9. Breakthrough (You want me for WHAT!?)

Marcy and Kimi awoke early that next morning, with Marcy waking first. She laid next to Kimi in the darkened room, the sun rising opposite the window. She slowly stroked the teen's hair, wondering just how such unfathomably horrible events would befall a young woman with such promise and potential - and just how much worse a young life could possibly get. She remarked to herself how Kimi's face looked so much like her mothers - while sleeping, the softness of her expression reminded Marcy of the day she took Kim for her first driving lesson - the first time she had ever seen Kim eat a piece of candy, and the nearly-orgasmic dreamy look that her face melted into. The only thing missing from Kimi at the moment was the wide smile Kim had during that day. Marcy immediately dismissed that omission, knowing that the young girl really had nothing to smile about - neither awake nor asleep. She then mentally kicked herself for not knowing the "right thing" to say that would ease Kimi's fears in the least - and for not knowing the right way to tell her that right now, she was every bit as scared.

Marcy rose from bed shortly before 6 AM. Kimi awoke slightly as Marcy stood. Marcy told her she was just going to start some coffee and a bit of breakfast a little later, then asked Kimi if she felt like eating, adding that she could go back to sleep until the meal was ready. Kimi responded with a silent nod, and her head settled back onto her pillow.

Tuesday, June 18th, 2:01 PM, Cairo time
Tuesday, June 18th, 6:01 AM, Eastgate time
Cairo West Air Base
-26 Days
Mark opened the door to his office and slipped a small stack of papers onto his desk. More reports taken from people in town who said they had seen people resembling Drakken and Shego in various parts of Cairo in the days leading up to Kim's abduction. One thing that always frustrated Mark about Cairo in particular, and the Middle East in general - with all the political and religious factions working on their own agendas, it was nearly impossible to tell from these bits and pieces drifting into their office which was actual information, and which was just meant to throw investigators and other prying eyes/ears off from that which they were curious about. Part of his job, frustrating as it was, was to sift through every piece of information that came in, and try to determine which was based in fact, and which was fueled by agenda.

Mark took a sip of his fourth cup of coffee of the day, picking up the stack of papers and sitting back in his chair, reading through the first of the reports. He thought about how much more time his teams would have to work on the cases before them if they didn't have to lend so much of that time taking and processing reports from the general public. He sometimes felt like the reports themselves were a tactic to pull his people from the actual process of investigating crimes.

Mark sat up in his chair, exhaling a breath of exaspiration through puffed cheeks and letting the papers slap onto his desk. Since the night of Kim's disappearance, he had been putting in long hours, acting on any bit of information his teams would gather, regardless of the time of day or night. Much of the sleep he had gotten in the past few days had been on the couch in his office - and the effect was beginning to tell. An hour here, two hours there was needed and welcome, but not as beneficial as a complete night of uninterrupted sleep.

Mark's desk phone beeped, and he punched a button on the keypad. "Yes?"

"Call on four," his secretary said. "It's on a secure frequency."

"Thanks Debbie," he said, tapping the button again. He then picked up the receiver and pushed another button. "Broderson...where?" He reached for his electronic notepad, scribbling quickly. "You're sure about this? No, I'm not doubting your intel...it's just that I've been chasing so many wild geese the past few days, I feel like I should be applying for a hunter's license..." He underlined a few times what he had written. "Yes...I'll be sending a team to check it out as soon as we're through here...I hope this is solid...I could use something other than hearsay from the civilians. Okay, I'm on it...and...even if it doesn't pan out, thanks as always...your efforts have always been invaluable, and I know I don't say that as often as I should...but I think you know that without it, we'd still have quite a few unclosed files. I'll let you know what I find out. Thanks." He hung up the desk phone and immediately pulled his cell from his shirt pocket, dialing. "Craig? Get two guys and come on up. We...might just have something that's more than crap from the locals." He saved the information he had written on his notepad and picked up the stack of papers he was going through, dropping them onto a corner of his desk.

7:08 AM, Eastgate time
3:08 PM, Cairo time
Marcy poured her second cup of coffee from the pot and sat at the table in the kitchen, watching outside as the light grew over the back lawn. She had retrieved the eggs and cheese from the refrigerator and had let them sit on the counter next to the stove while she tried to shake the sleep from her head. One of the first clear thoughts to meet Marcy as the caffeine worked into her system was that, even though the lives of three of her dearest friends were on hold at this moment, with one of them seemingly near an end, and even though this would be the perfect excuse to evade obligations in her own life, she knew that those obligations weren't at a hold point - yet.

Marcy stood and walked to the counter, picking up her cell and opening it, pressing a key to speed dial, and returning to sit at the table. "Morning Cheryl," she said. "It's Marc...yeah, pretty rough...I spent the night...okay at first, but the whole thing caught up with her later in the evening...she's sleeping now. I was going to make us something to eat and kind of play it by ear...yeah...you know as well as I do that strength is one of the things Kimi inherited from her mother...I think the thing with her father was the straw...but who could go through what she has in the last two days and not come apart? I'm going to hang here for a while...see how she is this morning...no...I didn't have anything pressing at work...I'll let you know later one way or the other what's going on...okay...thanks Cheryl...bye."

Marcy closed her cell and took another sip of her coffee, nursing the cup with both hands and staring into the dark liquid. Her thoughts went back to Kimi, and if there really was a "right" way to tell her that because her mother was facing what with each passing day seemed to be a certain end, her father had been pushed to the precupice of insanity...other than the dead-level, matter-of-fact plainness she presented it with.

The phone on the wall shocked Marcy out of her thoughts and to her feet. She crossed to the counter and picked up the receiver as it rang a second time. "Hello?"

"Hello? Who's this?" came the voice from the phone.

"Well, being that you called here," Marcy shot back, "I think that should be my line."

"I'm sorry...I may have misdialed. Is this the William Hodge residence?"

"Yes...William is not in right now."

"I'm sorry," the voice said again. "I guess I wasn't expecting a strange voice. My name is Captain Mark Broderson, United States Air Force Special Investigator--"

"Captain--" Marcy started. "Cap'n Mark?"

"Heh," chuckled Mark. "Yeah. That's what Kimi calls me. I'm in Cairo, working on Kim's case."

"I'm a friend of the family...my name's Marcy Delgado. I've heard good things about you from Kimi," Marcy said. "She's still sleeping, though...had kind of a rough night...William checked himself into a psychiatric facility yesterday because of an incident at work that...well, let's say he was...provoked by an ex-employee."

"Oh, man," Mark drew out. "More hard news. It doesn't rain but when it pours, I guess. That's horrible...I can imagine Kimi didn't take that well."

"You're right about that," said Marcy. "And even if giving the money to Drakken and Shego would mean them setting Kim free...with William currently being classified as...non compos mentis...Meridian won't consider his signature for the release of any of his assets. It hit her pretty hard...it's like she's being isolated from all the people she's looked to for guidance and those who love her the most. I stayed here with her last night. Is there anything I can pass along to her?"

"I wish I could tell you," Mark said, "but the nature of the case precludes me from sharing information with people outside the immediate family...I hope you understand."

"I do, completely," Marcy said, running her hand back through her hair. "Whatever it is, I can only hope it's some sort of good news. Lord knows the family sure could use it about now." She took a glance at the food she had out on the counter, then to the clock over the stove - 7:42. "I was going to wake Kimi in a while, and fix some food for us. Can you call back in a couple of hours?"

"I sure can," Mark replied. "Just tell Kimi I called? And," he paused, "I know we've never met...but I think just from what you said about you staying the night with Kimi...the Hodges have a good friend in you."

"Thank you," Marcy blushed slightly. "I've known them for years...and I helped a little with Kim getting used to being here. Well, I should start breakfast...what time is it there in Cairo?"

"It's about quarter to four in the afternoon. I'll get some food myself, and then call back."

"Okay," said Marcy, "and...Captain? Thank you for everything you're doing for this family...everything."

"You're more than welcome," Mark returned. "I just wish it could be more. Bye Marcy...good to talk to you. It's good to know that Kimi is in good hands in her time of need."

"Thanks again, Captain," Marcy said and hung up. She then walked to the refrigerator for some butter and a knife from the drawer, sliding a small slice into a pan and turning on the burner, watching the butter melt across the surface. She picked up the pan and tilted it to spread the butter around, then set it back on the burner and opened the carton of eggs, cracking one against the rim of the pan and watching the yolk slip in. If only everything in life that was so fragile could be so easy to swallow, she thought.

8:09 AM, Eastgate time
4:09 PM, Cairo time
Marcy returned to Kimi's bedroom and slowly opened the door. She found the girl awake, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Well hi there," Marcy said, smiling. "I was just coming to wake you for breakfast...we have scrambled eggs, hash browns and toast."

Kimi nodded slowly, as she had done before. "I'll...try to eat something, Aunt Marcy."

"I even have water on, in case you wanted some tea."

Kimi stood and walked to Marcy, slowly embracing her and settling her head against the woman's chest, letting out a steady sigh. "...looks pretty lead, doesn't it..." she muttered, "...my life..."

Marcy slowly smoothed her hand over Kimi's back. "My grandmother used to say something to me when something bad would happen," she said. "'It's always darkest just before the dawn'."

Kimi adjusted to look at Marcy, a bit puzzled.

Marcy couldn't help but chuckle slightly. "I gave her the same look the first time she said that to me," she said. "But take a look some night...about an hour or two before dawn, the sky seems to be at its blackest. What she said is not only true of the sky...but of life, too." She pulled back a bit, her hands now on Kimi's shoulders. "C'mon...let's see if you can stand my breakfast cooking."

8:16 AM
They went into the kitchen, and Marcy got a couple of plates from the cupboard while Kimi picked out a tea, placing two bags into cups and bringing them to the table and going for the kettle on the stove. Marcy didn't scramble but three eggs, as she figured that neither of them could be that hungry. She slid portions of eggs and shredded hash browns onto each of the plates, sprinkled a few shreds of cheese over the eggs, and took them to the table as Kimi was pouring the water into the cups to steep the tea. Marcy returned to the counter and buttered a couple of slices of toast, bringing them to the table on a small plate. Kimi brought a couple of forks after she returned the kettle to the stove.

They both sat at about the same time, with Marcy digging into her eggs first, and Kimi readying a forkful, then bringing the bite to her mouth, chewing. She turned to Marcy. "Mom usually makes scrambled eggs with a little french vanilla ice cream instead of milk--"

"Yeah, Marcy interjected, "but you're--"

"--all about out right now." Her eyes dropped for a moment. "I'm sorry, Aunt Marcy," she said softly, "I didn't mean for it to sound rude, or like that. It's not like they taste bad or anything..."

"Shhhh," Marcy hushed, the tip of her fork to her lips. "They might taste bad if you let them get cold."

Kimi replied with a wan smile and took another bite.

Marcy picked up the string to her teabag, dipping it a few times and setting it onto a small plate on the table; then bringing her cup to her lips. "Mmmm...good tea. Orange and black pekoe?"

"Yeah," Kimi said, preparing her own cup and taking a sip. "It's--" she paused, looking down "...Mom's fav..." She slowly returned her cup to the table, and her eyes remained cast there as well.

"Hey, hey," Marcy perked. "There will be no downtrodden looks at this breakfast table." She finished with a smile. "Oh, by the way...you got a phone call a while ago."

"I did?" Kimi asked.

Marcy returned to her eggs. "Yep," she said with a rather nonchalant expression. "Do you know a 'Cap'n Mark'?"

Kimi nearly choked on her next sip of tea. "Cap'n Mark!?" she spluttered. "Cap'n Mark called, and you didn't wake me?? What did he say???"

"Well, he wouldn't tell me...something about 'sharing information outside the immediate family.' But...he didn't seem to act like it was...bad news. He said he was going to get a bite to eat. He's going to call back later this morning."

Kimi got a thoughtful expression. "What are you thinking, Ki?" Marcy asked.

"I was just wondering," Kimi mused, "if Cap'n Mark would like Chick'n Bitz..."

Marcy couldn't help chuckling. "Guess you'll have to remember to ask him that when he calls back."

They finished breakfast and sat for a while, talking. Marcy wanted to make sure that Kimi would be okay before she even thought about going to work. Kimi assured her that she still "had a brain," and wasn't about to do anything that would put this already-disarrayed family through any more shock. Somehow, Marcy knew that was the answer to expect - Kim's daughter had never seemed like the type to just give up in the face of adversity - and she let her know this, jokingly inquiring if her name, in addition to meaning, "She who is without equal," also stood to mean "She who is a rock for faith." The two laughingly embraced, and Kimi turned to take a dishtowel from the back of one of the chairs, indicating she was going to spend some time cleaning the breakfast dishes. Marcy gathered her purse and cell and started for the front door, telling Kimi that she would call later to check up on things, and to see if Kimi would feel like going somewhere for dinner.

9:49 AM, Eastgate time
5:49 PM, Cairo time
-26 Days
Kimi had washed the dishes and pans from the morning's breakfast, letting them sit for a bit while she brewed another cup of tea and engaged in a few online games of backgammon. She then went to the kitchen and began to dry and put away the dishes, with a phone call in the middle from Marcy, who had forgotten to ask if Kimi thought there were any groceries she thought she would need. Kimi peeked in the refrigerator and named off a couple of items, which Marcy wrote down, and said that she would bring them when she came by that evening. Kimi also expressed a desire for egg rolls for dinner, and Marcy agreed, making plans to pick some up from a Chinese dinner house after work.

9:57 AM.
Kimi dried off the pan Marcy had cooked the hash browns in and set it on a hook over the stove. She folded the dishtowel and set it on the counter, then turned and got a glass from the cupboard and filling it with cold water.

Kimi intended to avenge herself for the series of close backgammon losses she had suffered a short time ago. She began to walk into the hallway to her bedroom, and was stopped by the wall phone ringing. She hurried back into the kitchen, setting the glass on the table, and crossing to pick up the receiver halfway through the third ring. "I'm glad you called back, Aunt Marcy," she said. "I didn't think about it at the time, but we should add some crab rangoons to go with the egg rolls."

"Gee, all I had was a gyro," a deep voice in the phone replied. "Throw in some cashew chicken, and I'm there."

"Cap'n Mark!" Kimi burst out.

"Heh. Hey Kimi," chuckled Mark. "I guess Marcy passed the message along that I called. Listen...I have some stuff I want to talk to you about...but I don't want to do it over an open line. I'm going to call you right back on a secure frequency. When the call comes in, it will ask you for a security code--"

"Ummm...Cap'n Mark?" quizzed Kimi. "I...don't have a security code...and if you give it over the phone, it'll be all about not secure."

"Not to worry," Mark said. "You do already have the code. When you get the call, punch in the exact number of total episodes that your mother's show ran. Okay...talk to you in a minute." The line then went dead as Mark hung up.

Kimi thought for a second as she replaced the receiver on the hook, mentally counting the number of episodes on the tapes. 91 total shows over five years. She smiled confidently, lifting her hand to hover over the phone, and plucking it from its hook before the first ring completed. She listened to the female voice as she brought it to her ear.

:::This call is over a secure frequency to guard against tapping and other forms of surveillance. Please enter the security code to unlock the call:::

Kimi pressed the 9 on the keypad, then moved her finger to the 1--

Wait, she thought, freezing. She remembered that Mark had said "exact number of total episodes" - NOT total shows. She then remembered the "mini-episodes" run as one show - and the "movies" consisting of three episodes run concurrently.

Kimi's finger slipped from the 1 over to the 9, and she pressed the key.

:::Security code accepted:::

And to think Mom didn't want me to find those tapes, Kimi chuckled to herself.

There was a distant, metallic click, followed by a short series of tones; another click; then Mark came on the line. "Hiya."

"Hi, Cap'n Mark," Kimi said. "This is so no one can listen in?"

"You got it," said Mark. "You can never tell who might want any little piece of information. How are you? Marcy told me what happened yesterday with your father. You've got some pretty tough armor to go through what you have this weekend and not come apart yourself."

"Well..." Kimi started sheepishly, "I...wasn't so tough last night..."

"But you're right back in today, swinging for the team. Others your age would have folded right then and there, and probably end up in the same position your father is in."

"I don't know," Kimi said. "I don't know how I would have reacted if Marcy wasn't here."

"I talked with Marcy for a minute the first time I called. She sounds like she's behind all three of you...it's good to have people like that on your side."

"Yeah," Kimi smiled. "She's all about diamond. She even gave me my nickname when I was little...'Ki'...it stuck. It's what all my good friends call me."

"Good friends and good news," said Mark. "You can't have enough of either."

"Yeah," Kimi agreed. "She said something about some news you had...and that you couldn't share it with her..."

"That's the confidentiality clause in my contract," Mark said. "Family members only. Actually, I've got a little more than just news...remember I told you that Wade is working with us?"

"Mm-hm."

"Well, he's got some abilities we don't yet...that's just a part of how he helps us. Anyway, he's been doing scans...and thanks to his efforts...we've been able to track down where your mother is being held." Mark continued after a gasp from Kimi. "It's a warehouse here on the northern edge of the city...near the Mosque of Al-Hakim. There really aren't many Cellers in this part of the world...and Wade said that the presence of three in one building was almost too much of a coincidence. I sent some men a few hours ago to check it out...and sure enough...one of them spotted Shego near a window on the second floor of the warehouse."

Kimi sank into one of the chairs at the table, grinning widely. "You've found Mom! Oh Cap'n Mark, you're super diamond! How long before you go in?"

"Whoa, whoa," interrupted Mark. "It's not allowed...remember CENAP? The agreement I told you about? It forbids any military action by one environment to help the other. Even the surveillance we did this afternoon could be brought before the UN as a violation, if the wrong people found out it happened. That's one of the reasons for the secure line." Mark could almost swear he heard Kimi's mood falling a bit over the phone.

After a short moment of silence, Kimi spoke. "...so you couldn't really send anyone in there..."

"I'm afraid not. The troop movement - even by covert forces - would be too easy to trace. I can't risk that...not to mention that, if they detected any kind of force approaching the building...well...you know. One really good piece of news - Wade did detect three Celler signatures. That means it's a safe bet that they haven't harmed Kim. Looks like they're holding to their end of the bargain to wait out the 30-day deadline...and even though there's no way to get the money right now...they don't know that. Time is still on our side. As far as they know, William and others are still trying to get the money together...and right now, that's all they need to know. Another reason for the secure line."

Another moment of rather uneasy silence.

"Kimi," Mark said, breaking that silence, "I''ve come to be known as being very good at what I do...and one of the main things that has gotten me that reputation, and something I've relied on all my life...is having a sort of...inner sense...to know when something works...and I've solved a lot of the cases I've worked since coming here to Cairo by relying on that inner sense. A lot of people shake their heads and call my methods a bit unconventional...but they also shake their heads afterward and wonder how everything came together to solve a case."

"I don't know how they could doubt you, Cap'n Mark...just from that one night in Aunt Donna's restaurant, I could tell that you know what you're doing...and know how to do it well."

"Well, thank you, Kimi," Mark said, smiling.

"Cap'n Mark? Please...call me Ki?"

"Okay," smiled Mark, "thank you, Ki...and actually, I could tell from that night that what you just said about me is true about you, also...the way you figured out how they got into and out of the restaurant...and especially with your martial arts capabilities...the way you took out that wall." Now Mark paused for a second. "And actually...that kind of leads me into the other reason for this call, and another reason why it's secure."

"...hm?" quizzed Kimi.

"I've come up with a plan to rescue your mother," said Mark. "They're watching for us to take some sort of military action - even if covert. What we need is a force that is small enough to get close without being detected...but strong enough to get in...and smart enough to know how to get it done..."

"...A force...like..." Kimi mused.

Another pregnant silence - again, broken by Mark. "...like...you, Ki."

Kimi nearly dropped the phone and slipped off of the chair. "M-ME!?" she exclaimed. "Was....was there something in that gyro you had for lunch, Cap'n Mark?"

"Nooo, Ki," Mark exhaled, trying to hide a chuckle, "I'm very serious. Remember my inner sense? Ever since this idea came to me, that sense has gone off the scale."

"Cap'n Mark, I'm a 15-year old girl--"

"Yep," Mark cut in. "A 15-year old girl who is a red belt in Kempo Karate at the adult level. I can count the people your age who have done that in the US on one hand, and still have enough free fingers to hold this phone."

"I've never even fought in any tournaments, much less against people who probably have like...guns!"

"I've talked with Wade since we checked out the building...he says that it's not heavily guarded. Looks like El-Dok Ali-bin Drak is a small contingent...no more than about ten." Mark's voice dropped into a more serious tone. "Look...I wouldn't have brought this to you if I didn't have the confidence in you, Ki. I've seen you in action. I've seen your mind at work. I can provide you with everything you'd need to do this - including how to deal with 'people with guns'."

"But..." Kimi stammered, "but...you said that no military action could be taken..."

"Yep, I said that. But last night, when this idea first came to me, I went over the CENAP with a fine-toothed comb. Karate isn't covered as part of military training. You are classified as a civilain entity, Ki. None of the training you'd be getting would be considered 'military'."

"Cap'n Mark..." Kimi started, "...it's great that you have all this confidence in me...and the only thing I've wished for, or even thought about ever since Mom was abducted was for her to be back home...but..."

"Ki," Mark said, "you don't have to make a decision on this right now. I've worked out that your training would take about three weeks. That calculates out to no later than Saturday. You don't have to give me an answer until then, if you want. In the meantime, I'm going to send you an encrypted email with a phone number direct to me. You can unlock it with the same security code you used for this call. Please...I want you to think this over, Ki...and I want you to trust in my judgement. I know, the whole thing sounds crazy when you hear it for the first time...but can you at least give it some serious thought?"

Kimi's voice was a bit flat as her mind now began to delve into the scope and seeming impossibility of what Mark had proposed. "I will, Cap'n Mark."

"When you call that number...all you have to say is 'green light' if you're in...or 'red light' if you're out. If you say 'green light,' I'd be on a plane within minutes. The training would be done at the Air Guard base you and your father came back to last Friday. I'd be there within three hours, and there would be a car at your place in about two to take you to the airport." Mark's voice became lower now. "Ki...I've done some reading about your mother. Since her Cross so many years ago, she's done a lot of things that no Celler had ever done here before...and not the least of those things - was your birth. Remember in her show, during the introduction, when those words would flash down the screen, near the beginning...'junior varsity cheerleader' and like that?"

"Yeah..."

"One of those lines says 'World's Last Hope.' I don't mean to make this sound dramatic...but...in the evil world your mother has fallen into now...it could be thought of that...you are her last hope. I'll be looking forward to a call, Ki. Stay safe and hopeful, okay?"

"Okay," Kimi said. She stopped Mark before he hung up. "And Cap'n Mark? Thanks...for everything. You're going way beyond what I thought anyone else would do, if they were in your position...not only for Mom...but just for...for Cellers...you know?"

"It's my job, Ki," said Mark, "and I...like my job. I'll talk to you soon. Take care, Ki." With that, there was another metallic click and series of tones - then the phone went dead.

Kimi brought the phone from her ear slowly to her lap, and she pressed her thumb against the disconnect button. She remained in the chair for a long time, thinking.

Mark closed his cell and slipped it into his shirt pocket. He reached for a pen from the holder on his desk, knocking over a small picture frame standing next to it. He furrowed his brow, mentally slapping himself for his clumsiness. He scrawled something onto a paper in a folder in front of him, then closed the folder, and read the printing on the front--

"KH One-Five Alpha-Diamond"

Mark leaned in his chair, retrieving his attache from the floor and opening it on his lap - then putting the folder into it and closing and locking the attache, returning it to the floor next to his desk. He then put the pen back into its holder and placed the picture frame back into an upright position, holding it - and then bringing it up to look at it.

Mark stared at the picture for a few moments. "Yeah," he breathed, "it's my job...and I like my job. I just wish I had done it better...sooner." He then brought the picture to his lips, kissing it softly, then replacing it on his desk. "...and with a rewind button."

Mark then reached for the attache and stood, walking out of his office.

The picture was of Melfina, from the anime series "Outlaw Star."

to be continued...