their communications with other Bebes."
Du rubbed his hands. "Blind Bebes are still better than fully functional ones. I'll get Global Justice labs working on creating more of those weapons. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out how Dr. Drakken made them and even improve on the design."
Kim started shaking her head. "I'm betting it won't work next time." She stated. "Bebes are not dumb machines that make the same mistakes over and over again. They learn. They'll come up with some way to protect themselves before the next time."
"You said this Dr. Drakken used the weapon on the Bebes and it blinded them." Batman prompted.
"Oh yes." Mrs. Possible said as she returned her attention back to the strange man in the unusual costume while Monique eyed him with suspicion. "Well Drew started celebrating his disabling of his Bebes when…"
"One of them hauled off and punched him in the nose." Monique stated with a grin.
Du looked confused but Batman just nodded his head. "Their auditory sensors were still in working order. Makes sense, those sensors would be located deeper inside the robot's metal heads and would be shielded more from the magnetic radiation. What happened next?"
"Ron started over to hand that Joker thing his butt but white face pulled out a small glass ball and told Ron to chill." Monique replied before Mrs. Possible could.
Batman sighed. "Acid or SmileX?"
"SmileX. At least that is what the man said it was." Mrs. Possible said.
Batman turned his head to look at Du. "That is what killed those people up there. It's a chemical that is partially made out of the Joker's own blood. If you will remember I told you all about it when we first met. It is one of the Joker's most favored weapons."
Monique blinked at the strange man. "What? That shit he threatened us with is made out of his own blood? What the hell is he? And who are you anyway? I want some answers people! Ron said he would explain everything but…"
"He left and abandoned you." Du said snidely.
"Ron did not abandon us. He saved our lives and only left when one of the Bebes alerted him that there was travel tubes in use underground and he realized that meant Kim was coming." Mrs. Possible stated.
"Ron fled knowing I was coming?" Kim asked sadly.
"Well gee Kim. Considering gun happy Deputy Dog here tried to shoot him at point blank range, I think the boy was justified in running." Monique said to her.
Du shot Monique a glare which she happily returned.
Batman sighed again. "Can we please stick to the matter at hand? What happened when the Joker threatened to use SmileX on all of you?"
"Don't think I didn't notice you didn't answer me." Monique warned Batman but then shut her mouth to let Mrs. Possible take the story up again.
"Ron and the Bebes with him held back but the Joker then picked up a scalpel as if he planned on using it on me and Ron readied to jump him, at the same time Dr. Drakken warned the Joker that the Bebes would have called for backup, he didn't know at the time that the Bebes communications had been knocked out by his device, the Bebes told Ron and us after they left that it was down. Anyway, the Joker then pulled out what looked like a small gift box and put the glass ball in it and it looked like he twisted the bow on top of it…"
Batman nodded his head. "Joker surprise package. I can't tell you how many people have died in Gotham after receiving one of those in the mail."
"Gotham?" Monique asked but was once again ignored as Batman nodded for Mrs. Possible to continue.
"The Joker then threw the package into the air over the table I was tied to and he and Dr. Drakken fled. Ron leapt onto the table and caught the package but found he couldn't stop the bow from unwinding…"
"Your great hero couldn't stop a bow on a package?" Du snorted. "Sounds like to me he was putting on an act for you two ladies sake, the device was either a fake or he probably had already taken an antidote to this SmileX and was faking trying to stop the device so you would be killed."
Monique started to slowly get up from her chair but Kim quickly stepped between her and Du so Monique settled for using her false sweet tone and saying over Kim's shoulder towards Du. "If Ron had planned for us to die, one: How come we are still alive since you lot arrived late? And two: Why would he put on a performance in the first place if we were going to be killed?"
Du remained silent.
Once again Batman made a slight gesture for Mrs. Possible to continue.
"When Ron yelled he couldn't stop the bow on the package one of the Bebes moved over to the table and instructed Ron to give the package to her. Once Ron put the gift box in her hand the Bebe, well, she ate it. Just opened her mouth and swallowed the whole thing. Then the robot moved to the other side of the room and we all heard a soft pop kind of noise."
Monique still watching Du as if she was a hawk and he was a fat field mouse nodded her head. "I thought I could see some faints traces of smoke come out of the Bebe's ears." She added. "The Bebe then told Ron that the gas couldn't affect them but the rest of us better stay away from her for a few minutes. Ron untied Mrs. Possible and then me." Monique added once again annoyed with how long she had sat in the chair waiting for Ron to untie her before having to remind him to do it. "That is when our boy stated he could explain everything but before he could begin the remaining Bebe in the room dropped to the floor and reported the travel tube thing and Ron freaked out and took off leading the blind Bebes out of the house and into the yard. The rest you all know."
Mrs. Possible nodded her head in agreement with Monique.
Dr. Director walked up as Monique had been finishing her explanation and waited till she was finished before nodding at Mrs. Dr. Possible. "The police have finally arrived at your home and are investigating. Unfortunately, it also seems so have the local news agencies. I would like to request that you and…" Dr. Director paused.
"Monique." Was the only answer the young black woman gave as she angrily folded her arms across her chest. As far as she was concerned these people were still the enemy even though Kim repeatedly stated they had nothing to do with Ron's current problems.
"Monique." Dr. Director continued. "Remain in protective custody here at Global Justice."
"For how long?" Dr. Possible asked. "As I'm sure you know, I'm a surgeon and can't be kept away from my practice…"
"You'll have to stay with us until we can capture Ron Stoppable and his gang of course." Agent Du interrupted, earning him a cold look from the Director.
"Oh Hell no." Monique stated. "You are not going to lock me and Mrs. Possible up in some underground bunker!"
"I need to call my husband and my twins. They have to at least be informed that I am fine and what has happened." Mrs. Possible began.
"No outside communications are allowed." Du interrupted again.
"But…My husband and children have to be notified that I'm all right! If you don't inform the police or news above they will spin wild tales and have them believing any number of…"
"That is hardly our problem. We are doing this for your benefit after all…." Du started to argue with her.
"Agent Du!" Dr. Director cut him off. "Why don't you go monitor communications above so we can find out exactly what the police and news agencies are going to say?" She said firmly while pressing a few buttons on a gauntlet she was wearing. A moment later more men wearing Global Justice uniforms showed up. "Please escort Mrs. Possible and… Monique to one of our executive suites please." She said to the newcomers.
"Hey! I know my rights! You just can't bury me in some hole like this!" Monique shouted as one of the men placed a hand on her arm and started to lead her and Mrs. Possible away. Kim all the while walking alongside her mother and telling her she would find some way to get a message back to her father and the twins letting them know she was okay.
"You like eating with that hand, or doing anything else with that hand for that matter, you better be taking it off me." Monique's voice could be faintly heard before the door to the room closed and silence descended, if only for a moment.
Dr. Director with a sigh turned her attention to where Batman was still holding the television camera in his hands. She could see the masked man was staring directly at her. "I take it you don't approve or our methods?" She asked.
Batman gave a faint shrug. "Just your… Procedures are more military than civilian police."
"We do what we have to." Dr. Director replied as she gestured to the camera in his hands. "Now let's get that thing to the lab and see what the news team recorded before they died."
Batman followed the strong willed, one eyed woman as she lead him through a different door back into the sprawling complex known as Global Justice. Batman suspected that each time he was lead somewhere within the complex that they were taking him a different route in the hopes of confusing him. Little did they know the batcomputer built into his own gauntlets recorded every pathway taken and was quickly building an accurate map of the underground complex. Soon the Batman would know his way around Global Justice as well as any of their operatives did.
As they entered the main lab Batman could see Agent Du was already there at a computer console wearing headphones. As the Director and he neared the man pulled them off and stood. "So far there are no reports of Drakken or the Joker from the police or the news media. The police are being cautious about their conclusions but the news media are running with the story that this is all the work of Ron Stoppable."
"And what of the disappearance of Mrs. Possible?"
"They are concluding that she must have been kidnapped by Ron Stoppable and taken hostage. They are implying without saying it directly that is an attempt on Stoppable's part to make sure Kim Possible does not try to stop his global reign of terror."
Dr. Director frowned and one hand reached up and idly stroked the eye patch over her missing eye. An action she only did when deeply stressed. On the one hand, it was just wrong to let Ron take yet another rap when she knew he was innocent of it but on the other hand it could greatly reduce the anxiety of the general public if they believed the deaths of the reporter and the paparazzi above were simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and in the way of an all ready known danger rather than be told there was a new menace, an unpredictable menace that killed in such a horrible fashion just because he found such deaths to be 'amusing'.
"Continue to monitor and alert me if there are any new developments." She finally instructed Du.
"So, you are going to allow yet another crime to be added to this Ron Stoppable's reputation?" Batman asked as the woman lead him to another bank of high tech equipment.
"At this point I don't think it really makes any difference, do you? The United Nations have already declared Ron to have committed crimes against humanity. One more charge will hardly affect the outcome if they are to capture him." Dr. Director stated in an offhand manner that she was certainly not feeling. Her stomach was twisting in knots at the thought of an innocent man being accused of crimes he had not committed but what was she to do? To report the actual events to the police or news media would alert them to the existence of Global Justice not to mention starting a country wide panic over the Joker. The greater good had to be served and if that meant sacrificing Ron?
Well, it wouldn't be the first time Global Justice had to look the other way while 'irregularities' in the world were allowed to happen. The whole mess in Ethioswana was a perfect example. Global Justice knew about the tyranny of the ruling government and how they treated the other tribes. Hell, they knew from the start about it but what could they do without causing a political upheaval and once again revealing their own existence? The need to keep the organization unknown to the rest of the world was/is so great that when her own government had contacted Dr. Director and asked for her to send Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable to guard the relief supplies sent a few years ago, she had allowed it fully suspecting that Kim would learn the truth and there would be problems. She just had never expected the biggest headache would come not from Kim but from Ron and it would be years later and of this magnitude.
"Sometimes justice is best served by allowing a few injustices to continue to exist." Dr. Director said as she motioned for Batman to place the news camera's tape into a player built into editing machine for playback.
Batman's hand tightened on the tape for a moment but he managed to keep all other reactions to her statement from showing. Batman was nobody's fool. He knew his position in this new dimension was a precarious one. He knew that Du person was chomping at the bit to have him thrown into a cell somewhere and he also knew that Dr. Director thought she was using him, using his expertise to track and trap the Joker so even though he disapproved of the methods and actions of the secret police organization he did not openly challenge them, just as long as it left him free to hunt down the Joker. Which in the end made Batman feel he was just as bad as Global Justice but at this point he would make a deal with the devil himself if it helped to put an end to the Joker's killing sprees.
As the videotape machine hummed into life, Batman and Dr. Director prepared themselves to witness the final moments of what had been a promising woman reporter's career. The woman on the tape identified herself as Katty Klang for channel 14 news and then stated that she was on assignment outside of the Possible family home hoping to get an interview with the mother of the famous heroine Kim Possible. As the woman turned, obviously about to try and wade through the mass of paparazzi between her and the front door of the house, a loud voice could be heard calling out behind her camera man. "So many cameras in one place, do they call you all a gaggle of news vultures? Or is it a giggle of newshounds? Or is it like a mass of crows, a murder of reporters?" A loud and to Batman well known high pitched laugh followed the words. As the woman reporter's camera man spun around, ignoring for the moment the reporter's indignant shout, the camera framed the Joker standing among the midst of the rest of the paparazzi. Standing behind and slightly to the side of the Joker was a battered and bruised looking man with blue skin that the Batman immediately concluded had to be this Dr. Drakken he had been hearing so much of from Kim Possible.
"My god." Dr. Director standing next to Batman breathed. "What the hell happened to Dr. Drakken?"
"The Joker's sidekicks don't generally last long. My guess is your Dr. Drakken must have told the Joker one of his jokes wasn't funny." Batman replied.
As the reporter on the tape came around her camera man to once again appear in the shot she started towards the Joker to ask him who he was and what connection he might have to the Possible family.
"The Joker does this to his own allies?" Dr. Director asked.
"The Joker has been known to flay alive his own people if the mood takes him to do it. Harley Quinn only survived for as long as she did because she was so genuinely obsessed with him, she stroked his ego constantly. When even her devotion could no longer blind her to what kind of monster he is, the Joker began to beat her to keep her in line as well. It is only because she became friends with Poison Ivy that I believe she survived long enough to break free from that madman." Batman replied.
On the tape they watched as the reporter finally made it to the Joker's side and thrust her microphone into his face. "What is this about crows and news reporters?" She asked the Joker.
"A large gathering of crows is called a murder young lady." The Joker replied. "And this is a murder of reporters as well." So saying the Joker started giggling and held up a hand revealing a small glass ball sitting in his palm. As he broke into riotous laughter he brought his thumb down on the glass globe shattering it and releasing a purple gas. Over his shoulder it could be seen Dr. Drakken shakily holding a yellow gas mask up to his face. As the reporter attempting to interview him started to back away, she started giggling as well. The camera angle began to shake as the camera man holding it also started to giggle wildly.
The Joker reached into his pocket and when he pulled out his hand again there were dozens of the glass balls in his hand and as if casting feed out to chickens, the Joker began casually tossing the balls left and right.
Dr. Director's hand reached up to lightly stroke the eye patch over her missing eye as on the tape paparazzi started weaving into and out of the shot holding their throats as they laughed and laughed, while it looked like the Joker was dancing a jig in the middle of it. "Oh my god." She whispered as a scene straight out of Hell played on the monitor screen.
Batman continued to let the tape play until the camera man filming it fell over onto his side, his camera still pointing at the reporter he was paired with as with a final laugh she grew still and a ghastly smile started to stretch across her face. As the laughter grew less and less and finally everything grew silent he started to reach over to shut the machine off when both he and Dr. Director heard a new voice off in the distance.
"My God, what happened to him?"
Dr. Director recognized the voice instantly as Ron Stoppable's.
"Scans show that the individual has been poisoned by an air borne toxin that caused spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm muscle resulting in eventual suffocation. At the moment of nonfunctioning the facial muscles contracted resulting in current facial disfigurement." The metallic voice of a Bebe robot could be heard replying to Ron's question.
Batman and Dr. Director watched as Ron found the female reporter's body and because the camera man was lying with his camera pointing in her direction they could see a sideways view of Ron's face and the horror on it when he put two and two together and figured out that the Joker must of somehow got into this dimension and be responsible. They watched as Ron's face turned pure white and he then raced towards the house. The tape continued for a few moments longer after that point but what went on inside was too distant for the tape to pick anything up.
Batman finally shut the tape off. "That would seem to confirm the reports of Dr. Possible and that young woman that was with her. The Joker and Drakken were not with Ron Stoppable and he had nothing to do with the reporters' deaths above." He watched the one eyed woman for a moment. "You are still going to let this Ron Stoppable take the blame." He said more as a statement than a question.
Dr. Director replied with a note of annoyance in her voice. "We've been over that. The public already thinks the worse of Stoppable and they have prepared themselves to hear more of it. If we introduce another unpredictable madman into their world suddenly they'll panic."
Batman could no longer hold back his disgust, disgust with Global Justice and with himself for putting up with it. Shaking his head he finally said. "So you don't report the Joker's crimes and don't give the public a description of him. He is free to walk the streets while people think he's a harmless clown? And what will you say when the Joker shows up at a daycare center and leaves dozens of tiny bodies with smiles forever carved on their faces? He's done it before you know. Women, children, animals, the Joker knows no restraints when it comes to his sadistic humor. I assume you listened in while Mrs. Possible described her ordeal? You want to know what the Joker was planning on doing with those heads of lettuce? Brain salad." Batman stated as he folded his arms across his armored chest.
"Brain salad?" Dr. Director asked confused.
"The Joker takes his victim, he cuts them open removing their organs, he then cuts the top of the head open and grinds the victim's brain in with the rest of the organs, throws in a little lettuce and piles the mess back into the victim's cavity in their chest and then dumps salad dressing on top of the whole thing."
The head of Global Justice could only look at Batman in horror as she tried to deny the images his words had burned into her mind. "No one…" She tried but failed to say.
"No one could be that sick?" Batman asked her. "Before the Joker escaped to your dimension he pulled a similar 'joke' on a family. Six young redheaded girls were fed into a chipper/shredder and their remains were put in a huge bowl and doused with vinegar and oil before the mess was left in front of a police station and knowing the Joker like I do, I'm betting that every girl was alive, awake and aware as they were fed into that shredder machine."
"What makes a monster like that?" Dr. Director breathed.
"I did." Batman replied softly as his anger was dissipated. "The Joker was a minor criminal until he tried to rob a chemical company. He was injured and left dangling over a vat of chemicals. I tried to save him but failed and he went into the vat. What came out of that chemical Hell was the Joker. Now you know why I hunt him to the ends of my Earth and beyond. He is my responsibility and I would do almost anything to stop him and see him face justice but I won't let an innocent man pay for the Joker's crimes! I have been going along with this mockery of yours for now but believe me Dr. Director, one more person dies at the hands of the Joker and I will do everything in my power to let the public know what is going on so they can at least try to protect themselves from that madman." Having had his say, Batman turned and strode away from Dr. Director back in the direction of the barracks area of Global Justice.
Du turned to watch as he passed him before going to Dr. Director's side. "Are you going to just allow him free run of Global? Even after he has stated that he plans to reveal everything if the Joker strikes again?"
"What would you suggest?" Dr. Director replied tiredly. "The man is rightfully upset that we are letting an innocent man be blamed for crimes that are not his."
"That is not even remotely important!" Du nearly growled at her. "What is important is maintaining Global Justice's clandestine activities. What do I suggest? I suggest we have several of Global Justice's special agents with this Batman at all times, armed with lethal force! If Batman tries to carry out his threat to notify the public and put Global Justice at risk he should be terminated!"
Dr. Director turned to Agent Du with fire in her one good eye. "That reminds me Du. Why are you carrying an unauthorized sidearm loaded with lethal rounds? As you just stated, only certain members of Global Justice are authorized to carry guns and you being a field operative are not! Bullets leave holes, holes bleed blood and blood can be traced back to this organization!" Dr. Director held out her hand for Du's personal weapon.
"I am sick to death of using those stun darts! They have proven to be ineffectual time after time so I purchased my own weapon to take matters into my own hands." Du stated placing a hand on the pouch containing the gun but not turning it over to her yet.
"Must I point out that if you had been using lethal ordnance all this time Kim Possible would have been dead several times over? There is a reason why field operatives are not allowed to carry guns with bullets Du and that reason is we must be able to disappear at a moment's notice so as to keep this organization hidden. Bodies riddled with bullets make local police authorities ask questions. Questions we can't afford to have answered! You so casually suggest that we kill the Batman if it looks like he may reveal our existence but then you threaten it yourself by running around shooting with live ammo! Now hand over your weapon!"
Du reluctantly unzipped the pouch at his side and pulling the snub nosed gun out he placed it in her hand.
"Don't let me find out you are carrying lethal ordinance again." She warned him. "When and if the need for lethal weapons comes up we have specially trained and equipped agents to handle it."
As Dr. Director marched off to her office, Du kept a proper respectful look on his face till her office door closed and then he scowled, turning he abandoned his post at the computer station and headed for the complex's underground parking lot.
As Batman made his way through the corridors of GJ towards the living areas and the room designated as for him while he was in this dimension he could hear the whispers and sighs of the women agents that worked there. Whispers like 'Dark Knight' and 'newest agent of Global Justice'. Batman barely managed to contain the look of disgust he was feeling. It wasn't the first time he had heard the term Dark Knight applied to himself and that hardly bothered him but being called an agent of this Global Justice was just not sitting right with him. Batman was used to abiding by his own internal compass of right and wrong and avoiding the 'gray areas' of usual law enforcement. Allowing his morals to be compromised because of being stranded in a strange dimension was definitely not sitting well with him. Allowing an innocent man to be hunted for things he had not done while a dangerous criminal like the Joker was allowed to pass among the public unreported, well this was not how the Batman did things.
Reaching his room Batman made for the computer console that was provided for him. After hearing from Kim Possible about the robotic Bebes after reports of the metallic women saving people started coming in, Batman had contacted the boy genius Wade and shared what he knew of robots and his experience in his own dimension with Karl Rossum, a robotic genius who after losing his daughter in a drunken car accident had tried to replace people with robots.
While the Bebes A.I. sounded slightly more advanced in some ways than the human replicants that H.A.R.D.A.C. A super computer built by Rossum had created, Dr. Director had hoped there might be some shared weaknesses and had ordered that Batman be provided with a console so he may converse with Wade whenever the two felt like it. Batman was under no illusions and he fully knew that the computer in his room was constantly monitored and he suspected that Wade knew it as well.
Flipping the switch Batman waited while the console booted into life and then quickly typed the commands to contact Wade. As the young African American appeared on screen and before he could say anything, Batman rapidly flexed and twitched his hands. Anyone watching might think he had a brief hand cramp and was exercising the pain away. Wade however instantly recognized the sign language used by the deaf. It had been one of the things they had briefly discussed when talking about the strange similarities between Batman and Wade's dimensions. Some artists, singers and writers seemed to be shared by both dimensions and oddly most technology was exactly the same between the worlds but then again other smaller things were vastly different. For instance there was no Ethinoswana in Batman's world and unfortunately for Batman there was no Gotham here.
Wade watched Batman's hand and quickly interpreted the movements. Batman was asking him if there was any way to encrypted their communications so Global Justice couldn't understand them. Wade quickly typed something at his keyboard and then spoke. "Okay, they can't hear us or monitor our two-way traffic. What is it you wanted to ask me without them knowing?"
Batman who was no slouch when it came to computers, after all he had been taught all he knew of computer tech from Rossum himself, was duly impressed. "How?" He asked.
Wade smiled. "I recently upgraded all the computer software for Global Justice at Dr. Director's request and like all good hackers I couldn't resist putting in my own back door. As long as no one walks into your room while we are talking, Global Justice won't even know your computer was in use during this time."
Batman nodded his head. "What I wanted to ask is exactly how much do you know of the past history of Global Justice and their activities?"
Wade frowned and rubbed a hand across his scalp. "Actually? Not much. Kim and Ron came across Global Justice in one of their missions and Dr. Director kind of recruited Kim. The few times I brought up Global Justice to Kim she always would insist they are doing good in the world and wouldn't allow me to investigate any further." Wade looked uncomfortable. "And of course there is that whole secret organization and thinly veiled threats about what they might do to maintain that secrecy."
"It's important that I know exactly what I'm dealing with here Wade."
"You have some reasons to suspect that they aren't all they claim they are?" Wade asked as his fingers flew across his keyboard as he attempted to infiltrate to deeper levels of the computer security of Global Justice than he had ever had before.
"They are going to allow the murders of reporters outside of Kim's mother's home to be attributed to Ron Stoppable even though they know they were committed by the Joker. I just want to know what other kinds of information they have suppressed to fit their own designs."
Wade looked up from his typing in shock. "Mrs. Possible's home was attacked? How can that be? I keep a constant surveillance over her house for Kim and I've not heard any…" Wade's voice ground to a halt as he stared at something on a computer screen out of Batman's viewing angle.
"What is it?" Batman asked.
"Global Justice has tampered with my monitoring cameras." Wade replied. "They have been feeding me a view from two days ago. How could I not notice that?" Wade growled as he slammed his hands down on his beloved keyboard. "You think they knew the Joker was going to attack the house and did this so I wouldn't contact Kim early and put a stop to it?"
Batman thought for a moment and then shook his head. "My guess is they have been blocking you in the hopes that Ron Stoppable would return to the house and they could capture him."
"It's getting where you can't trust anyone these days." Wade muttered before looking up in triumph. "I found the files you are looking for. They disguised some of their reports as cluster files."
If Wade expected Batman to ask what that was he was disappointed as Batman nodded his head in understanding. "They've been hiding the files as lost bits of data left over after a computer defragmentation process?"
Wade nodded his head. "Would have been a brilliant way to hide those things if not for the fact of the sheer number of lost cluster files or their unusually large sizes, now let's see what is so important they didn't want anyone to read them…" Wade, who had been typing one handedly as he held a big gulp with the other, suddenly dropped his drink as his face turned pale.
"What is it Wade?" Batman asked.
"This report I'm reading… Global Justice had information of a terrorist bombing of a plane and allowed it to go off without trying to stop it because one of the people on the plane was from a foreign government and had a briefcase with plans of a new mega laser and was heading to Dr. Drakken's to sell it to him! My god! They allowed hundreds of people to die just to stop one idiot with blueprints? Why didn't they just arrest him or confiscate his briefcase?"
Wade rapidly clicked his keys and he intercepted another lost cluster file and opened it to read. Once again a look of horror crossed his face. "This file states that a wrecked ship in the Atlantic Ocean was denied rescue when Global Justice was in the area because they didn't want to compromise their secrecy. They were right in the area! Oh my God. I know this mission too. It was when Kim and Ron were looking for a secret sea fairing lair of Dr. Drakken's back a few years ago. The pilot was even ordered to fly in a wide circumference so Kim wouldn't spot the sinking ship because they were focused on only finding Dr. Drakken and not exposing their operations."
Batman nodded his head. "It's as I feared. Global Justice is not about justice at all but only the furthering of their own agenda. They would have allowed Mrs. Possible and her friend to die if it meant they could capture the Joker or Ron Stoppable."
"Mrs. Possible's friend? Who was staying with her at the time of the attack?" Wade asked.
"Monique." Batman replied. "The woman gave no last name."
"She doesn't have to. Kim and I have known Monique since she arrived in Middletown back when Kim and Ron were in high school together. Are they both okay?" Wade asked with obvious concern.
Batman gave a firm nod of his head. "A bit shaken up from their experience at meeting the Joker but they survived, which is highly unusual for anyone meeting the Joker. Global Justice is holding them both in protective custody until the capture of Ron Stoppable."
"I can't imagine that is going over very well with Monique. She's not the type to let someone order her around with letting her displeasure be known." Wade said with a faint grin as he imagined some of the language Monique would be using. It wasn't a huge secret that Wade had a bit of a crush on the attractive and vocal young woman.
"She had a few choice words and abbreviations I believe." Batman said back dryly. Becoming deadly serious once again he continued. "What worries me at the moment is to what extent will Global Justice go to keep their activities quiet?"
"What do you mean?" Wade asked.
"Well for example, let's suppose that the U.N. manages to capture Ron Stoppable and put him on trial for the supposed crimes he has committed. How can Global Justice ever allow Dr. Possible or Monique to go free after the trial when they know for a fact that at least some of the crimes he was accused of, he was innocent of them?"
"You are not saying you believe they would kill Mrs. Dr. Possible and Monique just to cover up what they knew and when they knew it?" Wade asked shaking his head. "I mean…"
"They allowed a bombing of a plane to get one man." Batman reminded him.
"But Kim would never stand for…"
"What makes you think they wouldn't just kill her as well?" Batman countered. "From what I have heard and witnessed with my own eyes, no one knows this Ron Stoppable better than Kim Possible and if he were to be put on trial for his life for crimes he had nothing to do with?"
"Kim would do anything to save him." Wade finished. "Even to the point of revealing Global Justice to the world and what they have done." Wade seemed to ponder for a moment. "We have to get you all out of there and now. I'm still having trouble believing they would go to that extreme an action but I have to admit for the first time since knowing her that I don't think I trust Dr. Director any more. We can't take any more chances. Can you get to where they are holding Mrs. Possible and Monique and free them? I can send you a map of the complex if that will help."
Batman raised his arm displaying his batcomputer gauntlet. "I've got it covered. But once I've freed them where can we go? Don't forget, I'm a stranger to this dimension. I don't know this world."
Wade nodded his head. "Under the circumstances I can only think of one possible safe place, if you'll pardon the unintentional pun there, Kim's uncle's ranch. It's where her father and her brothers are right now. If I know Kim, she hasn't left her mother's side since they brought her and Monique in and she can direct you how to get there."
"Won't that be the first place Global Justice will think to look for them?"
"Probably but Kim's uncle is no slouch when it comes to robotics and science himself. His ranch is secure and should be able to even hold off Global Justice if it comes down to that. It's why the family chose to go there to wait out the media storm in the first place. Not even a gopher could find his way onto her uncle's property without him knowing it and stopping it, without killing of course. Dr. Possible's family doesn't believe in killing things." Wade was starting to ramble and he knew it but he was nervous. Global Justice wasn't the type of group you fooled around with and once they found Kim, Batman and Monique missing they would come for him too.
"What about yourself?" Batman asked, showing that he knew it as well.
Wade looked sadly around his computer lair before answering. "I'll have to bug out too. I'll head out to the ranch as well. I don't think the Possible family will deny me sanctuary."
With a final be careful from both sides, Batman signed off the computer terminal and made his way out of his room and strolled casually down the hallway towards where Mrs. Possible and Monique were being held. How did he know which room was theirs? Easy, it was the one with two guards standing on either side of a door behind which Monique could be heard ranting at the top of her voice.
"I know my rights! They can't do this to me!" Monique's muffled voice could be heard in the hallway.
At a slightly lower volume, Kim's voice could be heard trying to placate the African American woman. "Monique calm down. Global Justice isn't the bad guys here. They are just keeping you and mom here for your own protection."
Batman nodded at the two guards as he drew abreast of them, only to lash out in a precise and swift move a moment later that rendered both men instantly unconscious as Batman targeted nerve points.
Examining the lock on the door Batman could see that instead of an easily picked lock there was an elaborate combination lock with numeric keypad on it. With a frown Batman noted that his own door had no such elaborate lock on it and idly he wondered if it was because they considered Mrs. Possible and Monique a higher flight risk than him or that Dr. Director had just decided that if Batman wanted out of his room he would have found a way.
Rather than waste time with the batcomputer trying to figure out the combination to the door or trying to rig some kind of sonic device to trigger the lock, Batman just reached into a pouch on his utility belt and removed a tiny aerosol can and sprayed an acid across the locking mechanism. Within seconds the lock, and the doorknob to the door, fell off. Reaching out he swung the door open to find Mrs. Possible sitting in a chair holding her head while a red faced Kim Possible and Monique faced off across from each other. Both young women were so locked in a contest of wills neither of them noticed that Batman had entered the room.
"I can't believe how gullible you are girl!" Monique shouted almost in Kim's face. "By them holding us here against our will and not even letting you contact your father to let them know your mother is alive and safe, Global Justice is violating the constitution of this country. How can they be the 'good' guys if they are doing that?"
"All right! Maybe they are being a bit zealous in their duties but…"
"But nothing! If they are doing this, who knows what else they have done in pursuit of their 'duties'?"
"I can answer that." Batman stated drawing all three women in the room's attention. "I've talked to Wade and he did some research for me. It would seem that Global Justice is guilty of allowing untold deaths to happen to keep their secrets and continue their actions unobserved."
Kim's face turned pale. "I can't believe…"
"For God's sake Kim!" Monique said shaking Kim. "Don't you remember that time you bitched to me for almost a week solid about Ethioswana when you and Ron were sent over there the first time? How the government wouldn't allow the food to go to the starving masses but was using it to supply their army? How you complained to your precious Dr. Director and she told you it was beyond Global Justice and your control and to just let it go?"
Monique suddenly let go of Kim and blinked for a few seconds. "I get it now." She finally said in a daze. "How could I not see it before?"
"What?" Mrs. Possible asked as both her, Batman and Kim looked on curiously.
"Ron and his connection to that village over there. The one they are accusing him of taking by force and holding it hostage, he went over there and is probably feeding and caring for those people."
"Why would he do that?" Kim asked.
Monique looked at her for a moment and then with a shake of her head she put a hand to her face covering her eyes as if she had a headache before pulling her hand away to glare at Kim. "For one thing Kim, this is Ron we are talking about. The boy would cross a river of lava to save a kitten! And for another, he's doing it for you!"
Kim reeled back as if Monique had physically struck her. "Me? How do you figure that?"
Monique sighed. "Kim Possible. The woman who can do anything. Except save a starving tribe because the 'rules'…" Here Monique made air quotes with her fingers. "Said she couldn't. So when Ron decided to jump the fence and join the other side where 'rules' don't mean anything, what was the first thing he did?"
"Rob a casino in Las Vegas." Kim replied but softly.
Monique shot her a look as if she just wanted to slap her. "After that? He and his posse went to save some hungry people."
Kim couldn't let it go. "His posse if you will remember are all wanted criminals!"
"Who are interfering in a small tribe in Africa!" Monique shouted back. "What possible monetary gain can they get from feeding hungry people and protecting them from the heavy handed tactics of their own government? For God's sake girl, THINK! If you are trying to rescue a group of people from a small band of terrorists like the government over there are claiming they are doing, do you send in a small covert team to take the terrorists out quietly and efficiently or do you send tanks and marching armies? The government over there doesn't want to rescue their people! They want to have a bloodbath and eliminate everyone and the only thing stopping them is Ron and his Bebes!"
Batman finally stepped between the two feuding friends. "Look we can debate what Ron Stoppable is really trying to do or not to do at a later time but for right now I need to get you all out of Global Justice's control. There are two knocked out guards in the hallway and they won't stay undiscovered for long."
"You knocked out two Global Justice agents?" Kim asked shocked.
"I didn't think they would stand by while we left if I asked them nicely." Batman said dryly as he walked over to the doorway and started hauling one of the knocked out guards inside. He was a bit surprised when Monique quickly joined him and grabbing the other guard tugged and pulled on the man's legs until she got him inside the room as well.
"Monique! What do you think you are doing?" Kim asked.
"What does it look like?"
"Mo…" Kim started but was stopped as Monique turned to face her with a no nonsense look on her face.
"Look Kim, you can do whatever it is you want to but I for one am not going to stand around while they paint Ron as some Jack the Ripper and bury me and your mother in some underground tomb to keep us from setting the world straight. Girlfriend it is time for you to make up your mind. Are you for the 'rules' or are you for what is right?"
Kim let out a sigh as if she was deflating for a moment. "Where can we go?" She finally settled for asking.
"Your friend Wade suggested your family's uncle's ranch." Batman supplied.
"I'm not dragging my family into this any more than they already are." Kim started to argue but was stopped when her mother stood up and nodded at Batman. "That is where we'll go."
"Mom?"
"No arguments Kim. Ron saved Monique's and my lives this night and I'm not going to stand around and let Global Justice allow the news media or the police to say differently!"
Kim looked down at the floor but she replied to her mother. "Yes mom."
Meanwhile with Ron and the two Bebes:
Ron thinking that Global Justice would have contacted the police and issued an All Points Bulletin on him and a description of his car had pulled into an abandoned warehouse in Middletown's more seedier area of town and tried to decide what to do next.
I owe Harley and Ivy an apology the next time I see them." He muttered as he helped the Bebes from the back of the car.
"For breaking the group apart?" One of the Bebes asked him causing Ron to wince.
"Um, no. About making fun of their use of abandoned warehouses in Gotham. I never knew there were so many of them and how useful they could be when you are on the run."
"What is the leader's next course of action?" The other Bebe inquired.
Ron was grateful at the moment that the Bebes with him that thought so highly of him couldn't see how lost and desperate he was. "Well, I need to get your eyes and communications repaired."
"Correction Leader. Your first course of action should be to avoid capture. Bebes are expendable so do not concern yourself with our condition."
"Bull!" Ron stated. "You are part of the group and just as important as anyone, and that even means me. We are in this together! Now is their some equipment or someone I can find that can help me repair the damage done to you?"
"Negative leader, repairs can only be accomplished by the Bebe assembly line where we were assembled."
"Which means back…" Ron said with a sinking feeling.
"At the underground dwelling in Las Vegas. That is correct Leader Ron."
Ron released a long ragged sigh. With the Bebes unable to call for help from their sisters, that meant Ron would have to take them back home himself and that meant he would most likely run into the ladies. It wasn't that Ron didn't want to see them. Oh no, every fiber in his being wanted to run into their arms and never leave again but going back meant endangering them. Not to mention he could only imagine what they would do to him for leaving them all so abruptly and using the Bebes to make sure they couldn't come after him.
Ron released one more sigh before shrugging. There was nothing else to be done. He would have to man up, do what was necessary and take the Bebes home. He was their leader and he was a man. And a man has to do what a man has to do.
He would sneak the Bebes back in to their assembly line area under the cover of night and get them repaired and with any luck manage to sneak back out without Shego, Bonnie, Ivy, Harley, Yori and her ninajs or Rufus finding out. Ron gulped at that thought of how likely that would be before pushing it to the back of his head. First things first. He would have to ditch Shego's car and find a new one to take them home.
"You Bebes are going to have to stay here while I see about getting us a new car. The police are bound to have a description of this one and our license plate…"
"Negative Leader Ron. Bebes must accompany the Leader to protect him."
Ron could have argued that they were blind and thusly not exactly able to protect him and that he could take care of himself but one thing he had learned from all his experiences with Kim was, you'll never win an argument with a determined female so don't even bother to try.
"Okay but we are going to have to move quietly and stealthy, er stealthishly? Er, Stealthfishly?"
"Leader? Bebes understand. We must remain unseen."
"Um, yeah. That's what I meant." Ron muttered as he made sure Shego's car was covered as best as he could with rubbish from the empty warehouse. It was Shego's car so sooner or later Ron would have to come back for it. Making sure that the lead Bebe had her hand firmly on his belt, and a silent prayer that his belt didn't come loose or fall off during their excursion and making sure that the second Bebe had her hand on the first one's shoulder, he started off leading his team in search of a new car to 'borrow'.
Will Du still steaming about his being chewed out by Dr. Director drove his expensive red sports car aimlessly down the streets of Middletown. Officially he was breaking the rules yet again by being away from the base without permission but he needed to clear his head before he did something he would regret. Not paying attention to where he was going, he was surprised to find that he had driven to a strip club that he often frequented on Fridays, his night off.
Knowing that it was probably a very bad idea but for once overriding his rigid structure schedule, Du pulled into the parking lot and exited his car. One beer that was all he was going to have. Just one beer among the patrons of the strip bar that had no idea he was an agent and he would be off, back to Global Justice and no one would be the wiser. Du couldn't help but smile when he noticed a large dark sedan parked near the front entrance of the bar. He knew that car and he knew of the owner of it. Du had met her at the bar one time and they had hit it off fairly well. Ironically the woman who treated Du like a man and not an idiot strongly resembled Kim Possible in that she had flaming red hair and a stunning figure but Du ignored the implications of his infatuation with her was some kind of repressed desire for the constant amateur thorn in his side.
Megan Orla watched the patrons of the bar in boredom. She was a woman who craved excitement and to many of her boyfriends regrets, mischief. Something her job at a trashy 'news magazine' managed to give her but she craved more. She also wanted to be respected as a credible journalist. Something she would never get working where 'inquiring minds like to inquire' would give her.
But to break into the big times required either years and years of dedicated work or a major scoop to open the doors.
Hard work bored Megan and a major scoop wasn't likely to happen hanging around a strip bar but you never knew. Megan spent her evenings buying drinks and chatting up the guys in the bar searching for a VIP slumming. Inevitably the men would start off telling her they were important government workers or CIA, only once drunk to reveal that it was not just the size of certain 'items' they had lied about but that they were actually 7-11 managers or working at Smarty Mart.
Noticing the door to the bar opening she looked over to see if she recognized who was coming in. She was pleasantly surprised to see the man she knew as Willy come in. He usually showed up only on Fridays and was one of the 'nuts' she hadn't cracked yet. Time and time she had tried ply him with alcohol to loosen his tongue and find out something about him but the man was extremely tight lipped about what he did for a living. Which Megan had to admit to herself intrigued her. Most men were far too eager to talk and brag about themselves but Willy did none of that. Also he avoided the stronger boozes and would only have beer, something else that intrigued and also annoyed Megan. But Megan had caught more than once Willy hanging outside the bar waiting for her to show up and escort her inside. She knew it was only a matter of time before this 'nut' would also crack.
"Willy!" She screamed as she raced over and grabbed his arm and dragged him away from the tables and over to the bar proper. Not only might it make her effort to get him drunk easier, it was also quieter over at the bar and away from the strippers at their poles. "What brings you here tonight? This isn't your usual night."
Du while infatuated with the woman that treated him like he was someone still stiffened slightly as the woman grabbed his arm in such a familiar fashion but he allowed her to lead him where she wanted. After all, he had broken his schedule to blow off a little steam and some conversation with a beautiful woman couldn't lead him into any trouble, could it? "Work got a little tense so I decided to take a break." He replied to the woman's question.
"You know, you never did tell me what you did for a living." Megan reminded him. "You must be in charge if you can just walk away for a break when you want to."
Du motioned the bartender over to ask for a beer but Morgan placed her hand over his. "Why don't you try something new tonight?" She asked him as the bartender made his way over.
"Nothing alcoholic." Du stated. "I have to get back to work soon. And I don't like to brag but I am fairly high up on the chain of command at my job. They would be lost without me."
Megan paused with a shrewd look on her face which fortunately Du missed. The use of 'chain of command' is what caused the pause. Not many men used that tern to describe their work environments unless they worked in the military or a government position. Maybe her interest in Willy was going to pay off tonight. If nothing else, she planned that she was going to get him into her bed this night. Willy was pleasing to the eye and Megan hoped his performance would be on par with the attitude he carried himself with.
Noticing that the bartender was waiting she called out to him. "A Shirley Temple for me and a Manhattan Ice Tea for Willy here."
Du frowned. "They serve tea in here?" He asked slightly in suspicion. While it was true that Du was a bit of a regular in here on Friday nights. He wasn't much of a drinker and had avoided anything but a single beer a visit and rarely paid attention to the other patrons, only watching the strippers doing their routines at the poles while he nursed that single beer through the night.
The bartender appeared to be about to speak but stopped as Megan shot him a look. With a shrug he went away to fix the drink without explaining that Manhattan Ice Tea was actually a mixed drink containing some of the most potent alcohol beverages there was. If Megan was 'hunting' tonight it wasn't his business to spoil her fun. A person shouldn't allow someone to order something for them if they didn't know what it was. Maybe the guy would learn a lesson this night?
"Yeah, it's ice tea." Megan said in response to Willy's question. "They add a little bit of seltzer to give it bubbles and just a touch of... Um, beer to give it a pleasant burn."
The bartender a short distance away snorted but kept his back blocking what he was doing so the guy wouldn't see. Quickly he took a large mixing glass and put in 1 ounce of bourbon whiskey, 1 ounce of Scotch whiskey, 1 ounce of Tequila, 1 ounce of brandy and 2 ounces of sweet and sour mix and then just a splash of coke for coloring. Mixing it, he then poured the mixture into a tall glass with ice. The resulting mixture looked like ice tea and surprisingly with that much alcohol in it tasted quite like sweet ice tea as well. He then quickly mixed up various fruit juices to make Megan's Shirley Temple.
Delivering the drinks he then went on to the other customers.
After Megan got the third 'ice tea' down Willy she learned he was more than she ever dared to hope for. She learned he was a honest to God secret agent in a hush hush police organization that no one, as far as she knew, in the news world knew about and that he hated his boss and he was involved in the hunt for the sudden rise to infamy dictator Ron Stoppable.
"What kind of name is Ron for a dictator anyway?" She asked the now soused Will Du.
Du blinked owlishly at her. He seriously was a light weight when it came to drinking and even though he didn't know it, he was deeply drunk. "Lesh me tells you a secret." He confided in too loud a whisper. "He's not really a dickshashor. He's just a pasty the Woasian government and Global Justice is using."
Megan frowned. "Do you mean patsy?"
Du nodded his head enthusiastically and then grabbed his head as the action made it swim.
"This Ron Stoppable guy isn't some kind of power mad monster but some innocent moron they are trying to pin..."
"Proshably everything." Du made a wide gesture with both of his arms as he nodded again but this time more slowly and carefully. "I'sh met the guy, he's too kind harted and honest to do anything like what theys says he is."
Megan was honestly confused. "But why then...?"
"Cause the government over theres says so. You know what runs the world?" Du held up a hand and rubbed his first two fingers against his thumb in the universal symbol of money. "Power." Du blinked at his own hand and shook his head a little. "The Wosian government wants him as a scapessheep to blame everything on so they can kills off the undesirarles."
"You mean the Tazoian, a scapegoat and undesirables." Megan corrected him automatically before her eyes grew large. She wanted a scoop to get access to a real journalism career and she had been handed a virtual atomic bomb of a scoop. A foreign government was planning on genocide and was blaming an American citizen of the crimes and not only did an American government agency know about it but was going along with it! If Willy was to be believed, even the United Nations was being duped!
Some of the excitement left Megan. That was the crux wasn't it? Was Du who he said he was and was what he was telling her the truth? Usually men that got as drunk as he did, did tend to tell the truth without realizing it but was that the case this time? Maybe he was just fantasizing everything to make himself look more important?
Megan leaned over and ran her fingers through Willy's hair and the drunken man leaned into her touch. "Willy... Is there anyway you can prove any of what you say is real? How do you know for certain that Stoppable is innocent of everything they claim he has done?"
"Welsh, I know for certain he's innoshent of killing all those reporters outside of Docor Posshible."
"Reporters? What reporters?" Megan asked sharply. She hadn't heard of the deaths outside of Dr. Possible's residence since she had been in the bar all evening long.
"The reporshers that died waughing, er I mean laughing." Du said as he swayed slightly on his barstool. "Outside Posshible's home tonight." Du added and then laid his head on the bar countertop.
"Frank! Get over here now!" Megan yelled at the bartender as she felt her blood trying to turn to ice. Normally she would be right there with the other Paparazzis trying to get a 'quote' from Dr. Possible for her trash magazine to twist. It was only a fluke that tonight she decided to go to the bar instead.
The bartender glanced at the barely conscious man with his head lying on the bar. "Look, its not my fault you got him too drunk to have any fun. I could have told you after the second Manhattan that he couldn't take too much more..."
"Not that! Turn on the TV!" Megan said gesturing to a turned off TV Behind the bar.
The bartender looked at curiously but without a word turned around and turned the TV on.
Instead of the insipid TV sitcom that was scheduled to be on they both saw a very serious looking news anchor sitting behind his desk. "Once again nothing new has been released about the Paparazzi Massacre that has taken place earlier this evening outside of Dr. Possible's home. We still have no reports on whether the talented woman doctor was involved in the deaths or indeed if she is another victim. What little information we have gathered state that the photographers and one local news reporter were found with ghastly smiles stretching across their faces..." There was more but Megan tuned it out. Du had known about the murders. That didn't immediately mean everything he had told her was true but it was a pretty good start.
"Come on Willy baby. You are going home with me tonight and we are going to have a long talk about Global Justice and everything you know." She told the drunk man.
"Cansh." Du stated. "I'm shuppose to be back at Gss Jss now! I have to hunts downs Shottable. Director doctor can'ts find her hot ass with both hands without me. They needs me. Besides theys come looking for me if I don't comes back tonight and if they find my car in the pahking lots..."
"Give me the keys! We'll take your car back to my place and leave mine here. That way they won't find you are playing hooky!" Megan stated.
Du blinked at her owlishly once again. Something seemed wrong about her logic but Du in his state couldn't place what it was. After a moment he pulled out some car keys and handed them over to her. "Red sports car. License plate is ..TOP DU I love red." Du said to her reaching out to touch her hair but almost falling.
Meanwhile, just outside the strip bar...
Ron passed by several cars parked along the grimy streets because he already felt bad about stealing someone's ride. After all he didn't know the people whose cars were parked on the street. Perhaps they had kids and had to take them to school tomorrow and have to explain why they couldn't because some asshole, being Ron, had stolen their car in the middle of the night.
Finally spotting the strip bar Ron made his way cautiously into the parking lot. After all it was unlikely that the patrons of such a place had families and if they did, they should be home with their loved ones and not watching a bunch of naked women gyrating for their pleasure.
Ron passed by several large cars because they looked to be in poor condition. He could just imagine stealing a car like that and having it break down a short time later. He also passed by a van because he feared that he might find someone sleeping off their drunken state inside.
He could feel the Bebe directly behind him remove her hand from his belt and place her hand on his shoulder minutely tighten her grip even if she said nothing and Ron interpreted it to mean that she was getting annoyed with his selectivity.
Seeing something Ron in shock almost stood up from his half crouch but caught himself at the last moment. "It couldn't be." Ron said out loud.
"Leader Ron must specify. What cannot be?" The Bebe holding his shoulder questioned.
"Um, I think I just spotted a car belonging to an old friend." Ron stated as he squinted in the gloom of the parking lot at the license plate that had caught his eye. TOP DU.
The car was totally impractical for what Ron was needing. The backseat was tiny and he doubted the Bebes would be comfortable crammed into its small space and the car was far from inconspicuous. It was the type of car that police officers would eye just for looking like the owner was the type to speed.
Ron started to pass it by but suddenly the mental image of Will Du's gleeful face as he pulled a gun to shoot him at close range just hours ago flashed through Ron's mind.
"Ladies? I think we've found our ride." Ron said with a faint grin on his face as he found out that Du in his eagerness to get inside the bar had atypically left his car unlocked.
AAAAAAAAA
Author Note:
AAAAAAAAA
Yes, finally an update. I know that many have been waiting patiently for me to post and wondering why it was taking so long. Well the answer is a simple one.
This hasn't been a good year for me.
From taking care of an ailing father to computer troubles to breaking my foot. It would seem the gods of misfortunes have taken a liking to me. A sentiment that I do not return to them. I've been trying to regain control of my life and rest assured I haven't forgotten my fans. Hopefully will be posting more in the very near future.
