I do not own any Disney characters named herein and am only borrowing them to tell a nonprofit tale meant for entertainment purposes only.
Kim Possible: Vamped
By LJ58
40
"Okay, everything looks good, and all systems are looking nominal," Tim told Kim as they stood in a sealed-off corner of the lab where a small monitor was showing a very thick forest on display as they stood nearby where a scaled-down ATV with several obvious scanning devices attached waited.
"Right. We'll send the remote probe in, and ensure the dimensional world is habitable, and nothing overtly hostile is present. Ready," Kim asked, adjusting the small silver pistol that now incorporated the PDVI tech she and the twins had adjusted to suit their needs.
"Ready."
"Ready. Synchronizing dimensional frequencies now," Kim said, still adjusting the device she held that was half the size of her old grapple gun. "Power up the probe, and stand back, guys," she said and took aim on the remote-controlled ATV adapted for their needs.
"All systems are go," Jim gave her a thumb's up after switching on the main power switches.
The yellow burst of light almost blinded them for an instant, and then the laden ATV shimmered and turned translucent before it just faded away.
Almost instantly, the devices on the nearby counter began to chirp and ping and Tim pointed at the monitor.
"We have a successful transfer."
"Data is already coming in, too. Look. Seems like the atmosphere is pretty close to what we call normal. Oxygen is a little higher than Earth, but all other trace gases seem to be within tolerance levels. Let's try a sample of the foliage, and then the soil. That should tell us as much as anything else."
"Right," Jim nodded and tapped into a PDA adapted to control their roving probe. "Stopping for environmental samples now. Those leaves on that bush look suitable. Backing up now, and activating the soil sampler."
"Okay, processing readings now," Tim said, seeing the data continue to scroll, focusing on the new data especially.
"Higher than usual nitrogen levels," the young genius declared as he eyed Kim, "But that doesn't seem like anything that would be bad. The leaf samples look almost ordinary. They almost match with one of the azaleas mom likes," Tim nodded. "I think we found a winner."
"After we make sure the fauna isn't an issue, or there aren't already sentient life forms."
"Right. I'm prepping the airborne drones for launch now. It may take a little time, but they should give us a good overview of the region and likely life in the area, which should help extrapolate life on that world in general."
"If nothing else, it could be quite a haven if we ever need one," Jim nodded. "Might want to save that frequency if so."
"We'll keep mapping other likely locations, too, just in case," Kim told him.
"Well, if the quantum multiverse theory is anywhere near correct, we likely have thousands upon thousands of overlying Earths right around us to sample if we can isolate and detect their frequencies. Should be interesting to see the stellar map of this world once it grows dark," Jim told Kim.
"That is…likely the case," she agreed, not adding that Elders had already found one such world, one without humans, that was where they were taking most of the preternaturals that were finding it too hard to live on their native world as the centuries passed, and humanity became a virus on the surface of a once lush and grand world.
That was a truth she was not sharing with anyone. Especially when too many too-smart people might one day be able to both find and invade that new world the Elders had been colonizing for their own for years.
She pointedly started near the dimensional world she knew but veered away to keep even her brothers from finding that particular haven by claiming she had already spent all night searching lower frequencies only to find they were all obviously uninhabitable.
"Right. So, for now, all we can do is wait," Tim nodded. "We've got the systems set to record all incoming data, and the AI clued to alert us to any major discoveries regarding our concerns. Anything else," Kim was asked.
"For now, it's just a matter of time," she agreed. "I'll keep checking newer frequencies all the same, just in case, but I'm hoping this place does work out. Until we know one way or the other, I guess we're done."
"At least until you hear from Wade, or from the probe," Jim grinned. "Once we reach a water source, we should have a marine probe set to launch and explore, too. Wouldn't do to find out the water wasn't safe," he added with a smirk that suggested he wouldn't care too much.
"The question is, do you send them over without help, or do you give them help to start out? Food, tools, and that sort of thing," Tim asked.
"I crashed into the Amazon once. Remember that? I had nothing but my guide's knife and compass. They get nothing. We'll see how clever they can really be when their lives depend solely on their own abilities."
"Think of the reality show it would make," Jim laughed.
"True," Kim smiled now but looked more like she was genuinely imagining something a lot worse than they were.
~KP~
Dana eyed the visitors coming into the communications center that evening, using the small reflective panel Kim had tipped her about using if she didn't want to be obvious. She saw the four newcomers and noted one of them was definitely one of those faces Kim had shown her when she debriefed her on the Ruling Council and their usual lackeys.
The man's face was the second on the list and known to be a troublemaker. She tracked him through the reflection he left and seemed focused solely on the console before her where she communicating with a strike team in the field tracking another newcomer. This one calling himself Paradox, and having a penchant for chaos at the best of times.
"Anything new, Command," came over her headset, snapping her attention to the mission again.
"Negative, Team Four. All currently available data suggests the felon is still in the planning phase after stealing the bio-tech from Sanders, Unlimited last week. Orders stand, recover, and shut down any ongoing operations. Full authorization still in force."
"Full authorization for what, a strident voice suddenly demanded, but she didn't act surprised. She had already seen the man she recognized from Kim and Wade's research.
She didn't find it curious someone had shown up here tonight on the very night a certain mission had been greenlit. It was a mission Kim had found sabotaged over two years ago, just before she was sent into what was to be a deathtrap. Kim had already guessed someone would be showing up tonight to try undermining the mission again.
Apparently, Paradox was one of those being fielded and used by some of the Council to carry out certain unorthodox goals they wanted to succeed.
"The team is going in to recover the Sanders Unlimited's stolen tech, sir," she reported dutifully, muting the comm-panel as she turned.
"That mission should have been put on hold," the apparent lackey swore and made a show of pulling out his cell phone. "Didn't someone notify you people?"
"We have yet to receive word beyond Dr. Director's command to proceed," she declared, several of her companions who had become friendly with her of late eyeing her uneasily. "Am I to assume you have seniority over Dr. Director," she asked blandly.
"You damn well right you assume. This one is on you, woman. Now call that team back, and pull them out before they blow a deeper operation. Now," he hissed as Dana shrugged, swung her chair around, and made a show of reconnecting her communications.
In fact, even as she called out, "Team Four, Agent Sands, copy," she had switched off the frequency to a dead zone, and was speaking to no one.
She gave it a moment, and then declared, "I understand you are infiltrating, but the word just came to back out. The mission is a nogo. No, this apparently came from over Dr. Director's head," she said, looking over her shoulder at the man standing and glaring. "Right. Right. You're authorization code, Mr…..?"
"I am Roger Timms, you ignorant dolt. Second only the Council Chair François Van Dyke himself. Code GJ-000 Alpha. Now get those people out."
"Right. Agent Sands," she apparently refocused on her panel. "This comes from a Council member Roger Timms, code GJ-000 Alpha," she told him. "Right. Right. Okay, pull back, and await orders. This one is scrubbed. Just stay safe. GJ Command out."
She flipped the switch again, this time back to the genuine frequency to monitor her team, and looked up at Timms again. "Anything else, sir?"
"Someone get a more intelligent agent for this post. She's obviously useless if she can't even check for timely updates," Roger Timms sneered as he stomped out of the center leading the other visitors with him.
"That guy pisses me off," another woman spat after looking around to ensure the group was gone.
"Kim doesn't care for him either," Dana grinned.
Just then, Team Four called in reporting they had secured the lair and taken everyone by surprise. They were calling in local backup before returning with the stolen tech.
"Good job, Team Four," she grinned smugly. "I'll alert Dr. Director your mission went smoothly."
"Their mission….? Didn't you call them off?"
"Of course not. Dr. Director said not to make any changes in this mission without them coming from her personally. She wasn't here, now was she," Dana smirked.
"But you told them…."
"She played the dead-man switch," the woman to her left laughed. "Right in front of his face, and that tech-blind idiot didn't even realize Dana had cut off her own mike."
The entire team on shift laughed now, and someone said, "I need to remember that one."
"So, it's happened before now," Dana asked.
"I remember Possible getting cut off like that a while back. I did not like facing her when she stormed back in and demanded to know who was running this….clown act, as she called it. Thought for sure she was going to punch someone."
"Mom does have a temper," Dana giggled.
"You really call her mom?"
"Well, she kind of is my mom. Now. She's really great, though. She would never hurt anyone. Well, no one that doesn't deserve it," she added with a grin.
The communications center burst into laughter again.
"What about when he comes back," a younger agent asked who looked fresh out of school.
"Equipment failure," Dana smirked. "Besides, his kind won't show again unless they're coming at your back. And I'm not afraid of him."
"You're not," the young man asked.
"I got his scent now. He couldn't sneak up on a blind man. Did you hear how he panted and wheezed just walking around the place? You'd hear him coming up even in a thunderstorm."
"Uh, I doubt any of us has senses like you," the female agent remarked.
"Well, there is that. Besides, Kim warned me about him. You ever hear that crap code he used, you know it's a fake intended to heap the blame on you when the superiors decide to start pointing fingers. He can claim I lied and made it up, if I had used it, and leave me looking like a mole. I wonder how many times his kind has done that," she asked.
Everyone around her eyed one another, and the shift manager said, "I know three good agents forcibly retired in the last year over that kind of bull," he admitted. "Good job, Parker. As far as I'm concerned, that ass never even spoke to you."
"Nope. Just nosed around, and then he left," her friends all agreed.
"You have to wonder why they're trying to undermine us, though," Dana asked, putting the doubt out there to see who took the bait.
Surprisingly, no one defended Timms. They all complained over that kind of maneuvering and wished the idiots in charge would just let them do their jobs.
Which suggested her team had no plants.
She would let Dr. Director know all the same. After she told her mom.
~KP~
"We need your help, Stoppable," a lean, dour man in a dark grey suit declared as Ron opened the door to his apartment since Yori was currently off watching Dana on their regular shifts again.
"Just like that," Ron asked blandly. "Most people introduce themselves. You know, unless they want to be tossed down three flights of stairs," Ron declared ominously.
He wasn't usually so hostile, but his instincts had him recoiling from this guy, and of late, he trusted his instincts far more than self-important guys in overly tailored suits.
"Sorry. I thought they told you I was coming," the man remarked carelessly, and pulled out a badge. "GJ Intelligence. We've been investigating some mysterious deaths in the Upperton area. The same area Kim Possible and Dana Parker have been visiting lately," he pointedly added.
"Is that right?"
"Those deaths? Every single body was completely drained of blood."
"How," he asked.
"The usual. Throats were torn out, and yet not a drop of blood left behind. I think you can guess our fears."
"I can see that. Just as I can see someone could easily frame KP, or even try to push her over an edge for reasons that don't make sense."
"Why would they….?"
"I'm used to idiots with idiotic plans, so don't doubt it can't happen. Either way, I need to make sure before we get tricked into the pushing. I'll need to see those bodies, and the crime scenes," he told the man.
"Of course. All six bodies are in the local headquarters in research. We're…not announcing any deaths until we know exactly what is going on. You can understand we would prefer not to panic anyone."
"Of course. Yori and I'll be up in the morning to get a fresh start."
"You don't think you should leave someone to watch…."
"They'll be fine in the morning. The kid will be sleeping, and KP is doing lab stuff lately so Shego can watch them for us."
"Shego?"
"Hey, she's actually pretty dependable lately. Surprising, I know, but she's rather smug about GJ relying on her. You know how she likes to milk things like that."
"Indeed," the man.
"Anyway, we'll be up first thing in the morn. Who do I see?"
"Just ask for Dr. Anderson," he told him.
"Not you, Agent Drake," he asked.
"I'm not officially here, or in the area. Wouldn't do to be pinned down by….anyone. Knowledge is power, and all that," the man said and turned to leave without a word.
"Yeah, like I buy that one," he asked as he shut the door, and lifted his communicator. "You get all that one, Wade?"
"I did. I can tell you, there haven't been any deaths in the area he mentioned. The local GJ headquarters up there has no Dr. Anderson on file. And FYI, Ron, someone tried to undermine Dana while she was covering a mission against Paradox this evening."
"The same loon Kim and I could never pin down because someone kept sabotaging our missions," he realized.
"And the same one Dana's operation was targeting. She duped them, though, and the man is now in custody. We'll see how long it takes him to escape."
"Wade," Ron murmured after a moment. "Where is he being held?"
"He's in transit now. He'll be held in the primary HQ under Dr. Director's own authority," Wade told him.
"Right. So, if they distracted her, and Yori and I are supposedly out running down false leads, what is likely to happen?"
Wade frowned.
"They're going to try to hit the headquarters, and will probably try to lure Kim and Dana in, too, to justify an attack on them."
"Keep them at home, Wade. No matter who calls or says what, keep them at home."
"And you?"
"Will supposedly be in transit to Upperton in the morning."
"But….?"
"Only Yori and will be doing the ninja thing at GJ instead. Anyone tries to slip in to free this loon, and they're going to be very disappointed."
"Good plan. One twist," Wade suddenly smirked.
"I'm listening," Ron nodded, knowing Wade was usually ahead of most anyway.
To Be Continued…..
