Author's Note: If Disney came up with it, I don't own it!
How's it going? Been a while since the last chapter posted, but I got a notification this week that the story got a new follow, so I had to update. Has anyone worked out who Debra O. Creek is? If so, let me know! Make Shelley proud.
Kim and Ron were already running before their feet hit the ground. Tearing off their chutes, the pair took off across green grass toward the entrance to the GJ outpost. The secret door on a lush hill was usually invisible. Now, it was more than evident - a scorched and still smoking hole leading the way into pitch black elevator shaft. Muffled shouts echoed up. Kim and Ron exchanged a brief look of concern before Kim leaped down into the darkness, trusting the grappling hook she shot up as she fell to catch her before the bottom. Ron took a deep breath. When the line from Kim's hook was taut, he grabbed hold and rappelled down to meet her.
The elevator had been all but totally obliterated, paving the way for a direct descent to the underground space Global Justice had created for themselves. Nearer to the bottom of the shaft, light from the hallways illuminated the former elevator car's gnarled and melted metal. Ron grimaced at the thought of the power required to shear steel that way. By the time he reached the bottom, the once distant shouts were nearly decipherable, and Kim was creeping around a corner to get closer to the action. Ron left the grappling gun hanging and followed close behind. His heart sank when he looked down the long hallway. Five Global Justice agents lay scattered and beaten before them, their dark uniforms and twisted limbs stark against generic fluorescent light and linoleum flooring. All looked in need of urgent help, but the shouting down the hall was impossible to ignore. A woman's furious voice sounded above the dull thuds of fists on a body, and another person's terrified wails.
Kim pulled her Kimmunicator out of her pocket. Wade was already on the screen. "Wade, how many agents are we extracting here?"
"Glad to see you're in safe, Kim. The offices were lightly staffed today. Only six agents are in the building."
Kim and Ron looked back down the hall, and then to one another. Ron was the first to speak what was on everyone's mind. "I'll get them out Kim. You go save number six."
Kim nodded. "Wade, we're going to need a medevac."
"On it. They'll be there to meet you. Just keep Shego contained."
Kim slid the Kimmunicator back into her pocket, and sprinted down the hall. Ron nodded to himself and set to work, running to the nearest figure. He listened to the sounds of Shego beating the last remaining agent, and tried his best to just keep moving. Then he heard silence, then an animal scream, and he knew Kim was in the fight.
Ron scanned the man laying before him with his Communicator. The device confirmed he was safe to move, so Ron hefted him over one shoulder and made for the elevator shaft. He grabbed hold of the grappling gun, carried his ward to daylight, and rappelled back down. He repeated the process two more times, whispering reassurances and apologies. His legs and shoulders burned, and his heart ached. And he was terrified. Ron listened intently to the sounds of Kim and Shego fighting for their lives. It was a sound Ron knew well, and it sounded so far as though they were evenly matched. His stomach twisted at the thought of Kim needing his help. And then it happened.
Kim's voice rang out as Ron was halfway to the elevator shaft for the fourth time. "Ron!"
"I'm coming!" Ron shouted, dropping the woman he'd been carrying as gently as possible. She was awake, and nodded to him in understanding from the floor. Ron was already turning to reach Kim. He dashed down the hall, sliding to a soft stop at the door Kim had disappeared into minutes ago. Inside, he found a communication center. The room was torn to bits. Screens had become shrapnel, and a female GJ agent with short blonde hair was slumped against a desk. Her face was bloody and bruised, but she was awake. Ron saw all of that, but mostly he saw Kim. Shego had her pinned to the far wall, one hand on Kim's throat. The threat was obvious. A flash of plasma, and Kim was over. But Shego was screaming at Kim. "Where the fuck are they picking the book up?!" Ron could see Kim's face as she tried to shake her head, mouthing "I don't know" again and again.
"Argh!" Shego screamed in frustration, and threw Kim to the ground. Kim looked up past her long time enemy to Ron, and Shego saw. She turned, and laughed. Ron was rooted to the spot. "Get the fuck out of my way," Shego said flippantly, and shoved past him out the door. Kim struggled to stand and follow but stumbled, still gasping for breath. Ron rushed to her, helping her into the hall where they watched Shego coldly pass the two GJ agents before disappearing into the elevator shaft.
Both friends slumped briefly in defeat before remembering the job wasn't over. Kim reached into her pocket and pulled out her Kimmunicator. Wade appeared on screen at the push of a button. "Lot of activity in the airspace above right now," Wade began. "Medevac is hovering, awaiting the final three agents. They just reported Shego departing in a small helicopter that picked her up right there. No confrontation, thankfully. Just a clean exit. And we're tracking her flight. Are you guys okay? What happened?"
Kim frowned and coughed. Ron spoke for them both. "Nothing good, Wade. Everyone's alive though, and it looks like Shego doesn't have what she came looking for. Tell the helicopter to land. We'll get everyone else on board and then debrief."
"On it!" Wade saluted and signed off.
Kim and Ron stared blankly as they moved to help their colleagues out to safety. It was going to be a long day.