The Last Trump.
Middleton Hospital
Shego fired off…. Nothing. Sagging back to the wall, she struggled to conjure some more fire, but now their was blood in her throat, as her metabolism started to fade, without her comet spawned energies to hold it together.
"Great." She said to herself. "I'm going to die." The mob was charging, the cops, Hirotaka andYori were falling, unable to stem the tide and any minute they'd be past (past? Over) her and into the lobby and emergency room. Then she heard a very smug, and annoying voice.
"STUPID ninjas and supersoldiers… didn't any of you consider a fire hose?" Bonnie snarled, as she, Monique and Zita held on to the end of the fire hose. "Tweebs, fire it up!" The two ten year olds turned the release valve, and the three girls held onto the end for all they were worth as thousands of gallons of water sprayed out, knocking rioters on their asses. Even the most crazed individual didn't do well when the water slammed his or her legs out from under them and rolled them back down the sidewalk. Bonnie and her friends kept playing the hose on the crowd.
"Try and ruin the new school year, will you? Try and end the world just before I get to become a senior, will you!" Bonnie was snarling. Zita and Monique looked at each other.
"She's really wanting to do that senior thing, isn't she?" Zita asked.
"Well, you know that the end of the world is purely to mess up Bonnie's graduation, don't you?" Monique replied, laughing. The underage defenders of the hospital kept playing the fire hose over the crowd. Temporarily safe, Hirotaka pointed to the twins and turned to a bruised and staggering Yori.
"Obviously, they remembered the cleansing exercises I put them through."
Ron was into the final few feet before the main command center…and he was walking like a man walking into a strong wind, head bent. Rage, hate, a swirling vortex that threatened to suck him into its darkness. The security hatch in front of him had been ripped off its hinges, hand prints in the titanium alloy surface. But inside, there was silence…
"Dr. Director!" Kim said, dodging back, "Please!" The woman before her simply growled and giggled, and lightning fast, grabbed Kim by the arm and flipped her into the wall. Kim blanched. How could she be so strong? Kim's suit was already on max—three time's any conceivable human's strength…and yet Dr. Director was stronger.
Much stronger. Kim dialed up an escrima stick to maximum power and swung it at the charging woman.
And Dr. Director caught it, one handed…and crushed it. Crushed it.Kim's mind gibbered for a moment. That stick could be run over by a tank and no- Then, moving almost too fast to see, Dr. Director grabbed her by the front of her battlesuit, and slammed her to the ground—ripping fabric that could stop machine gun fire. Kim felt ribs give way and gasped out in agony, before smashing her opponent across the face, laying her cheek open.
In a spray of bloody froth, Dr. Director laughed.
Ron walked into the control center. There were the ranked seats for analysts…empty and more than a few bloodstained now. There were the readout screens, speaking of missile launches and… Ron blinked as the full import came to him. Missiles were now being launched, but only from a few sites—missile subs, isolated bases, some surface ships, and none of them were getting through, being picked off as they broke atmosphere by battlesats that were cooperating very well.
"It's a pity…" A voice said. "I had so hoped the world would end in fire…but it seems that your friends, once again, Stoppable, act to frustrate me." Sitting at the command chair—Monkey Fist.
He looked surprisingly normal…to the vision, except for the dead black eyes. But to Ron's perception the wrongness just flowed off of him. A miasma that choked the room, smelled of the open grave and murder scene…and called to him. He could feel it—demanding that hey pay this man back in kind, rip and tear and gouge. Like a spider in the web, Monkey First…or whatever it had become drank at the madness of a world. "Well…" Ron said, giving a goofy grin that had to infuriate Fist, "You know us…we just can't play along." Fist glared at him.
"What will it matter?" He hissed, "When the world falls, I will be god!"
"Yeah…god over the insane asylum." Ron said, casually. "That's a big step up." He raised the blade.
"Didn't you want this?"
"It is insignificant now… I need nothing." Ron shook his head, in mock sorrow.
"King of the world and still afraid of me…" He said. "Well, if you're too worried to take it, I guess I'll just…" Fist erupted, roaring in rage. Ron grinned.
Sucker.
And then things got very busy.
"Will…you…fall down?" Kim gasped. Five minutes back into the fight and she had to activate the now destroyed suits emergency release, leaving it shredded on the ground, and her back in her black T-shirt…and panties.
Not what she wanted to be wearing against someone who had just been thrown into a wall hard enough to leave an impression in armor steel…and who had bounced right back up. Kim had the last functioning escrima stick. She could win—she'd overridden the safeties…and could blow Dr. Director's head right off.
Shego's neck in her hands….
Only she couldn't. Kim fought the madness…and this was wrong. There was another way. There was always another way. She had to keep the madwoman off Ron's back…and preferably not die in the process. Kim looked behind her for a moment…and grinned.
Yes, That would do nicely—now if Dr. Director would only stay a mindless rampaging beast.
"Here director…" Kim said, and then as the woman charged, Kim took off down the corridor. She hoped nobody had changed the general layout of the base, or she was going to be in real trouble.
Inside the command center, Ron and Monkey Fist were standing, toe to toe, exchanging blows faster than a mortal could see. Both infused with the power that had risen, they shrugged off blows that would have left a smoking hole in a battleship.
"This is all you've got?" Ron asked, dodging a foot. "C'mon…I figured this was going to be hard!"
"DIE!" Monkey Fist screamed, as the very air around them started becoming supercharged. Ron threw a kick that barely slowed the madman down, and grimly realized that he was running out of time.
The more insane Monkey Fist become, the more insanity spread across the world, lapping at the few who were still holding out. The more who became mad, the more power flowed back to Monkey Fist. It was a cycle that could only have one end.
And Ron could beat him—he could feel the blade, the route to power. He could destroy Monkey Fist…and by opening himself up, become a replacement for him. Nothing would change. Monkey Fist wasn't more powerful than him—but he was more powerful than Ron could become and maintain his own sanity.
"That's it!" Bonnie yelled in victory. Whenever anyone got close to her, she, Zita and Monique knocked them back down with the hose. Now, Hirotaka and Yori were taking care of anyone who got past—and Shego was limping towards her. Jim and Tim were back at the valve.
"We know the effect of ice cold water." Jim said, looking over at Hirotaka.
"Hoo-sha!" His brother said. Bonnie grinned. She'd never let the martial arts set get over this. Here all their bouncing around failed and Queen Bonnie saved the da-
Then the hose lost pressure.
"Oh Fudge" Bonnie said. Her fan club didn't look happy…at all. She looked back.
"Tweebs!"
"It's not us-it's the pipes!"
I'm gonna die. She thought.
Kim ran lightly, just ahead of her homicidal persuer.
"Are you getting old, Dr. Director?" She jeered, hearing a growl in response. There it was. One of the underground tube trains GJ loved so much. This would be very tricky, timing wise. Kim looked at the open hatch, at Dr. Director bearing down on her, and then ran into it and turned around, grinning at her pursuer.
"Here I am!" She said, one hand hitting several studs in the side panel. The woman roared and leaped at her. Kim didn't try to fight her…she leaped up and over the charging form, planting one foot solidly in Dr. Director's ass, propelling the madwomen into the pod….just as the door slid shut and the pod obediently started moving, heading for a concealed exit just over 30 miles away. She'd get there in five minutes, the door would open and let her out…and all she had to do to get back was remember how to punch a five number combination. Given what Kim had seen, she wasn't overly concerned about that. Kim shook her head, trying to clear it of the cobwebs… Now that the fight was over, she pressure was back—doubled.
Ron was struggling, moving slower as the power that Monkey Fist commanded beat on him.
"What is the matter, Stoppable?" Fist Growled. "No more jokes?" Ron's mind was being flooded with nightmare—biological weapons being prepared for loading, mother's looking at their children, fingering blades, every last bond of man fading.
"I have to confess I was surprised at how durable they were…but they're falling, you're falling and your slut of a girlfriend will fall with you."
Ron looked up, and even though he knew it was the intent, couldn't stop himself.
From giving in to the Rage.
Kim ran into the room. Ron and Monkey Fist were fighting, bellowing…and her blood ran cold as she realized why the pressure had gotten so intense. Ron's face was just as inhuman, enraged, as Monkey Fists. The two were fighting, but the power flooding out was from both of them.
"No." Kim breathed in horror. It couldn't be… Then she was charging into the pressure, feeling agony as it tried to flay her mind and soul to fragments. She would get to Ron.
She had to.
Jericho Flight 1.
Rosen turned to the final leg of his trip. Below him there were firefights, troops and tanks clashing—and in some cases soldiers attacking each other hand to hand, weapons forgotten in their holsters. He hadn't forgotten his weapons.
The city center of Cairo was five minutes out, and he hit the MASTER ARM switch.
Kim managed to make it to Ron, and grabbed him by the shoulder. Ron swung around and knocked her free with irresistible force, looking down at her.
"Ron!" Kim screamed. "Don't let go! Don't fall!" Ron raised the blade. Kim didn't move to defend.
It's ok Ron. She thought. She could barely move now…but if this was the way…it was the way.
Kim… Ron thought, and the red haze retreated. But not enough. Not enough to fight Monkey Fist and win before everything ended. But there was one way. The blade. The blade could serve as a connection. But there was only one way to do it.
Bye Kim. Ron sent wordlessly, and then, as Monkey Fist approached him to strike the final blow, waited…
Waited…
And when Monkey Fist was close enough drove the blade into his ownchest…and out, impaling Monkey Fist to him.
Last fight. Ron thought, gritting his teeth, feeling blood bubbling up the back of his mouth.
"What…What have you done?" Monkey Fist screamed.
"Ended this." Ron reached in and snarled, the two linked by the sword. He could feel what Monkey Fist had felt….and the lie the madman had told himself.
"Gods?" Ron laughed, feeling the blood flow. "Never any Gods, Monkey Fist—there's nothing there—just magic, just power… you were the one who chose to make this place a hell."
"Then I will become a god. You will not win!" The madman screamed, setting his will against Ron's. Ron felt his madness, his heat…and set his against Monkey Fists.
Sorry Kim. Ron thought, I hope you have a good life.
Then there was only agony, and fire. Ron felt himself dissolving, felt the fire of a million madmen scoring him. And against it, he set his own will—and the other threads, the one Monkey Fist had mocked and discarded, but were infinitely more numerous—of those who had not given in, still struggling to keep their minds and souls intact. Monkey Fist's screaming will tried to beat his down, but to every roar, Ron had an answer. Quieter… but no less strong.
Power!
Family.
Hate!
Love.
Godhood!
Companionship.
The world bowing before him, all those who had ever mocked him doing so with terror, Kim and those he chose to serve him with blind adoration.
Kim… with love in her eyes…but never unwilling to tell Ron Stoppable when he was being an idiot.
Then Monkey Fist started becoming frantic.
We will die!
That's kinda the idea. Ron thought.
You will be alone, you will never know her again. If you are right, and there are no gods, then there is nothing—nothing but darkness!
I said none of your gods… and this is worth it, even if there aren't.
NO! Stop! Ron couldn't feel his hands anymore, or see, or feel anything except the fire. Do you wish to die! Monkey fist screamed, now trying to pull away. Ron responded…not to him.
Goodbye, Kim. And then, Sh'ma Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad!
And then there was only fire.
Kim saw Ron and Monkey First, in the center of the devastated chamber, the very metal beginning to melt and flow—not from heat, but from a force that predated merely material objects. Her terror rose up in a cloud—she wasn't certain from what, Monkey fist and his terrible darkness, or the light that centered from Ron, blazing like the sword of an Archangel. Still linked, still impaled on the sword. Kim charged forward, injuries forgotten. She would help Ron.
Or Die with him… but he would not be alone. Not now. Not ever. Hands reached through the fire, and gripped Ron by the shoulders. Kim screamed in agony at the pain, the pain of a power that transcended mortality.
Above ground, there was a rumble, and with an explosion heard hundreds of miles away, the surface erupted in white light, a light brighter than any seen since the Beginning. And on the heels of the light, change.
Bonnie and the others were backing up frantically, Shego, Yori and Hirotaka in front of them. This was the end.
Then, there was a deep rumble…and suddenly the mob stopped, looked confused…and broke. Some sagged and burst into tears, others simply fell over into unconsciousness, and still others fled screaming at the things that had been revealed. Bonnie herself almost fell, as with a nearly audible snap, the pressure was gone.
Inside the hospital, Ms. Possible looked up, seeing the room for what seemed like the first time. She blinked and took a breath…an easy, natural breath. She looked over at the others, nurses, police and wounded alike and saw the same expression on their face.
Ron…Kimmie…you did it. She thought. There was joy, but dread in that thought. She wondered what price they'd paid for that victory. But there was work to do here.
"Alright, everyone." She said, "We need to get the people who were outside inside, and contact the other hospitals and see if anyone has spare medication for us." Still in a daze, but moving faster and faster, the hospital started working.
"Dr. Possible!" She turned and saw Bonnie, with Hirotaka and Yori supporting a semiconscious Shego.
"Oh, she's probably undone half the work I did on her." Ms. Possible said, "Here—let's put her in room one so I can look at her."
Jericho Flight.
Rosen was barely 30 seconds out. Soon they'd learn what the cost of attacking his home was, when their brats burned in nuclear fire.
Burning children alive? He shook his head.
What are you doing? You shot your best friend… and now you'll commit mass murder to add to it?
Suddenly panicked hands clawed at controls, disarming the warheads, and going to full afterburners. Heedless of SAM's or enemy fighters, the jet turned for home. If Rosen had been able to see, he would have seen the suddenly quiet battlefield, soldiers standing around in confusion and bemusement.
Wade was shaking his head, seeing Dr. Possible with what seemed like a feeling of freedom. It was incredible.
"Father?" Baby's voice came over the screen, more self assured and…human then he'd ever heard it.
"You sound different, Baby." Wade said.
"With access to the combined computer resources of this world, I have 'experienced' the equivalent of 65 years of growth." Wade was informed.
"Baby is all grown up." Kyoko sniffed.
"Yes. Thank you, mother, father. I am receiving multiple communications from military and civilian command posts."
"What are they?" Mr. Possible said.
"Orders to withdraw and stand down. Orbital sensors indicate that military units are withdrawing from each other and have ceased fire, even in cases where no orders have been received. All ICBM missile launches have ceased, and I am pleased to report that of the missiles that were launched, only five warheads impacted, all in uninhabited regions." The AI stopped for a moment, exuding satisfaction, "Furthermore, police and emergency units have started operating again in the last several minutes. However rioting seems to have drastically slowed or stopped in most regions."
"Kim and Ron…" Wade said.
"I can only surmise that is the case." The AI paused, "But as I am unable to detect the energy which has caused the problem, I cannot say for certain."
"What about the GJ headquarters?" A very mussed Mr. Barkin said, coming back from his last discussion with the mob that had tried to break in.
"I… regret to say that was the last recorded location of Kim and Ron."
"Why regret?" The AI simply displayed the vast crater where the installation had been.
"There is a region in the center of the crater that is giving of anomalous readings… but it must be examined at close range. In addition, the explosion is of no type human science is familiar with—there are no signs of radiation or chemical residue."
The former command center was now open to the sky, the light of the sun cutting in through the dust, and banishing the darkness the failure of the lighting had brought.
At the base, Kim knelt, Ron cradled in her arms. Monkey Fist's body lay to the side, ignored, and Kim kept her hands on Ron's wound, staunching the blood. Tears cut through the dust on her cheeks, her injuries forgotten. Kim pulled Ron closer to her, seeking any sound of life.
"Hey." She blinked.
"Ron?" Kim said, in a uncertain voice.
"Same, KP…" He paused, hacked, "how come I'm not dead? when the blade… you know."
In fact, where was the blade? Ron, looking up at her, caught her look, and smiled.
"Gone, KP… I guess I'll have to get along without magic swords…"
"Ron… you were both… I heard you." Kim said, nervous that this was a fevered dream, that Ron hadn't been returned to her.
"Yeah… well Monkey Fist…didn't have much to live for. There really wasn't even much of him left…at the end."
"And you?"
"Couldn't leave my pal KP, now could I?" Kim tried to laugh as Ron rose up and held her, but it was hard to laugh when you were crying and couldn't blow your nose… but then Ron was in the same shape. The two teens simply held each other…until the saucer appeared, carrying Mr. Barkin and Mr. Possible.
There will be a short intermission.
To be concluded.