Chapter III: Shego's Pride
Go City, City Jail DaybreakShego was too annoyed to think straight. In her vexation, she did what she normally would not do.
She decided to free Drakken earlier than she would have liked. She was so angry that she needed to vent her frustration. And breaking out Drakken would just be the thing to remove some stress.
Although, in her mind, she would only aggravate herself more if she freed her boss. It was temptation enough to leave him where he was. However the temptation, she needed the distraction.
Scaling the prison walls with a grappling hook, she looked for Drakken's cell, which she found out earlier. Still questioning her own sanity, Shego placed as explosive charge on the wall and swung on away just in time for the charge to explode. She didn't have much time, the explosion sounded the alarms as she entered Dr. Drakken's cell and scanned for the Dr. She growled as she found him still sleeping soundly on the bunk.
"Dr. Drakken!" Shego shouted over the roars of the alarms.
"No school," he mumbled as he curled away from her. With a frustrated sigh, Shego grabbed his collar and dragged him to his feet, in the process, woke him up.
"Hmm? Shego!" Drakken said in surprise as he finally woke up. "It's about time! What took you?"
"No time, Doc. The party crashers are about to arrive," Shego said as an automated helicopter hovered over the hole she had created. "Let's go!" She took him roughly on the arm and literally tossed him into the chopper's open door.
"Shego! I'm not just a sack of potatoes you can just lug around!" he shouted as Shego jumped and landed beside him.
"Funny, you felt like a sack of potatoes," she smirked. Annoying Dr. Drakken made her feel better. But just a bit.
It would give her great satisfaction to meet the man in the shadows.
But for now, she decided to annoy Drakken.
Possible Residence BreakfastKim sighed as she slumped on the chair by the dinning table. She lost some sleep pondering on what to do with Ron. Kim was a fair chess player and she decided it was Ron's first move, if he ever made a move that was.
"Is there something wrong, Kimmy?" Mrs. Dr. Possible asked as she cooked breakfast. Knowing her daughter pretty well, she knew immediately there was something wrong as soon as she entered the room.
"I don't know," Kim sighed and looked at her mom. It was rather early in the morning and the others were probably asleep or engaged in their morning routines. She knew she could trust her mom, so she took a deep breath and asked a question.
"Mom, can I ask you a scenario question?" there was amusement in Mrs. Possible's eyes as she heard her daughter say those words. She knew Ron was developing feelings for Kim but she really never expected her to answer them. Not without some persuasion that was.
"What is it, Kimmy," she said nonchalantly, hiding a grin.
"How would someone go about when being courted by his or her best friend?" she asked. Trying to control her joy, Kim's mom smiled.
"It depends on the other best friend," she said. "Does this best friend want to be courted by the other?" Has Ron begun his campaign? she wondered in thought.
"That's the thing. This best friend would love to take the other best friend's suit," Kim said animatedly. "But wouldn't that destroy their friendship?"
"My friendship with your father strengthened when we got married, honey," Mrs. Possible said as she smiled to her daughter. "I don't know for the others but married couple are friends who wanted to share their lives together for eternity."
"Mom, I'm talking about being more than friends first. The M word is further from my mind, at least for now," Kim noticed that her mother was hiding something from her. Why did she mention marriage? Kim's too young to think about it. Her concern was if she had some extra special feelings for her best friend. What did her mother know that she did not?
But when Kim saw her mother's smile, she knew she had slipped. She had said that marriage was further from her mind and she did not use a personification.
In other terms, she was busted.
"So, are you developing some feelings other than friendship for Ron?" her mother asked.
"I don't know," Kim replied with a sigh. "Monique opened the topic up and it sort of stuck into my head."
"She figured you out?" Mrs. Possible said with certainty and Kim's slumped shoulders were her answer.
"What am I supposed to do now?" she asked her mother. "Getting Ron to turn her head towards my direction is as easy as parting the Pacific Ocean."
"Then it's easy," her mom said.
"Why would it be?" Kim was confused then it dawned on her. "Somebody already parted the Pacific Ocean?" Mrs. Dr. Possible smiled as she nodded.
"A colleague of your father designed a force field powerful enough to part the ocean. Although he did part the ocean, the force field generator overloaded and fried the circuits."
"Great, now if Ron would just see me as more than his friend," Kim mumbled to herself. Suddenly, her Kimmunicator sounded its patented beep and she was glad for the distraction.
"What's the sitch, Wade?" she asked.
"The King Solomon's exhibit in Go city was robbed last night," the boy genius said as he typed on his keyboard. "The exhibit featured the largest gems and diamonds and is worth a fortune."
"I've heard about it," Kim's mom said as she packed her daughter a sandwich. "I think there's some controversy about the ownership of the jewels."
"That's correct, Mrs. Possible. It is said that the jewels were a gift to an African tribe from King Solomon himself. The tribe argued for it in the world court and the court decided in favor of the tribe. However, the supposedly discoverer of the jewels, a Dr. Carl Buncle, claimed that he found the jewels in a temple far from the village."
"Who is asking for my help?" Kim asked. The situation confused her. She never liked helping those who cause pain and suffering to others. In fact, she ignores them.
"Actually, no one did," Wade said with a smirk. "Although I pulled up their security camera on the exhibit entrance." Kim watched as Wade played the tape. She blinked in surprise as she saw Shego walked into the exhibit area stealthily but then looked around as if she was confused. But after a while, Shego tensed as she looked around. Suddenly, Kim saw a shadow behind Shego and it disappeared just as she turned.
"Rewind and freeze, Wade," Kim said as Wade rewound the tape to where Kim saw the shadow. "What is that?"
"No clue," Wade said as he pondered on the shadow. "But whatever it was, it annoyed Shego."
"So, we go get Shego," Kim said already thinking of a plan. But Wade's next words made her pause.
"I don't think it was Shego," he said.
"How so?" the teen heroine was confused. Shego was the only suspect in the crime. Who else would steal the jewels?
"The guards were knocked out by sleeping gas and the security system were disabled as if the thief knew the code. The laser sensors worked independently and were still on when the cops came. The laser's path was woven in a web that would be difficult even for you to cross. The sensor pads are adjusted so that anything that would have contacted with it in more than a second would set it off."
"So meaning the thief was agile, fast and must have worn infrared goggles, something Shego would do," Kim said but knew that there was more than Wade was letting on to.
"Perhaps, but something's not right. I'll try to find out more about the exhibit. Maybe we could find a clue there."
"Okay, thanks Wade," Kim turned her Kimmunicator off and frowned. If Wade was right, and he always was, the thief was good. However, Shego was good as well. So far, she's on the top of Kim's lists of suspects.
However, Kim had a nagging feeling that Shego was innocent of the theft.
And if Shego did not steal the jewels, who did?
.
Credible Manor Slightly After BreakfastVincent Credible flinched awake as he heard the silent vibration of his mobile phone. He had lived a solitary life for the past three and a half years and learned to enjoy it. However, he would be the first to admit that he was lonely.
He was not a partygoer nor popular from either the kids when he was at high school or at the Space Center where Mr. Possible works for his eccentricity.
No one but the Doctors Possible knew that his eccentricity was a shield for his fragile soul.
Eccentric or not, Vincent grumbled as he annoyingly grabbed the handset of his bedside phone and waited for his cell phone to redirect the call. And when the phone chirped, he answered it.
"Credible," he said hoarsely betraying his state of function.
"Hello Vin," the caller said. Immediately, Vincent perked up and cleared his throat.
"Mrs. Possible! To what I owe the pleasure of you call?" he asked making Mrs. Possible laugh.
"Always the charmer, aren't we?" she said. He could almost imagine her smile. "How are you today, truly? And I'm asking as your doctor."
"Why would someone have a brain surgeon as a general doctor is beyond me," Vincent chuckled as he sat up.
"You're laughing?" she asked rather surprised. Happy but surprised. "So what made you so chipper all of a sudden?"
"Nothing important," he said.
"So chipper that you risked injury from your strenuous activity last night?" she asked almost in a scold. Vincent smiled at her motherly concern and assured her that he was all right. "Are you sure?"
"Mrs. Possible, I wouldn't be chipper if I'm not," he said with such certainty that Mrs. Possible conceded.
"Still, I would like to check all the same," Vincent sighed and shook his head.
"Okay Mrs. Possible. What about Saturday?"
"That's in four days… I think I'm free in the afternoon," Mrs. Possible said as she recalled her schedule.
"Done. Oh! And could you bring your daughter with you?" this question surprised her.
"Sure, but why?" she asked. Getting Kim to come with her was easy but she was curious.
"It concerns a certain young man that your husband sent to deliver the reports," he said in explanation. He could hear her lips curve into a smile from where she was.
"Was he that obvious?" she asked.
"Mind you, he did thought he was facing certain death," he smirked and heard her giggle.
"Okay, I'll bring Kimmy and please be careful."
"I will," he said as he replaced the receiver. He was looking forward to Saturday but first he needed to run an errand.
He was going to return something that belonged to a tribe in Africa.
.
Possible Residence
After School
Ron Stoppable sighed as he walked towards Kim's room. It had been a daunting day for him. First, his heart raced every time he saw her. She looked graceful with her actions and even in cheerleading practice, he could not take his eyes off her. It was lucky that he was wearing his mascot head or else it would have been obvious that he was staring at her.
And what was hard was that he acted normal around her when he wanted to do something else with her.
For instance, kiss the life out of her.
Ron paused when he reached Kim's door. Why was it so hard to enter her sacred room when he had been inside a million times before?
The answer: Ron never thought of Kim as a woman until recently. Taking a deep breath, Ron calmed himself and took the plunge, so to speak.
"KP! Ronster coming in," he knocked once and tried the door. Not surprising, it was open. Kim always welcomed him with open arms even though he must admit he had done a lot of things that would seem idiotic.
And when he entered her room, his heart almost stopped.
Kim Possible was only wearing a towel around her privates as she dried her hair with another towel. Ron swallowed as she walked around her room as if nothing had happened.
As if there was not a boy present.
"What up, Ron?" she asked as she gave him a smile. And when she noticed the look on his face, she nearly blushed.
It was a look of desire. The kind of look boys has been giving her since her freckles and braces disappeared. She never thought that Ron would give her that kind of look. Although, for some reason, she was inordinately pleased by it.
Hearing her voice snapped Ron out of his trance.
"Nothing much," he said in his usual tone, not betraying his emotions. "I was wondering if we could hang out at Bueno Nacho or something." Just then, the Kimmunicator chirped. "Or not."
Kim smiled at his disappointment, whether it was from not going to Bueno Nacho or not going with her, she did not know.
"Honestly Ron. I would love to go with you anytime," that made her best friend smile. She picked up her Kimmunicator and answered it. "What's the sitch?"
"It's Monkey Fist," Wade said sending shivers down Ron's spine.
"Oh, Man! Not him again," he groaned. Kim ignored the barb as she focused on the screen.
"What did he do?" Kim asked all business.
"He stole a rare artifact from the British museum," this time, Ron's groan became louder.
"Not another mystical monkey power thingy," he said. "Come on! How many mystical things are there?"
"Do you want me to find out?" Wade asked half in jest. "Anyway, the artifact is one Crown of Goku."
"And who is Goku?" Kim asked.
"One of the main characters in the novel Journey to the West," Ron said dejectedly. "Legend has it that he accompanied a monk by the name of Sanzo in a quest that took them towards west of China." Kim looked at him with surprised fascination and awe. All this coming from a guy who hates studying?
"And what does this have to do with Monkey Fist?" she asked.
"Goku was the monkey King," Wade said still impressed with Ron's knowledge of the legend. "Legend has it that the wearer of the crown will control every monkey in the world."
"As if his army of monkey ninjas weren't enough," Ron mumbled. Kim sighed and spoke to wade.
"Hook us up, Wade. Where's Monkey fist?"
"Middleton zoo," Wade's hands typed at lightning speed as he looked into his computer. "We just got a hit. He's going to take control of the monkeys at the zoo!"
"Suit up, Ron. We're going to the zoo."
. .
Middleton ZooSlightly After School
"Usually when I visit the zoo I stay away from the monkeys," Ron said as he and Kim arrived at the zoo. "That part of the zoo is a place of evil."
"Ron, you said that with Camp Wannaweep," Kim said as she checked with Wade. "Wade?"
"They're massing at the center of the zoo. Better hurry Kim. You do not have much time."
"Let's go Ron," Kim took off leaving Ron stumbling forward.
"I have a bad feeling about this," he said more to himself than to Kim. "Wait up Kim!"
Kim found where Monkey Fist, the once titled gentleman you was obsessed on becoming a monkey, was. It was so easy for he was delivering his usual conquer the world speech.
"There he is, Ron," Kim said as she hid behind a bush. "We need to get near to him."
"So I'm the distraction again," he said rather tiredly. "I'll do my best. Rufus, buddy. Go with Kim." There was a commanding presence that Kim felt when Ron told his pet mole rat to stay with her. She looked at him in surprise for he never shown such initiative.
"Be careful," they said in unison. And immediately, Kim added…
"Jinx! You owe me a soda," she said and Ron cringed.
"You're always faster than me," he said as he smiled.
And, much to Kim's shock, Ron suddenly kissed her forehead. Kim blinked as she felt the contact of his lips on her skin. It was soft and gentle and weirdly pleasant. Before she could respond, Ron was already preparing for his distraction.
"It's official," Kim said under her breath. "Ron's touch makes me tingle." Then she remembered she was not alone. "Don't you dare tell that to Ron." She warned the naked mole rat and Rufus only smiled.
. . /
"Ron Stoppable, how exactly are you going to get Monkey Fist's attention long enough to let Kim get near?" Ron asked himself as he quietly crept towards his objective. But that was not the only thought he had.
He had shown Kim that he was tired at being the decoy. He didn't groan and whine like his usual self but rather dejectedly and tiredly. Not only because he was tired at being the decoy but because Kim would think that his only use was to be a decoy. But then he remembered what Vincent Credible said when he walked him towards the cab he called.
"Stoppable. Being on the sidelines or rather a sidekick is not as easy as you think," Vincent said. "Being a cushion when Kim needs it is the best thing you could hope for. She doesn't need a hero even though once in a while a little heroism from a man is good for a relationship, she needs someone she could count on. Someone who would always be there for her. Someone she could trust… And someone who love her."
Ron shook the memory out of his head. This was not time to be thinking of any other thing except the job at hand.
How to distract Monkey Fist without making him think it was not a distraction.
It was a daunting task but someone has to do it.
And Ron Stoppable would do anything and everything for Kimberly Ann Possible.
. . … . .
"With this Crown I shall rule all the monkeys in the World!" Kim heard Monkey Fist gloat and knew she had to move. But where's Ron's distraction.
"HEY! WHO LET THE MONKEYS OUT?" Kim was unmistaken by the voice as she peered to see a park custodian walk towards the gathered monkeys. He was pushing a broom cart and wearing the park custodian's uniform and even though it was two sizes larger, Ron made it fit by folding the corners of the sleeves and pants. The custodian's cap was pulled low so that no one could look into his eyes and recognize him.
"Hey! Park hours are over, buddy." Monkey Fist sneered as he stood on all fours.
"Really?" he leered. "And what would you do about it? Monkey ninjas! Bring him to me." Kim used the shadows as she quietly made her way towards Monkey Fist.
"Ah, shouldn't you guys be back in your cages. If you are nice, I might get a treat for you," she heard Ron stall. She needed to be in position before Monkey Fist could wear the crown.
"Your pleas will be ignored for my minions only obey me!" Monkey Fist said audaciously. Kim glanced at Ron to make sure that he was still all right. So far, he still was.
"Oh come on! Not a bit tempted?" Ron asked the monkeys.
"That voice," Monkey Fist frowned in thought. "I know that voice." With lightning fast reflex, Monkey Fist tapped Ron's cap sending it flying. "YOU!"
"Ah? Me?" Ron acted clueless but stood firm. Or as firm as he would get. Deep inside he wanted to run screaming but he didn't want to let Kim down. He needed to stall Monkey Fist as long as it took.
"You're Kim Possible's monkey phobic friend and when you're here…"
"Heads up!" Kim shouted as she leapt from her hiding place and attacked. Ron, anticipating her move, moved away but noticed a gleam near Monkey Fist.
It was the Crown of Goku.
Without thinking, Ron dove for the crown but Monkey Fist saw his movement and caught his foot. Pulling Ron close, Monkey Fist used him as a shield from Kim's attack. With the momentum she had, she did not have enough time to stop.
Kim slammed into Ron hard but strangely, she was not hurt that much. Ron had wrapped his arms around her after she slammed into his body. Ron had used his body to cushion Kim.
Ron suddenly kicked backwards catching Monkey Fist off guard and hitting the villain's family jewels. Screaming in agony, Monkey Fist tossed the two teens away.
Ron saw the ground coming and turned his body so that he would hit the ground first.
Slamming on the ground hard, Ron shielded Kim from further harm. Rolling to a halt, Ron groaned as the pain registered in his brain.
"Ron! Are you okay?" Kim asked worriedly as she felt his arms loosen around him.
"Dandy," Ron said as he tried to sit up. "Nothing a Grande burrito wouldn't fix."
"You still owe me a soda," Kim smiled as she stood up. "We'd better get the Crown away from him. I don't know if we could handle every monkey here."
"You mean this crown?" Ron held up the Crown of Goku for her too see.
"You rock, Ron," she gave her best friend a big hug and helped him up.
"I know," he smiled back albeit weakly.
And then, suddenly, Kim felt a sting on her shoulder.
"Ouch!" she cried out. Ron's eyes widened in horror when he was a small dagger stuck on her shoulder.
"KP!" Ron panicked and pulled Kim down. "Are you okay?"
"No big. Just pull this thing out," Kim smiled but it wavered as she tried to stand.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I don't feel so good," Kim said as she slumped forward. Ron caught her before she fell.
"What have you done?" Ron shouted at Monkey Fist.
"Only poisoned your dear Kim Possible," Monkey Fist laughed. "Don't bother going to a hospital for the poison is rare and only I have the antidote. So I propose to you this. Hand over the crown and I'll give you the antidote."
Ron stood up with Kim in his arms. He was toying the idea of the exchange when he felt a soft hand touch his cheek.
"Don't Ron," Kim pleaded with her friend.
"But KP," Ron frowned to argue but then saw, even in her weakened state, Kim in her puppy dog pout.
"Please?" she said as he lips quivered.
"But if I don't do it, you'll die," he said, his heart crushing with indecision.
"You'll find another way," she said. "I believe in you Ron." Ron was torn.
Would he let her die or save her but the price is too great.
He made the only decision he could.
He took Kim and carried her away from the zoo.
"GET THEM!" Monkey fist ordered and the monkey ninjas obeyed.
"Rufus! Get help!" he said and the naked mole rat hurriedly ran to do just that.
Ron ran as fast as his feet could carry him. He tried to lose the monkeys but they were faster.
He reached the entrance of the zoo but the monkeys were closing in. Turing around, he saw the monkeys slow down and walked menacingly towards them.
"This is it KP. The moment of truth. Where two friends stood against unbeatable odds and failed to conquer them," Ron said as he pulled Kim closer to him.
"So not the drama, Ron," she said softly. Ron could feel her heart rate getting slower. Ron looked at the ninjas approaching them. How ironic, to die from what he hated the most and with the person he loved the most.
Couldn't fate think of any more turns in their lives?
Just then, Ron heard the roar of an engine and turned to see who it was.
A black Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 roared to a stop beside them. And when the door opened, he was greeted by a welcomed sight.
"RUFUS!" Ron cried as he entered the car. Immediately, the car sped away, leaving some rather agitated monkeys behind.
"We need to get her to a hospital," Ron said as he turned towards their savior and was shocked to see who it was.
Their savior was Vincent Credible.
"She's been poisoned," Vincent said as he sniffed. "There's a red bag at the back seat. In it is a vile with a blue liquid with the label X31. Get it."
"Rufus," Ron looked at his pet but the mole rat was already on it.
"Stoppable. There's a first aid kit under your seat. Get the hypodermic needle," Vincent said.
"Is this the one?" he asked as he held it up. Vincent touched the needle and caressed it with his thumb.
"Yes. What about that vile?" Rufus showed up holding a blue vile. Vincent felt the vile and with a satisfied smirk, loaded the liquid into the needle.
Vincent then held the needle towards Kim's neck and pressed it making a hissing sound of a spray. When Kim groaned, only then did Vincent sigh in relief.
"She's out of danger," he said as he removed the dagger from her shoulder. He then wrapped a handkerchief around it and placed it inside the glove compartment.
"I failed her," he said softly. Vincent tuned towards him and frowned. It was a good thing the antidote he had was also a sedative of Kim would have heard him.
"How so?" he asked. "She's still alive and well."
"But a while ago dying!" he shouted. His heart wanted to scream but instead he caressed her hair. "I should have seen it coming." Vincent was silent. The silence stretched throughout the journey towards the hospital.
But all throughout the silence, Ron was thinking. If he was stronger, if he was quicker and if he were better, she wouldn't even be hurt.
"Mr. Credible," Ron said breaking the silence and his indecision. "I want to be her savior."
"So be it," Vincent Credible sighed as he turned towards the road.
For him, destiny had led him towards his fate.
/End of 3/
Next: While Kim was recuperating, Ron's training had begun. Will he be a better man than before? Shego met the figure in the shadow, the person who stole the King Solomon Exhibit. Will her pride get the better of her or will she try to satisfy the feeling that were warring in her soul.
All in Chapter IV: Ron's Fate.