Girl talk.
Authors Note:
1. Unit 731 is an actual historical organization, as was the United States' response to it.
For more information, you can check the BBC website running a search for Unit 731.
2. The Yakuza information is a bit less accurate, but the Yamaguchi Gumi is one of the largest of the Yakuza clans in Japan.
3. The normal way in comics to indicate a different language is to use the less than and greater than signs in place of quotes-- but the HTML code gets picky about that, so japanese is shown as italicized text in quotes.
"Um…. KP!" Ron said, "You look really… ah… good!" Kim's eyes narrowed at him and she walked into the room, approaching Ron.
"So. About Shego." Kim repeated. "I saw you two on TV…and don't tell me that wasn't you, Ronald Stoppable! That silly hood wouldn't fool anyone." Rufus had wisely retreated out of the line of fire, although the Mole Rat's expression indicated that he thought that "retreat" might mean Alaska wasn't far enough away, in this case.
"Yeah…" Ron said, "Well…. We've been ah…" He paused. "We've done a few things since Mr. B had us work together."
"'WE'" Kim repeated. "Shego and you…alone." She frowned. "And th-th-th." She growled and waited. "was her idea?"
"Well, kinda…yeah, it was." Ron confessed. "She sent me a message and asked if I wanted in for 50 percent—a 125 thousand pounds, KP."
"She's-p-p-playing you!" Kim said angrily. "What else did you do?!"
The direct question caught Ron by surprise, and in any case, lying to KP…well, he just couldn't.
"We saved a bunch of people and…" oh boy. "we went out and celebrated." Turning redder, "For a while." Kim's eyes seemed to bug out for a moment, and her face turned pale.
"For a while?" Kim said. "Ron! How could you do that? Don't you know she's stringing you along?" Now Ron started to get annoyed. Shego had saved his life, and that counted for more then if she might be "stringing him along" in his book.
"KP… it was a mission. There was no stringing along."
"B-but…this is Shego, she could have been working for another gang!" Ron paused.
"Maybe, but I doubt it, and so what? The smugglers crashed and burned."
"Since when did the ends justify the means?" Kim said, blinking. "This is Sh-Sh-Shego, Ron… she's an international criminal."
"KP, first of all, 500 free kids is a pretty big end, and secondly, so what if Shego is a criminal, she wasn't playing me, and guess what? We are international criminals right now." Kim's face blazed at that one.
"H-h-h-." She stopped, tried again. "H-ow could you work with Shego?"
"Because Shego saved us!" Ron shouted back. "We're here, and not in jail, because of her. Don't you think that's worth something?"
"Ooooohhhh!" Kim had never been so furious… at least not without the aid of some mad scientist's emotion controlling chip that was. Couldn't Ron see? She opened her mouth, and nothing came out. Oh no. Not the stuttering.
Right, the more emotional she got the worse it got…and right now she'd be lucky to get out the word "Cat". Abruptly, Kim lashed out and grabbed Ron by the sleeve, pulling him out into the very early dawn—the light just barely enough to see by.
"Kim? KP!?" Ron said, confused. Then, he was on one of the night time dueling mats, the lights coming on automatically.
"KP? Do you real-ack!" He dodged as a fist just grazed his chin. Reacting on instinct, Ron flipped back and blocked another fist.
"Now, I have an easier time talking when I'm drilling!" Kim said. "And you, Ronald Stoppable, are being dumb!"
"Am not!" Ron said, sweeping out a foot to trip KP. She dodged it, and came back with a roundhouse kick, which Ron blocked with an arm.
"Yes you are!" She said, leaping up and trying to kick out. The move was fine, but KP's timing was off, and she left herself open for Ron's return sweep—which he slowed slightly, turning a devastating kick into only a bruising one.
"How!" Ron said, catching her hand in a grip and flipping her behind him. Kim landed on her feet and kicked out again. After those months of drilling with Yori, she finally was coming together… although her timing was off…badly.
"Because you're believing that Shego is turning good!" Punch.
"I never said that!" Block, chop.
"Oh, so I should be happy that you're working with someone who's evil." Chop, throw.
"She's not evil!" Ron said. "Just…not good."
"Do you know how stupid that sounds!?"
"Well she helped us!"
"For her own reasons!"
"So what!" Awakened by the commotion, the other students drifted over to the pad. Sensei, Yori and Hirotaka among them.
"Kim-San is doing well." Hirotaka commented.
"Her timing is still badly off." Yori responded. "Note how Ron-san must slow his moves."
"But far better than it was even a week ago. Your student does you honor, Yori-san"
"Domo-arigoto, Sensei." Another student paused.
"Sensei—should we break it up?" Three pairs of surprised eyes looked upon him.
"I would prefer not to end the school year with a death." Sensei mused, "I think they will end it themselves. This isn't a serious fight…so much as a spat between friends."
"Or lovers."
"Not yet. But very, very close friends." Yori responded.
Meanwhile, the "spat" was continuing, now all over the field as the sun started to lighten the horizon. Kim was panting like a bellows, as her blows became slowly, less coordinated.
Kim has her skill…but not her old endurance or timing. Ron realized. He could outlast her, wear her down… which would he realized, even through his annoyance, do nothing for Kim's state of mind. She'd come about 2000 in the last several months. Ron flipped his hands up, palms out, as Kim, growling, got ready to throw a punch.
"PAX!" He shouted. "I give!" Kim managed to stop her fist right in front of his face, and then as Ron sat down, she fell down, panting.
"Ha…hah…" Kim panted. "I am so…out of shape." She gasped.
"Not at all, Kim-san." Yori said. Hirotaka nodded.
"It is simply that Ron-san is very, very skilled." Sensei smiled, "As are you—I would say you are within 10 percent of your old skill…and with work, you can be better, and the endurance will follow."
"Yeah." Ron said. "KP… trust me. I don't think Shego is playing us, and she's saying stuff we need—I need to learn." He shrugged. "We can't plan to stay here forever…and if we're still wanted…"
"I don't want to live like her, Ron." Kim said.
"Neither do I—but I don't know if we have a choice." Ron said. "We don't have to do everything Shego does… but you don't deserve to go to jail, and if they try and put us in Jail, I'm not about to just smile on my way to the car."
"What if I-"
"Don't say it, KP—we're a package deal." Ron paused as Sensei strolled up to him.
"Sensei."
"Ron-san…the cause was just, but there are penalties for missing curfew at this school. I leave it in Hirotaka's hands." Ron blinked, looking up at Hirotaka.
"Extra work?" Ron asked. The senior student smiled.
"No, Ron-san. Since you feel your skills are extensive enough to use them outside of the school…it is time for a…"
Oh no. Ron thought. Somehow, most of the 3rd year students had crept up, doing the Ninja thing while he and Kim were talking, and they had an amazing assortment of martial arts weapons.
"POP QUIZ!" Ron vanished under a tide of bodies, and just as quickly, reappeared, blocking blows with a quarter staff he'd taken away from one of the students. Kim and Yori sat, blinking as Ron and the horde started, with Hirotaka making suggestions from the sidelines, occasionally dodging a body.
"Yori?" Kim asked.
"Yes, Kim-san."
"I need to play hooky for the day."
"Are you that upset?"
"With Ron… no." Kim said. "I think he's being honest….but he well…."
"Is sometimes led by the male organs?"
"Yah."
"So why must you play hooky."
"I need to grab Kyoko's communicator and talk with someone."
It was late afternoon when Shego entered the village diner. It was done in a comfy homey style, very much in line with the old fashioned look of the village, although the plasma TV in the corner ruined some of the effect, blaring news of the ever growing scandal, which now looked likely to topple the Prime Minister. Shego's conservative business dress and dark glasses contrasted with her striking eyes. The only marring point to some of the patrons was her lack of high heels—but Shego would rather have railroad spikes driven through her feet then be caught in that get up, especially when one considered what fighting in them was like.
Still, she was a little concerned. Her PDA had blipped that morning, when Shego had been taking in a nice long bath. The message was still on it.
Shego. Problems. Need to talk regarding KP. Meet you at the Village diner.
And that was it. Shego hadn't heard of any moves to get her back to the U.S.—didn't know if anyone even knew she was here for that matter, but still, if Ron was worried, and thought she needed to lend a hand, well, he'd lent her a hand. Just as long as it didn't end with Kim's hands' around her throat like it had last time.
She paused, letting her eyes adjust to the dark. Now where the hell was Ron? He wasn't outside, and he sure wasn't inside. There was only the one lady drinking tea by the exit…oh boy.
The scarf covered most of her face and hair, but a few red hairs escaped, and the body was familiar. Shego hoped Ron wasn't here…especially after that lecture she'd given him on tradecraft. If Kimmie had been a snake, she'd have bitten her…and she had a feeling she knew what this was about…and got a slight tightness to her throat.
Shego would never admit it to anyone. But that night was the first time she'd really, honestly, thought she was going to die. The first time she'd been saved, no doubt about it, by the intervention of someone else. Showing no sign of that thought, the mercenary strolled over to the table, and raised the menu, signaling to the waiter.
"Water, please." She said. Then, as if Kim was an old, old friend, "and whatever the young lady here wants."
"Shego."
"Stealing Kyoko's communicator, Kimmie? Naughty, naughty." She paused and flipped her sunglasses off, giving Kim a frank inspection. "Looking a lot better than the last time I saw you." She said. Kim glared at Shego, feeling a certain amount of uncertainty. She'd come in expecting Shego to run, fight, insult…not sit down and buy her a meal. Not only that… She looked at Shego's body, the toned limbs, perfectly sized breasts, the face without a sign of tightly stretched skin… gah. No wonder Ron had wanted to go dancing with her.
Shego looked at Kim, returning the frank examination. Kim looked…well, like Kim. Maybe a little skinnier, but right now she was defiantly back in the slim, not skinny, department. Hell, she isn't even 17 yet. Shego thought. It was hard to believe, given everything they'd gone through, but both Kimmie and Ron were very much works in progress as far as mother nature and their hormones were concerned.
"So." Shego continued, not missing a beat. "Are we here to fight…or talk?" She leaned back, unthreateningly, as the waiter brought her the water. "And what do you want?"
"Um…" Kim was trying to reset the conversation to some place that made sense. Shego continued the assault.
"I'll choose for you. Do you know this place has cheeseburgers? After all the food they feed you up there, I bet that would be a treat for both of us." She said as she sent the waiter off.
"What are you doing with R-ron?" Kim asked.
"Doing with Ron? Running some ops." Shego said, pointing to the TV. "And the boy knows his stuff."
"You're trying to turn him into a criminal."
"Newsflash, kid—you both are criminals. If you don't believe me, look up the FBI and INTERPOL databases." Shego paused. "And is it that he did that, or that he did it with me, and worse, got paid for it?" Kim glared.
"We never used to need to get paid." She said.
"Yep, took it in favors." Shego said, calmly. "Favors which you usually cashed in to get to other people's problems." She grinned evilly. "Tell you what—I know you did some pretty big things for old Uncle Sam. Give the White House a call and ask them to make these charges go away. President can do it—a pardon." She paused, "Shall I get my celphone? Of course, you'll have to trust them…" Kim blinked, looked at her, opened her mouth, and then closed it.
"N-no…that's not how it works." She said
"Why not?" Shego asked, and Kim thought frantically. She'd been prepared for anything…except a reasonable Shego who was asking the same questions that she had asked herself over the months.
"What I did was..w-w-rong." Shego nodded.
"OK." Shego said, "So Little Kimmie turns out to have feet of clay and drugs herself up and goes berserk—Film at eleven, finger prints on Auntie Shego's throat, thank you very much." Now Shego leaned forward, "But a favor isn't a favor if it's no skin off your nose. I'm not talking about the little people—they don't count, not in any real sense. They owed you Kim, and they welshed out on the deal when the time came to pay up."
"The government ca-can't" Kim paused, turning bright red. She would not fall over her own tongue in front of Shego. The mercenary waited while Kim took a drink of water, and counted to ten. "Can't do that. It sets a bad precedent."
"Boy…and I thought Ron was naïve." Shego said. "Ever heard of Unit 731, Kimmie?" Kim thought and shook her head.
"Didn't think so—not many high schools talk about it…it's a dirty little open secret. Unit 731 was Japan's biological warfare department during World War II…and they were pretty good at it—better than 300,000 Chinese killed…not pleasantly." Kim blinked. What did this have to do with her?
"So after the war, Uncle Sam decides he wants that info—no matter what." Shego took a sip of her drink, "And so, they cut a deal—every one of the Unit 731 scientists got free rides to the U.S., with their information…. No prosecution, no publicity, until very, very recently, and that only from private people. The government still doesn't like to talk about it."
"And that…" Kim said. Shego sat her drink down, just a little loudly.
"Kimmie, you hurt some people. Big deal—people get hurt all the time. These guys slaughtered hundreds of thousands—and they got off scott free. Because they had something to offer. The idea of a favor, because it's owed, being repaid because it's the right thing to do makes no sense to these people. You solved some problems, but now you're broken, move on to the next tool." Kim shook her head, trying to hold on to her determination.
"No…Dr. Director… The-"
"Heard from her lately?" Shego asked, looking positively devilish. "Heard from any of them? They may like you as Kimmie—but they're not about to stick their neck out for Kim Possible…oh, they may show up at your parole hearing, or funeral maybe, but nothing else."
"But.. Mr. Barkin." Kim said.
"Yeah, Barkie'll try." Shego paused, "But don't get your hopes up—what he'll probably get is an agreement to not bring up those charges, or give you a new identity—so long as you play ball. They love having holds on people, and believe me, Stevie isn't high up enough to buck that system."
"And the d-dancing was an op?" Kim said, sourly, as the waiter brought the food over. For the first time in months, she smelled American cheeseburgers… It was hard to stay grimly determined when your mouth was watering. Shego didn't say anything, taking a bite out of her cheeseburger with gusto. Seeing that nothing was going to be said, Kim joined in, trying to stop herself from eating like a pig…but this was the first time in forever that she'd had a real cheeseburger.
"Naw, the dancing was fun." Shego said, as she put the cheeseburger down. "You may not notice, but Ronny's getting to be a damn good catch." At Kim's expression, Shego grinned, "Oh, you have noticed." She shrugged, "Ron did some pretty damned hard work, and it was a reward. These mountain martial arts schools will stunt your social development, if you're not careful."
"I saw his work." Kim said, "On TV."
"Pretty cool, eh? It really looked like we were trying to kill each other." A sip of water. "But I was talking about when he almost got shot."
"What?"
"Didn't you see the bandage on his upper shoulder?" Shego asked. Kim shook her head.
"Man, didn't even bother to rip his clothes off and welcome him back before getting pissed?" Shego shook her head, "Anyway, one of the guards was trying to dump a load of slaves in the bay for the fishies when Ron tested to see if the punks head was harder than the safety glass. It wasn't. Another goon got a bead on him, but I knocked that fellow out—All Ron got was a load of glass in the shoulder which I spent 15 minutes picking out, thank you very much. You can, ah, thank me now for saving your "sidekick." Shego said, before picking up her cheeseburger again. Kim was blinking.
Ron could have died.
Shego saved Ron.
Shego had to have had Ron's shirt off to fix him up.
"Did you fix him at a hospital?"
"Wasn't that serious, we went to a Love Hotel in the Roppongi district.
Reset. Kim blinked, a French fry forgotten in her hand.
"Love hotel?"
"Yeah—little rooms, rent 'em by the hour…and they don't get stuffy if you pay by cash and don't leave any ID." Then Shego's smile got so big it looked like her face might split.
"And they are really, REALLY great for freaking out Kim Possible." Her smile became less exaggerated. "Don't worry, Kimmie—I didn't take advantage, and Ron didn't ask. We danced. We had fun. That was the end of it. You made it to the bottom of the mountain, why don't you and Ron go out yourselves sometime?" Now Kim looked for the white rabbit—because if she wasn't wrong, she'd just gotten love life advice from her arch-foe…or friend…or… She shook her head. Shego was finishing up her meal.
"Eat up, Kimmie—we have places to go."
"Where?"
"Well, I was expecting Ron, but you might actually be better for this." Shego said.
"An op?"
"Nope—remember Kyoko?"
"Yes?"
"Well, when Ron rescued her, he pounded a lot of Yakuza soldiers…" Shego said, getting a serious look, "and the Yakuza can be… persistent. I was going to try and take Ron over and see if we could insure that you guys don't have to worry about Yakuza assassins showing up."
"We can…"
"Did I mention that the soldiers were part of the Yamaguchi Gumi, the largest Yakuza group in Japan, and that they have one hundred and sixty five thousand full time members?" Kim subsided.
"Good. Now first, we need to go get you some clothes." Kim blinked,
"What do you mean?"
"This is a peace mission, not a fight, and these guys can be very sensitive to insult—you have to be dressed correctly…hmmm…" Shego paused, as she paid off the waiter. "I know a shop on the way…. A gray dress, would look good maybe, and then we pick up the gifts."
"Gifts?"
"Yes, gifts—you don't just walk on in and start talking. Don't worry, I picked them out already." Kim blinked.
"You give gifts to bad guys?"
"When we're asking them not to start posting a reward for your "sidekicks" head on a silver platter we do." Shego shrugged, "One of the nice things about where you were, Kimmie, was that you stayed involved with well… the loners, the nuts. Dementor, Drakken…they all have little organizations, because they are all, um… control freaks. Yakuza isn't like that. It's big and diffuse."
The next two hours went in a blur. There was the stop at a clothes shop where Kim was quickly fitted for a new, charcoal gray, dress. Then, while they were finishing up the dress, next door to a boutique, where a traditional Japanese lady in a Kimono clucked over her hair and did things to it that made it look better than it had…well ever been. Shego had evidently been prepared and her dress was somewhat more… vibrant, with a complex abstract red and gold design over a darker crimson backing.
Finally, the gifts. Three boxes, with seven gold figurines in each one. Kim blinked.
"Why three and seven?" Kim asked.
"Even numbers are unlucky, especially four." Shego replied. "Seven is a lucky number, and we have a present for the underboss we're talking to, his boss, and then the overall boss of the Yamaguchi Gumi. They won't open them in front of us, either—very impolite, because it implies that they don't trust us." She paused, "Be polite Kimmie—the point is to avoid a fight, so we are like little mousies."
"And we're making a deal with a criminal organization." Kim grumped. Then she paused. "I need to pick something up—wait a minute."
When Kim returned, she refused to say what she'd bought but blushed.
"Something for Ron."
Then they were off for their destination. Kim blinked when they got to the place, a several story high building in the outskirts of Tokyo. On the front—well she'd picked up some Japanese, and so…
"They name their HQ?"
"Ain't it grand? It's even listed in the phone book. This'd make finding the Mafia so much easier. Remember, Kim…we're here to make peace."
"Have you worked for them?" Kim said, under her breath.
"Not much—Yakuza is a pretty tight organization—they don't like to put too much faith in freelancers…." The glass doors yawned before them, with two big men on each side, sunglasses disguising their faces, watching the women with careful nonchalance.
"Showtime, kid." Shego said, holding two boxes leaving Kim with the third brightly wrapped, gold and red gift box. Walking up to the secretary, Shego carefully didn't notice the cameras, or the automated coaxial gun that was hidden (but not to her) in a pod that could easily be lowered. There were several men sitting around in the greeting room, all watching them.
"We are here to see Takana-Sama." Shego said. The secretary nodded, and buzzed a door.
"Please follow the attendant, Shego-Sama, Kim Possible-Sama."
"Thank you." Shego said. Kim concentrating to catch the conversation, almost forgot to follow Shego. Kim suddenly realized that the building had been built with an open atrium in the center, done up as a traditional garden, complete with a small waterfall and a rock garden. In the center, there was a wood platform with several sitting mats. After months at the school, Kim at least had no problem arranging herself in a proper posture, on the mats. Shego did it… with more grace, Kim sourly noticed. They waited several minutes, and Kim found herself wanting to move, to do something. Shego simply waited.
Then three men entered the room. The two attendants, looking very competent, were dressed in business suits, but the center man, who was at least 50, was dressed in a traditional Japanese robe. His close cropped grey hair and powerfully built body was belied by the way in which he gracefully sat before them. Both arms were exposed and Kim could see the beginning of what looked like an elaborate tattoo on his right arm.
"Shego-san." he said, "Kim-san. Welcome to our abode. Please. Drink—it is dusty outside."
"Thank you, Takana-sama." Shego replied, as one of the attendants brought out three small cups, made out of China that even Kim could see was probably worth more than many peoples houses.
Don't drop it, Possible… Kim thought, frantically. The aura about the man they'd met proved to her that he was anything but harmless. In fact, compared to him, Drakken seemed harmless. The attendant poured and Kim sipped, as did Shego and the Takana-sama. The fluid was hot and incredibly good rice wine—and Kim was very glad there was so little of it, given that she didn't drink. They finished, and the attendant whisked the entire set away as if it had never been. Shego rose, and Kim, following her lead, rose also.
"For you, Takana-sama." Shego said, presenting the first box, bowing. Takana rose and returned the bow, though not as deeply.
"For Tono-sama," Shego said, presenting the other box, and then finally, "For Yoshinori-sama.">
She finished, bowing. Then, all three returned to the mat, and Kim marveled at how neither Takana nor Shego seemed at all bothered by how little movement had occurred. Takana nodded, and motioned to his attendant, and the gifts were respectfully, but quickly, whisked away.
"Ah, Shego-san, you honor with your presence…but maybe not simply for the joy of our company?" Kim blinked. That was in English.
"Yes, Takana-sama." Shego said. "There was a…regrettable incident involving, ah…"
"Young Ron Stoppable." He frowned. "Yes. Those involved were freelancing, and it was not Yakuza business…but some still feel that by involving himself with us, even unknowingly, Stoppable-san must be brought to account." Kim gulped. Then Takana continued, "But there is also the matter that had we known of the full nature of the cargo, we would have taken affairs into our own hands. By preventing it, he, and you, saved us from great loss of respect."
"Ah." Shego said. Kim couldn't bear it anymore.
"Ah…Takana-sama?" She started. Shego threw her a quick look that implied she should shut up now.
"Yes, Kim-san?" Kim found herself struggling. Oh no. Don't start stuttering like a fool now.
"If-" Kim took a moment, and then spoke, slowly, pausing when she felt a stutter coming on. "Ron is in trouble with you… could I pay for it… make atonement?" Shego turned pale, and one hand quivered slightly. Takana looked at the teen for a moment, then at her older companion.
"Ah, Kim-san…humor me." He said. "You were in Tokyo two years ago, yes?"
"Yes." Kim said, not knowing where this was going.
"There was an autowreck where you assisted." Kim remembered that. She'd been after Duff Killigan, but when the wreck occurred, she'd broken off the chase and helped open car doors with her laser cutter.
"I remember…" She said.
"My grandmother." Takana said, "A very old woman, and the doctors said that only your actions enabled her to get to the hospital in time to be treated." He rose. Put his hands together, and bowed. "The incident with Mr. Stoppable is forgotten. Pleasant journey, Kim-san, Shego-san." Kim was so flustered she almost forgot to bow, as the underboss left the room with his attendants, and they turned and walked out.
Once they got back to the car, Kim blinked. Shego was wiping her forehead, actually shaking slightly. Glaring at Kim she pointed one finger at her.
"You never, EVER make that kind of offer…especially to an organization that considers removing body parts a proper way of apology. What if he'd asked you to kill someone? It would have been that or we'd all been at war with the Yakuza." Kim looked at Shego and abruptly grinned, a wicked expression that surprised Shego.
"But he didn't." Kim said. "Because of one of those little people…who I had no reason to think was any different than anyone else. I guess they aren't always so little." Shego growled, at that, and then pulled the car out into the road.
"OK, point to you, Kimmie, but I bet match still goes to me. On the other hand, that went pretty well—the rest of the Gumi can't do anything without making Takana a liar and they'll be pretty reluctant to do that…as long as you don't go busting up Yakuza operations." Kim frowned.
"But they're crooks."
"Yep, every nation has 'em, and honestly the Yakuza are less bad then some. If you want to go after them, join the cops here—the Yakuza have a thing about not shooting cops—but as a freelancer…uh-uh. Bad choice." Shego turned to Kim and got an even more devilish grin on her face.
"Now, Kimmie, we have some time…so we're going to go…"
"Dancing?" Kim asked, thinking of Ron.
"Why Kimmie, I didn't think you swung that way." Shego said, and got an even bigger smile as Kim started turning a deep red. "No," She continued, "We're doing something else."
"What?"
"Shopping! You have one dress, that ridiculous "I am a martial artist" uniform and whatever you can steal from Yori." She shrugged, "I think we can do better, especially since the money Ron made yesterday is in your name as well." Kim blinked.
"What about Club Banana?"
"Oh please—first of all, this is Tokyo, not Middleton. There are better choices here. Secondly, well…the clothes that you were really associated with?"
"Yeah?"
"They dropped them. Something about: "a Negative product image for the intended market." since that outfit was now associated with a homicidal psychopath."
"Now that's harsh."
"That's life, Kimmie…now for our first stop…"
To be continued.