I don't own Kim Possible. The series is property of the Disney Cooperation, just as the rest of the world will be by the end of the decade. ALL HAIL THE MOUSE!

Chapter 6: Long Story

Undisclosed Location: 4 years ago

Ron Stoppable sat in the middle of his concrete cell. His body was numb from the punishments that had been inflicted on him. He took small consolation in the fact that his captors hadn't been able to break him. If they wanted something, it was more reason for them not to kill him. The moment he broke, he would be useless and disposable. He had to find a way to escape, he had to find Kim. The men who held him had a pattern; he could almost predict when they would come back even though he had lost all track of real time. If he could just- The door flung open and sent Ron's heart racing. They had come early. As quickly as he could, he stumbled towards the farthest corner of the room. If they couldn't get behind him, he might have a chance this time.

The men entered the room but made no movement towards him. They just stood there, studying him. Without a word, the leader walked over and looked into Ron's eyes. The man's face was calm and his movements were slow and deliberate. He sighed heavily before speaking to Ron.

Leader: "I gotta say kid, you're pretty damn tough. I'd expected to learn a lot more than your name by now."

Ron: "Well, I can't say this has been a slice of heaven for me either pal."

Leader: "You really need to drop the attitude. It's far from impressive and it's starting to grate on my nerves."

Ron: "Sorry, I guess electricity makes me a little uppity."

Leader: "You really should have just cooperated. Then I wouldn't have had to talk to your partner."

Ron: "KIM? You better not have-"

Leader: "You really didn't leave me with much choice there. But I did get some good information. She gave me one name already but passed out before I could get the rest. So why not end this before I have to wake her up. All I need is one more name and we'll take you to the border."

Ron: "You're lying. Kim would never tell you anything. She's too strong for a bunch of cowards like you."

The man on the right-hand side of the door snickered and walked towards the leader. He had a bundle in his hand that Ron couldn't make out. With a devilish grin he threw it at Ron's feet.

Man: "You wish buddy. Everyone breaks here. Even your little girlfriend over there. I gotta say man; I like your taste in women. She's a fighter; scratched me up something fierce."

Ron: "You bastard."

Man: "Ain't you gonna open your birthday present? I wrapped it special just for you."

Ron reached down slowly and picked up the bundle. I was white cloth speckled with red. In horror, Ron uncrumpled it. It was a small shirt. It was stretched badly with holes all over it. The blood down the front had soaked through to back. He pulled the shirt close to his face and breathed in. It was Kim's scent; he was sure of it. The red hair on the collar removed all doubt from his mind. His eyes filled with rage. He was about to lunge at the man when a small piece of cloth fell from inside of the shirt.

Man: "Oops. Looks like you got a special treat with that one."

Ron looked down, at the small white piece of cloth. He couldn't make out what it was. An uneasy feeling fell over him as the man's sadistic smile widened. Ron reached down to pick it up. It was soaking wet; whatever it was. He used his thumb and index finger to pick it up. As he lifted, the small cloth unraveled itself. It was a pair of women's underwear. They had small spots of blood on them and there was a visible hole in the crotch area. The blood left Ron's face as his eyes shot towards the man.

Man: "I'll tell you what. That little dish is finger lickin good. I think I'm gonna go back for seconds."

Ron: "YOU SON-OF-A-BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL-"

Ron lunged at the man in a blind rage. His hands were almost around his throat when a heavy blow landed on his neck. Everything went black. He could feel the cold cement on his cheek. Ron looked up to see the heavy metal door closing. He stumbled to his feet and staggered towards the door. The thoughts of what Kim was going through made him sick. He vomited on the floor as he leaned against the door. Before the taste of bile left his mouth, he began to shout at the top of his lungs.

Ron: "GET BACK HERE! I'LL TALK! I'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW! JUST LEAVE HER ALONE! For the love of God, just leave her alone."

A buzzer sounded and the door unlocked. It slid open slowly. Confused, Ron began to peek out when the familiar sound of footsteps began to echo down the hallway. Though his body was wracked with pain, he pulled himself to his feet and waited. He was going to get even or die trying. To his astonishment, he recognized the face that came out of the shadows. It was Leon, his teacher and commander.

Leon: "You broke Stoppable. That's unacceptable. I don't want it to happen again."

Ron: "What?"

Leon: "It took two days, five hours and thirteen minutes for them to make you talk. You lasted quite a bit longer than most new recruits. But we don't give prizes for second place around here."

Ron: "Wait, you're telling me that..."

Leon: "The gruelish hell you've been living in has all been just an exercise? Yes. And yes, it's only been a bit longer than two days. I'm afraid torture tends to mess with your perception of time."

Ron: "Where's Kim?"

Leon: "She's fine."

Ron: "That isn't what I asked."

Leon: "She's on her way. You ended the exercise and she is being debriefed also."

Ron: "What did you do to her?"

Leon: "Surprisingly little. She has a tendency to punish herself. We'll have to work on that."

Suddenly there was a commotion behind Leon. The crowd of agents and medical staff were pushed aside as Kim hurried into the room. Tear filled her eyes as she threw her arms around Ron's neck. A part of him wanted to scream out in pain, the rest was just happy to see Kim alive. After what seemed like an eternity, she let go and wiped the tears from her eyes. She stepped back and took a good look at Ron. He looked like he had been blindfolded and let loose in a construction yard. Sadness and relief began to give way to feelings of anger as she turned to face Leon. She balled up her good hand and began to square off.

Leon: "Really, don't tell me you haven't learned anything from this."

Kim: "Maybe you could explain what the hell we were supposed to learn by being tortured for two days."

Leon: "That every action has consequences Ms. Possible. And more importantly, you must never allow yourselves to be caught."

Kim: "What a load."

Leon: "Don't believe me? I don't care. I just hope you never have to learn the hard way that what just happened here was light in comparison to what really happens in the field. Now, the medical staff is going to take care of you and observe you both for the night. The debriefing will conclude tomorrow and then you will be sent home for a week of R&R. Questions? No? Good."

Having the last word, Leon turned and exited the room followed by Kim and Ron's "captors". The medical staff tenderly lifted the pair into wheelchairs and took them to a nearby infirmary. The both of them were silent as their cuts and burns were disinfected and dressed. Kim had her share of bumps and bruises. Her eye had begun to heal, but it was still puffy and hard to see out of. The worst of her injuries was her right hand. She had tried so hard to get to Ron that she had cracked a knuckle pounding on the cell door. None of that mattered now, she was just glad to be by his side now. Her eyes never left his as they were treated side by side.

Ron's wounds were a bit more severe than Kim's. The electrical burns on his back would take time to heal, but he was assured that the scarring would be minimal. He had a large cut under his right eye from fighting with the guards that needed to be stitched up. His bruised ribs made every breath painful. It would heal with rest, just like everything else. As he stared back into Kim's eyes, his mind wandered. What had he gotten himself into? He never joined sports in school because it was too rough. Now he was expected to be able to endure hours of torture on end. He couldn't wait to get home and sleep in his own bed; if he could.

London (Abandoned Tunnel System): Present

Ron sat quietly and waited for Leon to appear. He tried to ignore the Shego's cat-like stare. She had been studying him ever since they boarded the train. Her smirk was unsettling and brought back uncomfortable memories for him. He stood up and began to stretch his tensed muscles. Slowly he could feel the nervous knots loosen and melt away. All the while he could feel Shego's stare on his back. He wasn't surprised when she broke the silence, just frustrated.

Shego: "So..."

Ron: "Yeah?"

Shego: "What happened with you and Possible?"

Ron: "That's none of your business."

Shego: "Come on, it's been soooo long since I've had something juicy to dish about."

Ron: "..."

Shego: "Fine, be that way. Since when did you become so serious?"

Ron: "...About four years ago."

Shego: "Oh?"

Before Ron could continue, the door to the small compartment opened. It was Leon with a stack of folders under his arm. He sat down and lit a cigar. He took a couple of long puffs before scratching his head and continuing on with the matter at hand.

Leon: "Ronald, could you tell me what the hell has been going on tonight?"

Ron: "I'm a little shaky on the details myself sir."

Leon: "Ok, why don't you tell me what you do know?"

Ron: "Well, we were deployed earlier this evening to observe Sumauri Defense Minister, Khaleed Amereshk. Our intelligence led us to the conclusion that he was dealing in stolen technology and information from the U.S. State Department and Pentagon. We followed him to the Old Royale Theatre in London where we believed he was going to make a deal with an unknown party. However, before we could make contact, Amereshk was shot twice in the chest and once in the head as he stood on an outdoor terrace. Fox-"

Shego: "Ha! Sorry, it's a little strange hearing him talk like this. And 'Fox', seriously, what's that about?"

Leon: "Continue."

Ron: "As I was saying, Fox is the only one who reported seeing a muzzle flash from her position. She initiated pursuit of the subject."

Leon: "Where was the rest of the team?"

Ron: "Ox and Dragonfly got caught in the commotion when the crowd panicked. Chameleon was on the other side of the theatre when the shooting started. And I was in the surveillance van. When I lost tack of Fox, I contacted her through internal communication. She activated a location marker and I followed as backup."

Leon: "And you proceeded on foot why?"

Ron: "The traffic around the theatre was grid locked sir. I deployed my team in a two-mile radius around the theatre to search for accomplices. When I closed in on Fox's position, I heard gunfire. I called in for support and had two Wasp units deployed."

Leon: "That's enough, I monitored transmissions from there. Now who were these unfriendlies you were talking about?"

Ron: "That's just the thing. It was Dr. Drakken?"

Leon: "You mean, Dr. Drew Lipsky? How is that possible?"

Ron: "I don't know, but I believe she might be able to help us out there." (Points to Shego)

Leon: "Ah yes, Ms. Sheila Gordon, aka 'Shego'. I'm curious to know how you are here when you're supposed to be locked up in a maximum security cell."

Ron: "Sheila?"

Shego: "Hey hey hey. First off, nobody said you could use that name. Let's keep this professional. Second, how and why I escaped is part of the reason I'm here now."

Leon: "I'm listening."

Shego: "I'll bet you are. Before I go on, can I get a whisky sour over here? It's been one hell of a week."

Undisclosed Location: 4 years ago

Ron was changing back into his normal attire when Leon entered the locker room. Ron didn't have to turn to see him. The stylish Italian shoes always clicked in a slow methodical fashion when he walked.

Ron: "Did you need something Leon?"

Leon: "Look, Stoppable. I know you're mad, but I need you to understand. It's a hard lesson to learn, but it just might save your life someday. Everyone here has had to go through the same course."

Ron: "Everyone else here volunteered."

Leon: "I suppose that's fair point, if not a little off. Not everyone here volunteered. But that's not the point. I came to talk to you about how you were captured in the first place."

Ron: "It was a trap from the beginning. There was no way for us not to get caught, so what do you want to talk about?"

Leon: "Yes, you were going to be captured no matter what. However, you weren't supposed to be caught until later in the exercise. Do you know how we found you and Possible?"

Ron: "It was the transmission."

Leon: "Which one?"

Ron: "Between Kim and-"

Leon: "I want you to get in the habit of using codenames."

Ron: "Right. It was the transmission between Fox and Chameleon."

Leon: "What about it?"

Ron: "The channel was open too long."

Leon: "That's right. I was monitoring all transmissions that night. I heard you in the background when Fox was arguing with Chameleon. You knew that you had to close the channel, why didn't you tell Fox?"

Ron: "I don't know. I guess..."

Leon: "You're used to her being the leader, right? Look Stoppable, I didn't make you second in command of this team because you and Ms. Possible are friends. You're there because I need you to balance her out."

Ron: "What's that supposed to mean?"

Leon: "It means that ever since you both can remember she's been excellent at everything she's ever tried, correct?"

Ron: "Well, yeah I guess."

Leon: "That kind of excellence has a way of breeding arrogance and overconfidence. Fortunately, you were always there to keep her grounded. You provided her with a sense of vulnerability that she might have lacked without you around. Ms. Possible tends to see extreme situations as obstacles that can be overcome. You on the other hand see very real dangers of these situations. It's not an act of cowardice to run from a giant robot, it's just good common sense. That's where the sense of balance comes in. We watched the both of you for a long time before recruitment. You act as an anchor for Kim, and she pushes you to your limits. It's a very delicate balance that works."

Ron: "So I hold her back and she pushes me?"

Leon: "It's a little more than that. She's the quintessential Alpha; she's smart, strong, and demands perfection. Sometimes that can lead to problems though. Your experience in the field is proof enough."

Ron: "What do you mean?"

Leon: "Think about it. The radio...Chameleon..."

Ron: "She had to be in control. She wouldn't give up until Chameleon put out his cigar."

Leon: "Bingo. Whether she realized it or not, in her mind, it became less about Mr. Hunt putting himself in danger and more about being right. So the transmission was open long enough for us track and you were captured. If she had given her order once and stopped transmitting, we would have only caught Nicholas at first and he would have learned to follow orders when they're given."

Ron: "So you need me because I keep Kim grounded?"

Leon: "That, and you have almost as much field time as she does. You two are the most experienced recruits we have in the program. It's a first for newcomers to be so well versed in the art of infiltration. We believe that you can teach the others in the program. Kim is somewhat intimidating to them, where you are a bit closer to their level. As second-in-command, you are going to serve as a bridge between Ms. Possible and the rest of the team."

St. Rose University Area: 3 years ago

Ron and Kim were quiet as they pulled into their apartment complex. Their first "official" mission had been more taxing than either of them had expected. Who would have guessed that Peruvian guerillas would be so well funded? None of that really mattered right now. The job was done and they were home. Ron sleepily parked the car and rested his head on the steering wheel. He'd stopped listening to Wade's analysis a long time ago. This was the part of the job he really hated, every mission had to be analyzed, recorded, and recapped before the file was closed. Being polite, Kim tried to hide a yawn while listening to Wade.

Wade: "...and that about wraps up things on my end. Anything else to add?"

Ron: "Sigh."

Wade: "What was that?"

Kim: "Nothing, we're done here too."

Wade: "Great. In that case, you two get some rest. I'll contact you when I finish analyzing the rest of the team's data."

Kim: "Please and thank-you."

Kim turned off the communicator and returned her attention to Ron. The car was silent as they sat there. Ron's breathing had become deep as he rested his head on the steering wheel. Kim could tell that he had dozed off. As gently as possible, she tried to rouse him. Not getting any response, she began to nudge his shoulder. A sleepy voice responded.

Ron: "Please don't do that. I hurt."

Kim: "Where do you hurt babe?"

Ron: "Everywhere. I didn't even know my hair could hurt until now."

Kim: "Awwwe, poor Ronny."

Ron: "Don't mock me Kim, that was the biggest freaking jaguar I've ever seen."

Kim: "Um, that was the only jaguar you've ever seen."

Ron: "Merely semantics. It didn't help that Ox fell on me."

Kim: "Yeah, I thought you wanted him to jump into the river behind you."

Ron: "That was my idea, apparently, he didn't see it."

Kim: "Well come on, you gotta help me with the luggage."

Ron: "Can't we just leave it until morning?"

Kim: "I'm not leaving weapons and top secret technology in the trunk overnight. Come on, help me."

Ron: "Doesn't that usually mean I carry all the big stuff and you get the backpacks?"

Kim: "Pleeaasse? You have all those big, strong muscles and I'm just a little girl."

Ron: "Funny how you're weak and defenseless when you don't want to do something."

Kim: "Puullleeezzee?"

Ron: "Oh no. You better not be doing it. I'm not looking at you if you're doing it."

Kim: "I don't know what you're talking about."

Ron reluctantly looked up from the steering wheel. It was just as he feared. Kim had pulled out the big guns; the ever feared "puppy-dog pout". Ron chuckled to himself as he got out of the car and opened the trunk. After all these years, she could still get him with that one look. He hefted the duffel bags over his shoulders and prepared for his long journey up the stairs. Being on the third floor didn't seem like a lot of trouble when they first looked at the apartment. It was quiet and had a great view of the nearby campus. Now it seemed like the Mt. Everest of apartment buildings. Kim took the backpacks out of the trunk and gave Ron a quick peck on the cheek.

Kim: "Hurry on up and I'll have a surprise for you."

Ron: "Ugn...can't wait."

Ron watched Kim bound effortlessly up the stairs. Her red hair shined in the bright afternoon sun. Her every step was as if she was riding the wind itself. He shook his head and adjusted the heavy bags on his shoulders.

Ron: "Hey wake up, Ruby. If I gotta do this, you're gonna keep me company."

The bulge in Ron's vest began to stir. A sleepy naked mole rat poked her head out of the pocked and yawned. She had been a present from Kim. Ron's first pet, Rufus, had long since passed away. Although she could never replace Rufus, Ruby was every bit as smart as her predecessor. She was however, a bit daintier than Rufus. She preferred to dine on fresh vegetables, rather than fast food. Her temperament wasn't as fiery either; she often sat on Ron's shoulder studying her surroundings and the people around her quietly. At Ron's request, she shook off her nap and scampered up his arm to the top of his head and kept him company on the long way up the stairs.

Ron thought his arms were going to fall off as he opened the door to the apartment. Kim was nowhere in sight, but the small sofa was. He let the bags fall from his shoulders by the door and flopped on the small blue sofa. Finally, he could let his tired muscles relax completely. He could feel the tension leave his body as the afternoon sun peeked through the curtains.

Kim heard the door close and the telltale sound of Ron flopping on the sofa. Her heart fluttered as a playful smile appeared on her face. It had been so long since they had any time to themselves. They had arrived home just in time for spring break. For one week, they didn't have to worry about school or missions (at least that's what Leon told them). She had shed her jeans and t-shirt for something a little more comfortable. Ron's old jersey was a bit worn and had its fair share of holes. Kim had long since insisted that he not wear it in public anymore, but it still had its uses. She took a moment to check herself in the bedroom mirror. Although she wasn't the vain type, Kim had to admit she looked pretty "hot". Her long legs flowed elegantly from the bottom of the oversized garment. Her hair was slightly disheveled and fell playfully over her shoulders and face. The warm afternoon sun gave her skin a slight glow. Slowly she tiptoed into the small living room. She stepped in front of the small blue couch, slowly twirling her hair with her fingers. Her playful smile was replaced with confusion.

Ruby, the small pink mole rat, looked up from her perch on Ron's head and quietly shook her head at Kim. Ron was slumped over on the couch. His chest rose and fell slowly. Kim sighed to herself; perhaps another time. She walked around to the other side of the couch and curled up next to him. She draped his slumbering arm over herself and rested her head on his chest. The steady thumping of his heart began to lull her to sleep as well. As she drifted into well-deserved slumber, she began to wonder. Is this the way it was always going to be? Was it always going to be one mission after another followed by long naps on the couch? She pushed the thought out of her mind. That was a matter for another day.

London (Abandoned Tunnel System): Present

Shego took a long sip of her whiskey sour. It had been so long since she had anything slightly alcoholic. The warm feeling had been missed but not forgotten. She studied the eyes watching her. Ron Stoppable had grown into a regular macho-man. His wiry, boyish figure was now tall and toned. His eyes were no longer wide-eyed and sheepish. Now they were hard and confident. The other man was a bit of a mystery. He was tall and well dressed. An aura of experience seemed to exude from his presence. He folded his legs like a regular gentleman but she could tell that he was ready to spring into action should the need arise.

Shego: "Aahh. That hit the spot. Now then, what was the question?"

Ron: "How did you and Drakken escape?"

Shego: "Well Drakken never had to escape. I already told Possible this, but he had left a clone in his place the last time. And that's what you locked up."

Leon: "And yourself?"

Shego: "Well, it turns out that Drakken wanted me to stew in my own juices for a while. That's why he left me in that stinking hole until a couple months ago. When the time came, he sprung me with his little "Barbie" army."

Leon: "Pardon?"

Ron: "The androids, their called 'Bee-bees'. They're capable of incredible speeds. Sometimes they can't be seen with the naked eye."

Shego: "Yeah, okay. Back to me now. Anyway, they busted me out and replaced me with a Syntho-drone."

Leon: "What's a-"

Ron: "Basically, it's a cut-rate clone. Not very reliable in combat, but it can pass for human with the right programming."

Shego: "Is he gonna keep doing that, or can I finish? So anyway, he busted me out and started showing me everything he's been up to for the past five years. I gotta tell you, I was impressed. Turns out he hid a nice chunk of change from that whole 'Bueno Nacho' thing. He's been building his little toys for sometime now."

Ron: "So why aren't you with him now? It's hard to imagine you passed on a chance like that."

Shego: "Look, Drakken has changed a lot. He's tightened up his game and gotten a hell of a lot meaner. Truthfully, I thought hard about staying."

Leon: "So what changed your mind?"

Shego: "The Maddness Project, he's got it. And I saw what he's planning to do with it. I'm bad, but I don't see the profit in the Apocalypse."

To be continued...

And that's where we'll leave off with this chapter. Look forward to Shego's story next time. And how exactly did Kim end up with that Nicholas Hunt guy? Will the author finally give into the demons in his head telling him to set fires to all of the Starbuck's in the area? Only one way to find out, stay tuned.