Chapter 12
Kim could only display a small amused smile as the session progressed. Despite her best efforts to dissuade them, her guests, these ex-villains, were determined to utilize every means available to them to find a way to rid themselves of their pendants. Kim shook her head a moment later, and beckoned to one of the GJ guards standing guard at the door. The agent, understanding what she had in mind, fished a ring of keys from his pocket, and then proceeded to unchain each of them.
"What is the meaning of this, Possible?" Monkey Fist growled, demanding, obviously suspicious. Not that he was really complaining, mind you, as he rubbed his wrists.
"Look," Kim began, still smiling. "None of you can run away from here now. Because if you do your pendants will understand what you're up to and lay you out with a paralyzing and rather painful shock." Kim watched the GJ guards collect the manacles and chains a moment before she continued. "Since that's the case, it doesn't make any sense to keep you all chained, right?" Kim nodded, "Right."
Shego was glad to be free of her restraints, but that didn't stop her from glowering over at Kim, her anger driving her toward thinking of some way to pay back Kim for all she'd put her through. However, even as her brain began to formulate such plans, another insistent part asked, why should you do that? Shego frowned.
The voice continued, do you really want to become a killer just because Kim took away your ability to break the law?
Even this quickly continued on, Shego decided that she didn't much like this particular voice. But, her like or dislike didn't matter one wit to this new voice in her head. Shego noticed with a slight feeling of nausea, that she disliked it first of all because it spoke to her in a calm and gentle manner, much like Kimmie herself would. Secondly, that blasted voice presented arguments so logical, so compelling, that Shego knew that it spoke the truth of the matter. Shego decided to confront this new visitor to her consciousness. Okay, what the heck are you playing at with me here? Shego mentally demanded.
Oh, the voice responded, that's actually pretty simple really. I'm the conscience you never listened to before is all. Well, that's all about to change, kiddo…because you will listen to me from now on. Here, let me give you an example. Let's say you're thinking about doing something that I know you´ll later regret….it´ll be my job help you stop thinking it. Make sense, sweetie?
Shego frowned, a part of her not believing she was mentally talking to herself. There was a word for people that talked themselves, and Shego wanted no part of that. So, let me get this straight, okay? You're my conscience, then…like you said? Shego countered the voice inside her head.
Well, yes, the voice answered, in a way, I am. You see, I've always been here, Slugger…you just never managed to let me get through to you before now.
Oh, and why are you talking to me now then? Shego asked.
Well, look, hon…before now your all-consuming hate for everyone kinda made it, well, impossible for me to connect with you. But, lucky you, after you put that pendant on, well, then I could managed to get through.
Oh, great. Bloody wonderful, Shego groaned in her mind…or so she thought.
"Did you say something, Steph?" Kim asked, looking concerned.
"Uh, no, Kimmie. Not a word," Shego replied, and stuck by that.
Kim just smiled, looking at them all. "Okay, have you all had enough time to realize that those pendants are not coming off?" she asked them. One after another, each of the ex-villains nodded their assent, albeit somewhat reluctantly. "All right then. Now, let me tell you what's going to happen here from now on," Kim began anew. "First off, all of your villainous ways stop now. Today. Got it?" Kim looked them over, her jaw set, her lips thinned, her eyes hard. "No more rude behavior. No more mean-spirited remarks. No more violence. From this point on, your former selves are just that: former. There will be no more calling each other or yourself by your criminal names. You all have real names, and we intend for you to use them. No exceptions."
The assembled ex-villains, one and all, groaned at this knowledge.
Kim just smiled and shrugged.. "That's the way it's going to be, people. Get used to it. Now…after a while, you will all embrace to your good sides. That's the first step. After that, we´ll start with a new, different approach. First, we won´t set you free from your stay here until we've made sure you all have good jobs, you know…a career. C'mon, you know you all have things you're good at, things you've always dreamt of doing. We'll be talking with each of you individually, asking you what you have always wanted to do. And, folks, with just a little luck, you´ll see that this new life of yours is really going to work."
Shego snorted at that. She had never wanted to be anything else, she told herself, other than a being a villain. Shego crossed her arms before her chest, and glared over at Miss Goody-Two-Shoes. But, just as that feeling of satisfaction started in, she heard her again.
Who are you fooling, girl? Oh yes you have, that voice said smugly. Shego sighed. So it was still there then…that little irritating voice. I know you better than you know yourself, Stephanie. You know full well that you used to want something. Did´nt you? Remember?
Shego grimaced, irritated that she couldn't get away from this voice! However, that irritation faded, as images appeared in her head…back when she had been thirteen years old or so. Even with her eyes closed, the images flashed before of her eyes. She saw herself upon a stage, singing and dancing, finishing to the sound of most enthusiastic and appreciative applause. That had been her dream for as long as she could remember…way back then. But, despite the fact that she had tried to achieve this dream, it had been rather bluntly quashed by her cheerful, well-meaning, yet insistent brothers. Her brothers, do-gooders all, inundated her with lectures on how her being hit by a colorful comet meant her life was destined for one thing and one thing only: to fight crime. One with the powers that had been granted her was not to be wasted on trivialities like singing and entertaining. Shego shook her head, telling that insistent little voice inside her head to shut up. However, it was of another mind altogether, telling over and over that Kim could really help her achieve her childhood dream. A part of Shego wanted to believe that…but her pain and disappointment got in the way.
Kim smiled over at the oddly quite Shego. To Kim, Shego seemed as if she was in some sort of trance. Maybe, Kim pondered to herself, she had began to notice that little extra Wade had equipped the pendants with. Kim couldn't recall the details, but she did remember him murmuring something about using her hate, using it to motivate her toward a very different path, essentially channeling Shego´s negative energy over to finally listening to the voice of her own conscience. Now, Kim realized, all of the villains' pedants had been loaded with this innovation, but Wade had said that the more evil the person harbored within themselves, the quicker their conscience would grow and begin to reassert itself. Kim looked over at the clock, and was surprised to see an hour had already passed. "Well, folks, that's all the time we have for this session. So, everyone sit tight, and I and your escort will take you back to your rooms, one at a time." Kim turned to the still quiet Shego. "Okay, Steph…c'mon, you're first."
Shego got to her feet, as Kim looked over at her. She looked over at the guards a moment, but none of them were holding chains. She looked over to Kim, an eyebrow raised questioningly.
"Nope. There's no need to load you down with all those chains, when you can´t escape anyway, Stephanie," Kim told her matter-of-factly.
Shego growled softly at being called 'Stephaine' again…but despite her misgivings, she did understand that she now had to start calling herself by her given name, and not the one she had given herself. Heaving a deep sigh, Shego followed after Kim, trying to restrain the idea of taking the keys to her pendant from Kim, who had them dangling from the belt on her pants.