Chapter 1
Middleton High School was smaller than she remembered. But it smelled the same, and nothing brings back a memory so vividly as a familiar smell. She felt her knees go weak under the strain of all those memories. They hung upon her like a wet blanket, or a hundred wet towels, each one dripping with the same name.
Ron.
She was trying to remember exactly when it began. In some ways it began in preschool where they met; the foundation of a love deeper than she thought was possible. The pun wasn't lost on her, and she giggled, relieved at the temporary levity. Fortunately, the music, growing louder as they approached the doors to the gym, drowned out her giggle and her fiancé didn't hear it.
For an instant, her thoughts turned to her fiancé. His name was Raymond Beam. Kim called him Raymond but all their friends, and even his parents, called him Ray. He was tall, with rugged good looks. Two years ago he came to her lab to apply for a job and was turned down. The next day he showed up and asked her out. Again, he was turned down. A week later he came back asking for both a job and a date. That day, Dr. James Possible had been visiting his daughter in her lab and Ray introduced himself. Kim's father was impressed with the young man and hired Ray on the spot for a position in his cybertronics lab. Ray smiled broadly at his good fortune and turned to her.
"At least I won half the battle", he said with a grin.
Kim giggled and blushed slightly. Well, if her dad had seen something promising in him, shouldn't she at least give him a chance? With Ron's voice echoing somewhere in the furthest corners of her mind, she accepted Ray's offer for a date. The first one since she and Ron had parted ways
The relationship progressed as relationships often do. Ray was a good listener, attentive, understanding. She wanted to be honest with him. She told him all about her relationship with Ron; the friendship, the romance, the painful ending. She even confided in him that there were probably some unresolved issues regarding Ron, even though she hadn't seen him in four years. Raymond understood. He was patient, tender, a good kisser… Their relationship deepened. Ray got along famously with Kim's family, even with her brothers.
Jim and Tim had mellowed as they got into high school. Since Kim moved out of the house, they realized how much she meant to them, and their antagonizing behavior faded away. They now had their own superhero operation, complete with website and modified battlesuits, all of which they designed and constructed themselves. No need to bother Wade anymore. They called themselves Twin Possible, and their website informed visitors that "Everything is possible, sometimes it's Twin Possible." They battled some of Kim's old nemeses, and in their time, a few new supervillains had arisen.
Kim had, of course, retired from hero work. She tried going solo for awhile after parting ways with Ron, but it was just too painful. She simply felt incomplete.She needed to take a new direction in her life, so in college she concentrated on getting her masters in medicine, with a second degree in cyber-engineering. Kim Possible, the product of a Rocket Scientist and a Brain Surgeon, was the world's foremost authority in the research of replacing damaged brain tissue with compatible cyber-technology. Already some of her designs were being used in the field of medicine in rehabilitating patients with mild brain damage. Naturally, Kim was not satisfied with this. Currently she was working on a completely functioning artificial human brain, capable of controlling everything from heart and lung functions to the ability to philosophize and rationalize. It was her goal that one day, severely brain damaged people could be given what was, in essence, a new brain, capable of everything a healthy, living, natural brain was capable of. Ten years ago the very concept would have sounded like farfetched science fiction, but today, she was on the cusp of a real breakthrough. The current working models were the size of a telephone booth. All she needed to figure out was a way to make them small enough to fit inside the human skull. Last year, she was given the Nobel prize in the field of medical research after she successfully copied the functions, thoughts and personality of a lab rat onto a functioning artificial brain. Since the process was, in essence, a cut and paste type of operation, the rat remained unharmed. This was a beneficial side-effect of her research. If anything went wrong in the transfer process, the original living brain remained unharmed and was still able to function. Kim was eager to begin tests on human subjects.
Her work was not without its detractors, however. Many ethicists felt there was too much potential for evil in Kim's work. One noted philosopher was convinced that eventually people would see her work as a road to immortality, and those with normal and healthy functioning brains would try to extend their lives with an artificial one. Kim knew, however, that her intentions were to help save and restore lives, not unnaturally extend them. She stayed out of the public eye as much as she could.
And as much as he could, Raymond tried to shield her from prying reporters, or people who were against her work. Early on, there had been a few break-ins at the lab, but Kim had made sure the lab was guarded with the most state-of-the-art security systems. Once, a supervillain by the name of Goliath Kilgore smashed through one of the walls, took Kim hostage, and hung her over a vat of boiling acid, threatening her demise if she didn't give him artificial brain technology. She refused, of course, and was working on an escape plan when the twins showed up. A brief battle thwarted Goliath and he was carted off to a maximum security prison. Kim took a month off from research while the lab wall was replaced and new security measures designed and installed by the twins were put in place. In that month, she and Raymond grew close, and he asked her to marry him. Kim told him she would have to think about it. She tried to get in touch with Ron somehow, but his parents couldn't say where he was. Only that he showed up every few months to celebrate the various Jewish Holy days with them and then would vanish again. Wade had changed his phone number and couldn't be reached. She hadn't talked to him in a few years either. Unable to get in touch with Ron, and thus unable to get some kind of closure on their relationship, Kim hesitantly said 'yes' to Raymond's proposal. They decided to set a wedding date a year from that day. The proposal had been, of course, last year which meant the wedding would be a week after the reunion. In six days, Kim Possible would become Kimberly Anne Beam, though she would still keep 'Possible' as her professional name.
Kim was trying to sort through all of these memories when Raymond opened the doors of the school gym, and the music's volume increased tenfold. Still holding his hand, they stepped through the doors, and into the darkened gym. Monique was instantly upon them, hugging Kim and shaking Raymond's hand. Kim was introduced to Monique's latest boyfriend, Chile Garcia, a minor-league baseball player; the star pitcher for the Upperton Wildcats with hot prospects for playing in the major leagues.
Monique guided them all to a table she had been saving and they sat down. Ray and Monique were talking, so Kim felt she should break the ice with Chile.
"So, how do you like life on the pitcher's mound?" Kim asked him good-naturedly.
"It's terrific. I only have to work a few hours a week, and I get all the hot dogs I can eat." He joked.
"Lucky you", she replied "Are hot dogs your favorite?"
"Alas, no", he said with mock wistfulness, "My favorite food is no longer available. Well, Monique makes them for me sometimes, but they're just not the same."
"Makes what", Kim asked in a tremulous voice. She already knew the answer.
"It's called a 'Naco', it's a blend of a taco and nachos. I know it sounds weird, but they used to be available at Bueno Nacho before they closed down…"
Chile continued talking, but Kim could no longer hear him. Her head swam in a daze. It wasn't just the mention of Ron's favorite food. The DJ was playing a familiar song; a ballad began to drift through the gym. It was called "Could it be", and it was their song, hers and Ron's.
As if from a far away distance, Kim heard Raymond ask if she wanted to dance.
To this song? Was he insane?
"No, not right now. Maybe next one." She said absently. Very absently. Her body may have been at the reunion, but her mind was far, far away. Not in another place, but in another time. The Prom. Ten years ago in this very gym. That's where it had really begun.
The night was cool. Kim was warm. Ron had given her his coat to wear. They had left the Prom an hour ago and decided to go for a walk, though not to anywhere in particular. They didn't say much, and what they did say to each other was spoken in soft tones, as though a voice at normal volume might somehow break the spell. Kim certainly felt as if she were under one.
She had been infatuated with Eric, and embarrassed beyond belief when it turned out he was a Syntho-drone. But in that moment, when Ron confessed his feelings for her, the way only Ron could, she had come to a realization. Drakken had beaten her with something that didn't exist; the perfect boy. In hindsight she wondered how she could have been so blind. Eric actually insisted on an earlier curfew?
Robot boyfriend alert!
In hindsight, the red flags where Eric was concerned were all over the place; He thought her world-saving hobby was cool. He got along with Ron, initially, and with her father and mother. She and Eric never argued. Eric was always so agreeable and supportive, and… fake.
Tied to a giant synthetic cactus – and it was with a little amusement she realized she had actually been in weirder situations – she concluded that real love was human, not perfect. Real love meant that your boyfriend should be your best friend. Who better to have an emotionally intimate relationship with than someone who knew and understood her more than anyone else alive? Yes, the relationship with Eric had all the excitement of getting to know someone new. But this was different. It was almost as if she were getting to know Ron all over again, while at the same time, she knew and understood him in ways no one else could.
She squeezed his hand and laid her head on his shoulder. He was humming softly to himself. Rufus was asleep in his pocket.
"What is that?" She asked him dreamily.
"What's what?" he replied softly.
"That song you're humming."
"Oh…it's the song that was playing when we kissed. I want to make sure I don't forget it. It's a good song, it fits us. I bet you could sing it just as good." He smiled at her shyly.
She leaned up and kissed his cheek, "It does fit us. We should make that our song."
"Yeah? You think? Wow…" Ron's voice trailed off.
"What?"
"I dunno. Having a song kinda feels, I don't know, permanent."
Kim stopped abruptly. Ron tripped and almost fell over.
"You don't want something that feels permanent?" she asked with a slight edge in her voice.
Ron straightened up and looked deep into her eyes. "You know I do, KP. I thought maybe – you know – you might not."
She took his face in her hands and pulled him to her. The kiss seemed to last forever, and at the same time ended too soon.
"I don't do this with anyone I'm dating casually," she said breathlessly pulling her face away from his, "You mean more to me than you know. Maybe even more than I realize."
"Wow… I don't know what to say", he said almost in a whisper.
"One of the nice things about us is that sometimes we don't have to say anything at all," she said laying her head on his shoulder again.
"We have a song." Ron said in wonder and began humming it again softly.
Kim smiled to herself.
Three minutes before Kim's curfew was to take effect, her parents were surprised to find Ron standing at the door instead of Eric. Kim was wearing Ron's jacket. And what exactly was that huge smile on her face all about?
"I'll explain it all later", Kim said to her parents, "Let me say goodnight to Ron first."
They stepped outside and closed the door, which raised eyebrows in the Possible household even further. Kim came back in a moment later, alone.
"Does Ron need a ride home?", her father asked.
"No. He said he'll just walk", Kim murmured in a dreamy voice, "Good night, everyone."
"We saw the news about Drakken." Her mother called up the stairs after her, "Did you at least have fun at the Prom?"
"I had the night of my life, Mom. Goodnight!"
Kim slipped into her pajamas and opened her window to gaze out at what had been the perfect night. Brushing her hair, she lost herself in the memory of that first kiss at the Prom, and the ones that followed. The night was perfectly still, and all was quiet. From somewhere far off, either down the street or the next block, a triumphant, joyous victory cry echoed back to her; faint but audible.
"Booooyaah!"
A dog barked, and then all was quiet again. Kim went to bed happier than she could ever remember, and dreamed.
"Ron is here."
Kim was jolted out of her daydreaming by Monique's voice. Chile had given up talking to her and was getting them all some drinks. Raymond was sitting next to her with a sullen look on his face. He had pulled out his cell phone. Kim shook the cobwebs of distant memories from her mind.
"What?"
"Ron is here," Monique said again. "Tera said she just saw him in the parking lot. He's probably at the school doors by now."
"Honey," Raymond interrupted, "I need to make a phone call."
"Yeah, sure, whatever," Kim responded in a daze. Ron had come after all. What was she going to do? On the other hand, this might be an opportunity to hash things out with Ron and get some clos-
BOOM!
The high school was rocked by a thunderous explosion. The music stopped instantly and everyone was thrown off their feet. Kim dove to the ground as yet another explosion erupted nearby. The gym remained intact, but Kim knew the blasts were close. A few people screamed in terror. Kim got up and sprinted for the gym doors. She threw them open and found a war zone outside. Little remained of the hallway, and the front doors of the school were gone, replaced by a two story gaping hole in the school's facade. Wisps of smoke drifted from various piles of fresh rubble. No one seemed to be hurt. Although, Kim thought grimly to herself, if anyone had been here, they would have been vaporized-
Ron.
NO!
Kim stood staring in disbelief at the wreckage. If Ron had been here, then he was… she couldn't even finish the thought. Tears began to well up in her eyes. Her world swam, as though reality were turning to liquid. Looking wildly about, she spotted a shadowy figure perched on the roof above where the front doors had been. Whoever it was, he or she was dressed in ninja style garb; a jet black outfit with thin crimson stripes in certain places such as the hands and the feet. One thin stripe up each arm, and down each leg. On the chest was the crimson likeness of a samurai sword; a katana. Strapped to the ninja's back was a real katana. The face was covered save for the eyes which were looking directly at her. Whoever it was, he or she would know something about what just happened. The shadowy figure disappeared.
Kim went after it.
