Edited 11/15/05 for spelling and clarity, some small things added, some crap deleted, reads much better now. Please reread. Chapter 3 to come by the end of the week, and an interesting fact, 80 of this fanfic was typed on a blackberry handheld.
The Flip Side - Chapter 2
Middleton lie awake that evening, a blanket of stars had unfolded across the dark night sky wrapping the tiny city in cool breezy evening. The moon hung high, brightly illuminating the streets in a cool blue glow, only rarely did a stray cloud float by blinking out the cool rays of light. All seemed peaceful and calm despite the inner turmoil rolling in the hearts of people not only here in Middleton city, but also all across the entire globe. The coup had been swift leaving the populous of the world feeling vulnerable; thousands of people felt helpless huddled in their homes unsure of what the future may bring tomorrow. Every government had been brought to its knees, powerless to stand against the vile villainy that had besieged the entire planet. Even the world's champion heroine had been handed a humiliating defeat by the teenage villain and his sidekick's efforts. Men, women and children had sat in waiting, hoping and praying that somehow she would be able to turn the threat away; their great heroine had risen against the evil duo, and had fallen miserably at their villainous hands, as did the hearts and minds of the worlds populous. Oddly enough the attack had ceased as suddenly as it had started; with the final blow dealt, the world's leaders admitted defeat and gave into the odd demands of the teenage boy, which seemingly silenced him and his sidekick. The threat that had so suddenly lashed out at the planet suddenly fell into remission. Its threat now lying dormant, the world waited with baited breath, an unsettling feeling weighing on its citizens. Evening among this horrible turmoil, Middleton was relatively calm in the still of the night.
High above the shorter buildings on one of the few skyscrapers Middleton offered the world, something stirred most obviously contrasting from the typical late night rooftop occurrences the night sky was used to witnessing. The air had grown thick with anticipation as the night almost announced the beginning of an epic twist of fate. Suddenly the quiet night was broken by a pneumatic shot, a flying cable dividing the starry night sky by a thin rolling line. A steel cross adorned at its tips by pointed barbs, whistled cutting through the air, and then fell almost lazily to its side, the shrill echoing of hardened metal clanging as it landed on the buildings rooftop. The hook device lay there silently for a moment then sprang to life, a low scraping clattered across the roof slowly. Suddenly it darted towards the edge of the rooftop and stopped violently as its sharp barbs lodged into the ledge of concrete block. Small bits of mortar dust flew lazily into the air as the grappling hook was jerked once, twice, and then snapped taunt against its attached cable witch snapped hard and ridged.
Steel wheels ground against the taunt line as a mechanical whir towed two figures as upwards on the cable, the still night parting around their bodies as they sped towards the top of the building. Almost violently the dark shadow shook as it came to the top of the cable and bounded from the side of the building; the two figures gracefully flipped over the ledge and landed firmly on the rooftop, their feet audibly rapping singularly on the tiles. Long red hair billowed in the breeze along with gentle sway of shorter blonde as a teenage girl stood looking into the blondes eyes. They stood there still for a moment until leather clad arms unfurled themselves from around the young man's body; he stood there, the grappling gun still held fast in his hand. Kim craned her neck gently causing locks to separate and twist the in air momentarily, her gaze still locked on Ron's face. She smirked gently as she reached for the harness that held her attached to him, her hands fumbling purposefully clumsy, allowing her to wonder his chest with her fingers. He looked out blankly into the star filled sky; seeing no response she forcefully unclipped the carabineer from his waist and stepped back, her body tensing with irritation.
Her scowling eyes scanned his face with contempt as her lips drew a smirk to the corner of her cheek. "You could at least give me some kind of reaction." Her hand found a leather-encased hip as she stood there glaring at him.
The blonde boy stood there silently as he depressed the trigger on the grappling gun still held firmly in his grasp; thin cable violently snaked back into the device, the hook jerking loose from the concrete wall and followed the line back to the mouth of the gun. His eyes watched the sharp claw snap back into place with a metallic click as he walked towards the edge of the building. Stepping one foot up on the wall, he leaned out over the edge slightly and rested his elbow on his knee. He reached out with the other arm towards the streets, his fingers crooked as his eyes scanned the city stretched out under his grasp.
"We have much work to do tonight." His voice was monotone as he starred out at the lights dotting the city streets.
Kim flinched, her eyes growing wide in disbelief. Her lips quivered with a snarl.
"Hello? Jerk! Listen much!" Walking towards him her entire body seemed to convulse, her movements sharp and agitated. "I was talking to you!" She stopped short beside him, her fists clenched, her face as red as her hair.
Silence. Ron said nothing; he turned away from the buildings edge and began adjusting his harness. Systematically checking over the equipment strapped to his person he stood there unclasping carabineers and stowing various items as she fumed, her knuckles turning white with anger. Violently Kim lashed out, her hair flying wildly as her fist blurred hurtling towards the blonde covered head. Time stood still for a split second, green fire blazed in her tight pupils as her eyes snapped wide in shock. Her body was forced to remain still, the pain coursing from her wrenched arm almost paralyzing her. Seconds passed before she dared look towards what was causing her sharp searing pain; her eyes found her shoulder then followed her extended arm down to the back of her fist. She blinked once, her eyes focusing on two brown blobs connected by black leather dots surrounding her naked hand. Her brain reeled in pain as it tried to comprehend the foreign sight of what her fist was surrounded by. The brown blobs blinked and tightened coaxing her mind to understanding as she winced in pain.
Ron slowly lowered his hand moving Kim's fist down from the bridge of his nose where it had hovered just hairs width from striking; his eyes locked, unblinking, on her wincing face; he spoke not a word. The corner of his mouth drew open allowing his clenched teeth to shine brightly white against the dark scowl adorning his eyes. She watched his crazed eyes dance before falling to her knees, a new pain radiating from her hand. His grasp tightened further causing the lithe girls hand to pop audibly as her arm involuntarily contorted further.
His eyes thinned as he lifted his other hand to the side of her face and traced two gloved fingers along the side of her temple in mock caress. "You know better Kimberly."
Ron let the red head draw her arm back violently as his grasp went limp, his expression cold and unsympathetic as he felt her shoulder fall against the side of his leg. His arm dropped to his side allowing him to run his fingers through the soft red locks of her hair as she rested against his hip.
"Yes sir." She spoke quietly defeated.
Ron stepped away from her walking over to an air duck jetting from the roof pausing just to its side. He turned abruptly looking at Kim and pulled a thin metallic bar from his harness; sliding the bar in between the corner of the duct's grate he jerked his wrist forward violently. The aluminum grate clattered to the roof loudly just before he began to speak. "You know what to do. I'll be after you shortly when the path has been cleared. Remember, I need access to the system for thirty minutes with no interruptions. I assume that you can handle it." Ron watched her stand up, his face expressionless and cold.
Folds of glossy black leather unraveled as her bent form rose from the ground and stretched tall. Raising her hand out in front of her she watched as it opened and closed in desperate attempt at warding off the lingering pain. Her lips drew tight as her eyes never dared glance at Ron's face. Flippantly she pushed her hair back and shifted her weight. "No big. We've been over this twice now." With that she dashed towards the duct and leapt, her hands latching on to the mouths lip as she twisted and flipped down the shaft with out so much as her hair brushing its sides. Darkness surrounded her thin form as the rhythmic vibration echoed from against her body suit as it rubbed the sheet metal walls. The free falling slide finally slowed allowing her to shift her body weight forcing her feet and hands to the walls of the duct work. Kim breathed deeply as her muscles strained. She forced her decent to a halt with her upper body strength just in time to level her eyes with a grate leading into the buildings upper corridor.
He's going to pay for that one.
Kim set her shoulder squarely against the grate and steadied herself for the blow. With out so much as breathing, muscles most people don't even know exist flexed through out her body, her strength gathering on her left side. She paused for a moment then exhaled as she lunged from one side to the other forcing her shoulder through the aluminum grate. Kim felt her body falling as it chased the grate as it fell from the air duct in the ceiling. Black leather flared as Kim kicked her legs outward, the resulting momentum spinning her body upright as she fell. Just as her feet found the floor she lashed out snatching the grate from its mid air fall. Red hair fluttered down in front of her face finally settling just inches from touching the floor as the loud clatter generated by her forced entry dissipated in the eerie silence of the nearly empty building. The lithe body remained motionless for a few moments, her arm still outstretched holding the grate above the floor were she had caught it. Slowly Kim rose from her tiger like crouch and took in her surroundings.
Two hallways, three office rooms, eighteenth floor, control room is on the thirteenth floor. Thirteenth floor doesn't exist, or should he say, is not marked.
Kim turned quietly and stepped out of the direct line of sight of the hall hugging her back against the wall. Bending at the knees she slowly lowered herself down into a crouch, her eyes constantly scanning the hall in both directions. Setting the grate out of plain sight against the wall she breathed calmly as the tension eased from her body. Shaking the red locks from her face, she traced fingers down her black collar until they found and unclasped a small object from a tiny leather pouch. Placing the object in her ear she squinted in disgust as the tiny device came alive hissing static cruelly until she spoke.
"I'm in." her lips barely whispered as her green eyes continued assessing the corridor spread out in front of her position.
The hissing went silent for a moment then returned quieter than it had been previously. That was all she needed. Now assured that he was aware of her position Kim stepped out confidently and quietly padded down the hallway. Her eyes bounced back and forth carefully surveying rooms passing by her as she continued towards the elevator.
"Hope he knows what he's doing." Her smug expression and irritated voice more than painted the current indifference coursing through her blood as she reached out and pressed the elevator call button. Of course he knows what he's doing. The translucent button glowed a cool orange as the elevator clanked loudly from below. Looking up, her eyes locked on the digital display as it clicked off the floors while the lift traveled upwards. He had been right about Shego's predictable reaction; he had been right about the government and how easily they would relent to his seemingly simple demands.
Her body quaked at the thoughts pouring through her mind; she cursed him and his ability. He's always a step ahead! You'd think he's a freak'n psychic or something!
The floor display blinked six. She glared at the blinking digits growing impatient as they clicked off a few more floors.
"Stupid slow elevator," She resumed her all too familiar pose; hand on her hip slung out to the side, black gloss seemed to almost run down her shape like liquid. Glancing at her nails in irritation her thoughts continued to pummel her brain. The fact that he was almost always right, not too bad, the fact that he refused to give her the time of day, infuriating! "Why do I even follow this loser around?" her words slipped from her mouth quietly as the elevator bell announced it's arrival, it's doors sliding open.
Not bothering to step inside, Kim balanced on one foot and leaned into the elevator doorway and reached around to press the twelfth floor button on the control panel along with the close door button. Her red hair fluttered behind her as she popped out and watched the door close before the elevator made its decent towards the 13th floor. Her job on this level complete she walked back down the hall and found the stair way. Calmly she opened the door and walked through, her hair bouncing mirthfully after her as she playfully bounded down the stairs one flight at a time.
Ron stood hovering over the elevator shaft; a small steel shed served as housing for the elevator's electrical components and provided easy access for maintenance and upkeep. Conveniently the heavy pad lock standing guard over the sheds door had long been left hanging in the wind, the victim of rust from years of weathering. The blonde villain watched as a small yellow light blinked steadily in his hand; it had taken all of 6 seconds for him to find the control circuit and attach his positioning sensor in series. Kim had done her part well as it was easy for Ron to count down the floors until the elevator made its stop at the twelfth floor. Blonde hair draped over his eyes as the boy peered down into the empty shaft, its darkness growing like a bottomless pit until the elevator below halted still. Ron's pupils dilated involuntarily as they adjusted to the darkness; he grinned evilly as the darkness quieted. "Badical." With that word, his right hand, still resting on the control circuit, began to throw switches overriding the elevators internal controls.
He paused to look over the settings on the circuit set, then finally satisfied he grabbed the grappling gun from its holster at his side. Jerking the hook from its mount with his left hand, Ron pulled the guns trigger with his right and carefully unreeled several feet of cable. Carefully he latched the gun onto the harness fitted to his body and then straddled the elevator shafts opening, each foot poised on an opposite lip. Ron then attached the grappling hook securely to the overhead rafters of the shed and then looked down into the shaft. His eyes widened as he began to lower himself down into metallic black suspended only by the single cable. Slowly his male form disappeared into the endless darkness.
As I said chapter three by the end of the week, and it will make some happy to know that I have went ahead and added a Shego and Drak... er, well another scene. Heh.