Steel Swan

by Rocinante

Sequel to Anything Is Possible and Life With Kim. Part III of the Celler Series. Kim's daughter is faced with her worst nightmare. Fourth part in the Series is Gleam Surge.

18. Last Plane to Cairo

18. Last Plane to Cairo (A Swan Takes Wing)

Kimi went to sleep the night before, still in the outfit that Melfina had brought her. She had spent about an hour in thought before falling asleep, sitting on her bed going through the sequences and techniques that Mark had taught her the past three weeks, remembering details about how to load, hold, aim, un-holster and holster her firearm, and how to mesh these with her skills in karate.

Kimi spent a bit thinking about the nature of the people who had abducted her mother - the people now under the nefarious bane of Doctor Drakken's command. If they were cruel enough to spirit someone they didn't even know away from a busy restaurant to be held simply for her execution, how vicious would they be toward someone intending to interrupt the completion of their plans?

Kimi also thought about Shego. Even though she was eventually able to produce positive outcomes from encounters against representations and renditions of the raven-haired hellcat, the simulations still did not fully embody the green-and-black horror that seared through the dream Kimi had days before answering Mark's offer. Mark had said he would make contact with Wade to find out the scope of Shego's karate skills - but that was over a week ago, with no word from Mark as to what if anything he might have found out since then.

Kimi tried to push away the negative thoughts crowding toward the front of her mind, and replace them with the positive aspects of her efforts and their results - how she dazzled an entire gym of onlookers and participants with the extent of her ability and agility; Taking down two opponents with a triple-kick that even amazed Mark, who is a second-degree black belt and admitted even he was unable to perform the move with the speed and alacrity that she did; how Mark seemed to absorb and feed the determination and resolve she had built during each aspect of her training; and the sense of accomplishment and victory she felt as she overtook each hurdle, culminating in shattering the final qualifying obstacle Mark had set before her - the Speed Test.

Kim's genetic make-up had indeed shown itself as being passed on into much of her daughter's qualities, abilities and interests, even so far as in the form of physical traits. Had the lineage and image of her mother become even more ingrained than Kimi thought? Had she become the inter-environmental personification of the role her mother played in her show? Could she, in fact, "do anything"?

Kimi was about to put those subconscious questions, her ability, her wishes and resolve to "do anything" to save her mother and her family - all of it - to the ultimate real-world test.

No more preliminaries.
No more simulations.
The day and the mission Kimi and Mark had been working so dilligently toward for nearly a month was now upon them.

Saturday, July 13th, 6:32 AM, Eastgate time
Saturday, July 13th, 2:32 PM, Cairo time
-9 Hours, 28 Minutes
Kimi had just walked out of the bathroom, turning a towel onto her head when the phone sounded its electronic greeting. She sat on the bed as she picked it up. "Morning, Cap'n Mark."

"Good Morning," smiled Mark. "I think that's the first time you picked up the phone on the first ring since you've been here."

"I was already awake," Kimi said. "Actually, I got up about an hour ago...I checked again to make sure I had everything packed, and then I took a shower."

"That's good," said Mark. "That shows me you're not even thinking about backing out...not that I thought you would. So...breakfast?"

"I'll be all about at your door at 7," Kimi said, then paused slightly. "Will...there be much to do this morning, Cap'n Mark?"

"I thought we'd go through the normal weight routine this morning, to get you limbered. You have all your stuff packed, you said?"

"Everything except what I'm going to wear to Cairo."

"Okay, no problem there. We can get a workout suit from the gym. There's also a small aerobics class on Saturdays, so that's covered too. After that, we can review some things before we get on the Scramship." Mark then paused. "How do you feel, Ki?"

Kimi thought for a second. "I feel...ready, Cap'n Mark," she said.

"...You're not scared?"

"I'm a little bit scared...but I think anyone my age who was about to do this would be all about, too. I've been thinking a lot this morning ever since I got up. I think I'm...more scared about losing my mom than I am about facing the slugs who want her gone."

"I think I'd be worried if you weren't scared, Ki," Mark said. "It's normal for anyone to be scared in a situation like this. Okay, I'll let you get ready...see you at 0700."

Kimi's phone clicked as Mark hung up. She thought for a moment about Mark's affirmation of her feelings as she closed the phone and reached to the chair for her clothes, placing them on the bed beside her. After slipping on a light sport bra, she brought the black midriff shirt to her face, breathing in and noticing a lack of the familiar aroma of vanilla which had always been an ingrained part of her life. The fragrance just beore the Cross, she thought. It's all about couldn't be on these clothes unless she wore them after she got her fragrance...but if I have anything to say about it, they will.

...my mom will again have the choice to wear the outfit she made famous...any time she feels like it.

6:56 AM.
-9 Hours, 4 Minutes
Mark was sitting at the couch with paperwork spawled across the coffee table as Melfina came from the kitchenette in a long, flowing deep puple robe with a fresh cup of coffee for him. She moved to sit next to her husband, sliding a paper aside with her pinky and setting the coffee onto the table, leaning to give Mark a light kiss just in front of his ear, causing him to respond by leaning slightly into the warm caress of Melfina's lips. "Here is your coffee, my love," she smiled. "How did Kimi sound to you when you talked to her?"

"She sounds a little better than I thought she would," Mark replied. "She said she's a bit scared..."

"I do not think she can be faulted for that," Melfina said. "I think she is very, very brave for taking the mission you presented to her. I also think that she can credit that solely to you, for your training and dilligence, and your faith in her abilities."

"Actually, I didn't have that much to do with it," said Mark. "Kimi was already very advanced in karate before she came here...I only showed her a few brown-belt moves and blocks. The only thing I really trained her on was her firearm. Before the day I first took her to the firing range, she had never even seen a gun close-up. She was shaking like a leaf even before we went into the building, let alone the range itself." Mark then chuckled a bit. "The first time she fired her weapon, I had to tell her to keep her eyes open! But since that day, she's come along at an almost phenomenal rate. She found that she already had a knack for aiming, from her years in karate."

Mark reached for his coffee, taking a sip. "No, 'Fina...the thing that makes Kimi brave...is the same thing that made me hopeful...the thing that keeps all of us hopeful in our dreams...Kimi is driven by the most powerful force in the universe." He set his cup down, and joined his hand with hers as she tapped the side of a small stack of papers to straighten them. "It's love, 'Fina...love for the people closest to you...and love for life with them in it. It's love that fuels the drive of your dreams, and the drive to bring them to life--" Mark leaned to Melfina, softly caressing her cheek with his other hand, and slowly bringing his face to hers "--or to life again."

Their lips had just touched when a knock came at the door. Mark ignored that knock momentarily, pressing his lips to the tender, alluring warmth of Melfina's. The door gave them a few more seconds before relaying its announcement again. They separated the kiss, Melfina with a slightly playful grin, tracing the tip of her finger over the tip of Mark's nose. "That must be your young charge."

Mark looked at his watch. "Another thing about Kimi," he smiled as he rose from the couch, crossing to the door, "she's nothing if not punctual."

Mark turned the knob to open the door, beaming back at Melfina for a second as she walked back into the kitchenette, then turning his head back to the door as he opened it. "Good morning, my young char--whoa..." Mark trailed off in mid-sentence at the sight of Kimi in the mission outfit, carrying her Escrima and a small paper bag.

Kimi grinned widely, slowly spreading her arms, presenting her wardrobe to Mark. "Isn't it just the deep-blue bang? It's all about better than what I had picked from my clothes."

"Ki..." Mark said haltingly. "Where...where did you get that?"

"It's from the Cellers," said Kimi, walking through the doorway and turning to show off the outfit. "Melfina brought it that night she came up to my quarters. You didn't know about it?"

Melfina turned from the counter and squealed a gasp as she saw the teen in the outfit. "Ohh, Kimi. It fits perfectly!"

"Yeah," Kimi smiled, "Even the shoes! And my mom really wore this on the show?"

Melfina came from the kitchenette to Mark's desk. "I am told that it is one of four identical 'mission' outfits that were made for the show. One of the outfits became too worn from abuse during stunts, and another was rendered unusable during the episode 'Fearless Ferret,' after being doused with the dye used in the villain's 'stink spray'." Melfina then retrieved Mark's digital camera from the desk. "I would like a picture of you in the outfit to send to the Celler community."

Mark closed the door, looking over Kimi's gear. "Looking good, Ki." He then turned to Melfina. "This was in the flat box you brought when you crossed, 'Fina?"

Melfina steadied the camera as Kimi set her sleeve and the bag on the desk and struck a pose, her hands on her hips. "Yes, it was. It was the best way the Cellers felt they could express their pride in Kimi's bravery and their support for her endeavor." A flash came from the camera, and Melfina smiled as she set it on the desk. "While you are at the gym, I will upload the picture to Wade to distribute among the Celler community."

Kimi reached for the bag she had brought. "Melfina also brought me these," she said, sliding the items in it onto the desk.

Mark moved to the desk, picking up the small leather pouch and slipping the flap open. "I knew she had brought these," he said as he slid the black crystal from the pouch. "She showed me this, and the Kimmunicator." He turned the crystal slightly as he looked at it, a slight expression of awe on his face at the concept of inter-environmental technology possible from such a small and unelaborate device. "This will open a Cross to send Drakken and Shego back..." he mused in a low voice.

"Anam...Anamnesis," Kimi stumbled over the word.

"An inclusive recall event directly into the Resonance Conduit," said Melfina, "even if the crystals of the Cross Drakken and Shego hijacked were destroyed. That is why I informed Kimi that her mother must be clear of the room when she performs the Anamnesis."

"Probably better to be clear of the building," Mark said, slipping the crystal back into the pouch and placing it on the desk. "Ready for breakfast?" he turned to Kimi. "Melfina wanted to cook for us this morning."

Kimi now sniffed at the air. "Yeah...something smells all about good."

Melfina turned for the kitchenette again. "I have chosen to make a breakfast casserole," she said, motioning to a flat pan on the counter. "Eggs beaten and mixed with pepper and a little dry mustard, poured over a bed of hash browns, sausage and diced onion, then topped with shredded cheese and baked." She then moved to the cupboard, retrieving three plates and setting them on the counter. "After you retired to your quarters last night, I told Mark about wanting to make the casserole. The fact that the recipe calls for mixing and refrigerating the casserole overnight and baking it in the morning prompted a late-evening trip to the store for the ingredients."

Mark moved to the table and sorted the papers into stacks. Kimi joined Melfina in the kitchenette as she took a spatula from the counter and began to divide the casserole into squares. "Anything I can do to help?" asked Kimi.

Melfina pointed to the counter in front of Kimi. "Mark said that you sometimes like tea with breakfast, as do I. If you would like some, there is hot water on the heating plate. I plan to have Black Pekoe tea."

Kimi reached for two cups from the tree next to the heating plate, setting them on the counter. "I can make it for you while you're dishing up," she said. She then slid a small basket forward, searching through it for a moment and removing two packets, tearing one open and slipping the teabag from it into one of the cups. "Here's the Black Pekoe...I like Orange." She then opened the other packet and put in the teabag, and reached for the carafe, pouring water into each of the cups.

Melfina placed a square of the casserole on the third plate and opened the utensil drawer, putting a fork on each ot the plates. Mark took two of the plates and took them to set on the table. Kimi took the cups from the counter and turned toward the table, Melfina following with the third plate and an empty cup for the teabags. Melfina sat on the couch next to Mark. Kimi set the cups on the table, then returned quickly to the kitchenette for sugar and milk. "It's all about enhancements," she smiled as she sat on the floor across from them, picking up her fork and sliding it into the preparation on her plate. "Wow Melfina," she cooed as she brought the bite into her mouth, "this is great!"

A bright smile crossed Melfina's face. "I am glad you like it," she said. "I guess you could say it is...tradition that Cellers are enamored with the taste of Flesher food, and we take great joy and pride in preparing it."

"And eating it," Kimi added, bringing another bite to her mouth. She swallowed and looked to Mark. "They need to serve this in the BX."

"What," Mark smirked, "the cuisine of the shingle isn't good enough anymore?"

Kimi now smirked. you smack Cap'n Mark on the forehead for me? I can't reach him from here." Melfina gave a rather puzzled look for a second until Kimi continued. "It's all about a Clue Bee, 'cause--" she motioned to her plate, smiling widely "--d'uh."

Melfina uttered a quick giggle and turned to smile at Mark. "I am afraid I must agree," she said. "Even if I had not been the one to cook this morning, my opinion would still be that this casserole far outshines the creamed chipped beef on toast that you speak of."

Mark mixed a sigh with a smile. "Okay...I'm outnumbered," he said, slicing another bite from his plate, "but it's a skewed comparison...I could never convince 'Fina that the shingle is a good breakfast...or even a good dinner."

Melfina coninued to smile as she turned back to her plate. "If it was that good, I do not think it would have been given the name of something that is part of the roof of a house..." she finished this with a quick wink at Kimi, who looked down while trying to conceal a snicker of agreement.

7:42 AM.
-8 Hours, 18 Minutes
The three finished their meal. "Melfina, that casserole was just shiznekkin'," Kimi perked.

"Thank you Kimi," Melfina smiled widely. "It is one of my favorite breakfast dishes."

Mark picked up his coffee, taking a sip while looking over a small stack of papers to the left of his plate. Melfina picked up Mark's plate and set it onto hers, then rose from the couch and stopped next to Kimi. "May I have your plate?" she asked.

Kimi picked up her plate, moving to stand. "I can help with the dishes, Melfina."

Melfina smiled, slightly shaking her head. "While I appreciate your offer to help, Kimi, there are not many dishes. I do not mind doing them." She waited for a moment until Kimi stacked her plate on the other two, then turned for the kitchenette, setting the plates on the counter. "You have much more yourself to do this morning before you must leave," she said as she removed the forks and put them into the sink, then set the plates in and turned on the water.

Kimi reached for her tea and turned to Mark. "What is the schedule this morning, Cap'n Mark?"

"We're going to the gym in a few," Mark said. "You won't be doing any heavy lifting this morning...mainly just the toning exercises. The aerobics class starts a little later on Saturdays...about 9...so you'll have a bit of time to rest, or to do a few more reps, if you want." He then drank the rest of his coffee and stood, taking the empty cup into the kitchenette and setting it on the counter next to the sink. "After a shower, we'll come back here and go over some intel on the warehouse in Cairo." Mark then slid his hand along his wife's shoulders. "We'll be leaving here a little after 1030 for the hangar for the Scramship, which takes off at 1100. Is there anything from upstairs that you wanted to take to Cairo?"

"No," Kimi said. "I brought the crystal and the Kimmunicator down with me...and my Escrima."

"Okay," said Mark. "It's two hours to Cairo...we'll get dinner on the flight...and you'll have some time to catch a little sleep, if you want." Kimi had begun to open her mouth, sticking out her tongue to over-enunciate "lunch" when Mark stopped her. "I know, I know," he chuckled.

Melfina turned at this. "She was going to say, 'lunch'?" Her smile widened as Mark nodded. She then turned the water off and slipped a towel from one of the drawers. "I have had this conversation at length with Mark before, Kimi, for I too was confused at first, and a little frustrated by the military connotation of 'dinner' being used in place of 'lunch'." Melfina wrapped the towel through her hands for a second. "It was not until I did a bit of research on my own that I found out the origin of the term is not a military one. It comes from around 19th-century Europe."

Kimi sipped slowly from her tea as Melfina continued, leaning lightly against the doorway of the kitchenette, with Mark following to stand behind her. "The family of the house during those times usually had their main meal of the day in the evening, so the servants had to eat their main meal at mid-day. That was why some working-class people called the mid-day meal 'dinner'. I made a mental leap and concluded that this is why some people call their meals either breakfast lunch and dinner, or breakfast dinner and supper, depending on their lineage."

Mark placed a hand to Melfina's shoulder, caressing lightly. "I...think you now have a little insight as to why I fell in love with this woman," he smiled. Melfina responded by turning her head in silent request for a kiss.

"Yeah," Kimi said. "Thanks for giving an explanation, Melfina." She then loooked down slightly, as if mentally searching. "I had been all about harsh on Cap'n Mark about the lunch/dinner thing. I guess I was blaming military people for something they didn't even start."

Mark smiled and snickered a bit. "No problem, Ki." He then looked down as Melfina took his hand from her shoulder, turning his watch toward him. "Ooo...better get to the gym. We have to check you out an exercise outfit."

Kimi took a few more sips from her tea, then walked to the kitchenette and set the cup on the counter. "Let's go, Cap'n Mark."

Mark leaned to his wife for a kiss - which lingered a bit as Mark slid his fingertips along Melfina's cheek. "Keep the coffee hot," he said as they parted, his eyes locked on hers. "We'll be back a bit after 0930 or so." He then turned for his desk, taking the keys to the Jeep from atop a small writing pad.

Melfina put out a finger to Kimi's shoulder as she passed. "The curious fashion in which the military tells time was another difficulty I had to adjust to," she smiled.

Kimi looked to her with a knowing wrinkled-nose smirk and a giggle, then turned to follow Mark to the door. "See you in a while, Melfina."

They went through the front door of the COTQ, out into the already-sticky heat of the summer morning. As they approached the Jeep, Kimi looked at Mark. "Do you have my gun and harness out here in the Jeep, Cap'n Mark?"

Mark had climbed behind the wheel and was inserting the key in the ignition. "No," he said. "I've always kept it in the quarters unless you were going to use it."

"Oh," said Kimi, sliding into the passenger seat. "I was wondering something about the Ace darts, but I need to see them before I ask about it. We can talk about it after we come back here."

"Okie Doke," grinned Mark, backing the Jeep into the street.

8:06 AM
-7 Hours, 54 Minutes
Kimi and Mark walked into the gym and up to the front counter, where Mark made the request for an outfit for Kimi to wear during her workout. Kimi showed her ID card and gave the clerk her sizes, and he gave her a pair of jogging pants and a t-shirt, both in a royal blue with a small insignia of the air base on each in gold. Mark remained at the front desk, making a call on his cell as Kimi went to the locker room to change.

As Kimi emerged from the locker room, Mark had moved to stand near the weight machines, but was still on the phone as he motioned Kimi over to sit on the bench of the machine and adjusted the resistance. "I'll just be a couple seconds more here, Ki...go ahead and start." Kimi reached above her for the hand grips, bringing them down a bit to take the slack, and began her first routine as Mark went back to the phone. "Okay...no, three trucks, an EV and med crew...and a Hummer...yeah, about 20...have them read and sign the CENAP forms, and have them on standby. I'll talk to them when we get there...there's a Scram leaving here about 1100--" he glanced at his watch "--1900 your time. We'll be on the ground by 2100...okay, I'll check in before we take off."

He closed the cell and slipped it into his shirt pocket as Kimi had switched the grips to her feet and laid back on the bench, bringing up her right leg. "Was that the base at Cairo?" she asked.

"Yep. One of the men who came with me when we first met at the restaurant. Remember Matt?"

Kimi nodded. "He's the one who found the bottle of alcohol in the space behind the wall."

"That's him," Mark replied. "He's coordinating an RSS team to be on standby when we get there."

Kimi stopped exercising for a moment and turned her head to look at Mark. "...RSS...?"

"Recover, Sweep and Secure," said Mark. "We'll be stationed a couple of blocks from the warehouse when you go in...and the moment you contact Wade, the team and I will come in, recover you and your mother, then do a complete sweep to make sure Al-Dok hasn't left any nasty surprises."

Kimi sat up, still looking at Mark. "...Won't that violate that pact thingy you told me about?"

Mark smiled. "Nope...by the time we're called in, there won't be anybody left in the building but bad guys of the Flesher variety. We won't be acting in a military cross-environment situation at that point...just cleanup and transport."

Kimi settled back onto the inclined bench and resumed her leg exercises. "It's almost like having to read a set of instructions before you do anything at all," she said. "The military is all about procedure."

Mark nodded. "Yep," he sighed, "...and sometimes it seems like it's more about procedure than result."

Kimi went through the rest of her exercises, then spent a few moments working on moving her legs through their range of movement, holding onto the upright of a weight machine for balance as she brought her right leg up, swinging it slowly in an arc nearly to her side, then bending forward and extending it out straight behind her. After stretching her legs, Kimi did a few more toning exercises, focusing on her upper body.

As she completed, Kimi noticed the aerobics instructor coming from the locker room, accompanied by a few of the people in the class. She rose from the bench of the weight machine and started to walk toward the exercise floor to take her place. "I'll be up at the front desk," Mark said, pulling his cell from his pocket. "I need to check back with Matt." He turned for the front of the gym as Kimi continued to the floor to join the aerobics class for their session.

9:46 AM
-6 Hours, 14 Minutes
Mark opened the door to the quarters, holding it open for Kimi to enter. Melfina rose quickly from the couch. "Welcome back," she said, crossing to meet Kimi, giving her a hug and a wide smile. "You feel warm from your exercises." She then turned to Mark, giving him a more passionate hug. "And welcome to you, my love. I have filled a thermos with coffee, brewed just as you like it." She walked into the kitchenette, taking two cups from the tree on the counter. "There is still some in the pot, if you would like a cup now. Kimi, I have water ready for tea, if you would like."

"You know me and coffee, 'Fina," Mark smiled.

Kimi nodded in agreement. "Tea is all about great, Melfina. Thanks."

Melfina placed a teabag from the basket into one of the cups and poured in some water from the carafe on the heating plate, replacing the carafe and pouring some coffee from the coffee maker into the other cup. She turned from the counter, cups in hand, passing each to Mark and Kimi. Kimi collected the string to her teabag and dipped it slilghtly as Mark sipped from his cup. "Oh, maannn," he exhaled, "there's just no military coffee that can measure up to that."

Melfina returned to the counter, coming back with a small container of milk and a couple of packets of sugar. "Here are your...enhancements for your tea, Kimi," she smiled, walking to the couch. She set the container and packets on one end of the coffee table, then stepping around to sit on the middle of the couch.

Mark followed, taking a place on the end of the couch in front of a stack of papers on the table and motioning Kimi to sit on the floor at the end of the table nearest to him. "Here's a little intel, Ki," he said, opening a folder. "These are photos taken by a couple of our men from the windows of a building across the street...and others from a small camera mounted on the roof." He slid out a series of photographs, placing the first in front of the teen. "This is a picture of the warehouse on the northern edge of the grounds of the Al-Hakim mosque," he said. The photograph showed a two-story stone building extending for nearly half a block, with a smaller one-story addition on the front, and a towering spire at the end opposite the street. Kimi leaned forward slightly to study the building more closely, feeling a guess lurking in the back of her mind as to where her mother might be held within the structure.

"This was actually part of the Al-Hakim mosque until about ten years ago," said Mark. "The spire is still classified as a religious monument, but the building it's attached to is now more or less a warehouse of the mosque...it's rarely used or even entered." Mark then slid another photograph onto the table. "This is the same building at night," he said, "as you'll see it." The second photograph showed the scene dark save for two streetlights, one near each corner. Except for some faint light from the second floor, the windows of the building were dark. Mark slid the photo up, exposing the daytime shot again and pointing to places along the first floor. "They have black cloth over the two windows on either side of the first level," he said, "so people can't get nosy."

Mark moved his finger to windows along the second floor. near the center of the building. "Wade has been doing scans of the warehouse on nearly a daily basis...as of his latest report, there have been no more than thirteen people in the building, counting three Cellers and ten Fleshers...the Celler signatures have mostly been concentrated on the center of the second floor--" he slid a third photograph onto the table, a close-up on the second level "--and some of our surveillance photos confirm that," he said, pointing to a slightly blurry shape near one of the windows.

Kimi leaned a little closer to look - then caught her breath with a gasp as she recognized the shape - two menacing emerald-green eyes set in a face of pale waxen-like skin and framed in a flow of jet-black hair. Kimi's expression slipped from one of careful study into displeasured indignation, her eyes sharpening in anger. "...Biz-nek," she hissed under her breath.

"Two of the Celler signatures have been mobile and one mostly stationary," continued Mark. "That's the one we believe to be your mother...most likely tied up or otherwise kept from moving...but that signature, while weaker than the other two, is still very much alive."

Kimi's brow furrowed. "...Weaker...?"

"Probably the same method they used to abduct her," Mark said. "There must be an open container of alcohol somewhere near her."

Melfina set down her cup of tea and leaned forward a bit, looking at Kimi. "Within about five feet, an open bottle of rubbing alcohol can keep a Celler in a nearly incapacitated state," she said. "Their movements are largely clumsy and uncontrolled, and their speech is slurred. It is similar to the effect when Fleshers...drink forms of alcohol to excess." She said the last with a pause and a visible shudder at though of the concept.

Mark slipped a small map from the folder and set it in front of Kimi. "The views in the photos are from here, a building across this street," he said, pointing, "This is where you'll approach from, on foot, after coming up this street...Al-Gamaliyya."

"On...foot?"

"Well, it's not like I can let you off at the front door," Mark smirked slightly. "We'll park about a block from the warehouse, on a side street...I'll be there with the squad until we get the call from Wade. We can be there in less than 20 seconds if we have to." He slid his finger along the map. "You'll walk up Al-Gamaliyya and approach the front of the warehouse from the east."

Kimi looked up from the map. "Umm, Cap'n Mark? I know it'll be dark, but...with all my stuff on, won't I be like...all about stand out? I thought I was supposed to be all about sneak."

Mark nodded and motioned to a flat box sitting on the cushion of the chair near the couch. "I've already got you covered, Ki...literally." He leaned to his left, reaching for the box and presenting it to Kimi as he held it.

Kimi slid the top away from the box, looking inside. "What is it, Cap'n Mark?" she asked.

Mark moved to set the box on the table. "Stand up and let's see how it fits." Kimi stood while Mark pulled a long trail of black fabric from the box.

Kimi looked a bit puzzled, wondering if this was a bit of play from the large man. "That looks like a...cape, Cap'n Mark."

"Close," Mark said, opening the fabric with a bit of a flourish. "It's a cloak." Kimi turned to face Mark as he slipped the cloak over her shoulders and fastened a loop clasp at the front, near the top.

The garment flowed from Kimi's shoulders to within a foot of the ground. Kimi brought up her arms, draping the material over her hands. "It's light," she said, "but there aren't any holes for my arms. It might hold back some of my moves."

"It's just to get you near the building," said Mark. "If any of Drakken's men are outside, you'll look like one of the local women to them."

Kimi brought her hand upward, sweeping through her bangs. "I...don't think any local Cairo women are all about have auburn hai--" She paused as Mark reached past her head, bringing a deep hood over it from the back of the cloak. "--Oh," Kimi finished with a bit of a silly grin on her face as she reached up to make slight adjustments to the hood, which extended forward a few inches past her head, ending in a type of point at the top.

"This should be big enough to hide your Escrima, too," Mark said. "Remember, this is just to get you close enough to the building without being detected. Take it off the first chance you get." Mark then moved the now-empty box back to the chair and walked to open a closet door just off the kitchenette, reaching in and retrieving Kimi's pistol and chest holster, along with a small box. He came back to the table as Kimi undid the cloak and draped it over the box and the arms of the chair. They sat again, and Mark placed the items on the table, opening the small box and pulling out one of the yellow cartridges. "You had a question about the Acepromazine carts..."

Kimi reached for the cartridge, holding the sides between her thumb and forefinger. "Yeah," she said, studying the cylinder. "You said the dart has a charge that injects the Ace-pro...the drug...when it hits its target..." Mark nodded in response. "...How much force does it take for that to happen?"

"The needle is pressurized when it leaves the weapon," said Mark. "The CO2 charge that fires the cart is enough to do that."

Kimi turned the cartridge slightly to look at the back containing the propellant charge. "So...you couldn't stick this into someone and inject the drug, like...without the gun?"

Mark thought for a few seconds. "...You mean like by hand?" Kimi smiled slightly, nodding. "You couldn't just inject the needle...there would have to be some force to pressurize the charge--"

"--you mean like, throwing a punch?"

"Yeah, that would do it...but if you weren't holding the cart right, you could inject yourself with the drug."

Kimi slipped the cartridge between her first and second fingers, just past her first knuckle, the needle end facing away from her palm. She then curled her fingers, the butt end of the cartridge against her open palm. "Like this, Cap'n Mark?"

Mark nodded. "Yeah, work. What are you thinking, Ki?"

"Well, like...if I needed an Ace dart, but the gun wasn't loaded...if I didn't have time or something...or if I wanted to take out a slug, and not make much noise."

Mark looked at Kimi, impressed with her forethought, but by now, not surprised at the teen's ability to think on her feet. "I get it," he said, smiling. "Good thinking, Ki."

Kimi looked to her side and down to her waist. " Is there like, something I could put on this belt that would hold some darts? Like five or six?"

Mark stood and was already pulling his cell from his shirt pocket, opening it. "Sure is," he said as he dialed. "Hey," he said into the phone. "It's Brody. Where are you? Nope...turn around...we need a small clip that will hold a few carts on Kimi's belt...yeah, a small one." He glanced at his watch. "No, we won't be here, it's too close to time...just grab your gear when you get back to the COTQ and hit it to meet us at the Scram....yep." He grinned at Kimi as she handed him the cartridge. "Craig had just left the BX when I called him," he said, slipping it back into the box. "He's going back to pick up the kind of clip you asked for. He'll be on the Scramship with us to Cairo."

Mark then closed his cell and shuffled the photographs on the table into a stack, slipping them into the folder he was holding, then turned to his desk, slipping the folder into the case for his laptop and closing it. He then picked up his attache from the floor and set it next to the case. As he did this, Melfina rose from the couch and walked into the kitchenette, grabbing a large thermos from the counter and returning to the living room. "It's just about time to go, Ki," Mark said as Melfina met him next to the desk, handing him the thermos.

Kimi took a last sip of her tea and stood as Mark set the thermos on the desk and turned to his wife, slipping her into his arms and placing a warm kiss on her lips. "Thanks again for the coffee, 'Fina," he said. "We'll see you tonight."

Kimi looked toward Mark. "Tonight?" she asked.

"Remember the time difference," said Mark. "When it's midnight in Cairo, it'll only be 4 in the afternoon here." He then smiled slightly. "Once you commence the mission, it should take less than an hour-and-a-half to complete. We might even be back here with your mother in time for a late supper." Mark looked at his watch again. "Right now it's after 1800 in Cairo...less than six hours left...and there is still a lot to do once we get there. I have to meet with and finish briefing the squad Matt put together and make sure they're all up to speed on the CENAP regulations...and coordinate movements."

Melfina moved to Kimi, placing her hands on the teen's shoulders. "I would wish you luck in your mission," she said, "but I do not think you will require it. Complete your tasks safely, Kimi. Conquer and humble the evil soon to be before you and send it back from this place it does not belong. Bring your mother back to her home...to her rightful place. Remember that which you have learned. Channel the water, Kimi. Focus the light of your power and knowledge. Focus your ki."

Kimi smiled. "I remember all of that," she said, "and I've added something my best friend from home always says to me when I talk about practicing my karate...'Shred the Wind'."

Mark had brought the strap of his laptop case over his shoulder and was picking up his attache when Kimi said the last. The attache dropped to the desk and Mark turned to the teen. "...What? What did you just say...?"

Kimi raised an eyebrow slightly at Mark's expression. "...It's just something my friend Frannie says a lot...Shred the Wind...I've used it as a sort of...motivational saying..."

"I like it!" Mark said. "It fits your mission nickname...a Swan, shredding the wind with wings of steel."

Kimi broke into a wide grin at this. "It's helped me, too," she said. "Remember the triple-kick I did at the assessments? I remembered it just before I did that...and yesterday at the Speed Test thingy...it was what got me to break the three-second mark."

Melfina gathered Kimi into a fond embrace, her eyes full of warmth. "I am very moved by your level of heart and dedication to what is right, Kimi," she said softly as she drew back, "to do what must be done. I have never met anyone...anyone at all at your age...with the sense of virtue and justice that you hold."

"...Virtue and justice..." Kimi mused for a moment. "I just want to get my mom away from the slugs who have her and send Drakken and Shego back."

Melfina tried to stifle a giggle. "I think that is what I just said."

Mark had picked up the rest of his items and stood at his desk. "Okay, Ki," he said, "lets go catch a plane so you can go catch some slugs."

Kimi gave Melfina another quick hug. "Thanks again, Melfina," she said. "Thanks for everything you've told me...and thanks to the Cellers for all the stuff they sent."

"And thanks to you as well, Kimi," Melfina returned. "News of your mission to rescue your mother has given your name prominent celebrity throughout the Celler community."

Kimi moved to the desk as Mark brought his keys from his pocket. She slid the small leather pouch into one of the pockets near the back of her belt, snapping it closed. She slipped the Kimmunicator into a large pocket on the mid-thigh of her pants, pressing the Velcro on the flap against it. She then took up her Escrima sleeve from the desk, sliding it onto her shoulder and crossed to the coffee table, collecting her pistol and holster, also moving the large strap of the holster to her shoulder. She motioned to the boxes of cartridges. "How many of these should I take with, Cap'n Mark?"

"There are about fifteen carts left," Mark said. "I loaded your sidearm and the extra clips with the Acepromazine carts last night. The only other ones you really need are the ones you wanted on a belt clip...bring the box."

Kimi tipped the flap of the box back and looked in. "Ace darts," she said, picking up the box, then stepped to the chair, draping the cloak over her arm. She turned to Mark, her expression one of commitment mixed with a tinge of anticipation on her brow. She huffed out an exhale. "...Let's go, Cap'n Mark."

Melfina walked to open the front door, holding it for Kimi, who went through first, then Mark, who leaned to his wife for a kiss. "I'll call you later," he said.

Melfina stood in the doorway as the two began down the hall, fluttering her fingers in a wave. The depth of her pride flowed through her not only for her husband and his ability to coordinate a necessary mission within strict regulatory confines, but for the young teen about to embark on that dangerous mission - the outcome of which could affect the entire future of Celler-Flesher relations.

10:42 AM,
-5 Hours, 17 Minutes
Kimi was largely quiet during the ride to the hangar. Her explanation to Mark when he expressed a bit of concern about her silence was that she was "Just going over stuff in her mind." Mark understood this, knowing the volume of instruction the teen had to devour over the last three weeks.

As they drove along the frontage road to the hangar, Kimi caught sight of the immense Scramship sitting on the tarmac - its shape similar to the Stratoliner she had boarded a month ago, but instead of the dark gray of the passenger craft, this ship was a somber, almost evil black chrome, seeming to drink in the sun which shone on it. Kimi made note of the canopy of the ship. "There's no see-through top?" she asked.

"Not on this one," Mark replied. "This is a military Scramship...no scenic cruises here. It's truly an orbital vehicle...it makes a lot of trips to the Space Station." He turned from the frontage road into the rear of the hangar the Scramship sat in front of, roaring through it toward the other entrance.

Kimi was awestruck by the size of the building as they passed through it. Even though the Jeep was moving at a rapid pace, the distance from the walls made the building seem to pass in slow motion. "All about huge," she said, her eyes moving to take in the expanse of the ceiling.

"It's large enough to fit four football fields," said Mark. He then pointed to a Jeep parked near the opening nearest the ship. "Looks like Craig is already aboard."

Mark pulled his Jeep next to the other, the tires emitting small, almost sopranno screeches on the smooth painted cement of the hangar floor. He and Kimi got out, gathering their equipment from the rear compartment and walking through the hangar opening toward the Scramship, its engines already stabbing the air with their electric whine as the turbines warmed. As they approached, the ebony mass of the ship seemed to begin to devour the daylight. They walked to a long stairway leading to the access door. At the bottom was a man in full military dress, who saluted as they arrived. "Good morning, Captain," he said above the engines as Mark returned the salute. "Lieutenant Ettinger boarded about ten minutes ago."

Mark thrust out a hand to the man, which he shook. "Hi, Dan," he said with a grin, "and thanks. Everything here has been top-drawer from day one. I owe you big time." He then turned, placing a hand on Kimi's shoulder. "Kimi, I'd like you to meet Lieutenant Dan Graves...this is the man who coordinated everything for us here at the 111th...even your transport by helicopter from Eastgate after you called me last month."

Dan turned to Kimi. extending his hand. "Good morning, Miss Hodge," he said. "I hope your stay on our base was a good one, and you found everything you needed for your training."

Kimi shook Dan's hand. "Thanks," she said. "Everything was great. This place is shiznekkin'...I even made some friends at the youth club...and I couldn't have done the training without Cap'n Mark."

"Good luck on your mission," said Dan. "From what Mark has told me, the people you're going after are in for one nasty surprise."

Kimi immediately grinned. "Liquid Murder," she perked.

Dan broke into a small chuckle. "Atta girl."

Mark gave Dan another, more informal salute. "Thanks again, Dan." He then turned for the stairway, motioning Kimi to follow. "Let's get settled in for the flight."

They ascended the stairs, stepping to the access door. At the small landing at the top of the stairway, Kimi turned, looking over the expanse of the hangar area, noting that at some 20 feet above the tarmac, the building looked even larger than when she approached it at ground level.

Kimi turned to go through the access door, where she was met by a man in uniform who motioned his hand to an archway into the passenger cabin. Mark was already seated in the second row, stowing his attache and laptop case into the back of the seat ahead of him, Craig was in the seat to his left, and she waved a hand to him as she took a seat to Mark's right. "Stow your Escrima between the seats next to you," said Mark. "You can fit your sidearm and holster in the seat back." Kimi opened the compartment in front of her and put the pistol, holster and box of cartridges inside, folding the cloak once and draping it over the weapon, then slid her Escrima sleeve between the cushions of the seat to the right of hers as Mark reached for his belt, pulling them across his shoulder and waist. Kimi reached for her belt, crossing her body and snicking the buckle into place.

Kimi then felt a distant shudder as the ship began to move from its resting place in front of the hangar and roll along the tarmac to the runway. As the ship turned and stopped at the end of the runway and the engines built their scream against the morning, Kimi remembered the intense forces of a Scramship takeoff, and tugged her belts a little tighter, snuggling into her seat as if to brace against the ship's thrust into the atmosphere.

11:56 AM, Eastgate time
7:56 PM, Cairo time
3:56 PM, Somewhere over The Atlantic Ocean
-4 Hours, 4 Minutes
Mark walked up the aisle with two cups of coffee for he and Craig, and a small bottle of water for Kimi under his forearm, which she took before he sat. Craig took a small sip from his cup. "Well, here's to the last real coffee before we touch down in Cairo," he said.

"Heh," Mark chuckled, "speak for yourself. 'Fina brewed me a thermos before we left the 111th." He then smirked at the Lieutenant. "If you ask nicely, I may give you a cup later."

The speakers in the headrest of Mark's seat clicked. :::Captain Broderson...We're inside one hour to Cairo West, Sir. We just got an encrypted comm from Lieutenant Wallace. KH-One-Five Ground Support is assembled and on ready standby, waiting for your arrival:::

A smile began to cross Mark's face as he reached for his cup. "I could use a sandwich before we touch down," he said, turning to Kimi. "Feel like something to eat, Ki?"

Kimi thought for a second. "I'll just have some salad, Cap'n Mark."

Mark stood, motioning his hand to Craig. "Turkey on whole wheat?"

"Works for me," Craig replied.

Mark started up the aisle to the kitchen in the rear of the ship. "Back in a minute," he said. "Oh hey Craig, get those belt clips out so Kimi can get a look at them."

Craig leaned forward, opening the compartment in the seat back in front of him and retrieving his attache case. He set it on his lap and opened it, bringing out two strips of a thick cloth about four inches long. Each had a series of metal spring clamps on one side, and two metal half-loops on the other side. "These will hold five cartridges apiece," said Craig. "I hope they work for what you had in mind."

Kimi took one of the clips, examining it for a few seconds - then leaned forward and opened her compartment, reaching for the box of cartridges and positioned it on her lap to steady it. She pulled one of the cartridges from the cardboard keeping them upright and slid it into one of the spring clamps. Kimi then held the belt clip by the half-loops with one hand, and moved the cartridge up and down in the clamp, as if testing it. "Diamond!" she perked. "These are perfect. Thanks Craig." She slipped the cartridge out of the clamp and back into the box, placing it and the clips into the compartment and closing it, then looked down at her belt. "I just need to take a couple of these pockets off the belt and make room for the clips."

Mark returned with a tray containing two sandwiches wrapped in wax paper, a small salad in a plastic container with a clear top, two fresh cups of coffee, and a small container of orange juice. He lowered the tray and Craig took the cups. Mark sat and took one of the cups, he and Craig setting them onto tray tables in the seat backs ahead of them. Mark then passed Craig a sandwich as Kimi reached for her salad. She opened the top, noting a package of saltines, a small packet of French dressing and a plastic fork.

Mark placed the orange juice on the seat cushions between he and Kimi, and unwrapped about half of his sandwich. "Did Craig show you those clips?" he asked before taking his first bite.

"Yeah!" Kimi piped. "They're just what I was thinking about. I just have to undo this belt and take off a few of the pocket thingies, then I can have a clip on both sides."

"You'll have a chance to do that after we land," said Mark. "I'll need about an hour with the squad and make sure they understand what we can and can't do, and when we can do it."

Kimi nodded slightly as she crumbled a few of the crackers over her salad and opened her packet of dressing, letting the tart fluid trickle across her lettuce. She picked up her fork - and then stopped, turning to Mark. "I meant to ask, Cap'n Mark...when was the last time you contacted Wade for a scan to find out how many slugs were in the warehouse?"

Mark finished a bite of his sandwich and swallowed. "It was early this morning...before you came down for breakfast. He had done a scan late last night, and said that nothing had changed."

"Oh," said Kimi rather quietly. She poked her fork into her salad. "Well...you're going to ask him to do another one before we go down there...right?"

Mark turned slightly, looking at Kimi from the corner of his eye. "Nope," he said with a hint of a smile, shaking his head ever so slightly, then turning his attention back to his sandwich.

"W--what??" Kimi stammered, her eyes wide in disbelief. "C--Cap'n Mark, don't you think it's all about import--"

She was stopped by Mark tapping on the left mid-thigh pocket of her pants. "You've got the comm link, Ki," he smiled. "It'd be a good time to test it out...and it'd give Wade a chance to meet you."

A smile now slowly spread over Kimi's face, replacing the doubt that had appeared with Mark's apparent apathy. She brought down a tray table from the seat back, and set her salad and orange juice on it. She then tore back the Velcro flap of the large pocket on her thigh and pulled out the blue Kimmunicator, transferring it to her right hand and studying it for a few seconds before remembering how to activate the device. Kimi brought a finger to the red button at the center of the cluster of buttons below the small screen - looked at Mark for a second - then turned back to the small device and pressed the button.

The screen flickered into a "ffffffffft" of static for a second - then snapped to an image Kimi had heretofore only seen on episodes of her mother's show; the chubby Wade, surrounded by an array of computer screens and equipment. He was faced to the left, tapping at a keyboard when the image jumped to life. His head turned quickly to the screen. "Hey! Kimi!" he burst with a wide grin. "Hi! What up??"

"H-Hi Wade," Kimi said, a note of surprise to her voice.

"I was wondering if you were going to give the Kimmunicator a field test before you went on your mission," said Wade. "It hadn't been used in quite a few years. I had Tara give it a good cleaning inside and out before we sent it along with Melfina. It's good to know it works well after all this time." Wade then leaned forward a bit. "Whoa...the picture she sent just doesn't do you justice. Melfina was right. You do look a lot like Kim."

"Yeah," Kimi said, blushing slightly and brushing her bangs from her face. "It must be the Celler skin. You still look good, too...just like you did on the show."

Wade smirked a bit. "That's because Cellers don't age at all here."

Kimi thudded her thumb and forefinger to her forehead. "Clue Bee. All about d'uh," she said. "I forgot about that. Cap'n Mark wanted me to contact you. I wanted to know if you've scanned the warehouse where Mom is since last night to see if there are any changes."

Wade turned to his left again, looking at the screen he had been at before. "I've had a scan going since mid-morning. I knew the Captain would check in before your mission...and of course, I would call him if there were any developments, but it's a pleasant surprise that you called instead." Wade's eyes darted around the screen a bit. "I'm still showing thirteen energy signatures...ten Flesher signatures, and three Cellers. It's been like that since this started."

"And all the Celler, uh, signatures, are on the second floor?"

"Yeah. One of them hasn't moved around much. I suspect that that's Kim. They must have her tied down or something. I'm also getting an indication of alcohol in her immediate area, but not anywhere else. She must be in some sort of small room or enclosure, because it doesn't seem to affect the other two Celler signatures." Wade studied the screen for another few seconds. "There are two entrances into the building, with two guards at each door."

"Thanks Wade," Kimi said. "I'll call you again just before I go in. Everything you're doing is all about help. If there's anything I can do for you, let me know."

"You're already doing it," Wade beamed. "For all of us. Every Celler appreciates what you're doing. In fact, most of them have been keeping a kind of vigil outside my office for news ever since they found out about you training for your mission." He tapped at a few keys. "I have a cam set up outside...just a second."

The screen switched to the webcam feed - and Kimi's eyes grew wide as saucers. The screen was now filled with Cellers - thousands of them, of every size and shape, as far as the eye could see. There were also signs and banners; "Save Kim Possible" "Go Kimi" "Kawaii Desu Yo Kimi-Chan"

The image hit home with Kimi immediately. She now knew that concern for her mother went far beyond that of her, her family or her friends in the Flesher environment. Kimi tried to form a word, but all that escaped her mouth was a low, breathy "Whooaaa...." She caught a bit of her composure. "I...know they're all about worried for Mom, Wade...but...they're there...because of me, too?"

Wade turned back to the screen to face Kimi. "Kimi," he started, "You were famous here even before all this happened. You are the offspring of the first inter-environmental pairing in history...and now, with your bravery to face your mother's captors, you are bigger in the Celler environment than a movie star or even the President would be in the Flesher environment." He turned back to the keyboard. "I've got a big screen up outside this building. I've been posting updates on your training and developments for about two weeks now." Wade then tapped at the keyboard a bit. "Watch this," he said, his face spreading into a sly grin. "I'm going to switch the Kimmunicator feed to that screen. Watch the people when they see you." On hearing this, Mark and Craig leaned a bit to look at the Kimmunicator screen as the scene switched again to the mass of assembled Cellers.

Wade reached for a microphone. "The next thing you see will be a live feed from a ship over the Atlantic ocean," he said. "Cellers and Cellettes...I give you Kim Possible's daughter...and soon, her liberator from evil...Miss Kimi Hodge."

Kimi could immediately tell when her image flashed onto the giant screen. Hands shot up around the crowd, fingers pointed toward the building. There were cries of "It's her!" "It's Kimi!" and the throng of Cellers exploded into cheers and screams. A small group started thrusting their arms in rhythm at the screen, and as others began to follow their action, the cheer fell into a growing, roaring chant of "KI-MI!! KI-MI!! KI-MI!! KI-MI!!"

Kimi was riveted to the screen. "They're...they're all cheering...for me," she said haltingly.

Mark placed a hand on her shoulder. "Big enough fan club for you?"

There was another click in Mark's headrest. :::Captain Broderson, there's a pretty nasty storm system in the Med off the Egyptian coast. We're going to have to switch to the southern approach into the base...through Algeria and Libya. It'll add about 30 minutes to our flight time once we go subsonic. Sorry Sir:::

Mark's brow lowered. "That's going to make things tight," he said, reaching into his pocket for his cell. "Ki...we're going to have to hit the ground at Cairo West running...if there's anything you want to go over, we'd better get to it here in the air."

The image on the screen of the Kimmunicator switched back to Wade. "Sorry about the delay, Captain. There's nothing I can do to change the weather there of course, but tell me if there's anything else I can do to help."

"I can think of something," Kimi broke in.

Mark nodded and stood, dialing as he walked down the aisle toward the back of the ship. "Matt? Brody. There's some weather off the coast...we're altering the flight plan...yeah, from the south...about a half-hour. I'm going to have to start the briefing on the wing. I need a vid conference link set up in the hangar to start off with the men..."

"Go, Kimi," Wade said.

"I'm still wondering about Shego's karate skills."

"Yeah," said Wade. "I kind of am, too. The Captain called me about a week ago asking me to check into that, but there hasn't been much solid info to go on. Since the end of the show so many years ago, there hasn't been any kind of official record about things like that. I've asked several people from the show, and from what little I could gather, Shego hasn't had much reason to advance her skills since the show ended. Near as I can tell, she's still a brown belt...but again, that's based on second-hand unofficial info...word-of-mouth."

Shego's all about at least a brown belt, Kimi thought. Great. Next he'll tell me she found a way to make her green freak gloves work.

"I wish I could tell you more," Wade said, "Even the iterations of Drakken and Shego here won't give us anything. They were taken into custody as soon as we found out about the hijacked Cross."

"It still helps," Kimi said, trying to hide her bit of apprehension over Wade's information. "Keep scanning the warehouse, and I'll call you again before I'm supposed to go in."

"You got it," Wade grinned, "...and thanks, Kimi...from all of us." With this, the screen went dark.

Mark returned up the aisle as Kimi was sliding the Kimmunicator back into her pocket. "Matt's going to call me when he has the vid conference hooked up," he said. "I'll meet with each of the men in the squad, then brief them on the plan of action...it should be about a half-hour from now. We can review things until then, Ki." He then became more serious. "Because of the added flight time, things are going to happen very fast once we touch down...I'm sorry there isn't more time. We're going to have to hurry to the hangar when we hit the ground...you can get geared up while I'm finishing up with the squad."

"...What time is it now in Cairo?" Kimi asked.

Mark brought up his watch and pressed a button. "It's about quarter after 8 in the evening," he said. "I'm hoping to be on the base no later than 9:30. That will give us less than a half-hour before we start. You'll be going in about 10:30."

"...That seems like a lot of time, still."

"That's because of the transport," said Mark. "Since the base is near the city, people are used to seeing a military vehicle here and there...but if we drive through the streets as one big convoy, someone could spot it and know something's up. It will take a little over ten minutes from the base to the hold point a couple blocks south of the warehouse. You and I will start out first and wait there, then the rest of the vehicles will leave the base every few minutes and arrive at the hold point in intervals...the last one will get there just before you go in." Mark then motioned to the front of the cabin. "Anything you want to go over, Ki? Anything about your weapon, or any of the karate?"

Kimi thought for a moment about everything she had learned over the past three weeks. The schedule seemed hurried and almost overwheming when she first started her training, but she seemed to adjust to it as time went along, and in time, she absorbed everything Mark had taught her - but now that everything seemed to be racing toward their final purpose - when her mission seemed to be rushing headlong toward her - the only thing which was pushing and clamoring to the forefront of Kimi's mind for review - was time.

She managed a slight-but-appprehensive smile as she looked up at the Captain. "It's all about I'm ready, Cap'n Mark. It's all over but the waiting."

Why couldn't there be just a little less waiting? she thought.

Why couldn't there be just a little more time?

to be continued...
Next - The Mission