Storm Chaser
Chapter 50
Hi all and welcome back to another chapter of this long running tale.
Last time, Ron had infiltrated Sheldon Director's clandestine base while Kim's GJ Team was prepping at the Tenth Mountain Division's Base. While Ron was learning more about those inhabiting the 'legally established warehouse', Kim was making friends with a few members of the base who, as you soon will see, came in quite handy in supporting her Team. Meanwhile, Nate Blance, Dean's best bud, is taking his GF, Monique out for a night on the town. For something special he wants to ask her…
While that's going on down-coast in Florida, it's probably hotter in Newton Falls, NY, as things escalated quite quickly when Sheldon's armed security overreacted to an Inspection Team that was armed to the teeth with light weapons, but traveling in armored vehicles supplied by the Tenth. But, like all ambushes, Sheldon's security waited for the optimum moment and opened up after Kim's team had thinned out into three teams. Sheldon, figuring his cover as a 'Law Abiding former Super Villain' had been blown, resorted to his tried and true method of escape. But this time, with a hitchhiker who was determined to not let the Mastermind to all the grief the Far East received from Sheldon's attempts at infiltrating that region, attempting to steal a few nukes that were made available.
One thing was noted with interest by Kim, was the flashes of familiar 'Blue' and a lone man in black who leapt on Sheldon's mode of escape and rode it into the sky.
And before the tale continues on, we'd like to thank the following for riding along with us and chiming in as they have: kmtdiccion, Uberscribbler, Sentinel103, , ajw1970, jch529, Bobtrumpet, Rixzel, Icfehr, DarkDragon67, Wolfang21 and Jimmy1201. Thank you all for your kind words or Alerts…
Fort Drum, New York. Home of the Tenth Mountain Division:
Lieutenant Creeps was in the first chopper heading to Newton Falls in an emergency deploy that had come in only minutes before. The pilot had the throttle to the stops and the bird was shaking as it moved at the Black Hawk's top speed. Creeps looked out the windscreen of the Black Hawk and yelled, "Holy sheeeeeeit! What the hammer hell is that?", as he tracked the rocket streaking into the sky.
Captain Demon, controlling the stick, called though his mic, "That's a goddamned ballistic missile, Lieutenant! Make sure your men are locked and loaded. This just got get real!" Then the copilot used the Squadron Frequency to alert the Squadron, then changed to the Company Frequency to radio back to Fort Drum for HQ to make the call to prep a Battalion to prepare for a fight. Foremost on the Army Officer's mind, 'We're being fuckin' attacked again…Well we're crushing this shit! … This time!'
Mike Creeps nodded before he popped the Sergeant on his helmet, then pulled the charging handle of his M4 back and motioned for him to do the same.
Sergeant Benson yelled out over the roar of the turbine engines of the Blackhawk, "Lock and load, people! This is no drill! Safeties off, we are goin' in hot! We hit. We move! Stay low and engage anything that is dangerous! Make sure you identify your targets! Engage them if they turn weapons on you. Those Global Justice pukes are supposed to be in there and we don't know what we're going to drop into!"
This unit had already been deployed to Afghanistan several times, so they knew the drill. They especially knew what combat operations entailed, as well as how to apply devastating force. They rapped their 30-round magazines' backsides against their helmets to align them for proper feed. Then inserted the mags into their weapons and pulled their charging handles to the rear and released, chambering a round into their weapons. Each also pushed on the forward assist to make sure the bolt was fully engaged so the first round would fire if they needed, with no hesitation. For they knew that hesitation possibly meant death…Theirs.
XXX
Agent Possible screamed out as the missile flew through the ceiling. Her sidearm aimed at the head of one of the remaining guards, the contents of the head to splatter into the face behind him when she had to return fire. "What the hell?! Jones, get on the horn. Check in with the other teams and see how we're doing!"
Pausing behind some cover, she glanced around and saw members of her team drop those who were shooting at them.
Without waiting for an answer from her subordinate, Kim yelled out for all to hear, "Drop em'! NOW! Hands behind your heads! Immediate failure to comply will result in your day being ruined! Choose wisely.", her tone now very dark.
When two of Sheldon's Mercs, still carrying rifles flinched, Kim dropped them where they stood. The red head was as pissed as she'd ever been, from the surprise ambush on her team being attacked with lethal force, with several of her Agents wounded and still out on the floor.
XXX
The black clad form's left hand kept an iron grasp on the handhold on the side of the missile as he switched his grip on the glowing katana in his right hand. 'Fuckin' asswipe! This is the clown Yori's kidnappers worked for?!', Yamanouchi's Chosen One put together while snarling at the face in the capsule window. 'I recognize him from when KP and I were doin' the save the world thing. He's still doing shit like this after getting a Full Pardon? Well, I'm all about second chances, but he's burned his last one with me.' (It had been a few years since Ron had last seen Sheldon…AN-CB73) Now, his eyes cold, he came to hard decision, one he didn't come to lightly, after all his time as a Defender of all that Yamanouchi stood for. 'Betts you just lost your twin and I hope you don't give much of a shit about that, cause I'm gonna take care of the problem…Ninja Style.'
Peering smugly through the window of his 'escape plan', Sheldon Director smirked at the figure latched on to the missile from the safety of the small cabin, "You lose…", he snarked before his eyes suddenly shot open wide, his smirk melting into disbelief at developments taking place on the other side of his escape pod's door.
Pausing to pull back his head and face covering with his free hand, the black clad 'passenger' glared into the capsule's window. Sheldon's jaw dropped when a memory was jogged by the combination of blond hair, freckles and the brown eyes of someone he once kidnapped from under his Sister's Organization to offer a highly placed spot in his former WWEE. That was, until Betty and that Kim Possible ruined everything and rescued the boy before a deal could be struck. With Nacos, of all things to be considered as payment. Mouthing, 'Agent Alpha.', Sheldon's knees buckled as he leaned on his door.
But before Sheldon could react further, the brown eyes of his 'stowaway' flashed blue, and a blue-tinged Katana suddenly appeared in an extended right hand, which quickly reformed into a shorter, equally as sharp-looking blade. Then, the chiseled tip of the sword plunged into the door, shocking him as he felt the sword pierce his chest. Another shock as he felt the blade twist as it was withdrawn. A cold stare by his former Agent Alpha Recruit also pierced the one-eyed villain with each following stab of the sword.
Blood dribbled from a corner of his mouth as the inner electronics of his pod started sparking and shorting out equipment guiding the craft to its preprogrammed destination. Though he couldn't see it, the mysterious sword had lengthened after penetrating the door and Sheldon on its way further into the cramped space and control panels on the other wall.
With a curt nod of satisfaction from Ron's perch on the other side of the door, he thrust the Katana twice more into the accelerating capsule for good measure. Pleased with the damage and carnage to the interior of the pod, both material and human, his final thrust was yanked upwards and out of the top of the capsule. Assured of the lack of life in the pod, Ron reset his head covering, turned his body, crouched on the side of the rocket, drawing his knees to his chest and pushed off as hard as he could to distance himself from the engines flambéing him as the pod roared further into the atmosphere.
At the time he bailed, Ron was at an altitude of Twenty Thousand-Five Hundred Thirty-Two Feet. Fully aware of his lack of a parachute, he decided it was better off to do this than face the probability of ending up in outer space, sans a spacesuit like the one he wore at high school graduation.
'This is gonna suck.', he thought to himself as he fell away from the speeding rocket.
Two minutes, three seconds later:
There was a blinding flash as the engine overloaded. The missile's altitude was over two hundred thousand feet, basically in the near vacuum of space. And with the explosion, seen for miles around, it was certain that the former Gemini of the WWEE was dead, in more ways than one.
XXX
Newton Falls:
"Hands behind your head! Up against the wall!", Agent Gloria Baker snapped, still on edge from the huge firefight they had just taken part in. Emotions still on hair-trigger, she shoved a guard's head though a flat screen monitor when he resisted after disarming several of them. Off to the side per SOP, Agent Simon Spitzel covered her with his drawn sidearm. He, too, was on edge, when he glanced out the front windows and saw Black Hawk Helicopters landing in the parking lot. Something that briefly interrupted their securing suspects with the heavy zip-ties they brought with them.
After securing their prisoners, both agents immediately sprang into action when they heard the rapid fire hammering of gunfire, but didn't blindly enter other rooms and as yet had no idea of the situation beyond their walls. Still reeling from when, some two minutes earlier, something they could not identify, blasted through the floor and disappeared through the roof. An event that did nothing to ease their concerns.
XX
Three floors below ground:
Doctor Wade Load winced has another agent eased his newfangled armor off. "Flesh wound, Wade. You'll be fine with a few stitches."
As the needle penetrated his arm, the former tech guru of Team Possible, worried about his best friend, asked, "Good, I'll survive with maybe just a scar, it adds an air of dangerousness to my geeky persona, don't you think?"
Smirking, "Something to point to in a bar, Sir.", the other agent replied, glad that his young boss was taking this well.
Wade continued, "Any word on Agent Possible's team, Mark?"
Mark Sanches responded, "Yeah, a runner came back up from the basement while you were bleeding all over the bad guys…The boss's group have some wounded like we do but nothing life threatening. We have a body count of bad guys though. It's not going to be a fun debrief with Du and Betts, and just between you and me, I'm glad you are going to that meeting. Just do us a favor and leave us peons out of it." All the GJ people on site understood this action had gone sideways and some hard questions were going to be asked.
"Okay, finish up in here and put a guard on the survivors. Then we have to go over this whole place with a finetooth comb. These assholes were hiding something and it might be dangerous…Who the hell knows how long this has been going on."
The communication device on Wade's hip vibrated. He whipped it up to his ear and shouted, "Load!"
"Sir, we have US Army personnel onsite. Where do you need them?"
"Send most of them down the stairs. I'll be there to direct them from there. For the rest, I need a secure perimeter and a few on the top floor to secure it too.", Wade replied hoping to hell Kim was okay. Then, "I'm headin' down to check on Kim's team myself. Mackworth, come with me and safety off. We're not out of this yet."
XXX
Yamanouchi, Japan:
The wizened ninja master sat in one of the meditation gardens, serenely contemplating his chi and the universe with Hirotaka and Yori, who had just returned to Japan, when he grabbed his chest. (Grandfather! What is it? Are you well?), Yori asked worriedly as she reached for the ancient ninja master.
(T…the Chosen One…)
Hirotaka's eyes opened wide in alarm as he reached out to his wife's grandfather, (Master…)
A bit winded, (I can no longer feel him…I must contact the founder. This charade has gone on far too long and we may have lost out in the end. Have Chin and Wang enter the area the Chosen One was operating in. Immediately.), Sensei uttered, hoping that Yamanouchi and Japan had not overplayed its hand.
Yori frowned, not believing what she was hearing, (They are watching Rufus-san, Grandfather…)
(We have no other assets in the area…sigh…Have them escort Rufus-san, but be careful with the little hero.), Sensei instructed.
Hirotaka continued after he ignored Yori's interference, (Yes Master, we will notify them immediately. The mission Stoppable-san was on…to support Kim-san…Is it possible he met his end?)
Sensei shook his head, (I suppose even a blind squirrel finds a walnut, sometimes…But as to the Chosen One's fate, I do not know yet.)
Hirotaka looked confused as Yori touched her husband's arm. He shuddered, (The Chosen One's life has been extinguished? This is impossible!)
The aged ninja master frowned, (Any of our assets can be forced into a situation where they must make the sacrifice my Son, we all knew this when we took the initiation.)
XXX
Newton Falls, New York:
Wade Load entered the basement where he saw his auburn-haired friend clutching her chest, looking off into the distance with wide unfocused eyes. "Kim…", her friend called out.
The former teen heroine half-smiled, "It happened again, Wade…I, uh, had another attack. What's going on with me?"
"Kim, sit in this chair, we have everything else under control. Exactly what happened? All hell broke out upstairs right before the floor opened up and this huge rocket came through it. It then went through the roof.", Wade explained his view of the 'sitch' as he made her sit.
"I guess a minute or two later I had another attack like the one in Austria. I think I'm alright now, though…I feel a lot better, but I have no idea what is happening with me. Listen, when the GIs get here…I want a search of this whole damned facility. Separate the bad guys and keep armed guards on them. They might have more weapons stashed around. I'm gonna get on the horn with Doctor Director. She needs to know what is going on…and that we have casualties."
"What about Sheldon Director Kim?"
Kim's shoulders sunk. Sighing, "He escaped in that rocket just like the old days. We'll have to wait for him to resurface again."
Wade replied, "But we know he's a bad guy for sure now…"
"Wade…"
"Yeah Kim."
"Uh, when the rocket took off, someone in black jumped on it."
"Huh? I don't think he was on it when the rocket came through the floor we were on Kim. Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it just appeared like from thin air and spoke something in some language that sounded like Japanese. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I heard the term before at Yamanouchi when some of the higher students went through the tougher combat drills where they could be hurt."
Wade's eyes opened wide, "Kim…"
A soldier entered the room from upstairs, "Agent Possible?"
Kim turned, "Yes, Specialist?"
"Ma'am there was a bright light and large explosion in the sky moments ago. We have already notified Ft. Drum and they are getting a hold of NORAD to notify the President. We are worried now of a nuclear exchange. Would you come up to the main floor? We also think we may have stumbled onto a multi-faceted smuggling operation."
Kim winced at the thought of the paperwork and the minor injury she had in the form of a huge bruise just below her left boob (the body armor did its job but the red head would be tender for more than a few days) and the red head knew the boo-boo was going to be so annoying, "Lead the way Specialist. Wade go over this facility with a fine-tooth comb. We need evidence, there was no reason for them to resist our inspection. And now, with what I've just heard, we might need the FBI in on this too."
"Right, Kim. We're on it.", Wade told his oldest friend, "I'll make sure we make all the contacts. I'll inform Headquarters first and then I'll contact Headquarters Tenth Mountain Division and I'll suggest to both that they notify their Chains of Command. All of this is gonna turn into a major load of shit."
Kim nodded as she thought about the shadow colored blur and the words that came out of it. Then she had an epiphany and turned back to Wade, "After you are done Wade, we need to speak in privacy."
XXX
Miami:
Raising a well-manicured eyebrow at her BF, "We are going to the ballpark a little early this morning BF.", the fashionista observed as they sat at a traffic light.
"Thought you might want to do some shopping first, Moni.", the PhD student replied with a small smile as he hoped that the advice from his best friend would work out as he said it would.
Fixing him with an unamused stare, "Nate, what are you up to?"
Suddenly getting cold feet, the meteorology student became a little evasive, "Uh, well…but, I thought you might want to do a little shopping first.", he blurted.
Relaxing a bit, "I always like to shop BF. You know that…But…what are we getting?", Monique asked.
Now Nathan Blance was completely tongue-tied as he barely managed to pull into a parking lot, "Uh, Monique…I uh…"
Instead of saying anything else, which he probably would butcher in his nervousness, Nathan led his girlfriend into a shop that had been recommended by his best friend, Dean. (Although, when it was suggested, it was for different reason…So NO, our hero only has a smidgen of an idea what is going down while he is in New York and Nathan is in Florida…AN)
X
An hour later:
"Oh yes! Yes! Yes! YES!", Kim's BFF said as she bobbled-headed to the kneeling PhD student, "Now get off your knees! You are embarrassing me!", Monique fiercely blushed. "People are looking at us!"
A timid, hopeful look to Monique, "I did good?", Nate gulped.
Beaming, Monique grabbed her now-fiancée, "Now I can crow to Kim about this! … I have a ring before she does.", she sing-songed. The African-American woman chuckled then sighed, "Possible had it all made before she had that breakdown."
Nathan's eyes shot wide, "Breakdown? What are you talkin' about Moni?"
Pointing the place out to him, "Honey, let's go over to that café and get a soda or water.", Monique suggested.
X
After taking their seats and making their drink orders, "So, what was that about a breakdown your roomie had?", the near genius asked, "Is Kim alright? I don't wanna set up Dean with someone who is unstable."
Fixing him with a look, "Kim Possible is not unstable BF, you remember that. She saved the world a bunch of times and deserves a chance to be with someone.", the fashionista's right eye twitched.
Chastened for his observation, "I, uh understand Moni, but I owe Dean a lot. He encouraged me to branch out and meet people and really pushed me on dating, though he wouldn't date anyone himself. He's my best friend down here and has made it easier to me to make friends ya know…And it was because of him having to pick up his pet that I met you."
Monique relaxed, "Funny how that worked out Nate…Now, uh, why won't this Dean guy date?"
"I guess he had a bad relationship or had a relationship that ended badly.", shrugging. "I'm really not sure why, but Kaminsky says he's a confirmed bachelor." Settling back in his chair, "Anyway, he's a workaholic, what, with the Hurricane Hunters, and he's always got his nose in the books or in the computer studying anything to do with weather. I swear he breathes it. Weather is all he thinks about."
The young woman chortled, "I swear it's all you weather geeks think about…"
Smirking, "Not all 'Nique, I think about you a lot."
"Oh, so you think of me about ten minutes a day BF…I know now where I sit with you.", she teased him.
"Monique…"
"Yes?"
"I'm trying, this is hard you know…I'm just not good at this.", Nathan stammered.
Giving him a smoldering look, "BF…you are doing just fine. I was messing with ya. Now finish your drink, we have a ballgame to get to…" A sultry wink, "Then something to celebrate later."
XXX
The black clad form rubbed his head, 'Damned jerkwad! I hope Sheldon survived long enough to be conscious when his pompous ass was blown up!', as he looked up to the smoke trail and smoke left from the rocket's fiery end. 'I never did like that pompous A-hole.' Then, one last glare before standing, 'One less headache for Betts, though. But she won't have ta worry about him again.' Snorting, 'In fact, there might not have been enough to bury.' The blond teen walked from where he rose, then to the mini-crater made he when his back collided with the soft Earth, nearly forty miles from where Sheldon launched.
Dean Kaminsky, or Ron Stoppable, as many knew him from high school days gone by, shook his head, 'I gotta get better at Sensei's glowing floaty thing before I try that again.' He looked at his watch, which by some miracle was still working, and started its compass function. Knowing it was almost twelve noon, he set off to the west where he assumed, he would run into Lake Erie. From there, he knew he could hitch a ride or get a phone to make a call, as his was now kaput, to let his contacts know where to pick him up. (AN…at least the watch survived, not so much the cell phone which Dean landed on causing him one heck of a bruise.)
The blond man wiped the dust off the seat of his pants taking care not to rub too hard on the site of said bruise and limped through a cornfield, since he didn't know quite where he was.
X
Three hours later:
"Yeah Wanda, I hitched a ride and borrowed this phone from this real nice guy. Can one of you guys send a plane for me?", Dean inquired as he rolled his eyes and smiled at the wide-eyed teenager he borrowed said cellphone from. It wasn't every day that some sort of 'Ninja' just asked to borrow your phone.
"Baka!", the tall female ninja hissed, "I will debrief you myself on the flight back! Get yourself to these coordinates so we can retrieve your sorry ass." Then, after muttering a few Japanese profanities, "Are you prepared to write them down?"
"No, I can remember them. Go ahead.", the former mascot responded.
Wanda Wang then informed the Monkey Master, "Forty-three degrees, six minutes and fifty-three seconds north; seventy-six degrees, six minutes, thirty-seven minutes west. Do you have that?"
"In English please.", Dean snarked.
"Very well, Syracuse Hancock International Airport, north terminal. One of our aircraft will be there in four hours. Try not to be late."
"Sure, tell them to have some beer and food on the flight…and a change of clothes if they can arrange that. I didn't land too clean and abused my duds.", the Chosen One informed them.
"Was anyone injured?", Wanda asked.
Drifting away from the teen, "Yeah, it was all sword work.", his voice not carrying.
Sighing in frustration and rubbing her forehead, "I meant…were any good guys injured?"
"The bad guys had a body count. I know because I removed several of them personally…Not sure about the GJ people, though…" Sighing a lament, "…Kim was there. I did the best I could, but it all went sideways when the bad guys started shooting up the place…Oh, from what I gathered, they were behind Yori's kidnapping. And oh yeah, you'd better believe that Gemini was a casualty. I stuck him with the Lotus Blade."
"He could have survived…"
"I ran him through three times while I was hanging onto the rocket."
"This deserves a better debriefing that I can do over a phone connection. I will be on the plane.", Wanda shut off the connection.
(Baka!), Wanda snapped
Suzy frowned at her friend, (What has he done now?)
(He intervened during a GJ inspection of one of Kim's former enemies when everything went south. Then he ended up on a rocket ride and fell a few miles after he destroyed said rocket, which had some villain inside. I will explain further, but first, we have to pack and get some clothes for him.), the taller Asian told her friend and teammate.
Suzy picked up Rufus and put him in a pocket on her jacket, "Rufus-san, we will have refreshments for you during our transportation to pick up your friend…"
"Cheese?", the mole rat interrupted.
Sighing, "Yes, we will have some of your favorite food onhand to make the passage of time appear to be less than it is."
The pink rodent rubbed his greedy paws together as Wanda opened the door and motioned for her lifelong friend to follow.
XXX
Miami:
As he rose from his seat, "Grab you a beer Moni?", Nathan asked, "I'm making a quick pitstop first…I swear ya don't buy beer. You just rent it."
The fashionista had a monster sized bladder, but decided that she could use the loo as well and replied, "I'll let you escort me Nate since you're a gentleman and all." She rose and grabbed her fiancée's arm as a precaution to show any other women in the vicinity that the PhD candidate was hers.
XXX
Upstate New York:
"I'm sorry Ma'am, but you can't go down this road for a while. There has been an airplane accident and there's wreckage scattered all over the place. It's an active investigation by the FAA, the NTSB and several other Government Alphabet Agencies and we can't screw with what they are trying to do.", the State Trooper told the woman who had stopped at the barricade.
"Was anyone injured?", the elderly white-haired woman inquired, keeping her queries lowkey so as to not give away that she had a background in these kinds of investigations.
"Just one. But we were lucky, as it could have landed on a few of houses if the crash would have happened in an area with a higher population density. But that is off the record, you know."
"So, I should turn around Officer? Or should I continue on? I do have Government Clearance.", Nana Possible offered as she pulled out her credentials and handed them over for inspection.
The Trooper did a double-take at the former Agent's IDs, "Ma'am…this is way above my paygrade. So, if you don't mind, please let me radio in for instructions."
X
Twenty minutes later:
"Mrs. Possible…"
"Agent Possible young man, I didn't go through all that college and those military schools and then spend thirty years in intelligence to be referred to as Mrs.", the elderly woman bristled at the State Policeman."
"Agent Possible, then. If you would, please follow that squad that just arrived.", the Trooper corrected himself.
XXX
Crash scene:
As Wade came up to his Boss, while crouched down with a rather large chunk of debris, "Kim, I have a radio message from that warehouse where we got in that firefight."
The red head, sans helmet, stood and backed away from the piece of control panel she had been observing for the last few minutes. A metal hand, with a part of an arm attached, still grasping it.
"Sure Wade, what do you have?"
"They were loading up crates of weapons, ammo and explosives when we got there…Enough to start a small war, it appears. Whatever Gemini was doing was not on the legal side of things, since he was not a licensed arms dealer. We can't find authorization of any kind for those weapons, so it looks at least to be a smuggling operation, but we are still interrogating those clowns."
"What are the interrogators saying?", Kim asked as a familiar car pulled up just outside the taped-off area.
"They're pretty tight-lipped, but I think that threats of being tried as traitors and being hanged might be getting to a few of them.", Wade smirked.
"Does Betty and Du know about this?", Kim asked.
"Yes, Du is en-route to our location as we speak. He should be landing via hover jet in the next thirty minutes or so. Expect an extensive debrief.", Wade responded.
Kim nodded, "If I received this kind of news, I'd be conducting one as well, Wade. Thanks for letting me know. When Will gets here make sure he gets the lowdown without sugar coating it if I'm caught up in another skull session."
The red head then moved back to the debris field.
X
"Kim are you alright? I understand you were injured during the operation.", Du inquired as they sat across from each other in a provided tent.
"A slight injury, nothing more. My people did an extraordinary job on this mission. We have injuries on our side, but superb training and equipment saw us through. But please understand, we interrupted something…something big. We're just not sure of what, yet."
"I agree on your assessment of your team and they are being rotated out of here when another team arrives, shortly. And between GJ, the FBI and the other alphabet agencies, we'll get to the bottom of this…Although I expect it to take some time."
"Thanks, Agent Du."
"No, thank you, Kim. We had no idea that Sheldon Director was doing this…And as a result of this, you and your team walked into an ambush. I promise you, that in the future, our intel will be better. We do not sacrifice our people. We care about them.", Will stood and offered his hand across the table.
They both exited the tent, to which Wade immediately asked Kim, "What are your orders, Ma'am?"
"Round our guys up, we're heading back to Middleton. I wanna speak with everyone before we board the aircraft however.", Kim responded.
"Something bad, Kim?"
"No, I just want to congratulate everyone on their performance today."
Nana Possible pulled Kim off to the side as Wade left to organize the withdrawal. "Your team was lucky Kimmie, make sure you hug your parents when you get home."
"I wish Ron was here with this one…With what he did to the aliens, he woulda crushed these guys."
"Ronald? From the reports I've read, I'm sure he would. Now make sure you wear one of those sweaters I knitted you when it gets cold again in the fall. I don't want you coming down with a cold."
"Nana, when I wear those things I have bed hair for the rest of the day. Too much static electricity.", Kim complained as she looked out and saw Wade lining up her team. The red head continued, "Nana, I have ta go, my people are waiting for me. I love you."
"You go ahead dear. I'm going to have a word with the powers in charge of this operation. Oh, tell Jimmy and your Mother I will be in town in two weeks, I am going to spend a few days with Slim up on the ranch. I have the hankering for some chili."
Kim hugged her Grandmother, "He makes the best, Nana and I'll pass the word to Mom and Dad."
XXX
Miami:
"Well BF…Errr, Fiancée. I had a great time. Now where are we going for dinner?", Monique asked Nathan as they exited the ball park.
Smiling slyly, "I think it's time to celebrate our new status 'Nique.", the weather geek told her.
"Where?"
"I got some bucks from Dean….He, uh, has some cash put away and once I mentioned that I was going to do this and he realized that he might be called away…I mean I'm just a student, he has real cash…and offered, you know…"
Sighing, "Get to the point, Nathan."
"Uh, El Pollo Inka. It's rated the number two restaurant in all Miami. Dean suggested the game…he got those tickets and he made reservations at the restaurant.", Nate almost blushed.
Monique rolled her eyes, "Did this Dean pay for the ring?"
"Ah no, he just covered the date as an apology to you for not being here. I, uh, asked him to be my best man. I hope you don't mind."
"I don't mind and if he's your friend, I'm sure he'll be mine as well. Anyway, lets go spend some of your 'Dean's' money, Nate since he was nice enough to offer and all. I'd hate to make an enemy of him by not accepting this token of friendship.", the fashionista chuckled as they reached Nate's car.
"I guess that's as nice of a way to put that…Kaminsky I think you just got a new friend.", the MIT grad snorted, before turning to Monique, "I think you'll like his taste in beer."
XXX
In the air over Illinois:
"How's the bruise, Kim?", Wade asked as he handed her a cup of coffee.
"It hurts, but without the body armor that Lipsky came up with I'd probably be dead right now along with several others. You know, they have another inspection coming up with us and I'm thinking about taking something down there to say 'Thanks'.", Agent Possible responded.
"Yeah, he's turned over a new leaf…You know, he and Shego have a kid…a little girl. I think her name is Samantha, if I remember."
"A little girl? Shego's and Drakken's?", Kim asked as Wade nodded.
"Are they still down on that Caribbean island?"
"Yeah, they have a security detail there. I have been there twice with Betty. He keeps his family close, they are homeschooling her."
"Makes sense. Shego had a degree in Child Development."
"I suppose…"
"And they're abiding by the terms of their probation?"
"As far as I can tell, Kim."
"Good. I'd hate to have to bust them, especially after how it went down today."
Hesitantly changing the subject, "Kim, with that fit you had today…I uh have to report it…we have ta know what is going on with you."
"Yeah, you do.", she sighed in frustration. Rolling her eyes, "Another three days in the hospital.", Kim groaned. Shaking her head in resignation, "I guess we need to get to the bottom of this…"
Like a cartoon light bulb turning on in the genius' head, he had an epiphany, "The last time that happened was when we were investigating that lair of Dementors right after it went into orbit. Remember?" Pausing Kim's funk, Wade continued, "Something is going on and I think we need to contact Japan since they are into this stuff that." Fixing her with a look, "And you know I am not too crazy about the mystical side of all of this."
Shrugging, "Well we are scheduled to go in a couple weeks. I think we can wait until then."
Sighing, "Yeah, we can take care of it over there, Kim.", Wade said as he patted her shoulder, "Let me take over setting up our return to Base. You get some rest."
XXX
Slightly limping up the steps, Dean boarded the private jet.
Snarking as he entered the doorway, "You look like shit, Chosen One!", Wanda snarked. Impatiently holding Rufus to him, "Here is your pet. Take him, he's eating us out of house and home."
Dean held out his hand, taking back his naked mole rat. Brightly. "Did you have fun, Rufus?"
His eyes glazed over, "Cheese!"
Pulling him close to his face, and with a stage whisper, "Did ya get those pics of the girls in the shower like I asked?"
Suzy smacked the American on the back of the head, "Pervert!"
Smirking indignantly, "Me?", the PhD retorted. "Remember Singapore?"
The former sidekick just barely ducked the next slap aimed at his head.
XXXX
Heck of a chapter here. Much action closing a chapter on Sheldon Director and the plans he had to resurrect his 'Empire' under his dear sister's nose.
Firefights, rockets, swords, explosions at altitude, escapes via Mystical powers and a marriage proposal…
Thanks for hanging in there with us.
