R - Factor
"For whom the bell tolls"
By : Metallica
Make his fight on the hills in the early day
Constant chill deep inside
Shouting gun, on they run through the endless gray
On they fight, for they are right, yes, but who's to say?
For a hill, men would kill, why? They do not know
Suffered wounds test their pride
Men of five, still alive through the raging glow
Gone insane from the pain that they surely know
For whom the bell tolls
Time marches on
For whom the bell tolls
Take a look to the sky just before you die
It is the last time you will
Blackened roar massive roar fills the crumbling sky
Shattered goal fills his soul with a ruthless cry
Stranger now, are his eyes, to this mystery
He hears the silence so loud
Crack of dawn, all is gone except the will to be
Now they see, what will be, blinded eyes to see
For whom the bell tolls
Time marches on
For whom the bell tolls
Chapter 14 : Darkness rising
Somewhere on an unknown island shrouded in darkness a prophesized evil begins its master plan. The island is bare and desolate save for the large stone tower that lies in its very center.
The full moons light bathes this place but offers no comfort for the cold and eerie looking tower of black stone. As lightning flashes across the angry night sky it illuminates the tower just enough that if one was close enough they could see the thousands of human skulls that litter the ancient black stone.
A light is on at the very top of the tower casting a faint eerie glow from the large crimson window. Within this room are five beings. One who is considered the Master of supreme darkness sits upon their throne as a aura of black energy crackles around their form…known to many as the Mystical Gorilla Power or…the power of darkness.
The other four beings are lined up before the elevated throne, bent on their knees and bowing in respect and fear of their new master. Each of them here for one main purpose…Power and revenge upon Ron Stoppable.
One at a time they stood, their newly acquired powers flowing from them. Shego, Drakken, Monkey Fist and Fukushima loved the awesome feeling of the power flowing through their veins, lusted for its dark essence and craved even more of it.
"The one you seek, Ron Stoppable, will be gone for a few days my followers." Said an eerie feminine voice. "I know how all of you wish to have your revenge and you shall."
The voice continued. "I have given each of you a fraction of my power, go, use it to wreck havoc, panic, chaos and disorder. Kill all those who stand in your way! Make Stoppable suffer by putting his loved ones in their graves! Start first with Kim Possible…rape her, torture her, beat her…KILL HER! It will tear him apart and then my loyal servants…you may slaughter him at your own whim…now….GO!" The voice commanded.
With insane grins the four criminals bowed to their master and walked out of the throne chambers. The torches next to the throne flared to life shedding light upon its occupant. A beautiful young woman sat there with silvery white hair and the body of a goddess. Her ebony colored eyes told of her true nature, cold, heartless and evil radiated from them. A cruel mirthless laugh echoed through the room.
"Soon….yes….very soon Ron Stoppable." The Dark Goddess, Lucrecia, purred as she stroked the black bladed sword on her lap. "Soon…my plans will come to fruit and then no one…not even the Lotus Warriors will be able to stop me. I shall enjoy watching their pain and suffering…it will be so…..delicious."
Once again Kim was feeling ill, it had been going on like this for the past month…and she was…late. While she had a good idea as to why she was ill, she was a bit afraid to check. She really wanted Ron to be with her if she went in for a test but he was currently on the other side of the world.
Master Sensei of Yamanochi had called him back there saying that there was something urgent that needed his attention. Something had been disturbing the natural balance of Mana all over the world for the past couple of months but it had recently gotten worse.
Ron had explained that Mana was the Earths very life force, it was a energy that existed in anything and everything…it was omni-present and limitless. Whenever the balance was shifted or disturbed it meant that something or someone was causing problems for either the earth or another Mystic, like Ron, Scott and Doug had shown up.
This made Kim extremely nervous, as she was well aware that the arrival of another Mystic would pose a very likely threat to Ron. She decided that it was best that she not dwell on it, after all…Ron was very powerful and with the help of Scott and Doug nothing could stand against them…right?
Doug and Scott were sitting in Team Possible HQ; they were currently going over and helping Wade compile completed missions and various missions that were up for grabs between them, the armed forces and Global Justice.
"Shit…there sure are a lot of sick bastards out there." Scott grumbled. He had just pulled up a file on the KKK and Skinheads. The KKK were taking in the wannabe Nazi's and giving them training and education so that they could more easily get away with their crimes on legal standpoints.
"If I ever meet one of those white hooded pricks I'm gonna show them the business ends of Peace Maker and Widow Maker." Doug growled, his soul mate was African-American and he'd be damned if something happened to her because of a bunch of ignorant assholes dressed in bed sheets spouting off deluded and perverse ideals.
Wade chuckled. "We used to have a group of KKK around here…that is until Ron caught them. He put ten of them in the hospital and scared the crap out of the rest."
"What did they do?" Scott asked. "Give him shit about being Jewish."
Wade shook his head. "No…he let them say whatever they wanted about him…it was when they started targeting the Hispanic and Chinese members of the cheer squad and then they had the nerve to burn a cross out in front of mine and Monique's houses." Wade shrugged. "The leader was Tom Reager…Ron Reager's father. After they pulled that stunt Ron followed them to their little club house and well….let's just say that the Reager's property was leveled by the time Ron was done."
Doug smirked. "Harsh…but definitely my kinda style."
"Anyone know where the girls went off to today?" Scott asked.
"Yeah, they all went to that new Factory Outlet center near Upperton. I guess a bunch of new clothes stores opened up there." Wade said with a grin, he and Hope had been dating for a while now. "Why do you ask?"
Scott looked thoughtful for a moment. "I just have an uneasy feeling…guess I'm still getting used to not having to worry about Crusher anymore." Scott mused.
"Maybe….but I've been getting a funky feeling lately too, so has Ron." Doug stated. "Last I checked Ron was in Tibet investigating the disturbance in the Mana flow."
"Uh-oh…." Wade muttered and typed at his console frantically. "I'm getting a priority message from GJ…it's a code red….putting it up now." Wade said and Betty's face appeared on the tele-screen.
"This is a emergency alert from Global Justice Headquarters to all members of Team Possible." Betty's recorded voice said. "Upperton outlet mall has been attacked by Monkey Fist, Shego, Fukushima and Drakken. They are using some kind of new power and destroying everything in sight. Kim Possible has already engaged them but she is losing, the six GJ agents dispatched to the scene are dead…get there as soon as possible." The message ended.
"Alright guys, suit up and head out, I'll provide back up from here." Wade said going into full mission mode. Scott and Doug nodded and ported to their battle suits.
Kim let out a silent scream of pain as she was thrown into the wall, blood was pouring from her nose and mouth from where Shego sucker punched her. Her left arm was sprained and her leg burned from some weird black energy the four villains were firing off at people.
The sitch was bad, each of the villain's eyes were completely black and giving off an eerie red glow. They were acting insane with power and were incredibly strong…they had beaten her within a few minutes even when she used some of the power she shared with Ron.
"Marvelous power….splendid." Fiske cackled. "This is so much better than the Mystical Monkey Power!"
"Power is power…I don't care so long as I can destroy the outsider!" Fukushima sneered and fired off another blast at Tara, Monique, Bonnie and Hope. Felix was ten feet away on the floor unconscious. The elder Stoppable's had also been there, Ed Stoppable was on the floor, face down in his own blood and Ellen Stoppable was bent oddly over a chunk of masonry…her spine had been broken from the impact. Both were still alive…but barely.
Drakken giggled insanely as he blasted at anything that moved while Shego tore through the stores, destroying or stealing whatever she desired. Fukushima was laughing at the destruction he was causing until a blue and gold clad fist shot out of the shadows and nailed him in the jaw.
At that same moment, Scott swooped down in his half dragon form and carried Felix over to the girls, they took him and got out of the way…the only person he didn't see was Kim.
Doug found her and the Stoppable's; a pained look crossed his features before rage flashed in his crimson glowing eyes. As soon as Scott saw them his violet glowing eyes surged with rage as well.
Doug drew his Sai daggers and dashed at Fukushima who had drawn a sword. The ninja grinned insanely at his foe as he unleashed the dark powers within him and sent Doug flying into a brick wall with a blast of black energy.
"Shit...looks like the freak jobs got an upgrade." Scott grumbled.
"Then I say we give those bastards a systems crash." Doug growled and freed himself from the brick wall.
Monkey Fist however had other plans...plans his mistress had given them. "Alright you lot...lets get the bloody hell out of here...it's Stoppable was want." Fiske said.
The other villains nodded with grins as Drakken tossed a bomb on the floor. "Have a blast boys!" He laughed and ported out with the rest of the villains.
The bomb bounced on the floor and landed in the center of where everyone was standing. Doug and Scott cursed just mere seconds before the explosive went off. Doug, Kim and Scott, who were trying to shield the others got the brunt of the blast.
Doug was launched into the air once again as his right arm slammed into a support pillar, it was broken in two spots before he landed on the ground. Scott got nailed by a long piece of pipe that got impaled into his torso. Had it not been for their powers...both young men would be dead.
Kim wasn't quite as lucky...she hit the brick wall head first with a audible crunch. She was out cold; bleeding from her mouth, nose and ears...she would need medical attention ASAP.
Ron's parents had been blown back with Kim and like her...they didn't move a muscle after hitting the ground.
Deep in the mountains in Japan, within the sacred grounds of the Yamanochi school, Ron Stoppable was in deep meditation with Master Sensei. Together they hoped to discover the source of the disturbance of the earth's energy.
Ron suddenly felt a sharp pain in his skull and his link with Kim fluxuated violently. Glowing blue eyes shot open and looked at the worried expression of the elderly sensei.
"What is wrong, Stoppable-san?" Sensei asked.
Ron winced and grabbed his head. "It's...Kim...she's hurt...or in danger." Ron answered.
The elderly sensei sighed, showing all of his years of age. "It is as I have feared." He said. "The dark one had finally come and made their move. The imbalance of Mana was the warning."
"Stoppable-san...you and your friends have a very hard path ahead of you. The battle for the fate of this world is growing near and you must be ready to face what is to come...though I have nothing more to teach you...remember...life is a learning experience...and so too can be death." Sensei said.
Ron nodded his face had gone grim. "I understand Master Sensei. I will do my best."
"Go now Stoppable-san...your bonded needs you as do your friends." Sensei said.
In a flash of blue light Ron vanished, a black crackle of energy flitted about after his departure. Sensei sighed and shook his head. "Be true to yourself Stoppable-san...do not let the darkness control you...good luck my student...good luck.
Using what power that had left, Scott and Doug ported Kim, the girls and the elder Stoppable's to Middleton memorial. Upon their arrival doctors rushed to the group after several screams sounded off from the other people in the building.
Kim, the Stoppable's, Doug and Scott were immediately taken to the emergency room for operation and tests. Mere seconds later Scott and Doug removed themselves from the ER, neither of them desired to ever be in one ever again.
After Doug helped Scott pull the pipe out of his torso and bandage it up, Scott helped Doug set the broken bones in his right arm and then braced it.
"Ron is gonna go postal when he hears about this." Doug said, his usual laughing tone absent.
Scott just let out a grunt of agreement as he pulled off the bandages and cauterized his wound, the insides had healed already thanks to his powers.
"Damn man…that had to hurt." Doug said a bit disgusted.
"You have no idea." Scott answered without emotion.
"It's been four hours." Monique said as she walked up with Tara, Bonnie and Felix. "Do you think they are done yet?"
"Hard to say." Felix answered. "Sometimes these procedures go quickly and sometimes they don't."
As if summoned by their thoughts a doctor entered the waiting room, a grim expression on his features. This was followed by a sudden surge of energy in the air…Ron Stoppable had arrived.
"And this is where the shit hits the fan…" Scott mumbled.
"In more ways than one…" Felix added with a gulp.
Ron appeared in a flash of blue light wearing ninja garb, his eyes were glowing so dark blue and so bright at the same time that the normal cobalt color had almost turned navy.
"What happened….and where is KP?" Ron asked taking in his surroundings.
The doctor nervously cleared his throat…it wasn't everyday he dealt with power beings. "Mr. Stoppable….if you will calm down I will explain the situation to you…perhaps it would be a good idea that you take a seat as well." The doctor warned.
"I'll stand." Ron said shortly and motioned for the doctor to continue.
"Oh god….I don't get paid enough to deal with this." The doctor thought.
"Well…to answer your questions in short order…there was an attack by some of the local villains. The attack decimated a large portion of the Smarty-mart and ten civilians are dead. Ms Possible is now in surgery being treated for internal bleeding, minor skull fractures, a concussion and blunt force trauma to the chest and head." The doctor said.
Ron's muscles contracted and tightened to the point you could hear his skin strain against them. "Will she be alright?" Ron asked through gritted teeth.
"Yes…she should be fine and so should her baby…though the next 48 hours will be crucial." The doctor answered.
Ron's power level spiked and the others looked at him nervously. It was one thing to attack Kim…that pissed Ron off…but to attack her while she was pregnant….they didn't want to think of what Ron was going to do to Drakken and his friends.
"There….is more however." The doctor said nervously. "Your parents were also caught in the cross-fire…I want you to know that we have done all that we can for them. Mrs. Stoppable is in a coma and paralyzed from the waist down…Mr. Stoppable…if he survives will be paralyzed from the neck down. I'm sorry Ronald."
"Can I see my parents?" Ron asked softly.
The doctor nodded and showed them the way down the hall. When the group entered the room they saw Ron's mother in a deep sleep and attached to machines. His father was no better and was covered in bandages.
Ron's eyes returned to normal as he approached his fathers bed. "I'm sorry dad….I should have been there. It's my fault that you guys and KP were hurt." Ron said as his face contorted in a mixture of grief and rage.
Mr. Stoppable weakly opened his eyes and looked at his son. He offered a small smile to Ron since he could no longer move or feel the rest of his body.
"It's not your fault son, I…we have always been so proud of you and what you do." Mr. Stoppable coughed up some blood. "My only regret is that I'll never get to see you and Kimberly get married."
"Dad….your going to be alright….you'll be there….you've got to be…you have a grandchild on the way." Ron said almost pleadingly.
A single tear fell from the elder Stoppable's eye as he let out a sad rattling sigh. "My time has come son…I am happy for you though….please…take care of Kimberly and your mother for me. You'll…make a wonderful father……………." Mr. Stoppable's eyes rolled up as he took his last breath and the EKG flat-lined.
Ron closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. "Rest easy dad…you have my promise. " Ron said and covered his fathers face with a sheet.
Ron turned around and opened his eyes, they were now alternately flashing between blue and jet black. "Which of our old "friends" have the death wish?" Ron growled.
"Monkey Fist, Fukushima, Drakken and Shego." Scott answered. "They somehow got hold of some kind of dark, evil power and used it to take revenge on us."
"That . . . and to lure you out." Doug added.
"Fine…they'll get what they asked for." Ron said evenly.
"But Ron…what about Kim, you can't just leave her at a time like this!" Tara said upset.
"You all know what I must do…I will come back to Kim, but right now it's best that I leave and prepare for what I have to do." Ron said and teleported out of the room to stop any further argument.
Scott sighed. "It looks like his time has come as well…I hope he is fully prepared for what he has to do." Scott said showing little emotion on his face, his eyes however were a vortex of rage, understanding and upset.
Unknown to the others Ron ported into Kim's room. There was currently no one there and she was out like a light. He walked over to her and looked at the various injuries that she had obtained from the attack.
He knelt down and gently put his hand on her abdomen. A sad smile crossed his lips. "You know…I'd hoped that something like this wouldn't happen. But I guess it did…I knew it would, it comes with being a lotus warrior. I just wish that you didn't have to suffer because of it…but now…it looks like I have a job to do…I'm just grateful that you wont be there to see what I must do."
"I can hardly believe that I'm going to be a father." He said quietly and gently rubber her stomach. "I hope that I'm a good one…" Ron grew silent for a moment as he brush away some of Kim's hair from her face. She looked so peaceful sleeping like this…like she hadn't a single care or worry in the world.
"I love you KP, if…if I come back I want us to get married ya know. But if I don't make it…I want you to take care of mom and our baby for me…just remember…no matter what I will always be here with you."
Ron kissed Kim on the forehead and turned away, a look of grim determination was now painted on his features. With one last glance at the women he loved he teleported out of the room…this time to go and prepare for what was to come. There would be no forgiveness or mercy for his foes, they would pay for what they had done to Kim and his unborn child.
"….Ron….love you…." Kim mumbled in her sleep just seconds after he left her side.
Disclaimer : We do not own Kim Possible
Authors : DragonMaster & Doug4422 aka Epic Quest INC