A/N Alright I've been on kind of a mini roll with these one shots, and so I'm going to give it one more spin, with a two parter. This story is in some spots pretty dark. So take that as a warning I guess. Enjoy part one, read and review.
March 01
Prisión de Infierno
Ron was dragged into the middle of what they called the pain room, which quite frankly wasn't that subtle of a name for a room. When you're dragged into a place called the pain room, you know exactly what you're going to get.
Ron looked around, the walls were made of pure white stone, and the floors were stained with dark red patches. He shuddered; he didn't want to know where those came from.
He was being dragged by two large thugs in olive drab military uniforms. Three more thugs entered the room behind them. They said something to him quickly in Spanish, Ron didn't need a translator to know that they wanted him to stand on his own. He stood upright in his brown jumpsuit, with his hands and feet in shackles.
A man in a cheap Armani knock off entered the room after them. He placed a handkerchief to his nose, a look of extreme disdain on his face.
Ron sniffed loudly "yeah, it takes awhile to get used to the smell"
The man in the suit looked at Ron and gave him a phony smile.
"Ah Mr Stoppable," he said with a deep Spanish accent, "it's good to see that you are in good spirits."
"I try to stay positive."
He smiled. "That's good, very good." He circled around Ron. "My name is Fernando Valdez. I'm the warden of this prison."
"Nice to meet you Fernando"
"I'm sure you know why I'm here and what I want."
Ron sighed. "Not really, but I do appreciate the visit."
"We know what you were doing at the laboratory Mr. Stoppable, and you couldn't have done it all alone. So where is she?"
Ron smiled. "I think you're really underestimating my skills, I'm a professional."
"I do not doubt that statement at all. Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable, you are quite a team."
"We were a team; we broke up before this mission."
Fernando gave the guard to Ron's left a slight nod. The guard immediately clubbed Ron in the back forcing him to drop to his knees from the pain.
"Mr. Stoppable please don't lie to me. I despise mentirosos" Fernando removed a pack of cigarettes from his breast pocket. "You are the sidekick, a small but vital piece of the team."
Ron attempted to push away the pain. "I was tired of being her dog, so I broke up the team before the mission."
Fernando nodded again as he lit up a cigarette; the guard viciously punched Ron in the face. "We know she was there with you Mr. Stoppable, it would be to your advantage if you tell us the truth."
"Look, you caught me red handed alone. I did the crime, now I have to do the time."
Fernando crossed his arms with his cigarette planted squarely in his mouth, he took a long drag. He looked Ron up and down again, now he was really smiling, like a Latino Cheshire cat. "How long have you been here Mr. Stoppable?"
"… Couple of days"
"Are you enjoying your time here so far?"
"Well, besides the daily beatings and the blood and pissed stained hallways. It's like club Med."
Fernando glanced at his watch. "Unfortunately Mr. Stoppable, I've got to go but I assure you our paths will cross again. But please remember one thing." He blew a smoke ring into Ron's face. "You're swollen eye; that bruise on your cheek, you're loose teeth. They mean nothing, they're just the beginning."
"That sure gives me hope for the future," Ron replied.
Fernando eyed one of the guards and a torrent of rapid Spanish spilled from his mouth. Seconds later all of the guards surrounded Ron. Fernando waved goodbye, exited and shut the door behind him.
"So guys, as a change of pace, I thought we could have a tea party."
He didn't see the first blow coming, the fist landed on the left cheek. His body sprawled along the floor. Instinctively, his arm extended out reaching for the door, just as a large combat boot came crashing down on his left hand.
He screamed out in pain, he tried to pull his hand free, but the guard just applied more pressure.
What's happening right now doesn't matter. What they do to me doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that she is safe.
Tears streaming down his face as he naturally folded into a fetus position as the beating continued, and then mercifully everything went black.
XXXXXX
Two years ago
"No, no, no, no!" Ron tapped rapidly on the game controller, sweat poured down his face and a large vein appeared on his forehead.
"Game over," said the voice from the screen.
He dropped the controller in despair.
"It can't be." He turned to the eight year old, who sat next to him. He beamed at Ron proudly as he raised his controller into the air.
"You cheated!" Ron called out.
"Next," the boy yelled.
This can't be happening, this kid……he's unbelievable.
"My turn," cried a six year old. She extended out her hand awaiting the controller.
No, I must have vengeance, my honor is at stake.
"Gimmie!"
"Back up small fry, me and the Newtype here are going into overtime"
"Gimmie!"
"Hey there's a little thing called respecting your elders. I'm older then you, that means I can do whatever I want, whenever I want."
"You'll be sorry."
Ron playfully poked her in the stomach. "I'm going to be sorry huh, is that supposed to be a threat?"
"Yes."
That's when he noticed that he was suddenly being encircled by a pack of toddlers.
"Hey, what's going on here?"
"You don't know how to share," the girl remarked, as the kids drew closer like a pack of wild hyenas.
"Look guys," he said nervously, "let's not carried away, we can work this out. Isn't it just about nap time?"
The girl rushed over to him and bit him in the arm.
"Ow you little… that hurts!" He tried to shake her loose, just as the other children pounced on him.
"It's ok Mrs. Johnson, we'll look after the daycare while you get your check up, it's no big; everything will be fine, goodbye." Kim hung up her cell phone, and took a deep breath.
Another wasted day
"KP!"
She turned around to see Ron surrounded, no, covered, head to toe with children.
"They're biting me," he screamed out. "I'm being mauled by rugrats."
She rushed over to him. "Ron, don't run so fast, you might drop one of them."
A few minutes later she managed to remove the children from Ron's body, and settled them down in front of the television.
Ron inspected his arm. "Look at these bite marks, they're like rabid animals." He glanced at the six year old brunette, who stared back him with hatred.
"Look at her; do you see the evil in her eyes? She's bad road KP, miles of it."
"Ron I'm sorry."
He looked at her curiously. "What?"
"We're in the prime of our lives. We should be out doing something fun, exciting and romantic." She sighed. "I guess I've just got to learn to say no."
"Kim, don't beat yourself up about this, we do something fun and exciting, or should I say dangerous, everyday. It's kind of nice to sit back and relax every once in awhile."
"You really think so?"
"Yeah it's all good, but if it's romance you're looking for…" He scanned the room until he spotted a small boy sitting in the corner nibbling on a flower. "Hey Simon get over here."
The child waddled over to him, and Ron pulled a dime out of his pocket. "I'll buy that flower from you."
The boy mulled the idea over and he eventually handed Ron the flower.
"Thanks Simon." He took another dime out of his pocket. "Grab me a juice box too, and not from Frankie J, get it from Sammy the calf, he's got the good stuff."
"Yes suh," Simon replied before he waddled away.
"And don't forget my change."
He grabbed Kim and pulled her close, catching her by surprise. He handed her the flower "Mi lady, my heart is ever at your service," he said in a bad British accent, before giving her a gentle kiss.
"Oh Shakespeare," she cooed, "Someone has been paying attention in lit class. When did you get so suave?"
"Oh I can be suave, but how many handsome, carefree, blonds do you know?"
"Hey… Hey!"
Ron looked down to see Simon with his juice box.
"Thanks buddy, keep the change." Then something on Simon's arm caught his attention. "Hey what happened to your arm?"
"I fell."
Ron knelt before the boy. "Well you've got to put a bandage on these kinds of cuts or germs will get in there… KP?"
"I'm already on it."
She came back a moment later and handed Ron the bandage. He quickly and effortlessly put it on Simon's arm.
"That wasn't so bad."
"Nope" Simon rushed away happily.
Ron took a sip from the juice box, as he drank he noticed Kim staring at him.
What's this about?
She smiled at him lovingly. "You know Ron; I think you'll be a great father."
He did a spit-take, apple juice sprayed across the room.
"What's the matter?"
He wiped the dripping juice from his mouth. "Oh KP you just say stuff like that. I have a fragile system; there are just some statements that I can't handle yet."
She laughed. "Ok I'll keep that in mind."
Ron took a deep breath. "Wow."
A moment of silence passed between them. "So… um do you really think I'll be a good dad?"
"No… I think you'll be a great dad!"
He sighed happily. "You know, this might be the perfect time to say this KP… I…lo…"
Just as he was about to force himself to spit it out, a toy truck was thrown at him. By the time he reacted the truck had already hit him in the groin.
"You spit juice on me," the little brunette cried, as Ron crumbled to the ground.
"Ron, are you ok?"
"Kim…" he cried weakly "… avenge me," he said before passing out.
XXXXXXXXXXX
He awoke to find himself looking up at the florescent lights of one of the prison's many hallways. He was moving, no actually, he was being dragged along the floor.
He recalled the memory of the daycare incident. A split second before the demon spawn had attacked his most sensitive of areas; he had actually envisioned himself as a father. He and Kim with a family, it was a pleasant thought, a thought that would often visit when he was daydreaming.
Oh god I'm starting to feel the pain from the beating.
Yes the pain had caught up with him. He had remembered a happier time in his life so he could run from the pain and hide from it. But it always caught up with you in the end; a person can only run so far.
They tossed him in a dank cell, and left him there without another word.
Ron rolled onto his back. "Yeah you better run," he shouted after them, with as much energy as he could muster.
"I sure showed them," he said to himself.
"Wow, a loud American, how rare."
Ron looked up from the floor. There were two hammocks hanging from the wall. On the hammock on the left side of the wall, lay a young Hispanic man who looked to be around his age.
"Who are you? Are you new?" Ron asked.
The young man ignored Ron's question, rolled over on the hammock and remained silent. But it wasn't long before his curiosity got the best of him.
"For them to send an American here is quite rare, this is the worse prison in the country. Only the enemies of the government are sent here."
Ron sat up, moaning in pain as he did so. "Curious huh?" He chuckled softly as he played around with a loose tooth in his mouth. "What can I say, I'm a political prisoner."
"No my foreign friend, I'm a political prisoner. You are probably a spy who was stupid enough to get caught!"
Ron sighed. "Ok fine, we're both political prisoners. Now I'm curious too, why are you in here?"
The man snorted. "I have no obligation to tell you anything."
Ron lay back down on the cold prison floor; he was in too much pain to sit upright. "You know; you're not that friendly."
"Don't take it personal, I hate all Americans."
"Have you ever been to America?"
"Yes I have and I hate the whole greedy, self absorbed country."
"Even Disneyland? It's the happiest plane on earth"
"I especially hate Disneyland" the man replied.
"Hmmm people outside of America hate Americans… I had no idea."
XXXXXXXXXXX
March 8
Prison warden Fernando Valdez was all smiles, the prisoner had been laid flat, his arms and feet were tied and he was strapped down tight. There was no escape, but the boy still struggled against the restraints. Good, he liked watching them struggle.
"I have excellent news Mr. Stoppable, very good news indeed."
"I'm getting out on parole?"
"Oh I'm sorry, that's the wrong answer." He took a sip from a shot glass filled with brandy. "Can I offer you drink, how do they say… ah yes, what is your poison?"
"Raccoon poison if you don't mind."
Fernando chuckled. "You are a funny, funny man. But the news I have is very good news for me." He brought his face just above Ron's. "We've got a new game to play. I assume that you still insist on being uncooperative?"
"You are correct sir."
Fernando smiled. "Good, then we have don't have to waste time with needless chatter." He snapped his fingers.
"What the…" Ron cried out as two guards wrapped cloth around his mouth and nostrils so that he could barely breathe.
The two guards then held up a very large bucket of water above his face, and they poured a steady stream of water into his mouth. The water ran down the cloth to the back of his throat, so he had no chance of breathing.
"This is called drinking by force; it's a simulated drowning, really nasty way of dying from what I hear."
Ron thrashed against his restraints. His lungs soon ached for air, he was sure he would drown.
"Alright stop," yelled Fernando. "Remove the cloth!"
The guards stopped pouring water and removed the cloths from Ron's face.
"Please… no more… I can't take that…" Ron sputtered as he simultaneously gasped for air.
Fernando feigned deafness. "What was that, you've had enough? Tell me, how did that feel Mr. Stoppable?"
"Like I was dying you dirty bas…"
"Ok one more time."
"No… God no, I'm sorry…" he gasped, "no more…"
"Fine then, tell me, where is the girl?"
Ron continued short gasps of air as he slowly returned to his normal breathing patterns. "This isn't right, it's illegal!"
"Oh I'm sorry; according to this regime torture of foreign spies is very legal. Now, are you going to give us the information we want?"
Ron took in a lungful of air, and then finally responded with a defiant, "No!"
He watched in fearful anticipation as the guards wrapped the cloths around his face and brought in a new and larger bucket of water.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
A year and a half ago
Ron surfaced in darkness, if it wasn't for the faint light from the moon, he wouldn't have been able to see his hand in front of his face. He grinned to himself, as a wave of self-satisfaction washed over him.
It was a short swim back to the riverbank. His spirits were so high that he could have swum a couple of laps.
He removed a small flashlight and waved it around the nearby trees. Eventually the light fell on the red headed hero resting against a stump.
The second the light flashed on her face, she looked up. "Well how did it go?"
"Mission accomplished." Ron smiled. "He took out a small vial from the pocket of his wet suit. "No one will be turning any plants into carnivorous mutants without this little baby."
"So everything went well?"
"Piece of cake."
"You didn't touch anything else in the lab, right?"
He scoffed "of course I didn…"
A large explosion could be heard in the distance.
"Ok, I… may have gotten a little distracted, but you'll be happy to know that the lab was evacuated before it went up in flames… I think… yeah I'm pretty sure it was."
"So," he said quickly changing the subject, "how's your leg?"
She tried to massage it a little but it just made her wince from the pain. "I think it might be sprained. I can't believe I tripped over a stupid rock."
"Ah it's alright; I trip over stuff all the time, its totally natural."
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but if it wasn't for that rock I could have been there with you."
He sat down on the ground next to her. "No worries KP, the mission was success."
"I know that but I would have felt much better if I was there with yo…"
Ron pretended to be hurt. "Kim, are you saying that I'm too incompetent to go on a mission alone?"
"No… no that's not what I'm saying. I know that you have what it takes to handle yourself in any situation."
Another explosion could be heard in the distance.
Now that is some fantastic timing Ron thought.
"The truth is that…" she blushed, "if you got hurt while I was here, I'd never be able to forgive myself."
"Aw you were worried about me, how cute," he cooed. "That's so much better than you having no confidence in me."
She caught his gaze and looked him in the eye. "Ron, I want you to know that… I… lo…"
Before she could finish her sentence, they heard another explosion, the loudest one yet.
"ALL RIGHT ALREADY, WE GET IT!" Ron shouted angrily in the direction of the lab.
He turned quickly back to Kim. "You were saying?"
She shook her head and smiled. It was a shame; the mood had been so perfect. "Uh I'll tell you later."
He scratched his head in confusion. "Ok, let's head out." He stood up and reached down for her.
"Hey what are you doing?" she cried when he picked her up in his arms.
"What does it look like, I'm being gallant."
"You don't have…"
"Hey, hey, it's ok for the sidekick to be the hero sometimes. Just go with the flow."
She thought about it for a moment, and then she happily laid her head on his shoulder and nuzzled her face into his neck.
"Besides we need to get out of here before the guard dogs catch my scent again," he remarked
"What? You didn't mention any guard dogs!"
"Um… Have I mentioned how beautiful you look tonight?"
XXXXXXXX
They tossed his wet body roughly into the cell. The second he hit the floor, Ron started to cough up violently.
His cellmate curiously sat up on his hammock. He stared at Ron for a few seconds then he rushed to his side. He picked up Ron's body and placed it on the hammock opposite from his.
"I may hate Americans, but I'm not a complete uncaring ano."
Ron continued to spit up more water.
The water torture, they only use that when they're really desperate, what do they want from this American?
"Listen to me Yankee, these people are ruthless! It's obvious that you have important information for them. They will stop at nothing to get it. Just tell them what they want or it will only get worse for you."
Ron shook his head "I can't…she… safe… I can't…" he mumbled before blacking out for the second time in matter of hours.
XXXXXXXXX
March 10
He opened his eyes only to realize that he was back in the pain room. He was unfortunately becoming very familiar with this particular wing of the prison. It didn't take him long to realize he was strapped down tightly to a chair.
"Mr. Stoppable, I must say congratulations for getting this far my friend. Most would have cracked by now."
Ron looked up at Fernando. "I try,"
"Yes, it is quite difficult to break your spirits, isn't it?"
Ron shrugged weakly. "Yeah, well, I was dating a cheerleader."
"Today I have some very interesting news for you."
"Another game?" Ron dreaded the answer.
"I will get to that later. First I'd like to tell you that we found her."
For a brief second there was a flicker of horror in Ron's face and however fleeting it was, it was still a wonderful moment for Fernando.
"You hide your emotions well but not well enough, my American friend. Yes, we found her but unfortunately we can't legally hold her for anything. Normally that wouldn't be a problem, but Global Justice is breathing down our neck for her release. I'm very impressed; Team Possible has some powerful friends."
"Well, sounds like you've got problems buddy."
He grabbed Ron forcefully by the chin. "We know she has it, and we want it back."
"She didn't do jack and you know it."
"You are a witness!" He snapped his fingers, and one of the guards opened the door to the windowless, all white room. Fernando pointed to the door. "Here's the deal, you turn on the girl and you're a free man. Tell us everything that happened that night and you can be on a plane back to your precious country by sunrise."
"What happens to Kim?"
"She takes your place; with your testimony we can legally prosecute her and she gets our special "treatment" instead, that is until we get what we need from her."
"After hearing all that, I guess there's really only one thing I can do."
He spit into Fernando's face.
The warden became enraged "you mannerless American swine!"
"Yeah, my mother always scolded me about my manners, on some lonely winter nights I actually grieve over them."
"Apparently you haven't learned anything." He wiped the spit off his face and he yelled at one guard in Spanish. The guard quickly rushed out the door, and returned with a large cart behind him. The cart was covered with a white blanket and Fernando gleefully stared at it. In one swift dramatic movement he pulled the blanket off the cart.
Ron looked at the cart; on it was what appeared to be a car battery. Wires extended from the battery to a metal rod with a rubber grip.
Oh God no.
To Fernando's amusement, a look of panic came over Ron's face. "Oh you know what this is. I guess it is pretty obvious even for a stupid gringo like you."
He picked up the rod by the rubber grip, and turned some dials on the battery.
"No… please…"
"Tell about that night."
"I told you everything; I was the one that stole…"
Fernando pressed the rod against Ron's right arm. The electric shock shot up his arm and the whole right side of his body, causing him to bite down on his tongue. Fernando removed the rod from Ron's arm, a grin on his face.
"Well, how was it?"
Even with the rod gone Ron still felt the shock in his teeth. His tongue bled where he had bitten down on it. The right side of his body twitched involuntary as he grunted in pain.
"Do you have any information for us Mr. Stoppable?"
"You… I…" he caught his breath, "I… already told you everything."
"Ah, you don't seem to understand the situation. Global Justice will take her away. She will leave you behind and forget about you. The minute she is safe and secure in America, you will be a distant memory. She'll forget all about you, is that really fair? Now, tell me who was with you that night?"
"No one."
"Ah, no mi amigo, you are lying"
He touched Ron's left leg with the rod. It felt like his nerves had caught fire as he violently shot sideways to the right. Once again the pain traveled through most of his body.
"Tell me!"
Ron's leg muscles twitched rapidly. "Just kill me!"
Fernando shook his head. "But that would defeat the whole purpose of this, wouldn't it? Oh, and just so you know we're only playing at half power." He turned some more dials. "Oh, and if you have a seizure, try not swallow your tongue."
Ron could barely hear Fernando's awful snickering when the darkness came.
XXXXXXX
One year ago
Sparks flew in all directions.
Ron looked down at the robotic pilot that was convulsing violently as electrical currents cackled throughout its body.
He looked at the brown liquid that was now running down the robot's back, and then he looked at the dripping soda bottle in his right hand. He looked back and forth between them until something finally clicked.
He was in deep, deep trouble.
The robot pilot was the only thing keeping them in the air.
I should have seen this coming.
Suddenly a loud alarm went off in the cockpit. Warning signals flashed in all directions; in addition a robotic voice continuously announced that the plane was without pilot.
Ok think, think, what do I do?
It was at that moment, that the impressive and expensive electronic gear of the sophisticated U.S airways guidance system caught fire.
He took off his shoe and frantically battered at the small fire until he finally put it out. He let out a sigh of relief and put his shoe back on.
No, I've got to figure out how to fix the pilot without Kim finding out.
He sniffed the air, something was burning. He turned his head to discover that his right arm was on fire.
"Ahhh!"
He flailed frantically around the room in complete panic, smashing into various electronic equipments. Finally he put out the flame by repeatedly slamming his arm onto the control system.
"Request received, commencing left engine removal," said a computerized voice.
"What? Why is that even an option?"
He smushed his face against the left windshield and watched as the left engine broke free from the plane.
"Come on, that's just not fair."
He stepped away from the window and took a few seconds to pull himself together. "Ok everything is going to be fine."
He exited the cockpit and nonchalantly made his way to the back of the plane. He slowly approached Kim who was now smoothing out the wrinkles on her graduation gown.
"Did you ask the robot pilot to speed it up a little?"
"Uh yeah."
"Good, we don't want to be late for our own graduation."
Ron rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Ok, here's the deal. Being late is probably the least of our worries."
Kim's eyebrow rose and she eyed him suspiciously. "What happened?"
"Alright, promise you won't get mad?"
"Ron…" she stretched out his name.
"Let's just say, hypothetically… if I broke the pilot, how would you react to that?"
"You did what?"
"Kim, please, you have to look at the big picture here… we also lost the left engine."
"Oh my god Ron, you should be classified as a natural disaster."
"Wow," he sniffed, "you sure do know how to cut deep," he stated, as she pushed past him.
She entered the cockpit and stared wide eyed at the now smoking and motionless pilot.
"How did you manage to destroy a million dollar prototype of a robotic pilot?"
Ron put his hands up defensively. "I've got a better question for you. Why is a million dollar prototype of a robotic pilot so easy to destroy?"
The second he finished his statement the plane started to nosedive.
"Holy crap we're going down!"
They tumbled around the cockpit as the plane headed into a tailspin. Kim pulled herself towards the guidance system. "Oh no the auto pilot's down and I don't know how to switch to manual control."
"What does that mean?" Ron yelled from the ground.
"It means we're going to die."
"… I've suffered through four years of high school, late night cram sessions, day long S.A.T study groups, only to die on graduation night. Is ironic the word I'm looking for?"
Kim scanned the control panel for anything that could help.
"Kim?"
"Yeah?"
"I want to apologize for sending us to a fiery death."
She ignored him and continued searching for anything they could use.
"KP!"
"Not now Ron."
"I love you!" he said quickly.
She stopped and found herself at a complete loss for words.
Ron continued. "My only regret is putting my faith in the hands of this piece of junk 'revolutionary' technology." From the floor, he angrily kicked the guidance system.
Suddenly the control panel blinked to life. 'Manual overdrive' activated said the computerized voice.
Ron looked at Kim in shock. "What in the world…"
"Ron you did it!" Kim shouted gleefully. She jumped towards the controls.
Ron looked around in confusion. "Is it me, or is the universe constantly playing with my emotions?"
Middleton High Gymnasium
James Possible checked his watch and glanced around the gymnasium. He turned to his wife. "Kim and Ron are late. They're going to miss the ceremony."
"I talked to Kimmie earlier today and she said she wouldn't miss this for anything in the world."
On stage Mr. Barkin was calling up the student's so they could receive their diplomas.
"Kimberly Ann Possible." He scanned the crowd of students in the front rows. "Uh Kimberly Ann Possible?" he called out again.
"Hmm… I guess Ms. Possible didn't bother showing up for her own graduation. Kids today don't know the meaning of a sacred ceremo…"
A second later the entire east wall of the gymnasium came crumbling down in a spectacular display of carnage.
Luckily most of the students, and their friends and family were seated in the middle of the gymnasium.
When the dust cleared everyone stared at the nose of the plane that had created the hole in the wall.
Inside the cockpit, Team Possible wiped the trash and dust from their clothes.
"Well, that was some adventure." Ron crowed. "Let's never talk about it again… especially the part about me destroying the robot and almost killing us. Now lets' go get that diploma."
He turned towards the exit when he felt something pull lightly on his sleeve.
"Hey, I'm stuck on something." He turned to see that it was Kim who had grabbed his shirt.
Her face had turned now to a pinkish hue. "Um, when you said that you loved me… was that a 'oh my god we're going to die so let me just say something nice' thing or was it from the heart?"
Ron looked at her slightly amused. "Hmmm, what do you want to hear?"
"Fine," she said angrily, "if you're not going to take this seriously then…"
"Ok," he laughed and hugged her from behind as she tried to brush past him, "I was just playing, the truth is I've wanted to tell you that everyday for awhile now. So yes, I meant it from the heart when I said I love you."
"Really?"
"Cross my heart," he replied.
She smiled. "I love you too."
"Ah, music to my ears" He pulled her even closer and gave her a tender kiss. "Well now Ms. Possible, who is loved by Ronald Stoppable, shall we go receive our diplomas?"
"Certainly Mr. Stoppable, who is loved by Kimberly Possible, but only after a few more kisses."
XXXXXXXXXXX
March 12
He was now aware of everything, he was aware that he was back in his cell. He was aware of his shallow breathing, of the pain that racked his body. He was aware of how hard it was even to sit up against the cold prison wall.
"Here eat this; it'll give you some energy"
Ron stared at the candy bar, then at the person who offered it to him. It was his cellmate.
"I brought it from one of the guards; you need it more than I do."
Ron reached for the bar and quickly stuffed it into his mouth. "I though you hated Americans," he said, with a stuffed mouth.
"I do, but you're different from the greedy soulless Americans I've met. You, my amigo, are a rarity," he said, as he hopped onto his hammock.
Ron continued to chew greedily on the snack when he soon discovered that it even hurt to swallow.
"I can't take this anymore," he said softly.
"Do not lose heart my friend. What we are doing now is nothing less than noble."
"Noble?" Ron scoffed. "Everyday I sit here and I tell myself I'm doing this for my country, no… for the sake of the world. I tell myself 'I'm helping the world' but I know deep down I'm doing everything for…"
"For your woman?"
"What? How did you know?"
"After the water torture you mumbled something about 'doing it for her'. You even repeat it in your sleep."
"And you still think I'm noble?"
"Of course, noble and human, you endure for your woman, I and many of the other prisoners here endure for our people. In the end, we are all fighting for something we care about."
Ron stayed silent.
"I'm sorry I never introduced myself, my name is Carlo."
"What are you in for Carlo?"
Carlo paused. "This country has fallen onto hard times. The government no longer works for the people. Our leaders have become corrupt and oppressive. I worked at a local newspaper that denounced this regime."
"You got arrested for criticizing the government?"
"No I got arrested for being the co founder of the rebel army."
Ron laughed. "I can see where that would be a problem."
"One day…" Carlo replied solemnly, "one day everything will change. We have missiles, we have weapons; we have helicopters. Yes, one day, everything will change. The rebel army will strike when least expected. Like a snake, no… like a panther, aiming for the jugular. We will strike and we will win! Unfortunately, I fear I will not be around to see it happen."
Ron didn't say anything.
"What are you in for gringo?"
"My name is Ron by the way and…"
"Mr. Stoppable!" Fernando called out from in front of the cell "I've got even better news today. Our glorious leader has ordered that you are to be executed in three days"
The shock paralyzed Ron completely; it was a full minute before he took another breath.
"What, you've nothing smart to say now? Well here's some advice, don't make any plans for the rest of the week." Fernando laughed heartily as he walked from the cell.
Then after at least five minutes of silence Carlo spoke up.
"Are you ok?"
"I… the minute I stepped foot in here I knew I was done for, but… when it gets confirmed… it's…" He felt the tears welling up in his eyes.
"Don't forget why you are here, never forget the noble cause."
"Is it…" Ron chocked out, "is it noble to cry over your own life?"
"Mi amigo, there comes a time in a man's life when all he can do is cry."
XXXXX
March 15 Execution day
"I'm going to die."
No, there is a way, just tell them what they want to know.
Ron shook the thoughts away from his head; he was ashamed that such thoughts were floating around head. But it was only natural that he'd have these thoughts. No one wanted to die, especially if there was a way out.
No, there was no way out, he wouldn't; he couldn't turn on her. No matter how badly he wanted to live.
"You must guard yourself against your natural desire to survive. You must remember the noble cause."
That's what Carlo had told him and that was the only thing running through his mind during these, the last few hours of his life.
In the filthy prison bathroom, he poured cold water on his face and confirmed what he knew all along. Today he would be taking one for the team.
He looked at his reflection in the stained bathroom mirror over the sink.
"Remember the noble cause."
He would until the very last second.
XXXXXXX
An execution at Prisión de infierno was a great spectacle. All of the prisoners were paraded out to the prison yard. They are forced to stand before a large stage and watch the execution of one of their own.
They waited silently until the main attraction was finally escorted into the yard. Carlo pushed his way past the inmates until he was standing in the front row. He wanted one last look at his new friend.
He saw that Ron was still in very bad shape. He was limping more then he was walking even with his hands and feet chained together. His body was still badly bruised, but he still had an optimistic look on his face.
They pushed him up the steps of the stage where Fernando was already waiting. He approached Ron with a pack of cigarettes.
"Smoke?"
"No thank you, I'm trying to watch my health," Ron replied.
Fernando laughed. "Oh you kill me gringo."
Ron laughed along with him. "No, you're killing me."
Abruptly Fernando angrily jabbed him in the stomach causing Ron to double over. Ron coughed. "You know, that was funny the first time, but now it's just redundant."
Fernando grabbed him roughly by the back of the neck. "You can get out of this. You know how."
"No can do buddy"
"Why not?"
"I'm in love."
"What… you are a fool!"
Ron shrugged. "Same difference"
"Fine, have it your way." Fernando nodded to Ron's escort, and he pushed Ron to the middle of the stage.
Ron was greeted by his firing squad, a group of five riflemen. The best marksmen the prison had to offer.
His escort approached him from behind a blindfold in his hand. "Any last words?"
Ron reflected for a moment. "Tis a far, far better thing I do now than I have ever done before." He turned to the escort. "That's not really mine; I read it in a book… I think it was Oliver Twist."
The escort blindfolded him. Ron stood up straight and listened to the cheers and jeers from the crowd. He could feel the guns aiming at his vitals.
Fernando yelled something in Spanish and the squad loaded their weapons.
Snapshots in time enfolded before Ron's very eyes like a poignant slideshow in black in white.
"Cinco!"
He could smell his mother's home cooking, his father's aftershave.
"Cuatro!"
First day of Pre K, looking back on it, it wasn't that bad.
"Tres!"
Naked Mole rat on sale at Smarty Mart!
"Dos!"
Graduation day and the wild after party, Bonnie's face when he threw up on her dress was priceless.
"Uno!"
He sniffed again it was familiar sent and it brought a smile to his face "Curious Perfume for the woman on the go, her favorite."
"Fi…"
A curious whistle filled the air. Fernando stopped mid command as he traced the sound of the noise in the air.
He stared in abject horror as he followed the missile to its target, the prison walls. The wall collapsed on impact. And from the rubble came the screams of dozen of frustrated citizens who were no longer willing to be trodden on by an oppressive government. They were here to free their imprisoned comrades
"Los rebeldes!" he cried.
Gunfire filled the air as the prison guards engaged the intruders, but more and more of the rebel army freely flowed into the prison.
Ron's head swiveled back and forth as he tried to make sense of the commotion. "What the hell is going?"
He walked around blindly until he reached the edge of the stage.
"Ron!"
It was Carlo's voice.
"Jump!"
"What's happening?"
"The revolution!" Ron could hear the joy in Carlo's voice "It's happening right now!"
"What? Well… viva la revolución!" He cried, before jumping off the stage.
Carlo caught him before he hit the ground, and he removed Ron's blindfold. Ron watched in a mix of fascination and horror as vicious fire fights broke out sporadically between the rebels and the guards. Unfortunately for the guards, the prisoners were also being armed by the rebels.
"We're free my friend!" shouted Carlo.
Fernando watched in complete shock as his prison quickly became overrun. He turned towards Ron only to see that he was no longer there. The firing squad had vanished too.
"Cobardes," he seethed, "they scattered like roaches."
He spotted an abandoned rifle on the ground; he scooped it off the floor and jumped off the stage.
His prison was gone, his livelihood was gone; there was only one thing left to do. No other prisoner had infuriated him more than the gringo. The fact the he couldn't get any information from the boy had humiliated him, people talked behind his back, they said he was getting soft. The boy had caused him too much trouble, to escape unharmed
XXXXXX
It was pandemonium, complete chaos. Fires had begun to sprout throughout the prison complex. Carlo and Ron struggled to get past the mass of rioting prisoners. But they couldn't move too quickly with Ron in pain and in shackles.
Bang
Ron felt the breeze of the bullet as it whizzed past his ear. They turned to see Fernando rushing towards them.
Fernando fired again this time he hit Carlo in the leg dropping him instantly, leaving Ron standing on his own.
"Líder!" someone called out from the crowd.
Carlo looked up at the crowd to see a rebel from his former unit approaching. Carlo pointed to Fernando and yelled something in Spanish.
The rebel understood and aimed his rifle at Fernando.
Fernando aimed at Ron.
Ron closed his eyes and pictured Kim's face.
Time slowed as the rebel and Fernando pulled the trigger at the same time.
TBC in the next chapter
I warned you it was kind of dark. Everything wraps up in the next chapter, and it'll be here pretty soon so stay tuned.