Kim Possible
Frequency of Evil
Chapter 7
Dr. Director looked down at the young man. "Stoppable stand up." She ordered.
Ron looked up and they could see tears streaming down his face. He made no effort to wipe away the tears and nodded his head. Rising to his feet, he visibly steeled himself for what he was sure to be condemning words from the head of Global Justice for getting her agents killed.
"You are in no way responsible for those agents' deaths." Dr. Director stated and then raised a hand to forestall Ron's argument. "Correct me if I am wrong but you had Wade call us because you knew you and Kim were in over your heads and whatever these creatures are, they have to be stopped. You had Wade contact us and you didn't understate the problem but gave us an accurate if necessary brief report. You had no idea how long you would be able to communicate with Wade or how long he would be able to stay in contact with us. You did absolutely the right thing Ronald Stoppable."
Dr. Director could see she hadn't fully convinced the distraught young man.
"Agent Will Du, has Ron violated or failed to carry out any directives that might have covered this situation?"
Will considered for a moment. "I can't see any if he has. Directives on this matter are very clear in the Global Justice regulations. 'If an agent finds themselves facing a force greater than they can combat, they are to call in a report to Global Justice if at all possible so information on the threat can be evaluated and then they are to await reinforcements from Global Justice.' Ron not being familiar with Global Justice regulations still carried them out to the letter."
"Thank you agent Du." Dr. Director looked Ron directly in the eyes. "Now you know agent Du would not lie about regulations to save someone's feelings. So believe me when I tell you that you did the RIGHT thing. You are NOT responsible for their deaths."
"Damn straight." Shego muttered. "If anyone is responsible it's Dr. D. I told him that this plan was a bad one from the start."
Dr. Director turned to face the woman. "But you didn't try to stop him physically did you? You had presence of mind to realize that he might not be able to control whatever evil he brought forth but you did nothing to stop him from trying. You are far from guiltless in this endeavor."
To her surprise Ron stepped over to Shego's side. "She didn't know he would even be able to open a portal. I mean he's failed so many times before, how was she to know this time he would succeed?"
Dr. Director didn't soften her glare at Shego but finally did glance over at Ron. "Are you willing to vouch for her Stoppable?"
Shego looked over at Ron as did Kim. Even Bonnie who still wasn't sure what the hell was going on was waiting to hear his verdict.
"As long as her life is in as much in danger as ours? Yes I believe we can trust her. When things return to normal? It'll be pretty much anything goes again."
Shego shrugged. "Well it's not a ringing endorsement but it is an intelligent one."
"So what do we do now?" Kim asked looking to Dr. Director for orders.
Dr. Director continued to look at Ron. "You have seen whatever these creatures are and I have not. What would you suggest our first action be Stoppable?"
Ron with a very serious look on his face thought for a moment.
"First off I think Kim and Bonnie need to return to the gym and check on Hope, Tara and the other cheerleaders. If they are left too long by themselves, one of them is bound to decide to try and leave or go outside and if they get near the doors…"
Bonnie's eye widen in horror. "I'll tell them what is going on!"
"NO! Tell them we are trapped inside this school with killer things outside? They'll panic big time. The best thing to do is for you and Kim to go in there and pretend everything is fine. Start them on their routines. It'll keep them busy."
"I'm not leaving you to go and baby sit my squad." Kim stated. "We're on a mission and nothing takes precedence over that. Bonnie can go in there and run them through their routines without me. She can simply tell them that she couldn't find me."
Ron wanted to say that Bonnie wasn't the best actress. She was bound to let it slip what she had seen and heard, in which case they would be knee deep soon in panicked cheerleaders but he knew when Kim used that tone of voice she wasn't going to change her mind. That and to be honest, he was terrified of having everyone looking to him for answers he didn't have. At least with Kim around he knew there would be someone to fix whatever he screwed up.
Bonnie with a promise that she could handle it, left to look after the squad and keep them busy.
"What are you going to do Ron?" Kim asked.
Ron started pacing back and forth as he tried to think of what exactly could he do against such inhuman monsters.
Suddenly he pulled to a stop. "We are the servants of the cube. It called us and we came." He said out loud.
"What?" Dr. Director asked.
"It was what the Cenobites said when we asked them why they had come." Ron replied distractedly and then realizing that Dr. Director and Will Du had no idea what had happened in Drakken's lair he took a moment to quickly relate to everyone listening everything that had happened in Drakken's lair. The strange silent gentlemen, his attempt to stop a second portal from opening and the strange puzzle box that had managed to fall from the second portal before he could stop it. Kim or Shego adding details when it looked to be necessary. For instance Ron was going to gloss over his rescue of Shego completely but Shego wouldn't hear of it and told Dr. Director how Ron at risk of his own life had saved her. She even added that to thank him she kissed him and Ron was surprisingly a really great kisser.
Ron noticed Kim crossing her arms angrily and figured the only reason Shego did that was to annoy Kim.
"The puzzle box summons them. Could it be used to send them back to where ever they came from?" Ron asked Wade, who was still on Kim's computer screen.
"It's possible." The boy genius replied. "If they came not by Drakken's portal but by something this puzzle box creates then it would be logical to assume if it can open a doorway it can shut it as well."
"So all I have to do is get the puzzle box and then use it to send them back." Ron said starting to get excited. "Boo-yah!"
"Where is this puzzle box?" Wade asked.
"Oh. Right. Boo-yah denied." Ron replied. "The puzzle box is back at Drakken's lair. Or at least it was the last time I saw it. The freaky Cenobite with the pins driven into his skull tossed it on to the table with the other junk Drakken used to open a portal." Ron who had let his shoulders slump when he realized he didn't have the box, straightened his shoulders. Okay, I will just have to go back to Drakken's lair somehow and retrieve the box."
"You did say that you and Drakken were holding the box at the same time it activated the first time right?" Wade asked.
"Yes. Is that important?"
"It could be. The puzzle box might be bio-cognizant." Wade said.
"What the heck does that mean?" Asked Shego.
"It means the box might just recognize who used it last and not work for anyone else. Ron and Drakken might just need to be holding the box at the same time for it to work to send the Cenobites away."
"Good luck getting that coward to help you." Shego replied dismissively with a snort.
Looking around Ron suddenly realized he hadn't seen Drakken in a while. "Where is Drakken anyway?" He asked.
"He escaped while we were distracted obviously." Agent Du said after a moment.
"Escaped where? We're all trapped in here together." Ron pointed out.
Shego walked over to Kim's locker where Wade was still on screen. "Hey Nerdling, can you check the school records about the time a Drew Lipsky went to school here and find out which locker was his and what the combination to that locker was?"
Wade frowned at her but allowed his fingers to dance along his keyboard. "Locker number 146. But locker combinations are closely guarded school information to prevent students from stealing from one another."
"Yeah, right. What's the combination?" Shego asked as if bored.
"12-23-7-15" Wade replied instantly.
Walking along Shego examined the locker numbers till she found the right way. Finally she found Drakken's old locker was one at floor level. Spinning the combination lock rapidly she unlocked it and swung it open. Revealed was Drakken sitting crammed inside with his legs drawn up tight against his chest with his arms wrapped around his legs.
"Come on out you coward." Shego said shaking her head.
"We must really discuss employee loyalty someday Shego." Drakken hissed as he reluctantly climbed out of the cramped locker space.
"Says the man who tried to negotiate with a monster using my life." Shego replied.
Kim who had followed Shego was shaking her head at Drakken's rampant cowardice, turning to look for Ron and the rest of her group she saw him standing over beside Dr. Director. It appeared they were arguing about something. Ron had a very earnest look on his face and Dr. Director was looking unhappy but as Kim watched Dr. Director finally nodded her head at something. She then turned to look sadly at Kim while Ron walked back towards her locker, to discuss something with Wade she figured.
Kim walked over to Dr. Director to get some idea what her and Ron were talking about but to her annoyance Dr. Director just turned around and walked away without speaking to her. After several attempts to get Dr. Director to talk to her Kim decided to head over and see what Ron was discussing with Wade and she was just in time to see him taking some sheets of paper from the printer in the locker and seal them in envelopes. Finally he sealed all the separate envelops in one. He then quickly stuffed the last envelope in his pocket as he saw Kim approaching.
"Hey Ron. Been a rough night hasn't it?" She asked awkwardly. So many things had happened in such a short time she wasn't sure where to start with talking with Ron about them.
She noticed immediately that Ron wouldn't look her in the eye but seemed to be studying the floor.
"I think I may have figured out a way to get through the chains on the doors." Ron said again without meeting Kim's eyes.
"How?"
"My Mystical Monkey power wasn't able to make a dent on the Cenobites and Shego's fire wasn't much better but I figure if we both fire at the same time we maybe able to destroy the chains, or at least blast them long enough for me and Drakken to get out to retrieve the puzzle box and see if we can figure out some way to send those creatures back to whatever Hell spawned them."
Kim with a sinking feeling in her stomach tried to correct him. "You mean long enough for you, Drakken and me to get out to retrieve the box right?"
"Um, well you see that is the thing, I think and Dr. Director agrees with me that the Cenobites may pull away from the school if they see me and Drakken making a run for the box but then again they may just ignore us and concentrate on killing everyone in here. If that happens you will be needed far more than you will be at my side."
"Ronald Stoppable." Kim said in her no nonsense, 'I will not be argued with' voice. "I am not letting you leave this building with Drakken and Shego. You can't trust them!"
"I won't be leaving with Shego and Drakken. Just Drakken. Dr. Director also agreed with me that it would be a good idea to leave Shego here. Just in case her fire can open the chains, if things go bad she might be able to help you evacuate Bonnie and the rest of our friends."
Kim started to violently shake her head but she noticed Dr. Director walk up beside her. "You are not being given a choice Ms. Possible. There are innocent civilians here and they are members of your cheer squad to boot. It is your responsibility to look after their welfare." Dr. Director ordered her.
Ron walked past her without looking at her. "Shego? You wanna try something and see if out powers put together can make a dent on the chains guarding the doors?" He called out to Shego who was pulling Drakken along by the ear.
Kim walked along behind them in a daze. Ron had talked to Dr. Director and somehow convinced the head of Global Justice to order her to stay behind while Ron went off on a mission alone.
Ron looking back and seeing that Kim wasn't paying attention whispered to Shego. "Shego can I ask a favor from you?"
Shego looked over at him in surprise. "What? I owe you for saving my life twice so whatever the favor is I will do it but what could you want from me?"
Ron pulled the envelope he had prepared using Kim's printer in her locker and handed it to Shego. Written across the front of it was Kim's name. "If I don't come back from this mission I want you to give this letter to Kim for me." Was all he said.
Shego looked around nervously. "Couldn't you get one of your friends to do it? I mean if you don't come back Kim is going to go all to pieces and I have to hand her your Last Will she is going to come unglued."
"It's not my Will. I have nothing of real value to give Kim. It's just a letter saying goodbye. And I don't really have a lot of friends. Wade can't keep anything from Kim, he'll crack and tell her as soon as I leave without waiting to see if I come back first. I was kind of hoping you considered me a friend and would do it for me." Ron reached into his pocket and pulled out Rufus. "Could you look after Rufus for me for a little while too? If I ask Kim she'll…" he just let his statement trail off.
"She'll know you don't think you are coming back and she won't let you go?" Shego stated rather than questioned.
Ron nodded his head and then spoke to Rufus. "Its okay little buddy. Shego will look after you for a bit and then Kim can take care of you."
The little naked mole rat looked over at Shego with less than enthusiasm.
Shego understood completely. She wasn't exactly thrilled either.
"I know Shego was our enemy for a long time but she always been honest with us and if she promises she won't hurt you I trust her." Ron tried to assure him.
Rufus finally gave a reluctant thumbs up and then leapt over to Shego's shoulder and disappeared into her long black hair so he was out of sight.
Kim followed along behind Ron and Shego as they walked down the corridor of the school together. They had their heads suspiciously close together and were talking in low tones. It might just have been them talking about what tactics to use to blast the chains but somehow Kim didn't think so. And then there was Ron being sent out on a mission alone with Drakken of all people while Kim was being ordered to stay behind. She just knew that Ron had somehow talked Dr. Director into that but she couldn't understand why. Suddenly Kim had a very bad thought. Ron had already once tried to make a deal with the Cenobites that he would go with them willingly if they would only leave Kim and Shego alone. Could it be he was planning it again? That Ron didn't expect to come back from this cube retrieval mission and was thinking it was going to be a suicide mission?
Kim shook her head. If Ron was planning something like that she knew he would have given Rufus to her to look after or at least somebody. He wouldn't take his mole rat friend into certain death.
And Ron hadn't mentioned Rufus to Kim. She knew he wouldn't leave it with Bonnie or Will Du. He wouldn't trust them with his precious friend.
She didn't think the busy Dr. Director would be willing to take Rufus and of all the people staying behind that only left… Shego.
And Ron was earnestly whispering something to Shego right now.
"Ron?" Kim asked speeding up her pace to catch up with him and Shego.
"Yeah K.P.?" Ron asked with his normal smiling goofy look.
For once Kim didn't stop at just the surface appearance but really looked at Ron. While he was smiling, she could detect tension in his jawline, his shoulders were slightly slumped and she thought there was a hint of shininess in his haunted looking eyes as if he was holding back tears by pure strength of will.
"Don't you think I should take care of Rufus while you and Drakken go on this mission." She asked.
Kim knew that Ron would either agree and hand over Rufus to her or say something like Rufus might come in handy.
Ron however did neither. He just gave a start and looked guiltily at Shego. "Um, ah, well you know Kim… Um, the little guy is probably in your locker resting! Yeaht that's it. I told him it would be safer here and he is in your locker resting!"
Shego knowing Kim was watching her like a hawk resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Ron was a terrible liar and everyone in range of his voice knew he had just told a huge one. Fortunately they reached the main doors of the school at that moment and Ron was able to turn away from Kim's searching eyes to examine the doors.
"Try your fireballs first Shego. Maybe they will work without my using my powers too." He said to Shego.
Shego raising her hands fired up her plasma energy and created a huge fireball. Throwing at the door she held her breath. The fireball exploded and the chains did twitch as if it had bothered them but they in no way released their hold on the door.
Ron nodded his head. He had expected as much. "Okay on the count of three we both hit it with our powers." Slowly counting he and Shego charged their hands with power. Shego's case it was her normal green fire and Ron's case his hands glowed a strange blue color.
When they both hit three at the same time they hurled their energy balls at the same moment. The two balls of different color light merged halfway between them and the door and the ball changed colors to a purplish hue.
As the now purple ball of energy hit the chains there was a slight explosion. Blinking Shego realized she was now looking at a fully cleared doorway. Doors, chains a small portion of the supporting wall was gone.
"We did it!" She shouted in joy and thought about kissing Ron in celebration. Ron however didn't show any emotion and continued to stare at the now empty space.
Drakken ready to make his escape tried to run past but was stopped dead in his tracks as Ron reached out and caught him by his shoulder. "Not yet." Was all Ron muttered to him as way of explanation.
A few moments later the chains sprang back into existence and quickly criss crossed in front of the door until within seconds there was not even a crack of open space left.
"I made it out to be 45 seconds." Ron stated.
"44 seconds." Dr. Director who had been standing behind Kim corrected.
"Ready to try again Shego?" Ron asked turning to look at her.
Once again both Ron and Shego counted down to three and once again they threw their fireballs. This time everyone silently counted at the cleared empty space where the chains used to be.
Finally the chains sprang back across the exit blocking it once more.
"I got 44." Kim stated.
Dr. Director nodded her head and even Ron had to admit it was only 44 seconds.
"It is not humanly possible for a person to run from where we are standing, through the doorway and far enough away from the chains as they regenerate to survive." Agent Will Du stated.
"I can do it. I will use the Mystical Monkey power and go full out." Ron stated just as confidently.
"What about me? I can't run that fast!" Drakken said.
"I will carry you on my back. With the Mystical Monkey power I can do it." Ron assured him.
Drakken wasn't thrilled but it was a chance to get out of the entrenched school and hopefully to somewhere safer. He wasn't sure if after he was free of the school if he would follow the buffoon to his lair to try and stop the Cenobites or just run.
Kim maneuvered herself till she was right next to Shego. "Hey Shego." She said with false warmth. "After Ron stops the Cenobites, why don't we all go to Bueno Nacho. We can have one of their specials."
Shego turned to look at Kim as if she was insane. "What?"
"We can have it with extra cheese." Kim said in a slightly louder voice.
"Cheese!" Rufus said happily popping out from behind Shego's long black hair and looking around. "Uh oh." He said when he spotted Kim and then ducked back behind Shego's hair but it was too late.
"Ron doesn't plan to come back does he?" Kim whispered to Shego as her heart started breaking.
Ron hadn't noticed Kim and Shego as he was firmly concentrating on the chain filled exit. "Okay Shego once last time for real. Climb on my back Dr. D. and hang on tight, the Ron express is about ready to leave."
Shego shot Kim a sympathetic look but once again fired up her plasma energy. "Ready." Was all she said.
Once again the combined might of Shego's plasma fire and Ron's Mystical Monkey energy combined and crashed into the chains and destroyed them. Ron started moving almost as soon as he released his energy ball. Drakken holding on around Ron's neck for dear life as Ron began moving faster than a human could possibly go. Shooting through the empty gap Ron cleared it easily.
The chains started twitching as they tried to reform to catch him but it was no use.
Kim stood staring at the opening for a single heart beat and then running she began to do forward flips toward the rapidly closing gap.
"Possible!" Dr. Director yelled but nothing was stopping Kim.
She shot through the small gap as the chains once again closed, hitting the ground outside she did a hand stand and continued flipping as the chains lashed out behind her trying to impale her back and draw her back into the web of chains.
Ron turning after hearing Dr. Director's shout caught her in his arms.
"Kim! What are you doing here! Dr. Director ordered you to stay there to protect Bonnie and the rest of the cheerleaders! You defied her."
"I am not a Global Justice agent Ron." Kim being winded replied breathlessly. "I don't have to follow Dr. Director's orders if I don't want to."
"But you always wanted to be an Agent of G.J. Kim. You just threw all that way. If we do survive this Dr. Director will never trust you to follow her orders. She'll never let you be a Global Justice agent now."
Kim had tears running down her face. "I don't care Ron! What is important is us! This is right! Us being together and facing danger together, so Ronald Stoppable stop trying to be noble and do the right thing and save me from danger and let me be by your side!"
"um, far be it for me to interrupt such a touching moment between my two enemies but…" Dr Drakken still riding Ron's back pointed to the side.
Looking over Ron and Kim spotted Pinhead moving slowly towards them. Looking in the opposite direction they spotted the Female Cenobite. Hearing a chattering noise they spotted the hideously deformed Chatterer coming from the parking lot.
Ron swept Kim up with one arm and using his Mystical Monkey power he ran straight at Chatterer but at the last moment swept around him. Chatterer was fast and tried to swipe at Ron with his claws but Ron in full Monkey mode was faster.
"Um, where are you going? And how long can you keep up this super speed?" Drakken shouted to be heard over the rushing wind of Ron's passage."
Ron suddenly stopped and Drakken found himself slammed into Ron's back by the sudden deceleration. "We're going to borrow a car." Ron stated.
Kim a little shaken by Ron's super speed shook her head to clear it and saw the car Ron had stopped in front of. "You want to take Bonnie's car? Her brand new sports car?"
Ron shot her a grin. "You have to admit Kim, this car is probably the fastest in the lot and besides I think Bon Bon would thank me for taking it. After all if the Cenobites follow us that will draw them away from here."
"Somehow I doubt Bonnie will see it that way." Kim replied and stepping out of Ron's arms she tried the handle. "Locked of course."
Ron didn't hesitate. He just lashed out with a fist and put his hand through the driver's side window. Reaching in he pulled up the lock knob on the door and then pulled open the door. "Now it's not." He stated.
"There's no keys." Kim said worriedly as she watched the Cenobites nearing. From around the corner of the school the extremely obese Cenobite came waddling. He wouldn't be a danger for several moments but Chatterer was moving through the parking lot towards them very rapidly.
"Hotwire it." Drakken still clinging to Ron's back shouted at her.
"I don't know how to hotwire a car." Kim had to reluctantly admit.
"Progressive inferior public school systems now." Drakken muttered as he hoped off of Ron's back and pushed Kim out of the way. "They don't even bother to teach the classics like how to hotwire a car anymore?"
Reaching in he quickly pulled wires out from under the dash of Bonnie's hot red sports car and twisting a pair together he had the motor started in seconds. "I'll drive." He said but was pushed over by Kim.
"I'll drive." Kim said in a no nonsense manner.
As they peeled out of the parking lot of the school they could see the spinning pillar coming from behind the school and start to head toward the Cenobites watching them leave.
The Female Cenobite watched them go and then turned to look at Pinhead.
Pinhead merely calmly waited till the spinning pillar reached them. Making a gesture Pinhead caused the pillar to stop spinning and fall to its side. Out of the top of the pillar now laying on the ground a creature started squirming out of it. It looked vaguely like a horse without skin but it had far too many legs, having several sets surgically grafted on to the body at weird and grotesque angles.
As soon as the horrible mangled looking creature came out and stumbled to its feet, the pillar itself began to twist and morph. In moments it had changed to look like an ancient roman chariot, complete with spiked wheels and bladed knives along its side. The Cenobites without saying a word calmly climbed aboard it and the horse creature began to pull it at a speed that would put to shame most fast autos.