Chapter 25

After a few minutes, there came a small polite knock upon the room's door. Dr. Director, the closest individual to it, answered it promptly. "Yes? Who´s there?" Dr. Director called to the person. As she waited, the door swung opened and a very pale man with some scratches on his check made future Shego turn pale herself.

"Gah! I totally forgot about that!" she exclaimed, standing up from her seat. She beckoned to the man. "Please, you can send them in now, Robert."

Robert nodded. "Thanks, Ma'am. I'll do that…gladly," he replied, and opened the door into the dining hall wide. The future versions of the ex-villains immediately got to their feet, smiling brightly. The current versions of themselves soon saw the reason for this odd behavior. Six animals stormed inside, streaking toward their appropriate masters.

Shego herself saw her future self greet and stroke the grown up version of her own kitten, Kim…who was a full-grown cat now. Louie loped in…rather slowly, but that was understandable, as he was carried a very well fed Snowy, to whom he delived to the future DNAmy before reuniting with his own master.

Both the dogs, Blue and Scot jumped into the laps of their prospective owners, who showered the canines with much attention.

But, all in all, it was Andrea's Polly who was noticed the most. The beautiful cockatoo flew over to Andrea, emitting a raucous squawk, which rang out over the noise of the other animals. "Missed you, missed you! Squawk!" Polly declared, rubbing his head against future Andrea´s cheek. She stroked the cockatoo's head lovingly.

"You see…our animals get, well, a bit wild if we leave them with somebody else for any longer than an hour," Future Shego informed them, while she held a loudly purring Kim the cat in her arms.

The present Shego just gaped at her future self as she sat down with a purring cat in her lap. "So…what happens when we get out of here? If you don't mind my asking?" she asked, more or less to just to get the conversation on to the next subject.

"Well," her future self began, thinking. "As soon as we---that'd be all of you dears, mind you---all got out of here, things moved along very very quickly. I myself have now set the nearly unbreakable record of having my debut song at the top of the top ten list on MTV for four months running now. After three months time, we all got together again. That's when I hired Monty here to became my body guard. Well, then it only made sense, of course, to have Duff become my manager. Drew here became my electronics guru and soundman…which was fortunate, for all I get are compliments for the quality of my shows on all of my tours. Now, as I never travel anywhere without Kim---my kitten, by the way--- by my side, I figured Amanda could be Kim´s personal veterinarian," she explained.

"Andrea, by that time, had started her own shop, subsequently put Club Banana right out of business. After all, there was a list a mile long of my fans that wanted clothes made by Stephanie Gonzales' best friend." Future Shego grinned over at future Andrea, who nodded her thanks. At that moment, Polly interupted. "Squawk! Come to Club Andrea! Squawk! Sponsor of Stephanie Gonzales…singing sensation! Squawk!" the chatty bird announced.

Future Andrea went as red as her pendant, but reached up to gently shut the beak of her very talkative bird. She then turned towards future Shego, who only smiled. "And, you still wonder why I won´t let you watch Polly when I'm in meetings," she chided her friend.

"Well, you did say that you needed some publicity for your shop, girl," Future Shego pointed out cleverly.

Andrea could only shake her head. Future Shego continued.

"As I saying…we all found our callings…and our lives were good all around. Then, of course, we all directed our spare time back to the rehabilitation center. You know…to try to help others like we had been. Well, let me tell you… after a while, the GJ folks had so much space here that it completely replaced the regular penal system. Now, of course, a year after that, the obviously thing happened…"

"Oh? And what was that?" Kim asked, intrigued by what she had heard.

"C'mon, Kimmie…if you put criminal after criminal in here, and rehabilitate them…doesn't it stand to reason that sooner or later there will be no more criminals left?" Future Shego reasoned. Kim paled at the news.

Future Amanda continued where Shego had stopped. "Simply put, dear, peace broke out all over the Earth. Now, never fear, Global justice continued on, just in case…but, for the most part, the standing police and law enforcement agencies around the globe were all retired before too long. Now, at long last, the human race finally enjoyed what it had strove for thousands of years…peace and tranquility," Amanda said looking over at Kim. "Now, you dear, after a long while…well, I'm afraid you become bored silly, really. Fortunately for you though…it was then that you got the best job offer of your lifetime."

"Do tell," Kim coaxed her. "What would that job be?" Kim asked.

All the future selves looked instinctively over toward future Shego. "Obviously, Kimmie…you took a job working with me, dear."

"I what?" Kim yelped, awestruck. "Doing what?"

Future Shego grinned, but held up a hand to forestall any further questions. "Let me finish, okay? Now, after all, my conscience wouldn't of let me live with myself if I didn't help you, my friend, out in your time of need. So, that means…"

"You mean I actually end up working for you?" Kim asked, incredulously.

"Uh-uh," future Shego replied, shaking her head. "That 'for' sounds so lame, Kimmie dear. Instead, try 'working with me' instead of 'for me', okay."

"Huh?" Kim questioned, even more confused now. "But, Steph…you're a singer, right? And, correct me if I'm wrong here, doesn't that mean---"

"Yep! You guessed it! You are too my dear Kim." Future Shego grinned, then shrugged, giving Kim the benefit of a clever look. "I mean, after all, your voice is nearly as good as mine. Or…that's what everybody says at least…"

"Really? No lie, huh?" Kim replied.

"Och, of course, lassie," Duff´s future self assured her. "Well, yer no Stephanie, mind yeh, but yer a fine bonny singer, so yeh are!"

All the Futures laughed gently at Kim's blush, before they contined to talk with their current (or would that be past?) selves, enjoying a most interesting yet eerie host of conversations that lasted for nearly two hours. The future selves though, after much checking of their chronographs, were forced to bid their counterparts good-bye, for like it or not, they reluctantly had to go back to their own time and lives once more.

Several weeks after that most unusual gathering, Shego---er, make that Stephanie---was finally released from the Center, completely rehabilitated. She worked extraordinarily hard, and with consummate talent and much diligence, erupted upon the entertainment scene like some dark-haired tornado. Her first song went platinum, and…after a little while, she was at the top of the charts, the best singer in the world!

Apparently, Stephanie thought to herself, her future self had shown herself to have spoken the plain and simple truth. She, Stephanie Hortensia Emerald Gonzales---once known as Shego---was truly the best in her business! Oh, and for once in her young life, she found she was really, truly happy.

Now, after a while, Stephanie threw a concert in Middleton, California, to be held in the town's sports arena. The concert was all the buzz about homey Middleton, which found itself suddenly thrust into the limelight.

Therefore, it was a very surprised Kim Possible that checked her mail one day to find front row tickets to the concert of the century! Kim, Ron, and Monique (as well as Rufus, it seems) were all invited, and eagerly looked forward to the concert that weekend.

The concert---much as it was promoted to be---proved a huge success. The modest sized arena proved inadequate to seat all of Steph's fans…so huge TV screens were erected around all of Middleton so that everyone who wished to could watch the event. Stephanie was at the top of her game, and by the time the concert began to wind down, most of the fans were becoming hoarse from yelling and screaming.

Stephanie saved her hottest song for last, and after finishing that blockbuster, raised her arms above her head and allowed her numerous fans to give vent to their approval. After the crowd had screamed themselves hoarse, she held up her hands once more, asked for their attention, as well as their silence. "Before I finish this evening, I want to tell you all something," Stephanie announced, waiting for the crowd's ovation to quiet, then continued. "I want to thank you, each and every one of you, who attended this concert tonight…and who listen to my songs! You guys are the greatest! You don´t know how much this means to me…I love you guys!"

Again, she had to wait for the fan's cheering, stamping, and applause to quiet once more. "Look, you guys don't know it…but I wouldn't be where I am today, right now, if it hadn't been for one special person. One very special friend of mine." Stephanie then walked to the edge of the stage, smiled her most winning smile, and beckoned for Kim to come up and join her on stage.

Kim looked appalled at first, but reluctantly relented---after the fans screamed and pleaded with her---to join Stephanie up on stage, waving shyly at the crowd, then turning to smile at her friend.

Stephanie continued. "This is my friend, Kim. Kim Possible," she stated, giving Kim a big warm smile. "If it hadn't been for her, folks, we wouldn't all be here this very night…enjoying this concert. Because if it hadn't of been Kim…you know, always being there for me---when I needed her most---I probably would be rotting in some jail cell right now." She smiled over at Kim and heard her conscience say to her loud and clear, I am proud of you, kiddo!

Stephanie---the one-time arch-villain Shego---smiled and waved to her adoring crowd. This, she vowed happily, was her new life…and she didn't have a single complaint…not even one!

End