Chapter 15: Knowledge
Lower town slums
Jackie Oats had far better days as he guzzled down cheap beer and laid on the ground. The once strong man had a bad beer belly jiggling as the drugs and alcohol mixed into his system giving him the high he so desperately craved. Jackie didn't even register anything going around him. His eyes rolled back into his head as his stomach churned. Jackie went into a coughing fit as he rolled around on the ground trying to get himself up. His dealer had told him many times to stop using by his building and Jackie couldn't find anyone who would sell cheaper. The dealer had been a fan of the GWA and taken pity on what used to be his favorite announcer.
Jackie's drugged out brain was still sharp, a side effect of many years of being a successful business man that frequented the finest wines across the world. He could party all night and still be ready for the next day off an hour nap and he was paying hell for it. The vicious cycle had claimed Jackie for over a year after he was released from prison. No one wanted to hire a criminal psycho shown beating up the world's favorite teens on TV. Not even villains would hire him, seeing him only as some short wannabe that needed a foreign item to make him threatening in any way.
Jackie stumbled away from the building not knowing his dealer was watching him with his friends. The dealer took off his lower town high letterman jacket and put it on Jackie before turning away to go with his friends to school. Jackie hadn't noticed the fact he had a jacket he was lost in his own thoughts. He didn't dream of his old life or even a better one than his current. The only thing he could focus on is moving and of a teenager watching his father be proud of the kids he was coaching. It didn't matter if they won or lost or if they had matches at all his dad was proud they tried. After the matches he brought along the team and his son to get ice cream. The day would have been perfect if his dad or the team knew he existed.. Jackie had gone to the bathroom fuming that his own father had called another kid son. Jackie knew he wasn't what his dad wanted. He liked to do business, he liked dealing with people with words not slamming them to the ground. Not once had he heard his father say anything positive about his excellent grades or how he had a small business making more money than said fathers salary. Yet the wrestling team that was 2-9 got all the praise in the world.
Even as the car crashed into the team and his dad was on death's door pinned to the wall like a splattered bug Jackie wasn't even the last thing on his father's mind. The last words Jackie heard from his father wasn't asking if his son was okay or something about his girlfriend waiting at home. It was asking his son if anyone survived from his wrestling team.
Jackie broke after that abandoning his business and started getting into the gym while making connections to other gym bros. They all got together training in wrestling to start something bigger than them. That first year they had only sold a little over five hundred seats and lost a lot of money but no one gave up coming together to start one of the most influential and popular sports leagues to ever exist. Then Jackie would think of that necklace. That wasn't him he knew it wasn't but who'd believe him. Anubis the Egyptian God had decided to try and control him and he'd fought back. All he wanted to do is grow taller and wrestle. To entertain millions just for the off chance that his father could look down on him and be proud from above. At the time Jackie was a highly religious man but after being taken advantage of by a so-called God he'd lost his faith. A god was willing to ruin his life over what he called a momentary break from being bored. Jackie's whole life wasn't even worth more than a moment of fun so how could his father or anyone else that died be worth anything to any God out there or was there just one God the drunk didn't know nor care. How could he trust anyone when someone so far above him would ruin him, making him a mentally strong ant.
Jackie's stumble journey ended as he collapsed into a box behind a smarty mart. The drunk's only remaining property he would never part with was there. It was his dad's urn with a photo of him taped on. Jackie held onto it, letting it rest awkwardly on his belly that his old self or his dad would never approve before letting himself get lost in the never ending cycle. Get up, steal for money, go get drugs, reflect on what got him to being a bum, feel horrible and let himself go into the abyss, and fall asleep waiting to wake up to cycle again. The only saving grace as to why Jackie could survive for so long was Artie Smarty who was a fan of the GWA and once he found his favorite wrestler the Jackal was staying outside the store he allowed him to do as he pleased which is why he hasn't been arrested. Despite his father loosening up a bit he never gave up on his don't help the helpless mindset .
Artie Smarty looked away from the camera and jumped on his skateboard planning on finding whoever was his mother for today to make him a sandwich. He wanted to avoid his dad for a while since the man was paranoid. Something about one of his poker buddies being killed. As if who would attack a dictator let alone one of the richest men in the world. People don't kill rich people, they ransom them off. If Artie would have stayed a little longer he would have noticed the Jackal head floating above the cardboard box and the necklace floating next to him.
Jackie's mind
Jackie floated in the void scared shit less. He knew this place all too well. It was his purgatory. He was trapped here fighting for his life as Anubis actively ruined it. His screams and begging for the God to stop fell on deaf ears. The horrible feeling of watching himself attacking people trying to kill them made him sick. He was never a violent man; he only wanted to entertain people to finally feel like he made his father proud. Being in his purgatory again made the drunk sick to his stomach and seeing the floating Jackal head fueled his hatred again. Jackie was back in his old form filled with muscles and he jumped the Jackal body slamming the animal head just like he did years ago. Unlike then where he was fighting and holding the gods attention this time it did nothing. The Jackal head just floated looking down on the human.
" Hello to you too ant it's been a while a shame you've lost so much but I'm here to give you an offer".
"Y-you dare show up here again. What do you want now huh here to take the shambles of my life you forgot to take the last time. All I have is a box and an urn and you can't have my urn you bitch".
"You humans hurt my brain. Why would I want your urn when I have your daddy's soul? I'm annoyed now human so listen up. You shall fight for me using my amulet and when you win I'll satisfy your greatest wish".
"Fuck off! Get me the fuck out here"!
Jackie's frantic swings weren't enough to even move Anubis anymore. He just floated there letting the man tire himself out finding amusement as the representation of the man's psyche breaking. Anubis watched as the short man lost his muscles and became how he was on the outside with sadistic pleasure.
"No...nooo fuck...NO! NO NO NONONONONONONONOOOO".
Anubis was slightly surprised as the broken ant in front of him returned to his look and the area lit up, spreading out a brown energy truly astounding the Jackal headed god. The energy swirled until it formed a belt. The belt floating in the mindscape became the center of the brown energy and formed the letters GWA on the belt.. Anubis smiled, laughing out loud as the area filled up with energy. All doubts over the bet disappeared and even though his face got punched so hard he actually felt it his good mood stayed.
'A bug breaking through the limits with just will power. Even if it was because he had a taste of my mental power this is marvelous. Hahaha he'll destroy that kid. I guess even ants can be strong in other ways Jackie dear boy I can safely say your stubbornness is legendary'.
" Congratulations fellow you've started your journey we're not exactly equals but you're no longer your a comrade no need to speak down to you any longer".
"Shut the hell up and die".
" I'm not gonna be playing with you anymore since you've given me such an amazing fit I'll give you something that you simply can't refuse. Accept what I want you to do and I'll allow you to talk to your father".
Jackie stopped mid punch. The look on his face made Anubis smile smugly. Anubis' floating head convulsed, growing taller as the rest of his body showed up towering over the smaller man.
" Come comrade I shall show you how it is to be one of us. We have eight minutes no time to waste but let me tell you when you win this fight you won't just be the best wrestler you can join us on our level and go meet your dad yourself. All you have to do is to fight for me this one time using my necklace but now that you have your own power it will just be there as a battery".
"I can see my dad…"
" Yes"
"My father…"
" Ugh I forgot how you humans love your relationships"
"Who do I have to beat"?
" You're quite familiar with him, comrade. Find and beat Ron Stoppable in a fight. He has more time with his power than you but the fool is broken. I can have you ready to take his life in three minutes let alone seven".
Middle town high
Ron was not having a good time. The entire day was a snail trying to crawl off a turtle horribly slow and going nowhere. His thoughts kept going to Sheila, making his power activate a few times. Mr. B was giving him hell for randomly staring off into space over and over which wasn't his fault. To go from staring at a whiteboard to getting flashbanged with Sheila's green glow was tough on the eyes. Admittedly he was staring a lot and helping the villainess navigate smarty mart. To her credit Sheila was very good at hiding the pencil from aisle 54 randomly floating up and pointing the way. While she hated the fact that Ron was helping her since she always took her own education seriously. She was planning on starting the same with Ron even getting upset when the pencil followed her and put itself in the cart but it was a thousand times easier with his guidance. She could cut him some slack til after he helped her find all the food. Smarty mart may be an amazing store when it came to variety but the fact that everything was scattered was really pissing her off. Why would the exotic animals aisle be right next to the meat section and the aisle immediately behind those is chips.
"Stoppable"!!
" Yes Mr. B sir".
"You seem very interested in the equation, go ahead and solve for X".
" Five"
"Wroo… Correct… How'd you know how to do that? We learned that while you were gone".
I was sick Mr. B not out for the count just had to study a bit".
The entire class turned to look at Ron as he stared off into space. Ron was busy leading his girlfriend to the bread aisle and didn't notice everyone looking at him. When Sheila tapped the pencil Ron knew someone was close and the slightly floating pencil would fall. He focused on what was going on around him jumping when right in front of him was Barkin.
"Stoppable, are you sure you're alright if you'd let me know your sickness was so severe I wouldn't have called you back in".
"What… Why's everyone looking at me oww why do you have a flashlight". The old teacher was shining a flashlight into his eyes and Ron was vaguely aware of another flashlight on the back of his head and KPs fingers going through his hair. Ron shook his head leaning away from Kim and getting the flashlight out of his face.
" What's going on with y'all… can you not not with the flashlight in my face"?
"Stand still boy we need to know if you're under one of those devices again. I don't wanna find out you hide another weather machine under the school again. No way the real Ron would study at home".
Ron looked around to see everyone besides KP and Mr. B was hiding behind a table in the corner of the room. Ron felt a headache coming on. He'd just used his powers to get the answer.
"No need to be scared and stop encouraging them KP you know nothings wrong with me...well besides not wanting to be here just wasting my time".
"Possible"?
"Yes sir Ron doesn't have anything on him".
"False alarm everyone move the table back and get back into your seats. We'll Stoppable since you think school is such a waste of time we can waste more of your time DETENTION"!
"Yeah, like I'm going to show up for that. Please go on explain how math isn't a waste of time beyond learning multiplication theirs rocket scientists out there that can't do their own taxes. That's about twentysix or twenty seven years of school learning how to find the angle of a triangle but never getting taught the basics of making sure the government doesn't fuck you.
"Watch your language Stoppable".
"Language and stop talking about my dad".
Besides your language usage I have to admit… that is a very good point. Stoppable. If you can come up and show the class how to do the basics of figuring out taxes based on an example I'll cancel that detention and give you extra credit". Mr Barkin had to take a second pulling out a flip phone much to the class's amusement and search up examples to use. Mr. Barkin was being fair as always and didn't look for anything complicated or overly easy.
Ron easily was able to answer any examples already having the major headache to handle suddenly gaining millions. Despite everyone's expectations of the hardest substitute teacher getting upset for the first time ever everyone saw Barkin smile.
"Nice work Stoppable were going to hold off learning the regular course. While the school board might not like it, preparing young kids for the future is what school is for. Cheese and crackers. I don't even know how to do my taxes at my old age and you're solving them like it's third grade math". The rest of the class start looking up questions to ask Ronald since you seem to know what you're doing. I'll let you write up a curriculum for next week and we'll have everyone ask questions til then including me. Now Stoppable why exactly did you randomly decide to learn. How to do taxes over your math homework".
"Simple Mr. B a ninety-nine million dollar check is a whole lot of money the government didn't find out I had until it was stolen and some recovered. Turns out they don't care if you're a minor, they want money. Luckily me and KP help people with deep pockets and some sway. Decided I didn't like the fact I could have gone to the same jail I throw people into weekly so I taught myself".
"Psst hey buddy tell the meathead you needa go grab the stuff you wrote down at your locker about whatever you're talking about".
'Huh Sun what're you doing back so soon'?
"Hey Mr. B I do have some notes I wrote down when I was first learning in my locker mind if I go get them"?
"You took notes"? Ron nearly cried trying to hide his laughter seeing the older man's eyes bugging out and trip on nothing.
"Stoppable learning on his own and taking notes… Did that sicko DnAmy get to me? Go ahead..."
Ron walked out the classroom and made his way to the library. The scary librarian was nowhere to be found instead sitting at the desk looking at the computer was Sun Wukong.
"Yooo was up in the neighborhood broski brotato and cheese".
" I… No one says that. Are you trying to learn more about today's times? That might have been a satire video you were watching".
" Forezzle mynezzle aww that ain't friggity fraggity fresh my guy I liked how groovy that was it grooved my shindig"
"Now you're speaking my language now lay the shmack down daddyo why you hit my line".
" Even I know daddy-o died out a long time ago".
"Ha sure you did mynezzle".
I'd love to joke around with you but sadly I'm here on a timer. Time to get serious. How's the tail treating you? Have you noticed you're not as clumsy as before"?
"Same as always I was freaked out at first but Sheila seems to like it and I think I'll get used to controlling it. I've always been clumsy so of course I noticed but what's that have to do with my tail"?
Come now Ronald you used to be top of your class as a ballerina once I selected you after camp you was destined to have a tail so of course your body would adapt to that. Never thought it was weird you'd lose your pants but never your socks or shirt"?
"That doesn't make any sense why would my body prep…"
Enough, our times running out. You're gonna fight another person with mystical energy and when you beat him take the amulet from him… oh shit… well things have changed. Remember something Ron your powers are a hive mind. You have the knowledge of all the ones before you. Use the knowledge. Knowledge is power and it's so easily accessible you'd be an idiot to not gather it. For example simple words. Focus on these words and really think about what they mean.
Mizpah: the deep emotional bond between people
Eunoia: A pure well-balanced mind or good spirit
"Why would I need to know those words"?
"You'll see in time oh also one more thing we'll two. One if you lose the fight you lose the girl and two". Sun pointed his finger at Ron who glowed a few seconds before going away. " You should be full for a while, okay bye".
Wait what HEY!! WHAT THE FUCK YOU BET SHEILA".
Sun Wukong stopped the whirlwind of books that would have flown everywhere and decided to not explain himself. He spins around in the chair before disappearing leaving a dictionary to land on the desk with all words quickly being covered by ink that was sitting on the desk. The last word that was covered up caught Ron's attention as it had mystic energy protecting it. The word was Agape and reading the description something told him Sun didn't answer and left on purpose.
Ron walked to the door about to return to the classroom but when he opened the door he knew his fight would be now. In front of him was the old God-like villain they had beaten years ago, Jackal.
"Hello, Cron Stockable, could you help me? Just a small favor let me knock you out".
"Can't do that friend and it's Ron by the way. What are you doing Jackie? Wasn't it you who kept screaming that Anubis was messing with your mind"?
" I know he's using me for something even if I don't know and I don't care. He promised me something I can't say no to".
"Even if what you're gonna do will get someone killed or worse? If what you kept screaming is true you know how bad Anubis is first hand".
"Normally I would hate the idea… it's too important for me to care. I'm sorry you're gonna have to lose Kim Possible but I need my wish granted.
"It's not Kim you're asking me to doom. I'd rather bury the hatchet and not fight but you're not gonna let me do that I can tell. You're not gonna have a good time here Jackie, this isn't some wrestling match. I'm not gonna play with you. I remember how strong you were back then and I don't see that amulet on you. You're too strong for kid gloves. If you come at me knowing that my Shei...Shego will die or worse I will KILL you".
"Shego… wow I've definitely been out of it… Let me tell you something. If you get between me and and seeing my dad again I'll personally bury you both".
"..."
Rons heated glare didn't scare Jackie at all. In fact Jackie was smiling down at Ron as he grew in size, nearly touching the library's roof. Ron was emotionally the perfect thing to exploit in the fight.
"Follow me". Ron teleported and shortly after he was joined by Jackie. Ron had teleported him to an old run down building with police tape still scattered around. It was the same arena they had fought before having been abandoned. It was all over the news that Jackie had been a heretic and the stadium had been a ritual site to sacrifice children.
" I wasn't going to just make sure you couldn't get up but be alive. I don't want to be a killer but those words you said. Your social life ended here and now I'll bury the rest of you. If reincarnation is real watch your fucking mouth in the next life".
"You talk big now but just like the last time I'll throw you around and have you at my mercy clutched in my hands".
'Why do I feel so… concerned what's going on Jackie's not a threat… wait… does he have his own powers plus the necklace? I can't hold back on this. Sun told me to tap into the MMP as well he must have known. I don't care if he only found out mid way how dare he bet my girlfriend'.
Sheila
What's this bad feeling I'm getting? I can't help but look at the pencil that hadn't moved in a while. I don't care what the redhead says. I'm not waiting in line with this itchy wig and gross guys coming at me. I'm just gonna leave and teleport out. Ron you idiot I don't know what you're doing...why am I so angry.
I make it to the hovercraft with my head ringing the stupid alarm was loud and my head was splitting from the headache the anger was giving me. I rip off that itchy as hell wig and change my color back to green before telling my computer to activate autopilot. The anger I'm feeling is maddening. I activate my plasma to destroy the wig and suddenly the anger is gone. I can think again and their was something. I could vaguely feel it tugging at my plasma glow with the feeling of anger coming back more mildly. What's going on over there? Against my better judgment I make my way to the princesses house. Hopefully whatever is going on can wait till I drop off the frozen goods. Unfortunately having a high body temp meant they was fighting the heat from the moment they got picked up.