Chapter 9 - La Confrontation Finale

(...the hallway of the ninth floor...moments later...)

Kim runs toward Ron, who is standing outside the cracked door of room 921.

"No sign of that woman who came up here", sighs Ron.

"And Denny seems to be gone, as well. "Oh, I told him something would happen."

The redhead is cut off by a groaning from within.

(...room 921...)

Kim walks in and finds Denny lying on a bed.

"Are you all right?"

The politician rubs the back of his head. "I guess." His voice sounds worn. "I was getting to know this great gal, then she asks me to get in bed. Next thing I know, wham! Right in the back of the head. Didn't even say goodbye."

"Do you know where she is, now?"

"Beats me."

(...a stairwell...)

Landon makes his way up the steps, still holding Josh.

He turns to the young man. "Your mom has caused me so much trouble."

Josh grunts. "Mom?" They pass a door marked '10' and continue upward.

"All I ask is for a simple house-cleaning job." Landon's grip slips a bit. He manages to catch the artist before he falls. "You'd think I was being unreasonable."

The former agent and his hostage go through a door at the top of the stairs.

(...the hallway of the ninth floor...moments later...)

Kim and Ron help Denny down the hall, each holding an arm.

"We just need to get you to someplace safe."

"Like back to the gala. Those shrimp puffs are great."

"Didn't I tell you?" Denny's voice is still a bit strained.

Kim groans at the conversation. She looks down and sees a red spot. Further glancing reveals another...and another, leading to a stairwell.

"Ron, take Denny downstairs."

"What is it?"

"Something unusual."

She follows the stains to the door marked 'stairs'.

(...the hallway of the eleventh floor...moments later...)

Kim keeps her eyes to the ground as she tracks the markings. She looks up at an open door. She approaches it cautiously.

(...an empty room...)

She looks around at the well-appointed room. King-sized beds. Mini bar. A safe. Amazing what people can afford for a few nights.

The redhead notices the curtains billowing in the wind. Her steps toward the drapery are slow and careful.

She pokes through one of the curtains. There's nothing there. Slowly, a figure emerges from the other one.

"Kim..." A rather weak voice squeaks.

She turns, but not fast enough. Landon grabs her arms. She struggles, but his grip is strong for a man in his 50s.

"The world-famous Kim Possible. I would never have believed it."

He lifts her a few inches off the ground. The source of the spent voice - Josh - reaches out his hand, spattered with his blood.

"They say you can do anything." He lifts her so she's over the balcony. "So die!" He lets go of her.

She manages to catch the railing. Landon slams his fists onto her right hand. She yells out. She quickly grabs the rail with her left hand. He turns his attention toward her busy hand.

With a sudden burst of energy, Josh gets up and charges Landon. He punches him in the back. Landon turns around and knocks Josh down.

The older man turns back to Kim. She grasps the floor of the balcony with her fingers. He raises his foot, ready to stomp.

"Kim! I followed the trail of paint to..."

Landon shoots a glare to the door. "What, did someone send out invitations or something?"

"What's going on?"

"Ron!"

"Kim?" Ron's attention turns to the balcony. "Kim!" He rushes over. Landon grabs him. Ron feels parts of himself getting numb. He looks to his best friend; she's dangling for her life. Her one-time crush in a heap on the floor. For him, this is too much.

Ron stamps down on Landon's foot. He grabs the older man's arm and swings him over the bed. He takes a breath.

Ron rushes to the balcony. He reaches over the railing to grab Kim. "Almost got you!" Unfortunately, there's very little friction between the floor of the balcony and Ron's dress shoes. He starts to lose his footing. He's about to flip over.

A pair of hands grab Ron's midsection. They pull him from the brink. Ron pulls Kim up.

"Are you okay, Kim?"

"I'm fine, Ron, and you?"

"I'm all right."

"It's good to see that the two of you are safe." Josh laughs a bit. "After all, you're my ride home."

"Thanks for the assist, Josh."

"Yeah. We couldn't have done it without..." Ron loses the 'cold shoulder' act and extends his hand. "Thanks."

"Well, isn't this just so sweet? Then I guess you won't mind if I finish you off together."

"Not so fast." Everyone looks to the door. It's...

"Sally. What an expected surprise."

"I can't let you harm those kids, Landon. At least one of them means the world to me." Kim and Ron look to Josh with mild shock.

He assumes a fighting stance. "Face it. I always was the better fighter."

She does the same. "Only in your dreams."

The two adults charge one another. He throws a punch. She dodges it and grabs his wrist. She tosses him to the ground.

He jumps back up. He fires a kick to her midsection. She falls and grabs her sore spot.

He picks her up. She head-butts him. He grabs his nose. She crouches down and kicks him in the calf. He falls to the ground.

"Wow." Ron pumps his fists in excitement. "Your mom is kicking butt!"

"Did you know she was so good?"

Josh shakes his head. "No, I didn't."

Sally crouches down, but this time, her legs surround Landon. She stands...kneels over him. She punches him in the jaw. Another punch. Another.

She grabs the front of his shirt and pulls him close. "What did you say you were gonna do to my kids?", she states through gritted teeth.

At this point, Landon can only offer a series of labored breaths as an answer. She drops him.

Sally looks to her son. He meets her gaze. The two of them run to each other. Their arms wrap around each other.

"Are you okay?"

She looks at him. "I am now." They turn toward the door and walk out.

The older woman looks back at Kim and Ron. "Are you coming?"

"Oh, right."

The pair catches up to Sally and her son.

"By the way, who was that guy?"

"Just a remnant of a distant past." At that moment, the remnant opens his eyes.

"That must've been some past, Mom."

"Oh, honey, you have no id--"

Sally's thought is made incomplete. The teens are shocked as Landon wraps his arm around her neck and pulls her back.

"I've always been a firm believer in leaving the past in the past, but for you, I made an exception."

She tries to pry his arm off, but his grip is unwavering. He moves toward the open window.

"Admit it. You missed this life and all it entails. Traveling, excitement, secrecy. Speaking of which, it simply wouldn't do for these civilians to know of this lifestyle."

"Give it up. You've already lost."

"Don't worry, Miss Possible. You'll get your turn soon enough. After all, people fall from high spaces all the time." Sally snags his free hand and twists the wrist, producing a mild snapping sound.

The teens grimace at the noise. Landon grabs his injury and falls to his knees.

Sally stares at her former colleague and narrows her eyes. She walks toward him. He looks up at her. She picks him up until they're face to face. He's on his feet. She head-butts him and knees him in the gut.

The older man falls to the ground.

Sally walks toward the door. The teens join her. She looks back. Landon is still on the floor. She continues out, a more confident look on her face.

(...outside the Crowne Plaza...minutes later...)

"...and that's why you missed the shot." Kim sounds pleased at having figured out the plan.

"Exactly. I was being watched. The only way anyone would ever know is if Denny was killed, and I gave up that life."

"But why didn't you ever tell me?" There is hurt in the young artist's voice.

"Josh...I felt that there was no reason to worry you. To look over your shoulder every day, afraid of what may or may not happen. A life lived in fear is a very poor one."

"About this life. How did it happen?"

"Well, it was a year after I finished college. I didn't have a particular direction in life. For fun, I decided to fill out a form to join the agency."

"What agency?"

"NSA. Division of Anti-Terrorism. It was a lot of fun: go to foreign lands, see the sights...take out their garbage." Josh's eyes goggle at the euphemism. "For a while, it was great, but, as time went on, I grew bored with it. I felt like something was missing." She pats her stomach. "Tick, tick. Then, I met your father. We moved to Middleton and the rest is history."

"That's quite a story."

"Aaaaah!"

Sally looks over at Sheila. She's being hauled away on a stretcher.

"Be careful with that leg! It's broken, you know!"

One of the paramedics loses his balance and falls, the stretcher with it.

"If you can't do it right, then don't do it at all!"

"Bet you that's not the first guy she's said that to."

Kim and Ron get a good look at Sheila.

Ron jerks a thumb at the young woman. "Could that be...?"

"Nah."

"I'm sure we can find a ride home. I'll get Wade." As Kim pulls out her Kimmunicator, Sally looks up at the four-star hotel.

"I'm just glad to put all this nonsense behind me."