Notes: Don't worry, the action picks up soon, but if you're gonna do something, you might as well do it the right way, no? I promise, it gets better too, so stay with me y'all.

"Try me."

"We got a hit on the site... from Dr. Drakken. The real thing this time. He said- well, I'll let him tell you himself. I told him I'd send him through to the Kimmunicator so he could talk to you in person... and so I can analyze him."

"You're kidding, right?"

"No joke. Here he is, I'll connect you."

For the second time in her life, Kim saw Drakken's pasty blue face on the screen of her Kimmunicator. But this time, it was not possessed by a man from Arizona with an out-of-place Southern accent. It was Drakken alright, but a puffy-eyed, splotchy, tear-stained Drakken.

"OK, this is too weird to even ask, but Drakken, what's the sitch?"

"The sitch?" Sniffling, a puzzled look replaced the distraught one that had previously occupied his face.

Kim paused, half expecting to hear Shego's sarcastic chiding in the background explaining for her. However, it was absent, so she carried on.

"You know, the situation. Why in hell are you calling me?"

"Kim Possible, I am not at all in the mood for your hurtful words. Shego has gone missing."

"Are you sure she didn't just leave? I wouldn't blame her."

"No, I- well, she wouldn't- arrgh! Kim Possible, she's missing, not run away! Will you help me find her? Don't look at me like I want your help. You know that I despise your teen-heroishness, and your history of thwarting my evil schemes, but your website says that you can do anything, and if you don't help me, then... I'll, um, sue for false advertising!"

"Right, so you're just going to invite me over to your lair for a friendly chat, so we can discuss how I'm going to return your sidekick to you so you both can go back to causing evil for me to fight? So not. This has got to be one of your lamest tricks, Drakken."

"Boy! Reason with her!"

At first Kim had thought that Drakken was giving the command to Ron, but realizing that she was alone in her room, she waited for Wade's input.

"Well," his voice came from the Kimmunicator, while Drakken's face remained on the screen,"I don't know, Kim. It is Drakken. But then again, Drakken crying? Although he's dramatic enough, I don't think he's that good of a faker. Still, trust Drakken? Riiight."

"Stupid boy! I meant reason with her for me. Fine. Don't help me! But just remember, I asked nicely first! From now on, it's fair game."

"Yeah, whatever." Kim clicked off the device, rolling her eyes. Had Dr. Drakken, her arch foe, seriously believed that she was going to believe him. Maybe this was a good sign. Maybe he'd run out of good ideas, and was nearing retirement from his evil career. Yeah right...

Yawning, Kim stretched and pulled herself out of bed. She realized that she had just had a conversation with a weepy Dr. Drakken while in pajamas. That just added to the weirdness. Maybe a shower would clear her head. A nice, long, hot shower. And then maybe a massage, and a day at the spa. Or maybe just a shower would do it.
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Club Banana had some good sales, and it also had something else Kim needed- Monique. Although they hardly ever had a chance to see each other, they still got along very well, and Kim needed to talk to someone. And since Monique had taken up working full time for the summer, Kim had found a whole new form of therapy.

"Hey, girl! Long time, no see. Where you been?"

"Ghana. Peru. Uzbekistan. And here in Middleton, stressing about next year. Today I was supposed to stay home and work on college searching. Only a few more weeks until school's back in session, then it all starts back up again."

"Girl, you worry too much. You should come with me. I'm going to New York to study fashion design. The school's got these really great internships in Paris. Oh, could you imagine! But first I have to get in."

"Yeah, you will. And at least you know what you want to do. I don't even." Kim sighed and looked around the store. This talking was not making her feel better. She really couldn't even change the subject because there was so little that they could really relate to with each other anymore. Even with Monique, you could only talk about clothes for so long. And boys, well that subject was just about as depressing for Kim as college discussions were, so she'd rather avoid that too.

As though Monique could read Kim's mind, and was bent on sending Kim into the worst mood possible, she changed the subject.

"You'll figure it out. So hey, guess what! Felix's mom made me this automatic wheelchair thing like his- so I can keep up with him when he wants to amp the speed. It's great! That's what you need, Kim.

"What, an automated wheelchair?"

"No, a man to take your mind off things."

"No kidding." Kim's voice came out sounding more irritated than she had meant it to, but it was hard to control. As if she didn't know that a lover might cheer her up in the face of the impending doom now known as the future. "Sorry, Monique, it just seems like that's easier said than done these days."

"It's all good. Hey, you know, and don't tell Felix I said this, but a total hottie started working at The Mocha Moonbeam a few days ago. I heard he just moved here, so I bet he's single. You should go check him out."

"I'm there. Thanks, Monique." She exchanged a rare hug with her friend, and turned to leave. Hearing her name, she looked back for a moment.

"Kim," Monique said softly,"just one word of advice. Stick with decaf, you're already wired enough."
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Evidently The Mocha Moonbeam was the new "in" place to be as Kim had been waiting in line for fifteen minutes before she got to the register. In that time she had considered how desperate of her it was to be waiting in that line just to catch a glimpse of some guy that Monique deemed a hottie, who easily may have been a complete jerk with a girlfriend. She also got over it and spent the remaining thirteen minutes deciding what she wanted. When it finally was her turn to order, she had it completely memorized, and demonstrated these skills without thinking. Then she looked up.

He was absolutely gorgeous. His skin was the color of the drinks he was serving, a rich, creamy brown, like iced mocha with caramel. Yeah, she'd eat him all up. His face would have been hidden by a massive, yet manicured afro, if it weren't for the headband holding it back. Mmmmmmhmmmm. What did his name tag say? Tyrone. Ok, that worked.

All of a sudden, her stunned encounter was interrupted by the familiar sound of the Kimmunicator. Turning slightly red, she pulled it out and grinned sheepishly at... right, Tyrone.

"Uh, sorry, I gotta take this." She pointed helplessly at her communication device. "Talk to me, Wade."

"Kim! Have you seen Ron lately? I'm having trouble tracking him down. I-"

"Wade, I'm trying to place an order." She emphasized the last three words, hoping that the super-genius' newly adolescent brain would be able to understand the undertones. Instead, she caught the attention of her admiree.

"Wade, cuz, is that you? Man, I ain't seen you in a long time. A really long time."

"Tyrone? You moved to Middleton?"

"You guys know each other?" A very confused Kim looked between her friend and her cashier. A very irritated customer made some very nasty remarks as to where Kim's derrière needed to relocate itself to.

"Yeah," Wade answered, "he's my cousin. We can talk later, we really should find Ron."

"Aite, well, I'm not sure what this is all about, but I guess I'll let y'all go. It was nice meeting you, uh-"

"Kim. Kim Possible. But, um, yeah, Kim's, uh, fine." More blushing.

"Yeah she is. So, can I get a number, Kim?"

Kim quickly scribbled down her digits and gave a quick wave before darting out into the mall. She was almost to the exit before she realized that she had never paid for her coffee. Oh well, she'd have to owe him one. Or two or three... or however many it took, for that matter. Yeah, from there on out, things were going to be different. She swore by it.
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"Hey, Dr. D. You know that Kim kicks butt every time she fights your dudes. And that's when Shego's here. You really think that she's not gonna just come in and rescue me and not find Shego?" The blond teenage boy sat comfortably in Shego's usual chair, his feet resting on the desk in front of a giant computer screen.

"You... buffoon... what's your name again? No, no, don't tell me. Rob? John. No, no, wait. Rufus."

"That's the mole rat's name. All these years Kim's been fighting you- with my help, might I add- and you still can't get my name. That's bad. You know-"

"Don't you ever shut up? What about if I get you some, what do you call it, snackage, will you zip the lip? Unfortunately, I can't harm you if I want Kim Possible's aid in returning my sidekick, but if I could... Oh, doodles, if only Shego were here, she'd think of something to do to you. But instead, I've got-"

"Me." A female voice was followed by the olive drab-clad body it corresponded with, jump-kicking its way into the lair. Kim's eyes instantly showed signs of relief when they fixed on Ron's nonchalant lounging. She rolled her eyes, smirking, and turned to Drakken.

"So, you've got me here. You know I could kick your ass in a second. I'm going to give you the opportunity to explain to me what's really going on here before I make any final decisions. You have five minutes. Starting... now."

"As I tried to explain to you earlier, Shego is gone. She went to go, er, borrow something, but that was days ago, and she's not returned since. She would have informed me if she was quitting. She must have been taken hostage. Or caught. Or both. You've got to help me find her." He looked long and hard and his arch enemy's unmoved expression. "Kim Possible. I would expect you to understand the importance of this. Would I ever consider soliciting your help if it weren't absolutely necessary? You came to find your sidekick thingy here, and I would do the same for Shego, but you know, you always win and I don't."

That was the first time that there was any show of emotion on Kim's face. She looked like she was half about to laugh and half about to cry. It was very odd to watch, and Drakken undoubtedly noticed.

"What? Just, you know, don't even say a word, you- Ugh, SHEGO! Oh, she's not here, what will I do? I cannot manage without her. I-"

"Better not start crying again, or I'm walking out. Alright, I'll look for her. But what do I get out of it?"

"Well, that's not fair! You never ask favors of your other helper-people. People you help. Thing. Whatever."

"Just a favor down the line. All right. I still have no idea why I'm doing this. Who'd she 'borrow' from?"

(To be continued even more...)