Their pounding feet hit the metal stairs as they head back toward the underground garage. Their hearts begin to pound faster with each step and each breath as the dread of this metal structure becoming their coffin creeps deeper into their minds with each passing second.
"How long do we have?" Kim loudly asks to Agent Du as she continues running up the stairs.
"I'm hoping a good fifty to sixty years," replies Ron as he runs behind Kim and ahead of Agent Du.
Agent Du looks at his wristwatch as he brings up the rear. "About six minutes," he answers.
"That's not good," says Ron.
"How much fur…" Kim asks before she stops herself from running into the door to the underground garage. "Never mind." Kim opens the door and holds it open for Ron and Agent Du, who quickly rush into the garage. Kim lets go of the door and continues right behind them.
"This way to the ladder," Ron says pointing to the first opening he created as he continues running.
Agent Du looks at his wristwatch. "We don't have enough time. We need to find another way out."
Kim stops and looks frantically around for any other way out. She notices the truck and then the opening above it. "The truck," she yells to Ron and Agent Du as she rushes over to it. Ron and Agent Du quickly follow. She looks up into the opening and spots the doors leading to the surface closed. "There must be a way to open those doors and start this lift," Kim says as she opens the truck's driver side door and looks inside. She sees a small panel with three buttons protruding from it on the truck's dashboard. Climbing in, she gets a closer look and sees the words open, close, and lift next to each button. "Spanking," she exclaims. "Guys I found it." She scoots over into the middle of the seat.
"Great," Ron says as he climbs into the truck and sits in front of the steering wheel, "press and let's go KP." He closes the driver side door.
"This is Agent Du," Agent Du says to all the other agents outside through his wrist communicator as he quickly walks in front of the truck and opens the passenger side door. "The building is going to explode. I repeat the building is going to explode. Get to a safe distance." He closes the door as he sits to Kim's right. "Okay, four minutes, let's get going."
Kim presses the button responsible for opening the shaft's doors. Nothing happens. She presses it again. Still, nothing happens. "Okay, this is bad," a concerned Kim says. Ron quickly pulls out the kimmunicator.
"Wade, a little help," Ron says. "We're in a building that's about to explode. We found a way out through a shaft in the garage but its doors aren't opening!"
"Where are the controls for the doors?" asks Wade.
"In the truck," Kim chimes in.
"You might have to start the truck in order to open those doors," informs Wade.
"We don't have the key," Agent Du says.
"Hey, we don't need a key," Ron says with a small smirk as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out Rufus. "We got him. If Rufus can program a VCR, then hotwiring this truck is cake. Right, Rufus?"
"Right," Rufus says. He then jumps down to the truck's floor and makes his way to a spot beneath the steering wheel.
"Excuse me, but let me get this straight," Agent Du says trying to get to grips with the concept. "That rodent is our only hope of getting out of here alive."
"Yes," Kim and Ron say in unison.
"I wonder if there'll be a lot of people at the memorial service," Agent Du says as his hope quickly deflates.
Rufus pulls out several wires and removes some of the plastic covering from two of them. He then brings the exposed wires together trying to get the starter going. The engine sputters, as if on the verge of starting but quickly dies. Rufus tries again. Still the same result. Sweat forms on Rufus' forehead as he tries starting the engine for the third time. The engine sputters before roaring to life. Rufus releases a huge sigh of relief before wiping his forehead.
"All right Rufus!" a wide eyed and excited Ron exclaims. Rufus jumps into Ron's pocket as Kim immediately presses the button that opens the doors. They hear a loud creaking of metallic joints moving above them as the doors part to expose the night air. She then presses the button to activate the lift. Immediately, the truck shakes as the lift beneath them slowly thrusts the truck upward.
"How much time do we have left?" Kim asks Agent Du. Concern laces her voice.
"Less than two minutes," replies Agent Du as he looks at his watch. Their hearts begin to beat rapidly as the lift continues to slowly propel them up to the street above. Patience wears thin with every passing second. "One minute." They see the night sky slowly crashing onto them while the scattered clouds relax in their stagnation. They can now smell the dissipating dampness of the air as they steadily but slowly reach the top. "Forty- five seconds."
Finally, the truck rises into a dirty alley next to the three story building.
"Thirty seconds," Agent Du says.
"Floor it, Ron," Kim shouts.
"Right," Ron says. He hits the gas hard and the engine revs with a roar, but they go nowhere. "There's something wrong. I'm giving it gas but it won't go." He begins to panic as he continues to press the gas pedal.
"That's because it's still in park," Kim yells.
"Oh, yeah," Ron says chuckling, "my bad." He reaches for the shift lever.
"Fifteen seconds," Agent Du exclaims in a panic.
Ron's fingers wrap around the shift lever. Kim suddenly notices that the engine is still revving. She looks down and sees Ron's foot on the gas pedal. "Ron, wait. Your foot's still…"
He pulls the shift lever down and puts the truck in drive. Instantly, they are violently thrown back into their seat as the truck rockets out of the allay way. "Building! Building! Building!" Agent Du frantically shouts while pointing at the building they head straight for. Ron turns the wheel hard to the right causing the truck to nearly tip over. Agent Du crashes into the passenger door while Kim collides with him. Ron then turns to the wheel to the left slightly to straighten the truck. Kim violently whips to her left and collides with Ron, who manages to keep his hands on the wheel. Agent Du crashes into Kim and sandwiches her between himself and Ron before the truck straightens allowing him to move back toward the passenger door. Kim bobs back to the middle.
Suddenly, a loud, thunderous boom fills the night sky as the brick building implodes and collapses onto itself floor by floor spewing dust and debris into the air. Ron stops the truck and looks into the driver side mirror along with Kim to witness the event. Agent Du looks into the passenger side mirror to do the same. They see the building fall like a house of cards until a plume of dust rises into the air. After a few moments, the dust settles and they see only the remains of the fallen building gathered in a huge pile of brick and mortar.
"A villain's lair imploding," says Kim. "That's kind of new."
Ron opens the driver side door and climbs out, followed by Kim while Agent Du exits the truck via the passenger side. Several agents begin to emerge from their places of refuge and gather around him like ants to a piece of cake that has fallen onto the ground. They too soak up scene of the building's devastation.
"Thank goodness this part of the city is deserted," comments one agent.
"All right," Agent Du says turning to face them. "Is everyone accounted for?"
"Yes sir," answers another agent. "You warned us just in time."
"Good," a relieved Agent Du says. "I want this area secured. Most likely, he escaped but we have to make sure. I'll inform Dr. Director about the situation and that we need a clean up and search crew." He reaches for his small hand held radio tucked away inside a compartment in his belt and begins to walk a short distance away before catching a glance at Kim and Ron. Ron has his arm wrapped around her shoulders while Kim wraps her arm around his waist and leans her head against his shoulder. At least, something went right for a change. He stops, turns on the radio and prepares himself to give a field report to Dr. Director.
"It's over," Ron says griping Kim tighter to him.
Kim remains silent. She just stares at the newly formed rubble as she loses herself in her thoughts. What else would that psycho have done to me if Ron hadn't rescued me tonight? He wanted me to suffer, but why? What did I do to him? Did I even do anything?
"A penny for your thoughts," Ron says to Kim.
"Huh?" Kim asks coming out of her thoughts. She turns to face him.
"Well, I would offer more but I'm kind of in a monetary hole," Ron replies, "for what seems like forever."
She offers a weak smile at his comment, glad to be with him again after a brief, but intense separation. "I was just wondering why he wanted me and why he…" She stops before completing her sentence. Turning back to the rubble, she develops a far off look, struggling whether to tell Ron what she endured. Does he need to know? Do I even want to relive that ordeal again as I describe it to him?
An inner battle also rages in Ron. I know the answer to the first question. Now that it's over, should I tell her? Yes! She deserves to know why The Artist wanted her and what he put her… Oh my gosh! He must have started breaking her as soon as he placed her in that room! Oh Man! Wait… He searches his memory of their recent reunion. Every action, every comment, he relives and replays.
Kim notices Ron in deep thought. Something's up. "Ron?"
"Why did you ask if I was real?" Ron asks finally ending his mental search.
"What?" Kim asks.
"When I found you," Ron says with concern, "you asked if I was real. Why? What happened in there? What did he put you through?"
Kim stares at him for a moment and closes her eyes. I have to tell him. She takes a deep breath, preparing herself to relive her ordeal. Here goes. "Ron…"
"Miss Possible," Agent Du says interrupting Kim, "Dr. Director wishes to speak with you at GJ headquarters and allow the medical staff to look you over."
"Can it wait till like tomorrow?" asks Kim.
"It's rather urgent."
"Well, I'm totally way past my curfew already," Kim says with a shrug. She then realizes her parents must be worried sick. "Oh my gosh, my parents. They must be beyond freaking right now."
"No worries KP. I told them what's up." Ron reassures her before a look of horror develops on his face. "Ah, man. I forgot to tell my parents that I was going out to find you when Wade got a location. I called them before I talked to your parents and they gave me 'the call to inform us where you're going or where you are so we don't worry' talk. And I didn't do that. I am so dead!"
"I'm sure they'll understand," Kim reassures him.
"So they won't ground me?" Ron asks with a weak smile.
"Oh, you are so grounded," Kim says.
"Ah, if you two are done," Agent Du impatiently interjects.
"Oh right," Kim says. "Let's get this over with. Come on, Ron." Agent Du reaches into his belt and pulls out his RCM. Pressing the button, a black GJ hover jet with red undercoating appears overhead and stops directly above them. Doors on its bottom open and a cable drops down. Agent Du grabs it and waits for Kim and Ron.
"Not again," Ron says as he and Kim each place a firm hold on the cable, which immediately recoils pulling them rapidly up toward the hover jet. "Ahhhhhhh!" screams Ron. He once again ends up on the floor of a hover jet while Kim and Agent Du land with gracefully elegance onto their feet. Once they're inside, the doors close and Agent Du makes his way to the cockpit. Kim offers her hand to Ron, who gladly accepts it, and helps Ron to his feet. "You'd think they would have a better way to get on these things," Ron says.
Kim just smiles. "We better strap into our seats."
They quickly make their way to the red plush passenger seats situated behind the pilot and copilot seats and buckle their seatbelts right before Agent Du pushes the throttle. Pilot and passengers feel the force of the jet's acceleration as they are pushed back into their seats for a few seconds then bounce back to a comfortable position. Besides the hum of the engine, silence fills the next few minutes. Agent Du gives his undivided attention to the task at hand, namely fly back to GJ headquarters. His passengers, on the other hand, wage a small battle within themselves.
Should I ask again? Ron takes a quick glance at Kim, who stares at the floor. Should I press on with why she asked if I was real? He turns quickly away when Kim glances up at him.
He wants to ask again. She turns away and stares straight ahead. I want to tell him but… She bites her lower lip.
The artist must have done some totally awful things to her. If only I was with her. She would be home in bed right now. Ron's face holds a downcast expression. Why her? I mean she's a hero, a good person. She did nothing to deserve whatever he did to her. He closes his eyes and clenches his fists holding down the building anger. If he still is alive, he deserves what's coming to him.
Kim glances back at Ron and immediately sees his closed eyes. She looks down and notices his clenched fist. She reaches over with her hand and gently engulfs his fist nearest to her. Ron feels her hand and opens his eyes. Looking down at her hand laying on his, he slowly loosens his fingers under her gentle pressure. She then works her fingers into his ever opening hand until each holds the other's hand. He looks up and locks his eyes with hers, which simultaneously express relief and turmoil. He also sees their light, bright as ever. The dark fog of anger growing within him begins to dissipate and break up as her light continues to shine into him. In the void left by the fog, a peace settles in.
"Ron, it's all right," Kim says in a soothing tone.
"It's just that right now all I want to do is hurt him right back for whatever he did to you."
Kim just continues to stare into his eyes. She sees the remains of his anger lingering within them. I'm going to tell him. "Ron…" She takes a deep breathe. "Ron, he injected me with some kind of nanotechnology that allowed him to inflict intense pain on me." She stops to see his reaction. He continues to stare at her. The anger begins to grow within him again. She squeezes his hand, reassuring him that she's okay. "He then released some freaky gas that made me see… and feel things that seemed so real. That is why I asked if you were real. I didn't know whether you were another hallucination or not."
"Now I really want to lay a hurting on him," Ron says in a controlled, angry tone.
"Ron, it's over," Kim says. "You saved me."
Ron softens once again. "I'm just… I'm just so glad that…"
"I know, Ron," Kim says. "I know." They continue to stare at each other, their hands still clasped. Slowly, they lean in toward each other with eyes locked. Then they close in as they get closer and closer together.
"We're ten minutes away from GJ headquarters," Agent Du says interrupting the moment. Kim and Ron stop their progress.
"Ah, man," a disappointed Ron says to the back of the pilot's chair. "Dude, you have such the worst timing." Kim then quickly plants a quick kiss on Ron's cheek. Startled, Ron just turns to Kim. He just smiles at her.
"Put these on," Agent Du says handing them two black blindfolds while keeping his eyes on the very late night sky. Kim and Ron take one each.
"Definitely, cloak and dragger," Kim says.
"Just standard procedure, Possible," Agent Du says.
Two blocks away from the implosion, in the dust covered basement of another abandoned building, a trapdoor flies open and a slightly annoyed brown haired man in a black duster climbs out of hidden shaft. He stands up, turns around to the trapdoor, and slams it shut, releasing some of his frustration before he begins to pace back and force berating himself.
"I had her. I had her and I lost her." He shakes his head. "You were overconfident. You thought you would never be discovered. Well, guess what? You were." He stops and a grimace of frustration crosses his face as his insidious mind just develops an insipid idea. "Man… that would have been so sweet to do on her! I could have done that and really done some damage!" He once again paces. "I'll make a metal note of that one. Right now, I have to think of another way to mess with her. Three years of planning and preparation, and it ends this easily and this quickly. I don't think so. I have to strike while the iron is hot… or some other expression that means hurry before you lose this opportunity. Deep down she probably thinks I'm not gone but she won't expect a second act to this little production of mine right away. GJ might, but, if I hurry, they won't be able to stop me. They still don't know what I look like, so I got that going for me." He stops pacing once again. "Perhaps a more direct approach will be appropriate since I don't have much time… and I just imploded my lair. So to further mess with her, I'm going to have to go with Plan B, B as in by the seat of my pants."
He walks to a metal cabinet, the only article of furniture in the room, and opens its doors. Inside resides a hand held black tranquilizer gun carrying a single cartilage containing five darts, a lone capped syringe filled with a transparent liquid, a small plastic container, and a small black remote. He carefully places the syringe into the plastic container, which he then places into his duster's inside pocket. He takes the hand held tranquilizer gun and places it into his right duster pocket while taking the remote and placing it in his left duster pocket. He closes the cabinet's doors and walks back to the trapdoor. He stoops down, opens it, and climbs down the shaft, back into the darkness.