Chapter 15

They arrived at the Space Center early the next morning. Shego, Kim and Ron were in the locker room, where they changed into their regulation light blue coveralls. Rufus was fuming because there wasn't one for him.

"Where's the parential units?" Shego asked Kim.

"Already at the Plane," said Kim, "They needed to supervise last minute details." She looked at Shego. "You know you won't be able to wear that."

Shego had put on her jumpsuit that morning. No one had said anything to her about it until now.

"I know. I just... felt like I needed to," she said. She opened the locker that had been designated for her, and sat down on the bench. Inside was... something unexpected. While training, she had worn a blue coverall like Kim and Ron. But this... she pulled it out. It was a coverall, but green and black, cut in the same pattern as her costume.

Wordlessly she looked at Kim, who grinned. "What's a Shego without her trademark?"

She stood up, walked over to Kim, and enveloped her in a crushing bear hug. "Thank you," she murmured.

"Actually, don't thank me, thank Ron. It was his idea," Kim said, gasping for breath.

Shego looked at Ron, who gave his goofy grin. "Glad you like it," he said.

She let go of Kim, who discreetly tried to move bones back into their proper places, and hugged Ron. "I guess I really do have two friends," she said quietly.

There was a squeak that sounded vaguely like "Hey!"

She looked down and grinned. "Three," she corrected herself.

As promised, the bomb was the last thing to be loaded. Thompson and Young came with it, along with the two techs handling the crate, and three armed, no-nonsense MPs. The latter watched Shego suspiciously, and she in her turn pointedly ignored them from her seat.

Once it was secure, they gave a last glare at Shego, and left the Plane.

"Everybody ready?" asked Mr. Possible from the pilot's station aboard the space plane. The throb of powerful engines filled everyone's ears.

"Everything looks good, Captain," said Wade, "Trajectory set, go when ready."

Suddenly everyone was pushed back in their seat as the plane suddenly started moving down the runway, then reared up on its two aft wheels, and took off for space.

"I'd forgotten how much I hate space travel," muttered Ron.

Kim looked at him. If inertia hadn't held her back, she would have punched him in the arm.

Within minutes they were above the atmosphere, and in orbit.

"Orbit achieved," said Wade. "Altitude two hundred and twenty-three miles. We're giving you one circuit of the earth to hit the correct path. That burn will be in eighty-one minutes."

Loosening their seat belts, all five went aft to check how the cargo and equipment had fared during liftoff.

Typically, Ron started trying to show off, doing flips and pirouettes in the microgravity environment. "Ronald, we don't have room for that kind of thing," said Mr. Possible.

"Sure we do, Mr. Dr. P., see?" he said, and did a backflip, slamming face first into a crate. "Owww..." he said, holding his nose.

Everyone rolled their eyes, and Mrs. Possible came up and examined the offended proboscis, being none too gentle in the process.

Ron looked around the cargo hold, but didn't find what he wanted to see. "Where is it, where is it?" he muttered, searching around.

"What are you looking for, Ron?" asked Mrs. Possible.

"My supply of food!" he said, getting a bit frantic.

"Oh, nothing critical, then," said Mrs. Possible, and turned to examine a slightly damaged crate.

"NOTHING CRITICAL!" said Ron, "My order from Bueno Nacho was left on the ground, and that's not critical? I'm gonna die from eating astronaut food!"

"Nobody has yet," said Kim, then in a lower voice, "But it would be nice to have it be more tender."

"Got that right," said Shego, "Even the coffee is tough."

"Argh," said Ron, "I can just see the ground crew, eating my nacos."

One thing not forgotten was a large supply of cheese for Rufus, in the form of a cheese wheel. Rufus dived in, and ate until sated, then slept, and ate again. They hoped it would last the six days of the mission.

A call came in from the Control Center. Dr. Peterson, the Director, was on the monitor. Ron noticed that at the bottom of the screen were several Bueno Nacho wrappers.

"See, Kim? What did I tell you?" he said, and Kim shushed him.

"Dr. Possible, crew, we have an important call for you. Please stand by," said Peterson. He disappeared, and the Presidential Seal appeared. That raised eyebrows aboard the Plane. Shego quietly moved out of range of the camera pickup.

Suddenly the President was on the screen.

"I wanted to thank you all in advance for the effort you are making to save the Earth. In a time of crisis, heroes step forward, and it's no surprise to me that the heroes are once again the Possibles." He paused, as if listening to someone. "And of course John Stoppable."

Kim winced for Ron.

He appeared to study his screen. "Isn't there one more crew member?"

Kim grabbed Shego's arm, and pulled her back into view. She allowed it, though reluctantly.

"Ah, yes, Shego," said the President. "I'm aware of the part you are playing in this mission, and I'm also aware of your... condition. I wanted to let you know that as a reward, the Justice Department is in negotiations with the countries where you are wanted to get those warrants and charges dropped. Whatever time is left, you will have it with a clean slate."

Shego stared at the screen for a long moment. "Thank you," she said quietly.

"Good luck to you all. You are Earth's last hope," said the President, and was gone.

Dr. Peterson appeared. "And Mr. Stoppable, thanks for having the large order from Bueno Nacho sent to the Center. It's really appreciated." He took a big bite of a naco, and the screen blanked.

"Aw, man..." said Ron.

Wade appeared on the monitor. "Okay, burn in two minutes," he said.

Reluctantly, everyone returned to their chairs and strapped in.

"Burn in six... five... four... three... two... one... zero!" said Wade, and the main engines fired up, pushing them back into their seats again. This lasted two minutes, after which the engines fell silent.

"Trajectory achieved," said Wade, "Good luck, and God speed."

They were on their way to Asteroid 2005KP, and would arrive in two days.