Author's Note: Bionicle is property of LEGO. Kim Possible belongs to Disney. The song "Chase This Light" is by Jimmy Eat World. One part of the story has lines from John Mulaney's hilarious "Robot Test" joke, which I obviously don't own. And in this story, most of the Vakhi are taking New Year's Eve off.
Chase This Light
"Aha!" gloated Drakken. "My most brilliant project yet, the Fifth Dimensional Plane, is finally complete!"
Shego rolled her eyes. "About time." She examined the sleek aircraft, which looked like a large four-propeller drone. "And this time, I'm flying it!"
Drakken smirked. He looked at a poster that had once been part of a Bionicle comic, showing a map of one of the islands. "With the Fifth Dimensional Plane, I will fly through space and time to find Metru Nui! The city of legends has technology that's absolutely legendary!"
"Redundancy alert." Shego snarked.
Drakken didn't care. "And when I bring that technology back to Earth... New Year, New World Order!"
Shego climbed a ladder into the open cockpit, and took the pilot seat. Drakken got in the co-pilot seat, and pushed a button to close the cockpit. A hole opened in the ceiling of the secret lair and the propellers roared to life, sending the Fifth Dimensional Plane skyward. The plane was soon encased in a glowing bubble… then disappeared.
I'm a suspect, I'm a traitor,
I'm only here in body visiting…
Kim was perfectly comfortable in the old treehouse. Nestled in Ron's arms with her head over his heart - this was the best possible end to the old year. But the comfort didn't last.
~ beep-beep-beep-beep ~
Kim grumbled as she pulled out the Kimmunicator from her pocket.
"What's the sitch?" she asked Wade.
"Drakken and Shego disappeared." Wade began.
"Disappeared?" Ron echoed.
Wade zoomed his face out to show a map. "I don't know where they went. But I found their lair."
"We're on it." Kim went behind a privacy screen (a gift from Yamanouchi Ninja School) and got in her mission threads. Once she had changed clothes, Kim looked out the window of the treehouse. A military helicopter did a fairly low pass and a ladder dropped. This was their ride.
Yellow faces in the distance screams,
"The beauty is in what isn't said,"
I'm rising to my feet…
"Thanks for the lift, Captain Faraday."
Captain Faraday grinned under her flight helmet. "It's the least I could do after you and Ron helped with the outreach campaign."
"Three fundraising videos and a scouting troop visit, no big." Kim brushed it off as she usually did.
"And a badical rap about aviation careers!" Ron added.
"Boo-yah!" squeaked Rufus.
"Excuse me, you did what?" Captain Faraday tried to keep her tone flat.
Rufus began beat-boxing, then Ron came in.
"Yo listen up, have a hello from Ron
Aviation Rap is the name of the song!
Pilot, or maintenance, or air control tower
A high-flying career will give you jet power!
You've watched the air shows
You've even been up in the sky
And when you grow up, you can help the planes fly!
It's as easy as ABC
Or as they say in aviation, Alpha Bravo Charlie!
Who is that in the cockpit?
Yes that's right, it's a pilot!
Who's fixing the landing gear?
Give the airplane mechanics three cheers!
Who talks from the tower?
Air control officers with radio power!
Who protects us, from the air?
Military aviators right up there!
The future's in your hands, what path will you choose?
You can do anything, work hard and don't snooze!
There are so many trails you can blaze in the sky
If you put your mind to it, you can fly!
So the moral of the story, on wings of glory
The possibilities are endless
The risks you could care less!
This is why I'm telling you about it
Aviation needs your help, don't ever doubt it!
Who is that in the cockpit?
Yes that's right, it's a pilot!
Who's fixing the landing gear?
Give the airplane mechanics three cheers!
Who talks from the tower?
Air control officers with radio power!
Who protects us, from the air?
Military aviators right up there!"
"That was actually… impressive." Captain Faraday was surprised. "Perfect timing too, we're here."
Kim and Ron saluted, then parachuted down to the lair. Once inside, they looked for any clues of Drakken's whereabouts. No clues, until…
"Kim! Check this out!"
Kim went over to Ron, and saw what he was holding up. Drakken had left behind the map of Metru Nui.
"This is bad… this is so bad." Kim grimaced. "We have to bring them back to Earth before..."
"Before the Vahki apprehend them and they're stuck in another dimension?" Ron filled in.
"Something like that."
Just then, the air began to ripple and shimmer like a mirage. A swirling hole opened in front of Kim and Ron. Behind the hole was an aerial view of an island, illuminated with city lights. A great force pulled them in… and then the hole closed.
The rushing wind that came with free fall whipped through Kim's hair. She positioned her body so she would descend at a safer rate and keep her line of sight clear. She pulled her grappling hook hairdryer from her pocket and shot out the line to a sandstone obelisk. The hook embedded itself in the sandstone, and the line wrapped around the pillar like a May Pole. Kim was able to swing down to the ground. She retracted the line and put her gadget back.
Kim looked up at the skies. Two moons and endless stars shone through the night. It was a gorgeous sight… except Ron was nowhere to be seen. "I hope he's all right…" she worried aloud.
Soon enough, Ron fell on top of Kim. "KP! You're alive!"
"Of course I am," Kim scoffed, "now come on, we have some evildoers to find." She rolled Ron off of her and helped him to his feet.
Because tonight, the world turned in me
Because right now, I don't dare to breathe…
"Dr. D, you've had some good ideas and some bad ideas." said Shego.
"And?" Drakken challenged.
"Kidnapping a Vahki from its hive, where there are at least five other Vahki, is probably your worst idea ever."
"Shego, you underestimate their power!" Drakken rubbed his hands together, a devious smirk on his face. "With their staff beams, they can alter minds or stun someone! Kim Possible would be helpless against them!"
"I think you're the one underestimating their…"
Just then, Shego sensed a motion behind her. She pushed Drakken aside, and made a gesture for him to get away. Drakken wasted no time in doing so. Shego, on the other hand, turned around. Narrow sky blue eyes met Shego's hooded green eyes. It was a Zadakh.
"Oh, you wanted to chase?" she sassed. "Too bad. You're getting a fight."
The tan-armored Vahki was more than ready to fight. Its squad had been given the night off for New Year's Eve, and this one had been left out of the party. It backed up a few steps.
"Good, that's what I thought. You don't want to fight." Shego kept the acid-green flames around her hands. She spoke as if Po-Metru's resident robo-cop was obeying her, instead of the other way around. But she had overlooked a Zadakh's favorite tactic - overwhelming the target with excessive force, often with a nearly-unstoppable charge.
The enforcer's glowing sky-blue eyes burned like the sun at high noon. It paused… then came rushing at Shego faster than a football player. Shego stood her ground until the Zadakh was within a few feet… then lashed out with an explosive punch! Her strength combined with her glow burned through its neck swivel, blasting its head off. Then she ran to catch up with Drakken, before more Vahki showed up.
Oh, babe, I know, it's alive and somewhere for us to find,
Tonight, chase this light with me…
"AAAAAAAAAH!"
Kim whipped her head around at the sound of Ron screaming. She ran to his aid… only to see a charred Vahki head, eyes flickering before going dark. Kim's eyes narrowed. "Shego." she hissed. "We have to get her and Drakken back to earth before they do any more damage…" She cringed at the next thought in her mind, "...or get themselves killed."
They saw footprints in the sandy ground, and decided to follow them. "They're headed east towards Ga-Metru."
"Think we'll get to meet any Toa?" Ron asked. "Or perhaps some of the Matoran?"
Kim grabbed Ron's shoulder and spun him around. "Ron. Metru Nui isn't a theme park with character meet-and-greets. It's real. And more importantly, it can be dangerous."
"I don't see how bad it could…"
Just then, a rock came flying towards the two. Kim ducked, but it hit Ron on the head.
"OW!"
Ron clapped his hand over his mouth, but he was too late. A tall brown-armored figure came storming towards them. The scowl on his squarish mask said enough, but his words said even more. "Who are you, and what are you doing in my Metru?" It was Onewa, Toa of Stone.
"Uhhhhh…" Ron was at loss for words, leaving Kim to explain.
"My name is Kim Possible, and this is my boyfriend, Ron Stoppable. Who are you?"
"Onewa." said Onewa.
We're trying to look for two villains from our world."
Kim held out her Kimmunicator, showing a picture of Drakken and Shego. "Their names are Drakken and Shego."
"Did they have anything to do with that decapitated Zadakh? Because I don't want to take the blame. I'm in enough trouble as it is…"
"What kind of trouble?"
"The kind where Nokama lost her patience with me." Onewa scoffed. "I swear, water types are ridiculously oversensitive."
"Fact one, we're not here to get caught in your team's drama." snapped Kim. "Fact two, it doesn't sound like she's into you, so get over it." Onewa opened his mouth, but shut it again when Kim continued. "And fact three, you better have an apology ready."
"Why? Nokama's in Ga-Metru, and I'm not about to cross her."
"That's exactly why," said Kim, "Drakken and Shego are headed to Ga-Metru right now!"
My just so, my last call,
My life is yours in your gifted hands…
The New Year's countdown was broadcasting on the screens around the city. Nokama had been invited to the party in Ga-Metru by one of her former students, but politely declined. It was better to stay at her place, with Matau by her side. Vakama, Nuju, and Whenua were there too. Onewa had been kicked out, on account of smacking Nokama's hip armor.
"Don't hard-worry about it, love-dear," said Matau, "he's not near-close to you."
"And I'm glad. But don't you try anything either." Nokama admonished. Then she came close and whispered, "At least not while the other Toa are awake."
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it," grumbled Vakama. His light green eyes flared with anger when he opened the door.
"Onewa, I told you not to…" Vakama paused when he saw Kim and Ron.
"Who are they?" asked Vakama.
"Kim and Ron," said Onewa, "they're after some villains from their world." Kim held up the Kimmunicator, showing the picture of Drakken and Shego.
"Leave them to the Vahki," Whenua didn't look up from his e-book, "it'll keep them busy."
"That's just it!" Onewa shot back. "Shego blasted a Zadakh's head clean off!"
The room got very quiet, very quickly. Matau, as usual, broke the silence. "Well, they can't bad-harm Toa-heroes!"
"Your overconfidence isn't helping…" muttered Nuju.
"Matau may be overconfident, but he has a point." said Nokama. "If the Vahki can't handle these villains, we'll have to."
Confetti rainfall in a quiet street.
These things I've found are special now,
The knot is in my reach…
It was drizzling in Ga-Metru, the light rain sparkling in the starlight like confetti. It was quiet, except for the occasional party.
"Look, we can't kidnap a Vahki without getting killed or arrested." Shego felt it was necessary to give her boss a reality check. "Honestly, we should just go back to Earth."
Drakken, however, was not one to heed reality checks. "Not before I… hmm, what if we kidnap a few Matoran instead? They're small and weak - no threat at all. We could use them for parts."
"That's actually… smart." Shego admitted. "And if the Vahki try to apprehend us, an innocent citizen could be a bargaining chip."
Above their heads, Ron was hiding on a ledge with Matau. Kim was on another ledge nearby, with Nokama.
"This is wrong-sick." Matau looked horrified.
Ron glared at Matau. "One, that's my word. Two, shut it."
"Hang on," whispered Matau. He picked up Ron and put out his aero slicers like wings. Then with a war whoop, he summoned a great wind and glided down from the ledge.
"Oh, if it isn't Kim Possible's dopey sidekick." grumbled Drakken.
"And a Toa-hero!" Matau added. He set Ron down. "Say, who's that in the cool-awesome green suit?"
"Finally, someone who appreciates my style." Shego's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Get a good look now. I'll be the last thing you see!" Matau was shocked to watch green flames erupt around Shego's hands. The few seconds of surprise gave Shego an advantage. She swiped at Matau's mask, but the air type reflexes held true.
"Haha! Too ever-quick for you!" taunted Matau. "Might want to try… OW!" Smoke rose from a dent in Matau's leg armor.
"I just had my armor sanded!" Matau snapped. He snatched his aero slicers off his back and started making a whirlwind. Shego dodged it, and Matau continued to send it after her. Drakken got caught up in it, dizziness overcoming him.
"This fight is going to catch the attention of every Bordakh in Ga-Metru." worried Nokama. "Kim, do you have any ideas?"
Kim looked over and saw some knotted garlands hanging from a balcony railing. They were within her reach, and a plan began to take shape in her head.
"As a matter of fact, yes."
Because tonight, the world turned in me.
Because right now, I don't dare to breathe.
Oh, babe, I know, it's alive and somewhere for us to find,
Tonight, chase this light with me…
Kim held her breath as she saw a small group of Bordakh stalking towards the fight. She made some hand signals to Ron, who pulled out his decoy Kimmunicator. Meanwhile, Nokama was making the garlands into a net.
"Mata Nui, please let this work…" prayed Nokama in a whisper.
Shego and Matau were at a power-drained stalemate. Drakken was still trying to regain his bearings after being spun around in the whirlwind. And three Bordakh were not happy about the chaos. The trio of blue-armored, amber-eyed law enforcers emerged from the alley, ready to apprehend the villains.
A movie, still photograph,
Through a martyr's eyes can I see…
"I'm sorry!" Drakken cried out.
"For what?" Ron growled.
"For calling you a dopey sidekick! New Year's is a time of peace, I should know better! Please, help me, I beg you!"
Ron pretended to consider this. "Fine." He waved his arms, getting the attention of the first Bordakh. "Hey, over here!"
The first Bordakh turned its attention to Ron, and gestured for the other two to leave. It didn't need backup for a powerless troublemaker. As it came closer, Ron handed over the decoy Kimmunicator. On the screen wer a bunch of squiggly letters and numbers, some of which were backwards.
"Look at these curvy letters!" Ron teased. "Much curvier than most letters, wouldn't you say? No robot could ever read these!"
Now, the Bordakh was not amused, but it also wasn't about to give up. It began tapping at the touch screen, trying to decipher the nonsense.
Ron continued. "You look mortal, if ye be. You look and you type what you think you see!"
By now the Bordakh had figured out what the letters and numbers were. It began to type them in… then made a mistake. The screen came up with a new combination. Now the Bordakh was extremely frustrated. This only fueled its determination to solve the puzzle.
"Is it an E - or is it a 3? That's up to ye."
Ron gestured for Drakken and Shego to get away while the Bordakh was occupied.
I've seen the best of love, the best of hate
The best reward is earned,
And I've paid for every single word I ever said…
For a good minute, Ron's taunting of the Bordakh was an effective distraction. It was just enough time for Drakken and Shego to go on the run. And it was clear that Ron was having entirely too much fun.
"The passwords that passed, you correctly guessed, but now it's time for the robot test! I've devised a question no robot could ever answer. Which of these pictures does not have a stop sign in it?"
At this point the Bordakh had enough of Ron. More importantly, it had given up on the curvy letters and low-resolution images. It threw the decoy Kimmunicator down onto the nano-cobblestones, breaking the device. After making a series of annoyed electronic noises, the Bordakh stomped off.
"AAAAAARGH!"
"Let us go, you oversized…" SPLASH! "...never mind."
Ron whipped his head around to see Drakken and Shego snared in a net. Both of them were soaking wet. Nokama and Kim stood triumphantly over the captured villains.
"You think you're all that, Kim Possible, but you're not!"
"Oh, she is all that." Ron put an arm around Kim.
Confetti rainfall in a quiet street.
The beauty is in what you make it,
So get up on your feet…
The drizzle continued, catching the colorful light of illuminated fountains. "It's almost my favorite part of New Year's Eve…" breathed Nokama. She put her arm around Matau. "Kim, Ron, you have to see this before you go."
The central fountain began to glow in neon hues, in time with a song that Kim would have sworn she recognized - if only from a dream. Then, lights sparkled around the base, and the other fountains followed. To the surprise of the people from Earth and the awe of the Toa, jets of water shot up from the fountains and burst into fireworks!
"It's so beautiful…" Kim breathed. "Does this happen every night?"
"No, just for special ones." said Nokama. "I'd agree this is special… wouldn't you, Matau?"
"Very." Matau leaned in close. "Sweet-kisses, love-dear?" he murmured. Nokama nodded, allowing Matau to kiss her.
Kim and Ron looked back at the villains, who were struggling to get out and failing. Justice had been served.
Because tonight, the world turned in me,
Because right now, I don't dare to breathe.
Oh, babe, I know, it's alive and somewhere for us to find,
Tonight, chase this light with me…
The shining whirlpool opened in the scenery again. Except this time, a birds-eye view of Middleton appeared behind it. It pulled in the teen heroes and the trapped villains alike. They were headed home.
Kim and Ron landed next to each other, on their feet this time. Drakken and Shego were taken into police custody.
"Mission accomplished." Kim grinned. "Hey Ron, you think the fireworks will be as good as the ones on Metru Nui?"
"They'll be better." said Ron. "Because I'm watching them with you."
Because tonight, the world turned in me.
Because right now, I don't dare to breathe.
Oh, babe, I know, it's alive and somewhere for us to find,
Tonight, chase this light with me!
Kim sat on the platform of the treehouse. She was snuggled close to Ron and sharing a blanket. Then she looked at the time on her Kimmunicator. It was a few seconds till midnight.
"Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One…"
The first firework screamed into the air. It burst like a brilliant rainbow among the stars.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Two silhouettes in the light of the stars and fireworks slowly merged into one. Their new year was off to the best possible start… and there was only more goodness to come.
The End