Numbah 34- look for Monique's story to be revealed over several chapters, but it'll show up I'm just not sure when it'll come to a conclusion.
Wanderer 3- lets just say Ice is indeed a schemer, and a sick puppy to boot, who's going to use what she now has in some interesting ways against the Knights. As for who Ice's true host is, getting there is going to take a while. And I'm glad you like Jackal, they just seemed like a natural combination, and I wanted someone who would physically stand out from the other Sentinels.
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Kim sat in the chair, wondering what had happened to the others, when they'd arrived at Global Justice, she'd been separated from the others and brought to Doctor Directors office. A single GJ agent stood by the only door preventing her from escaping, and he didn't move for what Kim estimated was half an hour, only leaving when Doctor Director entered and relieved him.
"Kimberly," she greeted bit more warmly than she had earlier, but still holding on to her professionalism. "Do you know why you're here?"
It was a stupid question but Kim played along, "Your brother attacked my school, he now has some weird allies, all of whom I've crossed paths with, all armed with some really weird equipment, not to mention one of my best friends."
"Yes, and I want to know what the hell my brothers involved in," she said sitting into her leather chair, "I know this must seem strange Kimberly, but he is my brother, despite our differences, and I'm worried about him. Last week WEE was involved in a plan to overthrow the United States government, then suddenly all WEE activities stopped, it was like they vanished from the face of the earth."
"And you think Ron knows something why?"
"Your partner had some interesting travel plans after you parted ways in China a last week, one of which was to a expert in Celtic history and a rancher in the US. Alone these events mean nothing but when put together they form a pattern, that has extended past Ronald to my brother."
Her elbows now rested on her desk her fingers entwined, a weary look on her face, "Do you know anything about the attack on the Middelton museum Kimberly?"
"Not much, Wade tried to do a search when I came back, but every record was sealed."
"That was our doing, the woman known as Arena Lynn, was there, as were Mr. Stoppable and Ms. Flores, we believe they were the targets of the attack, the only thing stolen was a display piece," grabbing a remote on her desk and pointing it behind her, a screen on the wall lighting up behind her, an image of a gray metal trident on screen. "This was the only thing missing from the museum."
"What are you implying, that Ron and Zita stole it?"
"Yes," simply, "I believe the weapon Ms. Flores now carries is the same missing artifact."
"That's insane,"
"Is it?," clicking the remote " a few days ago this cup came into the hands of the Rockwaller family, the next day, their residence was attacked by Ms. Lynn, again Mr. Stoppable and Ms. Flores were there, now all four plus my brother are at your school. I hardly call it a coincidence Kimberly. We spoke to the same expect in Celtic history Ron did, he was asking about a legend involving ancient weapons, She gave him print out of nine weapons each a near match for those seven weapons present at your school."
"Look I don't know anything about this I've been…"
"In London, I know, that's why you're here with me."
After a moment, "Why did you have the information sealed?" Kim asked
"At each encounter, vehicles I believe my brother owned appeared and disappeared from the scene, I've had all the information locked down and deleted from all civilian sources to ensure no one could interfere in the investigation, save those already involved."
"You can do that?" the information taking Kim by surprise.
"You'd be surprised what we can do Kimberly, when we have to," a semi sad look on her face, her good eye down cast.
After a moment her professional demeanor returned as she clicked the remote again the screen splitting into four sections an image of Monique, Gemini, Lynn and Jackal appearing alone in each space, their respective weapons clearly displayed on their persons.
"These images were recovered from your school surveillance cameras, I've had agents do a scan for each weapon, all save the one carried by the mutant were sold in a auction lot two years ago to a David Kasu, the maternal uncle of your friend there," looking at the screen that held Monique's image. "He was a collector of ancient weapons, he had one of the largest collections in the United States, and coincidentally he has been missing for about two weeks now maybe more, my agents are currently searching for him, but we believe him to already be dead."
"You think Monique had something to do with it," less a question than a statement of fact.
"Given what we now know, yes," looking back at the screen, "the other weapon was purchased five years ago by Mr. Jackie Oaks, one in a large array of canine themed artifacts said to have mystic powers in his possession."
"Then how'd he get it back?"
"He never lost it, his case never went to trial, as one can imagine the legal system wouldn't recognize any charge where people claimed to be menaced by a giant jackal-man."
Kim looked at the screen then back to the one eyed woman, "And you think Ron, Zita and Bonnie are involved how."
"We aren't sure, that's why we're interrogating them," the screen behind her changing again, this time to Zita and a female GJ operative.
"You can't keep me here I know my rights," Zita hissed
"I can till you tell us what we want to know," the tall woman of Asian decent replied in monotone
The screen changed again this time to Bonnie,
"What more do you want from me?" Bonnie cried
"The truth," a female agent of Nordic background hissed, slamming her larger hands on the table between them.
The screen flickered and revealed Rufus in a cage, a thick metal cuff wrapped around his body, several guards pointing weapons at him in the background.
The screen changed again, this time of Ron and Will Duu
Ron seemed surprisingly clam, "I'm not telling you anything Duu, now buzz off."
"Do you really think your in a position to deny me anything I want Stoppable," the agents voice carrying a hint of threat.
"Yes I do, now buzz off."
The screen went dark as Doctor Director turned back to Kim, "with the exception of Ms. Rockwaller, they've told us nothing, and all we've gotten from her thus far are stories about them being involved in a mystic war with my brother."
"So what are you expecting me to interrogate them for you?" appalled by the idea, and that she'd even imply it.
"No, your partner was trying to tell you what was happening when we found you, I want you to let him tell finish, so we can know what's going on."
"Why should I, you realize Zita's right, what your doing is horribly illegal, and Ron's going to tell me anyway, so all things considered why should I help you."
Sighing, "Kimberly, Gemini…. Sheldon is my brother, despite anything that happens between us, I still love him. Whatever he's involved in, it scares me, and I can't explain why. Call it spies instinct, women's intuition, or sibling bond, I just know he's in trouble and I have to help him," the first sign of a tear at the corner of her good eye. "Please Kimberly, you have brothers, you know what I'm talking about, I have to help him somehow, and you may be my only hope."
Looking the older woman over and thinking back to Jim and Tim, "alright, I'll help, but won't promise you anything."
"Thank you Kimberly," pushing a button, the door opened to reveal the same agent that had escorted Kim in the doorway. "Take her to where Mr. Stoppable is being held."
After a short walk, the agent stooped and opened a door, with in was the same scene as she had seen in Doctor Directors office, Ron in a chair, a metal table separating him from Will Duu, a second chair against one of the walls.
"Possible," the agent hissed
"Time to go," Kim's escort told Duu, pulling the younger man from the room.
"Ok Ron," pulling the chair out and positioning it so she could face him, "start explaining what the hell in go on," her words controlled, bit anger still permeated them from being lied to by Ron.
"How are the others?" he asked.
The idea of him trying to change the subject was a bit frustrating, "from what I saw they were OK."
"Your mad aren't you," asking the obvious
"You lied to me, you've been lying to me for at least two weeks, not counting the Monkey Fist ordeal, of course I'm mad, now start spilling Ron."
Defeated, "fine, but I was really hoping we could have done this else where, you know about the weapons?"
Nodding, "the four they carry yes."
"Yes the four they have, plus our three we have, plus two more, and a pair of armors, one of which is on Rufus. Each of them contain the essence of a different creature, and a different power. The four we fought, are historically known as the Sentinels of Tamra, each holding a power derived from Ice, Lightning, Sea, and Rock, as far as I know, all they want is to destroy those with the other weapons."
"The ones you have," keeping her emotions neutral
"Yes, the Twin Timber Axes, Barbed Trident and the Terra Mace."
"They want to kill you for these weapons?" not believing what she was hearing.
"Not just for the weapons, for being the hosts of the weapons, for essentially bringing the knights back to life."
"And how do you know this?"
Shaking his head really not wanting to sound anymore crazy than he already did., "I spoke to those who made the weapons, Celtic fairies, they told me what the Sentinels were capable of, what they might do when they were freed, and how I have to stop them."
For a moment neither said anything, then Kim got to her feet and pounded the table with her fists, "DAMN IT RON STOP LYING TO ME! I WANT THE TRUTH!"
"I told you.." his voice calm, despite her anger
"You expect me to believe fairies are helping you, I'm NOT THREE RON! I thought we agreed to stop keeping secrets from each other!"
Standing up and slamming his hand on the table in front of him, his eye's no longer the eyes of her former partner, but the hard eyes of an old warrior who had seen to much battle. "I DIDN'T KEEP IT A SECRECT," sitting down a bit taking a deep breath, "You didn't listen, you never do, not when your on a job," shaking his head, "your like a charging bull, everything gets knocked to the side or trampled when you start focusing on a something, you don't make time for anyone or anything else.
"How dare you!"
"It's the truth, if a situation doesn't effect you or your reputation, you don't give damn about it you block it out. What about your little date with Josh, you nearly died rather than break it because you were afraid he wouldn't go out with you again, meanwhile I was nearly killed trying to save your butt, something that wouldn't have been so damned urgent if you had just listened to Wade and stayed in bed, and taken it easy for a few hours."
Kim sat down, as much as she hated to admit it, his words had the sting of truth to them.
Not looking at her, taking a deep breath, "I'm sorry to tell you this Kim, but you can't lay this all on me, yes if I had told you when this first happened, maybe this would have been different, but I had to figure out what was happening to me, I had to take the responsibility for it. But if you had just put off a job for half an hour, we could be looking for a solution instead of yelling at each other in a GJ holding cell."
Kim could almost feel the slap in the face Ron's words were delivering.
Sighing, trying to compos himself, "everything I told you about the situation is the truth Kim, I know it sounds insane but it is the truth, how else do you explain everything that happened at the gym, weapons that fire energy and control nature, clothing appearing from no where, dragons, Rufus back from the dead, Monique turning evil, how do you explain any of that?"
A spark still her eyes, but weakly, "Science, DNAmy and Drakken made a dragon once, Rufus could be a clone, laser charges in the weapons, hologram generators, all of it can be replicated with the science we've seen in the past."
"And what about Jackie's first transformation Kim, you telling me that was science? Or the Mystical Monkey power, the Lotus Blade or the time you where turned into a monkey?"
"I…," she had to admit Ron had another point, those weren't acts of science. 'And if he's right about that,' the words forming in her head, closing her eyes, bits of her life flashed in front of her mind's eye, the times at Wannaweep she had dismissed Ron when he was right about the water, Gill, the danger, the science project with Justine, when she kept trying to out do her, when she had taken cooking, and she didn't want to addmit Ron was better than her. She did have this ugly habit not to listen to people when they didn't agree with her or it made her feel inferior. Shaking her head desperately trying to find some loop hole in what Ron was saying, some angle where she had the high ground.
Then his hand covered the one she hand on the table, "Look me in the eyes Kim," her eyes meeting his, rather than the hard steel she had seen during the argument, they were now soft, warm and honest, the way they had been when she first met him all those years ago. "I know what I'm saying sounds insane, and some part of you just doesn't want to hear it, but I'm your friend, and I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't tell you about your faults, if I was a better friend I would've told you a long time ago, but at the time I didn't feel it was my place. Every time I've tried telling myself about what I'm involved in, I start thinking about what's happening in my life and how insane it sounds, not to mention every time I have to tell the story to another Knight. I know this isn't something people deal with everyday…,"
"Unless your us,"
"True, but I am telling you the truth, I know it's unbelievable, and hard to hear, but it's all true, rather you want to believe it or not."
"This is what you've been trying to tell me for the last few days isn't it."
"Only the part about what I'm involved it," looking at the ceiling, "I'm not totally sure where the rest just came from."
"From your heart," wincing at the corny line, her voice a bit shaky as his words still hung in her mind forcing her to pick her words carefully, "I just wish you'd told me all this sooner, I know I can be hard to ive with some times, but you should have told me all this sooner, and I mean ALL of it."
"Kim me pointing out your problems is like the mutt telling the show dog how win a ribbon, as much of a screw up as I am, what would be the point. Besides you had things to do Kim, people needed you, you have an obligation to them, I couldn't pull you away from that just cause I was going through a hard time, granted it was, and is a really hard time. Still I really could have used you, I still could, cause this getting a little hairy for me."
"I don't know," a hint of a smile on her lips, "you were doing pretty well from what I saw, you did a pretty good job. Rescued me, stopped the bombs, getting Bonnie to some how help, I'd say those are the marks of someone who knows how to handle himself," running her free hand across his cheek, now silently wishing she had listened to him. 'All this could have been avoided, damn it girl, he's your best friend you should have made time for him.' "And stop thinking I'm like that."
"Like what?"
"That I'm better than you, I'm not, I'm human I screw up same as everybody, yeah I can do a lot of things you can't, it's not like you can't do the same. I'm not exactly happy with what you just said, doesn't mean I might not need to hear it."
"You ok Kim," noticing the single tear running down her face.
Smiling, "Yeah, and Ron do me a favor, call me KP."
"I can do that KP," a little laugh in his voice.
"You think you could use another pair of hands," pausing, "partner?"
"I'd love um, if you think you can still work with me?"
"I think I can suffer through that," the smile growing, she was still angry with him, but a larger part of her understood why he had done and said the things he had. She had had wanted honesty from Ron, and she had gotten more than she wanted, but damned if she was going to be a hypocrite and make him start lying to her.
I'm getting tired of pulling Zita and Bonnie off each other."
"They're that bad?"
"Cat's and dog's bad, KP, " looking at the door, "any idea how we're getting out of here?"
As if on cue the door opened, and the GJ agent escorted Kim back to Doctor Directors office, Will Duu beside the one eyes leader of Global Justice.
"He's not going to tell us anything is he Kimberly?" the woman asked.
Kim shook her head slipping into the expected role, "I don't think so, he either he believes what he's saying or he's been rehearsing this story for a while."
"What are the odds you can get the truth from him?"
"Slim, one thing I've come to know about Ron, when he sets his mind on keeping a secret, he keeps it, and there is no way to get it out of him."
"The others can't be that resilient," Duu interjected, "given time we can get the truth from them."
"No," Director said scowling at her agent, "release them, we're not going to get anything from them threatening them. We're suppose to be up holding their freedoms not repressing them." Looking at Kim, "I ask a favor, if you discover anything about Gemini, inform me, regardless of what it is."
"Look, I'm not pumping my best friend for information if that's what your implying, if he says anything I might pass it on to you, nothing more."
"If that's your decision Kimberly," once more pressing a button on her desk the agent returning, "return their weapons and take them back where we found them."
Walking through the door Kim turned, "I don't want anyone to know about what's happened, the public shouldn't know, Zita and Bonnie are involved."
"That's already been taken care of, as far as your school and the rest of Middelton is concerned it was a hoax, a publicity stunt gone wrong, perpetrated by actors and stunt personal, and electronics"
"Good, I don't want people to know about any of this," shutting the door behind her.
Turning to his leader, "they know something, we shouldn't let them leave, not until they tell us what it is."
Sighing, "I know William, but I have faith in Kimberly and Ronald, they've already proven themselves to me time and time again, we simply have to trust that they can handle this situation, and be ready in case they need our resources."
"So that's it, we're just handing this situation over to a pair amateurs and untrained high school girls?" Not believing the woman would let this happen.
"No William, we're going to continue our own investigation, but we'll be ready to offer assistance to Kimberly should she require it."
"After they blatantly lied to us?"
"I'm not sure they were lying William, and that's what scares me, they may very well believe what their saying," shaking her head, sitting at her desk, spinning to face the screen behind her.
"Very well, I'll see to the investigation personally," leaving her office.
Clicking the remote Doctor Director looked at the screen, footage of dragon Rufus flying over the city, "and what scares my more is that what they're saying is true." Clicking the remote again the screen filled with images, an image of the manuscript page Professor Douglas had given Ron and later Global Justice agents, The same images of the Sentinels with their weapons that she had shown Kim, images of Ron, Zita, and Bonnie's weapons, images of the dragon and mole rat Rufus. "I do hope your ready for this Kimberly, I don't think I am."
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"We Failed," Lightning Bat roared pounding his desk with his cybernetic hand.
"A set back is not a loss brother, and if anything the Knights have done us a favor," a dark smile on Ice's lips.
"A favor we should have killed them all!" Bat faced her towering over the girl that currently held Ice Lords spirit.
Ignoring his theatrics, "Pyre can be awakened, that means Tyrune can be as well," she said calmly slipping by him sitting in his chair. "Somehow Pyre has been bonded with Stoppable's pet, and that means Pyre is half the threat he use to be, that can be turned to our advantage as well brother."
Whispering to Rock Wolf, "that or he calls all his pets Rufus," Sea Serpent joked.
"But they defeated us, we can not stand for such a thing!" Bat roared
"Patience brother, patience, we now have a better idea what they can do, and where their powers are heading, and they now know we have this body, which means we have a true bargaining chip," her fingers forming a pyramid.
"Meaning?"
Shaking her head, "This girl is friends with both Kim and the Forest Knight, they'll want to find a way to rescue her, we can use that to our advantage, it's just a matter of finding out how."
"Then why not leave the girl," Rock Wolf said meekly not wanting to earn Ice's wrath, "and take your true host?"
"Because brother, this body knows how Kim and Ron think, how they move, their strengths, their weaknesses. Everything that makes them a force to be reckoned with, I know, to give up such wisdom would be foolish and premature, at least till their bones litter the floor," laughing a cruel sadistic laugh that echoed though the WEE base.
"So what will they do then, sister," Bat asked, a hint of disgust in his voice.
"Kim will want to rescue this body, Stoppable will become subservient to her will as he always becomes, and they will come, be prepared for that time, till then there is little to be done in preperation."
"And if that 'plan' also fails?" the disgust in his voice a bit more controlled.
Without words, Ice removed her sword from it's scarab hidden beneath her cape, and brought the blade to her hosts throat. After a moment a small trickle of blood began flowing from her neck, "They want to save this girl so it won't fail, if it means surrendering to us to save this host they will do so with out hesitation. Kim will demand it and like the puppy he is, Ron will follow her orders, as will the dragon, and if the other two Knights don't, well they won't be a threat without those two," pulling the sword from her neck, looking at the crimson liquid, that now froze to the blade. "There is nothing quite as useful as a hostage that's never out of range."
"Let the red headed minx lead the meat into a steel cage lumberjack match with a cast match twist, all he have to do is put a little more explosives under the mat and this'll be a main event to be remembered," as Rock Wolf tossed his head back in a howl.
Staring at her brother, "What the hell did you just say fur ball," as Sea Serpent cocked her head in confusion.
"He said the Knights are coming to their death," Ice said translating the wrestler. "Lightning Bat, I want you to find the armor of Tyrune. I want our dragon ready to go before the Knights arrive, find out everything about the rodent, his death and his subsequent resurrection, it maybe of value in bring him back to life."
A small sneer on his face, "As you command Ice," walking out of the room, 'enjoy this time Ice, fail us again and we will see orders who, little sister,' spitting on the ground.
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Just as Doctor Director had promised the three had their weapons returned to them, and the five were released where they had been pick up.
"My car," Bonnie said looking at the empty space were her car had been the, scorch marks on the ground the only sign it had been there.
"I'm sorry about not saving your car Bonnie," as Kim put her hand on the Earth Knights shoulder.
"Save it Possible, before I met any of you my life was nice and normal, I was safe my biggest concern was what to wear, so screw this, and screw you all, I'm out. I don' t really give a damn if they go after you, if the Sentinels come after me I'll deal with them myself but I'm not walking into any more fights, so go shove your weapons where the sun don't shine," as she stormed off.
"Bonnie wait," Zita called only to be answered as Bonnie shot her the bird and kept walking, "bitch."
Zita didn't get three steps as Ron and Kim each grabbed an arm.
Ron beat Kim to the punch as he started talking, "Easy Zita, let her cool off, she's been through a lot for one day. She'll come back when she's ready."
A smile on her face, "probably about the time she finds Jackie's on her front porch wanting a rematch," Kim added.
"One can only hope," a dark little smile of her face as the mental image of Rock Wolf tearing Bonnie's face off formed in her mind.
"Come on KP, I'll give ya the full run down of what's going on, but I warn ya it's going to get really weird."
"Thanks, but do you mind if I swing by my place for a minute, I really want to change out of my uniform and into, well anything's better than this at the moment."
"Yeah I could deal with a change of clothing," as Zita's armor disappeared in favor of here normal clothing, "nice to know the armor doesn't disappear till I want it to."
"Tell me about it," Ron doing the same.
"So what do I have to do to get some of that?," watching the pair
"Well that all depends, do like swords or crossbows?"
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Authors note 1- Don't think this is over between Kim and Ron just yet, the argument has just begun.
Authors note 2- I have one more full chapter of this story in me at the moment, then I have a lot of gray areas, I have certain events planned, I have the end planned (but it's a ways off), it's just the details in the middle are currently evading me, so when ch. 13 shows up is a bit of a mystery at the moment