The water was warm, flowing through the hallways in a gentle current. From ceiling to floor it filled the facility. The salty liquid was most relaxing at this time of night, calming her nerves and relaxing her muscles. Wasn't easy controlling a whole invasion armada, after all, but hard work was something she was accustomed to. Her gills flickered as her lungs took it all in. It was nice being in control.

Clean

Chapter two

There was the most amazing smell, like Bob Evans on a Saturday. Arms and legs didn't want to move, but Kim's stomach begged, finally winning her over. Above was a blue ceiling and on her chest was a sleeping mole rat. Oh yea, there was no mistaking Ron's house on a weekend. Scooping up the rodent she placed him aside before stretching and ultimately pulling herself from the second most fluffiest, comfortable bed she'd ever been in. Of course none could top her own. Kim walked to the bedroom door before stopping. Why again was she even here? The previous night seemed a blur that her mind either couldn't or dared not make sense of. Shrugging it off, she opened the door and walked downstairs.

Sure enough Ron was in the kitchen, his funny little apron on, flipping eggs. She grinned, watching him as he worked. Despite the fogginess in her mind, him just being there gave her a strange comfort. Him existing made her happy and she wasn't even sure why. Ron was always there for as long as she could remember why wouldn't he be? He turned and smiled at her.

"Good thing you're up, KP. You're just in time for Egg cakes!" Kim sat hesitantly at the table.

"Just what are…Egg cakes?" Smiling, Ron placed a plate down in front of her, taking his own seat at the other side of the table.

"Only the best breakfast food ever! Scrambled eggs meet pancakes." What he said after that Kim didn't catch since he stuffed a whole Egg cake in his mouth. The pancakes in front of her had bits of scrambled egg in it, giving it an interesting marble look. Ron grabbed his glass of milk, washing the new food down in a gulp.

"I just start some scrambled eggs and when they're just getting firm I toss in some pancake batter and BAM! Egg cakes!" For what felt like forever Kim smiled, picked up the butter knife and fork and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast. The Egg cake had a neat texture; the fluffy scrambled eggs and melt in your mouth buttermilk pancakes Ron was known for were just perfect together. Kim didn't tell him that though. If Ron knew how good these were he'd never let her forget it.

"These are…pretty good. Weird, but good." A triumphant smile stretched 'cross his face as he stood and picked up both empty plates.

"See? I knew you'd like them."

"Don't let it go to your head, Ron." He didn't respond, smirking to himself as he put the plates into the warm dishwater and washed them. Kim liked them; she just didn't want to say, but it was obvious when she ate the first one so quickly. But if he let on he knew Kim would never compliment him again. When a compliment comes from someone like her it held lots of meaning, especially for him. Any compliment meant a lot to Ron since they seemed to come to far and few between. It was so nice to have her here, to see her smile at him after yesterday and last night. The reflection in the sudsy water turned quite dark, his hands frozen with in the water as he remembered.

Never had he seen anyone look so broken and lost…Kim's eyes were so dull when he opened the door to her last night. She looked almost…dead.

"Earth to Ron?" He jumped, the wet plate slipped from his hands and crashed on the ground, the sound reverberating in the otherwise silent house. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, Ron." They both bent down to pick up the broken glass.

"It's no problem, KP, Rufus and I break plates all the time." His nervous chuckle did little to cover his still shaken state.

"You ok, Ron?"

"I believe that's my line."

"What are you talking about?" They both stood and took the pieces to the trash.

"I'm talking about last night. What happened, I mean you, seemed pretty shaken up." Kim blinked, leaning against the wall.

"I don't really remember. It's all just a haze, like it all happened too fast. Maybe I should call home."

"Yea, I bet they're worried about you by now." Kim nodded and pulled out her Kimunicator. Ron dried off his hands and placed his apron on a hook before going into the living room and turning on the TV. What he saw made him freeze, the remote falling to the floor. Kim walked in, finding him that way.

"Ron? Are you ok?" She sat next to him before glancing at the TV. World War 3 was all over the screen and in the moment Kim's world stopped, the memory of Benchmark and her words hitting her like a brick wall. Ron glanced away from the TV when he heard Kim sob, turning finding her head buried in her hands.

"Kim! What is it? What's wrong?" His hands on her shoulders he tried hard to get her to look up, to pull her from her tight and ridged position. It wasn't even clear if Kim was breathing. Panic was returning to him as he tried shaking Kim, calling her name. Finally he took her holding her close, rocking back and forth trying to keep the both of them calm. "I'm here, KP. It's ok."

"Everyone is going to die." The words seemed to come from another, even though they left past her lips. "In seven days everyone will die." He froze and Kim pulled away, her auburn hair falling past her face. Her shaking hands pulled it back into place and wiped her face clean.

"Do…what?" She couldn't face him.

"O-on the seventh day of W-World War 3 some alien race will come and kill every human on earth." Ron didn't know what to say. Was she serious? She had to be with the way she was affected. Shaking his head Ron tried to regain composure.

"An invasion? Nothing team-" Her eyes met him, cutting off the air in his throat. This was very serious.

"The government wants it to happen…we couldn't stop them if we tried."

"What? Why would the government WANT this to happen?!" Kim's gaze turned to her hands, again unable to speak the words directly to him.

"They're going to restart humanity under the rule of the aliens."

"How can they restart humanity if everyone is dead?"

"Not everyone will be killed. A…a select few have been chosen to be saved…" Ron sank back in his seat, his eyes fixated on a painful truth.

"I'm not one of those few…am I?" Kim's silence was his answer. Neither spoke or moved for a while until the doorbell rang. Like a marionette, Ron pulled himself from his seat and opened the door, finding Mr. Possible on the other side.

"Is Kimmie here?" Ron said nothing but stepped aside for the elder man to enter. "Oh Kimmie! We were so worried when you just left the house last night. We were hoping you'd come here." She didn't move or speak when her father embraced her and helped her to her feet. "I think we should go home and discuss this a bit." He turned to Ron as he ushered her outside. "Thank you for taking care of her, Ronald."

Ron's eyes met Kim's before she was directed to the car.

"My pleasure."

Kim kept her face turned out the window, burning the image of her neighborhood into her mind. This street, these houses…this place was her home.

"I'm not going."

"Of course you are, Kimmie-cub. The future will need a strong girl like you."

"I'm not going." The doctor gave his daughter a warning look through the rear view mirror.

"You are going. I'm not going to let you stay behind and die over some boy. Your family comes first."

"My family? My family wouldn't agree to help in the destruction of billions of innocent lives." Her words, however spoken softly, hit the doctor hard. It was enough for him to pull over the car and turn to face his daughter.

"We are bettering humanity, Kimmie. Mrs. Benchmark is right; it's a horrible world out there with pollution and war, hunger and disease. It might be hard for you to understand-"

"It's easy to say it's ok when you're the one being saved."

"Now see here, young lady. You're father knows what's best. There will be no more discussion of the subject. You ARE going, you're part of this family and it's all or none." She paled, slowly turning to meet his eyes. "If you don't come, Kimmie, then none of the Possibles will."

"You can't do that."

"We all decided on it. We will live as a family, or die as a family, it's up to you, Kimmie." That was low, real low. Kim wouldn't mind staying behind, fighting this enemy, protecting everyone for as long as she could. But she couldn't put her family in danger. After a long silent pause, Mr. Possible turned back around and turned the car back on, bringing it the last little distance and into the driveway. Solemnly Kim stepped out of the car, her head hung as her father guided her into the house.

"I know this isn't easy, Kimmie, but you've got to be strong." He opened the door and Kim was swept into her mother's arms.

"You're safe! I was so worried!" She pulled herself from her mother only to see the Twins sitting on the couch.

"So, are we going?" Her brothers asked it in unison, their eyes staring up at her hopefully. They were still so young…and her mom and dad… Kim fell into the armchair, her head in her hands, hair falling around her like a curtain. As much as she didn't want to go, it would be selfish to risk her family. Tears again threatened to choke her.

"Are we going?" They asked it louder this time. She took a deep quivering breath, her face still hidden behind her auburn curtain.

"…Yes."

"PuSha!"

-----

Kim had left to her room and stayed there for the majority of the morning and into the afternoon until Mrs. Possible entered.

"Kimmie, you have a visitor." She turned from her window and slowly walked downstairs to find Ron waiting for her in the living room.

"Ron? What are you doing here?" He scratched his head, eyes adverting to his shoes.

"I was wondering if you wanted to…get some Bueno Nacho?" Rufus leapt from Ron's pocket rubbing his poor empty pink belly. Kim smiled at them before hugging Ron.

"I'd love to."

The walk to Bueno Nacho began quiet, both walking side by side, Kim's hands behind her back, Ron's in his pockets.

"If it isn't Kim and Ron," Monique called as she caught up with them before entering the restaurant. Sitting down at their normal booth Monique pulled out a new shirt from her shopping bag. "What do you think of this cute little thing? Too pink? Pink is the new red, you know." Kim blinked before shaking her head.

"No, It's real cute. It'll look…great on you."

"What is going on now?" Kim's expression fell…Monique had no idea…just as the people in this building, or on this block or the whole city, the world. No one knew. She glanced over at Ron who also had not answered Monique, choosing to stare awkwardly at his hands. He seemed so…so…No. She couldn't tell Monique. Instead she put on a grin.

"Nothing's wrong. Just one of those weird days, you know? Right Ron?" He looked up and between the two before grinning to Monique as well.

"Yea, nothing's wrong, everything is A-ok." He stretched, placing his folded hands behind his head, reclining back in the booth. "Life is…good." She gave both of her friends a skeptic look before buying the act.

"It's so nice to see you both talking again." That's right. The whole Josh thing felt like months ago to Kim now. It didn't matter anymore. "When are you going to throw your graduation party, Kim?"

"What?" Kim sat forward, the question just missing her.

"When are you going to have your graduation party, girl? I hear you Possibles can really throw a party." Graduation. She…she'd never even get to graduate. She noticed Ron who sent her saddened looks as well, so Kim swallowed.

"I think I'll be having mine e-early." Surly her parents would grant her that much. "Maybe on Wednesday?"

"You can count me there. We need to go party shopping, you know this right?"

"Of course." Kim met Ron's eyes again. "You'll be there too, right Ron?" He blinked returning to a regular position before grinning smoothly.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, KP." And in his gaze she again found comfort. Kim smiled, grabbing his hand from across the table.

"Until then, lets have the best week ever."

Jao: I was thinking…about how this story reflects on me.

I myself am a senior, and graduation is soon approaching but due to many missing credits I will be left behind. (Such as English. I will have to take 2 English credits to make up for failing it twice in a row.)

Graduating is a lot like being taken from a familiar world and thrown head long into a new one in hopes for a better future. But some of my friends will be graduating, moving onto better things, and due to my own lack of ability I will be left behind.

This only dawned on me today as I waited for the buss. Even some of the things I have planned are reflections of the recent events in my life and I frightened me at first because I had not intended it to be.