My thanks to campy, Zaratan, the real Violet Parr, demon-sword, teddybear-514, x-forgotten-angel-x, JeanieBeanie33, conan98002, charizardag, lordazri, Jezrianna2.0, G-Go, warprince2000, IncrediRaider8, kpultimatefan, pureangel86, mattb3671, cwizard, TexasDad, Nikoagonistes, jasminevr, and Andrew McGuckin for their reviews.
A book of Bueno Nacho Bonus Bucks is in the mail to campy for his bon-diggity beta and editorial work.
if it you saw it on KP, Disney owns it.
I.
Ron climbed the access tube ladder to the hatch on the platform level and swung open the door. He was just about to go through the opening when two feet drove into his chest, slamming him into the far bulkhead. His head hit the steel surface with such force that he was temporarily knocked unconscious.
Fukushima watched with satisfaction as Ron fell to the bottom of the tube.
II.
The pain was intense.
Ron had no doubt; his leg was broken. His arm hurt, too. What is it with me and Kim and broken legs? Why not index fingers? She's going to be so tweaked if we miss that last dance … Ron knew he was delirious from the pain and in danger of going into shock. Got to keep it together. Where's that comm thingie? Gotta call Kim. Warn her.
Ron was reaching for the device when he heard the hatch open. He looked up to see Fukushima, who was leering at him. The treacherous ninja descended the ladder, came over to Ron and placed the tip of the Lotus Blade against Ron's neck.
Fukushima slowly knelt, then reached into Ron's pocket and retrieved the comm device; he looked around for the Kimstick, but did not see it. "I do not know where that mongrel weapon of yours is, Outsider, but do not call for it or I will use the Lotus Blade, which you have disgraced through your theft of its power. Even in my hands, it remains most dangerous."
"You are one sick dude, Fukushima." Ron groaned.
The erstwhile Yamanuchi student arched his eyebrow. "I see you have lost your sense of humor. No 'American-style jokes'. Are you too afraid to jest?"
Ron scowled. "Sorry, dude, I only joke when I am afraid. You're too pathetic to scare me."
Fukushima's eyes narrowed to slits. "You are lucky that Bonnie still has plans for you. However, I tire of listening to you …"
The last thing Ron remembered was a syringe being jabbed into his arm. At least he wouldn't feel the pain anymore.
III.
Shego observed her long-time foe watch the broadcast.
"Oh my God, Ron …" Kim, raising her hand to her mouth, gasped. The color drained form her cheeks.
Shego saw real panic, real fear, emotions she was not accustomed seeing on Kim Possible's face. She recalled the last time she'd seen expressions that intense. It was back in the warehouse the previous summer. And they were on Stoppable's face. Shego knew what inspired those looks. Huh, she thought. Those two are so far beyond teen love. This is the real deal.
Then she saw the panic and fear fall away, to be replaced by anger, indeed raw fury. That expression was more familiar to Shego. But the intensity this time was … disturbing. Kim's teeth were bared, the muscles in her neck tensed; she looked like a lioness ready to strike. Shego watched Kim turn to go to the airlock.
"Kim. Stop." Did I just say that? Shego wondered.
Kim did indeed stop. She could not recall when she had last heard her long-time adversary speak her name without sarcasm or menace. Kim spun around and glared at her. "What? I don't have time for you to try to play me, Shego. Ron needs me!"
"What do you think you're doing?" Shego asked in the most reasonable of tones, surprising herself even more. Here she was, her plot to take over the world foiled, sitting on the cold deck of the ship trussed up like a pig with her hands in some sort of funky gloves that had dampened her glow power. Shego was annoyed that the Kim's Tech Geek had finally found a way to deprive her of her most potent weapon.
"Doy! I'm going to save Ron!" Kim replied.
"Uh-huh. From where I'm sitting it looks like you're about to run out of here in a rage, right into Rockwaller's trap."
"What?"
"You heard me. What do you think you're going to do? Swoop in there, grab Stoppable and run out? In case you didn't notice, in addition to being tied up, which I can tell you is not very comfortable, he's out cold and has at least a broken leg. He sure ain't going anywhere under his own power." Shego looked at Ann. "Am I right, Doc?"
Ann sighed. She didn't like Shego; the woman was her daughter's nemesis and had just tried to take over the world with Drew. But her diagnosis was accurate. "Yes, you are. Ron needs medical attention."
"You got a plan?" Shego asked evenly, looking back to Kim, who frowned, then shook her head. "I didn't think so.
"Okay, Princess, here's the score. Stoppable does need you. But he needs you focused, calm, and prepared. You go in there now and the cheerleader is going to whup you."
"I so think not!" Kim snapped indignantly.
"Well think again. You know, Princess, you really are so full of yourself sometimes. Sorry, but it's time for a reality check. You're only now returning to your old pre-accident tempo. When's the last time you engaged in serious mission-like activity? February?" Shego saw Kim wince, as she obviously recalled her attack on Ron. "Bet you might even be a little winded after our little play date tonight. Adrenaline's only going to get you so far." Shego could see she had gained Kim's attention. "Meanwhile, ever since Bonnie's little Valentine's Day stunt, she's been training at least eight hours a day, under my tutelage. She's learned moves you don't know, unless you've been integrating ballet with martial arts recently."
"She's still a novice," Kim said, her confidence now leavened with a little doubt.
"Oh yeah. She's a novice, alright. A novice wearing one of Jack Hench's molecular reflex enhancer rings. And so is her nutty buddy, Fukushima. She's a novice who faked me out!" Shego snapped, her outrage and disgust evident; she took a moment to collect herself. "Bottom line: you run in there, you'll either be permanently out of the game or wearing a chip on your forehead and cleaning Queen Bonnie's bathroom for the rest of your life.
"You need a plan. And I can help."
"Why?" Kim asked, unable to hide her skepticism.
"Because I want payback. I don't like being double-crossed."
Kim continued to look at Shego suspiciously.
Oh snap, here goes, Shego thought. "And because I want to see you get Stoppable out of there ..."
Kim, and everyone else on the ship, stared at the supervillainess.
"… Kimmie, Stoppable goes down and you don't wind up playing mind-slave to Rockwaller, you'll either be a hate-filled vigilante or a gibbering wreck. I don't want to see the former, since you with vengeance 'tude would be really bad for business and if the latter's gonna happen, I'm making it happen, not some jumped-up head cheerleader wannabe," Shego said with such conviction that everyone knew she'd do just that, given the chance. "If you go down and Stoppable somehow gets out of there, he'll go berserk. I saw him in that warehouse. He'd kill for you.
"Now don't let this go to your head, but I need you guys. I need opponents who can keep me on my game …"
Kim, taken by surprise, actually blinked as she tried to process what Shego was saying.
"… Besides, you're so cutesy-wootsy together," she sneered.
Kim had now crossed her arms. "So what's really in it for you?"
"I told you. Payback." Then Shego grinned evilly. "And Drew and I get wedding invitations."
Kim could have sworn she heard her father gag. She stared evenly at Shego. I don't trust her, Kim thought. Then again, she honored the Christmas truce that Drakken called two years ago. And she was good for her word in the warehouse, when she had us all but beaten. And all that really matters is that I get Ron out of there.
"Okay. But here are my terms."
"Terms? You sure are cheeky, Princess." Shego backed down as she realized she didn't like the way Kim's stare was boring into her. "Okay, shoot."
"First, you are not to try to regain control of the space station. You lost. I'm sure there's something in the villain's code that says you get one shot a day at global domination and no more.
"Second, you double cross me or Ron and I so promise the other one of us will hunt you down even if it takes the rest of our lives …"
"And if Kim-san and Ron-san cannot, I vow to you that the ninjas of Yamanuchi will pursue you without mercy," Yori interjected.
"Not to mention you'll have to deal with me," James Possible said with a feral menace that nobody on the ship would have imagined him capable of.
"… Three," Kim continued, "if it comes down to getting me or Ron out, you take him." Kim heard her mother gasp; she looked at Ann. "Mom, I don't want to spend the rest of my life doing Bonnie's house chores; but you saw Ron's leg. He's hurt. I can't leave him like that …" she said with a catch in her throat.
Shego looked at Kim, smiled and shook her head. "Okay, Princess, I accept." Shego had a score to settle. And if that meant working with Kim on her terms, so be it. There'd always be another day …
IV.
Bonnie watched the monitors expectantly. She knew Kim would come soon. And she hoped that she'd bring Shego. She intentionally did not forbid Kim from bringing along her former mentor. Beating them both the same day would be satisfying. And with Ron as prisoner and the power of the rings, she was confident that she and Fukushima could prevail.
She told Fukushima to lie in wait on the platform deck. He was to waylay Shego and let Kim proceed to the Command Center.
V.
Kim, Shego, and Rufus left the ship.
They were proceeding down the corridor of the platform deck when Fukushima appeared, just as Shego predicted.
"Go, Princess, go!" she urged Kim, who broke into a run as Shego turned to face Fukushima.
"So, you want to play, ninja dropout?" Shego taunted as she dropped into a fighting stance.
"I do not play, Shego. I prevail. Today the student will outstrip the teacher."
Shego grimaced at that. "She already has, sport. You, on the other hand, will still leave the classroom with a failing grade!" Shego quickly hurled two bolts of plasma at Fukushima who, much to her surprise, easily dodged both. "Well, looks like you were practicing, and not just fooling around with Bonnie …"
Fukushima began to swing the Lotus Blade menacingly, then, with lightning speed, struck at Shego, slashing the fabric across her midriff and drawing blood. He then whirled around and kicked Shego in the stomach, sending her flying. She quickly got up, and surveyed her surroundings. Then, before launching herself at her opponent, she grinned wickedly.
"You know, Fukushima, Bonnie told me that whenever you two kissed she pretended she was with … STOPPABLE!"
"YOU LIE!" Gotcha! Shego now knew she could defeat Fukushima; he had lost his focus. All she needed to do was keep playing him.
"Oh yeah, and while I was on Possible's space ship, that Yori chick told me that when a guy struck out with a girl at Yamanuchi, it was called a Fukushima …"
Shego's barb elicited a growl from Fukushima.
"… And when he scored it was a STOPPABLE!" she added, which provoked a wild lunge from Fukushima, which she just evaded.
Fukushima, enraged, dropped the sword, and madly charged Shego; she was ready for him, grabbing him as he came at her and, using his momentum, threw him into a bulkhead. He was dazed for just a moment, but that was all the time she needed to get the ring off his finger. She looked down at her opponent. "So, you want a rematch, little boy?" She sneered at him and let him see her ring finger, which now sported the molecular reflex enhancer. Then she began to tie him up.
She looked down at her hand again. I could take down Bonnie and Kimmie right now. Then I could free Drew and we'd still be in the White House in a few hours ...
"Ahem. Ahem, hem, hem."
Shego's reverie was interrupted. She looked down at the deck and saw Rufus, wearing an unnervingly stern expression and glowering at her.
"Deal," he squeaked, holding out his paw.
She offered a weary smile at Rufus. "Okay, okay, you're right. I made a deal. And I may be evil, but I do keep my word." She took off the ring and slipped it onto Rufus. "Be fast, rodent. Kimmie and Stoppable need you."
Rufus didn't hear the last words; he was already on his way to the Command Center.
VI.
None of the students at Middleton High School had ever really noticed whether Bonnie Rockwaller was a good student. The jocks were too busy scoring with her, the "It" girls were either part of or trying to be part of her posse, and everyone else was just trying to avoid her caustic barbs. The fact was, though, Bonnie, while not Possible smart, was clever enough and very cunning. And she could be driven and focused when she wanted something. Together, that made for a potent combination.
Bonnie had quietly observed Drakken and Shego in the Command Center when she was supposedly under the influence of the mind control chip. And once she'd taken control of the station, she did a quick review of the various work consoles and instrument panels. She was fortunate that the station had been modified for Frederick's use. The station's various systems were designed to be easy to operate and controls were clearly labeled. And, when Drakken made his modifications to the station, he too had marked things, sensibly not wanting anyone to press the wrong button, initiate the self-destruct sequence, and thus inadvertently foil his plans to take over the world.
She found the controls marked "Drone-Sat" and smiled.
"This is way too easy," Bonnie said smugly as she began entering a series of commands.
VII.
Kim climbed the ladder to the Command Center, trying to stay focused. She thought of Ron, not as she saw him on the viewscreen, but as she'd seen him earlier in the evening, at her house.
When she kissed him at the Junior Prom twelve months earlier she had no idea where things would go, no clue she'd fall in love with him in a matter of two months or know she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him after only seven. But they'd been through so much together, things that accelerated and intensified their relationship.
Kim knew she was lucky. Things could so easily have gone in a different direction if their friendship hadn't been so strong that Ron, not thinking of what kind of scene he would make by bursting into the dance, ran to the one person he believed he could trust to believe him about the L'il Diablos. She was incredibly grateful she'd listened, not just for the sake of the world, but for her own happiness. Everything that had happened since between her and Ron had flowed from that one moment.
She didn't know what would happen next. Whether they'd get to share the future they'd discussed, or whether it would all come to an end here, 300 miles above Middleton. But she was happy that she'd at least had this time with Ron, that she'd had a chance to love him and be loved by him. She recalled telling him during that first date how she couldn't – and wouldn't – want to save the world without him. She believed that now more than ever. It gave her strength and it gave her confidence.
Thinking of his goofy grin, of their kisses earlier in the evening, of their laughter over the jinx at the dance, she approached the hatch to the Command Center.
VIII.
"We've got a problem," Wade announced.
James leaned over and looked at the radar. There were multiple objects converging on the station. Converging on The Donald – which, docked, was an immobile target, a sitting duck in space.
"How long until the drone-sats get here?" James asked.
"Not long. Ten minutes at most. We're going to have to disengage before then, Dr. Possible. If Kim and Ron aren't out by then, we'll have to leave and come back for them."
James winced as he considered the prospect of abandoning his Kim and Ron. He couldn't imagine doing that.
He was weighing his options when he heard someone speak to him.
"I'm sorry."
"What?" James responded to the familiar, yet diminished, voice.
"I'm sorry … Possible. This is all my fault." Drakken offered.
James Possible looked at his former college classmate. Right now he wanted to put his boxing lessons to use with Drew Lipsky as his punching bag. "I don't have time for this, Drew."
"I know. I just wanted to say I was sorry …"
Ann saw the far-away, vacant look in Drew's eyes. She knew something had snapped. He was a broken man. Maybe if they got out of this he could be helped. She looked at her husband. "Focus on your problem, dear; I'll take care of this one."
James Possible looked around. Six people and a monkey on board. At least five on the station …
The airlock opened. Shego dumped Fukushima onto the deck of the ship and looked at Ann. "You may want to take a look at him. He played a little too … enthusiastically."
Ann looked at the fallen ninja student, then at Shego. Uh-huh, Ann thought. And why do I think you decided to play overtime even after you had beaten him? Then she saw Shego look at Drew. She noted that the supervillainess recognized that something was very wrong with her colleague in evil. And then she saw Shego put her hand on his cheek.
"It'll be okay, Drew. The Princess is good. She'll take Bonnie down and then we'll get you home," Shego said with surprising tenderness.
Wade, meanwhile, had been tracking the drone-sats. They were massed, and they were quickly approaching the station. He had hoped that Kim and Ron would be out in time.
"Dr. Possible," Wade said nervously, "I hate to say this, but …"
"You don't have to, Wade. I will. Unmoor the ship. We'll pull off and deal with the threats." He looked back at the airlock forlornly. "I'm sorry Kimmie-cub."
James Possible had reached an awful conclusion. It wasn't a matter of how many people were on the station or on the ship. Time was running out. If Kim wasn't successful in rescuing Ron and deactivating the particle cannon, he'd have to re-dock and send Yori and Hirotaka in. And if they failed, he'd have to crash the ship into the station's reactor; even Hephaestus technology couldn't repair the damage from that kind of explosion. He knew he couldn't let Bonnie Rockwaller destroy Middleton, let alone take over the world. And that meant preservation of the ship at all costs – even if it meant leaving Kim and Ron behind on the station.
IX.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in!" Bonnie said disdainfully.
Kim just glared at her one-time classmate before looking at Ron, who lay sprawled on the deck, his right leg at a wholly unnatural angle, his face bruised and his arms tied to his sides. Kim worked hard to control her breathing. Shego's right, she told herself. Ron needs me to be focused.
"What's the matter, K? You're not going to run over and kiss the loser? Not so attractive right now, is he?"
Control your breathing, control your breathing. She's trying to play you.
"Maybe I'll kiss him." Bonnie moved towards Ron.
"NO! You stay away from him!" Kim roared.
"Or what, Kim? You'll push me into a locker? Wake up, Possible, the game's changed. You think you're special, but you're not. You're nothing." Bonnie said dismissively, bending over to place a kiss on Ron's lips.
Kim attacked, launching into a triple flip, spinning around and kicking at Bonnie – and missing. Bonnie had done a double reverse flip herself and was standing with her hands on her hips, looking at Kim's back. She spun and kicked Kim in the rear, causing Kim to sprawl over Ron, who slowly began to stir. She scrambled to get up.
"Getting beat up and you still can't keep your hands off Stoppable. Does your dork Dad know his little Kimmie is such a bad girl?"
Kim was now crouching in a fighting stance. Kim knew that Shego was right. Bonnie was good. And she was fast. Kim moved away from Ron, not wanting him to be hurt any more. Bonnie, looking like a predator, followed.
"You know what I've got, Possible? A mind control chip with your name on it! You thought Valentine's Day was bad, wait till you experience what I've got planned for you for Round Two."
"Bonnie, you are so pathetic," Kim replied. "You really are new to villainy. You're on the verge of global domination and yet all you can think about is me. So sad, as someone once said to me."
"Nice try, K. But you can't play me." Bonnie bared her teeth. "Yet maybe I should just finish this and get on with running the world." Bonnie moved with lightning speed.
Before Kim knew what was happening, she'd taken a foot to the stomach and an uppercut to her chin. She staggered backwards, trying to maintain her balance.
"Want some more?" Bonnie asked with a grin. "I thought so!"
Bonnie grabbed Kim and threw her to the deck. Kim knew she couldn't take much more of this. Bonnie's enhanced reflexes were allowing her to land far too many hits, far too quickly.
Bonnie closed on Kim, the mind control chip in her hand. Kim slowly got to her feet, but Bonnie, moving quickly again, dropped to the deck, did a roll and brought Kim down. Bonnie, smiling triumphantly, held the chip aloft.
"Game's over, K. You're so mine," Bonnie hissed.
X.
There were hundreds of drone-sats and they were swarming towards The Donald. James and Frederick were now piloting the ship as Wade manned the weapons. He was amazed by the number of bogies they faced; then he recalled that Drakken had said there was one for every satellite in orbit.
As James, Frederick, and Wade dealt with the drone-sats, Ann watched as Shego tried to soothe Drew. She noted that Shego wasn't trying to console him over the failure of his latest scheme; she was just trying to comfort him.
"May I ask, are you two …"
"What, an item like Princess and Stoppable?"
"Well, yes."
"No," Shego answered honestly. "But we're definitely more than colleagues." Shego looked around at the other passengers. "Any of you tell this to anyone and I'll kill you, but … the kids are kind of inspiring."
"What!"
"Well, everyone on the villain circuit wondered how long it would be until Kimmie and Stoppable finally got together. Anyway, on Valentine's Day, Drew and I began to look at each other differently, sort of the way we noticed they did. I gotta tell ya, those two were meant for each other; sometimes it made me want to puke. Anyway, it's been interesting. If we'd been smart, we'd have kept the $5 billion we got from the Seniors and disappeared." Shego shook her head. "Kind of funny, really. Maybe we find we've got something and it'll all be ruined because of our own scheme. Man, do I hate irony."
"Shego?" Drakken asked.
"Yeah, Drew?" she answered softly.
"Can I have some cocoa moo?"
Shego sighed. "Not now, Drew. But soon, we'll get you some soon."
Despite herself and her anger for what he'd put her family through, Ann couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Drakken.
XI.
Ron began to stir.
As he regained consciousness, he was immediately struck by the pain, which hit him like a tidal wave. Through still clouded vision, he could see Bonnie looming over Kim, looking like she was trying to put something on Kim's forehead; Kim was using both hands to try to push Bonnie off of her, but seemed to be having trouble. Ron knew Kim needed his help.
Ron was feeling utterly useless when he had an idea. He concentrated on the Kimstick, which he'd been carrying in its portable form; he was grateful Fukushima had not recognized it. Ron willed it out and into his hand. "Okay, magic stick, be a staff," he whispered. Instantly it changed. "Now fly and hit Bonnie." As the staff hurtled forward, Ron summoned all of his strength and called out, "KIM! Duck!"
Bonnie dropped the chip when the staff clipped her. The moment's distraction gave Kim time enough to push Bonnie off. Kim gathered her strength. She wasn't going to fail Ron, not now. "I guess you've now been formally crowned, your majesty," Kim quipped, her voice filled with disdain, as she rose.
Kim then eyed Rufus, who had been stealthily crawling around the perimeter of the room until he was in a position to make a break for her. Bonnie saw what he was wearing and became very concerned. She knew that Rufus would try to get the ring to Kim. Bonnie lunged at the naked mole rat, but Rufus was too fast for her, now that he was also wearing Fukushima's ring. Rufus safely made it to Kim, who took the ring from his finger.
"Okay?" he squeaked, looking concerned.
"Yes, I'm fine, Rufus. Go to Ron and tell him I love him very much, please and thank you." Rufus nodded and headed to his fallen friend.
Kim looked at Bonnie. "So, Queen Bonnie, you up for another round now that the odds are a bit more even?"
"You're still second best, K. You're just making things worse for yourself and the loser," Bonnie snapped as she began circling Kim.
"Well, maybe I can make things better if I deliver an apology for dissing you, President Rockwaller," Kim sneered as she pivoted and kicked Bonnie in the stomach. "That's for my father. He is NOT a dork."
Bonnie doubled over. Kim grabbed the front of Bonnie's jumpsuit, pulled her up, then delivered a vicious uppercut. The former cheerleader staggered backwards.
"That's for everyone at school you belittled and demeaned," Kim snapped.
Bonnie tried to fight back, but was swinging wildly.
Kim responded by grabbing Bonnie's arm and flipping her to the floor. "And that's for Ron, who I love and you will NEVER, EVER HURT AGAIN!" she declared as Bonnie slammed into the deck.
Kim saw that Ron had passed out again, which only fed her anger with Bonnie. She turned and headed back to her opponent. "So, Bonnie, you barely made it two weeks as captain of the cheer squad. How long do you really think you'd last running the world? Five minutes?"
Bonnie was carefully backing away from Kim.
"… You may like to think you're in Shego's league, Bonnie. But I know Shego. Shego's an enemy of mine. And you're no Shego," Kim spat out as she did a handspring, landed in front of her foe and threw a punch, which Bonnie barely managed to parry.
Bonnie had settled down, but was still on the defensive. She looked at her opponent and scowled. "Kim, I was right. You and Stoppable are both losers. The lowest forms of life on the food chain. Always have been, always will!"
"You can stuff your food chain, Bonnie! You're not going to play me."
"No, but maybe I am going to surprise you!" Bonnie said as she made to punch Kim, instead dropping to the deck and picking up the Kimstick. She grinned malevolently. "Nice! I'm going to beat you with the loser's weapon." Bonnie swung the staff, forcing Kim to jump backwards. Kim glanced at Ron, hoping he would do something, but saw that he was still unconscious. Kim looked back at her foe, did a double back flip and readied herself for an assault.
As Bonnie advanced on Kim, Rufus ran over and bit Bonnie on the ankle before she could use the weapon again. Surprised, she dropped the staff and shrieked. Kim lost no time in pressing her advantage. She threw a kick, then a punch. Bonnie was on the verge of going down. But she wasn't going to give up. Not yet. She caught her breath, steadied herself and counterattacked.
But it wasn't enough. As Bonnie charged Kim, Kim grabbed her former squadmate's arm and used her forward momentum to throw her. Kim turned and made ready to finish off her opponent.
Bonnie slowly got up, rattled by the gleam in Kim's eye. She knew she was beaten. As she tried to get away from Kim, she stumbled backwards into a console. Recognizing where she was, Bonnie slammed her palm down on a button; suddenly, a mechanical voice announced: "Escape Pod Beta has been launched." She stared at Kim, once again the predator confident that she has trapped her prey, then pressed a button for an inconspicuous door labeled Gamma. As it opened, Bonnie stepped through and pressed one last button. The automated system uttered words that sent a chill down Kim's spine: "Self-destruct sequence has been initiated." As the door to the pod slid closed, she looked at Kim, waved, and smiled. Though her dreams of world domination had been thwarted, Bonnie had the satisfaction of knowing that in the end she had at least beaten Kim, once and for all. "See you around, K! Oops. Sorry, I guess I won't, since this is the last escape pod. Buh bye!"
Kim knew that she and Ron couldn't have long to reach the ship and escape. It was then that she looked up at the monitor and noticed that The Donald was no longer docked; it was engaged in battle with the drone-sats.
XII.
"I'm showing elevated energy readings on the station," James said to Frederick, sounding perplexed. Ann watched as Drakken's head snapped up.
"Drew, what is it?"
"Possible," he said ignoring Ann, "where is the energy coming from?"
"The central power core … Drew, please tell me you didn't …"
Drakken sat quietly. Ann looked back and forth between the two.
"I did."
"Oy," Shego muttered to herself.
"What? What did you do?" Ann asked, an edge to her voice.
"He installed a self-destruct system," Shego said with a roll of her eyes.
"Honey! We have to return to the station!" Ann cried.
"I'm already calculating our course," he said. Then, deflated, he added. "We're not going to make it back in time."
"Surely, Kim-san can disarm the device?" Yori asked.
Drew shook his head. "Not in fifteen minutes she can't. And the only other way to turn it off is for the person who gave the command to tell it to abort. Something tells me that neither Kimberly nor the bu — Stoppable did that."
"A voice recognition lockout system? Why?"
"Well, since Stoppable activated the self-destruct system on Drake Force One, it seemed like a good idea …" he said, slumping in his seat.
XIII.
The first thing Kim did was run over to the console. She spoke into the microphone, ordering the sequence to abort; nothing happened. She quickly accessed the computer and surveyed the schematics; she quickly discovered that there was no way she could disarm the system in time. Kim then saw a storage locker labeled 'EVA' – perhaps there would be helmets that would fit onto the EVA suits that she and Ron were wearing and, if not, new suits they could don, though she was concerned about how long it would take to get Ron, with is broken leg, out of his suit and into another one. Still, given the alternative …
Kim opened the locker door and found – nothing. She growled. Leave it to Drakken to forget to equip a space station with space suits! she thought. Her anger with Drakken, however, was quickly replaced by despair as she reached an awful realization. We're going to die ...
Not knowing what else to do, Kim went over to Ron and knelt by his side.
"Hey there, handsome," she said softly. Her eyes were beginning to tear up. It's not supposed to end this way, she told herself.
"Handsome?" Ron spoke with difficulty, working to suppress the pain. "I probably look terrible. You, however, are one bon-diggity looking babe." Ron paused. He could see that Kim wasn't shedding tears of joy. "Why are you crying, KP? We beat Drakken, Bonnie's gone, the world's safe, isn't it?"
"Yeah, Ron," she said as she used her laser to cut off the ropes. "But, but the station's going to self-destruct and we can't get off. I, I'm sorry. This time, I really got nuthin'."
Ron looked up at Kim. "That's not true, Kim. You got me."
She gently stroked his face. "I love you so much, Ron. I really wanted to have a family with you some day."
"Yeah, it would have been … badical …" Ron groaned. He wasn't sure what he'd be doing right now without his Yamanuchi training; he figured he'd either have passed out or be screaming like a mad man. Kim gently touched his brow. He was bathed in sweat. "Sorry I messed up, KP. No slow dance."
"Ron, you didn't mess up," Kim said, pain in her face. "And I told you, no dissing my partner." She took his hand and looked into his eyes, then bent down and kissed him slowly, gently on the lips. She pulled back and saw him smile.
"Gotta love those KP kisses," he whispered. Then he winced again; she hated to see him suffer like this.
Kim began to sing softly:
Doesn't matter where
Doesn't matter when
"Hey, it's our theme song …" Ron said, his voice barely audible.
"Shhh …" Kim said, before she continued to sing, hoping to keep Ron's mind off of his injuries while she tried not to cry.
We will be there for ya til the very end
Danger or trouble
We're there on the double
You know that you always can call
Team Possible.
"See? It told you it would give us an edge," Ron joked.
His face was now a rictus of pain. His head turned to the side, and Kim instinctively followed his. That was when she saw the Kimstick, which lay where Bonnie had dropped it. She thought of Yamanuchi and her time there with Ron. She looked at him. Then she had an idea. She knew it was desperate. But it was their only hope.
"Ron," she said excitedly. "Are you willing to try something crazy if it means we might live?"
"Sure, KP," he said through gritted teeth.
"It means you're going to hurt even more than you do now."
"Yeah, but the operative question is 'Am I going to hurt more than I will when this tub blows up with me on it?'"
She smiled. "That's the spirit, ninja boy. Here's what I want to try …"
"Y'know, KP, that is pretty crazy. But why not?" he replied, trying to grin through the pain.
XIV.
They knew they now had perhaps ten minutes to implement their plan. Kim had to set Ron's leg into place before she moved him. She used the Kimstick to make splints; Ron had turned it into a wood that Kim could easily snap, then surprised both of them by turning both halves back into something strong and durable. He screamed as she positioned the bones and she flinched as she saw him suffer. Yet still she remained focused. She got up, ran to the control panel and turned off the artificial gravity. She made her way to Ron and guided him to the access tube. She was frightened by how white he'd turned. "Don't worry, KP. I'm here. Besides, this isn't as bad as being beaten up by the bullies in D Hall."
She led them down the access tube, opened the hatch, then directed them to the nearest air lock. She worked the panel, and the door slid open. She guided Ron inside. Then she closed the door and entered a series of commands into the panel. The outer airlock door would open in 120 seconds.
"I'm on?" he asked; she nodded. "I don't know how this works, so I'm just going to assume that you can help …"
Just then, Rufus emerged from Kim's pocket.
"… You, too, little buddy. Both of you – enjoy the view. And, KP, think happy thoughts," he said through gritted teeth. "Here goes …" Ron closed his eyes and began to concentrate, pushing aside the pain. It felt like an eternity. He struggled to clear his head, then focused on being at peace. He remembered the moment a year ago when he stormed into the prom. There was his best friend Kim Possible with her dream date Eric. Yet when Ron told Kim about the L'il Diablos, and Eric scoffed, she had listened to her best friend, not her then-boyfriend. That was when Ron first felt hope that somehow, someday, things would work out for the two of them. Ron knew that moment was the beginning of the rest of their lives; it was the supreme moment of possibility.
Suddenly, Ron could feel himself … floating. Not levitating, but floating. He knew that he was doing the mystical floaty thing that he'd seen Sensei do. He had no idea whether it would protect them in the vacuum of space. What the heck. If we survive, I'm going to marry Kim. That means I'm going to be a Possible. And anything's possible for a Possible.
XV.
Kim lay next to Ron, feeling his body against hers. She looked at his face, taking in his freckles and his ears. She soon felt the energy surrounding them. What she saw filled her with wonder; it was unlike anything she'd ever before experienced or even imagined. Ron and Kim, with Rufus now in her pocket, were enveloped in a field of green energy. She could hear a klaxon ringing and a tinny voice announcing the imminent opening of the airlock. Then the outer door opened and they were blown out into the vacuum of space.
Kim was still breathing. She was awed by what was happening. She looked at the stars, then at Ron. She'd done as he asked; she'd enjoyed the view. Then she closed her eyes. Think happy thoughts, she reminded herself and she did: The first day they met. The First Kiss. The first time she thought she might like Ron as more than a friend. Ron's arrival before the prom. Afternoons at Bueno Nacho … and in the tree house. Watching TV together …
XVI.
"Two bodies were just expelled from the upper level airlock …"
Ann groaned. She couldn't blame Kim and Ron for wanting to go that way; at least it gave them a measure of control over their deaths. And it would be better than waiting to be blown up. Still, Kim was her baby …
"… and they're surrounded by some sort of energy field. Frederick, get us to their position NOW!" James yelled, as he began inputting commands to open the cargo bay doors.
Frederick swept in beneath Kim and Ron, swallowing them up in the ship. James immediately began the process of closing the doors and re-pressurizing the hold.
XVII.
"Ron! We're safe!" Kim yelled, as they gently drifted down to the deck of the hold. "We're safe!" As they touched the surface, she saw the aura collapse. And with it Ron.
XVIII.
When Ann arrived in the cargo bay, she found Kim, clutching Ron's clothing, screaming. "NO! Ron! Please!"
Ann gently but firmly pushed Kim aside. She quickly evaluated Ron. There was no heartbeat, no breathing. She slammed his chest. Then she did it again. And again. "Come on, Ron. Work with me, work with me." Kim watched, rocking in fear. Ann thought she saw some movement. She leaned over and listened to his chest. A heartbeat. And he was breathing. Ron was alive. But he was completely unresponsive.
Ann slumped down. "He's alive, Kimmie. But beyond that, I can't say anything."
Kim curled up into a ball and began crying again. Ann embraced her, feeling powerless to do anything to help her daughter or her daughter's boyfriend.
Neither of the women took note that the two pieces of the Kimstick were now charred. They were too worried about Ron. And they were distracted by James' announcement.
XIX.
"Darn!" James exclaimed.
"What is it Dr. Possible?" Wade asked from the tactical station.
"We've got a problem with one of the secondary power relays. I've got to go back to the engine." James got up and looked at Wade, who was clearly uneasy. The boy may have been a genius, but he was still just twelve years old. James knew he was about to place an incredible burden on Wade's shoulders. But he had no choice. He couldn't send him to deal with this problem, given the possibility of a radiation leak. "Wade, that station is going to blow in less than five minutes. If we don't get out of here, we're going to be destroyed by debris from the explosion. Take the conn. You and Frederick have the ship."
Wade took a deep breath and took James' seat. James meanwhile grabbed some tools and headed aft. He passed by Ann, Kim, and Ron. He intentionally did not look at them, knowing that he could not afford to be distracted by Ron's suffering or Kim's sorrow. He had a job to do. But as he moved past his wife, he did call out an order: "Secure him, Ann. The ride's going to get rough in a moment." Assuming we aren't stuck here and blown to a million pieces.
XX.
Kim fought back her tears to help her mother bring Ron forward to the cabin. Fukushima, bound and sitting against a bulkhead, could not help but smile when he saw the broken form of his foe. Shego, who was now untied in light of the assistance she gave Kim, noticed the look of satisfaction on Fukushima's face, and kicked him in the gut.
"What?" Shego asked as Ann and Kim looked at her. "I didn't like the way ninja creep was looking at him. Stoppable's like Princess – I don't like it when other people beat up on them like that. I've got dibs."
Kim would never tell Ron or her parents of the incredible sense of pleasure she felt as she watched Bonnie's partner groan as he doubled over in pain.
XXI.
"I guess Kimmie-cub was right. Sometimes labels do make a difference," James grumbled as he looked at the damaged generic brand part he'd bought from an on-line rocket parts wholesaler. He quickly removed the burned-out relay, and replaced it with a new one. He was about to get up when he noticed a hole in the Jeffries tube.
"When it rains, it pours," he muttered. He looked up and realized there was no way he could reach the rupture. Even Frederick was too big to get in there. He reached for his comm device; they had only one hope.
"Kim, I need Rufus back here. Now!"
She looked at the distraught naked mole rat, who was clutching Ron's collar. She knew all too well how Rufus felt. Leaning over to him, she said, "Ron needs you to do this, Rufus. It's the only way we can get him home … to help …"
Rufus looked at Kim, seeing the pain in her eyes. Gamely, he threw back his shoulders and nodded.
"… Take this," she said, slipping the molecular reflex enhancer ring onto Rufus. He then scampered aft.
James was ready for Rufus. He reached into his toolkit and withdrew a miniature blowtorch which he handed to the naked mole rat. James quickly explained what needed to be done.
Rufus nodded that he understood, scampered up the tube, hastily repaired the breach, and returned to James, giving him a paw's up.
James then pulled out his comm device.
"Wade, punch it, now!"
"But, Dr. P., you're not …"
"Don't argue! Now Wade!"
James grabbed Rufus and stuffed him into his pocket. He then looked around and found a grip. When this was over, he decided, he was going to write a letter or two to the Space Passage people. James Possible had come to the sad conclusion that they didn't know the first thing about space travel.
XXII.
"Brace yourselves!" Wade cried out.
The space station exploded, sending out a shock wave that rocked The Donald. Kim looked at Ron, who had been lashed down to the deck. Shego eyed Drew, who was lost in his own world. Ann said a silent prayer for her husband, hoping that he had found a safe refuge in the engine room. And Wade and Frederick focused all of their energies on maintaining control of the ship as it was buffeted by the explosion.
XXIII.
Nana was worried. She was relieved that James had successfully repaired the engine problems. But she knew that things would still be touch and go if the ship was anywhere near the station when the core exploded.
She and the twins monitored the telemetry from the ship; Barbara Jo didn't know what to think. She had been told that Kim and Ron were on board but unable to talk. She sensed something was wrong.
"Snap!" Nana cursed, getting everyone's attention.
The telemetry from the ship had just … stopped.
XXIV.
The people of Middleton, or more accurately the ones who were either not smart enough or were too stubborn to leave town after Bonnie threatened to destroy the community, looked skywards and gasped as they saw the explosion. It was like watching a star go nova – the station had been a small dot in the night sky, then it bloomed into a second sun, then just as quickly faded away.
They stood quietly, at first stunned by what had happened. But then they began to cheer wildly, knowing the space-borne threat to their homes had been destroyed.
XXV.
The mood at Mission Control was anything but celebratory. Nana, the twins and Barbara Jo sat stunned, unable to believe what had just happened.
XXVI.
The ship pitched and yawed in the wake of the explosion, its systems, other than emergency life support all cut off. But they were alive.
James made his way forward, bruised from being tossed during the explosion. "How's everyone doing up here?"
Ann looked at her husband and beamed. She was so proud of him. "Everyone's fine …." she said. Then she cut off herself off as she looked at Kim and Ron, and realized that she'd spoken too soon. Kim had already taken off her safety restraint and gone to Ron. She lay down next to him and held his good arm tightly and wept softly. Ann knew that her daughter didn't care whether she survived if she had lost Ron.
James sighed and made his way to the conn. "Wade, focus on restoring communications. I'm getting this ship back to Middleton."
XXVII.
The Space Center was mobbed. The press had camped out waiting to get a first hand report on the mission to the space station. This was the biggest story in years. Reporters and producers smelled Pulitzers in the air, not to mention increased ratings and nice raises. They waited for word about The Donald. They would have to wait longer. The Donald had landed at the Medical Center; when informed of its safe arrival, Nana, the twins and Barbara Jo slipped out undetected.
Ron had been rushed into the ER. Kim waited with her father and the others while her mother joined the other physicians in evaluating Ron. After some time, she came out.
"No brain or heart damage; just the arm and the leg and the bruises." Ann never thought she'd say something like that about a femur, tibia, humerus, radius and ulna in the condition Ron's were in, but she had been no less frightened than Kim when she considered the possibility he might die or suffer brain damage. "He's still unconscious, however. We'll just have to wait and see what happens next."
Kim stared at her mother. In a tiny voice, she asked, "Unconscious. Is, is he in a coma?"
Ann shook her head. "I don't know, Kimmie. Ron just did something that I am sure no human being has ever done before. I'm really not sure what's going on."
XXVIII.
Kim had taken off her EVA suit and had changed into some hospital scrubs that her mother had found for her. She was bruised and she was tired. But once Ron was brought out of the ER, where he was given proper casts that would do until his surgery, she refused to leave his side.
She cast a concerned glance at Rufus, who had been extremely agitated ever since Ron's collapse. Even the arrival of Rufina failed to calm Ron's little buddy. Kim, looking at the naked mole rat, remembered something from her time babysitting him; it was the one thing guaranteed to soothe him. Softly she began to sing "Rock-a-bye baby." As she came to the end, Rufus and his mate both fell asleep.
Kim was alone with Ron. Occasionally, a family member or friend would look in. But there was a sense, shared even by Barbara Jo, that this was Kim's vigil. She sat with Ron in the darkened room for a long time, holding his hand, before she finally fell into a fitful sleep.
XXIX.
The morning sun streamed through the windows. Ron awoke to find Kim sleeping in the chair beside him with Rufus and Rufina in her lap. He looked down and saw her hand in his, then noticed that his arm and leg were in casts and his torso was bandaged. And he felt drained, like some part of him was gone. But he was alive. And so was Kim. He looked back to his girlfriend and smiled. He sat and watched her sleep; he had always enjoyed watching her like this, even when they were 'just' friends. Finally, Kim began to stir.
"Ron?" she said as she saw him looking at her.
"In the flesh!" he said, trying to sound enthusiastic but speaking in a very weak voice.
"You're okay?" she asked hopefully.
"Relatively speaking, yeah," he said with a lopsided grin.
Kim's eyes began to tear up, though she was smiling. "I, I was so worried …"
"Yeah, well, I don't think the mystical floaty thing is meant to be done in outer space. I still don't know what I did, but I put everything I had into it … including you," he said smiling at Kim. "Those must have been some happy thoughts you were having."
She grinned. "Boxer short thoughts."
"Boo-yah!" he croaked, then winced. "Okay, bad idea," he said with a smile. "Hey, I like the scrubs. You look good in them."
Kim looked down at her attire, then at Ron. "Thanks. It's the latest from Club Banana."
"Too bad they don't make those in a crop top," he said impishly.
"Ron Stoppable! Next thing you know, you're going to tell me that you want to play doctor!" Kim said in mock indignation.
"Hey, I like that, KP. I'd love to have you check me out. Maybe you could start with the lips …"
"Hmmm," she said, getting up and leaning over to Ron. "You're right. The patient's lips definitely need to be evaluated …"
Kim caressed Ron's face as she kissed him. Slowly she pulled away and smiled. "I think the patient's condition will need to be monitored on a regular basis."
He grinned at that, then his face turned serious.
"What is it, Ron?"
"Uh, KP, you need to know something."
"What?"
"My mystical monkey power. I, I think it's gone."
"Ron …"
"Yeah, I think I shot the wad up there."
Kim looked at Ron, then the two halves of the blackened Kimstick, which had been brought to the room; after things had settled down, Yori was the first to notice the changes the two parts of the staff had undergone. Kim remembered the pain he'd suffered the previous year after he'd surrendered the Lotus Blade to Fukushima.
Ron saw the look of concern that was spreading over Kim's face. "Hey, no big as a certain red headed hottie I know might say. We're alive," he said looking into her eyes.
Then he looked away, a bit uneasy. "But it looks like you'll have to demote me from partner back to sidekick. Don't know that I'm going to be much use in a fight right now," he said looking down the bed, then, trying to rally, added, "Though I can still crack jokes and be a distraction."
"Ron, remember what I said in Rabbi K's office? I love you because of what's here," she said placing her hand on his heart, then twining her pinky with his. "We'll get through this together. You learned a lot at Yamanuchi, and when you get better, you can learn it again." Smiling slyly, she continued, "You know, I wouldn't mind an extended stay at a secret ninja school with my warrior hero, especially since you still owe me a kimono. Besides," she said with a grin, "Nobody will ever be as cute as you are when your pants fall down." Then, as Kim leaned in for another kiss, she said, "You are and always will be my partner, Ron Stoppable. Don't you ever forget that." She brought her lips to his.
"Ron! You're awake!" Ann Possible exclaimed.
Kim couldn't help but growl as she reluctantly broke the kiss; she turned to see her mother wearing a huge smile. "Nice to see Ron is strong enough for the two of you to play doctor!"
Ron and Kim both turned red. "Uh, morning, Dr. P.," Ron replied weakly. He didn't want to admit it, but he was glad for the distraction. Much to his disappointment, Kim's attentions were already beginning to wear him out.
"Kimmie, I hate to interrupt you, but the media people are beginning to get out of control and I'm sure Ron's mother would like to see him. Do you think you could talk to them for a moment so we can get them out of here?"
Kim felt Ron squeeze her hand. "Go and knock 'em dead, KP. And if anybody asks about us, don't forget to tell 'em that we're so hot …"
"… We're on fire!" She laughed for the first time since the previous day. It felt good. Very, very good.
XXX.
That night, at Ron's insistence, Kim went home. "You need to get a good night's sleep, KP. Trust me, I'll be here in the morning. It's not like I'm going anywhere," he had said with a grin.
Even after Kim left, they still spent a good deal of time talking on their Kimmunicators, but exhaustion finally claimed Ron, who fell asleep mid-sentence. Kim had changed into her sleeping clothes and was looking at her prom picture when Nana came up to her room. "May I come in, Kimberly Ann?"
"Of course, Nana."
The old woman climbed the final steps into her granddaughter's loft.
"So, dear, what are you going to do?"
"About what, Nana?"
"Your missions."
Kim tensed up. She knew her grandmother had long disapproved of her save-the-world activities, though she'd been more accepting, even supportive, of late. Nana had seemed to enjoy herself at the Super Bowl.
Kim wasn't looking for an argument, but she had no qualms about defending her right to go on missions. Still, she knew she faced a dilemma. She really didn't want to save the world without Ron, and he'd be out of commission for months, if not a year or more.
"I don't know, Nana. Ron and I are a team, we're partners …"
"And you're in love," her grandmother added with a smile.
"Yes, we are, more than I ever imagined possible," she sighed. "Missions without Ron just aren't the same."
Nana looked away for a moment, then took a deep breath. "You know, Kimberly Ann, you're very lucky. I've seen the way Ronald looks at you; he adores you and happily goes off with you on these adventures. I was never so fortunate. Your grandfather was a good man. But he was always questioning me, wondering why I had to run off and do things he thought others could handle. Not your Ronald. You two have something very special. Treasure it."
"I do and I will, Nana."
"Yes, of course. But also recognize that things change. You two are beginning a new stage of your lives. College. Marriage, sooner than your father would like, I suspect," she added with a wicked grin that caused Kim to redden. "Maybe you should consider making, well, adjustments."
"What, give up saving the world?"
"No, but maybe recruit some additional talent. You remember what your mother looked like when she was carrying the twins?" Kim nodded, not sure where this was going. "That could you be you in just a few years," Kim blushed again. "You really don't want to rappel a wall in that condition. Trust me. I know."
"So what are you suggesting?"
"I'm going to assume that you won't want to go on missions while Ronald's recovering. It would be all work and no fun. Am I right?" Kim nodded. Nana knew her granddaughter well. "There must be others who can pick up the slack in the interim, which would let you spend your down time training some new team members."
"Like who?"
Nana smiled, got up and walked to the hatch. "Jim, Tim, come on up!"
Kim stared at her grandmother. "The Tweebs?"
"Please, Kim?" they whined.
"Why?"
"Because what you and Ron do is way cool …" Jim said.
"… and you're our heroes!" Tim confessed.
"Though we'll never admit we said that!" Jim offered with a smile.
"And if you do tell anyone we said that, we'll email pictures of you and Ron smooching in the tree house to everyone in Middleton!" Tim added, much to Kim's discomfort and annoyance.
"Besides, do you think Shego could really handle the two of us?" Jim asked.
Kim laughed at that idea; it made for a wonderful image. If the Tweebs could learn the martial arts and combine that with their creative intelligence, they could be a formidable pair, even surpassing her and Ron someday. And Kim happily realized that didn't bother her. "Okay, okay. Let me talk with Ron and Wade. But if we do this, it's going to mean a lot of hard work. And Ron and I remain in charge. Agreed?"
Tim and Jim grinned at one another, then high-fived Kim.
"Hicka-bicka-boo!" Tim cried out.
To which Jim added an enthusiastic "Hoo-shah!"
XXXI.
The next day after school Kim was visiting Ron in the hospital.
"So, what do you think?" Kim asked Ron, hoping he'd agree to expanding the team. The more she had thought of it, the more she liked the idea. It would allow her to keep a hand in the game while adjusting to the new realities in her life. She realized Nana was right. Though she didn't know when she and Ron would be married, if they had children, Kim was not going to head into the field while pregnant. Besides, there were things she wanted to do with Ron that didn't involve freak fighting, like go to Paris or sit on a beach. And now more than ever she was committed to Team Possible's adopting a buddy-rule; she knew she didn't want Ron going on missions alone, and she was confident he felt the same way about solo work, which would take her out of the field until he had recovered.
"Tim and Jim. Loose in Dementor's lab. I'm liking it, KP!" he said with a goofy grin.
"I think it's an excellent idea, too!" Burn Berman added. Kim and Ron looked at the three members of Team Impossible, improbably dressed in black turtlenecks and cargo pants.
"Team Impossible," Kim deadpanned. "How nice to see you. And I see you've developed some fashion sense. Kim for him?"
"So, where were you dudes a few days ago?" Ron asked, sounding peeved. "We coulda used some backup with Drakken and Bon-Bon."
"Hey, you're the ones who told us to go work for Global Justice," Dash Dumont said, pointing an accusing finger at Kim and Ron and shaking his head in disgust. "No wonder you two were always so busy. You not only work for free, but you have no red tape to deal with. It's all fill-out-this-form-this and deal-with-the-bureaucrat that at GJ headquarters."
"The Drake Star business was the last straw," Crash Cranston said. "Authorization to act came through six hours after you landed. We quit this morning."
"I so cannot believe this," Kim snapped, her ire up. "You're going to take advantage of Ron's injuries to try to go back into business. And you're even copying our trademark outfits. You three are sooo low!"
"Hey, we may maximize the bottom line, but we're not creeps," Crash said huffily.
Kim snorted.
"Besides," Burn added, "we'd lose our non-profit status, which has been great for the bottom-line. Non-profit doesn't mean no-profit, especially when you know the tax laws," he said smugly. "We don't need to charge. But we're like you. We do need to be in the field. So, we're here to make an offer."
Kim looked at the three members of Team Impossible dubiously. Still, she was curious. "Shoot."
"We'll be an affiliate of your operation, operating under your name and following your policies," Crash said. "We'll handle your missions while Ron's recuperating and retraining, at no charge to you or the customer."
"This smells fishy. We don't know Claude, remember?" Ron asked, like Kim, skeptical of the erstwhile heroes-for-hire. "What's in it for you?"
Burn grinned. "One: we get to work free of bureaucracy. Two: working free of charge is good PR. It'll enhance the value of our merchandising agreements, boost sales of TI toys, sheets, and collectibles. Three: you'll agree to change your operation's name, which will be good for us when you're back in action."
"What?" Kim and Ron both exclaimed in unison, neither even thinking to call jinx.
"Hey, come on," Dash replied. "Team Impossible. Team Possible. You know there's too much room for confusion, remember? Besides, when you two lovebirds get married, you'd probably have to change the name anyway. I happen to think Team Unstoppable's pretty catchy, don't you?"
Kim and Ron looked at one another, then slowly smiled.
"Whaddya think, KP?"
"This could actually work, Ron. And it will make it easier for us to go to Japan next year."
A huge grin broke out on Ron's face. "Two words, KP: Boo. Yah." He turned to Team Impossible. "But you use our theme song."
Kim then looked at Crash, Dash, and Burn.
"Okay, boys, you've got a deal, pending agreement from Wade and Rufus," she said with a grin of her own. "Welcome to Team Unstoppable."
XXXII.
It was a gorgeous day, perfect for an outdoor commencement ceremony. The senior class of Middleton High School had worked towards and waited for this day for four years. Now they were being rewarded, receiving their diplomas and a lifetime free from the horror of cafeteria mystery meat.
Parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, family and friends filled the seats which had been set up on the football field. Sitting amongst the crowd were the Possible and Stoppable families. They watched with anticipation as name after name was called.
"Kimberly Ann Possible."
Kim strode onto the stage and collected her diploma. Her parents and grandmother beamed with pride, her Uncle Slim smiled, her cousin Joss nodded sagely, expecting nothing less of her big cousin and Kim's brothers actually behaved themselves. The audience applauded, at first politely, then enthusiastically. This was Middleton's most famous daughter, the girl who'd saved their world time and again. And off to the side, in a wheel chair, her boyfriend grinned like a happy fool, incredibly proud of the woman he loved.
The roll call of names continued until Steve Barkin called out Ron's name. Kim got up from her seat and wheeled Ron, whose leg and arm were still in casts, onto the stage. The doctors had not been happy with the idea of Ron leaving the hospital, but he was insistent. He'd busted his tail to graduate and he wasn't going to miss the big day, especially after Mr. Barkin began sending him homework to do while he was still in the hospital.
Barkin shook Ron's hand and looked him in the eye.
"You've done well, Stoppable. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, Mr. B. That means a lot coming from you."
They looked at each other, no longer teacher and student, not yet quite equals, but perhaps two men who had come to respect one another. Barkin then grinned.
"Promise me that if you two have kids, they'll take after Possible!" Kim and Ron couldn't help but laugh.
As Kim moved the chair across the stage there was applause, which wasn't surprising given Ron's role in recent events and his celebrity status. But then something happened that neither Kim nor Ron would ever forget.
After the applause died down, Tim, tired of sitting quietly, jumped up on his chair and shouted "Hicka-bicka-boo …" to which his brother Jim responded enthusiastically, "Hoosha!" Then they both exchanged high fives and a "boo-yah, Ron!" Then, much to Ron's dumb amazement, the audience, especially his classmates, began to cheer "boo-yah, boo-yah" over and over. People were standing now, clapping, banging their chairs. The chant and the noise were overwhelming, more meaningful to Ron than the votes on American Starmaker or the cheering at the Super Bowl, because they came from his peers.
He began to choke up.
"Get me off this stage before I cry, KP," he said.
"Not on your life, Ron! You so deserve this!" Kim answered as she kissed him on the lips, much to the pleasure of the audience before she joined in the chant. Then she began waving her arms, cheerleader-style, and lustily called out to great approval "Give me a B …"
XXXIII.
Standing in a shadowed corner, Shego watched the festivities from the back of the football stadium. After the incident on the space station, she'd grudgingly accepted that, disturbing as the concept was, Kim and Ron, though her foes, were the most important people in her life after Drew. They definitely occupied a larger place in her life than her annoying and dim-witted Go siblings.
None of this meant she actually liked the two teens or that she wouldn't go into battle against them again; Shego was looking forward to once again tangling with the Princess. But she watched, seeing a younger version of herself and what she could have been. For now, she'd lay off Kimmie. And she'd make sure that Stoppable had a chance to recover. Then, the gloves were off.
Maybe if things had been different in the past, she would have been a goody two-shoes like Kim Possible. But the past was the past. Shego was a villain, a darned good one who enjoyed her life. She was now incapable of taking the straight and narrow; heck, she'd busted out of jail within three days of being incarcerated. Another one I 'owe' you for, Princess, Shego thought with a wry smile, recalling how the Possibles had a large contingent of police waiting for her when the space ship landed.
After Ron received his diploma, Shego turned and slipped away. Watching Kimmie do her cheerleader thing on stage made her want to puke. She could just make it to the private sanitarium to visit with Drew before she caught the plane to Rio for her next job …
To Be Concluded …