Chapter 5 - It's Now or Never...
(...Middleton High...Friday morning...)
Clutching her books to her chest, Bonnie hurries through the halls. To her relief, no one notices her duck into the library.
The cheerleader nervously looks around the room. There were a few people, but they were concerned with the material at the stacks. Bonnie felt she had to be covert; if anyone found out that she was on a library computer - to meet some stranger, no less - the damage to her reputation would be irreparable.
Given that these were library terminals, she didn't have to do much more than move the mouse around to get the main screen and click on the 'Internet' icon.
She checks her e-mail, figuring that a message from the 'Meet Me in Middleton' site would be there to welcome her there. She could always go from there. The e-mail front page listed 'Inbox (2)'. The messages are: "Welcome to 'Meet Me in Middleton'!" and "Hi." Bonnie opens the latter. She reads the message, from a 'machone':
cheergoddess101,
I really enjoyed talking to you the other night. I'd love for us to meet face to face someday.
machone
Bonnie smiles confidently as she clicks the 'Reply' button. She flexes her fingers and hits the keyboard.
machone,
I enjoyed talking to you, too. There's a dance at my school, Middleton High. You say you want us to meet someday. How does tonight work for you?
cheergoddess101
P.S. I'll be wearing a corsage.
Bonnie clicks on the 'Send' button.
(...the cafeteria...a couple of hours later...)
As usual, the lunchroom was abuzz with conversation. Kim sits eating her lunch when a shadow casts over her. Kim looks up to see that it is Monique.
"Kim, I have got to talk to you."
"Sure. Have a seat."
Monique sits down across from Kim.
"Now, did you know that I was helping out Brick?"
"Well, no, I didn't. Help with what?"
"He wanted to learn how to be charming, so he can win back Tara."
"Brick Flagg charming? Now I've heard everything."
"You wanna hear something else that's weird?"
"You can top that?"
"Sure can."
Monique leans in close to Kim and holds up her hand to her mouth, like she wants to whisper in Kim's ear. Kim gets the hint and turns her head sideways.
"I might really like him."
Kim lunges back, a look of surprise filling her face.
"That's not too shocking, is it?"
"If you call something out of a Shakespearean play shocking..."
"Kim, promise you won't tell anyone. If anyone knows the power of gossip, it's me, and if this gets back to Tara..."
"My lips are sealed."
"Thanks. So, have things been going with you?"
"Ron ate a cookie that makes him laugh at the worst times even though I told him not to. Other than that, can't complain too much."
As if on cue, Ron walks up to the table.
"Afternoon, KP, Monique. What's the good word?"
"Nothing much. Just...girl talk", Kim stated.
Assuming the worst, Ron put his hands up.
"I hear you. Say no more."
"So, Laughing Boy, how goes it?"
Ron takes a seat.
"Pretty good, Monique. I'm not laughing, though."
"That's good."
"Yeah. That much laughing can get you into trouble."
"You're right. I tell you, though; I haven't laughed that much since the 'Even Stevens' marathon."
"You watch that show?"
"Sure do. The girl who plays Ren, Carli-something, has the hottest voice."
"Uh...huh", Kim said as she raised an eyebrow.
The Kimmunicator beeps and Kim takes it out.
"Talk to me, Wade."
"I got a hit on the site. It's a distress e-mail from a packaging plant outside of town."
"Packaging for, say, cookies?"
"Exactly."
"Could you get us a ride?"
"Sure thing."
"No buses!", interjected Ron.
Kim glares at him.
"What? Not clear enough?"
"One ride, coming up."
"Thanks, Wade."
Kim switches off the device and pockets it.
"Come on, Ron. We've got some cookies to crumble."
The teens head out.
(...a helicopter...a couple of hours later...)
"Just to check, are you sure you'll be all right skipping detention, 'cause they give you two days extra for every day you miss."
"Not a problem, KP. There's a lot I can get done, like doodling, writing stories, planning my weekends..."
"And, of course, homework."
"Yeah. I guess."
Kim turns toward the pilot, a heavy-set woman.
"Thanks for the lift, Marie."
"It's nothing, Miss Possible. The way you helped out in the middle of that blackout last year was incredible."
"No big, really. It was just a matter of calming people down until the power came back. Anyone could've done it."
"Even so, it's good to have you aboard."
A ladder rolls out of the helicopter door. Kim and Ron climb down it into the parking lot of the plant.
"Take care."
The chopper disappears into the sky. Kim and Ron sneak towards the plant.
(...the plant...)
One could go crazy from the incessant noises generated by the machinery in the plant. The automated box-making machine gives way to the item-packing machine. And then there's the machine that stuffs packing peanuts into the bigger boxes. There's also a furnace that destroys boxes on the off chance that they turn out faulty.
Drakken's cookies had been loaded up earlier today. Packaging the cookies and sending them to the world's leaders would be a lot of work, but he was driven to succeed. His eyes veered around the room toward a door. He let out a sigh as it swung closed.
The plant's workers got to try a free sample, making them unable to stop him. One of them, feeling the cookie's effects, got to a computer and sent a message.
His eager attitude returned as he watched as the cookies travel through the item-packing machine into boxes. He confidently turns to a few of the workers against the wall.
"Enjoying my cookies?"
The collective response was that of near-insane laughter.
"That's what I thought."
(...the plant's hallway...)
Another day, another corridor. Kim and Ron were very careful as they snuck around. They could hear the faint sounds of laughter coming from a door. They walk in and find a man on the floor next to a computer desk. The monitor is still on and the man is chuckling.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah," he said, still laughing.
"What happened?"
"Cookies...on a desk...they were free..."
"Don't worry. We're here to help", Ron stated, helping the man to his feet.
"Did you see a guy come in; scarred face, wild-eyed glare?"
The man points to the left and the teens are off in that direction.
(...the machinery room...)
Kim and Ron walk up to the door and watch the machinery at work.
"I'm thinking that we should have a plan."
"Fine. We go in there, stop the machine from packing any cookies, then we destroy them."
"Great plan, KP. But what about Shego?"
Unbeknownst to the two of them, a green light shines behind them.
"So nice of you to remember me."
Shego leaps out at them from the shadows. The teens move out of her way, causing the green-clad woman to burst through the door. She lands on her feet, while Kim takes a fighting stance and the ladies are in another pas de deux of swipes and kicks.
Ron pulls Rufus out of his pocket and they run toward the machine.
"So, anything you can suggest about the machine?"
Rufus jumps from his owner's hand and sprints toward the machine. He tries to open it, but the panel is bolted on. Ron joins him and tries to pull it off. The end of a crowbar clinks onto the ground beside them. They look up and see Drakken on the other end of it.
"Need a hand?"
"No, thanks. Got two of them."
The scientist swings the crowbar at the blonde boy, who dodges it. Rufus, meanwhile, jumps away and stands at the machine, trying to think about what to do. The swinging continues, as does the dodging. Ron loses his footing and hits the ground.
"Rufus!"
The naked mole rat runs toward Ron. Drakken raises the crowbar above him and, just as he lowers it, he feels a tickle on his leg. The funny feeling soon becomes a painful one, though. Having bitten him, Rufus scurries down his leg and onto the floor. Drakken drops the crowbar...on his foot. He falls to the ground and yells out. Ron takes the crowbar and heads for the machine, with Rufus close behind.
"Hope you don't mind us borrowing this."
Ron jams the crowbar into the panel and leans forward. The panel is opened just enough so Rufus can squeeze inside. Ron takes some of the sealed boxes and places them on the conveyor belt to the furnace.
Rufus squeezes back out, a little dirtier for the wear. The conveyor belt of the packing machine curves, causing one of the boxes to shoot through a window.
Shego and Kim's fight takes them to the conveyor belt to the furnace. Shego sweeps Kim's leg and knocks her down. The redhead struggles to get free but the pale woman holds her down. She leans in close to her.
"I could waste our time with a fire-based remark, but this is better."
Kim takes advantage of Shego's closeness and head-butts her. Shego stands up, her hand to her head, and Kim returns the earlier favor by sweeping her leg and knocking her to the floor. Just before the belt ends in the extreme heat, Kim rolls off of it. She gets on her feet and looks down at her 'sparring partner'.
"Yeah. Much better, I'd say."
(...the plant...moments later...)
Though still under the cookies' effects, the workers are feeling much better. Ron walks up to Kim.
"Looks like everything's all right here."
"Yeah."
They walk to the parking lot.
"I have a question, though."
"Shoot."
"Did you really have to..."
"Come on, KP. I mean, when will we ever see them in such a good mood?"
The teens looks toward Drakken and Shego, sitting in the back of a police van...laughing.
"I'd say they got their...just desserts."
Kim and Rufus groan.
"Are you just about done?"
"I guess, yeah."
(...Ron's bedroom...a couple of hours later...)
Standing next to the bed, Ron picks up the receiver and dials.
(...Middleton Cinemas...)
"Hello."
"Hi, Zita. This is Ron. I guess this is a little last-minute and it probably doesn't matter too much, since I'm talking to you now, but I was hoping that you could go with me to this dance at my school. It's your decision. What do you say?"
The answer Ron received was an unusual one: a loud, sniffling noise.
"Oh, please, don't let it be..."
"I'm flattered and all, but I have to work."
"Lamar!"
Ron drops the receiver and recoiled at the fact that he poured his heart out to Zita's creepy co-worker.
"Don't worry. I'll connect you."
"Ehhh...huh?"
So distracted was Ron that he didn't notice the clicking and beeping on the end of the phone.
"Hello."
Ron picks the receiver up.
"Zita?"
"Yes."
"It's me, Ron."
"Oh, hey."
"Are you doing anything tonight?"
"Not really."
"Wanna go this dance at my school?"
"Sure. I'll see you there."
Ron hangs up and falls to his bed.
(...another house...an hour later...)
A few outfits lay on a bed. The phone rings.
"I'll get it!", yells a female voice from downstairs.
A hand grabs one of the outfits.
"Yes. Yes? I see. Okay, I'll tell him. Thank you."
"Mom! What time are we leaving?"
A woman walks into the room.
"Who was it?"
"It was the Middleton Art Committee. They cancelled the gala."
"Did they give a reason?"
"Not really. It's the strangest thing, though. I kept hearing laughter in the background, like they were having a party."
"Man..."
The woman walks toward her son and hugs him.
"Don't feel so bad. They'll reschedule. Now you can go to that dance."
"I guess you're right. But I was looking forward to this."
"Life's like that sometimes, Josh. The best you can do is move on."