Chapter 22: Catharsis
Tasting rain in a storm like this couldn't have been heaven at all. Not if everything was dark, cold, and wet.
If you were dead, why would you sneeze?
And why did you feel like something was carrying you?
Maybe you weren't dead at all.
But if everything echoed, maybe you were.
If you opened your eyes to see a huge city thousands of feet below and weren't falling, then that's something else.
Ron could feel a lot of pain in various areas, and whether or not he was dead, he was still afraid of heights. A wild scream filled the air.
"Ah, you have awakened!"
It was a female voice… with an accent. She had her chain in one hand, carrying him with her available arm.
"Yori?"
"Save your breath, Stoppable-san. We still have to stop him…"
Ron was confused. Okay, he figured out that Yori saved him from falling to his death. He should've been used to his hide being saved so many times, but he couldn't help but feel awkward about something.
He almost let out another scream when he noticed a surveillance camera with a gun looking right at him.
However, it did not fire. It didn't seem to be active at all. Upon realizing this fact, Ron practically cheered.
"Way to disarm those guns, Yori!"
He couldn't make eye contact with her, but he was able to see her shake her head.
"This was not my doing."
Weird.
Seeing Yori again instantly reminded him of the incident at Nev's lab. Even though he didn't blame Kim anymore, he still felt bad for his friend in some way.
"Hey, um, Yori… sorry about earlier, but-"
"We can worry about that later. We still have a job to do. Do you think you can climb? You are not exactly 'lightweight."
"Um, I can try," he said as he let out another sneeze. 'Geez, what's up with her and her snappy tone?' he thought.
If he had known better, he would realize her tone was one of grief, anger and shame. She carefully let go of him and allowed him to get a grip on the chain. Holding on lightly was the last thing that came to his mind. But he still had the strength in him, somehow, to follow her, even though he had just regained consciousness a minute or two ago. The rain was just as fierce as ever, and he could see the smoke and fires from the Hind from where he was at (the 67th floor). He didn't worry much. Kim could handle Val alone.
Right?
"I apologize for my mood," Yori shouted through the thunder, "but I feel dishonored that I left the team for my own feelings. I promised that I would aid you in this mission, and I intend to keep it until the very end, Stoppable-san."
Ron was surprised. He never heard her talk like this.
"Throughout this journey, I have been a weak little girl who could not remain calm and cool over the relationship of someone else. I am tired of being that person. No longer am I going to stand and watch, to think that my own wishes and desires are more important than the threat of global destruction… I am going to fight."
Ron couldn't really respond to this. An outside view would be able to see Yori's faults, but he wasn't able to see it at all.
"Stoppable-san… Kim is still in grave danger. She cannot fight Ryan-kun alone."
Ron almost paused. Why did she know his name?
"You… knew…? You knew he was behind all of this?"
Yori shook her head. "I only found out shortly before you all infiltrated the building. I was going to warn you, but he used a sleep needle on me."
Ron instantly felt more guilt from this. "Oh… sorry about that."
Yori didn't respond, continuing the climb. Even though he should've felt that Val was the only danger, he still couldn't shake the bizarre hunch he was having. Maybe it was the fact that none of the gun cameras were active at all, but it was more of the ninja girl's presence.
"Something else bothers me about this mission, Stoppable-san…"
This quickly distracted him from his concentration. "Um, what?"
"I witnessed the explosion from below, the fight with the helicopter…"
"Yeah… KP shot it down… I didn't get to see any of it."
"Oh. Well, regardless, it caught the attention of the townspeople and sent them into instant fear, but…"
"But?"
"But there was not a single police vehicle or anything else in sight. No ambulance, no police, no SWAT, no firefighters, nothing."
"Really? You're sure?"
"I am certain," she responded truthfully.
"Weird. Usually SWAT guys and GJ would instantly be on the job. I mean, this city is huge, and they cover that kinda stuff first. Wouldn't those guys be here immediately?"
"That is what I thought. There is something else at work here, Stoppable-san."
"I'll be careful. You should too."
His eyes were glued onto the flames at the top of the building. He only hoped that Kim was all right. If Yori was right, he hoped Kim could hang on longer.
Able to hear his thoughts like words, it didn't surprise Yori at all, but she fought to keep a firm face.
"Um, Yori?"
She quickly got nervous. "Yes, Stoppable-san?"
'No… He couldn't have just read my mind! There's no worse thing than two mind-readers in one place!' she thought frantically.
"Can't we just break a window and head to the top from there?"
A thunderclap shielded her loud sigh of relief.
"I am afraid the entire place has been filled with poison gas."
This was starting to break Ron's weirdar scale. It would have been a good way to keep police out, but they weren't even there…
There was more to this than Val and his ambitions…
Ugh, but the taste of rain…
… It was far from the best, especially mixed in with marble and rocks. Whether you were blonde didn't make a difference.
"Well… I tried."
Jen was apparently tasting the ground after being beaten down by Val. The fight was a short one, due to the fact that Val copied every single one of Jen's moves and styles and used them against her. He was no less graceful in the fight than she was, but she was too quick on the offensive, and not as skilled in the defense department.
Val walked up to the girl and lent out his hand. "Your offense is brilliant, but your defense really needs work."
Jen coughed as she was able to get onto her knees, rejecting the offer. "I guess CQC… doesn't do much against a swift opponent…"
The girl was quite stumped. Usually if she could grapple someone and slam them into the ground, it was more than enough to render them unconscious. But Val also knew of CQC, and used it deliberately against her.
Val slowly backed away. "Well, I have no interest in you, so I'll spare you. You can just sit and watch the rest of the show."
"Rest…?"
"I'm not done with everyone just yet. The night is still alive, ladies!"
But instead of getting into a fighting stance or pulling out a weapon, at least what both Kim and Jen suspected, a small device opened up on his left arm.
A watch.
Suddenly, a small projectile broke into the room through the windows. Kim and Jen used their arms to shield their eyes, while Val just shut his eyes tightly. The sound of glass breaking could be heard, but when the smoke cleared, the two girls gasped.
Yori finally entered the arena, and she didn't come alone. Whoever it was slumped into their knees in exhaustion.
"Ron?"
Kim had to rub her eyes, but once they opened, they were full of life again. Her skin tone was also coming back to normal.
It was him.
"RON!"
Val was knocked off his feet as Kim lunged herself at her shaken BF, rubbing her cheeks against his with a peaceful look in her closed eyes. Jen couldn't help but smile at the sight. Everyone expected for her to plant a huge kiss on his face, but for some reason, he was hesitant, moving his head away in an opposite direction every time Kim tried to get her nose close to his.
"Ron? What's wrong?"
"Sorry, KP. I…"
He gently pushed Kim off.
"Ron?"
Everyone almost took this as a hurtful gesture, until he turned away and sneezed loudly.
"Sorry about that, KP…" he sniffed. "I caught a cold."
Instantly, he turned around and greeted her with open arms, and she quickly tackled him.
"You're okay! I thought…"
She couldn't complete her sentence, bursting into tears again. Much to Ron's satisfaction, they were warm tears as opposed to cold rain. Ron hadn't had Kim hug him like this for a long time, at least to the best of his memory, which everyone knew wasn't too huge these days.
"I thought I lost you…"
Ron lightly chuckled as he picked her up. "You thought that? KP, we're inseparable, you know that."
"Yeah… but… never mind."
Yori watched the two quietly, but not with the same feelings she usually witnessed the two with. She was like Val at first, having her doubts about the two, but seeing Kim like this… It wasn't unbearable, but it wasn't something she had seen before, not in this light. Before, she quickly became jealous, but she didn't feel this way this time.
No, she felt happy for Kim. A smile even made a way to her face.
The moment was destroyed when coughing came from the other male in the room.
Val was spitting out rain and rubbing his head. Apparently, when Kim knocked him out of the way, he landed right on his head and fell on his face. Everyone's eyes turned to him instantly, but his eyes were not on them. They were still on the watch built into his left arm. Ron slowly put Kim down so both would be ready for anything.
"Right on time, Yori-chan. Glad to see the delivery was made."
Everyone's eyes turned on the ninja girl as her eyes instantly went from happiness to pure hatred.
"This was not part of the deal, Ryan-kun!"
Everyone but Ryan blinked.
Val shook his head. "Deal? What ever are you talking about, Yori-chan?"
Ron slowly clutched onto Kim's shoulders. "Yori… what's going on?"
She sulked in anger. "I am sorry… I have dishonored you all. I remember now… It was not coincidence that I was involved in this operation. I… I…"
Everyone watched the girl confess.
"I willingly participated from the very beginning… I am sorry."
Val rolled his eyes. "Told you so."
This was quick to take Kim and Ron by surprise, but Jen was probably the most shocked. "You… defected?"
"Please, you must understand! I…" Yori sighed. "No… there is no excuse for what I did…"
"But how? Why?" Kim asked. "Or was what you said about your mind being erased a lie, too?"
Before Yori could answer, Val stepped in front of her.
"Believe me, it's not what you think. Perhaps you should tell them, or should I?" he asked his former classmate.
She didn't answer, closing her eyes to avoid eye contact with anyone.
"Well…" Val begun. "A month and a half after Sensei's rejection, I was back in Japan and still recovering from my injuries. By then, Sensei had already told Yori that he killed me, to prevent her from trying to pursue me if he told her the truth. However, since he was like a father to her, she knew him well enough to see through his lies. Even a man of his wisdom knows that he must lie to protect others, unlike the rest of human population. But her search did not go successfully. I kept within close range at Mt. Fuji, and just when she was about to give up, I blundered and fell into a well. Embarrassing, but she heard it. I managed to get out on my own, but she almost screamed when she noticed all of my injuries. I had grown more disgusting in appearance over the last ten years, and she grew more beautiful. Curious as to what caused those injuries, she went through my mind."
"Went through your mind?" Ron asked.
"She's a clairvoyant and a mind reader."
"What?" Both Kim and Ron asked.
Yori opened her eyes again and made contact with Val.
"Relax, I won't tell them of your past. Anyway, what she found was you two being put in danger, and she immediately challenged me to a fight. She couldn't forgive me for what I had done, but she didn't look deeply into my mind until after the fight was over."
"I lost…" Yori confessed.
"Only then she saw that I was not my true self, and she also saw my real past. Instead of finishing her off or allowing herself to, since it's a custom to finish off your opponent, I only asked for her help."
"And you went along with it?" Ron scolded.
"I do not think you understand, Stoppable-san. I did not wish to do this to put you in danger!"
"Then why did you do it?"
Yori only sulked further, allowing Val to continue.
"I told her that I needed to do something important, and through my mind she saw the truth. However, for it to be executed, I told her that involved two people; her crush, and his partner."
"You manipulated me…" Yori growled.
"Manipulated you?" Val roared hysterically. "Woman, you manipulated YOURSELF!"
Everyone froze as Val's eyes instantly grew angry.
"Yori, I told you that I was interested only in Possible. I only told you to use Ron to grab her attention. Once she was where I wanted her, right here, your job was done, and Ron was no longer needed. There was no deal involved."
Jen's eyes narrowed. "Yori, you assented to that?"
"Yes… I thought it was my chance to see Stoppable-san again and… I thought I could move far away with only him…"
Everyone groaned.
"But please believe me when I say this, I did not know of his relationship with Possible-san!"
Her eyes met Val's.
"Why did you not tell me of this?"
"You never asked! But of course, she didn't matter at all," referring to Kim. "You didn't care if she fell in battle, even if Ron suffered, as long as your love would make up for it. It's not how life or love works, Yori! You honestly did not think that they were together? Who are you trying to fool?"
"You're wrong! I had no knowledge of their relationship together!"
"Yori, you read through my mind!" Val snapped. "Surely you knew there was a reason I fought them! It was because of the very fact that THEY WERE TOGETHER!"
Yori sighed. "I… I refused to believe it then…"
Val shook his head with pity. "And when you found out, you could not bear it. Your hopes and dreams with the boy you crushed on were instantly destroyed. But you chose to fight it anyway."
"No, it was because I truly did not know what happened prior to the assassination attempt. I wanted to find out who was behind this just as much as they did! Only of my encounter with you did everything become crystal clear!"
"You did agree to the brainwashing."
"I did not!"
"Liar! You were willing to do what was necessary to see Stoppable again, even if you couldn't remember why you were there in the first place. As long as he was there, that was all that mattered. I honestly thought everyone in the world knew of the relationship, but I forget that you isolate yourself to rural Japan."
"…Why didn't Sensei tell me?"
She also was not aware that Ron returned to the school after the fight, but she knew in some way that Sensei knew about it.
"Because you wouldn't believe him, and you would see it for yourself, only to wind up in this exact situation?"
Yori slammed her fist into the nearby wall. "So you asked for my help so I could see this for myself?"
"You were bound to find out some way. Would you prefer it if you found out they were engaged? Or perhaps when Kim was expecting their first child? I figured you should find out now. Sorry you weren't ready for it."
One word instantly outraged her. "Sorry? Sorry? You call toying with my own emotions 'sorry'?"
Val was quick to talk back. "Hey, it's not my fault you didn't take it well."
"You didn't even make mention that you were to put him in any harm!"
"How else was I going to capture Kim's attention? Put a hit on her website and tell her to fight? I don't need a reason to fight, but she does."
"You almost killed him!"
"Says you! Did you honestly think it was coincidence that I knocked you out on a building so close to this one?"
The room went silent.
"W… What are you saying?" Yori asked.
"Isn't it obvious? I planned just about everything on this operation, including sending Ron to fall to his death, sending Kim in a traumatizing mental bind, only for him to be saved by you! Yes, I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO SAVE HIM! I PLANNED IT! IT… WAS ALL… PLANNED!"
Both Kim and Yori froze at these words.
Kim was the first to speak. "You… you are the sickest person I've met! Everything I just went through right now was just another part of your plan?"
Val only snorted. "I only removed him from the picture so I could fight you alone. But I should have known that this was going to be like Prom night all over again, but this time you weren't tied up to a giant cactus. I forgot that you're not the type to avenge anyone, especially when you see witness it for yourself and couldn't do anything about it."
"So what I went through…"
"A miscalculation on my part. But if you actually understood the words coming out of my mouth, I never said I 'killed' him. We could have had time to fight alone, but Yori got up here quicker than I thought."
This only got Kim angrier.
"Hey, look on the bright side, K. He's alive and quite well, minus the cold. You'd be wise to keep your distance, unless you want to get sick yourself. And unfortunately, they never did get around to fixing Ray X…"
Mention of this made Ron sneeze, but not before turning away from Kim and covering his nose with his arm.
"Bless you," everyone spoke, even Val.
"Thanks. But… you only sent me out of a window because you knew Yori was going to save me?"
"I don't kill for sport, Ron. What, did you think I wanted you to die?"
Ron blinked. "Um, if I recall correctly, it was you that said this was going to be a fight to the death."
Val clapped his hands together. "Ooooh, right, right. I did say that…." He humbly replied. "Speaking of which…"
A series of beeps went off in his left arm.
"Time's up."
An hour had passed.
Everyone's eyes widened. The beeping shortly stopped afterwards, and everyone embraced themselves for the worst. Of course, to no surprise, Kim and Ron held on tightly to each other, even if they both couldn't breathe from the grip.
Five seconds passed.
Then ten.
Nothing happened.
"The joke's on you." Val laughed. "Just another way to motivate you to fight."
Kim's jaw dropped. "Unbelievable… so the nuclear threat was fake all along?"
"Nope. Still there."
Kim growled. "Then how do we stop it?"
"By stopping me."
"Fine."
Kim released her grip on Ron and got into a stance, prepared to finish this.
However, Yori stood in front of Val, as if shielding him.
"I cannot let you."
Everyone blinked in unison. "What?"
"I know what I did was not right… but I do not intend to run away as I did before…. I played a role in starting this, and I plan to end it!"
Yori slowly turned around and faced the cyborg ninja. "I will make up for my errors… by finishing you off myself… my old classmate…" She then turned around to the others. "Please, do not interfere!"
Everyone had a hard time believing her, but they could tell that this was a personal bout between Yori and Val. They chose to respect her wishes.
Pleased was the last thing Val felt. "So, even though you are entirely at fault for your own involvement, you think by putting me out of commission will change anything? Taking responsibility is the right thing to do, but this is not the right way of doing it… Like you said, you joined by your own free will. I didn't force you to do anything, you know."
"You sent me to kill Stoppable-san!"
"Knowing full well he wouldn't be so easily killed. Same goes with the poison syringe. I just programmed you to do attempt such actions to let them know not to take any of what was going on lightly. It worked. You knew full well in advance that I was going to erase portions of your mind as not to blow my cover. I don't know where the hell you got the idea that this was a deal, that you would deliver Kim and you could have Ron. I just asked you to help bring Kim up here. But she found her way alone even without you."
"Did you plan that as well?" Yori snarled.
"Not entirely, but I figured with enough clues, she'd know where to go. She didn't quite understand the riddle behind the message about 'The Tower', but after delivering the hit, she put the two together, and was well on her way."
"Well… I cannot let any of this continue."
"Just try to stop me, old friend."
Instead of taking him on directly, Yori observed her surroundings, and noticed the portion of the ceiling above him was still fragile. If she could properly utilize it, it could crush Val instantly, and seeing that she was the only other person in the room that was armed, she threw an explosive straight above Val's head.
"You missed…" he taunted.
"Did I?"
Before Val could move his head up, several rocks of debris were sent crashing down on him, filling the immediate area with smoke. But when the smoke cleared, Val was sitting on top of the rubble, one arm resting on one leg and his mech-hand on his knee. He appeared to be extremely relaxed.
"You did, but thanks for the seat. I could take a load off right about now. Oh, if only there were some refreshments around…"
Yori looked surprised. "How…?"
"Many things. Reading your eyes being one. If you look at the ceiling and have a mischievous smile on your face, the words 'Labor Day' aren't going to come to mind. Second, there's the duration between releasing the object and when it hits its intended target. Why not let out a battle cry before you throw the bomb while you're at it?"
As Yori grunted and took a step back, Val performed a series of front flips and landed in front of her, next to his trenchcoat. He picked it up and put it back on. Even the weather was starting to get to him, and he wasn't in the mood to catch Ron's cold.
However, he instantly got into the same stance Yori got into, and both didn't even bother bowing before each other. Yori was not only going to make him pay for putting them all through so much danger, but for playing with her own emotions like a tool. However, unlike Kim and Ron, Val had another motive for fighting Yori. It wasn't simply for the thrill of battle.
"Ryan-kun… prepare yourself!"
She took the time to perform a series of kicks with what everyone thought was her dislocated leg. It was fine now.
Val chuckled. "Heh… totally forgot about that leg of yours, but I'm way ahead of you, sister. Try not to manipulate yourself further in this duel."
Apparently, something in Yori's defense drove him upset; her ignorance and denial toward the issue. He didn't like people with constant excuses, even if they were friends before.
Some lessons had to come hard. Kim and Ron knew this all too well.
Both quickly engaged in a fierce and loud battle. Usually, letting out grunts and cries would be a clear indicator of an incoming move, but the two didn't care. Val let himself go, clearly confident that Yori was no match for him, and Yori was trapped in her own anger to fight as she had trained for years. What surprised everyone was that both weren't fighting in the traditional Ninjitsu style at all. Both were completely on the offensive. Again, Val copied her moves to the core, but since neither were being evasive, he had the advantage. Val's fists and feet were much bigger and powerful than Yori's, and he wasn't going to allow her any breathing room. He quickly lost himself in fighting entirely in offense, forcing Yori to be defensive in blocking out his fists. Often, he would break it and hit her hard, but she refused to give up.
Strategies changed as Yori chose to make the fight into an airborne one. With what was still left of the ceiling and walls, she leapt onto the wall on her side, and Val followed suit. It became like a duel between lancers. They would strike both at once, and one would fall at the end. At least, that's what she intended. When they both attacked, they found themselves attacking each other in mid-air through several combos. Neither of them was weakened, going at it over and over again.
It was also clear that the three observers had a bad feeling about this fight. Not only was Val being completely on the offensive, but he was also limiting his style to Yori's. He was up to something, but they wouldn't interfere.
Then it looked like it was falling into play. Val decided to run up the walls as opposed to jumping onto them to initiate the attack, and Yori did the same. The fight continued to ensue, but it wasn't long before another change was in effect. As Yori went to run up her side of the wall, she found Val right behind her. In an effort to escape, she leapt off the corner of the wall toward the floor, but she couldn't even reach it before Val wrapped his arm around her neck in mid-air and sent her crashing to the floor below head-first.
Everyone winced before she even hit the ground.
Val was still ready to go, but it took a while before Yori could get onto her feet. Even when she did, she couldn't keep her balance.
"Yori, just give up…"
"I will not!" she cried weakly.
Val just shrugged. If she wasn't going to give up, it was best to end it here. He went on the offensive, but he found himself surprised as Yori was able to defend herself pretty well. Punches and kicks would be pushed aside, and she would come back with a fierce offensive.
She was using his own strategy against him.
But it wouldn't last. Val found himself being punched and kicked repeatedly like a plaything, but he still had one trick up his sleeves. Just when Yori appeared she was going to unleash a final move by moving back, as if preparing a charge, he quickly went on the offensive, but he didn't fight back solely in Ninjitsu. He changed his style completely, confusing Yori with a mix of several styles she was not familiar with. She tried as hard as she could to defend herself or attack an opening, but it was too much, and she was quickly bombarded with a final assault.
Val finished the match with a fierce roundhouse kick in Yori's jaw that sent her straight into the air, sending her crashing into the ceiling. She quickly fell back onto the floor faster than her ascendance. A cry of pain from Yori was more than enough to determine the winner.
But she wasn't completely unconscious. She was still struggling to get onto her feet, but kept collapsing when she tried to support herself with an elbow. Val slowly walked toward her, cracking his knuckles.
"Foolish woman… This is where your ignorance and idiocy leaves you!"
It appeared he was going to finish her off in a KO, but not before someone stood in-between them.
"That's enough!"
It was Ron.
Val laughed. "How sweet, protecting the woman that isn't your girlfriend?"
Lightning ignited between their eyes.
"Listen, she might not be my girlfriend, but she's still my friend!"
Yori coughed. "Stoppable-san… why?"
Ron wouldn't answer her.
Val crossed his arms. "Giving her a second chance? That really is noble of you. I suppose her defection didn't have an effect on you."
Ron disagreed. "Even if you think she was dumb to fall for me, a crush is a crush, and let's face it; everyone does something stupid when they crush on someone! Even if it's not a crush and it's love, we still do stupid things for the ones we love!"
"Tell me something I don't know," Val retorted. "She dishonored herself and I made her pay for it. Had she known better, she would have never gotten involved. Love doesn't mean you isolate your love from those he cares about, and that's what Yori believed in. She never concerned herself with Kim, your friends or family. Ashamed at such thoughts and willingness to go through with it, she's praying for death, and I chose to give her a taste of it! But look at her. She doesn't fear it at all. And that's what's going to keep her alive in the long run…"
Ron shook his head all over the place. "I don't care why you fight! I'm not going to let you lay another finger on her! She said it herself, it was a mistake. She has regrets! Let her learn from them!"
Val chuckled, calming down. "You know, you're actually right."
However, someone else didn't agree. A hand on Ron's shoulder.
"Stoppable-san… I asked for you not to interfere…"
He instantly turned around her and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Yori! You're going to get hurt!"
"Am I not already?" she weakly asked.
As much as she hated to, she pushed him aside and went right after Val again.
Without looking, he simply lunged his knuckles straight at her forehead.
She was out like a rock.
"You can't say I didn't warn her."
Ron went to check Yori's pulse, and she appeared fine. She didn't suffer any serious injuries, but she wasn't going to feel good in the morning.
Val simply patted his hands repeatedly with his eyes closed. He looked like he was trying to hide his face in the shadows.
"A woman joins me, then chooses to fight against me due only to her own self-manipulation… Some things don't change…" he growled.
Something in him instantly changed.
Kim knew why. "So you really thought she was going to help you out to the very end? Now she betrayed you as well."
Val kept his eyes shut. "Even if I explained it in detail, you wouldn't understand."
"Try me," Kim challenged.
"And let you pretend that you know everything again? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
Kim's eyes lit up. "I knew it. You're hiding something!"
Jen slightly nudged Kim. "Um, Kim, don't we know that already? You know, ambitions, nukes and all?"
"That's not what I'm referring to."
Val interrupted. "Allow me to put it this way, Kim: You're not going to find out everything even if you do take me down. So don't bother with the questions."
He simply decided to turn around, only to find Ron in a fighting stance and armed with his sword. Val took out his own.
"Ron, hand-to-hand is one thing I'm good at, but there's no one better around this city than I am with swords. If you challenge me to a fight, you're as good as dead."
Ron appeared quite defiant in his stance. "I don't let people hurt my friends, dude. I don't care what the reason is."
"Friends, huh? And is that why you have so many? Oh, that's right, you've only got so few at home. Most of your life Kim has been your only friend, with a few friendships that came and went faster than a serious relationship with Paris Hilton. Not buying it, Stoppable."
Ron wasn't listening. He didn't care how many friends he had. Like he told Kim, it was all about quality, not quantity.
"It's back in me…" Ron hissed.
What was back in him?
"Oh, the mystical monkey power? Perhaps this should prove interesting…" Val spoke with curiosity.
Ron took the moment to show off his abilities with the weapon, spinning it faster than the blades on the Hind, switching it between hands as it moved in front and behind him. He finished it off with a lunge strike like a musketeer stance. The whole time he was letting out various battle cries. When it was all over, he appeared to be a formidable opponent.
But everyone simply watched as Val carelessly swung his blade, knocking Ron's into the other side of the floor. Both Kim and Jen covered their faces in embarrassment.
"Or not…"
Seeing that he was completely unarmed, Ron nervously stepped back.
Val approached slowly as he juggled his sword in the air using various techniques. "Like I said, I'm not interested in fights involving weapons, unless I have better things to do."
Ron let out another cry, a clear indicator that he was about to attack.
"I'm not going to let you hurt Yori anymore! Or anybody else!"
But before he could attack, Val was already holding him by the throat. Kim and Jen quickly went to interfere, but both were kicked away with one leg.
Val wasn't exactly choking Ron, but he wasn't going to let him struggle out of it, either. "Haven't you learned anything on this journey, Stoppable? You've been so protective of Yori because you pity her, but you haven't taken the same care for your beloved girlfriend. She was willing to die to save your life, while Yori was willing to take you away from everything you cherish just to be with you. And she gets more attention? My, my, my…"
But Ron had a strange look on his face, constantly moving his nose.
"Oh no, I'm not falling for that one. Pretend to sneeze and then attack. Oldest trick in the book."
It wasn't long before Ron sneezed straight into his captor's face. Val instantly went hysterical after he tossed Ron aside.
"Dammit to spine-ripping bloodsucking brimstone hell! Not again!"
Ron even used Val's trenchcoat to wipe his nose when he wasn't looking. He found the girls behind him shortly after.
"Ron, you okay?" Kim asked while rubbing his neck.
"I'm fine, KP. I… oooh, lil' to the left… ah, right there."
With Val trying to wash his face with the rain, she found it an opportune moment to flirt around with Ron. Jen found it awkward that his leg was moving up and down like a puppy.
It wasn't long before Val caught himself and regained his cool after splashing water on his face repeatedly. As he put the sword away, he pulled out his gas mask and put it on. He refused to catch a cold. When he faced his opponents, they were all ready to fight him. Three-to-one.
"Three-on-one? Not any more fair than before, but I suppose this could prove interesting…"
But before any of them could prepare themselves, they all heard a loud humming noise. Val also took notice, unfamiliar with it. It sounded like several rotors…
"Val, you didn't call for backup, did you?" Kim asked.
"Backup?" he asked incredulously. "Why would I need backup?"
It sounded like an airborne vehicle.
"…and that was the only Hind within 200 miles…" he thought out loud.
They all chose to shrug it off, but not even five seconds passed until the floor started to vibrate. Everyone kneeled to avoid being knocked off their feet.
"Val! What's going on?" Kim demanded.
"Beats me!" Val answered.
Then it stopped. They all waited about fifteen seconds to see if anything else happened, but nothing did.
"Well, I don't know what that was about… but it sure got my blood going…" Val chuckled.
Again, he chose not to take a battle stance as the others did. Now they were all ready go at it again.
"Round 2…" Ron whispered. "KP, think of anything yet?"
"Sorry babe, but no."
"Jen?"
"He knows all our techniques. I have no idea."
Kim figured out one thing, though. "Maybe he's right when he said to maintain our composure when fighting…"
"Why would he tell us something like that?" Jen skeptically asked.
"I don't know, but Ron's the only one who fought with it, and he gave Val a harder time than I did…"
"Sounds to me like he's been waiting for someone to defeat him…" Jen thought.
"Well, whatever he wants, that's not important. I'm still worried about those nukes."
Both blondes looked at Kim.
"I'm serious. I can't fight just out of my own anger for Ron anymore. I save the world, and I'm going to do fight for that reason alone… no offense, Ron."
"None taken."
"Are you all finished?"
Their eyes met their enemy's.
Kim narrowed her eyes as Val did. "Come on, you two, let's get this over with."
Both teams began to charge at each other in full force.
But Val noticed something was starting to divide the path between them.
Bullets. They weren't bullets from an ordinary gun, either. These were huge and long, probably shot from a Vulcan cannon.
The others didn't seem to notice.
As they were about to make contact, Val leapt in the air and pressed his foot against Kim's abdomen, pushing her back into the other two. They all landed on their feet.
Since their footsteps were no longer filtering out any other noise, they could hear the bullets come to a stop. Not only that, but they could hear some kind of machine from below. Instantly, the massive machine rose up from below, lighting the floor with blinding spotlights.
"DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVVVVE!"
Once the lights dimmed down, everyone witnessed the mechanical behemoth to the side.
Val slapped his forehead. "So that's where it went…!"
The others weren't familiar with the flying death machine in the air, but then it hit Kim.
"Is that…?
"Yep…" Val answered. "The last of the Judgments… The Harpuia."
When the blinding mist dwindled away, she could see that it had the exact same appearance as the Fafnir, only without legs.
"But… who's flying it?"
Kim couldn't believe she was talking to someone in a gas mask. But then, the pilot yelled from the loudspeaker.
"Dive! You're dead!"
Val instantly recognized the voice.
"Ah, Freddy boy! You survived the fall."
Kim's eyes widened. "What? Elurt? How…?"
Val kept his eyes glued to the hovering death tank. "Had you not covered your eyes when I fired the missile at him, you would have seen that he dropped the stealth camo and dove off the building. I suppose those gun cameras didn't do their job on him. That reminds me, I forgot to mention that the first detonator you saw was programmed to disable every single one of them. Another precaution for Ron's temporary departure."
So the nukes didn't have a detonator? Val was staging this like a puppet show. Kim didn't know what to make of it, but she felt instantly uncomfortable when she noticed the eyes behind the orange visors were warm.
"Are you expecting a 'thanks'?" she hissed.
"No, but I will say 'You're welcome'."
She wasn't able to make any sense of him at all.
Val decided to take off his mask and reveal himself to the pompous pilot.
"Remember me?"
"VALVE? What… how… You're alive!"
"It may have been three years, but did you honestly think I was going to forget?" Val shouted.
"The death of your girlfriend? You pathetic fool! That disrespectful valkyrie deserved what was coming to her!"
"You only feared her just like everyone else did… But her legacy lives on through me!"
"You cannot stop us! No matter how many people you kill, you can never stop us!"
"We'll see about that, won't we?"
"Do not try to escape the inevitable, Valve! I'll kill all of you today! And Fayce…"
Val noticed he was close to Ron's blade.
"I'll send you to hell to reunite you with her! Time to say goodbye!"
With that, Elurt instantly fired all of the sixteen machine guns wildly.
The girls and Ron dove for cover, but Val pulled out two weapons. His blade and Ron's.
Everyone witnessed as Val used both weapons to deflect anything that came his way. It wasn't long before Elurt overheated all of the guns. Val for the most part was unscathed, suffering only a few burns on his skin from bullets. The ones he wasn't able to deflect only flew past the hairs on his skin. None of them penetrated his body.
"HAH! Is that all you've got?" the sword swinger taunted without showing any kind of pain.
Elurt only growled. Everyone wasn't sure what was going to happen next, but Val seemed to have an idea, turning his face to Kim's.
"Hey, Kim! You coming?"
By the look in his eyes, he was ready to take on the flying behemoth all by himself.
Kim had a question of her own. "You're actually going to take that thing on?"
She couldn't believe what she was going to hear next.
"No big. I can do anything!" he shouted.
Even Ron's face dropped.
"Hey, that's my line!" Kim cried.
"But it suits me so much better…!" Val smirked.
Kim only grunted. "So how do we stop him?"
Val turned his eyes back onto the floating machine. "You provide the distraction. The machine is useless without a pilot, so I'll take care of him."
"I'm the distraction?"
"I know of the machine's weakness. Handle the pilot first."
"We already tried that last time, but we couldn't destroy the cockpit window."
"You didn't try to remove it using a bladed weapon as a crowbar. It's a design flaw."
Kim couldn't believe her ears. "You're kidding."
"Hardly. Should an emergency arise, the cockpit door loosens itself so the pilot can escape safely. After all, since all of them are not meant to be scaled by foot once active, the designers did not think people would be able to jump onto it. I'll need a secondary distraction… Stoppable!"
Val turned towards the other guy in the room.
"Grab some of Yori's smoke bombs. I won't be able to leap onto the machine or send Kim there unless the old man is blinded."
Ron did so without saying a word. He quickly grew uncomfortable being commanded by Val to take Yori's weapons. Especially considering the fact that Val was the one who knocked her out. Once he was equipped with them, he tossed them to Val without saying anything, who caught them with ease. There was clearly no sign of respect on Ron's face.
"Thanks. Now then…"
Val quickly turned toward the aircraft.
"Do you think you can honestly reach me at this level?"
"Did you already forget what I was capable of?" Val hollered with intentional arrogance.
By the noises on the loudspeaker, the guns resumed normal status. They were ready to fire again.
"DIE!"
However, instead of firing the turret guns, Elurt launched a series of missiles. Everyone braced themselves, but the missiles only struck whatever was left of the walls and ceiling of the floor. Other than the Hind and Kim's equipment, the arena was nothing but flat terrain. It would be a while before Elurt could see his prey from the smoke. This gave the heroes (and ex-hero) their chance. Val tossed the smoke bombs straight into the cockpit, and the irritated yell of Elurt assured him he hit the mark. Now he couldn't see anything in front of him at all. Without warning, Val grabbed Kim by the wrists and swung her in circles, slowly building up speed. When he released her, she flew at least 40 feet into the air and landed on top of the Harpuia. However, the rain did not make it for easy terrain. Kim couldn't maintain her balance no matter how hard she tried. Even grabbing onto areas where she could fit her hands in proved useless.
"Damn… at this rate she'll fall right off. Stoppable, you're up!"
Unlike Kim, Val grabbed Ron by one wrist and pulled it forward, appearing as if he were to slam Ron on his back, but instead, shoved his foot hard into his abdomen, sending Ron onto the machine. He didn't even volunteer to help his enemy. However, like Kim, he also found himself slipping on the wet metal of the machine.
All they needed to do was grab Elurt's attention on them, but they were more focused on maintaining their ground. It didn't help that Elurt could barely handle the machine, always moving from side to side.
"Ferno?"
Unlike Kim and Ron, she was ready to go. "Beam me up."
But instead of throwing Jen, he picked her up and ran to the edge of the building as fast as he could. Just before he was about to step onto the air, he leapt right off and landed perfectly on the cockpit window. Everyone but Yori was aboard the armored and airborne death mobile.
Right after he released Jen, Val tossed Ron's sword to her.
"Make sure he uses this!"
Jen said nothing, but heard everything he had to say. He only was able to maintain his balance by digging his sword through the thick armor and using it as a cane of some sorts. Often he was hanging by it.
If any of them fall off, they would not land on the Tower.
Val tried whatever he could to dig his sword into the edges of the cockpit. However, the radar on the controls indicated there were multiple targets near the guns, and Elurt immediately fired.
Kim and Ron were on opposite ends of the aircraft, and much closer to the guns than they wished. The instant the first gun fired, they both dove away. They were able to keep their balance for a short time before Elurt shook the machine again. This one knocked Kim straight off her feet and right off the machine.
"Kim!"
Much to Ron's fortune, she managed to grab onto something at the last minute, but she wasn't going to be able to last much longer. On her end, there was nothing to climb on being at the very bottom.
"Ron! Catch!"
Through the mist of the rain, Ron caught a glimpse of the other blonde running toward him. Before Jen could toss the sword, though, she quickly slipped on the rain, but landed in one of two flat areas. However, the sword was no longer in her hands, flying in a completely different direction.
Luck must've been on Ron's side in this fight. The wind redirected the sword right into his hands. His thoughts back on Kim, he needed to do something to roughen up the surface of the round armor. He had no idea where he got the idea, but he let out a battle cry and slammed the sword straight into the armor.
To everyone's surprise, the sword unleashed an electrical energy blast that did just as he wanted. It wasn't enough to destroy the armor, but it was powerful enough to create a rough straight road. He decided to run it before the rain would soak up the path. It also destroyed the guns between him and Kim, among other things…
"Badical!"
As Ron ran past by, Val was still busy trying to push upward on the cockpit window. He took a glance at the sword Ron was carrying.
"The Dragon series…"
"The Kitana Dragon series. Created by someone called Koshiro Hitomi, four in existence. Some practitioners of the blade have stated that it's powerful enough to break the floor and anything in its path. Not sure how that's done, but I figure it could be of some use."
Ron sprinted as fast as he could across the machine, hoping Kim could hold on just for a few more seconds.
However, when he leaned over to grab her, she was gone.
"Kim?"
Then he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"KP! How…"
Kim had a calm look on her face. "Whatever you did, it blew out some wires, so I climbed one of them. Wasn't easy, I'll tell you that."
Ron scratched his head. That was quick. But he got an idea… He figured if he could do this once, he would do it again.
Time to make some scrap metal.
Meanwhile, as Ron slammed the sword repeatedly against the machine, Val finally broke through and forced the cockpit window open, but not before meeting a fist in his face and almost being knocked off. His only leverage was his blade.
Elurt leapt out of the machine and walked slowly toward the edge with a sinister smile on his face. He was the only one able to keep his balance on the metal that spit out his reflection.
"Valve… your life ends here!"
It appeared that Val was struggling to get up, but he kept a cool face.
"Touché! But I wouldn't be so certain just yet!"
"Don't be a fool! Not even you can escape death!"
"On the contrary… I've already died twice!"
"Third time's the charm…"
A heavy vibration from Ron's sword was enough to give Val the momentum to fly back onto the machine, kicking Elurt in the face and sending him sliding. Val was able to keep his blade, but once he put it back, he was instantly tackled by his former comrade.
When Ron was finished, he had destroyed all of the weapons on the surface of the machine. The turret guns surrounding the cockpit were done with, the cannons were no longer functioning, and Elurt had already launched all of the missiles, so there was no need to worry there. Other than where Elurt and Val were fighting, there was no way to slip on the machine now.
Jen on the other hand had leapt straight into the control center, doing whatever she could to keep the machine up and running, since Elurt failed to put it on auto-pilot. While the armor had taken serious damage and the weapons were unusable, it could still fly well on its own. Fortunately for Jen, it controlled much like a fighter jet and a tank, both machines she was familiar with controlling. The first thing she did was slowly hover the machine over the Tower. If anyone fell off, they would land back onto the building. She also lowered it so the fall wouldn't be a long one.
And it was a good thing she did. The first thing that happened was that Val and Elurt knocked each other right off, falling probably twenty feet at the least onto the marble floor. Team Possible decided it was their turn, leaping off and landing with ease. Holding each other, of course.
Once that was over with, they were pretty sure the threat from the Harpuia was over. Jen would land it on the Tower, but she knew because of the damage already done, the weight of the colossal machine would cause further structural damage. Not only would it trap everyone inside the collapsing building, but it would also endanger the people below. Before making her leave, she gave Kim and Ron a hand signal telling them what she was going to do. To ensure the safety of the combatants and the innocent people below, she had to land the machine outside the city. None of the other buildings would be able to maintain it.
They got the message, and the Ferno flew off.
This only left Kim, Ron, Val and Elurt as the only ones in action.
"Kim… you think we should…"
"No Ron. This is their fight. I'd rather have my enemies fight each other than me having to fight both at the same time."
So, Kim and Ron watched as Elurt tried to use his most brutal techniques on Val. Both were a bit shaken from the fall, since they both landed on their backs, but refused to give up. Once Val was able to regain himself, he was able to turn the fight around, quickly breaking Elurt's offense and coming in with his own.
The fight didn't last long, Val being the victor once again. Elurt lay between him and Team Possible.
Much to the surprise of Kim and Ron, he took on a completely different persona when Val was closely walking to him. Val had fire in his eyes, but Elurt was desperately scrambling to get away.
"Please… don't kill me!"
The other teens were able to see that Val pulled out his blade. He also had a sickly look in his eyes.
"Elurt… it is you who shall die tonight…! Just as I had originally planned…"
"No! I beg of you!"
He even managed to grab onto Kim and Ron's legs in an effort to get up, but they quickly shook him off. They also distanced themselves from the scene.
The older man did manage to get onto his feet, but he found his face buried in concrete by Val's foot shortly after.
"You do not deserve the right to live…"
Val kicked Elurt back up before knocking him down again with an axe-shaped kick, now shoving his boot against Elurt's neck, and his sword right next to it.
"The only thing you deserve is death… 'comrade'…"
Kim knew what was about to happen, and interfered.
"Val! No!"
Elurt choked. "Please… mercy… I beg of you… I'll give you anything…"
Val wasn't buying Elurt's words. "What? More money and weapons? Not interested."
"Val! Stop!"
Val growled and turned his attention to Kim, who was now right behind him.
"WHAT?"
"He's begging for mercy! Is this what you've wanted to succumb to?"
She was trying to use his own words against him.
"K, I've already killed many people in my line of work! Don't you see? Elurt's not just some rich pompous ass…"
Elurt coughed. "I… had nothing to do with her…"
Enya.
Kim figured it out. Elurt wasn't just some weapons dealer, he was a colleague of The Bosses. But what did he have to do with Enya?
Val hissed as he kept choking Elurt with his boot. "Don't bullshit me, you old shit! I knew full well that you tipped off those terrorists the day we were captured! I also knew full well what the deal was; you would give them more money and weapons to pull off their Jihad or whatever the hell it's called! In return, you'd get Enya's body as a trophy!"
"No…" Elurt coughed. "I wouldn't…"
"But you did!" Val snarled. "The Bosses told you to do it, and you were hardly hesitant to give into their wishes! Enya's Will included a disk with the documentation, the phone taps, even the instant messaging conversations! You wanted her body as a trophy because you're just some sick ass pedophile! I know your fetish for your young maidens, and I know what you did to all seventeen of your daughters!"
Kim didn't want to hear this one, but listened in anyway.
"You will not join them in heaven… You were the one responsible for Enya's death, I know how many people you were responsible for killing, and that is something God would never forgive, but I will not allow you the grace and glory of his judgment! I WILL KILL YOU HERE AND NOW!"
Elurt only coughed further, and his face was already purple.
Out of nowhere, he was able to breathe again, and Val was trying to maintain his balance.
Kim shoved him off.
"Kim, what the hell are you doing?"
Kim found Val's nose almost on hers. She wasn't going to back away.
"Look Val, maybe this is personal, but I can't let you just kill him right in front of me!"
Val gnarled. "So it's all about you, isn't it, Kim?"
"No! Let justice serve its purpose! Let him live the rest of life throu-"
Kim was interrupted by hysterical laughter.
"Kim, you idiot! Do you have any idea why he's been able to do what he's been doing for so long? He has lifetime protection from The Bosses themselves! No lawyer or jury will go against him, no judge will rule against him, and he'll be released the next day even if he loses!"
"Val, don't assume-"
"I ain't assuming shit, Kim! I've witnessed this first-hand! Don't pretend to know things you know nothing about! If justice in the world wasn't in shambles, then everyone you fight would actually stay in jail!"
Val was roaring through intense rage, but Kim kept herself calm.
"Val… please. Do you want another person's death on your hands?"
Hearing this, Val took a couple of steps back to study Kim's posture. She wasn't afraid of him at all.
"Of course not…" he replied with a much more gentle tone, "But if I don't kill him now, others will die. I'd rather take one more life than let that being kill more and more people…"
"There has to be another way…"
"Kim, you know just as well as I do that our options in life grow more and more less. Sometimes you must do the wrong thing in order to do the right thing. Don't get me wrong, even I know there's never anything right in murder, not ever, but no one has lived a perfect life by always doing the right thing. In the real world, people play dirty to succeed, things like dignity and pride are lost, and even if you keep your moral ground, there's always the interference of other people."
"That's no reason to take matters into your own hands, Val."
"And you don't? Why not leave the bad guys to the proper authorities? Not even you can always rely on them, and often you're the first person to jump into action. What I'm doing here is no different from what you do: save people."
"And you're going to use that excuse to justify every one of your means, Val. You're going to say that you did the wrong thing, no matter how cruel and disgusting it is, to say you were doing the right thing."
"As I said before, I am not rationalizing or justifying anything I'm doing. I'm not a hero anymore."
"Val, you don't need reasons to kill! Even you must know that!"
"Just because someone has a reason to kill doesn't mean it's right. There's a difference. I don't kill innocent people or those who have done little wrong. I only kill the worst of the worst because their existence is a nuisance to the human race. I'm not out to take numbers for fun."
She sighed. "You're no different than those terrorists you hate so much…"
Silence filled the room.
During this moment, Kim had long noted that Val was talking like he wasn't putting the world under a nuclear threat. But she figured out why. Why else would you talk so passionately about life over the destruction of the world when armed with a nuke? Val wasn't all there in his head, but Kim could see that he wasn't somebody who would willingly kill thousands just to prove a point.
Answer: There wasn't a nuclear threat at all. He faked the entire thing, just to get her to come up here. She had to admit though, it worked. He wasn't going to blow up anything if he wanted them to survive through a decisive battle.
However, she couldn't figure out if he had any hidden tricks up his sleeve, so she continued to play along a little longer.
Val hung his head shortly after the last statement, but met with Kim's eyes again.
He snorted. "You understand nothing… Just because we have killed doesn't mean we're anything alike. They kill for sport, for enjoyment, and they use religious influence just for that: Influence to justify their cause. And pathetically, people buy it. I never have killed for sport, I never got enjoyment out of it, and I never used my belief system to keep on doing it. And I sure as hell am not using my freedom of expression or speech to do anything so vile. Whether or not you believe me, what makes you any different, Kim? Hmm? You wanted to kill me earlier tonight, and your rage was no less energetic. Unlike you, I'm not out to kill him simply for my own retribution and to avenge a fallen one. Hell no. I wish to end the pain and suffering he's caused to many others."
"I've learned my lesson," Kim quickly replied.
Val didn't buy it. "Now that you know Ron is still alive. If telling yourself that gives you a sense of security, Kimberly Anne, so be it. But that does not clear up your fights in the past. At least I willingly admit when I do wrong instead of constantly denying or hiding it like you."
"How do you know this isn't wrong?"
"I never said it was right in the first place."
"But if you keep this up, you're never going to be able to escape this life."
"Didn't you listen to anything I said earlier? There is no escape!"
"No, there is, but you refuse to believe it. We're not tools for anybody else's enjoyment. You're the one who chooses to go on fighting. No one but you is forcing it upon yourself."
"Because no one else knows about them. There's a difference between protecting the people from the truth they know of, and the deadly truth they don't know about. Enya passed such information to me and me alone, and someone has to stop them. I'm not going to rely on you or anybody else to do the job. I'm the only person outside the pool who knows of their existence…"
"Not anymore."
Val didn't answer this one. She was right. He shared the knowledge Enya gave to him onto Kim. It wasn't the entire picture, but Kim was able to put several pieces of the puzzle together.
"And what you know, you still think you're qualified for saving this world…?" Val quietly asked.
"Of course," Kim replied with confidence. "And tonight is going to be no different."
Val sighed. "Well, when the night is over, we'll see who wins in the end…"
By this time, Elurt was on his knees and still hyperventilating for air. Val stood in between him and Team Possible.
He grunted as he reached a conclusion. "Fine. He's yours, but if I find out he's responsible for someone else's death, you're going to find me at your house, Kim. And I won't be selling magazines, either."
He slowly walked toward her, quickly putting the blade exactly an inch away from her neck.
"But heed this warning. If you ever do anything as to get in my way ever again, I will kill you without hesitation. I don't care the circumstances, time or location. Stay the hell out of my way if your life means anything to you. I don't kill people for such a simple reason, so don't be the first."
Kim clearly didn't appreciate this gesture, but she wasn't scared by the threat. She quickly took two steps back, knowing that Val wasn't going to do anything with the sword. She kept her eyes glued on his as Ron inspected her neck.
"Kim, you okay?"
"I'm fine, Ron."
But from behind Val, Elurt pulled out a sharp weapon and was ready to strike.
"Foolish child! I'll bathe in your blood!"
Val only rolled his eyes as he felt the wind behind him.
"Way to keep swift, sneaky and silent… idiot."
He didn't even need to turn around to know how far Elurt was from him, swiftly slashing the sword in a vertical motion.
Elurt staggered as a mist of rising blood came out of him, but there were no visible wounds on him.
Kim gasped when she noticed a lot of blood on Val's blade.
"And thus, he chooses to end his life at my hands…"
He turned around to face Elurt, who was as stiff as a rock.
"Adieu…. 'comrade'…"
Kim and Ron watched as a vertical trail of blood slowly separated Elurt from top to bottom.
He was sliced in half.
But before he would split into two, Val spun several times on one foot and delivered a hard kick to his former colleague, sending him crashing into the remains of the Hind and with enough force to send both off the building. All of them went to the edge and watched as it fell into the darkness below, exploding into a huge ball of fire on the roof of a building below.
"And it is finished…" Val whispered with some resolve in his voice.
Kim and Ron couldn't believe they had seen real death for the first time. Kim felt extremely disturbed that she didn't take it as bad as she thought she would, since she thought she saw Ron die in front of her (twice if you count the Hangar), but Ron was twitching in shock.
"Don't think about it, Ron. It's over."
"Indeed," said a voice that wasn't Ron's. "He got what was coming to him. But I would advise against that, Kim. If you plan to make hero work your career, you'd better get used to the sight of death. You're going to see it quite often."
Usually, if Kim's enemies succeeded in anything, they would always laugh and gloat in victory. Val did anything but.
"You sure don't look happy," she observed.
Val put the sword away as he wiped his nose. "I already told you, I don't kill for sport or enjoyment. I'm far from avenging Enya, but hopefully the reports of missing women in Thailand cease. As for you both, you'd better get used to the sight. Simply putting bad guys in jail won't last much longer."
"You make it sound like we're only teenagers and you're some old war veteran."
"Just telling you what I know so you can prepare yourselves later for it."
"We're enemies and you're telling us this?"
Val chuckled at Kim's face. "Correction: You only see me as an enemy. Why do I tell you such things? You should know as fighters we share techniques and wisdom with each other, no matter what side you're on or what you believe in."
"You mean you don't see us as enemies?"
"Don't be so irrational. I just see you as a worthy adversary. We're fighting the same enemy but on different sides. If you had asked me three months ago, I would have another answer in mind."
Kim only shook her head in confusion. "You're deranged."
"You're the only teen hero who isn't, but I suppose a public image means so much these days. Maybe one day you'll understand…"
"Enough." Kim snapped. "I don't care if you think you're doing the same as what I'm doing, or how long you've been doing it. You're still a threat, and you have to be stopped. I came up here to stop whoever was behind all of this, and I'm going to do just that."
Val seemed to accept the tone in her voice, his eyes now filled with excited curiosity.
"Is that a challenge?"
Ron kept moving his eyes between Val and Kim, but took note of a brief silence.
"You bet it is."
BEEP BEEP BE BEEP
Everyone's eyes widened by the sound.
BEEP BEEP BE BEEP
Everyone turned their heads to the scrap pile, finding Rufus awake and with the Kimmunicator in his hands, perfectly reassembled. He slid it towards Kim, who picked it up with ease… probably more so than she should have.
"Go ahead, take the call," Val plainly spoke, turning around.
What Kim and Ron didn't see was that he was inspecting his watch again. Kim felt a huge load of relief after seeing Wade on the small screen (pardon the pun).
"Kim! Are you all right? I haven't been able to get in touch with you for the last five hours!"
Five hours?
"We're fine, Wade. It's a long story."
Ron decided to answer. "Got to the top floor, took out the rest of the mechs, fought Elurt, tried to escape but was attacked by a helicopter piloted by Dive. Dive turned out to be Val, crashed the machine into the building, we all survived, went on a huge rant explaining that he actually has history in the hero biz, and that he was behind everything. He fought KP and me, I got knocked out a window, got saved by Yori, who was actually on Val's side. She turned on him, but he won the fight. Elurt came back in the last MPAWV thingie, we all took it down, but Jen took drove it away to keep everyone safe, and Val finished off Elurt, and we're next."
"Dang. Good to see you survived all of that, but I've got both good news and bad news."
"Give me the bad sitch first."
"The people below have gone completely hysterical, riots already bursting out on the outskirts of the city! They don't know what's going on, and for some reason there's no authorities on the scene. Police, SWAT, ambulances, firefighters, nowhere to be seen! Even 911 calls have been blocked out from the immediate area! I have a really bad feeling about this."
Kim turned her face to Val briefly. How was he able to do this?
"Wondered why no one's been around to help. So what's the good news?"
"GJ commandos from nearby cities are heading your way. Since no one in Bay City is responding and since it's all over the news, others decided to help."
"It's all over the news?" Ron cried excitedly.
"Ron, this is serious!"
Even Rufus, now on his owner's shoulder, lightly knocked on Ron's skull. "Serious here!"
"All right, all right."
"Wade, there's some information I want you to look into when this is over."
"Sure."
"Try to find any information regarding a group called 'The Bosses'."
"The Bosses? Okay… Can't say I've heard of them. Why ask?"
"Apparently, we're not the ones Val's really after. He only wants to fight us, but he has much darker ambitions in mind."
"I'm on it. I can't say I know what else is going on."
"Oh, that reminds me. I don't think there's a nuclear threat."
Val turned around with widened eyes upon hearing this.
"Kim, we're still getting angry letters from France demanding why you haven't found them."
"What?"
"Have you forgotten? That's how we were able to verify in the first place that Elurt… or Val rather… wasn't faking the original threat, because the French Government informed us of the missing nukes in the first place."
Kim slapped her forehead. Of course…
"Kim, Nev and I have been scanning the whole country for anything nuclear and out of place. Nothing!"
"What about other countries?"
"We're getting on that. But right now, you have to get answers out of Val."
"He said the nukes were here in Bay City, Washington, Paris and London."
"London and Paris have already searched and came up with nothing."
"Then where are they…?"
"I don't know, but you're going to have to force the answers out of Val. One way or the other, we've got to find out."
"Okay. I can handle him."
A noise on Wade's computer could be heard.
"Kim, I'm also receiving word about some giant flying machine around where the riots are. Apparently, whatever it is, it's scaring away the rioters and now they're fleeing into whatever building they can."
It was no news to the world-famous cheerleader. "It's Jen and the Harpuia."
"Oh…"
Right then, the storm instantly ceased. Within seconds, the moon and the stars lit the floor of the new roof of the Tower. Kim and Ron were instantly confused by the sudden change, but Val's attention went straight to the sky. Shortly afterward, the sounds of rumbling could be heard from everywhere. Helicopters could be seen approaching from all sides, at least ten in all. He shook the rain off his watch as he tried to study the oncoming vehicles. His concentration was interrupted by Ron.
"Dude, you are so going down now!"
Val calmly scoffed. "What makes you say that? Haven't you and Kim taken down several henchmen at once and succeeded? What makes you think I alone am less capable?"
Kim put away the Kimmunicator while Val seemed to quickly lose himself in thought. He was quick to shrug it off just as soon as she noticed. They all watched as the helicopters arrived and the commandos leap out and onto the roof. There must have been ten per helicopter.
'Something's wrong…' Kim thought.
And there was reason. Instead of ambushing Val like she thought they would, they all quickly ran to the edges, blocking off any escape. At least twelve stood on each side, all four corners being covered as well. They were all surrounded.
"Right on time."
With such mention, the commandos raised their guns, and not at Val.
Ron.
Kim quickly became uncomfortable with so many sights being on him and Rufus. Ron freaked out instantly, trying to stay as still as he could. If it were like the movies, any move and he'd be a goner.
Kim took her attention to her opponent. "VAL! What's going on?"
Val smiled as he patted his hands several times. "You wanted to challenge me, and this is what it comes down to."
Kim quickly figured out this was the beginning of the end, and things were going to go the way he wanted.
"Look, just don't hurt him, all right?"
Val easily noticed that fear didn't find its way onto Kim's face this time.
"I won't. He can sit down if he wants to, but as long as you play by the rules, I promise you no further harm will come to him."
"Name them."
"A one-on-one fight. Just you and me, sister. No weapons, no interference. A fair fight. Only a fair duel to see who the best is."
"Why are you so obsessed with a fight? You have all these commandos here doing your bidding, and you just want to fight?"
"Oh, not just any fight."
Val stopped walking around and let Kim watch the action unfold. The helicopters quickly surfaced from below and lit the floor with spotlights. Not only that, but Kim heard weak machinery approaching. It wasn't long before she noticed small white machines with cameras approach. When they were close enough, the cameras on their heads adjusted to capture Kim and Val in their view. They started to circle the building.
"Cyphers. Unmanned surveillance cameras."
"Cameras? Why would you need cameras for?"
"The audience, of course!" Val let out an amused cackle.
Suddenly, every television in the world was in on the sitch at the Tower.
"Audience?"
"That's right, Kimberly Anne! From this moment on, the signals picked up from the cyphers will be shown across the world. Congratulations, Kim. You're worldwide. I hope everyone has some kind of television on, shame that they would miss this."
"You're broadcasting this onto every TV in the world?"
"And why not? All I ask of you is to grant me a final duel, one that neither of us, or the whole world, would dare to forget! Let's make this fight as if it were our last! You're right, there is no nuclear threat. Everything has been done for this moment alone! Fight me, Kim. Fight me and don't you dare hold back! Because I sure as hell won't! Fight… fight to your heart's content! This will be our final fight!"
Val was clearly losing himself in his own excitement. This was what he lived for.
With the cyphers and helicopters circling the building, the moon and spotlights lighting the arena, the bright stars lighting up the sky, and a calm wind setting the effect, Val had prepared Kim for the final and ultimate showdown.
"KP!" Ron cried.
Kim didn't turn to face him. "Ron, just hang tight. I'm the one he's more concerned about."
"Kim…"
Ron saw that he was in no position to protest. He had at least fifty guns aimed at him, ready to fire if anyone or anything interfered. It didn't help that two of the commandos had a grip on each of his shoulders, and another with Rufus trapped in his hand. It looked like Rufus was trying to break free.
"Don't interfere, babe. You too, Rufus. This is my fight, and I'm more than willing to take him on alone."
"Kim, you think you can handle him?"
She turned her head slightly so she could see his eyes.
"He's not the only one waiting for this. Besides, anything's possible for a Possible."
"That's my girl!"
Everyone around the world, including Kim's family, were treated to a front row seat. What they found peculiar was that the Cyphers gave them an introduction to the two fighters. Not only that, but biographical introductions were given via graphical information. Name, age, physical stats and history were given for both Kimberly Anne Possible and Valhalia Erocus Ryan like a sports show mini-bio. Every language was covered for every country. On Kim's introduction, it showed as she released her hair from a ponytail, pushing it back and moving her head around so that her long red hair didn't interfere with her vision. When the cameras changed to Val, he melodramatically tossed his trenchcoat aside and moved his hair back as well. It was like the beginning of a pay-per-view event.
Leaving the living room was the last thing that came to any member of the Possible household, amongst the Stoppable household, from friends, family, and even enemies. They were all glued in.
"Only in my wildest dreams have I ever thought to engage in a decisive battle like this with someone like you… I guess dreams do come true. Well… Kimberly Anne… shall we?"
Val had lent out his hand, gesturing for Kim to bring it on. In response, she got into a fighting stance with the calm and cool look that everyone was used to.
"We shall."
There was no rage or anger in her eyes as she accepted the challenge. No more was the dramatic, worried and upset Kim Possible that made it up here with trouble in her mind. She also appeared to have gotten all of her confidence back, and was completely fearless of anything.
She was back and ready to go. If Val wanted one more fight, he was going to get it.
"Yes… that's the look!" he spoke with excited joy.
Again, he chose not to get into a stance, at least that's what it looked like from an outside view. It only had the appearance of standing up straight with arms scarcely extended.
"To see who is qualified…" Val whispered to himself.
"For the fate of the world…" Kim whispered to herself.
"All things will be decided here…" they both whispered in unison.
There was no animation on the roof other than the spotlights and the cyphers.
"Go get'im, KP!" Ron yelled.
"Val, let's finish this once and for all!" Kim cried.
Val let out a manical laugh filled with joy. "Let's!"
Kim and Val charged from opposite ends of the building with all the adrenaline in their blood flowing at full intensity.
"HAVE AT YOU, KIM!"
The true final battle was on, and the world was watching.