Shout outs to: Jezriana 2.0, LKillingsworth, Jessica Ann (aka Widow Shark), Classic Cowboy, JPMod, aimtbj, SestrenNK, CptnShort, and Mithlond88.

All bets are now closed as to Deathray's true identity:


Chapter 7

This didn't look good.

This just did not look good.

And he wasn't the only one who thought so.

"This doesn't look good", Wade said in his ear.

He could hear Kim behind him, trying to catch her breath. They 'd spent the past twenty minutes fighting. She was out of shape, and he had taken a pretty fair beating. The nose still throbbed, having met Kim's fist at high velocity not half an hour ago. Right now neither of them was in any condition to take on a villain in a giant mechanical suit.

Behind all this, of course, were the raw emotions coursing through Ronin's mind. Kim had hit him, and then they fought. But she didn't know it was him. At least, she didn't know who it really was under the ninja's mask. And she looked so angry, and hurt, and beautiful, and a little afraid… and all this he had to push aside because right now their lives were in danger.

Deathray stood there, making no move, making no noise. He seemed to be regarding them both but it was hard to tell, since the mechanized suit had no eyes to speak of. The front of the suit was graced with a reflective sort of windshield that looked like the canopy of a jet fighter. They couldn't see through it, and thus couldn't see who was inside. Five seconds had passed since Deathray landed. He hadn't moved since.

Ten seconds.

Things seemed to be turning into a standoff.

"I scanned Deathray with everything I can think of. All I can tell you is that it's your basic mechanized battlesuit with various focused-beam weapons. There's a heat signature inside that looks human, which means there is definitely someone in there." Wade told him.

There was no breeze now, the air seemed to grow hot with the mounting tension.

Twenty seconds, something had to be done.

"What's he waiting for?" He heard Kim mutter under her breath.


"What's he waiting for?" Kim muttered under her breath.

Hench had ordered a bunch of his men to surround her and Ron, but hadn't given the order to attack.

"Well, sheriff," Ron said in his best Texan accent, "Looks like we got ourselves an old fashioned standoff. Come on, who wants a jalapeno-flavored booty whoopin?"

"You really miss Bueno Nacho, don't you?" Kim asked sympathetically

"Is it that obvious?"

"Get them," Hench ordered.

Kim leaped and dropped the goon closest to her, then vaulted off him to the next, "It's nothing to be ashamed of…"

Flying kick. Guard went down. Moved on to the next bad guy.

"…I miss it too. Have you heard when the Middleton Bueno Nacho is supposed to open again?"

"The corporate website says it's closed for another month," Ron said dejectedly.

Kim knocked two heads together and sprang into a combat-ready stance as three others moved in on her.

"Tell you what, sweetie," she offered, dropping one guard and taking on the next, "I promise I will take you there opening night…"

Roundhouse kick, somersault, next guy.

"…and you can stuff yourself full of Nacos." Redirected momentum of a charging bad guy straight into a wall, "My treat, how's that sound?"

"Like heaven", he said dreamily, "But you should let me treat. I mean you got to save your money for college and stuff."

Two more charged, she jumped into the air, and they crashed into each other.

"Ron, sometimes a girl wants to give her boyfriend something he really wants, " she explained, rapid-punching yet another guard into submission, "I can't do that if you pay. I mean, that is something you'd like, right?"

"Are you kidding? You and Bueno Nacho are my two favorite things on earth… I mean…not that you're a thing, I know you're a person, I just meant that-"

"I know what you meant," she assured him. She had come to a halt nearby and noticed three guards laying in a heap at his feet.

"Well, look at you, superhero!" she exclaimed.

He looked a little sheepish, "Well, you gotta figure after dropping a sumo-ninja, getting exposed to mystical monkey power and attending ninja school," he clamped a hand to his mouth, "Woops, forget I said that last one. Anyway, you gotta figure I was due sooner or later."

"You certainly seem more confident these days," she said sidling up to him.

"I noticed that," he agreed, "I think you're rubbing off on me."

"After all this time together? Seems like kind of a late bloom."

"Well…you know…", he began to turn red, "Power of love and all that."

"Awwwww," she said, melting, "That is so sweet!" She looked into his eyes, and leaned in to kiss him.

"Uh…KP?"

"Yes?" She said dreamily.

"I think the mission's still on," he whispered urgently.

"The…what?" suddenly she remembered herself, "Oh, right! The mission!" she spun around, "Give it up, Drakken!"

"Hench", Ron whispered behind her.

"Give it up, Hench!"

OK, she thought, that was a Ron moment. We seem to be rubbing off on each other.

"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about" Hench insisted.

"Yeah…whatever, buddy," Ron argued, "We know you told Kilgore where he could put the hurt on us."

"And we want to know why," Kim added.

"Honestly, the teenage imagination is fraught with conspiracy theories. Kilgore hates me, or hadn't you heard?" Hench said condescendingly.

Kim looked around at the goons, some of whom were beginning to regain consciousness.

"Molecular enhancers?" She asked.

"What of it?" Hench asked in return.

Kim took out the Kimunicator.

"Wade, I got a bunch of bad guys all wearing Molecular Enhancers."

"Hold the Kimunicator at arm's length", he told her.

She did, and it began to glow brightly. She leaped to the nearest guard and touched him with the device. The sounds of pops and fizzles accompanied what appeared to be a rapidly deflating guard. When the guard reached his normal size, it became obvious the Molecular Enhancer was fused and inoperable.

"No!" Hench cried, "Those are extremely expensive! To say nothing of the guard's pension."

"Your goons have benefits?" Ron asked.

"It's a very powerful union," Hench informed him.

"Dental?"

"Everything except braces."

"Not bad!"

"Getting back to the subject at hand," Kim said rolling her eyes, "You were just about to reveal why you sent Kilgore after us."

"I didn't," Hench insisted, "No, really. I got an e-mail from a very large association promising me a ton of business if I got you out of the way."

"What association?" Kim demanded.

"Something called the World Organization of Evil," Hench stated

"Whoa!" Ron exclaimed.

"No, that's WOE," Hench corrected him

"What?"

"Not 'what', WOE."

"That's what I said! Whoa!"

"It's not Whoa! It's WOE! You said Whoa!"

"Right, Whoa!"

"RON!", Kim roared.

"Whoa!" Ron and Hench exclaimed simultaneously.

"Jinx! You owe me a soda!" Ron declared triumphantly.

"There's a machine in the lobby", Hench informed him.

"Shut it! Both of you!" Kim ordered.

Silence.

"All right then, tell me, what's whoa- aargh! What is W.O.E.?" Kim said, beginning to boil over.

"It's whoa," Ron suggested helpfully.

"Firmly established, Ron!" she snapped at him

"I don't know who they are," Hench explained, "They made a huge order for Molecular Enhancers and then put it on hold. When I asked 'why' they said I was to get rid of Kim Possible before they would proceed any further."

"What about Ron Stoppable?" Ron demanded.

"Feeling left out?" Kim asked.

"A little," Ron answered, "No one ever remembers the sidekick."

"I promise I won't forget him!", Kim said warmly.

"Anyway," Hench continued, giving them an odd look, "They wanted me to get rid of you."

"So you sent Kilgore after us." Ron concluded.

"I simply sent him an anonymous text message with the address of the treehouse. What he did with that information is not my responsibility." Hench said defensively.

"Oh," Kim said innocently, "So if I have my techno-guy send a virus into your computer system, what that virus does is not my responsibility."

"Meh", Hench said unthreatened, "I have the latest virus protection."

"But do you have surge protection?" Kim asked. She pushed a button on the Kimunicator, "Do it, Wade."

"On it," Wade acknowledged, "I've re-routed electrical power from the surrounding area into Hench's labs and offices, it'll be there in 3…2…1."

Right on cue, every computer terminal, workstation and piece of electronic equipment began to pop and sizzle. Showers of sparks erupted everywhere. Ron yelped and covered his head. The lights overloaded and went out. After roughly sixty seconds, everything quieted down.

"My work!" Hench complained, "All my records, all the research on the Molecular Enhancer…"

"Fried like a chicken in Kentucky!" Ron answered for him.

"You are so shut down", Kim declared triumphantly. "Come on, Ron, you wanna see a movie tonight?"

"Ooh!", Ron got excited, "Can we see 'Space Conflict'?"

"That old movie? What's it doing back in theaters?"

They began to walk away, leaving John Hench to stand miserably in the sad remains of his company.

"The director re-did the special effects and added three minutes of new footage!" Ron said brightly.


Thirty seconds passed.

Kim and Ronin were still in a semi-crouch, ready for anything, yet Deathray just stood there facing them.

"I have examined the machine and confirmed there is someone inside," She heard the ninja say.

"What is he waiting for?" Kim asked him quietly.

"I do not have an answer for that," Ronin said, "But now you know everything I know about Lord Deathray."

Kim felt a pang of regret. She was so eager to find Deathray, and so sure this Ronin person could tell her something. Quickly recalling their fight, she realized the ninja had not thrown a single punch. He blocked as best he could, but she guessed she had hurt him with the few punches and kicks she managed to land, especially that surprise blow to his face. Another pang of regret. Whoever he was, Ronin was probably trying to bring Deathray to justice. Didn't Jim say he'd saved the twins' lives on more than one occasion? After all, he'd saved her life on the roof of the school that night.

First day back on the job, Kim thought to herself, and you've already beaten up an innocent stranger. Nice going.

Her back began to ache. She hadn't fought anyone in at least five years. And her bout with Ronin had taken its toll. She wasn't sure what she would have done if she were up here alone. She certainly couldn't take Deathray by herself, not in the condition she was currently in. It suddenly occurred to her that Ronin might be the most important person in the world to her right now. He was the only link to Deathray, and clearly he and Deathray were not friends.

Abruptly she straightened up and walked a few paces toward the machine.

"What do you want with me?" She demanded.

Deathray finally spoke, "I have no quarrel with you. This fight is between me and the one known as Ronin."

Kim was a bit confused, "Aren't you Lord Deathray?"

"Yes", he answered.

"But the other night at the school, you said you had come to annihilate both me and my-… and Ron Stoppable," She said, remembering Deathray also spoke with a slight accent that night but now seemed to be none.

"I… misspoke. My intentions were only for Ron Stoppable and the one behind you called Ronin," Deathray replied.

"Who is Ronin?" Kim demanded.

Silence. It stretched out.

"Who is Ronin? You said you knew who he was the other night. Who is he?"

She didn't need to wait for an answer to realize he actually didn't know anything about Ronin, it was all just bad guy bravado. Fake English accent, 'misspeaking'… And it occurred to her that Deathray had been beaten pretty easily that night at the high school. Sure, her brothers and Ronin knew what they were doing, but they were ready to continue the fight when he just flew off. Deathray, as far as villains went, was a rank amateur.

Knowing this, all she needed to figure out was who had Ron made enemies with recently, and what did it have to do with Ronin? Who would want to kill Ron and Ronin?

Ron she thought to herself.

Ronin, she thought to herself.

Ronin.

Ron.

Ron.

In.

Ron…


"Ron!" she said angrily, "I think you'd better go!"

"Yeah," he said half-heartedly, "I guess I better."

They had left the cineplex twenty minutes ago and were in her room having a discussion on the merits of re-releasing old movies into theaters.

"I just don't see the point if all there is, is three minutes of new footage!" she stated.

"And all new special effects", Ron said sounding a little testy. "You just don't get it."

"I get it fine," she insisted, "It's all about making a quick buck."

"Excuse me?" Ron said indignantly, "It's a completely different movie with the three minutes of new stuff. Now we know that the Space Wizard is the father of the Whiny Stellar Teen! That's totally different from the original version!"

"You could have figured that out without the extra footage! It's just three minutes of people celebrating the defeat of the Galactic Baron! It's nothing!" Kim said, an edge in her voice.

"It's not nothing!" Ron insisted, "You just don't get it because you're a girl. Girls don't get this stuff."

It had actually gotten out of Ron's mouth before he had a chance to stop it. He watched her turn white and then a deep red.

"Ron! I think you'd better go!"

"Yeah, I guess I better."

Ron trudged home depressed and angry at himself. Well, that was that. The relationship lasted a whole – what was it, maybe two months? Still it was the longest relationship he'd had with a girlfriend.

But then something occurred to Ron that brought a sick feeling to his stomach. Not only was their relationship over, but this probably meant their friendship was over as well.

Nice going, Stoppable he berated himself You gotta be the biggest idiot on the planet.

No more sidekick either. She'd probably go get Monique to back her up on missions from now on.

A tear escaped his eye.

All because of his big mouth!

He walked home sadder than he could remember, and cried himself to sleep.


"You know, if you elimated the buffoon, eventually Kimmie would forget all about him," Shego said casually. Her head was on his chest, she played absently with his chest hair., "Then she'd be completely yours."

"If you want to take him out, be my guest", Ray responded just as casually.

"Well, I wasn't thinking about me. Frankly, he can live his life until it ends naturally for all I care. It's just that you're constantly complaining about him, and you've never even met him," she said pointedly.

It hadn't occurred to him before. But when she put it like that…

Wow.

Rage began to burn within him. Ron Stoppable had wormed his way into his relationship with Shego! And this was someone Kim hadn't seen for six years! Ray didn't even know Ron and he hated him. Suddenly, Stoppable's death began to sound like a viable option.

"But I can't do that", he snapped, "People go to jail for that kind of thing, you know."

"They sure do", she agreed turning to look at him with eyes as green as poison, "But that doesn't mean Ray Beam has to do it."

Ray stared at her, not comprehending.

"Superheroes aren't the only ones with secret identities", she purred.

A slow smile spread across his face. It was perfect. Kim and Ron had fought all kinds of villains in their day, it would make sense if some villain terminated Ron Stoppable in an act of vengeance. So out comes Mr. Bad Guy, kills Ron Stoppable, Kim cries for a couple of days, and then she'd be all his. No one would ever have to know. And he wouldn't have to hear Kim say another word… well, she'd probably talk about him, but eventually he would fade into the past.

"Yeah", he said, smiling darkly at her, "That's perfect."

And thus Lord Deathray was born.

It had gone pretty well. He constructed the suit out of stuff at her father's lab. Shego found them a decent lair in the warehouse district. Abandoned, of course, but serviceable. Besides, it was only temporary. It took six months to build the suit, and Shego helped him learn the basics of combat. Rough at first, but things began to smooth out. Shego proved to be an enthusiastic helper, even coming up with the perfect opportunity to strike at Stoppable. At the high school reunion there would be plenty of witnesses to see Lord Deathray kill Ron Stoppable.

In a bit of inspired brilliance, Ray developed a remote control device that looked like a cell phone. He could pilot the suit, fire the weapons, all by remote. If need be, he could find an opportunity to climb in and do battle with Stoppable, not that it would prove any great feat. Then, all he needed was an opportunity to climb back out of the suit without anyone seeing, fly it away, and come to Kim's rescue as she absorbed the shock of losing Ron.

There had been a complication, though.

Ronin.

Whoever he was, he must have seen Ray climb into the machine while it was in the field behind the school.

"If you wish to fight, climb out of that suit and face me", the ninja had challenged.

Ray was reaching for the latch. He could take this guy. But then Shego's voice came over the communicator.

"Ray, honey, if you get out of the suit, people will see you."

"But he knows someone's in here" Ray protested, "He probably saw me climb in."

"Doy!" Shego admonished him, "It's a huge, mechanical battlesuit. It's not hard to guess someone's inside. He's trying to get you to expose yourself."

"Do not taunt me." He shouted into the microphone, "I know who you are, samurai. I will not climb out of my suit unless you climb out of yours,"

"Yeah, there you go", Shego said in mock approval.

So he'd fought his battle and was almost conquered. No one saw him climb out of the suit when it crashed to the floor. It all went off without a hitch.

Well, for the most part, anyway. He couldn't get that ninja out of his mind. But there was something else, something that ate at him in the darkest places of his soul.

He liked being a villain.

OK, so the English accent was a stupid idea. And maybe it would be wise to just let things rest. Then again, he couldn't help thinking about how much he enjoyed the villainy. All those screams of terror at the school. Kim's pathetic misery. The fear, the intimidation, the forced respect. Yeah, he liked this.

So, why not one more outing as Deathray? Kill Ronin and everything would be wrapped up nice and neat. No mysterious ninjas who might find out his secret. No witnesses, no loose ends.

But instead of no loose ends, he arrived to find an extra one. He'd picked up the same signal of the aircraft that had been at the warehouse the night of the reunion. So he set out to eliminate the ninja.

He was startled to find his fiancé engaged in personal combat with Ronin. What was this about? When she'd asked for the wedding to be postponed, he assumed it was so she could grieve, and get some closure. She hadn't mentioned anything about coming out of retirement.. Maybe she thought Ronin was Stoppable's killer?

Then they turned to face him, squaring off like some superhero team. Ray began to hate this ninja. Deep down, he realized he probably hated Kim Possible as well. Why couldn't she just do what she was told? Grieve for Ron and then become his woman. That was all she had to do. But no, here she was, apparently trying to avenge Stoppable's death?

"What are you doing?" Shego demanded. "You've been standing there forever!"

"My fiancé is here", he protested.

"I can see that", Shego said placidly.

"What do you want with me?", he heard Kim's voice from outside.

"I have no quarrel with you" he said slowly, "This fight is between me and the one called Ronin."

"Aren't you Lord Deathray?"

"Yes", he answered, confused.

"But the other night at the school, you said you had come to annihilate both me and my-… and Ron Stoppable."

Woops, how was he going to talk his way out of this? "I… misspoke. My intentions were only for Ron Stoppable and the one behind you called Ronin,"

"Who is Ronin?" Kim demanded.

"Shego what do I do?" He said, turning off the microphone.

"Fight", Shego replied.

"What!"

"Think about it, Ray. Either she wins, and you're dead. Or you win, and she dies, in which case no one but you will have ever gotten to posses her." Shego paused to let it sink in, "But if you fight her and neither of you win…you get to knock Kim Possible around and she has no idea it's you. She could spend the rest of her life hunting Lord Deathray. You smack her around during the day as her arch foe, and welcome her home at night as the loving husband."

Shego may not have been wearing a battlesuit, but she knew how to push buttons.

"Besides," Shego cooed, "If you do beat her, you get to come home to me. And no one will ever know Ray Beam killed his fiancé."

Suddenly, Kim's voice again.

"Who is Ronin? You said you knew who he was the other night. Who is he?"

Ray looked down at her from his perch inside the battlesuit. She was proud, defiant, disrespectful… everything she had no right to be.

Smack her around during the day, Ray thought, slipping over to the dark side, play the loving husband at night.

He raised his weapon and fired.


Ron slept until noon. He couldn't bring himself to get out of bed. When he finally did drag his sorry self downstairs, wearing only his boxers, his hair a frightening mess, he was surprised to find Kim sitting at the kitchen table, reading a magazine.

"Good afternoon!' she said brightly.

Ron just stared at her with sleepy eyes.

"I made you some breakfast", she said, getting up, "Well, I didn't make it. I picked up some doughnuts on the way over."

She went to the refrigerator and took out a pink pastry box and a carton of milk.

"Did you come for your stuff?", Ron asked in a scratchy voice.

"What stuff?" she inquired.

"Just some stuff you've left here over the years, "he explained, "I got it in a box upstairs.

"Ron, what do you…OK, you should really put on some pants before we continue this conversation."

Ron was suddenly self-conscious. He turned and trudged back upstairs.

"Where's my parents?" he called over his shoulder.

"Country club!", she called up after him.

Five minutes later, Ron was dressed, his hair having had a chance meeting with a comb.

"Let's talk about last night," she said taking a chair opposite him.

"I thought we broke up last night," Ron said listlessly.

"Ron", she said, her voice taking on a nurturing tone, "We had a fight. It happens to all couples."

"Zita and I never fought," he countered.

"Ron, you and Zita went out for, like, twenty-two minutes."

"What's your point?"

"My point is," she said patiently, "That you don't just break up with someone because you have a fight. When two people love each other", and here they both flushed a little. Everything still felt new, "They work through their conflicts. If they're good at it, they usually come out stronger on the other side of the argument."

"Hmm", Ron said through a mouth full of doughnut, "That makes sense. Did you read this in your magazine?"

"Talked to my mom this morning", she said a little sheepishly, "I kinda thought we broke up, too. She helped me realize that this would be a really stupid thing to split over."

"Wow. Remind me to send your mom some flowers," he said gratefully.

"You've never sent me flowers", she said indignantly.

"Remind me to send you flowers," he said quickly, "And then your mom."

"By the way", he continued haltingly, "I'm sorry about what I said last night. It really was stupid."

"No argument there," she said grinning, "I guess I don't get the whole 'three minutes of new footage' thing, but that doesn't mean it's because I'm a girl."

"You're right," he agreed.

They sat in silence for a moment.

"Hey," he said brightening, "Remember how you came up with those rules about how we act on missions?"

She nodded.

"Maybe we should do the same thing about arguments."

"Rules during an argument?" She asked, a little confused.

"Well, yeah!" he said, thinking," Like, say rule number one is, however bad we fight, that doesn't mean it's a break-up."

"OK", she said, warming to the idea, "And if we do break up, it should be during a calm and rational conversation, like this."

"Right, exactly," Ron agreed "What we got is too good to just throw away in a moment of anger."

"Yes," she said, getting up. She came over and sat in his lap, putting her arms around his neck.

"And there should be some other stuff," he continued, "Like never say anything meant to intentionally hurt the other person."

"Or calling names, I've always thought that was a stupid thing to do in an argument", she put in.

They chattered on excitedly, feeling like adults having a grown-up conversation about something important.

"Look," Ron said at one point, "Not that I ever intend to do this, but we should have some kind of signal if one of us decides to end this relationship."

"Like 'We need to talk'?" She said looking at him seriously.

"That'll work," he agreed.

"What if we just need to talk?", she asked.

"Then use any number of the other phrases available," he answered, "Like 'I'd like to talk to you', or 'How about we chat', something like that. If one of us says 'we need to talk', that'll be the break-up conversation signal. Besides, it's what they always say on those TV shows."

"OK," she agreed. She kissed him deeply, not liking the talk about breaking up, but realizing it probably was necessary to communicate, "I can do that."

"Well, sure", he acknowledged, "But can you do this?"

He stuffed three doughnuts into his mouth at once.


Ronin dove out of the way of the beam. It cut through the air inches from his face.

"That was a Disintegrator Ray," Wade informed him, "This guy isn't messing around."

If the ray had been aimed at Kim, she would have been vaporized. Ronin was only saved by the use of the interface. He tumbled out of the way and regained his feet. Deathray was moving now.

Kim fired her grappler, latching it onto Deathray's left shoulder plate. She swung herself up. A massive arm came up and swatted her away like an insect. She hit the roof hard.

Deathray stomped toward the crouched and waiting ninja, firing as he came. Ronin produced a shield from the Lotus Blade and held it up. Though the Blade did not disintegrate, the force of the ray drove Ronin backward, skidding along the top of the roof as he fought to maintain his footing.

Kim struggled to her feet and ran at the monstrous machine whose back was now to her. She did several handsprings, vaulted into the air, somersaulted twice and landed with a grunt on Deathray's back. Clearly she was in pain.

Meanwhile Deathray fired at the shield, continuing to advance on Ronin. At the last second, he ceased his fire and swung a massive leg at his opponent. Suit glowing, the ninja managed to dodge the kick. He tumbled off the edge of the roof and just barely caught himself before falling.

"Your blood/oxygen level is dropping. You're fatigued," Wade announced, clearly worried.

"Can you tell me something I don't know?" Ronin asked, breathing hard. He'd been up all night at the weapons warehouse, fighting with Kim , and now this. He was surprised fatigue hadn't set in earlier.

"Unfortunately, yes," Wade said, "If I continue to use the interface in your condition, the suit will damage your muscle tissue."

"Oh, that is good news," Ronin replied, swinging himself with some effort up on to the roof.

Deathray had turned his attention to the person on his back. She was trying to pry open the latch.

Kim managed to duck several swings, and two attempts to remove her by disintegrator, but the latch would not budge. She couldn't stay up there all day. Having retrieved her grappler, she sprang off the machine, and did handsprings across the roof, avoiding laser fire the entire way. She took shelter behind the gigantic "M" of the Middleton Bank sign. Each of the letters stood about fifteen feet high and probably weighed a ton each.

Kim had an idea.

Retrieving her laser lipstick, she began cutting the anchor bolts of the giant 'M'. This took about thirty seconds to complete, leaving one anchor bolt uncut. In the meantime, Ronin had Deathray occupied some fifty feet from her position. When she was ready, she signaled Ronin.

He didn't understand what her plan was, but could tell what she was trying to communicate.

Get Deathray to come over here.

Ronin leaped straight up the face of Deathray and vaulted over the top before the machine could react. Deathray turned in pursuit, laying down a swath of disintegrator fire that left gaping holes in the roof.

Ronin retreated into the shadow of the 'M'. In the meantime, Kim had latched the hair dryer end of her grappler to the huge letter and ran straight at Deathray with the hook-end of the cable. Ronin surmised her plan and began toppling the 'M' over the edge of the roof. The weight of the huge letter tore up the final anchor bolt, and it plummeted over the side. Kim dove and rolled, just barely getting the hook into an anchor point on Deathray's leg. The cable went taught, and Deathray was yanked off his feet, sliding toward the edge of the roof. He swung out a massive arm and broad-sided Kim like a bat hitting a ball. She sailed through the air and out over the street thirty stories below. Deathray was pulled over the side.

Kim was falling face first toward the street some three hundred feet down. She twisted in mid-air, knowing what she would see above her. Like a jet-black arrow, Ronin was fifteen feet away and gaining. Kim spread her arms and legs in an attempt to slow her velocity. Ronin hurled the claw and it latched on to her ankle. He pulled himself to her, took her in his arms and removed the claw. Barely twenty feet above the street, he latched the claw to a protruding flagpole. Kim grabbed the chain so Ronin wouldn't have to bear her weight. The chain went tight, and they swung around the horizontal pole. Halfway through the arc, on the upswing, they let go, both of them somersaulting through the air in almost perfect synch, and caught the flagpole with their hands on the way down. They used the chain to lower themselves to the ground.

Deathray struggled to free himself from the weight he was attached to but couldn't. At the last second, he fired his thrusters and softened the landing a little. But only a little, he still came crashing to the street with a horrendous thud and lay still.

When Ronin and Kim got to the street, Deathray began to stir.

Ronin grabbed Kim's hand and pulled her into the adjoining alley. Deathray fired a blast that shattered windows and tore holes in the buildings immediately behind them. Ronin looked frantically for a place to hide. About ten feet in front of them was a refrigerator box, open on one side. The alley was dark, it might just work.

"Can you cloak us both?" Ronin asked, out of breath.

"What?" Kim gasped.

"I might be able to extend the field around her," Wade answered, "But you're going to have to be in very close proximity to each other, and it'll use up twice the normal power."

"Do it," Ronin ordered.

"Do what?" Kim asked.

Around the corner behind them, the stomps of Deathray were approaching.

The box sat mostly in shadow. Ronin pushed her into it.

"Curl yourself up as tightly as you can," he ordered.

Kim obeyed. He put his arms as far around her as he could, and they huddled against the far edge, as much in shadow as they could get. Deathray was in the alley, but could not see them yet. Just before he got to the box, the cloak engaged and they vanished.

"Do not move" he whispered, "Do not make a sound."

Deathray, disintegrator at the ready, was searching all through the alley. He stopped inches from the box and stood perfectly still.

Kim clung tightly to her protector, her head against his chest. She could feel his heart racing. They both remained completely still. It took all of Ronin's willpower to keep from stirring. The way she clung to him, the smell of her hair, her breathing, the two of them locked in an almost lovers' embrace… it was overwhelming.

"Ten seconds of power left" Wade said quietly in his ear.

It wouldn't be enough. Any second they would reappear and Deathray would vaporize them both.

Suddenly there was a noise at the far end of the alley. Deathray fired his disintegrator and took off at a run. The Ninjet hovered near the street at the far end, turned, and rocketed into the sky. Deathray ignited his thrusters and took off after it.

In the wash of Deathray's jets, Kim and Ronin reappeared, but were unseen by their pursuer. The sound of Deathray quickly faded into the distance.

Ronin got out of the box, and then helped Kim out.

For a few seconds, they stood gazing at each other, then she spoke.

"Are you all right?" She asked.

Her concern cut him deep.

"I trust you are unharmed", he said in a choking voice.

She nodded.

"Thank you for saving my life again", she said softly.

He nodded in return, unable to say anything.

Just rip off your mask, his mind screamed, It's me; Ron! I love you and always have!

"I can see why my brothers enjoy working with you," she offered.

"They are formidable warriors," He paused, "Like their sister."

"Take the mask off and tell her you love her!" Wade shouted in his ear.

"I should get going," she said after an uncomfortable silence. She moved close to him and looked into his eyes, "I know you're trying to bring Deathray to justice. But he killed my-… He killed Ron Stoppable. I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to think you're doing this for him", she paused and looked down, then looked back up at him shyly, "and for me."

Sirens were approaching. She turned and jogged down the alley, stopped to look back at him, and then disappeared around the corner.

"You got this comin'" Wade said. The right arm of the suit glowed. Involuntarily, his open right hand struck him in the forehead.

Ronin pushed the override button and cut off the interface, as well as communication. He stared down the alleyway for a long time, his mind a vortex of chaotic misery. Just before the authorities arrived, he slipped into the basement of the adjoining building, found his way into the sewers, and made his escape.


Kim, wasn't sure why she'd said that last part.

And for me?

It was like listening to someone else talk. Why on earth would she have said that to a total stranger? Back up on the roof, she had stumbled on something that seemed odd about Ron and Ronin, but now she couldn't remember what. Deathray's blaster had shattered her train of thought.

Maybe they were friends before Ron died. That would explain why Ronin sounded so choked up just now. That must be it. She decided she would ask Ronin what his relationship was with Ron the next time they met.


The next day, Ronin found Deathray's lair, and surrendered himself to the villain.