Wow has it been a week already? Well welcome back to this installment of as the world churns. Now in the last episode Slim, Anne and Kim (with the help of some of the ranch hands) decided to teach James Possible a lesson and it looks like they may have succeeded so yay for them. I will let you in on one thing…..James is reconsidering his position on Kim's choice of dating partners. Enough said about that.
As for what is going on in this chapter we have a scene with Josh and Tara and oh man do my teeth hurt….don't worry you'll see what I mean. Then again we have a few scenes where Ron is the primary character one of them with Kim.
I want to thank everyone who has read, followed, faved and or reviewed 'The Hunter: Book One' so far or for that matter any of my other tales. To the reviewers: Readerjunkie, hey thanks and how did you get two reviews in? Swordofmalikai: Thanks, I know it should move faster, but I am verbose. Angleus-alvus, yeah Ron's pretty easy going, well he is unless there is a reason for him not to be, you will see more of those scenes as the tale moves along, as to how I show Kim and Ron's relationship…..uh thanks, I hope.
Anon, I thought someone would like that. My theory is that Ron is quite capable and not just because of Mr. Zed (another tale of mine….which I have to rewrite the first 25 chapters). Will Ron get better transport? Just how good is Ron's luck? You know you are asking very interesting questions, now CB73 and Eckles know what's going on….ok maybe Armydude does too (I can't remember) and I just can't tell everybody.
Levi2000a1, yeah I let James off easy….this time. James is forgetful if you remember. Jimmy1201, Mrs. Dr. P a super villain? Maybe a super-duper villain! Pbow, Yeah Kim Possible (Miss Goody Two Shoes) actually lied, but it was for a good reason. Is the blond goof going to get some sleep? Man I sure hope so! CajunBear73, yay it's election day, man I can't take many more of these! Now Ron has his own little battles, one of which will be coming up in a few chapters (guys now see CB pull up the chapters I sent him so he can see what's up…LOL)
Speaking of CajunBear, he has been my beta and co-writer since…..well, what was the name of that first tale that we haven't posted yet because Spectre666 hasn't completed 'Silence'? Together we try to make a nice interesting story for your enjoyment.
Now Levi had a nice idea. He noted that not everyone may know what a 'red dog' is in football terms. Basically it is a linebacker blitz (pass rush). Originally a red dog was one backer coming through the line, a blue dog was two and a green dog was three. Now you have all these exotic packages to make the quarterback's life interesting and to give him something to dream about! All this because I lived it for a while.
So let's get started,
ST-103
The Hunter: Book One
Chapter 37
Middleton Artists' Co-Op:
"Hi Josh, sorry I'm a few minutes late.", Tara told her boyfriend as she entered the small studio his parents rented for him so that their home wouldn't be trashed with paint, plaster and marble for their highly gifted son's projects. She set the cooler down on the finished oak floor as she glanced around for a second to see what he had been working on.
"It's not a problem honey.", Josh leaned to kiss Tara, not touching her with his body since it was covered in clay at the moment.
"Well what do you have going on now?"
"Well I want to show you that painting for that great couple I've been working on. It's taking a lot longer that I thought it would, but I think when it's done it's going to be perfect."
"That will be so nice to do that for Kim and Ron.", the platinum blonde smiled.
"Why don't you sit here and I'll get cleaned up."
"Are you thirsty Josh? I brought some soda.", Tara asked as she sat on one of the three stools in the studio.
"Thanks honey, I guess I am a little. When I get going I forget anything else."
"I've noticed."
"Yeah sorry about that, I just can't stop when I'm on a roll."
"Can I look at your stuff Josh.", Tara called since he wasn't in the room at the moment and she always asked permission to do so.
"Yeah sure, but be careful things are still drying."
"Thanks."
The Middleton High cheerleader stayed away from the easels because she knew that her artist slash boyfriend was painting a portrait of her and always wanted to show that himself . So she knew enough to stay away from certain places.
She approached a stand which was covered by a sheet. Softly she removed the opaque sheet to gaze on a clay model of a girl and a boy. "Oh that's so nice Josh."
"Which one?", he asked as he reentered the room.
"This here."
"Oh that's a model and really isn't close to being ready to do anything with yet, but I'll clue you in on who it is in a few minutes. First come over here and let me show you the painting that I have been working on for you and your parents.", Josh stated with a smile as he opened the cooler and took out a soda.
"So show me already."
"Which one do you want to see first?"
"Me, I want to see me.", Tara perked up.
"And you will, right now honey.", Josh smiled putting his drink down and walked over to one of the easels, "Now remember it's not done yet, but I hope to finish it before the school year begins and present it to your parents." With a smile the teen artist raised the cover from the painting.
"I look like that in your eyes Josh?", Tara began to weep with joy.
"Yeah why, don't you like it?"
"I love it; you were right about the dress. I like it better this way.", Tara sniffed as she looked at the blonde angel staring back.
"I hoped it would be good enough honey.", Josh smiled.
"It's more than good enough."
"So do you like my idea of giving it to your 'rents as a way of saying thanks for letting me date you?"
"Their anniversary in next month, if you want to give it to them then would be the perfect time.", Tara suggested.
"I think I can get it done by then, I just have to work on the background a little and some of the lighting is not quite right.", Josh mused aloud as he look at it from another angle.
"Why is that?"
"Well there is too much light on this part of your hair and it needs to be a little darker so that it shows up better.", Josh explained showing by using a long stick to point out what he meant.
"Well I think it's perfect now.", the bubbly cheerleader countered.
"Ah but when you compare your portrait to others that you will see in the future I want you still to be proud of how I captured you."
"OK you're the artist, now let's see Kim and Ron's.", Tara urged knowing that after seeing her painting this was going to be very nice.
"It's not as far along, but if you look closely you can see my method honey.", Josh explained as he lifted the cover from another easel.
"That's from the photo.", Tara gasped as she looked it over closely.
"Uh, not quite, that picture is the base that I used but this is my interpretation of that picture.", Josh explained then paused, "pictures are nice, but they usually don't have the depth that a painting does. At least a snapshot like what made it into the school paper. Though it's simple enough to get Kim and Ron right I had to go back to the gym and take some pictures of my own at different angles to make sure of what I wanted to do."
"Josh it's great that you are doing this for them."
"I'm not doing it just for them; I'm doing it for Middleton honey. The painting is the first part. The clay model is the second."
"What are you doing?"
Sigh, "If I get the inspiration and the funds, well the clay model that I am working on I plan to have as a statue of them together. It's early yet and normally these things take years to do, but if something happens to them because of the life they lead…it would give us something to remind us of them and what they did for everyone."
"So when are you going to tell Kim and Ron, I could call her right now."
"I'm not even close, maybe sometime this spring,", Josh hinted, "but I was thinking about the painting as a graduation present."
"So you don't think they'll break up?", Tara decided to play the devil's advocate.
"Kim and Ron? Not a chance at least not on their own. Don't you see even when I dated her Kim always had her mind on Ron a little….and I can tell you after sharing a gym class with Ron his mind was on her a lot too.", Josh replied.
"Oh you were in the locker room with the 'secret'?"
"Huh…secret? What are you talking about honey?"
"Ron still wears baggy clothes, sure when we went through routines sometimes he'd wear shorts, but you couldn't tell anything. Even his swim trunks are baggy.", Tara explained.
"I guess Ron likes a loose fit babe. Why?", Josh replied as he worried about the promise Ron had gotten from him and other members of the gym class by bribing them with a cookout one weekend.
"We know that guys have their locker room talk and I can tell you that girls aren't any better."
"Gee we all know men are pigs, honey, now you're telling me that girls are the same way?"
Tara nodded, "Remember it's the quiet ones that cause the problems."
"Do you mean Kim is wild? I never would have thought…"
"No Kim isn't that way for the most part though she does listen, she hasn't volunteered any information about Stoppable even though she has to know some things. And she does have to be curious.", the cheerleader grumped, "if she knows anything she's holding back." Then Tara paused.
"But Kim's girlfriend, Monique, even has a notebook…..I know I saw it."
"What's in Monique's notebook?"
"Facts and figures of almost all the guys in the school.", she explained.
"Gee that's comforting, what does she say about me?", Josh asked this not being in his comfort zone.
"Well honey, let me tell you that all measurements are an estimation, but they have several references entered in by your past girlfriends though Possible is curiously absent in her observations….As a matter of fact she doesn't really dish out any information to the other girls.", the blonde enlightened her boyfriend.
"Well that's good, it's nice to have some secrets kept in the dark.", Josh insisted.
"So are you gonna spill about what Ron in the buff is like?", Tara got to the point.
"Umm, I can't Ron is sorta secretive. I mean he's modest.", Josh stated then clarified, "You'd really better talk to Kim about Ron or some of the football players."
"I promise not to tell anyone that you told me.", Tara smiled trying to break his resistance down as she put her arm around his shoulder and laid her cheek against his.
"I uh..um, I uh have to go and make some pottery….yeah pottery.", Josh nervously moved away from his girlfriend since she was rubbing shoulders with him at the moment.
"Come on let's go home I missed 'Agony County' last night and I had it recorded. One of the other girls said it Charity was thinking about giving Danny his walking papers and I so want to see it. Maybe you can help me with my stretching afterward.", Tara teased knowing he liked the hands-on experience.
X
"You know Josh I was teasing Kim last year when was she gaga over you.", Tara groaned as the artist pushed down on her back stretching her out.
"What about honey?"
"Well I ….groan…. was trying to see how she looked at certain things. You know she didn't really date that much at that point.", Tara explained.
"So she was like a sophomore then, like you and me."
"Yeah but she was like a tomboy through middle school, some of the girls who knew her thought she'd go out for football when she got to high school instead of staying a cheerleader."
"So?"
"Well I asked her if she liked guys. And her answer threw me for a loop when she said 'sometimes'. After I got her off to the side, I asked if she liked girls…'cause I thought she was, you know.", Tara was dancing around the topic, "You had to wonder with her and the green woman fighting all the time."
"And what did she say?"
"Well first she laughed then said 'not a chance'. See she's just a girl that likes to do 'guy' stuff. She mentioned that Ron would do 'girl' stuff with her so she did 'guy' stuff with him. That's how good of friends they are."
"How do you mean honey?"
"They are so comfortable with each other, they'd do anything to be with each other.", Tara told her boyfriend, "it's like they're married already."
XXX
The Stoppable home:
Dean Stoppable pushed his chair back from the table, "Thanks honey, you know I never get tired if fried chicken."
"Neither of you get tired of fried chicken.", Barb clarified with a smile.
"Rufus can take it or leave it, you know him and cheese Mom.", Ron chuckled lightly as they all watched the mole rat cleaning the bones on his plate.
"Mostly it looks like he takes it. You know Ronald Rufus seems a bit heavy, maybe we should schedule a vet checkup for him.", Dean teased as Rufus fainted in front of them with just a 'hnk' escaping.
"Oh Dear look what you've done.", Barb looked at the rodent hoping the poor thing didn't have a heart attack. The mole rat's legs were still twitching.
"Well if he croaked then there would be more cherry pie for us.", Ron stated knowing the mole rat was prone to being overdramatic as he winked at them.
"Well I have a cigar box in the garage to bury him in.", Dean added seeing the little rodent twitch his whiskers at Ron's mention of one of Rufus' favorite deserts and knowing that the pink guy detested the smell of tobacco.
Suddenly Rufus popped back up to his feet and stared at both men with his little front legs crossed and a frown on his face and his whiskers still twitching.
Ron snorted, "I guess Rufus recovered Dad, so we don't need the cigar box."
"Oh well, now what all happened last night Ronald?", Dean asked wanting to find out the latest of his Son's adventures.
"You mean the scrapes?" Ron caught the nod and seeing that he had both parents' attention he continued. "Well I was coming home from Felix's home on my scooter and a car swerved and crashed into me.", Ron replied not wanting to let him know that it might have been on purpose.
"Are you alright?", Barb inquired.
"The paramedics took me in to the ER. After a bunch of X-rays, an EKG, and EEG, whatever that is. They said I was alright and just scraped up. Heck I already knew that.", Ron muttered.
"I'm sorry we weren't home Ronald."
"Hey you guys had stuff to do, I understand."
"Son, are you sure that you didn't drift out into his lane?", Dean studied Ron.
"Yeah I was all the way to the right. I guess whoever it was might have been talking on their cell phone or texting or something. There's been too many accidents because of that stuff happening."
"It was a good thing the EMTs and Police got there so quickly, how did that come about?"
"I guess KP was going to get a hold of me and when she found out I was riding home she just decided to listen in. So she and Mrs. P had Wade call them.", Ron explained, "When they took me to the ER they transported the scooter home."
"How bad it is messed up?", Dean asked wondering if he was finally going to take Ron car shopping, but was hoping to hold off for a few months yet.
"I don't know Dad; I've been busy with football. Mr. Barkin keeps us pretty tied up this time of year. I think I'm at school more now than when the school year has actually started."
"Ronald I'll have the shop where we got your transportation come over and pick it up and see if it can be fixed.", Dean promised.
"What if it's too expensive honey?", Barb inquired.
"Then we will either get a car or a new scooter to replace it."
"Man I'll actually be able to take KP on a ride in a car?", Ron smiled since his Dad had sold all the ones he had purchased from when he got the 'Naco Check'. Actually, it was only the first royalty check, though the blond teen didn't know it however. They had kept that information from the blond teen so that he wouldn't blow any of the funds that were coming to him semi-annually.
You know you can borrow one of ours Ronald.", Barb inserted.
"You guys could have let me keep one of those cars with all that money you know."
"At the time you were being very irresponsible Ronald. That money could have gone to help people, to further your education….to at least provide for Kimberly's education….remember she was there when you had the idea.", Dean hinted hoping to make his son think.
"Sigh, yeah I know, I've been trying to do better. One of the guys on the team said he could put a good word in for me at Smarty Mart. I talked to KP about this earlier and I want to do this because at least she won't have to order off the kids' menu all the time. I wanna be more for her you know….be more of a real boyfriend."
Barb Stoppable beamed, "Now that is what I could hear more of Ronald. I think you could do with an extra slice of pie and maybe some ice cream on top." So she got up and went to the counter and began to slice the pie up.
After filling four wide shallow bowls and then adding the vanilla ice cream the matriarch of the Stoppable family returned and set the dessert down.
X
"Mom.", Ron sat back and held his stomach, "Now that was what I call a dinner. Thanks for that, and can I help with the dishes?"
"I think your Father and I can wash them honey, what are you planning on doing with yourself for the rest of the evening?"
"Well I really need to walk this off a little; I think I ought to walk over to one of the parks and back. Do you want me to stick around?"
"No that sounds like a good idea though maybe we'll go for a walk later ourselves.", Barb smiled enjoying the idea of Ron getting some exercise in."
"I think I'll take Rufus with me. IF we're lucky maybe we can get him to run for more than 5 seconds.", Ron smiled.
"Well see you later honey, be careful. After your accident last night keep an eye out, there all goofballs all over the place.", she cautioned.
"Sure Mom, I'll have my cell phone and Kimmunicator on me. Come on Rufus or I'll put a collar and leash on you.", Ron got up and cleared the table to do something at least.
"Hnk ho kay.", Rufus squeaked as he looked at Ron with resignation.
"Later Mom and Dad.", Ron called as he reached the door, unknown to them he had picked up a small bag which had his gi inside.
X
Ron was walking quickly and just passed a dark van parked alongside the street when its sliding door opened and the blond teen slipped inside.
"How did you guys know?", the blond stared seeing Master Umestsu and Antubi Narotu inside and sitting back down in their seats.
"Did you think our intelligence was so ineffective as to not be aware of the incident last evening after you departed Stoppable-san?", the sword master stated.
"No Sir, I mean I just didn't know. I did figure that you would pick me up when you found that my transportation is broken for the moment.", Ron explained.
"We are aware of your injuries; but we must work on several things this evening. Some of them will be mental until you heal.", Namato informed the American teen, "Here drink this, it is a remedy to allow you to heal at a faster rate."
Knowing better than to even ask about what was in the thick mixture that was in the cup because of the odor coming from it, Ron winced as he swallowed the concoction and tried to drink it down. Truthfully he mostly chewed it and forced it down his throat.
"Gee that was …..uh swell.", Ron sputtered as Sensei's aide handed him some water to chase it down.
"Hnk. Ewwww stinky.", Rufus popped out of Ron's cargo pocket holding his nose.
"Yeah it even gagged Rufus and he likes limburger."
"Hnk no way.", the naked mole rat squeaked.
"See a first guys, a mole rat who doesn't like cheese.", Ron chided his little friend and scratched his ears.
In response Rufus stuck his tongue out at Ron. "Mannnn I am so hurt buddy, I'd apologize but I know you won't accept them without the proper bribe. So you'll have to wait till later."
Twenty minutes later the van pulled in to a gated driveway and when its engine had been shut off the small group of men and mole rat quickly made their way inside.
Master Umestsu sat quietly as Ron Stoppable entered the dojo. The American teen first bowed then waited to be recognized.
"Please sit and relax yourself Stoppable-san. Tonight we will work further on the new kata that you have been studying. After I am satisfied with your progress we will move to hand-to-hand techniques. There are over five hundred wrist and elbow locks you must need to master while your hand strikes improve.", the sword master informed Ron, "you have learned some of these already and it is time to learn more. Master Sensei will teach those as he has learned them all."
X
"Again Stoppable-san you are having trouble when you twist the blade while switching handholds. Your weapon must be constantly in motion, if it is not then you are vulnerable and if you perish then so will others you are defending.", Master Umestsu cautioned as he selected a katana from the rack, "Now copy my movements exactly."
Slowly the master showed Ron the whole movement, and then broke it down in sections, making the American copy everything exactly.
"Ahhh there is the problem, now watch and I will show you what you are doing and what you are supposed to be doing."
Again Stoppable watched intently as the sword master patiently worked with him. "Now I see, may I attempt this on my own?"
"Yes please begin.", Namato told his protégée.
As the teen went through the kata this time it was nearly flawless.
"Please replace your weapon Stoppable-san, For the next sixty minutes we will work on joint locks.", the sword master bowed as Master Sensei entered.
"Good evening Stoppable-san, grab my hand.", the white haired ninja instructor ordered.
Ron did as instructed and almost a whole count later he was on his back slapping his leg in agony.
"Very good again.", Sensei ordered.
After the allotted time Sensei bowed and left the dojo.
"Very good Stoppable-san, Master Sensei is very gifted. He has been my instructor and is the best in the world. It is an honor to learn from him. Remember when he teaches a move pay close attention. You will get the opportunity to try it on him.", Master Umestsu informed his prized student.
"Yeah I got that, man is my body going to feel it tomorrow.", Ron moaned rubbing his wrist, then his elbow."
"Let me see your arm Stoppable-san, now take a calming breath and let the MMP flow to the pain."
Feeling better Ron said, "Thanks Sir, I wish I could learn that."
"You already know the basics. Later we will tutor you."
Smiling Ron's instructor spoke, "Stop, this is good enough for tonight. Now sit with me." Ron sat in the Lotus Position.
"Let us enter into meditation my young friend. There are things that you must be able to do with your mind."
"As you wish Master.", Ron intoned as he calmed himself after the strenuous workout with another breath closing his eyes and further relaxing himself.
"Begin to concentrate on your body as a feather."
Ron Stoppable, doer of many things in his young life, began to feel light, almost without substance. After a few minutes Master Umestsu told him, "Now open your eyes."
Ron did as ordered, 'Whaaaa, I'm floating? How am I floating?' "Master how am I floating?" Suddenly he landed on the floor…hard.
"And I might ask, 'how are you not floating' now?"
"I…I don't know."
"You could do so once, you can perform the act again. Please sit and we will take this step by step.", the sword master chuckled as he pushed the teen to near exhaustion.
Twice more he had Ron do the 'floaty thing' as he called it to Kim during their rescue from Dr. Hall when she changed herself into a gorilla to try and enamor Lord Monty Fiske a few months before. "I can't believe I can finally do this. It's great. I can't wait to show KP this and turning invisible Master."
"Your ninja abilities are not for outsiders Stoppable-san. You are only to use them when absolutely needed and then covertly.", Master Umestsu warned.
"Man I learn some neat stuff and I can't tell KP. Alright.", Ron huffed.
"It is time for you to go home and rest, you shall sleep peacefully tonight. Tomorrow you must accomplish more of the same. You must be faster with the cloaking and floating techniques."
"Sounds like fun Master. What time is it, I gotta call KP….I sorta promised."
"It is almost your ten thirty. Hurry and dress I will have the van take you to your neighborhood."
XXX
"Hey Mom, Dad, I'm home did you guys have a good walk?", Ron called as he entered his home.
Dean Stoppable appeared, "Yes we did. Please come in the family room Ronald."
"Uh sure Dad.", Ron replied wondering what was going on now.
"Sit down Son.", Dean motioned.
Ron did as requested waiting for them to tell him what was going on. Rufus popped out of the pocket that he had been in having spent Ron's training session discussing higher levels of thought with Sensei while the teen sweated.
The patriarch of the Stoppable house continued deciding to let his Son know what was happening, "You are aware that your Mother and I have decided to adopt Ronald?"
"Yes Sir, Mom said the contractors are going to start on my new room in the basement in a few days.", Ron replied.
"Something else has come up tonight which might throw a monkey wrench into our plans.", Dean informed his Son.
"Uh Dad you're being dramatic here, what's going on?"
"Well you know that my…our cousin's son Shawn is a disturbed young man….."
"Dad call it for what it is, he's gonna spend time in the big house if he doesn't change his ways.", Ron pointed out thinking about what the kid who shared his last name had done over the years.
"Well yes, it seems that Cousins Franklin and Ruth cannot control their son. He got caught torturing a defenseless animal and the Police caught him in the act. One of the Animal Rights groups has promised to prosecute Shawn and his parents if he doesn't spend time in a counseling program.", Dean explained.
"He's not going to live us with is he?", Ron inquired, "He's tried to hurt Rufus before."
Dean responded, "No Son, that will we not allow, if he does that with animals one could wonder what he could do to a defenseless baby. No the State will not let him stay with us after the baby arrives, but your Mother and I promised to help move him into a facility which caters towards changing attitudes in children like him. This is his only chance; his next stop will be in Juvenal Hall. Shawn's parents have agreed to counseling themselves. You know a couple of swats on his butt when he started this behavior when he was younger could have prevented all of this."
"Yeah I know, well I was telling everyone for a long time that Cousin Ruth's little innocent baby was pure evil, but no one would listen to me. So how long are you guys gonna be gone?"
"We are driving him across country so we'll be a week or a little more. I'm sorry Son."
"Don't worry about this I can take care of myself and Rufus. But do me a favor and stock the freezer before you go. I am gonna be on foot for a while until my scooter gets fixed."
"They pick it up tomorrow. I already paid for the repairs and it should be done a couple of days after we leave.", Dean explained.
"That sounds alright to me; I won't be going out too much anyway. Maybe a little walk at night or something. Not a lot to do but gaming, football and looking for work. I think I might apply at Smarty Mart like I said before."
"Are you really sure that you want to try that Ronald?", Dean asked almost ready to tell his son of the funds that they had put away for his future.
"Well I wanna start taking KP out on better dates and not have to rely on favors I've done for people to pay for our dinners.", Ron replied, "Anyway one of the guys on the team said he'd put in a good word for me."
"Ronald you really don't have to work at a place like that I'm sure….."
"Like I said before, that's a wonderful idea honey, it would look good when you apply for colleges and it never hurts to have spending money. It will also help you learn how to manage money.", Barb cut in on Dean and glanced his way.
"Is there anything else? Mom…Dad? We're not gonna sell the house and move to Norway or something are we?"
"No Ronald, I think that covers everything.", Dean told his Son.
"Great, I'm gonna call KP then get a shower, no on second thought I'm gonna slice Rufus some cheese, take a shower, then call KP. That way I can talk to her till I get sleepy.", Ron corrected himself as he got up and gave his Mother a kiss on the cheek and a hug from his Father.
"Come on Rufus let's get you your snack buddy."
"Hnk yeah Ron, 'bout time.", the mole rat squeaked.
"Keep your pants on.", the teen muttered not realizing that he and his pet were entertaining Barbara and Dean who realized that their son had all but grown up.
X
"Hey KP, how did your day go?", Ron asked after he called.
Sigh, "So hoping Dad learned his lesson this time, how are you feeling honey?"
"Lonely for my girlfriend.", Ron was real happy about the progress he had made a little earlier but knew that he couldn't spill.
"So is the girlfriend Ronnie, so is the girlfriend.", the red headed heroine replied lowly, "I miss you so much. I want school to start right away so that we can see so much more of each other."
"It's been a long summer KP. Longest one since Wannaweep."
"Mom and Dad thought I was going to drive them nuts back then, but it was easier than this one. What does that say about us?"
"I'm not sure about you, but I think I'm in love with this wonderful girl and I hope she loves me back."
"She does Ronnie. Just think this time next year we'll be on a college campus somewhere studying together. Maybe if we can swing it maybe we can be in the same dorm spending our nights studying and snuggling."
"Yeah maybe we can.", Ron spoke softly as he looked at that face that he knew so well and had for so long, but knowing that he wasn't going to be able to afford the pricy private college that Kim had suggested earlier, "That is until Drakken tries to pull something and we have to run off and thwart him."
"Yeah college is going to be a lot harder than high school, but we can do it. Ronnie you can do it I have confidence in you. You know we might not be able to take off and go freak fighting at the drop of a hat, we'll have to make changes."
"I thought about that KP, I don't want to go cold turkey on missions, but we'll have to do something otherwise I'll flunk out."
"We'll find out some way to help, maybe we can just volunteer around campus.", Kim suggested as she rolled over on her bed getting more comfortable.
"KP can I just look at you?"
"Sure honey, let me set it up.", Kim set the Kimmunicator in front of her and watched the brown eyes in it as a smile appeared on his face.
"Lord you are beautiful Kimberly Anne, just looking at you takes my breath away. I can't wait to feel your hair and smell you. Just to caress your skin, thinking about it gives me the shivers.", Ron spoke softly.
"I can't wait to hold you again, maybe we can hug like we did about a week ago?", Kim's voice softened as she remembered the sensation of holding each other without their tops on.
"As long as no one is around I guess we can, but remember whose Daddy is against us even seeing each other."
Ron thought then laughed lightly, "You know if my 'rents were against us being together, we could be the modern day Romeo and Joliet."
"Don't you mean Romeo and Juliet?", Kim inquired then asked her next question.
"The Shakespeare guy?"
"That's the one."
"As long as it has a happier ending than theirs was…..sure. It looks like you paid more attention than it looked.", Kim smiled seeing Ron did get something out of English Literature class.
"It wasn't my favorite though.", the blond hinted.
"What was?"
"Well I sorta liked one of Tennyson's poems.", Ron replied.
"Oh which one?"
Ron teased, "Well I'll recite a bit of it to ya, maybe you can figure it out."
"You can recite?"
"I have studied Ono no Komachi KP.", Ron told his girlfriend.
"Who?"
"Ono no Komachi was a famous poet in Japan a while ago, I had to learn the classics."
"I never heard of him…"
"Her, she died about eleven hundred years ago.", Ron clarified, "Let me tell ya Tennyson is easier, well it is for me. Hers were very well thought out and short. I guess it's because her poetry was so erotic."
"I guess. So go on with reciting some of Tennyson.", Kim urged wondering if he was playing her and wondering if Wade could look up this long dead woman.
"Here goes:"
"Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them,
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.
"Well.", Ron finished, "what do ya think?"
"Very good poetry boy, I'm impressed. Why that poem?"
"When I feel low, I think about guys who didn't really have much of a chance. I think about all the ruined lives.", Ron paused lowly. He didn't realize it but this really got his girlfriend's attention.
"Anyway Mom and Dad are heading out….again.", Ron started wanting to go onto another topic.
"Another business trip?"
"Family business this time we have a little family crisis with my most favorite cousin."
"Shawn?"
"None other, see he got caught in the act of doing something by a real Policeman and an advocate group wants him prosecuted as a Juvenal offender. They worked out a deal where he has to basically go to a boot camp for kids that wanna be bad boys.", Ron chuckles, "it's about time the little ingrate got some payback. It seems like the Zorpox sitch didn't stick in his head too long."
"I guess…what did he do?"
"He got caught in the act of torturing a helpless animal…he's done that before remember about me telling you?"
"Yeah your cousin is a piece of work. Why didn't they just put him in your house for a while?"
"Do you want Rufus to be on the end of one of his experiments? We wouldn't have a best buddy anymore and then there would be Shawnacide.", Ron suggested.
"You wouldn't."
"Wanna bet? I might go to jail, but Shawn would not get away with it. That little twerp has hurt too many animals and I don't want Rufus to be one of them. What would happen if innocent little Shawnie decided to maybe try out some of his things on kids cause animals didn't give him a thrill anymore?", Ron told her not mentioning that he might be a 'big brother' soon.
"Ron you're taking this to the extreme.", Kim warned, "And it's too late at night to get riled up like this."
"Yeah I guess, but anyway Mom and Dad are gonna be out of town for a week to ten days driving the little twerp to some boot camp for troublemaking kids."
"What are you going to do for company then Ronnie?"
"Maybe apply at Smarty Mart like I thought about. If I'm busy I won't think about how my world has turned into a giant…..oh never mind.", Ron tried to calm himself.
"Yeah it's best not to get worked up over this, at least your cousin isn't staying with you guys. He freaked you out last time.", Kim giggled.
"Yeah he did and I got even too, but the kid just won't learn.", Ron huffed, "Anyway I'm gonna get some sleep I have to be up for break of dawn practice."
"What?"
"Barkin says we're not making enough progress I have to go in for classroom first thing and stay an hour later for extra conditioning. I have to make up for no contact and the only way to do that is through intense workouts. At least it's going to be over when school starts…I hope. He moved it up from oh six thirty to 'day break'."
"He has to stay within the Colorado High School Athletic Organization's rules Ronnie, he has to let you guys get some rest."
"There must be an exception and he's using it, but you have to be tired too. I can't wait to see you again KP. G'nite.'"
'G'nite, I love you.", Kim closed the connection
XX
"Going to apply at Smarty Mart?", Barb snorted, "Well maybe they'll give him a better deal on stocks. Anyway, if we let him do this he'll have even less of an idea of how much he's worth and it will teach him not just to spend, but to manage his funds."
"I thought you were going to blow up honey, but this is funny. Just think of how he'll react when we hand his account book over to him for the funds we let him have to get through college.", Dean laughed lightly.
"Well remember not to tell him too soon. Now that we've done this we might as well put it with 'this is our way of telling you' and Ronald did it to himself.", tears were beginning to roll off Barb's cheek.
XXX
"How did your lunch date go with Stoppable babe?"
"I got him to buy.", Monique snorted, "You know I noticed something today."
"What's that?", Brick Flagg asked over the phone.
"Well Ron always gets these great deals when he buys at Bueno Nacho."
"What did he say about that?"
"All he mentioned was that it must be some kind of promotion."
"What do you think?"
Monique frowned, "I don't know, maybe they see him as a treasured customer; you know a frequent buyer and they don't want to lose his business."
"Yeah maybe, how's Kim doing?", Brick asked knowing Monique was really missing the red head.
"Without."
"Huh, what do you mean….Moni are you saying that Kim and Ron have…."
"No, no I don't think they have…yet, I'm pretty sure that lil Miss Possible would have got me alone and spilled after she made me promise not to breathe a word to anyone about it if they did, blushing all the way by now….and very proud of her accomplishment."
Brick snorted, "But if word got out about 'Miss Goody Two Shoes' not being so good, her Dad would have had a coronary."
"If she has done it with Ron, her old man would have him on a rocket to Pluto and maybe her Mom would be strapping him for the ride.", Monique thought about that scenario.
"I thought Mrs. Possible liked Ron?"
"She does, but I'm saying she's a little protective about Kim too.", Moni snickered.
"I can see it now, Ron Stoppable first man to fly out of the Solar System.", Brick laughed at the situation; "He'd be screaming his head off till he passed Mars."
Monique added, "Or until he found that Kim had stowed away on the rocket."
"Do you think she'd do that?"
"If her Dad tried something like that Kim would get aboard even if it killed her.", Moni informed her boyfriend.
"Yeah I guess."
The fashion diva continued, "She has it bad for Ron and he has it bad for her."
"Anyway Monique, I checked on some of the courses of study here. Have you ever heard of Susan Sipples?", he asked going to another topic and maybe a chance at a future himself.
"Yeah, she was a designer then went back and got her PhD at North Carolina, I met her a few years ago. Why?", Monique responded.
"Guess who's on the staff here?"
"I don't know."
"Come on Moni, you're way better than that take a real guess.", Brick suggested.
"Sipples?"
"Yeah she's a new Prof. Now does that give you a reason to check out campus?"
"Yeah it does, do you have her email address?"
"I can get it."
"Good send it to me, maybe I just narrowed my choice of schools down quite a bit.", Monique laughed seeing how this could work out, "now if I can just get a schollie so that I only have to pay for a little of my education."
"I will, anyway have you checked out any of the football practices yet?"
Monique frowned, "It's really not my scene baby boy, I can tell you that Ron was really scraped up from that accident. He got hit by a car last night."
"Say what? How did he look? Are you sure he's all right?", Brick worried about Ron, Kim and his former team's chances after hearing about the sidekick's interesting abilities.
"All scraped up like I told you. He was sorta stiff too.", Monique informed him.
Brick Flagg laughed, "That sounds like what my body looked like when we played East Sikeston when I was a sophomore, as long as there are no broken bones or internal injuries he'll survive."
"I guess…."
"Remember he has to be tough, all those beatings he took when he was younger.", Brick just realized he let one slip out and the next part of this conversation was going to be anything but pleasant.
"What beatings?", Moni inquired.
"Ya know babe it's getting late and I have to get up early.", Brick stalled still hoping to get out of what he just stepped into.
"Brick Flagg you will spill about 'the beatings' that you just mentioned.", Monique suddenly became very protective of her small blond friend.
"OK, but remember I wasn't involved in this. For the last ten years or so D Hall thugs were given free rein to pommel various lower rung members of the food chain at Middleton High.", Brick sighed the paused.
"From what I heard this was to keep the other students in line and to let the thugs have some fun and let off aggression."
"Who would do such a thing Brick?"
"It began about the time the food chain started up from what Frank Winters told me; anyway I think it came from the Rockwallers."
"Well someone has to stop it."
"Coach Frinkle knew about it and Barkin was his assistant. I think Frinkle let it go on and Stevie boy kept it as a perk for his jocks so they could taste a little blood without beating each other up too much."
"Do you know what you're saying?"
"I think so, I think Mr. Rockwaller is behind this or he was and Barkin is letting this go on.", Brick repeated.
Monique thought for a moment, "BF that is not right, big tough guys picking on little guys. If one of those kids gets hurt bad the cops would be all over the school."
"So those guys used to limit the beatings to guys like Stoppable and a few others. Nobody who was popular, I heard Stoppable got creamed bad enough a couple of times that he had to go to the hospital."
"Why didn't someone yell about it?"
The former Middleton quarterback hinted, "Possible and you."
"What do you mean?"
"How would you like to be facing five or six of those guys by yourself?"
"What are you trying to say boyfriend?"
"If Stoppable said anything they'd come after you and or Possible. She may be real good, but against the offensive and defensive lines? Remember some of these guys are grown men, big tough grown men who know how to fight. As good as Kim is, she wouldn't have much of a chance. Stoppable was warned against spilling, he was protecting you two.", Brick explained.
"So they just beat him?"
"Well the first couple years they did. Last year he fought back, last spring I got them to lay off him some Monique. Now they look for some other young kids to whip on. It's a game to them; Barkin knows all about it and turns a blind eye."
"Somebody ought to turn him in to the Principal….."
"Haven't you heard anything I've said? Barkin runs Middleton High; he runs everything and makes all the big decisions. Hippy Alice just twiddles her thumbs and does what she does….sit in that office of hers behind that big desk. Barkin does his thing and runs everything and nobody is any wiser babe."
"We have to tell the school board."
"We do that 'Nique and you'll be meeting a couple of the guys in the dungeon real soon.", Brick warned calling the boiler room by its nickname.
"I've never been in there."
"You don't want to be in there either. I can get away with it, but not you. Not a chance, that is unless I'm with you."
"Boyfriend you gave me a lot to think about…."
Brick instructed Monique, "I hope so, listen if I'm your boyfriend they should leave you alone. If anybody asks you're my girl. Honey I have to go to bed it's getting late. I'll call tomorrow afternoon unless you have to work."
"Call before two, I have to go into Club Banana at four."
"Yeah whatever you do, do not mention to anyone what I told you tonight Monique."
"What about Kim, I tell her everything."
"Nope her goody-two shoes act could lead to you getting beat up, maybe her and her family too. I doubt if the guys will stomp on Stoppable since he's one of them now, but who knows, if you make trouble and he has to step in to protect you.", Brick added.
"Can I talk to him…about the goons?"
Brick hinted, "Yeah but don't tell him anything about what I told you, just ask him if he's still having accidents. Listen I'll call tomorrow take care honey."
XXX
"Honey you need to get some sleep.", Ron noticed his red headed angel nodding off, "So do I."
"OK Ronnie, please call me tomorrow."
"I will. G'nite."
"Ronnie, just so you know I so love you. G'nite.", Kim yawned as she closed the connection, 'I wonder if he knows I've loved him my whole life in one way or another?'
There was a knock on the door, "Come in, I'm still awake."
The door opened and Anne walked in, "How was your call from Ronald, Kimmie?"
"Good Mom, but he's real lonely. Earlier today I talked to both Monique and Tara. Both of them asked Ron out."
"I thought they had boyfriends already?", Anne wondered what her daughter had done.
"They are, but I got Moni to meet Ron for lunch you know as friends to see how he was doing 'cause I was soo worried about him after last night and Tara already had the idea to ask Ron to tag along on one of her and Josh's dates."
"Well how did that all work out honey?"
"Like I said Ronnie met Monique today and they had lunch and talked then I got the report back. Then he turned down going out with Tara and my former 'cause his parents were getting back in town today.", Kim explained.
"Then I just talked to him again tonight and his 'rents have to go out of town for some family crisis tomorrow and may not be back till we get home. He's real lonely Mom, if it wasn't for football I just don't know how he would deal with it.", Kim finished in frustration.
Anne sat down on the bed, "Sometimes things come up honey and you have to work it out on your own. Ron seems to be doing this. I was more worried about the accident last night, but you haven't mentioned that so he's not complaining of any discomfort."
"No he really isn't Mom, but you know in the tree house during that whole Drakken thing with Syntho-901? Well I went looking for Ron before the prom.", Kim paused to take a breath.
"Well I told him we'd always be tight, but what is worse I told him we have to grow up meaning him, not me. Now he seems to have….He's not the slacker he was, but he's not as carefree either.", Kim explained as Anne sat and listened.
"If Ronald's grades come up then maybe the talk you had with him worked."
"Yeah maybe, but at what cost?"
"What do you mean honey?"
"Well if Ronnie acts all grown up then what happens if the goof that I fell in love with is gone?"
"Kimmie as you can see all around you people change over time. You can stay friends with Ron or you can fall deeper in love with him or you can each go your own way. I don't have a crystal ball to see the future and I can only hope that you and Ronald become the couple that Barb and I always thought you could. Now I am going to bed and get some sleep, I think we're going to take real horses out tomorrow and I'm not as young as you nor do I have the padding back there that you do either.", Anne laughed lightly.
"Mom so not funny.", Kim huffed.
"Not to you, to me it was, now go to sleep."
"Yeah Mom, is Dad still sleeping on the couch?"
"Yes he is honey, I am not letting him back in my bed until we've had marriage counseling.", Anne informed her eldest, "He should come around fairly quickly…if he knows what's good for him."
XXX
"Well the lights are out do you want to get closer?"
"Yes, we have surveillance equipment to install before we really begin the operation. We do have to get closer, tomorrow we need to check out how the utilities are installed and how we can hook our equipment up to make sure it looks like a normal local installation."
"After that botched attempt on the idiot we have to be more careful, if we had gotten caught this could all have some crashing down around our ears and Hans would have very upset with us."
X
Two figures watched while two others climbed trees. Once up where they needed to be they hauled canvas bags up on ropes. A little while later and on their next trees, the dark figures checked the antennas and after checking the images they sent to the receivers, both men climbed back down.
"Come on mates it's time for some beer.", one told the others, the night's work now over. In the morning they would make sure the computers were getting the correct information.
XXXXX
'The Charge of the Light Brigade' by Lord Alfred Tennyson was written about a portion of the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War in 1825. The intended action was intended to be a skirmish, but through miscommunication and arrogance turned into a suicide mission. Out of the 670 men on the British side who were in the charge 118 were killed 127 wounded and about 60 taken prisoner. That is nearly 46% of the force! Ask any military person if those loses are acceptable.
Ono no Komachi lived around 850 AD. She was a major poet in Japan and her work is still appreciated even today.
But on to the disclaimer, to keep Disney's legal dogs off our tails. Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable, Bonnie Rockwaller, and all the rest of the canon characters of the show 'Kim Possible' belong to the show's creators and not myself nor my beta CajunBear73. Now the non-canon guys are usually mine and if somebody wants to make use of them they should ask. So we don't own squat, not only that but we don't make any cash off this little hobby of ours.
Anyway we'll see ya down the road,
ST-103