World's Finest - Chapter 2
Immediate action was required. Everyone agreed on that, and the sooner the better. Every moment Lehrman remained at large in that other dimension was a moment in which more innocent victims might fall prey to the weapons he had unleashed there. Without further ado, Kim, her father, Ron, Wade, and Dr. Luthor had piled into Luthor's car for the drive to Upperton. Jim would follow as soon as he could with their equipment.
As he drove, Lex gave a brief description of his machine and how it operated.
"There's no easy way to explain it and still be technically accurate," Lex began apologetically, "So I'll have to resort to gross oversimplification." He took a deep breath and exhaled forcefully.
"Imagine a closed door between two rooms in your house, say, the living room and the kitchen. You want to go from the living room to the kitchen, so you open the door and step from one room into the other."
"Sounds easy," Kim commented, and Lex grinned wryly.
"That part is easy," Lex confirmed. "Simple movement through space and time. Nothing Isaac Newton couldn't handle. Now imagine my machine is the door, and when you step through it, you enter, not your own kitchen, but an alternate version of your kitchen in another dimension."
That didn't seem too difficult to Kim, and a quick glance showed that even Ron seemed to get it. Her father was frowning though, and his brow was furrowed in thought.
"Unfortunately, the energy required to create such a door is enormous," Lex continued. "And the requirement increases in proportion to the square of the cross-sectional area of said door. I rigged power systems that can provide the current we need, even for a portal large enough for two people. The problem is I can't maintain the necessary level of output much longer than it'll take you to step through."
"Meaning?" Kim asked, even though she had an idea what was coming.
"Meaning you'll be out of contact for the duration of your stay in the other world," Lex said somberly. "The power needed to send even a weak signal is greater than a conveniently portable device can accommodate."
"Question," Ron said, speaking for the first time since they'd gotten in the car. "How do we get back?"
"The same way my probes got back," Lex answered. "You'll each carry a high-powered, one-shot transmitter. I'll be listening for the signal it generates. When I detect it, I'll reopen the portal. Just make sure that you're nearby, since it won't last long."
Lex's home was in an older section of Upperton. It was a small, tidy looking house on a tree shaded lot. Behind the house loomed a metal shed somewhat bigger than the dwelling. Lex led them straight toward it. Once inside, they saw that the interior was a single, large room filled with electrical apparatus of various sorts along with computers and what looked like a complete machine shop in one corner. At the far end of the shed was a big toroidal structure festooned with wires and heavy cables. Racked nearby were a couple of machines that looked disturbingly like the Flying Hunter-Killers from the Terminator movies, although they were much smaller and had no obvious weapons besides a TV camera mounted in their noses.
"Whoa!" Kim, Ron, and Wade breathed as one as they took in the sights.
"Impressive, isn't it," Lex agreed, a touch smugly. "For a hobby lab, anyway," he amended with a touch more modesty. "I had to spend all that money they pay me at the HERC on something."
James was wandering into the heart of the shed, nodding absently as he went. "Very nice indeed, Lex," he agreed distractedly. Then, gathering his thoughts Kim's father pointed at the torus and said, "That's your...uh...what exactly do you call this gadget of yours, Lex?"
Lex's cheeks darkened briefly. "Actually, I haven't come up with a name for it, Jim. I thought about 'quantum shifter', but that's way too geeky. I tried a few other names as well, but none of them were any better, so I just call it The Gadget."
"That's as good a name as any, I suppose," James said with a grin. "Why don't you walk me through its operating principles?"
Lex nodded, then turned to Wade. "Mr. Load!"
"Yes, Dr. Luthor?" Wade responded at once. Lex was something of an idol of Wade's, and the thought of being given a task by the great man clearly had Wade excited.
"That computer," Lex said, pointing to a PC on a nearby counter, "contains all the data I've gathered on that other world." Lex paused and his expression became apologetic. "I'm afraid there isn't all that much. There's a limit to what you can do with autonomous drones," he explained, indicating the HK look-a-likes.
"Anything at all is better than nothing," Kim said cheerfully.
It turned out that Lex had been pessimistic. There were aerial photographs of the whole of the Triton area, which Wade quickly compiled into a rough map of the town and compared with a similar map of the Tri-City area, highlighting the differences.
There were also recordings of various radio and TV stations as well as the police radio network. One of the drones had even managed to image some newspaper headlines, either by looking down from altitude at pedestrians who were reading their copies or dropping down to look at the paper through the plastic window of the vending machine it was in.
Lex's attitude probably came from the fact that he wasn't a detective, Wade decided. He'd been forced to listen to the recordings in real time and try to pick out important details. Wade labored under no such burden. With Lex's permission, he'd hooked Lex's lab PC into the Team Possible network. Once the raw data was there, custom data sorting and mining programs took over. The programs were ones that Wade had either heavily modified to suit his needs or had outright written himself. As such, they closely followed his own thought processes. Within minutes, a preliminary report was coming up on the screen. Kim and Ron leaned in over Wade's shoulders to read it.
"I'll have it all downloaded into your Kimmunicators before you leave," Wade promised.
Twenty minutes, later Jim pulled up in the Team Possible van. By then, Wade had compiled a much more detailed report on Triton, though it was still woefully lacking in important details such as the fates and/or whereabouts of that world's Team Possible. One interesting tidbit was a repeated mention of a vigilante of some sort, someone known as Batman. As Kim and Ron prepared their gear, they discussed their plan of action.
"We should definitely try to contact our counterparts," Kim said, and Ron nodded. "Even if they aren't doing the 'Team Possible' thing anymore, they can probably help us out to some extent anyway."
"What about this Batman character?" Ron inquired. "Should we try to find him?"
Kim frowned. "I don't know. From that newspaper article, he sounds like some kind of psycho."
Ron shrugged. "You can't believe everything you see in the paper, KP."
"Tell you what," Kim said. "Once we get there we'll see what we can find out. If we hear good things, we'll see if we can find him."
"Sounds fair to me," Ron said with a grin.
Kim's father emerged from the lab building.
"Kimmie, Ronald," he called. "We're ready."
Kim watched as the torus crackled and hummed with electricity. Ron stood beside her, a touch of apprehension around his eyes. He was dressed in his mission togs with a long coat on over them and a ball cap on his head. Like Kim, he had a rucksack slung over one shoulder.
Kim wore civilian clothes over her own mission clothes. She and Ron wanted to keep a low profile, at least at first, and running around in a skintight bodysuit of blue, red and yellow made that kind of difficult.
"Sixty seconds," Lex announced. "Everyone ready?"
"Ready," Kim declared firmly.
"Ready," Ron echoed.
"Ready!" chirped the naked mole-rat who had poked his pink head out of one of Ron's pockets.
"Attaboy, Dex," Ron chuckled.
"Thirty seconds," Lex called. "The portal will drop you in the same physical location as my lab," he warned, "but in the other world that area is an alley in a warehouse district."
"Understood," Kim replied. The open center of the torus, where the portal would form, was starting to shimmer and ripple, like a mirage in the desert.
"Ten seconds." The shimmering intensified. A tiny spot of darkness appeared in the center of the ring. It grew steadily, revealing a nighttime scene beyond.
"Holy crap," Ron breathed softly. "It actually works!" Kim found herself agreeing with the sentiment. She felt a tightness in her stomach that she hadn't felt in a long while.
"Time!" Lex exclaimed. Linking hands, Kim and Ron stepped up and through the portal.
(-V-)
James Possible sat at his desk at Possible International Tower scribbling notes on a print design that the development department sent up, a part he really took a great deal of care in. Normally as CEO of the company, he merely approved or vetoed designs and plans but this was a different subject all together.
"How's it coming, Mr. Dr. P?" A voice called from the door way to his office, and he smiled up at the owner of the company. "Still working on the new protective vests for the police, huh?"
"I'm kind of working for you now, Ronald, so I think you could at least call me James," James said cheerfully as Ron walked into the office and sat in the seat across the desk from his girlfriend's father. "And yeah, I'm still trying to tweak it up so that cops like our Kimmie-cub will be safe."
"Our?" Ron asked with an innocent look.
"I'm not stupid, Ronald," James tried to look stern but couldn't fight the grin long. "You're all Kimmie talks about again, and let's not forget at least once a week, she spends the night at your place."
"We're kind of taking it easy this time though, neither one of us want to mess up what we have together," Ron sat back in the chair, "And we both have a great deal of baggage."
"Everyone has baggage of some kind, Ronald, it's part of being human," James laughed, "You've both gone down some rough road, it's only natural to be hesitant."
"If you say so, Mr. Dr. P," Ron said coming around the desk to look at the prints. "So what have we got?"
"Still not good enough, I'm going to send it back to development with notes to increase protection on the shoulders and upper arms if possible." Dr. Possible replied, scribbling some more notes on the prints.
"Good idea," Ron nodded, watching him work.
"So, coming with Kimmie and Barb tonight, Ronald?" Dr. Possible asked, glancing up at his daughter's boyfriend. "Kimmie said she was bringing her roommate and her daughter with them for dinner tonight, and you don't visit as much as Anne would like, so … it's pot roast too by the way."
"Pot roast?" Ron licked his lips, "Kim did mention dinner and said she'd like me to come, but she didn't say the magic P.R. words. Oh yeah, I'll be there Mr. Dr. … James," Ron corrected himself, "In the mean time, I have to make some arrangements, so see you around …"
"We're eating at six, so come around five after," James winked, "Give us time to get some before you eat it all."
"Will do, James," Ron waved as he walked out of the office.
"Kids," James shook his head, glancing down at one of the photos on his desk. It held suspended in time a little girl with red pigtails and a little blond headed boy with freckles.
(-V-)
The elevator came down slowly into what looked like a training hall deep below Triton's city streets. Francis Lehrman walked somewhat timidly down the torch lit hallway lined with exotic animal "trophies". He finally reached the end of the hall where a large computer network sat. On every screen was a different area of Triton, or a map or graph of some kind. "You called for me?" He asked to the back of the large chair facing away from him.
"Good evening my friend," the man facing away from the skinny man spoke in a menacing voice. "I was just curious on how our little operation was progressing."
"So far things are going well," Lehrman nodded, "Only problem was the advanced assault rifle was they seemed highly ineffective against the Batman."
"That was expected," the man replied, his one eyed, masked face reflecting slightly on a monitor. "The Batman is beyond the police in skill. He is our greatest challenge here, Francis. It will do you well to respect him, but do not fear him. He is powerful, but he is human. He has weaknesses. Everything has weaknesses."
"But …" Lehrman stammered slightly.
"If you are to become a power here, you must do as I say, Francis," the man said evenly. "You, who was trying to sell plans for some of the most powerful weapons designed on the black market at half their value, know nothing of organization in the underworld. Do as I say and you will go far. The Police will not stop you, and the Batman will not stop you."
"Yes, Sir …" Lehrman nodded.
"Do not be so fearful, they cannot track you," the man chuckled darkly, "To them, you are sitting contently watching sitcoms in the state prison. Follow my instructions and none will discover you. Or do you not wish to make money off what you brought with you from your world?"
"You're right. Thanks for all your help, Mr. Wilson," Lehrman smiled slightly.
"Keep me updated, Francis, now go back to work." The man waved him off before going back to observing the multiple monitors.
(-V-)
In the home of James and Anne Possible just outside the city limits of Middleton-Triton, the table for the first time in a long time was packed out.
James Possible as usual sat at the head of the table, on his left was his wife, Anne, and his granddaughter, Barbara. Beside Barbara were her best friend, Helena Flagg, and Helena's mother and Kim's roommate, Bonnie Rockwaller. On the other side of the table sat Jim and Tim Possible, beside Tim was his steady girlfriend, Alicia, and beside Alicia was the twins' elder sister, Kim. At the other end of the table sat Ron Stoppable.
'Burp!'
"Helena!" Kim scolded, glaring at the smirking six year old. "Bonnie, say something!"
'Burp!'
Kim's eye twitched slightly. "Mother of the year is all yours, B …"
"Kids will be kids, Kimmie," Anne waved off toward her daughter.
"That's not fair; you never let me, Ron, or even the tweebs act that way at the table!" Kim stopped mid rant to rub the bridge of her nose.
"Bonnie's a guest, and look how mature Barbara and Helena are for their ages," James added, nodding toward the innocently smiling little girls. This actually got a snort from Bonnie.
"I think we're just happy to have all our kids home again," Ann said smiling toward Ron and Kim especially. "With times like they are, a mother takes a great deal of pride in seeing her family gathered together and everyone safe and well and … happy." She added with a wink toward her eldest daughter.
"I can understand that," Kim blushed slightly.
"I have to ask though, Ronald," James asked, glancing up from his plate. "What exactly do you do with your spare time? You don't work, not that I'm aware of anyway. So what do you do now?"
Kim glanced at Ron, getting a panicky feeling. Did Ron want to tell his parents the truth about his nightly routine? She blinked in surprise when Ron smiled broadly. "Ah, just usual rich guy stuff," He shrugged sitting back showing complete physical relaxation. "I got myself every video game on the market and going to see how long it'll take to beat them, with Barbara's help of course," he winked to the youngest redhead at the table. "Then I've also been looking at learning a spot of golf. Other than that … ah, you know it is, Mr. Dr. P, driving fast cars, buying things that aren't for sale, walkin' the walk, talkin' the talk, that kinda thing … just being coo', ya know?"
"You'll never change, Ronald," James chuckled taking another bite, as everyone returned to the meal with the exception of Kim. She was stuck staring at the split-second flash of sadness that crossed Ron's eyes.
(S)
Kim looked around. There had been a moment of disorientation as they passed though the portal, but it was fading fast. Behind her, the last remnants of the portal were fading just as quickly. In mere moments it was gone with no trace it had ever existed.
"What a lovely place," Ron commented as he took in their surroundings. The alley was flanked on either side by dilapidated warehouses. A street lay in one direction, more warehouses in the other. It was damp and a little gloomy with small puddles glinting in the semi-darkness.
Ron looked up at the sky. There was heavy cloud cover, but there were patches of stars visible as well. "We must have arrived just after a rain shower," he speculated. Kim glanced off to the east a nodded in the affirmative.
"Yeah," she said, "I can see the front moving off to the east. Hear the thunder, too," she added. She gave Ron a look. "Can you sense our counterparts?"
Ron closed his eyes and concentrated for a few moments before shaking his head.
"I don't sense your counterpart at all, so she must not be in the city right now."
"And yours?"
"If he is, he's not close enough for me to pick him out of the crowd."
"Well," Kim said, "Let's get going." With that she turned and strode down the alley toward the street.
A phone booth's directory led Kim and Ron to their first truly unpleasant discovery. Kim's folks were listed, as was Kim herself. But there were no Stoppables. At all.
"Maybe they have an unlisted number," Ron joked, though he was plainly disturbed as well.
"I suppose that's possible," Kim allowed. "Or maybe your counterpart's parents took early retirement and moved to Florida."
"Yeah," Ron grinned. The grin faded. "This place has me on edge," he confessed. "Let's get busy, so I can get my mind off..."
Ron's voice trailed off in such a way as to put Kim on alert. She looked around. A dozen or so young men were closing in on them from all sides. They sported similar haircuts and wore identical jackets.
"Gang members?" Ron quipped, giving Kim a sideways glance.
"Oh yeah," Kim nodded, turning so she and Ron were standing back to back.
One of the hooligans, the leader presumably, stepped forward, a malicious grin on his face.
"Well, well, well," he snickered. "What have we here? A nice, young couple out for a romantic stroll?" He spoke loudly enough for his companions to hear him, and they joined in with gleeful cackles. "Too bad you picked a really bad part of town to go walking in," the leader added, his voice and face going cold.
Kim just smiled, and knew Ron was doing the same. "You have no idea who you're up against, do you, punk?" Kim asked, amusement coloring her voice.
The leader paused and took a good look at Kim. He wasn't the brightest bulb in the marquee, but he wasn't totally stupid either. It was plain that his would be victims showed no signs of being afraid, despite their peril. Kim could practically see the wheels turning in the leader's head. Finally, his eyes widened, as if the light of recognition had come on.
"You're Kim Possible!" he exclaimed. It was Kim's turn to be surprised. 'He recognizes me, and is happy about it?'
The leader was practically dancing with joy. He scampered around to get a look at Ron, and went positively giddy.
"And Ron Stoppable! This just keeps getting better!"
Kim and Ron exchanged puzzled looks but didn't let their guards down.
"Don't hurt the rich boy too bad," the leader commanded. "And take Possible alive. We can ring a pretty ransom out of Stoppable in exchange for her safe return." He turned toward his gang, cocked his head at Kim and Ron and said, "Let's get 'em!"
(S) To Be Continued (-V-)