"Okay, that's enough for today," said Kim. It was two weeks later, and she and her students were in the dojo.
Monique and Adrena stood breathing heavily, their hands on their knees. Francis collapsed where he was. Kim had insisted that as members of Team Possible they know how to defend themselves if the building or they were attacked. They all saw the sense of this, but that didn't make it any easier.
Of the three, Adrena learned the quickest, but Monique had the better natural technique.
Francis lagged behind in everything, and Kim was considering letting him out.
Kim let Monique and Adrena use the showers first, and she took the time to meditate. When her turn came, she took her time and enjoyed the shower. A voice suddenly intruded on her solitude.
"Kim?" it was Monique.
"Yeah?" she called.
"Some recruits have shown up," she answered.
That's right! Today was the day for anyone interested in trying out to become operatives for Team Possible be here!
Kim could have sworn she heard laughter in Monique's voice. "How many?"
"Two. I put them in the conference room," was the answer.
Now she was sure Monique was amused by something. "Be right there."
Ten minutes later, she opened the door to the conference room. The two people sat with their backs to the door.
She walked in briskly. "Good morning! I'm Kim Possible, and you are..." she turned toward them, and her eyes grew wide. "...the last two people in the world I would expect to see."
Tara Matthews giggled. "Hi, Kim."
Bonnie Rockwaller smiled thinly. "K."
Monique was doubled over with laughter. "Girl, if you could see your face!"
Wade appeared on the TV in the corner, a huge grin on his face. "She will!" he said, "I got it all recorded!"
"WADE!" shouted Kim, and the young genius disappeared. She pulled out a chair and sat down. "So, this was a joke?"
"No, we're serious," said Bonnie.
"We really want to try out," said Tara.
They slid their resumes and applications towards Kim, who gathered them up, but didn't look at them. Emerald green eyes shifted back and forth between her high school classmates, finally settling on Tara.
"Tara, why do you want to do this?" she asked.
"I've always admired what you and Ron do," she answered, "Helping people, kicking bad guy butt, saving the world. After graduation, my folks couldn't afford to send me to college, so I got a job at Middleton Motor Lodge as a night clerk.
I'll never be able to save enough to go to college on what they pay me, so when I saw the ad, I jumped at it."
"But Tara, you're the nicest, sweetest, gentlest girl I've ever known. I don't believe you have a mean bone in your body. Do you even know anything about fighting?" asked Kim.
Tara lowered her eyes modestly. "4th level Nan Chaun in Kung Fu," she said.
Kim's eyes bugged out.
"We go to class together," said Bonnie, "But I'm a 2nd level."
"H--how does that happen?" asked Kim in a faint voice.
"When I turned fourteen, my daddy enrolled me," Tara answered. "He wanted me to be able to defend myself from... uh, overly amourous boyfriends." She giggled. "I liked it, so stayed with it."
"She invited me, and I found it was good for my reflexes and coordination, and I've stayed with it too," said Bonnie.
"Bonnie, what's your story?" asked Kim, looking at her.
Bonnie sighed. "First, I want to apologize for the way I've acted and treated you and Stop-- Ron over the years."
"Really," said Kim.
"I don't blame you for being sceptical, but yes, really," said Bonnie.
"She means it, Kim," said Tara.
"After graduation, all my so-called friends disappeared, and didn't have time for me any more. When I started college I found them, but they were following somebody else, and wouldn't even acknowledge my existence. I was suddenly a very small fish in a very large pond.
I found out who my real friend is then," she said. She put her hand on Tara's arm, and the blonde smiled. "I've realized what a shallow, self-centered, stuck up, egotistial witch I've been, putting you and Ron and others down to build myself up. Well, no more.
I've done a lot of growing up in the last two years, and it's past time I made amends," said Bonnie. "I also realized that no matter what I did to humiliate you and Ron, you just shrugged it off, and were still there when I needed you. Not many people would do that.
As to why I want to do this, I remembered when you and I were stuck together, and went after that... Demental guy. That WAS kinda fun, so I thought I would try it out again, as long as we don't have to be joined at the hip."
Kim shuddered at the memory. "No, that shouldn't happen again."
Tara giggled, then turned serious. "Tell her the rest."
Bonnie turned red beneath her tan.
"You promised," said Tara.
"Okay, fine," said Bonnie.
"Don't laugh, Kim," said Tara.
Kim shook her head. What on earth...?
"I saw a therapist for a while," said Bonnie, "And with his help I realized a lot of my attitude was due to me wanting approval from my sisters. You remember them?"
Kim nodded.
"I never got it," sighed Bonnie, "And now I know I don't need it. Never did. So I'm just trying to be a better person."
"But what about going to college?" asked Kim.
Bonnie shrugged. "My family is well off, and going to college or not is my choice."
"You might remember that this involves breaking nails and frizzies," said Kim.
"I know, but that stuff has gotten to be less important to me," said Bonnie.
"We do more than fight freaks. We don't do baby sitting or cats in trees (unless we happen to be on the spot), but we do take on natural disasters and other occasions when people need help," said Kim.
"We're prepared for that too," said Bonnie. She and Tara opened their wallets, and handed Kim some cards. They were current certificates for CPR and First Aid.
"You've been planning this, haven't you?" asked Kim, returning the cards.
Tara giggled. "As I said, I admire what you do."
"She generally drags me with her," said Bonnie, "But I don't really mind."
"Well, I'm glad, because you've earned the next step. Let's go to the dojo. Are you prepared for that?" asked Kim.
Bonnie and Tara looked at each other and smiled. "As a matter of fact, we are. We brought our gis."
"I'm impressed!" said Kim, "Let's go." She stood up.
Just then the door opened, and Ron came in. "I heard the new recruits are here, and decided to introduce them to the Ron-man," he said. Then he looked at the visitors.
"Tara? BONNIE?" he said, shocked.
"Hi, Ron," said Tara, and got up and hugged him.
"Hey, Ron," said Bonnie, giving him a genuine smile.
This shocked Ron even more, and his mouth gaped open. Kim stepped over, and closed it for him.
"And while I've got you both together, congratulations on your engagement," said Tara,
and hugged them both.
"Th- thanks, Tara," said Ron, turning red and backing away.
"Tara, would you and Kim go on ahead? I need to talk to Ron," said Bonnie. "I'll bring the gis with me."
"Sure," said Tara, and left the room.
Ron stared at Kim, who gave him a slight nod, then followed Tara.
Five minutes later, Bonnie came into the dojo, carrying both her and Tara's gis.
"How did it go?" asked Kim.
"I'm not sure. He was so nervous I don't think he really heard me," answered Bonnie.
"Oh, he did. It will just take him some time to process it. Expect him to give you a test at some point, just to see if it was real," said Kim.
Bonnie smiled. "Bring it on."