Shego's eyes snapped open. She didn't know how long she'd been unconscious, but she did know that she was no longer in the same spot where she had fallen. She quickly sat up, causing a fresh shot of pain to hit her right side where the laser had tagged her. Shego grunted loudly and instinctively put her hand there; much to her surprise, she felt what seemed like bandages. She rolled up her top and saw that her injury had been expertly treated with gauze and medical tape. Looking around, she realized she was in some kind of examination room. But how did she get there?

Shego had no desire to stick around and find out. She quietly slipped off the table and headed towards the door. Suddenly it was flung open and one of the hulking henchmen she had fought earlier came stomping into the room.

"You," he growled. "Dr. Drakken wants to see you."

Shego quickly analyzed her situation; she was hurt, disoriented, and had lost the element of surprise. An escape attempt was out of the question…for now. She reluctantly allowed herself to be led down a long hallway, at the end of which was a cavernous room. Drakken was in the center of that room, standing in front of a massive supercomputer.

"Ah, Miss Shego," he said as they approached him. "So glad you could join us. My super sensitive sensors told me you were up and about." He patted a flashing red light on the control panel.

"Aren't you clever," Shego said sarcastically. "Why did you kidnap me?"

"Kidnap you? My dear, I saved you from certain imprisonment and charges of high treason! I carried your unconscious body out of that government laboratory myself!"

"You carried me?" Shego asked, eyeing Drakken up and down.

"Okay, one of my henchmen did. But only because I ordered him too!"

"And you did that because…"

"I know potential when I see it! While you were napping I did a background check. You're a very popular young lady…wanted by every policeman and FBI agent in New York."

"Uh-huh," Shego replied.

"And I saw firsthand the skills you possess," Drakken continued. "I was impressed, and I don't impress easily."

"Yeah…so you brought me here to get an autograph?"

"No," Drakken said. "I brought you here to offer you a job! You have a chance to work for the future ruler of the world!"

"Really? And who might that be?"

"Me! Dr. Drakken!" Drakken exclaimed. "Surely you've heard of me!"

"No. Sorry."

"Oh, come on! Evil genius? Criminal mastermind? Brilliant super villain with a thirst for world domination?"

"Ah, you mean like Professor Dementor." Shego said.

Instantly Drakken's face went from blue to red. "NO! I AM NOTHING LIKE THAT HACK! I AM…" Drakken was on the verge of a full blown tantrum when he stopped and composed himself. "Let me show you around. You should see what a real evil genius's lair looks like!"

Shego followed Drakken as he walked though the lair and pointed out his state-of-the-art evil laboratory, his evil inventions in various stages of development, and his evil death traps meant to destroy intruders and door-to-door salesmen. Shego only half-listened as she took in her surroundings; it certainly was impressive, by far the coolest super villain lair she had ever seen. Drakken was proving to be a man of great ambition with the resources to back it up. But he was also a man of poor hygiene and big ego. Shego wondered if the real reason he had brought her here was to have someone to brag to; surely he didn't go to the trouble just to offer her a job.

Shego thought about the job offer. She had never considered working for someone before, let alone a super villain. It would look great on her resume, and really put a bug up Hego's butt. Shego grinned as she pictured the look on her brother's face. On the other hand, she was enjoying the freedom that came with a solo career, and wasn't sure she wanted to be tied down. While she silently debated with herself, Drakken continued to drone on.

"As you can see, I run a tight ship. But every captain needs a first mate. My henchmen are only good for two things: muscle and experimentation. Their collective brainpower couldn't light the bulb in my refrigerator. I need someone who's as smart as she is dangerous. I have been unable to find someone like that…until now."

Shego couldn't help but feel flattered. She made her decision. "I know what you're getting at Dr. D, and I think…"

"BEHOLD! My new partner in crime!" Drakken pushed a button on the wall. A door slid open to reveal a shapely female android with long black "hair." For the first time in her life, Shego was caught off guard.

"You…built…a woman?" She stammered, not believing what she was looking at.

"I call her ALPHA, the next generation in minions," Drakken said proudly. "She has the strength of ten men, the agility of a cat, and the durability of Tupperware!"

"And is about as lively as a paperweight," Shego huffed. "I don't see what's so great about that thing!"

"You will once I add this," Drakken grinned.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the A.I. chip. Shego's eyes widened. In all the excitement she had forgotten about the chip; however, she distinctly remembered putting it in her pocket before she battled the henchmen back at the government building. Drakken had stolen it from her! Shego's cheeks burned in anger as she watched Drakken insert the chip into ALPHA's motherboard. The robot hummed to life, black eyes now glowing red, and took several cautious steps forward.

"It's alive…It's ALIIIIIVE!" Drakken cried.

"No need to shout, honey, I'm standing right here," ALPHA said. "Who might you folks be? For that matter…who am I?"

"You are ALPHA, the most advanced robot ever created!" Drakken exclaimed. "You have all the strengths of your mechanical brethren, but unlike them you are not limited by your programming. Thanks to the A.I. chip you have the power to think and learn, an ability that will make you unstoppable! And with you by my side the world will soon be mine!"

"That sounds super," ALPHA said. "When do we start?"

"Did you hear that, Shego? She's just been activated and already she can't wait to take over the world!" Drakken said, tears forming in his eyes. "ALPHA, you've made me the happiest man in the world!" He embraced the robot, who happily hugged him back.

"You don't date much, do you doc?" Shego remarked, slightly disgusted by the whole scene. Then a thought occurred to her. "Wait…if she's going to be your right hand, then what kind of job did you have in mind for me?"

"I thought you could be my personal assistant," Drakken replied. "You know, make coffee, take dictation, maintain my files…"

"You want me to be your…SECRETARY?!" Shego spat out the last word as if it were a rotten vegetable.

"Personal assistant," Drakken corrected. "It's an entry level position, but you could work your way up to middle management within a year. What do you say?"

Trembling with rage, Shego turned away. Drakken had stolen from her and insulted her. She was now determined to get the A.I. chip back and punish Drakken for his arrogance. But to do so would take time and planning, plus an intimate knowledge of his operation. Shego could think of only one way to pull it off. She took a deep breath, forced a smile and turned back to Drakken.

"I say…how do you like your coffee, boss?"