Kim gasped in surprise. She recognized the woman. No…it couldn't be her, could it?
The woman had traded in her casual dress for a dark blue outfit.
Yes, the hair, the voice, it had to be…Drakken's mother?
"Mrs. Lipsky?" Kim said in disbelief.
"I hoped you would remember me. We met on a train on Mother's Day last year, remember?"
"But…how, why,when-" Now she was at a loss for words.
"Lipsky," Ron said thoughtfully. "It sounds familiar yet I can't place it."
"Ron, that's Dr. Drakken's mom!"
The blonde boy was equally surprised. So was Monkey Fist.
"Drakken, the blue idiot with his dimwitted mad scientist plans? She can't possibly be related."
"Enough chit chat!" Mama Lipsky boomed. "And don't you dare talk about my Drewbie like that. I've got a death ray and I'm not afraid to use it! Now, I have some demands to get to."
"What kind of demands?" Now that she was over the initial shock, Kim wasn't taking the woman seriously. She was Drakken's mom- how heinous could she be?
"First of all I shall hold you all hostage in this nicely decorated ballroom."
Ron nudged his friend. "Sounds like somebody's been getting pointers from Senor Senior Sr." He referred to her choice of words.
"Silence! I do not know your name but recall that Drew says you are 'The Buffoon.' My next demand is that Kim Possible and the rest of you help me crack this stupid riddle so I may steal your treasure at once."
"And what makes you think we'll help you?" Adriana piped up.
Mrs. Lipsky tried an evil chuckle. "Because I have something of yours."
She stepped aside to allow everyone to see a screen displaying Natalia tied with ropes and being lowered into the Sea of Marmara, which apparently had been filled with deadly jellyfish.
Many people gasped.
"We help you and you let her go?" asked Lee.
Again the overweight woman chuckled. "No, that would be so conventional. You help me, I still leave the princess to her doom, and then I fill this room with itching gas, causing you unbearable discomfort until I find a pit large enough to hold you and a few mutant squids who will finish you off."
Mutant squids and itching gas? She was crazier than her son!
"My soon-to-be loyal subjects, I will now read you the riddle that the Princess kindly revealed to me-"
"Shouldn't you get, like, a henchman to do that for you?" Ron intervened.
"I'm more of a do-it-yourself person. No more interruptions! The riddle is: 'Great capitals hold the key.' Now it is your choice- solve the riddle and possibly be spared, or don't cooperate and prepare for itchy death!"
"Glad we have so many options," Lee rolled her eyes.
Mama Lipsky blasted a hole through the ceiling and was about to leave.
"What are you doing?" Kim asked.
"Leaving. There's a documentary I must watch on the Knowing Channel, When Good Moms Go Evil, if you must know."
"But you can't just leave now!" Ron said.
"Yeah," Kim agreed. "Usually the bad guys reveal their plan, have a pointless rant, or something before they go."
"Oh, I'm no ordinary villain, Kimberly Ann."
"She's got that right," added Monkey Fist.
"At least tell us something!" Ron insisted. "Like why you turned bad. What is up with that anyway?"
"Alright," the formerly good woman gave in. "All these years I've been ignoring the signs- Drew said he was a radio show doctor, but I knew better! I just didn't want to believe that my little boy is evil. And you know what? He's not very good at it! Drewbie gets beaten on a frequent basis by a- a teenage cheerleader. Do you see how that green woman walks all over him? Hmmph, some sidekick! So I've decided to join in the fun-and I like it."
"See, doesn't that feel much more official?" the blonde boy asked.
"Yes, and now I shall carry out my plan. Be working on that riddle, minions. I have a, let's call them an acquaintance here to make sure you do."
Sheleft Drakken-style (ridingaway on a self-driving hoverjet), leaving the room full of wealthy people dumbstruck.
So you didn't see that one coming? The story had to live up to its title, after all. "Great capitals hold the key." You might be able to figure it out...