I can always use any kind of advice. So any tips are welcome
"We're at the main gate master Thompson" The chauffeur announced from the driver's seat.
"Well from here it'll only take about fifteen minutes to get to my house" said David.
"That had to be the richest statement, I've ever heard in my life" Ron replied.
"What?"
"It takes fifteen minutes to get from the main gate to your house, now that's what I call rich."
"Well, being rich isn't all that great."
"Oh I know, but all that money can come in handy" said Ron as he admired the landscape.
A few minutes later the mansion came into view, the sheer size and beauty of it leaves Ron shocked.
"Wow, that is a some mansion, your family has great taste."
"Well" said David as he pulls out a brochure and begins to read aloud "the world famous architect, Micheal Hunt directed an international team of craftsmen and artisans to create a 70 room Italian Renaissance- style palazzo, inspired by the 16th century palaces of Genoa and Turin. Allard and Sons of Paris assisted Hunt with furnishings and fixtures, Austro-American sculptor Karl Bitter designed relief sculpture, and Boston architect Ogden Codman decorated the family quarters."
"Your house has it own brochure."
"Hey trust me, you'd rather hear this from me then from the chauffeur, its a mandatory part of his job."
Ron chuckled to himself lightly.
"What's so funny?" Asked David
"Nothing, its just the rich are very eccentric. I should know I used to be rich."
"You haven't seen eccentric until you've met my mother."
Finally the limousine came to a stop, as Ron attempted to exit, David pulled him back.
"Ron, let Roger open the door for you."
"The chauffeur? But I can get out of here myself".
David sighed "I know you can, but he tends to take his job way too seriously, if you get out by yourself he's going to moan to me about it for the rest of the day".
Ron looked at him puzzled "you must be joking".
"I wish I was, how I wish was".
Suddenly the door popped open, Ron stepped out with an unnecessarily large grin on his face.
"Uh thanks for opening the door"
"It was my pleasure" replied Roger.
"Nice house" he shot back.
"Well few people know that the world famous architect Micheal Hunt directed an international team of craftsmen and artisans to --"
"Save it Roger" David snapped quickly "he's already been informed".
A bitter look came over Roger's face "very good sir" he muttered. Then he slowly made his way back to the limo.
As they walked up to the steps leading to the front doors, David stopped for a moment.
"Wait a minute this is weird."
"What?" Asked Ron.
"This is really out of character for me."
"What?"
"Do you know how many friends I've had over to my house."
"How many?"
"Just take a wild guess."
"Two."
"Try zero, I don't have any friends, I barely talk to people outside of my family, I'm socially inept."
"OK"
"So why am I all of a sudden inviting you to my house, I've only known you for about an hour."
"I can see where that's a problem."
"And what about you. Who accepts the invitation to a person's house they've only known for an hour. I could be a psycho for all you know."
"That is true, but I can usually tell if someone is bad road or not."
David looked at Ron incredulously "don't you think this a little weird, it just doesn't seem normal."
"Well that's Ron Stoppable's number one motto NEVER BE NORMAL."
Rufus climbs onto Ron's shoulder and squeals out emphatically "yea"
"Never be normal, no offense but that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard". David began ruffling his hair, it was just the other day when Team Possible had disrupted his mission. He knew he should consider them as enemies, but his gut was telling him something different. For one thing, it seemed like Ron was trying his best to befriend him. It was the most anyone had done for him in awhile. It might be alright, as long as he kept his identity a secret.
"Alright Dave, I'll give you a brief background check. My name is Ronald Stoppable but you can call me Ron. Along with my former best friend recently turned girl friend and my best bud Rufus I save the world, and look good doing it I might add. I'm laid back, honest to a fault and I can be a tad emotional. I like video games, and eating at Bueno Nacho. Little known facts I've been struck by lightning twice, and I've been to space."
"Lightning, what was that like?"
"Most people think getting hit by lightning will give you powers, but all it did was give me the power to shake on the ground and mess up my pants."
"Really? Its strange that you've survived both times"
"You know what's really strange, how you asked about the lightning, but not about the space travel."
They stared at each other for a few seconds, then David awkwardly began to climb back up the stairs.
"Alright come on in," he said finally " so you like Bueno Nacho huh, how's the food there?"
Ron stopped in his tracks "you're kidding right, you've never eaten at Bueno Nacho?"
"Uh no, what's the big deal," Rufus faints upon hearing these words.
"Back away give him some air, its ok Rufus" Ron says as he picks him off the floor, "don't worry buddy you're going to be fine."
"I take it Bueno Nacho is a big deal for you two."
"Bueno Nacho serves the food of the gods, you haven't felt true happiness until you've tasted a naco" Ron replied as he puts Rufus back into his pocket. "Well its time to come down from your Ivory tower buddy, just follow me and I'll show you the true path to happiness. And that path comes with extra diablo sauce."
"You're a strange one Stoppable"
"Am I?"
"Yeah but I think I've figured you out".
"Most people think they do, but then their usually surprised later on" said Ron with a sly smile.
Before David could say another word the front doors burst open.
"David, darling welcome home,"
"Oh lord" he sighed
A brown haired woman in a Doeskin robe made a beeline towards David, grabbed him and proceeded to crush him with a bear hug. Ron guessed that she was around Kim's mother age, they both had the same youthful appearance.
"David dear, where have you been I've been so worried."
"Mom I've only been gone for three hours, I went to register at the school remember."
"Oh yes right" she said as Ron noticed the empty wine glass in her hand.
"Honey you know how dangerous its out there why didn't you go with the butler, oh whats his name."
"John mother, he's been working here for two years."
"Oh yes I don't know where my mind is these days."
"Maybe you should check at the bottom of the wine bottle" David thought.
"Oh where was I ah yes John, why didn't you go with John."
"Maybe it's because I'm eighteen mother, I can take care of myself."
"Oh so you're a big man now huh, well you'll always be my little scmoopey woopey" she said as she rubbed her cheek against his.
"Mom, not in front of my guest."
"Guest" she says as her eyes light up and her attention turns to Ron.
"Oh David you've finally brought a friend home, I was always worried you'd become one of those crazy guys who collects stamps all alone in his room."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence mother."
"It's such a beautiful day, I'm so glad you made us move here David, Middleton is such a beautiful place."
"Actually I wanted to come here alone"
"Oh no David you know we couldn't let you come here alone, what would I do without you?"
Ron found that he was enjoying every moment until he realized that David's mother didn't stop staring him, he suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.
"Ooh your friend's very handsome, what's you're name?"
"Uh oh my name, my name is Ron Stoppable uh Mrs."
"Mrs Thompson; Ronald you must have a girlfriend."
"Uh yeah I do actually."
"I knew it, David's never had a girlfriend for awhile there I used to think he was g--"
"Alright" said David pulling Ron away "we're going inside I'll see you later mother."
"Ok have fun you two, and Ronald if you need anything you know where to to find me" she called out while winking at him.
"David" whispered Ron as he was forcefully being pulled into the house "was your mom just hitting on me?"
"Its best not to think about", he mumbled as he dragged Ron deeper into the house.
"David is that you"? bellowed a voice coming from upstairs.
"Thats my sister Rebbecca."
A fourteen year old girl carrying a laptop bounded down the stairs, typing rapidly on her laptop with one hand as she held it up with another. She had long brown hair down to her shoulders. Ron quickly calculated that brown hair and green eyes most run in the family. The girl resembled a miniature version of her mother.
"Finally you're back" she said without looking up "I've dug up some new info on the Sh--"
David quickly slapped her in the back of the head before she could finish.
"Ow why did oh, oh my god are you're Ron Stoppable."
"Yeah I'm Ron Stoppable,"he said blushing. "You've probably seen me on the news."
"Is Kim here, I can't believe Kim Possible is in my house."
"Actually she's not here."
"Oh is that right, that's too bad" she said with a disappointed look on her face.
"You know you could at least pretend you're excited to see me, its just common courtesy" Ron sighed. "Well that's a neat laptop you've got there"
"Yeah its the Dell Inspiron XPS Gen 2 Laptop. It has a two Gigahertz Intel Pentium M seven hundred and sixty processor. Seventeen inch WUXGA TrueLife Display screen, a sixty gigabyte, seventy two hundred RPM Hard Drive, It also comes with NVidia two hundred and fifty six Megabyte GeForce Go sixty eight hundred Ultra Video card, and of course a nine-Cell Extended Batter."
"Right, uh that's exactly what I thought it was" Ron replied clearly confused.
"Rebbecca even though she might not look like it, is some kind of super genius, her IQ is through the roof. You'd wouldn't think a twelve year old girl would be so smart". David quipped.
"Child geniuses are not as uncommon as you might think". Ron replied smiling.
"Well if you excuse me guys, I have some work to do."
"Next time I'll be sure to bring KP with me" Ron called out to her.
"Really would you"?
"Yeah"
"You promise".
"Ron Stoppable never goes back on his word."
She skipped across the room singing "I'm going to meet Kim Possible" until she was out of ear shot.
"Cute kid" said Ron, "so where's your room?"
"My room"?
A vision flashed quickly before David's eyes, a vision of Ron stepping into the room and being shocked by the newspaper clippings on the wall. The clippings that he had been obsessing over for so long; looking for as much clues as he could find. He saw Ron stepping over the countless books along the floor about famous criminals and the crimes they committed. Police reports strewn across the floor, and then there was his costume which he had just remembered he left carelessly on his bed
"My room, right uh my room is not in the best shape right now."
"Oh come on, it can't be that bad."
"Hey, how about I show you the living room, its my favorite room besides my own."
The living room walls were adorned with portraits of a single man, A very statuesque man who looked like an older version of David, with the exception of eye color and a mole on his chin. In the southernmost corner of the room there was a medal display case.
"I like the motif you've got going on here."
"The guy in the pictures is my dad, he died ten years ago" David replied solemnly.
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright, my mother put all this up after he died, she also seems to have lost her mind since then"
Ron explored the room as David continued to speak " I come into this room all of the time, just to stare at the pictures."
"Your dad was a great guy huh" Ron replied as he looked over the medal case.
"Yeah he taught me everything I need to know about life, except how to talk to girls."
"It can't be" Ron said as he pointed to a picture in the display case.
"What is it"? Asked David as he looked at the picture Ron was alluding too. It was a picture of his father posing for a group photo aboard an aircraft carrier. The picture was taken a few months before his father was killed in the line of duty.
"There standing to the right next of your dad, that girl I know her, that's Dr. Director from Global Justice."
"Dr. Director huh, I don't really remember many of my fathers old friends."
A flash of realization came Ron's face "this can only mean one thing, your father was a member of Global Justice."
"I could have told you that dude, these are all awards while he was a member. He practically put Global Justice on the map" David said proudly "My dad hated the way the world was headed, so he relentlessly fought against injustice. Sometimes he'd come home with various injuries, and pretended like everything was fine, then a few days later he'd be off fighting again. He had so many missions, my mother and I hardly saw him. But when he was around he'd always make the best of it."
A distant memory flashed over David's eyes, the memory of day he held close to heart for many years. There were days when he could still feel the crisp cold air of that autumn night. One of the few times David's family could spend some time together. His father carried him on his shoulder, as he thrashed around overly stimulated, by the carnival lights. Momentarily forgetting that his father was wearing an arm cast, David accidentally kicks him in the arm, causing his father to grimace in pain.
"Ok David daddy has to sit down for awhile", he said to his son as he sat down on the nearest bench holding on to his arm.
"I'm sorry dad" David whimpered all set to start crying.
His father pulled him closer and placed him on his knee "don't worry sport you're not the one who hurt my arm"
"The bad men hurt you right"
His father smiled "yeah the bad men hurt me son, they hurt people so that's why they're bad"
"If you don't fight them, then you won't get hurt. And you can be home more."
"I wish I could be home with my family, but a wise man once said "He who does not punish evil commands it to be done."
His father became amused by the confused look on David's face "too young for Da Vinci huh, well what do you do when you see a bully picking on another kid?"
"I tell the teacher"
"Right, but what if the teacher doesn't want to help, or if the teacher is sick, and you're the strongest one there."
David shrugged.
"You fight son , you fight because you have the power to fight. And by fighting you can save people"
"So you save people?"
"Yes by fighting evil I save people, and as long as I'm alive I'll always fight evil."
"Wow you're like superman, and spider man"
His father chuckled "No I'm not like them, but sometimes I wish I was, then I could make a real difference." His breathed in a large amount of the cold autumn air. " Okay that's enough talk, lets go on some rides."
"Alright"
David remembered wishing that night would never end, but it did. The next day his father was sent off to another mission, and was never the same again. His chain of thoughts were broken when Ron began to read from a plaque aloud.
"In his brief years of service, Capt. Simon Thompson has been awarded the Global Justice Superior Service Medal of Honor, The Yellow heart medal, the Gold Star award, and the Legion of Merit award. The highest awards decorated by any Global Justice member. Wow talk about getting the job done"
"Yeah his job is one of the reason why we're so rich, he also patented some weapons and military gear he created during his service. We made a boatload of money, guy was a genius. I guess that's where my sister gets her brains from."
David stared intensely into the largest portrait of his father "Ron you fight evil. What's your idea of justice."
Ron shrugged "the thing about justice is, my justice is different from your justice. I don't see what me and KP do as delivering justice. It's more like doing the right thing in certain situations. Meanwhile while my main objective technically is to help Kim, we still save lives. I've seen smiles; I've made changes, stopped suffering, turning glitter to gold actually.
Ron glanced at his watch, "oh man I've got to meet Kim at the mall in half an hour, Dave why don't you tag along. I'll introduce you to her."
"What, no that's ok, go ahead I'll just hang around here"
"Come on."
"No really its fine, the mall is not my kind of place, I'll stay here."
"Alright have a great time with you're mom."
David contemplated the situation "she does seem to be hitting the sauce earlier then usual ,alright I'll coming but this is just the lesser of two evils."
Global Justice North American Head quarters
Director George Tenet sat in his office, he was man who had tempered many storms, he had a face of steel. His blond hair was cropped in a military buzz cut. Behind his glasses his eyes burned with a determination that can only be attained after years of intense training. He was now content with his life, he was no longer in the field, he had no worries.
Suddenly he sensed his office door opened slightly, and his secretary appeared before him.
"Sir you've gotten a fax marked important concerning recent gang activity in a Middleton Colorado."
"Gang activity" he scoffed not bothering to remove his focus from his paperwork, "that's a problem for the local police, not for Global Justice."
"The fax specifically requested that I mention the name of one of the gang's involved. The Shadow Syndicate."
Tenet removed his glasses "can you repeat that."
"The Shadow Syndicate, I've crossed referenced the organizations name with our records and have found no matches. But the fax implied that you've had some prior information on them."
"Hand me the document"
Upon receiving it, he skimmed through it frantically.
"Middleton that's the hometown of Kim Possible."
"Yes sir."
"Who is the closest agent we have in that area?"
"That would be Dr. Director Sir."
"Yes she's familiar with that area, have her investigate this matter. And inform her that all information gathered should be reported directly to me, and me alone."
"I'll get right on it Sir."
When she left the room Tenet leaned back in his chair, his face lost his thought. After ten years they couldn't have returned. It must be a copycat group and nothing more. He had seen the destruction of the group with his very eyes. The members and their headquarters had gone up in flames, taking Simon Thompson with them. Thompson, now there was a legendary name. Not a day went by without Tenet thinking about Thompson in some shape or form. His legend would have gone to epic proportions, if he was still alive.
"If you only hadn't been such a fool Thompson, if you had just followed my orders".
He sighed, The Shadow Syndicate in Middleton Colorado again, if this was real it could only mean trouble.
Middleton mall: A few minutes later.
Ron and David walked past the various stores. For long minutes they said nothing more, they just walked beside each other surveying the air conditioned environment and its assorted inhabitants.
"So you're dating that Possible girl huh"
"Yep"
"She's a good looking girl. From what I've seen on the news I mean".
"T.V. doesn't do her justice dude, wait to you see her up close", replied Ron.
David's face flushed slightly"this is a little personal but um, you know, do you know her?"
Ron sighed "you're asking if I know her in the biblical sense, you're right that is personal but people ask me that all the time. I know present to you the top ten questions, I've been asked by every guy I've met since I started dated Kim."
10 "Are you dating that Possible chick?"
9 "Really?"
8 "Are you sure?"
7 "Does she know that?"
6 "How did you pull that off?"
5 "Have you gotten past second base yet ?"
4 "Is it true that she's a freak?"
3 "She's a demon in the sack isn't she?"
2 "What the hell is wrong with you/ are you sure you're not gay? Which is usually the follow up question,to the number one question, I'm asked about our relationship."
1 "So did you hit that yet? I hear a variation of these questions every day" Ron said sighing again."Its a pain sometimes but I don't let it bother me. Hey there she is."
Ron waves over to Kim and Monique as they sit at the food court located a few feet away from them.
"Who's that with her?"
"Oh that's our friend Monique, we've known her for years."
An idea forms in Ron's mind when he sees the gleam in David's eye "she's single right now, why don't you talk to her."
"Yeah sure I'll just go up to her, hit her with my best game and ask her out. But wait I've never asked a girl out before, because I have no game."
"I'm hearing a sarcastic tone in your voice".
"If you think I'm going over there you're insane".
"Come on, I once got rejected by every girl in my school, and I got over it the next day."
"Ron you and I are different, I care what other people think about me. You my friend are do not."
"Come on lets just go over there"
"Never, nothing is making me go over to meet those girls. I never should have come here in the first place."
"Oh I'm pretty sure you're going to meet them."
"No way nothing is going--"
"Hey Ron, what's took you so long?"
David jumped forward at the sound of her voice, panicking he begins to walk away but Ron pulls him back.
"Kim, Mo', this is David. He's transferred to Middleton U today."
"Hello" Kim and Monique say in unison.
"Hi" David squeals in a high pitched voice. "Ahem , sorry, uh Hello".
"David here just moved into town and he's got no friends, so I thought we'd be the welcome wagon."
"Middleton is a great place, I'm sure you'll be happy here" said Kim
"Yeah it's um cool here, I guess."
"David is ridiculously shy Kim" Ron whispered to her.
"I can see that by the way he's subtly trying to walk away from us." Kim looked into Ron's eye and knew he was up to no good. "So what are you planning Ron?"
"What do you mean"?
" I can see it on your face, you're planning something."
"Alright" He lowered his voice even further. "I've decided I'm going to get him and Monique together."
"How can you just decide that Ron, besides how long have you known him?"
"Like about two hours."
"Two hours, are you insane?"
"Come on he's good people"
"Aren't they cute" Monique tells David as Ron argued with Kim.
David picked his eyes of the floor "what oh them yeah um they look great together."
"No one deserves each other more then those two" She replied.
Suddenly a familiar beeping comes from Kim's pocket.
"Ron, will finish this discussion later, what's the sitch Wade?"
"Hey Kim I'd just thought you'd like to know, that there' s been some reports that Steve Franklin has been spotted in the downtown area."
Eavesdropping David became fully alert.
"Excellent Wade, did you get any info on this Shadow Syndicate?"
"Sorry Kim but for some reason there isn't much information about any group by that name, I'll keep searching if you want."
"Please and thank you Wade," She turned to Ron "we'll just have to get all the info we can from this Steve. Sorry guys but we've got to g-- , uh Monique what happened to David."
Monique looked around in all directions "I don't know, but he was standing here a minute ago."
Ron shook his head, "I guess he got to scared and ran off."
Steve Franklin stood alone at the abandoned construction site, it was unusually quiet tonight. He figured there probably wasn't another person within a two block radius of him; he pulled out his last cigarette and took a long slow drag.
"Ah sweet poison" he muttered to himself, being on the run didn't give him enough time to enjoy a good smoke.
Suddenly a figure approached him from the darkness, a man who looked to be in his forties. Wisps of gray ran through his rough black hair, with an arrestingly deep voice he began to speak.
"What are you still doing in Middleton?"
"Well Whiskey if you don't remember, I live here and I used to run these streets."
"Not anymore, Middleton belongs to the Syndicate."
"Yeah I know that, that's why I joined up instead of fighting back. But you guys aren't holding up your part of this partnership."
"What do you mean?"
"I was lead to believe once I joined, that I would be invincible, that the cops wouldn't be able to touch me. But if you haven't guessed I'm being hunted like a dog," he took another drag on his cigarette.
"That's not our fault, you screwed up by getting beaten by a bunch of brats."
"So I screw up once and its all over, you just toss me to the wolves."
"Well not really you've done some good work for us, so we'll give you a choice, we'll let you stay in the group with severely reduced power of course, or you can walk away and deal with cops. Of course we'd have to shut you up, to protect our interests, you understand."
"Oh yes I understand completely I have the choice between being a castrated henchmen or taking a dirt nap."
"That was a vulgar interpretation but you get the gist, you've got until tomorrow to figure it out" Whiskey said as he walked away.
"Tell me something before you go Whiskey, why Middleton?"
"Every town has its secrets, there is something very important here and the boss wants it."
"You care to tell me what's so important that you have take over this town?"
"Sorry but that info is on a need to know basis."
Steve laughed as Whiskey walked away "nice talking to you Whiskey, tell the wife I said hello."
"I don't have a wife" Whiskey replied.
"Well that's surprising, you're such a catch" Steve replied sarcastically.
Whiskey ignored his comment and continued walking, when he was far enough away, he reached for his cell phone".
"Alright send the toy over, I've got some trash here that needs to be picked up"
"But I thought you were going to give him until tomorrow" said the voice on the other line.
"Well I've changed my mind".
"I'll send him over".
Steve watched as the clouds passed over the moon, temporarily covering the area in complete darkness. He had a decision to make, a decision that might affect the rest of his life. Maybe he should run, he might be able to get away. He had always yearned for power, and remaining in the syndicate would put him back at the bottom. Ruining everything he had worked so hard for.
"All those crimes for nothing" he growled.
A few minutes later as was mulling over where his life went wrong, a figure dressed in black appeared from behind him.
"Alright Steve this game is over I'm taking you down".
He turned towards the figure "well what have we got here, you' re one of those bastards who got me into this mess. The one with the stupid ninja costume."
"Yeah, well you got lucky last time, this time its just you and me", replied David.
As David began to make his move, the two of them heard movements in the shadows. It was a crackling should as if some one was walking on aluminum foil. The crackling stopped but then it was followed by the stamping of heavy foot steps on asphalt. The sound made the hairs on Steve's neck stand up, he knew what those sounds were.
"Shit, looks as if they've already decided for me"
A moment later a gloom shrouded figure moved out from beside a tent that housed construction equipment. The creature resembled a hulk like human, dark skin that looked like aged bronze. It had beady red eyes and its five fingered hands were human like. Although each of them had an extra joint in each, and it's knuckles were larger and bonier then a normal man's.
"What the hell is that?" Cried David.
"That my friend is what's going kill us. Should have brought those other brats along with you. Shame, I hope you've had a good life. Steve said as he lit up another cigarette
"We're here but were not his friends."
David watched as Kim and Ron descended from somewhere above.
"Flashy entrance" remarked Steve.
"It comes from years of practice" Ron retorted
Kim turned to Steve "alright this time you're going down"
"That seems to be a reoccurring theme around here sweet heart. I'll tell you what, you beat that thing and I'll go quietly".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Whiskey watched from the back of a car, a safe distance away. His eyes focused on the developing situation.
"Hey whiskey it seems that some nosy idiots are interfering with the trash pick up."
"Yes, but it doesn't matter he's been ordered to kill any witnesses."
"You call that thing a he?"
"Well he's still human, except he's just a little bit modified."
"So these chumps anyone we know?"
"Actually yes, we were planning to get to them eventually. Looks like were killing four birds with one stone." He gave a hand signal to driver "let's go".
"Alls well that ends well I guess" replied the driver as he turned the ignition and pulled out.
The creature let out a low growl as if announcing itself to them.
"Ewww, if beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is ugliness".
"Kim he's not ugly he suffering from severe appearance deficiency".
The thing lumbered towards them.
"Be careful they're quick" warned Steve.
As if it that was his cue, the thing lunged forward with cat like speed. Without breaking stride it backhanded David from its path, then shoved Kim sending her sprawling along the ground. It charged directly towards Steve. Ron attempted to cut it off , but instead of slowing down. It grabbed him by the neck
"Ron" David and Kim screamed out at the same time.
"Thanks for taking the bullet for me kid" Steve yelled as he attempted to run off. Leaving Ron in the monster's grasp.
Sorry about the lack of action in this one (and the cliffhanger), but they'll be plenty of it in the next chapter.