AN: I suggest that if you have the musical selections mentioned in this chapter you listen to them as you read it... that's how I wrote it! Don't go by the words of the songs as much as the tempo, and rhythm of the music.
Coldplay - Talk
Sarah McLachlan - Possession ... well in this case the words work just as good as the music!
The Tragically Hip - Bobcaygeon
Chapter 2: Speedrun
I thought I was the one with the adrenaline addiction! Kim's mind screamed at her as the opening bars of a familiar piece of music began, she looked at one of the displays and had her thoughts confirmed... Coldplay - Talk... one of Ron's favorites. Kim had a hard time taking everything in for once in her life, the holographic interface made it seem like she was flying with nothing around her but the clothes she wore.
Oh brother I can't, I can't get through
I've been trying hard to reach you 'cause I don't know what to do
Oh brother I can't believe it's true
I'm so scared about the future and I wanna talk to you
Oh I wanna talk to you
The plane leapt through the air, Ron's hand firm on the side stick as he pushed the nose down towards the valley.
You can take a picture of something you see
In the future where will I be?
You can climb a ladder up to the sun
Or write a song nobody has sung
Or do something that's never been done
Screaming down the valley floor they watched the speed climb Mach 2... Mach 2.5, with left hand on the throttle Ron felt a feeling better than any other, a bliss brought about by taking all he had in his two hands, stick and throttle, and pushing it to the limit. His mind became one with the flow of the plane...
"BRIDGE" Kim yelled at him, her face turning all shades of pale... the steel and concrete arch that was a bare speck on the horizon moments before came at them with a frightening speed. Ron had seen it on the moving map and decided to have some fun... "What bridge KP?" He laughed, earning a look that made him flush all shades of pale. As the bridge approached Ron flicked a switch on the throttle and the blue glow was all around again... "Hold on everyone, this is gonna get fun!" Ron exclaimed as he wrenched back on the control stick. The plane leaped near vertical and dropped on the other side of the bridge with no loss of speed.
"Ronald Dean Stoppable what were you thinking?" Kim screamed as the plane leveled back out. Ron looked over at Kim and saw the rage there but also saw love and what appeared like a wild lust that nearly leapt from her eyes at him. He flashed her the biggest smile ever. She blushed.
Turning back to the business at hand Ron thought... living near the mountains gives such great opportunities for this. The lake before his gaze on the valley floor appeared like an aqua dream, surrounded by a line of ridges rising to the heavens. He let the plane sweep along the ridge, the wing dipping towards the water...
Are you lost or incomplete?
Do you feel like a puzzle, you can't find your missing piece?
Tell me how you feel?
Well I feel like they're talking in a language I don't speak
And they're talking it to me
The couple sat on the edge of a lake so clear it seemed made of glass, the decision to honeymoon in the mountains had been an easy one. As they sat there on that bright moonlit night and gazed at each other they had no idea the memory that was headed their way. The plane appeared as a black flash coming from right to left, an arrowhead cutting through the night against the backdrop on that ragged ridge. As the wing dipped towards the lake a line of spray erupted, saluting the wake of the aircraft like so many fireworks. As the plane moved out of view the couple held each other knowing they had seen something magical they would forever cherish.
So you take a picture of something you see
In the future where will I be?
You can climb a ladder up to the sun
Or write a song nobody has sung
Or do something that's never been done
Or do something that's never been done
The sky above became the sky below as the plane snapped over, the ground rushing above their heads by what seemed like only feet of separation... they climbed a mountain that way, the rocks flying alongside... at the peak Ron slow rolled the plane back level and threw it into a set of smooth maneuvers, his hand on the controls guided by the music, the rhythm... he finished with a smart hammerhead turn and made for the ground again, pushing the plane to it's limits as he flew in the moonlight.
So you don't know where you're going and you wanna talk
And you feel like you're going where you've been before
You tell anyone who'll listen but you feel ignored
Nothing's really making any sense at all, let's talk
Let's talk, let's talk, let's talk.
Ron leveled out over the valley floor as the song ended and looked at Kim and her folks. James and Anne looked pale but both had that adrenaline induced smirk on their faces that said volumes without words. Kim was glowing, and shooting him looks that might get him a one way trip to a black hole.
James regained his voice. "Wow, now I know why those rocket pilots never think about drugs! I have a question though, we must have been pulling massive g loads during some of those maneuvers. Why didn't we black out?" Anne's face showed the same questioning look as the same thought crossed her trained medical mind.
"You'd have to ask Wade questions like that, all I know is that it's something to do with gravity inducers and inertial dampers... I installed them and fix them but nothing more... everything is set to give us about 15 of what we should be getting... enough to give you a good thrill when coupled with the sensation of flying on nothing." Ron threw the plane into a fast barrel roll and let out a whoop of joy as the next song began...
Listen as the wind blows
From across the great divide
Voices trapped in yearning
Memories trapped in time
The night is my companion
And solitude my guide
Would I spend forever here
And not be satisfied
And I would be the one
To hold you down
Kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
And after I'd wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes dear
It's 'Possession', this song always makes me think of Ron and I. I'm glad he played it but it would be even better if the 'rents weren't here, I'd be tempted to tell him to set the plane down and jump him. Kim's heart got the better of her as the adrenaline and emotion of the night made her want Ron more than ever... I love him so very much.
Through this world I've stumbled
So many times betrayed
Trying to find an honest word
To find the truth enslaved
Oh you speak to me in riddles and
You speak to me in rhymes
My body aches to breathe your breath
You words keep me alive
And I would be the one
To hold you down
Kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
And after I'd wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes dear
Ron knew this song well, his musical tastes had always been different, he always liked good Canadian music like Sarah McLachlan and The Tragically Hip, he had introduced KP to it slowly and she enjoyed them as much as he did... But this song... this song makes me feel wild inside when I think of Kim.
Into this night I wander
It's morning that I dread
Another day of knowing of
The path I fear to tread
Oh into the sea of waking dreams
I follow without pride
Nothing stands between us here
And I won't be denied
They blasted out of the mountains to the Pacific coast, tracing along the coastline as they moved north, the scenery below them and the stars above making a perfect backdrop for the thoughts that passed within two couples so deep in love.
And I would be the one
To hold you down
Kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
And after I'd wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes dear
Ron guided the plane out over the sparkling Pacific as he punched the throttles forward and pulled back on the stick... "Lets get some altitude, does anyone here want to see low earth orbit?"
James couldn't resist, " Me, Me, ME!" He yelled like a 5 year old and then finally collapsed into laughter as he said, "I thought we'd never get around to that!"
Kim was astonished her father was capable of such giddiness... then she looked at her mother, looking at her father like she had been looking at Ron only moments before... Maybe Ron should set this thing down somewhere, Mom and Dad would probably go do their own thing and... SO SICK AND WRONG! Kim shook herself to clear her head. I must really want Ron bad, all kinds of crazy thoughts going through my head. She flashed Ron a smile that could burn a hole through a glacier and stated in a sultry voice, "Show me the stars lover."
"Will... erm... do KP!" The look on Kim's face and the tone of her voice nearly made Ron melt into the floor then and there. I love her so very much.
He caught himself and turned back to making his Valkyrie defy gravity itself.
The blue glow that shrouded the rear of the Valkyrie intensified as Ron put the plane into a steeper and steeper climb, a prominent holographic display flashed the altitude... the numbers were quickly becoming a blur. The acceleration and gravity pushed them back into their seats, around them all they could see is the night sky, a black canvas painted with a coat of moonlight and punctuated by a sprinkling of stars, as the plane raced into the canvas the feeling aboard was of amazement.
Ron reached and switched to a favorite song of his for serene moments like this.
I left your house this morning about a quarter after nine
Coulda been the Willie Nelson coulda been the wine
When I left your house this morning
It was a little after nine
It was in Bobcaygeon I saw the constellations
Reveal themselves one star at a time
Ron was singing along with the music now Kim realized, she admitted to herself that it sounded pretty good... When is this man going to stop popping up with new talents! Kim decided she might as well join him and started singing herself.
Drove back to town this morning
With working on my mind
I thought of maybe quitting
Thought of leaving it behind
Went back to bed this morning
And as I'm pulling down the blind
The sky was dull and hypothetical
And falling one cloud at a time
James reached over and took Anne's hand, she knew. He had always wanted to ride one of the rockets he built, he never had the physical characteristics to do it though. He was getting his wish, he would see beyond the atmosphere of the world. Anne knew what it all meant as the clouds grew few and the sky went from blue to black. She saw her husbands face show sheer joy, she couldn't resist... "Better not smile too big, Kimmie will think I've been 'reaching over' too much." Anne whispered taking joy in the fact that her husband instantly went as red as her Kim got when she mentioned Ron and squeezed her hand.
James looked over and said simply, "I love you Anne."
That night in Toronto with its checkerboard floors
Riding on horseback and keeping order restored
Til the men they couldn't hang
Stepped to the mic and sang
And their voices rang with that Aryan twang
The Valkyrie achieved orbit... Ron let the plane go on auto, placing it so the expansive cabin windows allowed them all to see the earth and stars in one glance. All in all it was almost as awe inspiring as the redheaded angel that sat next to him. Ron took off his gloves and helmet and motioned for Kim to take off hers. He had turned down the grav inducers so they could float free and as he undid his buckles he knew... he floated to her, took her in his arms and kissed her with all the passion and love he felt. She responded in kind, the pressure from her lips, her tongue on his, her hands on his body. As they floated they happened to gaze behind them and realized something, they were not alone in their love... her parents were in a similar embrace.
As Kim and Ron gazed into each others eyes, chocolate brown into emerald green, they realized they were destined for a love like that, and as they kissed they shared the same thought... I couldn't wish for anything more.
I got to your house this morning just a little after nine
In the middle of that riot
Couldn't get you off my mind
So I'm at your house this morning
Just a little after nine
Cause it was in Bobcaygeon where I saw the constellations
Reveal themselves one star at a time
"Ron, Kim!" As the song ended the voice of Wade cut in, his panic stricken image splayed on the view screens, Ron reached down and shut off the music.
"What's the sitch, Wade?" Kim was stunned by the look on Wade's face, he was usually a very calm and cool character, always there with a joke.
"Guys this one is horrible. Drakken and Shego it seems are bent on destruction, they have constructed a lair on an island in the Florida Keys. The main weapon system is a twin barrel rail gun system, extremely long range... and he just used it Kim... Tampa isn't there anymore. The loss of life will be horrific." Wade looked stricken.
A gasp went through the four people on the plane.
"I didn't know Drew had that in him." James admitted, joining the conversation.
"Drakken has issued a statement saying he will crush a city every two hours until either there are no more cities or he is made ruler of North America, he has already stated his next target is Dallas/Ft. Worth" Wade explained.
"Wade, this sounds like one for the military." Ron commented, earning nods from everyone.
"That's what I hoped initially too, the island is heavily defended though, two carriers the USS Abraham Lincoln and Nimitz have both launched large Alpha strikes on the lair, both strikes were repelled with heavy losses to the carrier wings and no damage to the rail guns. Drakken has a large defensive armament on the island, Russian SAM's and some tricks of his own." Wade responded with a downcast look. He looked ready to say something.
"Wade, you have an idea, don't you?" Kim asked, knowing that look on Wade's face.
"Ron, remember our discussions on the weapon systems on board the Valkyrie? Do you think you can handle them with some help? I just ran a full systems check and they are all ready to go. You know that the Valkyrie has weapons like no other plane on earth, and defenses to match. I think you can take down Drakken with it." Wade finished and let out a sigh, emotionally drained, he didn't like sending his friends into danger.
"Weapons? You mean this plane is armed?" Kim was as shocked from this as she was about Drakken, she didn't like things that killed.
"Yeah KP, the Valkyrie is armed to the teeth, I always imagined it as a last resort." He admitted as he floated over to the main control panel, he paused and then spoke in a cool clear voice, "Valkyrie, Activate offensive and defensive weapons."
A cold female computer voice spoke: "Offensive and defensive weapons systems in standby mode, awaiting release codes for full activation. Two code rule in effect."
Wade spoke first via the uplink. "Load, Wade, Technical Expert, Code: 010234Zulu... Enable"
The cold voice spoke again, "Acknowledge Load, Wade. Second code required for full activation."
"Stoppable, Ronald, Commander: Valkyrie, Code 010556Alpha... Enable"
"Acknowledge Stoppable, Ronald. All offensive and defensive systems are now fully enabled. Do you have further commands Captain Stoppable?" The cold voice asked.
"Valkyrie, display weapons systems overview, side monitor, all defensive and offensive."
At the side of the cabin a screen came on with a wire frame view of the Valkyrie, parts were added within the frame and Ron explained some of the main components.
"We have heavy particle beam emitter strips over the surface of the plane giving 360 degree coverage for both offensive fire and intercepting incoming ordinance, the particle beams are adjustable to suit any target, from slicing a coconut off a tree to carving the top off of a mountain. The emitters can handle multiple beams at varying intensity simultaneously. There are 4 forward firing missile tubes for our small diameter rockets, these are located under the floor on either side of the cabin in rotary launchers. The rockets are small, about three inches across by two feet long, but they can penetrate armor plate or heavy concrete with enough force to rupture a reactor containment dome. The center bay is our bomb bay, alongside standard 1000 lb. penetrator bombs and a few cluster munitions we have some special effects bombs for EMP, crowd control and other special occasions. The defensive systems consist of energy shields with redundant backups, we can sit inside a nuclear blast and not get a scratch." Ron concluded.
Everyone else was stunned, Kim did not know what to think... They created all this as a last resort?
"I know now why you have a two code lockout on those systems. No one person should be able to release this power." James spoke solemnly.
Ron nodded his head. "The decision to arm this plane was a hard one, the decision to use the weapons should be next to impossible to make, I'm not happy at having to use them already." He turned to Kim.
The expression on Ron's face nearly broke her heart, "I understand Ron, some things have to be done." She walked over to him and gave him a hug.
"Wade, can you show us a map and layout of Drakken's lair? We have to plan this just right."
Chapter 3: Valkyrie On High
Well, that's Chapter 2 in the can, I enjoyed writing this chapter a great deal. If you think I used lyrics too much please state the fact, this was a bit of an experiment for me. As always all reviews both positive and negative will be accepted with grace and thanks.
Chapter 3 will take a bit as I will be moving and off the 'net for about 3-4 days.
Oh, and the Valkyrie has one more secret up its sleeve.