Kim Possible and all related characters and indicia are owned by the Disney Corporation. Supergirl and all related characters and indicia are owned by DC Comics/Warner Bros. Adam is the creation of Triaxx2. This work of fan fiction is written for pleasure, not profit.
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Darkcloud1: There are four including this one. Hope you didn't miss any :)
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Kim studied her surroundings surreptitiously. Not that she needed to be subtle. Monkey Fist, DNAmy, and the tall, thin man Fist introduced as Felix Faust had their attention on other matters, and paid Kim little heed. That was understandable, given her present circumstances. She was bound to a platform of some kind. It was made of wood, and leaned back at a forty-five degree angle. There was a step at the bottom for her feet, which were bound together and to the platform. Her arms were stretched out to either side and bound at the wrists with the same silk cords that held her feet.
Kim smiled inwardly, despite herself. As prisons went, this one was fairly comfortable. Kim tried, again, to pull her hand through the loop around her wrist. No luck. There wasn't enough give in the cord, not yet anyway. Perhaps if she could get it wet, with sweat or blood, she'd be able to manage that. Kim's inner smile faded. That was really her only option, at least for the moment. While she had still been shaking off the effect of whatever it was Monkey Fist had hit them with back at the warehouse, he had searched her person thoroughly and relieved her of all of her gear, including the stuff disguised as mundane objects.
Oh well. You had to play the hand you were dealt. If she couldn't use her myriad gadgets to escape, she'd just have to be creative. Kim turned her gaze to the two men guarding her. At least she assumed they were men. They were tall, but somewhat lacking in upper body mass. In fact, they were downright spindly. They were clad head to toe in dull black armor that looked like a modern version of medieval plate, with full face helmets that left only their eyes exposed. Those eyes were wholly black, without the slightest hint of whites. That made it impossible for Kim to tell if they were looking at her or not. Still, she had noted that when she tested her bonds, one of the men had turned his head slightly, as if to get a better view. He hadn't tried to stop her, had made no other movement at all since taking his post. Normally that would have told Kim a great deal about the man, but she was having a hard time reading him. There was no parade ground stiffness, none of the relaxed confidence of the seasoned pro, none of the careless ease of a rank amateur. There was nothing at all. The men just stood there, unmoving, almost like mannequins.
Not wanting to dwell on that disturbing little fact, Kim examined their weapons. The two carried half-spears, about four feet long and tipped with gleaming, slender, knife-like points that added another foot and a half. Getting poked with those wouldn't be fun, but it would at least be survivable, as long as her heart or brain weren't hit.
Kim moved on. To either side of her were platforms identical to the one she was on, but empty. In front of them was a large slab of marble, stained black by a liquid Kim couldn't help but think was blood. Behind the soldiers guarding her, men and women in black robes scurried about, arranging various items and objects around the slab. The whole scene screamed 'altar' and Kim had a notion of what the sacrifice would entail.
Kim's eyes found Monkey Fist again. He was in the middle of the room, pacing back and forth, clearly agitated. DNAmy was wringing her hands nervously, her expression broadcasting the anxiety she was feeling. Felix Faust, on the other hand, was a picture of calm. Seated cross-legged on the floor, he was actually attempting to meditate, by the look of it.
'Monkey Fist could learn a thing or two from that guy,' Kim noted sourly. She had never heard of Felix Faust, and had no idea who he might be. What little she had overheard so far suggested that he was a magician, but how skilled he was, and what kind of magic he practiced, Kim could only guess at.
"What is taking them so long?" Monkey Fist demanded suddenly, throwing up his arms in frustration and glaring at Faust.
Faust didn't answer right away. After a few seconds he spoke, not bothering to open his eyes. "Since they have already discovered, as we intended, that Stoppable can penetrate the shield I erected, they are no doubt scheming to wring every possible advantage they can out of that fact."
"For three hours?" Fist bellowed, spittle flying from his mouth. That was how much time had passed since Faust first sensed the ripples in the shield caused by Ron's interaction with it. Fist hadn't taken the delay well. Apparently he'd been expecting Ron to charge right in, straight into the trap that had been set for him. When Ron hadn't obliged, Monkey Fist had seemed surprised. As minutes became hours he'd grown irritable, then downright angry. His mood hadn't been helped by the fact that Faust was unable to eavesdrop on whatever was being discussed. Apparently Dr. Fate and Zatanna were able to weave sufficiently complex anti-scrying spells that Faust couldn't penetrate them, something that annoyed Monkey Fist far more than it did Faust.
"It will take as long as it takes," Faust said simply. "After they've schemed themselves out, Stoppable will still have to enter the house alone. I find it hard to conceive of any combination of factors that would keep you from beating him." Faust did open an eye then. "And working yourself into a state won't help," he added coolly.
Monkey Fist drew a deep breath, swelling up as if in preparation for a tirade. But he only let the breath out slowly, sinking to the floor in a cross-legged position that mirrored Faust's.
"You're right, of course," Monkey Fist said, a hint of apology in his tone. Faust nodded slightly, and Monkey Fist closed his own eyes. DNAmy calmed down as well, and Kim decided that her agitation had been entirely due to Monkey Fist's mood. Kim watched as the rogue geneticist sat down in an easy chair along the wall, picked up a book and began to read.
Kim snorted. If her captors weren't going to do anything until Ron showed up, she might as well work at getting loose. The ever attentive guards would make that difficult, but at least it was something to do.
Kim had succeeded in rubbing her wrist raw, but little else, when Faust's eyes popped open and he jumped to his feet.
"He's coming," Faust announced. "He passed through the shield a moment ago, and hasn't gone back out."
Monkey Fist stood up as well. Faust held an arm out to one side and snapped his fingers. One of his assistants scurried up, carrying a globe of clear crystal. Faust took it, passed his hands over it while muttering words that made Kim's skin crawl, then released the ball. It floated in the air in front of him, and he bent down to peer intently into it. Seconds passed. Faust frowned. He spoke and gestured again. The frown became a scowl.
"What's the matter?" Monkey Fist asked anxiously.
"I can't find him," Faust reported grimly. He looked up briefly, meeting Monkey Fist's gaze. "That meddler Fate's doing, no doubt. He must have put a warding charm, or maybe an invisibility spell on Stoppable. No matter. There are ways around that." Faust bent forward again, as if he was about to set to work, when a chime sounded.
"What is it?" Faust demanded, speaking to no one in particular.
A disembodied voice echoed in the room. "A guard found the veranda door forced open," it reported dryly.
"So," Faust said with a cold smile. "It begins at last." Then, more formally, "To all my servants. Ron Stoppable has entered the house. Stay alert, report any unusual events, but take no action against him. Leave him for us."
Time passed. There were four large entrances to this particular room, Kim had noted, one in each wall. The massive doors of each were standing open. The position of her platform gave her a clear view of only one. Two more she could see into just a few feet. The fourth she had to crane her head as far as she could to see at all.
Time passed.
Kim began to sense tension in the air. There seemed to be a presence in the room, but she neither saw nor heard any sign of an intruder. Faust was turning slowly in place, his eyes crushed into a fierce glare as he sought for whatever it was. Monkey Fist too was on edge, but he seemed to be listening, standing frozen in place, his eyes closed. For her part DNAmy was huddling in her chair, suddenly too terrified to even breathe.
Monkey Fist finally spoke. "Whatever happens, Faust, stay out of this. Stoppable is mine."
"But -"
"No. I want your word on it."
Faust stared at Fist, his expression unreadable. He shrugged. "As you wish."
Monkey Fist kept listening. A huge grin crept onto his face. "I can hear you," he taunted softly. "Show yourself!" He barked the command with the confidence of a man who knows he will be obeyed. There was a moment of utter silence.
"No," a cold, monotone voice answered.
There was a flash, of light glinting off polished metal. Kim saw something come spinning toward her. As it flew it split in three. The pieces thudded into the platform, severing her bonds. Curved blades were joined back to back by a crossbar that featured points on its upper and lower edges.
Kim stared. Faust and Fist stared. Faust found his voice first.
"Batman!"
As Kim watched, a figure in gleaming black armor shimmered into existence behind Monkey Fist.
"Give your friend a prize," the cold voice growled, even as the armored figure hauled back a fist and smashed it into the side of Monkey Fist's head. The monkey master spun with the blow and kept his feet. Faust raised his hands, but Monkey Fist cut him off with a gesture.
"No! Stay out of it! I'll deal with him myself!"
Faust merely shrugged again and stepped back.
Monkey Fist and Batman circled warily. Kim got a good view of the new suit the Dark Knight wore. It was a full body affair, with a full face helmet that sported black lenses at the eyes and a grill where the mouth should have been. Decorative ears on the helmet and a red bat symbol on the chest completed the look.
"New tailor, Crusader?" Monkey Fist jibed, lunging forward, launching a flurry of blows. Batman blocked, feinted and threw Monkey Fist halfway across the room. Monkey Fist landed on his feet and came charging back. The two men grappled, exchanged blows, then Monkey Fist returned the favor and tossed Batman against a nearby wall. The Dark Knight was up almost instantly.
"How did you do it?" Monkey Fist said, panting a bit.
"Do what?" Batman asked.
"Get through the shield," Fist said impatiently.
"Fate played a hand," Batman growled, springing to the attack.
"No matter," Fist said dismissively, blocking easily and sending Batman sprawling. "You're wasting your time. Only a wielder of the mystical monkey power can approach the statue, let alone command it."
"What statue?" Batman probed as he regained his feet and unleashed a side kick that snapped Monkey Fist's head back.
Kim, who had been watching the fight, suddenly realized two things. One was that she was free. The second was that her guards were watching the battle as well. She moved. The guards noticed, lowering their weapons and coming after her. As she ran Kim snatched up a bamboo staff. A quick glance back showed she had opened the range enough. She spun to face her pursuers.
"What statue?" Monkey Fist repeated, yelling the words. "The statue that's generating the shield you pointy eared twit!" Batman's head turned to follow Fist's pointing finger. A jade monkey stood next to the tablet of black basalt from the library in Germany. Both were enveloped in glowing strands of red and green light.
"Thanks," was all Batman said. He reached out and touched Fist. Electricity crackled and Monkey Fist flew back, stunned. Batman did a cartwheel and came to a halt right next to the statues.
Felix Faust stood frozen. He was five thousand years old, but he was still human. This completely unexpected turn of events had rattled him. As a consequence, he wasn't thinking as clearly or as quickly as he might have. He watched dumbfounded as Batman moved into the protected area. There was no way that was possible. There was no way Batman could have the mystical monkey power. Unless... Faust began to move.
He wasn't fast enough.
Kim disposed of one of the guards, cracking him in the head, sending his helmet flying. She gasped in horror. The head beneath the helm was gray and featureless.
"What are you guys?" she asked the second guard. He didn't answer. Kim swept his feet out from under him and turned toward the main action. Batman had moved to a pair of statues Kim hadn't noticed before.
Batman looked back at Monkey Fist, who was staring at him in amazement.
"You told me just what I needed to know," Batman said in his cold, monotone voice, raising his hands.
A sword of glowing green jade sprang into existence in them.
"YOU HAIRY FREAK!" the same figure said in a totally different tone of voice before it brought the blade down.
Kim stood still, shocked. "Ron?"
"Stoppable?" Monkey Fist stammered. Then, seeing what was about to happen, "No!"
The Lotus Blade cleaved the statue in two. For a brief instant nothing happened as the two halves fell apart. Then they exploded.
The blast threw Batman back, then seemed to collapse in on itself, even as the basalt tablet joined it in a sympathetic detonation.
Faust was screaming words that no one could hear. A pillar of green light shot through with red speared up from the confined fireball, carrying away the roof in a swirl of debris. Looking up, Kim caught a brief glimpse of a sky bathed in red light, then the light flickered and faded.
That was when all Hell broke loose.
A glowing ankh flared to life. Faust spun to face it, even as Dr. Fate and Zatanna emerged from its depths.
Outside, Adam exclaimed, "The shield is down! Commence attack on the Death Star's main reactor!" then sprinted toward the crumbling mansion. Kara was way ahead of him. Green Arrow, Black Canary and Batman shared a look, then charged after him, eager to join the fight.
