"NOOOOOOOO!" Kim screamed. She watched in horror at the scene unfolding before her. The laser struck Ron's stomach and hurled him through the air before he crashed to the floor.
She dropped to her knees beside her friend's lifeless body. Immediately she noticed the large, spreading circle that was making his black shirt appear even darker. She pressed her hand lightly to the warm, wet spot. She already knew what the liquid was, yet she quickly jerked her hand back and gasped in terror at the fat, red droplets that clung to her fingertips.
Drakken watched from a distance. Although he built these killing machines for evil intentions, he had never actually planned on using them to mortally wound someone. Suddenly, it dawned on him that his dream of world domination was actually just a game filled with empty promises. He never really expected it to happen.
He somberly watched the auburn haired girl weeping softly over her friend, feeling a hint of remorse and sadness for his actions. Still holding the laser he could have easily taken Kim out in this vulnerable position, but he didn't think that he'd be able to live with the guilt if he did. Maybe he wasn't so evil after all. "Lets get out of here." He said flatly.
"What!" Shego couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What are you talking about Dr. D? We won! We've got the goofy sidekick out of the way and I don't think little Kimmie over there is much of a threat anymore. You mean you're just going to leave and let her escape with the mind control device. Are you going soft on me?"
"I am in charge here and I said we're leaving!" He shouted defensively. "Besides, I don't like this plan anymore. I've got a bigger, better, eviler plan in mind!"
"Yep, uh huh, you're going soft on me." Shego said.
Drakken stared her down hatefully, but said nothing. He turned and stormed off toward the emergency exit where his Land Rover was stored in and underground garage.
"Whatever." Shego muttered, throwing her hands up in frustration before following him to the door.
Kim raised her head and glared at the pair as they left, not bothering to try and stop them. She inwardly swore that she'd have her revenge one day, but for the moment she couldn't bring herself to leave Ron's side.
Rufus poked his head out of Ron's pocket to see why his owner was being so still all of a sudden. He looked up at Kim, then at Ron's seemingly sleeping face. Rufus started to nudge him in the stomach to wake him up, not yet realizing what had happened.
Kim picked up the tiny animal and clutched him close to her. "He's not going to wake up, Rufus." Kim said, her voice quivering with emotion.
Rufus leapt out of her hands onto Ron's chest as if he understood exactly what Kim was saying. He nuzzled against Ron's cheek and softly whimpered.
"I know Rufus, but Ron would want us to be strong." She said gently, trying to convince herself as much as Rufus. The attempt was hopeless though. The few solitary tears that had been streaming from her eyes became a full-blown flood.
"How could you do something so STUPID Ron?" She screamed at the unconscious boy. "That laser was meant for ME…why couldn't it have been ME?" Sobbing uncontrollably, she laid her head down on Ron's chest and embraced him in a hug.
A few minutes later, Kim was startled by the sound of her Kimmunicator beeping. She wiped the tears away and tried to regain her composure before turning it on. "Hi Wade," she said halfheartedly to the boy on the screen.
"Kim, I was calling to make sure things are going okay. I haven't heard from you…" He paused when he noticed her tear stained face. "What's the matter, you look like you've been crying."
The tears started to flow freely from Kim's eyes again, despite her attempt to appear strong. "It's Ron. Drakken shot him with a laser gun." She wailed.
"I-Is he…" The boy's eyes grew wide with genuine concern.
"He's alive, but barely. His pulse is extremely weak and he's losing blood fast."
"Then there's still hope!" Wade said excitedly.
"There's no hope, Wade!" Kim sobbed. "He doesn't have long and we're in the middle of the damn Nevada desert! No one will ever get here in time."
"You'd be surprised what we can do Kim. You're actually not too far from Reno. I can have a helicopter there in fifteen minutes." The young boy started to type something furiously on his computer. "Done! They're on their way!" He announced a few seconds later.
"Thanks Wade, you rock." She said without enthusiasm.
"He's going to be okay, Kim. I know it." Wade said reassuringly. "Keep me posted." The Kimmunicator's screen went black as Wade signed off.
When Wade was gone Kim began to sob quietly again. She had a feeling that fifteen minutes plus the ride to the hospital was going to be too long. Nevertheless, a newfound hope flickered in her eyes.
With determination, she wiped the tears away and started to pull Ron's shirt off. "You're NOT going to die on me, damnit!" She cried, tearing at the material.
With a final tug, she managed to slide the shirt over his head. A wave of nausea passed through her as she examined Ron's wound. Blood flowed freely from a gaping hole in the center of a three-inch circle of charred flesh on his abdomen.
Kim was mesmerized in horror as the blood trickled down his sides and began to pool on the floor under him. She snapped out of her trance-like state at the feeling of something trying to pull Ron's shirt from her hands. She looked to the floor and saw Rufus jumping up and down in frenzy, pointing at the shirt and then at Ron. "Sorry Rufus, I don't know what came over me."
She folded the shirt several times lengthwise, then gently lifted Ron's shoulders off the ground to slip it under him, cringing at how cold his skin felt to her touch. When the shirt was positioned in the right spot beneath his back, she grasped the two ends and tied them tightly around his wound in a makeshift tourniquet. Kim prayed that it would halt the loss of blood long enough for help to arrive.
She picked up Rufus and placed him the pocket of her cargo pants, fastening the snap despite his protests. The tiny animal cried pitifully, begging to stay with Ron, but she was afraid to accidentally forget him in the chaos when the helicopter arrived. The last thing she wanted was to return to this hellhole. "Sorry Rufus, I promise I'll let you out soon." She said soothingly.
With nothing left to do but wait, Kim resumed her position with her head on Ron's chest and listened to his heart faintly beating. She began to shake in fear and frustration as the drumming sound became slower and weaker with each passing minute. The flicker of hope that had previously sparked in her eyes slowly faded to a dying ember.
Kim lifted her head and pulled her body up to where she could look directly into Ron's face, half expecting his chocolate brown eyes to open and return her gaze. With a trembling finger, she lightly brushed his disheveled hair off his forehead. The blond locks framing his innocent, freckled face made him look like a sleeping angel in the dim lighting. She watched her own teardrops fall from her chin and slowly trickle down Ron's cheek.
"I never got to tell you how I feel about you." She whispered, gently placing her hand behind his head. Kim closed her eyes and slowly brought her quivering mouth to Ron's. Her soft lips made contact with his sending an electric current through her body, even though he didn't return the kiss.
Violent sobs began to rack through her again as she pulled away and laid her head upon his chest once more. "Please don't leave me alone like this—I can't live without you!" She whimpered. "I love you, Ron."
2B continued!