I decided chapter 1 was such a slow start that I would post this chap just after.
This story actually wound up being rather short. I just hope everybody likes it.
Disclaimer: This story is based upon characters created by Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle for Disney. If you recognize the characters, they aren't mine. I will never make any money from this.
Dr. Dominic DuBelle called from sub-lab B, "Alex! Come here. I need another hand."
The assisstant balked when he saw which room the doctor was in. "But, Doctor, you told me to stay out of this lab."
"Well, now I'm telling you to come in. Is that too hard to understand?" griped Dr. DuBelle.
"Yes, Sir," said Alex as he stepped in. The he realized how that sounded, "I mean, it's not too difficult, Doctor."
Alex walked into the lab that had, until now, been forbidden. In the center was a tank full of fluid, about the size and shape of a casket. In the tank, lay a girl of about twelve with pale green skin. An oxygen mix was being pumped into her nose and mouth. Wires were connected to all parts of the girl for monitoring and muscle stimulation. She was sleeping. It was though she had always been sleeping. "Doctor, is that ... ?"
"That's my Shego," Doctor DuBelle smiled.
Alex stared at the girl, speechless.
"Our benefactors want a way to handle Team Go." The Doctor explained as though Alex did not know. "You and I agree that the way to do that is to replicate their powers. While you attempt technological methods, I am using biological means."
"The first human clone," Alex whistled.
"If Shego can be considered human."
"Still, with artificial incubation by the looks of things. Besides, what else would she be?" asked Alex.
"That comet changed them into something more. Humans can't do the things they do."
"Why her?"
"Hers was the first DNA sample I managed to acquire," smiled DuBelle. "I'll use her to acquire the others."
"How did you get hers?"
"I had samples of their trash brought in," he looked surprised at the question. "I knew I'd have a small blood sample within a month."
"How is she doing?" asked Alex.
"We are at a delicate stage," the Doctor frowned. "I have been nurturing her physically for three weeks and accelerating her system. It is time to begin her," he paused, thinking over his choice of words, "education." He gestured at a video screen, "I need your help getting this into place."
They hefted the large monitor over the tank and anchored it into a rack so that it was staring the sleeping girl in the face.
At the Doctor's instruction, Alex then installed speakers into the sides of the tank. They set foam around the girl's head, keeping it immobile. She would only see the screen once her eyes were open.
"I'm still surprised that she can get over twelve years education from a media presentation," Alex admitted.
"Of course not!" said Doctor DuBelle. "I'm implementing a cerebral skill enhancement. The media is for her conditioning."
"Why does she need conditioning?"
"To make her obedient. Within a week, she'll appear the same age as the other Shego. The skill enhancement, physical conditioning and stimulation, along with a few days actual practice; will make her the equal of her counterpart. Without conditioning, she's bound to behave the same as well."
"So she'll replace the other one?"
"Temporarily. At least until she can collect DNA samples of the others." Dubelle stroked his chin thoughtfully, "I'm not sure then whether team replacement or direct opposition is the better plan."
The next several days featured the ... education of DuBelle's Shego. The first day, various skill enhancements were introduced to her nervous system. These naturally began with elementary skills, followed by higher level information, until she had the equivalent of a high school education. Then Go family history and personal information was infused. Each treatment had to be followed by several hours of rest to allow for assimilation. Finally, the combat skills that Shego was known to have, and a few others Dr. DuBelle thought were useful, were added.
Dr. DuBelle seemed encouraged by her increased eye movement as she slept.
The second day music was played for the girl. This began with with simple tones, the first sounds she had heard, other than incidental noise in the lab. This was quickly progressed to nursery songs. Then she was briefly introduced to various styles of music progressing through the last century until a local pop radio station was piped in.
The third day was devoted to visual stimuli. Her eyes were opened for the first time and kept open as the screen above her tank showed images of various common items. Printed words were included to assist the reading association. Images encouraging loyalty to Dr. DuBelle and contempt for Team Go were liberally placed throughout the presentation. Sedatives continued to run through her system so that, though her eyes were open, she slept through her complete education.
On the fourth day, the sedatives were discontinued. Later that day, she awoke.
"Where the hell am I?" were her first words.
Dr. Phillipe DuBelle watched Shego as she exercised. Her moves were so fluid.
When she had finished, Shego asked sarcastically, "Now can I leave your lovely facility?
"You are ready physically. But there is a complication."
"What?" she was visibly annoyed.
"Since the tragedy you survived, the people of Go City have been completely unaware of Team Go's absence."
"How can that be?"
He produced a newspaper, "As far as the people know, they haven't been gone."
Shego looked at the front page. It featured a story of a rescue performed by Team Go. One that she did not remember participating in. The story showed it had occured during her convalesence, after the rest of Team Go had died. "How is this possible?"
"I suspect that Team Go was purposefully eradicated to make way for these imposters. Only your survival has ruined their plan."
"Whose plan?" she was livid and her hands burned green. She dropped the paper and stamped out the fire.
"I wish I knew."
"How can these imposters possibly use our powers?"
"I believe they are clones."
"How can we deal with these clones?"
"As a doctor, I believe I can demonstrate to the city government that these are not the original Team Go."
"You need one captured and examined?"
"Nothing so difficult for you, thankfully. I just need samples of their blood."
"So we need to be sneaky."
"Quite. Alex and I can assist you in infiltrating in the place of the female imposter."
"When?" She asked anxiously.
"The team is scheduled to appear at a public event this Saturday."
-
Yes, I went there.
But this is NOT the twist. Heck, it's practically in the title.
I'm trying to do more than just another 'Shego gets cloned' story.
Hey, are there any other 'Shego gets cloned' stories?