Galerians: Ron
Awakening
Kim and Ron walked through the doors of Middleton High together just like any other day. Kim was complaining about not getting the car not noticing that Ron wasn't paying any attention. He simply smiled and gave the occasional nod and noise of agreement.
He was just glad that she hadn't noticed that he was just as beat as the day before. The dream of that girl Lilia asking for help disturbed him. It didn't seem like just a dream, but what else could it be? He didn't even bother to write it down in his notebook like usual. After gathering his thoughts for a few minutes Ron laid back down and tried to get back to sleep. A part of him was hoping she would come back and tell him more.
Despite that trying to sleep he still didn't get much. He made a conscious effort to hide it from Kim though, and so far it was working. Well, a conscious effort and a pot of coffee. If it works it works.
As they made it to their lockers Kim finally finished her rant and worked on her combo. As the door opened Wade's face popped up onto the screen tucked inside.
Kim gave her customary. "Hey Wade, what's the sitch?"
"Drakken's up to the usual."
Ron couldn't see it from his place behind her but he could tell Kim was rolling her eyes. "What else is new? What exactly is he up to this time?"
"He and Shego stole a laptop with access codes for a satellite."
"So what?" Ron joked. "Maybe he just doesn't get cable at his lair."
"This isn't a television satellite Ron. It's military and equipped with a laser that can take out a small city."
"Yah, that'd suck."
Kim gave him a slight chuckle before turning back to Wade. "Any idea where they are now?"
"Of course." The young genius told her. "I was able to track them to their current lair by a tracking chip in the laptop. Your ride will be outside in ten. You should be there long before Drakken's able to break the laptop's encryption."
"You seriously rock Wade!" Kim told him before the screen went blank.
---------------0010100---------------
Like so many missions before it this one involved the duo jumping out of a plane. It was amazing what could become routine. It had taken a long while for Ron to get used to it, but at least he did not fall on his ass on every landing anymore. Just some of them.
They silently landed on the rooftop of the large building just outside of Detroit that Drakken was currently using. With practiced ease they removed their parachutes and tucked them out of site. Wordlessly they went straight for the air duct and climbed in.
Slowly through the duct they made their way down to the first floor. There was some interference so that was the best Wade could pinpoint the laptop. They found an empty hall and dropped down into a graceful crouch. Well, Kim dropped down in a graceful crouch while Ron fell on his ass. Surprisingly he didn't make any more noise than she did though.
The pair carefully but quickly made their way down the hall, looking in the side rooms as they went. Ron was a couple of steps behind Kim when he suddenly stopped. A blinding pain shot through his head and his hands went to his temples on reflex.
Through the pain Ron saw images jump into his mind. A group of three guards were walking down a corridor that looked like it connected with the one they were in.
The pain stopped as quickly as it had come. Without hesitation Ron ran forward, grabbed Kim and pulled her sharply into a side room.
"What do you think you're…" She was cut off when Ron's hand covered her mouth.
Seconds later the footsteps of guards could be heard as they turned down the hall. They waited for them to pass, huddled against the small room's wall trying not to make any noise. When the guards were gone Ron removed his hand and the two let out breaths they had not realized they had been holding.
Kim looked at Ron with surprise. "How did you know?"
"Good ears, kp." He lied. After all, he didn't exactly understand himself.
As they got back on the move Kim thought that maybe she should start giving Ron more credit. His instincts were obviously a lot better than she had thought.
In short order they found the lab with the laptop. Inside Shego and Drakken were arguing (big surprise) over where to fire the satellite's laser.
"I'm telling you Shego, Disney Land is the perfect target!" He insisted to Shego who was obviously at the end of her rope.
"If you're going to do it then do it right and aim for a capitol city like Washington! What is your obsession with Disney Land anyways? This is the third time you've wanted to blow it up!" She said angrily. After a minute she added mockingly. "What? Did the little mouse scare you and give you nightmares?"
"Rodents aren't supposed to talk!" Drakken exclaimed before clapping a hand over his mouth, realizing he had just let his fear of Mickey out in the open.
Drakken's outburst caused Rufus to pop out of his pocket hideaway and give an indignant 'hey'. Deciding it best to intervene before Rufus decide to take on Drakken and Shego by himself, Kim stepped into view.
"Drakken's irrational phobias aside, it's time to go to jail."
"Kim Possible! You know what I can't even act surprised anymore. Shego, go hurt her."
"That's the first smart thing I've actually heard you say." Shego said as she tackled Kim.
As the two women fought Drakken turned back to the laptop. Of course Drakken being… well… Drakken, he completely forgot about Ron. Which is why he never saw the hard punch to his face coming. He was, however, able to hit the last key he needed as he fell unconscious to the ground.
Apparently he had been able to get around the encryption faster than expected. The laptop screen had a countdown appear in large red letters. The countdown echoed throughout the whole room in a computerized voice through speakers set up for just this purpose.
"Ron!" Kim exclaimed as she ducked a roundhouse from Shego. "Stop the countdown!"
She pulled out her kimmunicator as she tried to sweep out Shego's legs. As she came back up Kim tossed it to Ron so he could get Wade's help. Unfortunately Shego was able to swat it in totally different direction.
The kimmunicator landed on the complete opposite side of the room. With only ten seconds left on the clock there was no time to retrieve it. He had no idea what to do.
As the panic swelled the blinding pain from earlier returned in force. One hand again went to his temple to try and sooth the pain. The other landed on the laptop. The air around that hand began to crackle with a blue energy. A wisp of smoke rose from the keyboard and the countdown stopped.
The pain subsided just as quickly as before. Ron just stood there breathing hard and staring at the blank screen in shock. That's how he was when Kim came up beside him a few minutes later having finished her fight with Shego and retrieved the kimmunicator.
"That's amazing Ron!" She exclaimed. "How'd you stop it?"
"I don't know." He said honestly.
"Dumb luck huh."
Ron managed to force a smile on his face. "How many times do I have to tell you? It's dumb skills Kim."
---------------0010100---------------
Ron was quiet the entire trip home. Kim thought it was odd, they had close calls before and they never affected him like this. She shook it off though figuring he just needed some time and that things would be back to normal tomorrow.
Of course it was not the close call that worried him. It was how he had stopped it that worried him. It was all he could think about as he and Kim parted ways. Something was happening to him and he didn't know what. The worry, anxiety and fear were so great that by the time he got home he was almost at the breaking point.
"Hey son, your mom and I just got back." His dad greeted as he came through the door. "Dinner should be ready soon."
Ron didn't even acknowledge him as he walked towards the stairs.
"Are you alright Ron?" His mother asked.
"I'm fine." He said curtly.
His parents exchange worried glances before his dad asked again. "Are you sure?"
"I said I'm fine!!!" Ron exclaimed from the stairs, his emotions already running high. The photos that lined the stairway began to shake from his outburst before the glass gave in and exploded.
"I… I… I don't… I." Ron stuttered in shock at what had just happened.
His parents exchanged another glance before his mother nodded. His father sighed and looked up at him. "Ronald, we need to have a talk. There are some things you should know. Maybe you should sit down for this son."