Kim Possible and Street Hawk: Full Metal Rescue! 4

Disclaimer: I do not own Kim Possible, Street Hawk, Thunderbirds or Full Metal Panic! Wish I did though.

Departure and Preparations

On Merida Island, Sousuke is about to make another big decision, which doesn't really need pondering. Whether or not to let Kaname come along on the Tuatha de Danaan. On the plus side, she'd certainly be the first thing he'd want to see upon arrival. On the minus side, the Tuatha de Danaan is a combat vessel. No place at all for someone in Kaname's delicate condition.

He then sighs and says, "It confirms what my gut is telling me."

"What's it saying, Sousuke?"

Without jumping at Kaname's voice behind him, Sousuke turns around, looks Kaname right in the eye and says, flat out, "You're staying here on the island, Kaname. As much as I'd love to see you upon our return to the TDD-1, it's no place for you. I don't want to chance losing you or our baby if anything goes wrong. If anything happened to either of you, I wouldn't be able to think straight."

Kaname is about to protest when she hears Bonnie's voice. "Sousuke has a good point, Kaname. I mean, think about it. The TDD-1 is, by nature and rule, a combat vessel. As such, it's susceptible to threats of being sunk. One false move and, if you'll pardon the expression, you're sunk."

"I know, Bonnie. But, if he's going to use 'Arbalest', he'll need help to get through it all. I'm the only one that understands the technology that it uses. That's why he's been my protector."

"I'm sorry, Kaname. But, put yourself in his shoes. If you were a Specialist with a baby on the way, wouldn't you prefer not taking the chance of losing the baby?"

"I'd prefer not taking the chance, Bonnie." Tears falling from her brown eyes, Kaname then says, "Okay, I'll stay, Sousuke. I'll be waiting for you to return to us."

"I'll be back." Both Sousuke and Kaname have a good laugh over his 'Terminator' impression.

Ron nods in approval and looks over at a seated Kim, who is starting a Puppy Dog Pout while saying, "Please don't leave me here, Ron. I'll get very bored."

"I'm sorry, KP. But, like Sousuke's stand with Kaname, if anything happened to you or the kids, I'd go nuts." He then steps over to her and places a hand on her now nine-month belly. "I don't want to run the risk of losing you. At all. You're everything to me, KP."

"You're everything to me too, Ron. Come, sit down by me, honey. If I can't go, I might as well hold you until it's time for you to leave out." Ron nods and does so, while Sousuke does the same for Kaname. Both couples hold each other for two whole hours before the mission departure call comes.

Kim and Kaname both walk beside the loves of their lives as they head for the Base's submarine bay. When they see the TDD-1, Kim's mouth drops open in astonishment as she takes in the view. She then recovers her jaw in time to smile and turn to Sousuke.

"I guess you won't have to worry about a bigger boat anymore. This sucker is huge! I expect a full tour after the babies are born, Sousuke."

"Roger that, Mrs. Stoppable."

At that, Kaname smirks and remarks, "I may have seen it underwater, but it's certainly very impressive at the surface."

"You've seen it underwater?"

"That I have, Kim. That was right after Lieutenant Lunacy here thought it'd be fun to have us jump out of an airplane, linked together in a tandem harness and then splash down in the ocean."

Sousuke lightly chuckles as he says, "Kaname, I wouldn't exactly call it fun. I merely used the quickest way available to get us both onto the sub."

Kaname nods in agreement as she retorts, "Oh, that's right. The never-ending struggle between good and evil. You never had time to have fun at all, Sousuke. You know what your problem is? You're still not having any fun. Well, when this is over, I'll show you how to have fun. Even with your guns, explosives and other goodies."

Her eyes then glisten proudly as she softly adds, "My graceful Military maniac."

"My even more graceful fiery beauty. Before I met you, I was a war machine with hardly any emotions."

Kaname snorts incredulously and asks, "Hardly? Try none, Sousuke. But I understand that. In the field, you have to be cold and ruthless." She then cups his chin with her hand and softly says, "As long as you save that cold ruthlessness for the enemy, I don't have a problem with it." Just as she's about to engage him in heavy kissing, Kurz's voice interrupts the touching moment.

"Sousuke, Ron! Come on! It's time to shove off! Everyone else is onboard already!"

Groaning inwardly, Sousuke looks toward the blond sniper as he replies, "Roger that, Sgt. Weber!" He then turns back to Kaname and pecks her lips, saying, "We'll talk more when we get back, Kaname."

With proud tears starting from her eyes, Kaname nods and says, "You bet we will, buster. You better come back to me and our baby, Sousuke. If you promise me, I know you'll do everything in your power to fulfill it."

"I promise, Kaname. I promise I'll do everything in my power to return to you."

Kaname, with her tears still falling, smiles at that, takes Sousuke's hand and places it softly against her belly. "Go get 'em, boy."

"Arf-arf." Kaname and Sousuke both laugh, recalling what some gang member had called them when Sousuke first started out there.

'A rabid dog and his owner.'

Ron gently wraps Kim into his arms and says, "I'll be back soon, KP."

"I'll be waiting, Ron. Kick their asses and come back quickly. I'm going to need you when I go into labor again."

"Yes, my Princess." Kim blushes rosily at Ron's flattering use of her nickname from Sheila's repeated taunts.

"Ron! Not in front of the others. You're making me blush again. You're so lucky I love you so much."

"I love you so much as well, Kim." With that, he gives her a massive liplock, only for it to be cut short by a very familiar and clipped voice.

"Lt. Sagara and Mr. Stoppable, if you two men could cut your osculatory endevours until our return, we'd like to leave now."

"Coming, Commander Mardukas. Come on, Ron. Let's get on board before he decides to launch us out a torpedo tube. Just for thinking about the loves of our lives."

"I hear that, Sousuke." Turning to Kim, he smiles sheepishly and says, "We'll French some more when Sousuke and I get back with the others."

"I'm looking forward to it, Ron." She then steals a quick peck and sticks her tongue out at the stone-faced gargoyle that is the Executive Officer of the Mithril submarine.

Kaname steals a quick Frencher from Sousuke and does the same thing. "I look forward to more kisses, Sousuke."

"Roger." Without any further words, he grabs Ron by his arm and they both run to the sub, only to be greeted by Mardukas. "Lt. Sousuke Sagara and Mr. Ron Stoppable reporting for duty, sir."

Mardukas scowls as he says, "So glad you could join us, Lieutenant Sagara and Mr. Stoppable. What are you waiting for, soldiers? An engraved invitation? Get onboard already!" He blinks and finds they're scrambling inside.

Shaking his head and chuckling lightly, he catches sight of Kim and Kaname trying to stifle their giggles without much luck as they leave the submarine bay. He then shrugs and ducks back into the Conning Tower of the sub, securing the hatch soundly. Making his way to the bridge, he arrives there to see Lieutenant Commander Andrei Kalinin and Captain Teletha Testarossa, along with Rufus and Norman.

"Lieutenant Sagara and Mr. Stoppable are finally onboard, Madam Captain."

"Very well, Mr. Mardukas. Initiate starting sequence."

"Initiate starting sequence." As the sequence proceeds, he wonders what it would have been like to be a family man and shrugs. When it's all complete, he says, "All systems are go, Madam Captain."

Tessa then nods and says, "Very well. All ahead, full speed."

"All ahead, full speed."

With that, the bridge crew of the Tuatha de Danaan power the sub out of it's bay and onto it's mission. Two hours later, Norman is in the main hangar, watching as the work crew on the sub are fitting underwater propulsion units onto the Mithril Arm Slaves. As he watches, he finds the whole process fascinating.

His attention is then called to the communications panel. "Tuttle."

Tessa replies, "Mr. Tuttle, you have a communication on Channel Three. It's your wife."

"Thank you, Madam Captain." He then switches to the desired channel and says, "Hi, honey. How's Norma doing?"

"Oh, she's doing fine, Norman. In any case, the package has just arrived. When do you think you'll be home?"

"No idea yet, Jane. But thanks for the heads up. I'm sure they'll enjoy the contents of the package."

Jane can't help but smile as she says, "I can hardly wait to see their faces, Norman. Just like I can hardly wait to have you in my arms again." Jane can't help but laugh as Norman's face turns red.

Meanwhile, another part of the crew is in the process of giving the Arm Slaves that Team Hawk would be piloting a dark-colored paint job to match their usual uniforms. In another part of the hangar, the units for Team Hawk's Arm Slaves are being painted. In ten minutes time, the paint is dry and the units are on their way to be mounted.

Bonnie is in the hangar, currently looking over the specs for the Arm Slave she'll be piloting and whistles with each pass. She had done so thirty-eight times already, just to keep dark thoughts out of her head and also to familiarize herself with the M9's capabilities. Upon departure from the island, Bonnie had broken down into Hirotaka's arms, sobbing her heart out.

Ron and Sousuke are in the process of writing letters to their loved ones should anything happen during the mission. Both men are hopeful, but keep a grim reality about them.

Jessica is sitting alone in her quarters, looking at the picture of Jesse Mach. Looking at it and sobbing. "Mom misses you so much, Dad. I may not have known you, but I miss you too. Why'd those bastards kill you? Was it because of you being Street Hawk? Or was it something that just couldn't be avoided?"

On Tracy Island, Jeff is making the assignments. "Okay, we'll play along with the Hood. I've informed the targets about what had happened and they've agreed to assist in any way possible. Brains and I are going in Thunderbird 2. Sandy, I want you to go with Alan, Fermat, Tintin and Joss in Thunderbird 4."

"Are we meeting up with Team Hawk and Mithril at a certain point?"

Jeff nods and replies, "Yeah, you are Sandy. According to what Lieutenant Sagara said, the Hood's somewhere near the Perio Islands. The meet-up with the Tuatha de Danaan is thirty minutes away from here. You feel up to a rescue?"

"Hell yeah. Let's get this party started."

At that, the group goes over to the wall and is immediately transported into the hangar. Sandy, Fermat and Joss get the exit for Thunderbird 4 ready while Alan and Tintin get the submersible out of Thunderbird 2's belly. Alan eases the small sea-craft forward toward the exit as Sandy and the others rush to the submersible.

Once they're all onboard, Alan pushes the power to maximum and the submersible rolls along until it hits the sunken ramp. At that, Thunderbird 4 is officially at sea. Meanwhile, back in the hangar, Jeff is shaking in anger over the situation prompting his plan and hoping it'll work. He and Brains then get into Thunderbird 2's cockpit and initiate launch sequence. Within two minutes, Thunderbird 2 is in flight and en route to 'rob' the Hood's targets.

In the ocean, Sandy looks worriedly over at Alan and the others in her charge. She can't help but notice how Alan is the most concerned, even more than the others are. Calmly, she takes his hand and says, "Don't worry, Alan. Given your brothers are bound to have your determination, I'm sure they'll pull through."

"I know, Sandy. It's just that, well, have you ever had siblings in danger before?"

"No. But I was in danger once. Street Hawk got me out of that mess. The original one did anyway. The current one bailed out Commissioner Altobelli when he was in trouble, as did the original. In some aspects, he's very much like you guys. Brave, kind and willing to face any risk to see the innocent get out of dangerous situations." She then frowns as she adds, "As to this bunch we're about to meet, though. Mithril."

Curious, Joss asks, "What about them, Sandy?" She then opens her duffel bag and checks to be sure she has the rusted gardening shears and a branding iron with the 'Possible' brand on it. 'Excellent.'

"From my understanding and from what we had been told, this bunch uses lethal tactics even more often than Team Hawk does. Yet, I understand their position."

Her interest peaked, Tintin asks, "What's that?"

"The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist." Suddenly, she lets out a giggle, saying, "That's certainly the first time I've ever seen a garter get caught by a handgun's barrel."

"Say what, Sandy?"

"You'll see, Joss. You'll see." Within thirty minutes, they are nearing the meet-up point when the submersible's sonar picks up a larger shape.

"Alan, we have a sonar contact. Two hundred feet ahead of us. It should be the Tuatha de Danaan."

"FAB, Tintin. Reducing speed now." He then activates the communicator and says, "Tuatha de Danaan, this is Thunderbird 4 with International Rescue. Requesting clearance for docking."

They all hear a clipped voice reply, "Thunderbird 4, this is TDD-1 Control. You are to proceed to course 2-7-8 and slow to five knots."

"Course 2-7-8 at five knots. FAB, TDD-1 Control." As Alan makes his final approach, apprehension grips everyone as to what they would encounter once onboard the massive submarine. Alan then sees a doorway open and heads for it. To everyone's surprise, it's able to fit Thunderbird 4's size. As the submersible touches down, the doorway closes and the water drains out. When the draining is completed, they gently exit the submersible and open the hatch. The reception that greets them, they will never forget.

Armed Soldiers, wearing fatigues and with 'SRT' pins on them. They soon see a familiar face. One with a very familiar scar on his face. At the sight of him, everyones' jaws drop.

Sandy is the first to recover her jaw and speak as she says, "Thanks for the welcome, Lieutenant Sagara. But, don't you think all these guns in our faces is a touch much?"

"My apologies, Ms. McCoy, but ever since an incident involving an insane terrorist, we cannot afford to take chances. Sergeant Kyle, have your men and yourself stand down. They're friends and family of the ones we're rescuing today."

"Yes sir. You heard the Lieutenant, men. Stand down."

As the soldiers disperse, Sousuke gives a quick explanation. "You'll be briefed fully in about thirty minutes. We need to finish getting ready here. In the meantime, feel free to look around the hangar. Team Hawk will be coming out shortly."

Alan nods and says, "You got it, Lieutenant." At that, the group looks around the hangar while Sousuke goes back into the background.

As she looks around, Joss remembers Sousuke and says, "That's the guy that gave the daggers to the others. He also caught the garter with his gun. I thought there was something strange 'bout him."

Tintin shrugs and replies, "When you're a Thunderbird, you're bound to come across strange things all the time, Joss."

"Oh, how true that is."

Meanwhile, Kalinin and the others are in the Briefing Room waiting for Sousuke to arrive. Bonnie, naturally, has an uneasy look on her face and is trembling until Hirotaka takes her into his arms. Right then, Sousuke arrives and Kalinin begins.

"Now that Lieutenant Sagara has arrived, we can begin. Currently, we are heading for the Perio Islands region. DANA is constantly monitoring the tracking chips embedded in the handles. For this mission, we'll be deploying underwater. The Arm Slave preparations should be ready by now. You'll each split off into three groups. Lt. Sagara and Mr. Stoppable has the front sonar and infiltration. Sgt. Weber and Mr. Rockwaller has the propeller and propulsion system. Sgt. Major Mao, Miss Mach and Ms. Rockwaller will take the Conning Tower and disable all tactical aspects of the submarine. Any questions so far?"

Finding none, he goes on. "Lieutenant, once you and Mr. Stoppable have infiltrated the enemy sub, you are to seek out the couples and bring them out. Geybo 8 will provide evac for any wounded hostiles while the TDD-1 will house the couples until they can be returned home. Right now, we are working a backup plan should the case arise that you come across resistance. The clock is ticking. We have three hours before Thunderbird 2 arrives at it's first destination. I'm counting on each of you. Ms. Rockwaller?"

"Sir?"

"When the briefing is dismissed, please stick around. You look like you could use someone to talk to."

"Yes sir."

"Very well, that is all." As expected, Bonnie stays behind. "I see you're quite disconcerted about the whole thing. Do you think your sisters will not make it?"

"I'm afraid they might be dead already, sir."

"As long as there's life, there's still hope. Never give that up, at all. Always remember, the best steel goes through the fire. You have gone through the fire many times and gotten stronger. This time, it's a raging inferno, thus making it your biggest challenge yet. Don't get too hot under the collar, Ms. Rockwaller."

"Yes sir. I just gotta keep the faith, right?"

"Correct. Your AS suits and weaponry will be waiting for you in your cabins in about two hours. I hope you'll pass that on to your friends and family."

"I will, sir. Thank you, sir."

"As my usually destructive subordinate would say, 'It's not a problem'."

That has Bonnie laughing richly as she exits the room.