Drakken's lair. Was there any place more obnoxiously dank and hideous? Sometimes Kim had to wonder why some government or another didn't just take every location she gave them and blew up the places. Though that would kill the irony of Drakken and Shego's countless escapes.
Kim crumpled the directions Wade had printed out for her and tossed them as a little ball against the dark metal building, old and rusted and just plain leaking oil and water and any other liquids that could be drudged up from the ground. Old metal rooms and sheds clung to it haphazardly, like a mini-castle. How obvious. The place just screamed evil and villainy. Was it so hard for them to hide in a cute little suburban house somewhere?
Eric's breath echoed in the air behind her. She had to smile. She still couldn't believe he had followed her all the way here. How incredibly sweet. He even conveniently happened to have some black clothes that went together in a mission outfit that wasn't too bad at all. He looked so cute getting ready to fight evil. Though she hadn't exactly seen his fighting style. But how bad could he be?
He could take care of himself, she was certain of that. Someone as big and strong as Eric… what could Drakken do to him? Yes, Eric was going to be a fine partner on this mission. The best. He could even…
Ron. Kim closed her eyes, concentrating on the night air around her, begging it to calm her. For some reason she couldn't explain, she knew that Ron was supposed to be here. He always did missions with her. Except that this wasn't an ordinary mission. And if Ron wasn't going to speak to her, and if he wasn't going to come… She hadn't even informed him of this. No, Ron did not need to be here. Not at all.
Then why did she have all these urges to glance over her shoulder?
"So this is Drakken's lair," Eric said quietly, almost as if the building would collapse with too many vibrations of his voice. "Wow. Ugly place, isn't it?"
So far he was doing fine. Kim laughed and cuffed him gently on the shoulder. "That it is. Or his latest, anyway. He has a problem with destroying them."
"And I imagine he causes much of the destruction himself."
"Definitely." She eased along the outskirts, pressing her gloved hands against the metallic sheets. Not enough to do any damage, but she might as well humor Drakken. Set up a trick door, expect little Kimmie to find it, and fall into his clutches.
One fell before her hand. Shrieking clangs and clatters rose up from the darkness, followed by a splash. She grinned.
"Erm, shouldn't we just take the door?" Eric asked, pointing at the olive green painted door reading "Utility" in cracked letters.
"Of course." She strolled through the doorway as he opened it. What a gentleman. "But I think he had a tanks of sharks down there. I had to distract him."
Eric gave a low whistle, one that sounded surprisingly similar to the creak of the door as he closed it behind them. "Wow, Kim. I knew you were smart, but I guess I didn't realize how. Sorry I underestimated you."
"You're forgiven." She couldn't resist. Here they were, in the pitch black staircase of Drakken's hideout, awaiting who knew what disaster, Monique probably freaked out of her mind, and yet… She felt for Eric, found his lips, and gave him the best kiss she knew how.
Eric lingered there for a moment, even after she had let him go. "Wow," he breathed. "What was that for?"
"You just being cute." Even if she had to admit it was weird for her to just grab someone and kiss them in the dark. But this was Eric. The best thing that had ever happened to her.
"I can't see a thing. Not even you being cute."
She pulled a flashlight from her belt and held it up before her face, winking at him. "Now you can."
He grinned shyly. "So… let's get back to rescuing Monique so I can take you back to the prom where you belong. How far do these stairs go down?"
Kim turned the beam down. Step after step of hideously painted metal whirling down to… an open doorway, with light flooding through.
Something wasn't right about this. Then again, it would be just like Drakken to leave the door open. Of course, it would also be like Drakken to leave trips along the way. Biting her lip, she turned the beam up. Nothing out of the ordinary. Except for…
She jumped back as something fell to the steps in front of her, striking the first with a painful-sounding thud and rolling down five more before stopping.
"Ouch!"
Kim gave a sharp cry. After more than a week… this suddenly… "Ron?"
Eric muttered something behind her. "What are you doing here?"
"Yes," Kim said. "That's exactly the question." What right did he have to follow her on a mission, after what he had done to her?
Ron climbed shakily to his feet, his brown eyes locked strangely on hers. For crying out loud, he was wearing a suit. One that looked like Bonnie had picked it out. "Hey, KP."
"Ron…."
He grimaced as he touched his arm. "That's going to leave a mark. You left on a mission without me. I had to come."
Why was he doing this? Her gaze dropped to the floor momentarily before reaching back to Eric, begging him silently to do something. But Ron. Why couldn't she look at Ron? "I mean, what were you doing up there?"
He couldn't miss a beat, nothing to make this less miserable than it was. "Waiting for you."
"Who told you about this mission?" She sighed. "I'm going to kill Wade." How could he do this to her? He was as bad as Monique. Why was everyone doing this?
Eric laughed. A laugh Kim hadn't head from him before. Almost… mean. "Oh? So you wanted to help Kim on this mission. So you come here and hide among random pipes on the ceiling instead of going in and doing something yourself?"
A deep red blush sunk into Ron's face. "I didn't…"
Eric gave that weird laugh again. "Look, dude. I don't care how you feel for her or whatever. Obviously you don't care about her enough, after all that you've done to her."
Kim stared back at him, bewildered. Eric had never talked like that. "Eric, please, it's just that we've always done missions together. He—" As the words spilled from her mouth, she had to wonder why she was defending Ron. He had been her best friend forever…
Ron took a step forward, raising a hand to push Kim out of the way. Which he didn't. "Oh? So who's all high and mighty? You think that just because you come here, and ask her to a dance, you know all about what it is like to care for her."
Eric stopped, frozen. "That didn't even make any sense."
This wasn't happening. They were not going to get in a fight. Eric would probably kill Ron. But that wasn't how Eric was supposed to be. She grabbed his arm, still unable to look at Ron. "Eric, please," she begged. "Let's just go."
"But—" Ron began.
She shook her head. "Ron, how could you do this? Delaying me like this, when Drakken has Monique."
He took two steps back, now further away than before. "Kim, I didn't—"
He had shown up, she thought. Just like he did for every mission. "Come on, Eric."
Eric nodded, sliding his hand over hers. "Kim, I'm sorry." He did sound sincere. "I didn't mean to freak like that. I know he's your friend. I just didn't want you to get hurt again."
"It's fine. Well, Drakken's probably already heard us. But still…" Letting go of Eric's hand, she hopped onto the railing. Sliding with be a lot quieter.
"What about me?" Ron asked. Pathetic. "Kim, there's something you don't—"
He was here now. He never missed missions. She had… almost wanted him here. Almost. But he was always there for missions. But Eric was here now. What was she supposed to say? Especially when she couldn't even look at him? "I have it covered."
Eric climbed up behind her. "Let's go."
They rushed down the unsteady metal banister toward the open door. She didn't even look back to Ron.
She and Eric landed on the grimy concrete floor, all metal and whatnot vibrating around her. Something was definitely wrong. No robotic guards had stormed through the open door yet, no lasers had been set off…. She smiled. Drakken obviously had a trap waiting for her inside. He was trying to lure her into a false sense of security.
Even Eric seemed to realize it. He stared through the door, though not much could be seen, grinning. "Wow, this guy is trying to outsmart you, isn't he?"
"I'm surviving high school," Kim said. "You have to learn every trick in the trade."
"Kim, you're a cheerleader."
She laughed as she peered around the edges of the door. Though, if he did have a trap set, it would probably be best to just barge in. As if. It wasn't worth it to decide how far Drakken's little "Maybe she'll think this if I do this, but maybe will see that coming" scheme went. She was going to be sensible. She darted to the side of the doorway, trying to see in. Nothing but lights and metal and the familiar voices of Shego and Drakken, rebounding like a radio in the room.
Eric approached the door. "Why don't we just—"
"No!"
Too late. The door was fully open, and Eric was inside. He was going to get himself killed! But at the same time, it was remarkably brave. She braced herself, expecting a full onslaught of the robots and lasers that hadn't been out the first time.
But there was nothing.
"They're not looking this way," Eric whispered, touching her hand gently. "They're… I think they're monologuing to something. Big."
Well, that would be just like Drakken. And just like Shego to become so bored by it she couldn't even stand as a decent guard. Her fingers slid down the metal doorframe. If she didn't feel incredibly stupid like this. Was this was how a first mission with a boy was supposed to be? She acting all paranoid and sneaky? Where was the cool, calm Kimberly Ann Possible that was never phased by anything Drakken through at her? And this was Drakken! So not a threat! She flipped around into the room, already full aware humiliation had covered her entire face.
The room, frankly, wasn't all that impressive. Smallish, hardly the superbowl-sized room she had come to expect from Drakken. Like he couldn't handle anything smaller, more sensible. All in all, it looked nothing spectacularly different from the rest of the building. Just a room, an old storage room, still holding old boxes and tools next to the lawn chair that clearly belonged to Shego.
"What a dump!" Eric exclaimed.
Drakken always had dumps. But what evil threat was he holding this time? She scanned the room, praying desperately that Monique wasn't hurt. That made Kim mad. Monique was supposed to be Ron's date. Didn't he have the decency to come in and at least try to rescue her?
She was sure Ron could do it, if he really wanted. If he really tried.
She couldn't see Monique. All she could see was Drakken and Shego, Drakken's attentions riveted to a strange metal ball in the corner of the room, Shego sitting nearby with an emery board and a scowl.
How to get over there… Pipes. Pipes on the ceiling, they were everywhere. Maybe Ron did have the right idea. Summoning all the cheerleader power she could, she sprang up and grabbed hold of the rusting metal. With another swing she was on top of it, and racing toward the place above where Drakken was. Watch this, Eric, she thought. This will impress you.
Drakken was doing one of his evil laughs now. Man, he did not sound scary at all. Not even close. She looked down into the metal ball thing. For a moment panic flooded through her.
Monique was strapped inside, gagged, still in her off-white prom dress. Which did look gorgeous. Even better on Monique than it had on the hanger. Yes, Monique had very good taste. But this wasn't the time to worry about Monique's dress getting ruined. The machine, whatever she was in, did not look safe. Laser lights blinked from the curved surface, just threatening to saw through Monique. Knives were there, too, think blades of metal ready to shoot out and claw anyone that ventured in. And a timer…
It was a bomb.
"Monique," Kim muttered. But what was the point of this? What was Drakken trying to do? Blow up Monique and the entire building? There were still forty-three minutes left. What kind of trap was Drakken trying to spring?
Monique finally glanced up, dark eyes going wider than ever. Then, quickly, they were back down, facing Drakken in terror.
Eric… Kim looked around for Eric. There he was, sneaking off into an abandoned closet of Drakken's toys. Or whatever. Smart boy. Get a weapon.
"And now, Monica!" Drakken announced. "You shall—"
"Her name's Monique," Shego said with a yawn. "Not Monica."
Drakken frowned, much with the impression of a spoiled child. "Fine. Monique. Some female name that starts with the letter m. Shego, I'm not on Sesame Street here. Whatever. Monique. Well, when your friend Kim Possible shows up to rescue you, Shego and I will be long gone, leaving you two to suffer in a fiery explosion! Along with the buffoon whose name I can't even begin to guess at, because I'm sure he'll be tagging along."
"Dr. D., there's still forty-five minutes left on the clock," Shego complained. "So you had better assume she doesn't get here…" Her eyes glanced up.
Kim knew at once she had been spotted.
Shego's mouth flipped into a sneer, stretching her black lipstick. "Kimmie! Why, you're early! What about being fashionably late?" Her hands lit, green and glowing, and she sprang toward Kim.
"Kim Possible?" Drakken asked. "Get her!"
"Which is what I'm doing!" Shego rolled her eyes and flipped up onto the metal.
High kick, high kick. Kim swung her leg around, barely missing Shego's knees. "I like being punctual, thank-you very much!"
Snarling, Shego lept back, then came at her again, hands outstretched.
It was unreal, Kim thought, as she sidestepped at the last second, sending Shego plummeting to the ground. Shego wasn't supposed to fight this bad.
But Shego didn't seem to be giving up. With Drakken cheering, Shego once again jumped up.
Kim jumped down into the bomb. It was risking life and death, she knew. But it would work. It had to work.
Monique shook her head as Kim came near.
"Monique, it's me!" Kim said, tearing the gag out and ripping apart the knots. Did no one here know how to tie a decent not?
"No!" Monique exclaimed as soon as she were free. "Kim, you have to get out of here. Drakken—"
"I've got him covered! There is no way I'm letting my best girl miss out on the prom."
"Kim, it's a trap!" She was beginning to look mad, now. "Drakken wants you to—" She screamed as one of the lasers went off, narrowly dodging it. "How annoying but—"
"Jump!" Kim commanded, wrapping her arm around Monique's, just as another laser shot out.
"Kim!" Monique shrieked.
"What?" They landed on the edge of the ball, then sprung to the ground. Kim could hear the lasers rebounding inside. A chain with a knife attached jumped out of the opening, hovered in the air for a moment, and was dragged back down.
"You have to get out of here now!" Monique snapped. "Now. And Eric—"
Eric? Where was Eric? Kim couldn't see him anywhere. All she could see was Ron, just barely appearing in the open doorway.
"Oh Kimmie!" Shego sang. She appeared from seemingly nowhere, knocking Monique to the floor, who immediately picked herself up. Then Shego did her best to ram her fist into Kim's stomach.
But that couldn't be Shego's best…
"Kim!" Ron shouted, his voice barely audible above the racket of lasers and knives with in the bomb.
Kim shoved Shego out of the way, knocking her into the bomb. Hard.
"No, Kim!" Monique again. Monique was new to these missions, though. Kim would just have to excuse her that.
Out of the corner of her eye she could see Ron racing toward her… And Eric was there, a huge piece of metal in hand, coming at Drakken.
But Drakken wasn't paying attention. He himself was running toward Shego and the bomb. "No, you fool! Such a racket will activate it early! Now I have to try and remember the instructions for setting it off—"
The bomb was going to go off? They couldn't escape…
The bomb began to shake, vibrating metal and lasers now shooting out of the opening, tearing holes in the ceiling. And then, just as Drakken was to it, a horrible explosion shook the room.
Monique screamed.
Kim threw herself to the floor. This couldn't be happening. She was going to die. On prom night. A bomb. How was she expected to deal with a stupid bomb this far under ground? She was going to die. And Eric and Monique were going to die wit her.
And Ron. Why had he come?
Why was she thinking about Ron? Somehow he was right there, in her mind, as she waited…
She looked up. What was taking so long. She had heard the explosion…
In the corner where the bomb and Shego and Drakken had been was a huge billowing cloud of red gas. But not big enough. A few pipes lay around, some wood. But…
"That's it?" she said aloud, climbing to her feet. "That was it?"
Monique was there, not far, and looking as panicked as ever. "Kim, it's not what it looks like!"
But what else could it be? A low-effect bomb, but Drakken and Shego buried somewhere beneath it all… "Monique, what are you talking about?"
"Eric! Don't trust him, he—"
And suddenly, as if on cue, Eric was there. He looked a little shell-shocked, but otherwise fine. "Don't worry, Monique. I'm right here. Right here for Kim."
Monique rolled her eyes. "Kim, don't you even think about—"
Eric interrupted her. "Wow, Kim. That was amazing. I've never seen you so… wow, you are incredible." He opened his arms wide.
A hug would be good at a time like this… But something was wrong. She walked into Eric's arms, loving the way he smelled. He squeezed her tight, breathing into her hair.
"Put her down, you creep!" Monique screamed.
What in the world… Eric wouldn't…
She felt something hard and much too strong clamp around her wrists, which had been looped around Eric's neck. What the… The same thing went around her ankles. She fell into Eric's chest.
"Kim!" Two screams. Two voices.
Eric was laughing. He lifted her arms up and off of his neck.
She couldn't move. She was paralyzed.
Eric laughed, worse than ever before, and held up a small remote. "Drakken worked hard to steal these," Eric said. "So I'm so glad he let me play with them. Especially on you."
"Eric!" She could barely speak. This didn't make any sense. This was Eric. He wasn't involved with Drakken. He couldn't be.
Out of the corner of her eye, something moved from the rubble. Shego stepped from the cloud of gas, smiling, completely unharmed. Like a ghost… Drakken wasn't far behind her.
"Kimmie has trouble with guys, doesn't she?" Shego asked. "I feel for you. Men tend to suck. Though I think we all admit Eric Ullman here was a marvelous actor."
Eric winked at her. "You weren't bad for a redhead, Kim. I shall think of you when I get into my drama program at college."
An actor? Kim tried to whirl around. Monique was too scared to move.
"And this," Drakken said, gesturing at the mess of the bomb. "We stole the designs from this Hollywood special effects guy. He makes wonderful stuff. Had to make it look convincing."
"Because I wouldn't trust Drakken with any real technology," Shego said dryly. "But this stuff, the instantaneous shackles device, is great. Unfortunately, it's very tricky to use against someone as smart as you, Kimmie."
How could she have been so stupid? Where was Ron? Why wasn't he doing something?
Monique sighed. Apparently she would be the one to take charge. "I'm not—"
Shego ran at her. As much as Monique loved sports, she just wasn't particularly athletic. Shego had her down in seconds.
"You creep," Kim tried to say, but it came out as the most silent of whispers. At least she could still cry, as Eric dragged her off to who knew where.
What had she done?
What had happened to Ron?
SHOUT OUTS!
Ace Lannigan: I shall attend to them. Thanks!
Avalon Estel: Thanks!
Bratty: That's true. Bonnie can dress.
buenconacho: I think I already used the Bonnie element, actually. Which is scary.
Classic Cowboy: And much with the rumble. Thanks!
Forlong: Ron will deal with Eric, I promise. )
Frosty Pickle Juice: Happy Spring Break!
fryfan: Hey, Ron is the only one who deserves to deal with Eric.
Jamie McFly: You find it FUNNY Monique was kidnapped! My own sister…
JOArocks: I've wanted them to be together since episode 1.
jokerisdaring: Thanks! And I hope I won't disappoint you.
Kiona Kina: Stupid, stupid Kim. I hope she learned her lesson in this chapter.
kpShadowGirl: Poor Monique. Well, I've never really seen her defend herself except for fifteen years in the future, so hey. Okay, I will not put Kim's wrath upon you.
krenya-alenak: Rufus is there. He's sneaky like that, so Ron hasn't a clue.
LJ Fan: Yay for Madeline!
monkaholic: Squee! Fellow Monk fan! You rock! Thanks so much!
MtnRon: And he will be kicking it, I assure you.
mzgina13: I think it would be freaky if they use some of my elements.. though I'm afraid my Bonnie thing was half-right. Thank-you so much! This is actually the best I've felt with characters in a fic.
Quigley's Sweater: But what if I'm too right? Nice name, Rach.
RainSprite03: Coolest cheese. I really like. Thanks.
Spice of Life: I will cry if they don't get together!
Widow-Shark: Thanks! Ooh, I shall check it out…
WWLAOS: I"ve always wanted to see a little more out of Tara as well. She seemed irritating. The sweetest cheerleader imaginable. I was hoping for more with her and Ron. Oh well. Even though I did enjoy my prom at the airport terminal, I decided to be boring and go with a school. Though I do envy you for the barn…
