Chapter VI: Shego's "Ghost"

Drakken's Lair

Shego's Room

Morning

Shego glanced at her bedside clock to find out that it was about nine o' clock in the morning. After Dr. Drakken's boring meeting, she really didn't want to get up just yet. She wanted to sleep till the sun was high or until she had a complete rest.

But neither happened when she felt she needed to watch the TV to put her to sleep. Turning on the TV, she remembered that she watched the news the night before and where she had been.

And when she remembered Kim's so called guardian, her gaze went towards the rose she found tucked in her hair. Set in a vase, it was placed beside her diamond angel. Looking at the two things made her feel secure and it relaxed her.

But Kim's guardian held an air of familiarity that made her feel she could soar into the air.

And Shego felt that the man was twice as dangerous as the Wraith.

"…We are here live in Middleton hospital where the villain named Monkey Fist was seen thrown out of an exploding room and facing a cloaked warrior…" Shego's attention was immediately directed towards the screen.

Her eyes widened as she saw Monkey Fist squaring it off with a cloaked stranger holding a katana.

"It can't be," Shego whispered as she realized who the cloaked individual was. Sprinting out of bed, she immediately dressed and headed for Middleton.

……

Middleton Hospital Parking Lot

Meanwhile

Monkey Fist thought about his attack plan as the cloaked stranger stood there as if it waited for his first move.

"You don't scare me," Monkey Fist said but flinched as the stranger sheathed his sword and adapted a position that would enable him to draw the sword at a moment's notice.

"Good," the stranger said in leer. "I love stupid enemies," that statement sent Monkey Fist's blood to boil.

A master would sense his opponent's capabilities and weaknesses before engaging in combat. However, Monkey Fist's mind was clouded with fury and hate.

And a clouded mind would commit mistakes.

The stranger knew that. And he knew that Monkey Fist was prideful and vain. He knew his opponent's strengths and weaknesses and he knew how to exploit them.

"I am not stupid!" Monkey Fist said as he readied to attack. "I am the greatest Monkey Master in the universe!"

"As I said, Stupid," the stranger said as he followed his opponent's movements. He knew that in any time Monkey Fist would attack. And he had to prepare for the assault. But he also had to prepare his opponent. "You fell in an obvious trap that even a third rate thief would spot a mile away."

"You're words does not affect me," however, it was true. The stranger's words created doubt inside Monkey Fist's mind. How could Monkey Fist overlook such an obvious trap?

There was little security to speak of and he found Kim Possible's room with ease. He did not even see a single nurse in the floor where Kim's room was.

Monkey Fist's anger blinded him. And that's what the stranger was counting on.

"Not even two days and you strike only to get that stupid headband from them. My, my. I've warned you and you shall pay dearly for it," the stranger said. Monkey Fist suddenly realized what was happening. The man was trying to get him psychologically and he must retaliate.

"You used Kim Possible to lure me out of the open. That was rather heartless," Monkey Fist sneered as he rounded the man. But the stranger was impassive.

"Ghost don't have hearts," he said coldly. "Didn't you know that? It's unfortunate about Kim Possible and her friend. It was a simple task really. Hunters use live bait to catch their prey and I did catch you."

"That was rather devious," Monkey Fist commented as he looked for an opening in the stranger's defense but if he was what he thought he was, Monkey Fist was at a disadvantage.

The former titled lord had not fought a samurai before.

To test the stranger's defenses, Monkey Fist threw a barrage of knives at him but what he saw the stranger did confirmed his fears.

Quickly and calmly, the stranger drew his sword, swung it in a full circle and sheathed it. But that action created a shield of wind from the force of the swing, dropping the knives harmlessly to the ground.

"Naughty, naughty, using the same poisoned knives you used on Ms. Possible. Can't you be more original than that?" the stranger taunted the shocked Monkey Fist.

"How did you do that?" Monkey Fist asked in surprise. He never knew anyone that could create a vortex of wind with a single slash.

"Practice," the stranger said although Monkey Fist could not see his face, he could hear the smile.

"But you can't hit what you can't see," Monkey Fist threw smoke pellets at the stranger engulfing him in smoke. With a charge, Monkey Fist leapt into the smoke and attacked what he thought was a disadvantaged foe.

But when he heard the quick draw of the katana followed by the pain of its slash coursing through his chest, he realized that he was wrong. The force of the slash sent Monkey Fist flying towards the Hospital wall and crashing into the building.

Out of breath and in serious pain, Monkey Fist looked at the smoke dissipate revealing nothing from the center of the smoke. The swordsman had disappeared.

Gasping in surprise, Monkey Fist shuddered before darkness claimed him.

… …

Shego saw it all.

She was shocked and awed by the swordsman's skill and was also confused. If the swordsman had slashed his opponent, then why did Monkey Fist flew and not gotten sliced? Granted the force must be great enough to sent a man flying, but at that intensity?

Shego knew something was up. Stealthily while disguised as a nurse, she went towards where Monkey Fist was lying and saw a gash upon his chest. No open wound but a scar that indicated that something strong and hard sliced his chest. It was more of an indentation that a wound.

And what was strange, Monkey Fist was still breathing.

Alive! Shego could not believe it. He should be dead but he was still alive. The doctors rushed to attend to him even though he almost killed Kim Possible.

"Kim," Shego whispered in realization. It was Kim's room that had gotten blown away. She immediately went towards the floor where Kim was confined and found it deserted. Shego noticed this right away. Why would a floor be deserted in a busy hospital?

Shego tried a door and found it empty. She tried a few more and found it empty. Even the nurse's station was empty. And when she reached Kim's room, she was speechless.

The entire room was bare. It seemed like everything got blown out with the force from the explosion. Looking at the wall, Shego found various equipments staged like a precision blast.

A precision concussion blast? It seemed like it. It was like the equipment was designed to push everything out of the window, including the wall. Looking at the wall closely, she found burn marks on the edges. The wall came apart before the contents of the room were tossed on the parking lot.

This was a trap.

Shego smiled at that realization. The guardian knew Monkey Fist would attempt to seek his revenge on Kim and Ron. It was planned but she wanted to know who was the swordsman. The cloak and demeanor were familiar to her. If she would guess it was the Wraith. But what was the connection of the Wraith to Kim's guardian?

And where was Kim Possible?

… …

Kim stirred as the morning light touched her face. When she did, she winced in pain. It seemed to her that she was asleep for days and when she opened her eyes, she saw the peaceful face of her best friend Ron.

"Hey KP," Ron smiled as he looked at her. Kim finally realized that she was back in her own room. Ron had pulled a chair beside her bed and watched her for God knows how long but it did not bother her a bit.

"Hey Ron," she returned his smile unknowingly making his heart skip for a moment. "What's the sitch?"

"Well," he smirked. "You've probably want to watch this," Ron took the Kimmunicator and turned it on to the news.

"The Villain, Monkey Fist, had been arrested after the doctors of Middleton Hospital patched him up for the police. Monkey Fist was believed to attack Hi-tech teen, Kim Possible in her room. After a deafening blast, Monkey Fist was thrown out of the room where Kim Possible was supposed to be confined only to face a cloaked swordsman…"

Kim looked at the footage of the fight and saw Monkey Fist's defeat. She whistled softly as she looked at Ron with a surprised look.

"From what I've seen, he's good," Kim said as she slowly sat up.

"I think he's a true samurai but I don't get it. Why isn't Monkey Fist dead? Not that I want bodily harm to come to him… no that's wrong. I really wished that he was dead for almost killing you."

"Ron" Kim placed her hand over his and smiled at him softly. "I would not want you to be a murderer at any cost. It is not up to us who lives or dies. I'm fine so hey, cheer up."

Ron sighed and smiled. "All right, but if anyone tries something to hurt you, all bets are off." With a final sigh, Ron stood and gave Kim a kiss on the forehead.

"Where are you going?" Kim asked trying not to show her disappointment.

"I have some things to do but don't worry, I'll be back," Rom promised.

"Okay," tiredly, Kim smiled and went back to bed. Ron quietly exited her room and entered the kitchen. Mrs. Possible was washing the dishes when she saw Ron enter. She gave him a smile and was relieved that he was okay. Vincent transferred them from the hospital to Kim's room for safety reasons. And when she heard the news, she realized what he did.

"How's Kimmy?" she asked as he grabbed his knapsack from the counter and smiled back.

"She's awake and seemed fine, Mrs. Dr. P." Ron said. "I'll be back later."

"Where are you going?" she asked as Ron was about to leave. Pausing at the door, Ron sighed and looked at his best friend's mom.

"Mr. C's going to help me, Mrs. Dr. P. And when he's through I'll be able to protect Kim… or leave me crying and wallowing in despair," Ron shrugged as he opened the door. "His words. But I need to try."

"Good luck," she smiled at him lovingly.

"Thanks. And don't tell Kim. I want it to be a surprise," with that he left the Possible residence and towards his fate.

"And surprised she would be," Mrs. Possible said as she returned to her chore. All the while, wondering how good he would be for her daughter.

… …

Middleton Hospital

Morgue

Noon

Shego silently entered the morgue to change back into her uniform. For her, it was creepy to leave her uniform in the morgue with all the dead bodies but it was the only place she knew where people rarely go.

She opened the freezer where she placed her uniform but to her surprise, it was not there. She tried the other freezers but when she opened the next, she cried out in surprise to see Kim and Ron's heads looking straight at her.

"Surprised?" a calm and friendly voice said from the darkness of the morgue. "It's unwise to place clothing in a freezer. And I think that outfit suits you well."

"Kim's guardian," Shego sighed as she leaned on the freezer cabinets. "Care to explain what are these?" she gestured towards the heads. Vincent emerged from the darkness and leaned on the operation table with a smile.

"I'm flattered that you remembered me and as to the heads… lifelike aren't they? I used them to lure Monkey Fist into the bedroom. It worked."

"And have the Wraith wait for him when he landed on the car lot," Shego smirked and shivered. Her nurse uniform was almost skimpy and hugged her body perfectly. She was confused that Vincent did not gape and gawk at her like the other men she had passed in the corridor. "By the way, you know the Wraith?"

"He and I… have an understanding," Vincent said but Shego knew he was hiding something. "And that is all you would get from me. I've heard that he gave you a diamond angel. I think my gift pales in comparison."

"The flower was lovely although you could give it to me personally and not act like a sick pervert," She crossed her arms under her breast accenting her 'assets' better. That was when Vincent got uncomfortable. Either from the question or Shego's pose, she could not tell.

"I did not think you would accept something from me," while they were talking, Shego felt comfortable. As if she was talking to a friend. And looking at Vincent, really taking a good look, he seemed familiar. Too familiar. His face reminded him of the only time in her high school life that she felt… normal.

She decided to save her questions for later. She was, as weird for her as it was, having fun talking to him.

"I loved it," she said and realized that it was true. She did love the flower and was starting to like the person who gave it to her. He was mysterious, smart and crafty. Not to mention good looking.

"Anyway," Vincent gave walked towards her and gave her uniform to her neatly folded. Shego blushed and she took it from him.

"Thanks," she smiled as she looked at his face. She still could not see his eyes for his glasses were dark but she could see the shapes of them. "You didn't put them on you nose while you took a whiff, did you?" she couldn't help but tease.

"Tempting," he smiled back. "But not necessary."

"How's that?" her breath was shallow as Vincent leaned closer, almost pinning her to the cabinets.

"Because I could still smell you on me," he smiled and caressed her cheek before stepping back and walked towards the door. "If you need to find me, ask Stoppable. We'll talk business…" he turned to face her and smiled. "Or anything else." Before, Shego could stop him, he was gone.

And she forgot to ask his name, again.

"Damn, you," she cursed while she hugged her uniform and smelled it. She could still smell his scent and feel the heat his body gave when he was near. "This is not over." And with a frustrated sigh, Shego went to change.

… …

Credible Manor

After Lunch

Ron was baffled as to why he was wearing weights on his wrists and ankles. It was like Vincent wanted him to bear the weight but for what?

"Could you explain to me what are these for?" Ron asked indicating the weights on his wrists. They were in Credible Manor's training facility for Ron's 'reeducation' as Vincent told him earlier. Ron was wearing a tank top and jogging pants while Vincent merely wore casual clothes.

"Simple," Vincent said. "We need to enhance your endurance. You're too easy to tire and Ms. Possible would leave you behind."

"She won't," Ron said to his defense.

"Granted. But you're weighing her down. You need to keep up or do better than her. An effective team is a team that works in unison. Like a well-oiled machine or in words that you may understand, Tacos and Diablo sauce. You, my friend, were captured way to many times. Although that episode in camp Wannaweep, you showed potential. You can be good when you want to and when it involved saving Kim. We're here to make you better."

"This does not bode well," Ron mumbled as he sighed. "Okay. What do I do?" Smiling, Vincent pressed a button and the whole building illuminated, showing Ron the most vicious obstacle course he ever saw. It was like a jungle or close to it. There was a river, a hanging bridge and even a waterfall. It had the regular tires and wall but it also had numerous additions such as a… a gauntlet? Numerous swinging sharp pikes, axes and swords impede the runner's way in a small section. But he knew that that was not all.

"This course will test your reflexes and ability to think out of situations," Vincent said as he smirked. "It has traps all over so be careful."

"You want me to run through that?" Ron asked incredulously and his only answer was a wicked smile.

"The things I do for Kim," Ron sighed and started running.

… …

Drakken's Lair

Shego's Room

Evening

Shego searched the world database for any information about the Wraith but so far all she got was a Charlie Sheen movie, specters and ghosts. No mention about a thief called the Wraith but rumors.

She had hacked into Global Justice's mainframe once again for a few moments and discontinued her search before she would be discovered.

Nothing.

On a whim, she hacked into the mainframe of a top secret government facility and strangely got a hit.

Shego frowned in curiosity as she viewed the file and what she found out, surprised her.

"The Wraith Project," she read with anticipation. "The Project was designed for the C.I.A. as a stealth armor capable of noiselessness and camouflage. The prototype showed promise but during tests showed complications.

"The armor's artificial intelligence was programmed to protect the wearer and could sense the wearer's state of mind. In extreme tension, the armor activated itself compromising the agent's cover. It was deemed that the Wraith project should be put on hold until the problems got ironed out. Basis of the Centurion project came from the concept of the Wraith project. However, since the Wraith project was stolen, the designers started from scratch."

Shego blinked as she thought about what she had found out. It was coming together nicely. The Wraith was a specter and she knew that his skills were inhuman. To be able to walk so quietly not even a fox could hear. It was impossible but they did it.

According to the report, the Wraith Project was stolen… five years ago. Shego shook her head in amazement. The thief really hit the jackpot then. The Unit and all plans, notes and specs were stolen or wiped from the mainframe by a virus. Whoever stole the unit really wanted the thing for his self.

"Why not ask the designer to recreate the Unit," she asked herself and when she scrolled down, she knew why. "The designer of the Wraith unit refused to comply with the agency's requests to rebuild the unit. He demanded more money in exchange of his services. It was later found out that the "alleged" designer stole the designs from a high school student in Go City. The name of the student was withheld and deleted from the mainframe. The designer then lost credibility and was fired."

"Who's the 'alleged' designer?" she asked the computer as she scrolled down. And when she read the crooked designer's name, she was surprised and intrigued.

"Carl Buncle," Shego smirked. Typing Buncle's name in the mainframe produced interesting results. Carl Buncle was suspected in numerous crimes but somehow no one could pin anything on him. but strangely, in the last five years, he was a victim of numerous robberies that the police believed he staged to get the insurance money. The latest robbery? The King Solomon Diamonds.

"Either Carly's duping the cops or someone's really after this guy," Shego sighed as she turned off her computer. She knew that Carl Buncle did not steal the jewels. It must have been someone who hated him. But a question nagged her.

Did the Wraith use the Wraith Project or was it all a coincidence. Sighing, Shego stood up and plopped on her bed. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember the scent and heat of Kim's Guardian.

And with a satisfied sigh, fell into a blissful sleep.

(End of 6)

Next: Months had passed and Ron had finished his training but will he be ready to help Kim?

Chapter VII: Ron's Darkness