This is a revised release : I've been away from this story for quite a while, and now that I'm back, I've gone back through a tweaked a few things to better match what I've got planned. Sorry for the delays in continuing this story.

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KIM POSSIBLE: FUTURE IMPERFECT

Chapter Five

"Accusations"

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Kim Possible sat quietly, lips pursed in thought as she stared at the mirror that dominated the wall across from her. One-way, she observed. How cliché.

It had been nearly two hours since she had been "escorted" here by Will Du and a veritable army of Spanish police officers, left in the too-chilly and too-brightly lit interrogation room, and seemingly forgotten. The Kimmunicator had be confiscated, but she wasn't worried about that - if Wade thought there was something important to tell her, he'd find a way. He always did. She didn't even know where they had taken Ron, which was more upsetting than she had expected it to be. It surprised her just how much she was missing his chatter, especially now. The silence, disturbed only by the faint whirr of the air conditioning system, was getting on her nerves.

Which, I suppose, is the point, she mused. At least I don't need to use the bathroom. Yet.

Not that she needed the silence to unnerve her. The events of the past day had done a good enough job of that, to be sure. Two murders, of two criminals that she had tangled with before. Murders that she had experienced some sort of visions about - bloody, violent, raging hallucinations that came without warning, unbidden and unwanted. The most likely suspect : a woman who seemed to be intent on taking Kim's own identity and making it her own, albeit with some dubious fashion choices.

And now, to cap it off, the DNA found on Adrena Lynn's plane pointed squarely at Kim herself. Meaning that she, rather than the imposter, was the prime suspect in the eyes of both the Spanish authorities and Global Justice. But even considering that, Will had been unexpectedly considerate during the ride to the station.

It was enough to make her head spin.

She sighed and examined herself in the mirror, comparing what she saw with what she had seen of the imposter. She wondered what the other woman was doing now. With a shudder, she realized that she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

----

The helicopter raced along at tree-top level, expertly dodging around and over the taller obstacles that flashed by.

Inside, the pilot watched the terrain pass by absently, her eyes taking in everything, her body instinctively controlling the helicopter as her mind followed its own paths. The feelings she had so successfully managed to control earlier were slowly bubbling to the surface, bringing with them the emotional baggage that she desperately wanted to avoid.

Seeing him had been so, so hard. Harder than she had expected it to be. Even though he was so much younger than her Ron, so much softer, so much goofier, it was easy enough for her to see the man he would one day become. The man she had come to love, and who had loved her. Loved her so much that he...

A muted squeal sounded in the cockpit. Looking down, she cursed softly upon seeing that she had crushed the grip on the control yoke.

Growling softly, she blinked back tears and settled deeper into her seat. Dwelling on the past... well, her past, at least, wouldn't solve anything. Besides, that was the whole reason she had come back - to save him. To save everyone, including herself. Despite Will's best attempts at stopping her, she was well on her way to achieving that goal. She had gotten her younger self out of the way, and with a few more strikes the circle would be broken. Then, finally, she could be with her loved ones again.

She glanced out the window as the terrain below gave way to choppy seas. A quick check of the instruments revealed that she was on course, and she allowed herself a small smile. Soon, Ron. Soon, we'll be together again. And heaven help anyone who gets in my way.

----

"Seriously, dude, it was obvious right from the start," Ron stated firmly, crossing his arms across his chest. "Ron and Hermione are meant to be together, no doubt about it. All the signs are there."

"And you are an excellent student of the romantic arts, yes?" the Spanish officer replied, leaning back in his chair and smirking. "This whole fascination with the pairing of Ron and Hermione is baffling to me. It is Harry that she is destined to be with. I am certain of it."

Ron thought for a moment. "That's assuming that Harry is going to survive the last book."

The officer's reply was cut short when the door swung open and Will Du walked in, carrying a manila folder . "Officer Cortino, how are things progressing?" the Global Justice Agent asked casually.

Cortino straightened slightly and shot Ron a look before replying. "He has been extremely... cooperative, Agent Du. However, it appears that he knows little that will be of value to the investigation."

"No doubt." Will replied, "Would you mind if I asked a few questions of my own?"

Ron looked up at Will, fighting back the sudden unease he felt. "Where's Kim?"

Will sat down and flipped through the folder. "She's safe. That's all you need to know right now," he answered without looking up.

Ron blinked. "I want to see her. Now."

"You will, after we get done questioning the both of you." Will glanced over at him. "Where were you at roughly eleven this morning?"

"I was.... um... with Kim, I think" Ron scratched his chin for a moment before nodding. "Yep, that's it. I was with Kim."

"That's helpful." Will deadpanned. "And where, exactly, was that?"

Ron leaned back and rubbed his chin in thought. "We were dissecting frogs. Biology class, you know."

He wrote something on a sheet of paper he pulled out of the folder. "So you were in school?"

"Like I'd actually dissect a frog anywhere else?" Ron answered. "Even he was a virtual one..."

"He?"

"Eugene. My frog."

Will's eyebrows lifted minutely. "You... named it?"

Ron nodded. "Couldn't well dissect him without giving him a name, could I? That would be so... impersonal."

"Right." More writing on the paper. "And were you together last night?"

"Why?"

Will looked up from the folder. "Because I want to know."

"Oh, okay," Ron shrugged. "Then yes, we were together."

"Where?"

"Her place." Ron replied. "Then Wade called, and we went to some country, what was the name.... um.... brasso? Brassiere? Oh, darn it..."

"Brazil?" Will offered.

"Yes! Brazil! That's it." Ron nodded to himself. "Kim went down to help save a colony of wild bats from some poachers."

Scribble scribble went Will's pen. "And you went along?"

"Oh, you know, moral support and all." Ron wiggled his hands in what Will guessed was an imitation of a flying bat. "Those things give her the creeps. I went to keep her focused."

Will pulled out a photo and laid it down in front of Ron. The picture was grainy, but recognizable. Ron colored as Will said, "Actually, you ran down the mountain screaming loud enough to scare the bats away, along with several nearby villages and trio of Greenpeace activists."

"Well, I wouldn't put it quite that way..." Ron said moodily. "Hey! If you already knew, why the heck did you ask?"

"Just to see what you would say." Will replied, tucking the photo back into the folder and standing up. Turning to the Spanish officer he said, "I'm through here. Keep him detained until Global Justice says otherwise."

----

"I love a lassie, a bonnie Hielan' lassie,
If you saw her you would fancy her as well:
I met her in September, popped the question in November,
So I'll soon be havin' her a' to ma-sel'."

Duff Killigan sang softly to himself as he carefully eyed up all the potential breaks along the green, expertly evaluating and discarding each one until he settled upon the one true path that would lead between the ball and the cup. He squared his shoulders and calmed his breathing, easily settling into a well-practiced rhythm. Breathe in, breathe out, in, out a bit, hold and....

A measured tap, and the ball snaked it's way across the S-shaped break that he had laid out. He interrupted his song long enough to murmur, "Get down. C'mon, ye durned beastie, get down!" Eyes alight, he watched as the ball curved into the cap and sank with a satisfying rattle.

Killigan grunted in satisfaction and began walking towards the cup, intent on retrieving his ball. As he bent down to reach into the cup, an icy breeze whipped across the green, ruffling his kilt and raising Goosebumps on his exposed flesh. Shivering slightly against the chill, he turned his eyes to the mist-shrouded shores of his island home.

"Aye, laddie," he murmured softly, tossing the ball into the air and catching it with practiced ease, "'Tis a fell breeze that blows this morn'. Feels like a storm's blowin' in."

Killigan turned and walked briskly back to his castle, idly rubbing the back of his neck, smoothing down the raised hairs he found there.

----

Kim straightened as the door to the interrogation room opened. Will and three Spanish police officers entered the room, two officers flanking the door while Will and the third officer sat down across the table from Kim. Will calmly sat a thick folder on the table and opened it, flipping casually through the pages within until he found what he was looking for.

Kim sat quietly, watching Will as he methodically pulled several sheets from the folder and arranged them on the table in front of him. Her impatience began to mount as he proceeded to examine each sheet individually, nodding slowly to himself as he did so. He continued this activity for what seemed like hours to her, until she was seriously calculating the chances that she would be able to reach across the table and wring the agent's neck before the police could stop her.

Fortunately for Will, he chose that moment to look up from his papers. "So, Kimberly," he said slowly, "How have you been?"

She forced down her irritation and tried to sound casual as she replied, "Oh, you know, cheerleading, cooking class, saving the world, it just eats up so much of my time. And you?"

"And yet you have the time to travel all the way to Spain?"

So much for small talk. She thought a moment before replying. "I heard that something happened to Adrena Lynn. I wanted to check it out for myself."

"I see." Will leaned back. "When, exactly, was the last time that you saw Adrena Lynn?"

"Two months ago. She was up to her old tricks." She smirked. "I'm sure you have a file on it."

"Yes." Will replied simply, ignoring the jab. "Now, tell me about your mission last night, undertaken at twenty forty-five hours local time."

Kim sighed. Great, just great.

----

Duff Killigan slowly made his way up the stone stairs that spiraled their way to the top of the medieval keep that he called home. His footsteps echoed loudly off of the stone walls, the rhythmic taps working that mysterious magic on him, the fatigue of a long day on the greens ebbing away with each step. But there was a lingering nervousness that not even the soothing touch of ancient stone could help.

He'd heard over the radio of the deaths of both Señor Senior, Junior and Adrena Lynn. The icy winds that were now howling over the island now seemed even more ominous than they had before. He knew next to nothing about Adrena Lynn, but he was well aware of Junior, and of the pedigree from which he hailed. More than enough to know that whoever it was that had ended Junior's life, he had to be very, very good.

What kind of world were they living in that a person of Junior's status could so easily be taken out? It depressed him somewhat to realize that the world was not as safe as he thought it was.

Outside, a distant thumping sound became audible over the moaning of the wind. Duff paused by a small stone window and peered out, squinting against the icy air that blew against his face. In the distance, barely visible through the fog, a small aircraft was moving towards the castle. It quickly closed the distance, and he frowned.

A helicopter, 'ere? Wha' in the world?

He watched the helicopter move closer, the hairs on the back of his neck straightening. He gasped when he realized that not only was the helicopter flying straight towards the keep, it was accelerating towards it.

Duff gave out a startled yelp and dove down the steps, moments before the keep exploded around him.

----

Kim groaned in frustration. "For the twentieth time, I was not in Cordoba until about four hours ago. I did not meet Adrena Lynn, nor did I do anything to her." She placed her hands on the table and levered herself up, leaning forward to glare at the Global Justice agent sitting across from her. "How many times do I have to tell you this, Will?"

Will favored her with an almost sympathetic look. "Kimberly, I understand your frustration. But there are things about this... situation... that I am having problems with."

"The DNA," she murmured.

"The DNA," he agreed, nodding. "DNA does not lie, Kimberly. As you yourself have admitted, you did not bump your head on the aircraft, nor are you injured. Yet somehow your DNA came to be there. And several witnesses have placed you at the landing site."

"And on an aircraft halfway across the Atlantic at the same time," she pointed out.

Will shrugged. "The inconsistencies are a cause of great concern." He settled back in his seat and steepled his fingers. "I honestly don't know what to think, Kimberly. There is nothing in your file to indicate any sort of violent tendencies of this sort. And, while you may be skilled in your own way, I truly do not believe that you have the necessary training to do the things that have been done." He glanced down to a photograph of Junior's crime scene. "Especially to Señor Senior, Junior."

Kim settled back into her seat, avoiding looking at the crime scene photos. "Thanks, I think." She pursed her lips. "I'm no killer, Will."

"I believe that's what I just said."

Kim opened her mouth to reply, but a wave of nausea slammed into her stomach. Fighting to keep her composure, Kim glanced at the mirror on the far wall. Oh, God. Now what?

She picked her way through the smoking rubble, crouched in a ready position, eyes dancing about, taking in every detail. "Come out, come out, where-ever you are," she called out. "I'm just a wee lass, after all... what's to be afraid of?"

"A nigh-well mental woman 'as just blown up a goodly portion of me castle," a gruff male voice replied, "Seems like a goo' enough reason to me." She swiveled her head, trying to determine where it was coming from as he continued, "Are ye an ol' girlfriend or somethin'?"

She almost laughed at the thought. "Not quite, Killigan. But if you come out I promise to show you a really good time."

Killigan's voice replied again, quieter this time. "I thin' I'll decline your offer, lassie. Maybe next time." The sound of retreating footsteps was clearly evident.

She scrambled up a pile of broken stone and wood, eyes flickering in the fading light. In the distance, she could see Killigan racing away towards an undamaged part of the castle. "Playing hard to get is only going to irritate me, Killigan!" she called after him. She jumped down from her vantage point and began walking slowly after him.

A new sound became audible above the howl of the wind and the crackle of flames. She turned her face to the sky and sighed. "Well, I was wondering when you'd get back in the game..."

"...wever, we cannot simply let you go, considering the preponderance of evidence that is arrayed against you." Will turned away from the mirror and looked at her. "I just do not know what to... are you alright?"

Kim blinked at him, the icy needles of gooseflesh rippling across her entire body. "Killigan..." she breathed softly.

"What was that?"

Kim frowned. Now what, genius?

The beeping of the Kimmunicator rang out in the interrogation room. Kim jumped to her feet and Will cast an annoyed glance her way as he pulled the device out of his cargo pockets. The screen flickered to life and Wade's frowning face appeared. "Kim, I've got... you're not Kim."

Will cocked an eyebrow. "Obviously. How did you get through? We're jamming the carrier frequencies."

Wade shrugged. "Ancient Chinese Secret."

"What?" Will asked. Kim barely stifled a snicker.

Wade sighed. "I piggybacked on your satellite communication signal. Now, can I talk to Kim?"

Will rubbed the bridge of his nose. "She's right here. Say what you need to say and get it over with."

"I'd rather talk to her in private," Wade countered.

Kim walked over so Wade could see her. "It's okay, Wade. What's the sitch?"

Wade hesitated moment. "On a hunch, I've been using the military surveillance satellite network to keep an eye on the known locations of all the major criminals that you've tangled with in the past. I figured that if someone was taking them out..."

"Yes, yes," Will interrupted, "That's all well and good. What does it have to do with-"

"Duff Killigan's castle exploded ten minutes ago."

Will froze. "What?"

The Kimmunicator's screen flickered to a black-and-white video feed showing an aerial view of a castle. As Will and Kim watched, an object moved across the screen and impacted the castle, which disappeared in a cloud of fire and smoke.

Wade's face reappeared. "Thermal detectors show two, maybe three people on the island. If one of them is Killigan..."

Will harumphed loudly as he tossed the Kimmunicator to Kim and pressed a button on his wrist. "I need to speak to Dr. Director, immediately."

Kim turned away from Will and held the Kimmunicator close. "Anything else, Wade?"

The young genius nodded. "I just finished analyzing that DNA. There are definite signs of genetic manipulation."

Kim sighed in relief. "So it is fake. Thank God."

"That's not what I said," Wade said, holding up a hand. "The base DNA is yours, no doubt about it. But there have been definite modifications made. Multiple splices and grafts. Really expert-level stuff."

"A clone?" Kim asked.

"That's the only conclusion that makes any sense," Wade agreed. "Which means..."

"Drakken," she growled. "That no-good, son of a-"

"But ma'am, I can handle this on-" Will's raised voice interrupted her. "I assure you that... but... yes, ma'am. I understand."

Will turned to her. "Dr. Director would like for you to... accompany... me, Kimberly."

"To where?"

"My aircraft. We're going to check on Killigan." Will replied.

Kim nodded. "And Ron."

Will wrinkled his nose. "And Stoppable, too."

"What about me?" Ron asked, following a Spanish policeman into the room.

"We're going with Will, Ron." Kim answered, walking over and grabbing Ron in a bear hug. "You okay?"

Ron blinked in surprise before returning the embrace. "Couldn't be better, KP. So, where we going?"

"Killigan's island," Will answered.

"Okay," Ron said slowly. "As long as this isn't going to be a three-hour tour or anything."

Kim snickered at Will's perplexed expression. "I don't get it," he said slowly.

"Don't worry about it. Let's go," Kim said, motioning for the door.

----

End Chapter Five

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Lyrics are from the song Duff is singing are from "I Love a Lassie" by Sir Harry Lauder