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Chapter 2: A Whole New Ron
It was before sunrise on Sunday morning as Dr. James Possible stood with his assistants and Dr. Betty Director of Global Justice in his secure lab below the Middleton Space Center.
"As you can see, Doctor, the G-7 'Goblin' Glider is the fastest, most versatile assault vehicle in the world. However, there is one minor setback," Dr. Possible said as he walked over and picked up a vial of green liquid, "This is what we've called the Goblin Enhancer. You see, because of the Glider's intensity and speed, the pilot has to be stronger, more agile, and capable of split-second reflexes. This formula will give assigned pilots those abilities."
"Very good," Dr. Director said, "How have the tests been with the formula?"
"We haven't … had a human test, but lab rat experimentation has proven almost 100 successful."
"Almost?" Dr. Director cocked an eyebrow.
"Yes," one of the assistants spoke up, earning a glare from Dr. Possible, "Out of ten lab rats, nine resulted as we had hoped."
"And the one that didn't?" Dr. Director asked, eyeing Dr. Possible.
"That one …" The assistant said as Dr. Possible looked away, "became very … violent and seemingly insane. It destroyed everything in its cage, and we finally had to put it down before it broke out and hurt one of the lab techs."
"I'm sure the formula is safe, Doctor Director," Dr. Possible said reassuringly.
"I can't accept the project unless you have a 100 success rate on human testing," Dr. Director said, "I'm not going to risk innocent lives if there's a chance of our own men going insane and attacking each other. Unless you can give me 100, I'll have to go with the project proposed by Qwest Aerospace."
"But, Dr. Director… Betty, I've invested everything in this project," Dr. Possible tried to reason, "Everything, my home, and even Kimmie's college fund. If this project is dropped, my family and I will be ruined!"
"I'm sorry, James, but if you don't have it ready in one month, ONE MONTH, I'm going with Qwest," She said, patting his arm, "I really am sorry. One month, James, that's all I can give you. Have it ready." And with that, Dr. Director left the lab.
Dr. Possible frowned before slamming his fist into the wall, "Damn it!" he cursed, "Why did you have to mention that one blasted rat?"
"I think she had the right to know, sir," the assistant said weakly.
"I know you're right …" Dr. Possible sighed, "Expect another all-nighter and bring in some more rats."
(X)
Ron groaned as he slowly opened his eyes. He felt more refreshed then he had in his entire life. He stretched his strangely loose muscles and hopped out of bed. He then ruffled his own hair before doing his morning ritual of greeting himself in the mirror, "You are somebody, you are … WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE NACO!"
Ron glanced at himself in the mirror; his skinny, potbellied body was replaced with one with broad shoulders, large pectorals, muscular arms, and a six-pack. A grin started to grow as he flexed his pecs and biceps. "Booyah …" He started softly, but slowly grew in volume, "Booyah … Booyah! BOOYAH!"
"Ronald, are you ok in there?" His mother spoke worriedly from the other side of his bedroom door, "Are you feeling better today? You were quite ill Friday night."
"Oh yeah, I'm MUCH better today, mom," Ron said, making a few wrestling poses. "That daily affirmation stuff you told me about finally worked!"
"If sleeping for a whole day would do this," Ron said as he pranced down the street, "I'm gonna have to try sleeping for a whole week next time!"
He had come down for breakfast and been informed that it wasn't Saturday morning, but Sunday morning. He had slept for over twenty-four hours. Now, he was walking down the sidewalk toward the Possible home in a pair of tight pants and a tight-fitting tank top.
Ron finally made it to the Possibles' three-story home and entered as he normally would. "Morning, Mrs. Dr. P; how are you this bon diggity morning!" Ron said cheerfully, walking into the kitchen.
"I'm fine, thank you, Ron," Mrs. Possible smiled, not taking her eyes off her work of washing her prized china. "How are you feeling? Kimmie said you were sick and called you several times yesterday. Your mom said you were resting. Kim will be happy to know you're feeling better."
"Oh, I have never been better, Mrs. Dr. P," Ron grinned, "Kim up in her room still?"
"No, I'm sorry, Ron," Mrs. Possible shook her head as she finished scrubbing the last plate, "Josh Mankey came by not fifteen minutes ago with his new sports car he got for his birthday. He took her for a ride. She should be back soon if you want to … whoa …" Mrs. Possible finished with a sudden stop when she finally looked up at Ron, letting the plate drop from her hands upon seeing Ron's new 'look'.
Ron swooped down and grabbed the plate before it hit the ground and sat it on the counter. His face losing some of the overbearing joy it had moments ago. "No thanks, Mrs. Dr. P, I think I'll just go on. You can tell her I stopped by…"
"Ron, wait!" Mrs. Possible stopped him, "Chest what happened to you," she said before shaking her head, "I mean, just what happened, you've … well, you're … you look good."
'Well, at least I got A Possible's attention,' Ron gulped as he watched the older redhead lick her lips. "Um, I think I'll be going now, bye, Mrs. Dr. P!"
Mrs. Possible shuddered for a second and went back to her chores as Ron ran out of the house.
"Damn that Mankey," Ron cursed, punching his palm, "Every time I get a leg up on him, he pulls another trick out of his hat."
Ron wasn't paying attention to where he was going anymore, his mind only on the thoughts of Kim with Josh in a car and what activities they were doing in said motor vehicle. Ron shuddered at the thought.
"Maybe I should just give up on KP," Ron sighed as he vaguely noticed he stepped off the sidewalk to cross the street, "That Felicia girl's really nice and more than pretty. Maybe I should just give her a chance. After all, Kim doesn't seem to want to give me a chance anytime soon."
Suddenly, a strange feeling crossed through his mind and he felt as if all his senses went on high alert. It was like he was suddenly aware of everything around him, the people in the shops all around him, the people eating at Bueno Nacho, Josh and Kim riding together down the street, the massive Mack truck barreling down on him at that very moment.
Ron, out of instinct, raised his arm toward a two-story building in front of him and pressed his two middle fingers into his palm. The slight pressure caused a stream of silk-like webbing to fire in the form of a long thread from his wrist and attach itself to the top corner of the building. He unconsciously drew the strand back, jerking himself up to the side of the building and out of the truck's path.
Ron glanced back down and shook his fist at the already past truck when something frightening struck him: he was hanging onto the side of the building by only his fingertips and knees.
Ron stared at his hands and fingers pressed into the brick structure before experimentally lifting his hand and placing it up one step, then another, and then another, before he finally scaled to the top of the building. "Wow …" Ron gawked, staring at his hands. He then brought up his middle fingers and slowly pressed into the soft flesh of his palm and another strand of webbing shot from the small pore in the bend of his wrist.
He grinned mischievously as he noticed the crane on the top of the next building. He took aim and, after only two tries, fired a long webline to the side of the machine. Making a Tarzan call, Ron leapt into the air holding onto the webline to swing across the gap. The brick wall on the other side of the opposite rooftop taught him that he needed to work on stopping himself.
After a few hours of practice, Ron had gotten the web-slinging almost down and had learned that not only did he have the webbing and wall crawling ability, but he could also jump five times higher and farther than he could before; he was faster, stronger, and more agile than Kim herself.
He finally came home and threw himself down on his bed. He knew he should be worn out, but he still felt full of energy. "Well, Rufus, what did you think?" Ron asked as his best non-human friend and pet timidly crept out of his pocket.
"I made mess …" Rufus said timidly, glancing back at the pocket.
"Eww …" Ron said, carefully removing his pants and putting on another, "So, now, I need a way to test what I can do; any ideas, buddy?"
"Bad guys!" Rufus chimed.
"No, if I do that, Kim will find out," Ron said, crossing his arms, "if she knew, she'd try to 'help' me get rid of my 'problem', and I don't want to lose these powers."
"Dunno!"
Ron mused on the concept for a few moments before the phone interrupted his thoughts. "Hello? Oh, hey, KP, how was the ride with Josh? … Yeah I'm feeling better … "
Ron's eyes turned to the TV where an advertisement where a local wrestling promotion was having a tough man competition. Ron was slowly becoming irritated at Kim's mother hen comments coming his way over the phone when he was trying to hear what the TV said. "No I'm not distracted, KP, why do you say that?" Ron asked before his eyes widened and his mouth flew open, "Kim! Felicia isn't here! … Why would I lie about that?" Ron asked in surprise, "KP, why are you so down on her? What has she ever done to you? … That's no excuse, KP, and why is that so incriminating? … Are you saying that only a crazed psychopath would hit on me? ... Oh, so, now, I'm not to speak to her? Since when did you become my mother? … Oh, please …" Ron rolled his eyes as Kim's voice grew louder on the other end. "So I have to have your permission to make friends? … That's what it sounds like to me … if it's not, then what do you mean? … Huh? … KP, you still there?" Kim finally spoke up again, and Ron couldn't help but chuckle, "Kim, just because she gives you a bad vibe doesn't mean she's some masked supervillain! So what if you have a bad vibe; I STILL have a bad vibe about Monkey Boy, and you're still going out with the ass … hey, if you want to jump on my friends, I'll jump on yours." Ron let out a deep sigh, "KP, I don't want to go through this now; can this wait 'til later? I'm busy doing stuff … KIMBERLY ANNE POSSIBLE! For the last time, STUFF doesn't translate into Felicia, you dirty minded girl! Fine, see you tomorrow morning", 'click' "bye to you, too."
Ron hung up the phone and turned back to the TV when the phone rang again. "Look, KP, if you're going to keep up the mother hen routine, I'm going to ... oh, hi, Felicia!"
"Uh oh …" Rufus said under his breath as he listened in on the conversation.
"How did you get my number?" Ron asked before nodding, "Met Monique, huh? Yeah, she's nice… no, I'm not planning anything Friday night, unless some bad guy shows up for me and KP to send packing …" Ron froze as Felicia asked a question, then he took a long glance at the photo of Kim on his nightstand. He gave a quiet snort before putting the picture face down, "Sure, Felicia, Friday sounds great; know where Bueno Nacho is? Meet you there around seven-ish, ok? Great, it's a date!" he said, saying goodbye and hanging up the phone.
"I have an idea for a test, Buddy," Ron said as he moved to the trunk at the end of his bed where he stored all the souvenirs from his adventures with Kim. "I'm gonna enter into the GWF competition tomorrow night, but first, I need a costume …"
"Perfect!" Ron said as he pulled out a red and blue uniform he had worn to go undercover with Kim into a villain's hideout. "Not good enough yet … needs a pattern, maybe a web pattern, what do you think, pal? Black webs over the red parts?"
"Ahuh, yep! Yep!" Rufus nodded.
Ron worked till late in the night, stitching black webs over the red patches on the chest, gloves, boots and the full mask, also placing a large, red, spider shape on the plain, blue back of the suit. For the final touches, he placed reflective eye coverings over the two eyeholes and also a smaller, black spider-symbol over the center of the chest.
At three AM, Ron looked over his finished work.
"Nice! Nice!" Rufus chimed from his shoulder, looking at the red and blue costume.
"One last piece of business and we can hit the sack," Ron stated, folding up the costume and putting it in a box under his bed, "I need a name …"
"Spider-Man!" Rufus chimed.
"How about the Human Spider?"
"Spider-Man!"
"Na, too horror movie-ish."
"Spider-Man!"
"How about Bug Boy?"
"Spider-Man!"
"Hmmm nope … How about Wall-crawler?"
"Spider-Man!"
"That's it! I just thought of it!" Ron said, jumping off his bed, "I know the perfect name!"
"What?" Rufus cocked his head to the side.
"Spider-Man!" Ron said dramatically.
"Oh, boy!" Rufus groaned, falling over.
