(Kim and the others are walking down a street, now with Syd and Des.)
Kim: Who do you suppose this "Supreme Being" is?
Veeken: I don't know, but Relda told me that, if we found him, we should take him to some guy named Neo.
(They are now walking over a piece of wood placed over where there is no sidewalk, and a somewhat deep hole.)
Kim: But how are we going to find this Neo? And, if we do, can we trust him?
(Suddenly, someone or something falls from up above. The piece of wood can't take the strain, and snaps under the weight. They land in a pit, and Kim gets a glimpse of a tail dashing into the shadows.)
Veeken: (rubbing her head) Did anyone get the license plate of that anvil?
Kim: Guys, something just ducked into those shadows!
(There are faint crackling noises, and Ron starts to panic.)
Syd: AAAHHH!!! It's a giant zucchini or a man-eating artichoke!
Ron: (walking over to the shadows) Don't worry, I'll handle this. (to the creature) Yo, zucchini!
(Ron starts to reach into the shadows when something tries to bite him, which he dodges.)
Ron: (cont) Hey! It tried to bite me.
Syd: (sternly; to Ron) Ron. (to the others) Anyone have a flashlight?
Des: I have a pen-light. Will that work?
Syd: It'll have to do. Toss it here.
(Des tosses the pen-light to Syd, who activates it, and it shines a wide beam on the creature in the shadows. It is Ratigan.)
Ratigan: (ala Gollum) It burns! It stings! Get that thing out of my face!!!
(Syd is shocked, and accidentally turns off the pen-light.)
Syd: AAAHHH!!! What the…?
(She turns it on, and Ratigan starts screaming bloody murder again. Syd turns the pen-light downward and upward, making Ratigan scream in short little bursts, ala Hall Monitor {Spongebob Squarepants}.)
Syd: (cont) If this wasn't so weird, it'd be funny.
Veeken: Syd, stop. (to Ratigan) Come here, little-.
Des: Veek, I hardly think he's "little".
Veeken: Okay, fine. Come here. Come here.
(Little by little, Ratigan steps out of the shadows, and we see him for the first time since Chapter 3. He is still proud on the outside, but scared of something, though he tries to hide it. His clothes are torn in a few places.)
Ratigan: (eyes narrowed; suspicious) Who are you?
(Veeken looks to the others, who nod. Syd steps forward.)
Syd: I am Sydney Ren Lipsky, daughter of Shania and Drew Lipsky. She (pointing to Des) is my sister, Destiny Lipsky. My companions are Ronald Stoppable, Kimberly Anne Possible, rons_gurl, and Dr. Veeken.
Veeken: (taking over) We have heard of your plight, Professor James Ratigan.
Ratigan: (shocked; amazed) You know my name? Then you must know what I seek…
Veeken: Actually, I don't know what you seek, but I do know who follows you day and night.
Ratigan: Yes… Them…
(Meanwhile, Basil is secretly listening in on the conversation, smiling.)
Kim: Yeah, so we've heard.
Basil: (off-screen) And are learning the hard way.
(Ratigan gasps.)
Ratigan: You!
Veeken: C'mon!
(They run over to one of the sides of the pit, and Ratigan boosts them all up except for Kim. Basil pulls out a Star Wars-styled gun, and points it at Ratigan. Kim instinctively steps in front of him. Basil pulls the trigger… but nothing happens.)
Kim: What the-? (turns around) Ratigan?!
(Ratigan is clutching his ears, gritting his teeth in pain. Kim realizes this isn't an ordinary weapon, and kicks it out of Basil's grasp. Ratigan shakes his head, and helps Kim climb out, following her. They all dash over to the other side of the street, jumping into an parked Jeep.)
Kim: There's no key!
(Ratigan rips off the covering on the steering column and fiddles with a few wires, starting the car.)
Ratigan: No need.
(Kim pushes the pedal hard, and they start off.)
Ratigan: (cont) Don't worry, if they don't chase you after a mile, they don't chase you.
(Suddenly, a laser blast breaks through the window, barely missing Ratigan's head.)
Ratigan: (cont) Or was that two?
(After several tight turns and close calls, they escape Basil. Ron and Syd pull themselves up from where they've been hiding.)
Syd: Kim, you need more driving lessons…
Ron: So, now what?
Veeken: (determined) We find Neo.
To Be Continued…