"So what is this program supposed to do?" Shego asked her employer, who was unsuccessfully attempting to hack through the security on the disk.

"It's a new software firewall, some sort of smart system. It learns from intruders, and adjusts to compensate for new routes of attack." Drakken replied, grunting in frustration as the system crashed. "It also defends itself similarly."

"Why not just decompile it from the disc?" Shego asked.

"What?" Drakken snorted distractedly, waiting for the reboot.

"Instead of trying to open it from the disk, just decompile the information from the disk." Shego suggested. Drakken stared at her then grinned.

"I just had a brilliant idea, I'll decompile it straight from the disc." He laughed, and Shego simply rolled her eyes.

"Kim?" Wade spoke up through the layers of clothing piled on top of the Kimmunicator.

"What?" Kim snapped, pulling it out, and setting it on the table.

"Shego's just resurfaced, and stolen a computer disc containing an experimental computer firewall program. It's enourmously valuable, and the company that owns it, Kane industries, is offering a hundred million dollar reward for it's return." Wade replied.

"She's back? Good, I feel the need to kick something." Kim smiled, rather nastily. "Where and when?"

"Well, the company is based out of Neptune California, and that's where the disc was stolen from but Kim, you won't be the only one after this disc." Wade warned. "There's a number of local private investigators, and several bounty hunters in the area, who will be hot on the trail of this disc."

"Then they'll be on my trail as well. Arrange a ride Wade, I'll tell my folks and Ron." Kim turned, and ducked out the door. The Kimmunicator landed, just as she reached the ground floor. Wade sighed.

"I guess there might be some after effects to the Moodulators. I'll have to check with Doc Bortel..." Wade muttered to himself as the Kimmunicator shut off.

Downstairs, Kim found Ron sitting on the couch, playing some fighting game on the TV, trying to fend off attacks from her twin brothers characters.

"Ron, we've got a new assignment, Shego's taken a computer disc, we need to get it back." Kim grunted.

"Right Kim, on it in ten seconds." There was a dual groan from the twins, as Ron pulled a move that caused the screen to flash, and wiped them both out. "Or less." Kim just rolled her eyes, and headed into the kitchen. Her parents were at the table, both eating breakfast, having gotten a late start.

"Mom? Dad? Ron and I are going to California for a mission, I don't know how long it's going to take, is that alright?" Kim asked, very carefully.

"Yeah, sure, we'll let you know if we need anything." Kim's mother smiled.

"You becareful Kimmie-cub, watch out for the crazies." Her father laughed. "Or maybe we should tell them to watch out for you." He chuckled. Kim blinked, and then shrugged.

"Okay..." She turned and walked out, shaking her head. "That was weird."

"What?" Ron asked.

"My parents, very relaxed. Wonder what's up with them?" She replied absently.

"Well, I'd guess they were up all night..." The finger in Ron's face stopped him.

"Do not finish that thought." She warned. He swallowed and nodded. The sound of a jet engine caused her to turn away. "Ride's here."

Tall and balding, Keith Mars, former sheriff of Neptune, now a PI after a recall election, stepped into the aparment he shared with his daughter. Once one of the most respected men in town, he'd accused the father of his daughters best friend of the other girl's murder, and pursued the case until he was fired as sheriff. The man he was after? Jake Kane, head of Kane industries, and one of the most powerful men in the city. Of course there was a man on death row for the crime, but neither Keith, nor his daughter believed the man had done it. Of course, neither could prove it. Yet.

As for his daughter, she worried him sometimes, not the way other children worried their parents, such as drugs and alcohol, but because she was very nearly as good a private investigator as he was, and almost as fearless. Even though he knew she carried a taser, and always brought Backup, the family dog, he worried about her. As if summoned by his thoughts, she entered the apartment, followed by two of her friends. Wallace, a young man he knew she'd met after saving him from a flagpole, though the story was a bit more complicated than that. The second man, Adam, was even more complicated, by the fact that he had holes in his memory, one could fit the Kane murder file into. He was another one she'd saved, and he didn't seem to want to let her forget it.

"So, to what do I owe the honor of the visit?" Keith spoke up, startling Veronica, who didn't seem to have seen him.

"You're back, how did it go?" She asked, dropping the books she was carrying on the table, and crossing the floor to give him a hug.

"I got him of course. You doubted me?" He asked with a grin.

"Of course not." She laughed, and leaned back.

"So, what are you working on?" He inquired.

"A scam artist, he's been ripping off gradeschoolers, and the parents want him taken down." Veronica replied with a sly smile. "Technically they wanted you, but your silent partner has been handling it while you were away." Wallace ribbed Adam.

"Ever notice she's awfully noisy to be a 'silent' partner?" He asked. Adam chuckled, and continued sorting through the papers. Veronica gave Wallace a withering look, and turned back to her father.

"So, dad, want to help?" She asked. He sighed.

"I assume you'll continue working on it, even if I don't say yes?" She continued to stare at him, without changing her expression. "I thought so. Alright, let's see what you've got."