"Sending you the coordinates now," says Wade's image, which is on a panel screen aboard a GJ hoverjet, to Dr. Director, who sits in its copilot seat
"Coordinates received," says the pilot.
"Good," says Dr. Director. "Thank you, Wade. We'll do our best to get there as fast as we can. The storm may slow us up a bit but it won't stop us."
"Hurry, Dr. Director," says Wade before his image disappears from the screen.
Dr. Director pulls out a thin, active laptop computer from the dashboard. With a few keystrokes, a map appears on the screen showing a large, blue C-shaped mass outlined by mostly green on the outside and mostly black and brown on the inside. Using the touchpad, Dr. Director moves the focus of the screen from the C-shaped mass to a large brownish green spot.
"Since the winds are becoming too strong for our hoverjets to hover over the house, we'll have to land in this clearing. It's the only place big enough in the immediate area for the entire squadron. From there, we use the ATV's and make our way up the smooth, gently side of the bluff."
"We should reach the clearing in five minutes," informs the pilot.
"And be at the house in twenty," replies Dr. Director.
The squadron of hoverjets zooms onwards, ripping through the black, night sky.
The two combatants stare each other down while the onlookers gaze in anticipation and anxiety. Each one, a ball of tension, waits for the other to make a move, ready to react.
"Well?" asks Kim.
"Well what?" replies the man.
"This is usually the part where the villain… you, the Artist… tells the hero… me… his grand scheme."
"Okay, first, I'm really sick of that name. I promise you, before the end, you will know my name. Second, I thought this was the part where the hero… you… tells the villain… me… to let my captives go with 'This is between you and me' or 'I'm the one you want' or some other clichéd dramatic one liner."
"Fine. I'll go with the second option because it's true."
"And I bet you racked your pretty little head wondering why. Speaking of which, how's your head. It hit the floor pretty hard… you know… when I drove it down."
"It's better. In fact, I'm so grateful that I want to return the favor ten-fold."
"Ooooo. In that case, I better go into the rant. Pay attention boys and girls. It's that part of the story where you'll find out why, the realization of my motivation, my fascination, and I think an ever growing obsession, to turn Kim Possible's life into a nightmare, into a shadow of its former self. Yes, here it is, the answer to the question that's on everyone's mind."
"I see you have the rant down," says a slightly bored and deadpan Kim.
"Thank you. I was practicing in the other room a few minutes ago."
"So that's why you left the room?" asks Ron. "To practice your rant."
"Hey!" replies the man looking at the bound Ron. "I'm new at the ranting part okay? I didn't want to sound like an idiot."
"That's left to be seen," replies Kim.
"Oh, you hurt me so," says the man feigning hurt. "But not as much as I will to you."
"Yeah, you've made that abundantly clear. But…"
"… the why. Oh the why." He smiles amusingly. "You'll love this."
"Ferociously doubt it," retorts Kim.
The man takes a moment to collect himself, bringing his hands in prayer form up to his lips. He takes a deep breathe before continuing. "I wanted to see if the great Kim Possible could be taken down, broken, hollowed out, striped of everything inside her that makes her her and left empty."
"Okay, not really a reason," Kim says coldly. She continues to stare the man down. "But at this point, I'm starting to really not care anymore."
"I did it for the challenge," the man blurts out. "As I stated a few moments ago, you fascinated me. That fascination grew with every news clipping I read, every news broadcast I saw. There was no anger, resentment, or disproportional revenge behind it, just fascination to see what it would be like, if it could be done. You're Kim Possible. You're practically unstoppable, doing the impossible. And I wanted to see if I could be the first one ever… to take you down." He smiles innocently and shrugs. "I had nothing else to do."
A carnage of anger boils within Kim. Her heart pumps faster and her breathing increases. She's about to explode and it takes all she has to contain it. "You did what you did to me just because you were bored!"
"What can I say," says the man sheepishly, "it's the blue fox in me."
The waves of her anger splash onto his face. She's about to blow. Let's see if I can set her off.
The man continues. "In order to prepare myself for what I considered my greatest challenge, I needed practice. I couldn't just start on the fly. So I turned to good, old Global Justice. If I could break any one of its agents, I had a shot to break you. It's all about confidence, baby. And mine grew after the first agent. Now, she was spit fire. She didn't crack until four months in. During that time, I saw the art of torture, transforming a person into a sculpture of suffering, a shell of their former selves. It's just a battle with the mind. Overload its sensory input and it breaks down. How you overload it, well… that's where the imagination comes in. So I found an outlet to express myself. Now I won't bore you with details of what I did to her and then to the other two agents. But I will confess. I liked it. That power over someone you've just broken. Intoxicating. And to add a little spice to my 'works of art', little notes to entice and infuriate Global Justice. You see, bottom line, I kidnapped and broke those agents because of you. It's all because of you, Kim Possible. Yes, it's just you."
Anger becomes mixed with disgust and shock within Kim. "You are so sick… and… inhuman."
"Sick and wrong," comments Ron, who shares in Kim's disgust and repulsion. "Totally sick and wrong."
Rufus shares his agreement. "Ah-huh."
"You sir… need help," says Mr. Possible, "and lots of it."
"How can you look at yourself in the mirror?" questions Mrs. Possible. "How can you even stand there proud of what you've done?"
"So totally a sick freak," says Jim and Tim in unison.
Unfazed by their comments and disgust, the man just smirks. "Okay, now tell me how you really feel?"
Kim balls up her gloved fists along her sides. "I think I'll share my feelings through my actions."
"Well, don't keep me waiting."
Kim rushes toward the man, who likewise does the same. As soon as they meet, they engage in a heated, close combat fight. Each throws jabs, crosses, and hooks that the other sidesteps or blocks. Kim then performs a spinning right kick but the man ducks and tries a leg sweep. Kim performs a backflip, avoiding the maneuver. The man quickly gets up and spears Kim just when her feet touch the carpet, driving her to the floor. He quickly gets up as Kim hugs her mid-section. Flashes of pain stream across her face as she turns on her side. The man grabs the back of her shirt collar with one hand and grabs her belt with the other. He then lifts her up and drives her stomach down on his bended knee, inflicting still more damage. Kim cries out in pain.
"Kim!" yells Ron wearing a mask of concern on his face.
"No!" says Mrs. Possible.
"Stop it!" growls an irate Mr. Possible, who struggles to free himself from his binds.
"Come on, Kim!" Jim and Tim yell in unison, encouraging their sister.
The man, still holding on to Kim, smirks at Mr. Possible and the rest of her family before tossing her over his shoulder. He carries her to the table before slamming her on top of it. The table remains intact.
"Sturdy table," comments the man.
In quick retaliation, Kim reaches for a heavy, large book lying just above her head with both hands and slams it right into his face. The man staggers back. Kim gingerly hops off the table while still holding the book.
"Sturdy book," she retorts.
"Yes!" Jim and Tim yell simultaneously
"All right, Kim!" yells Ron.
"Yeah!" yells Rufus.
The man, still dazed while a throbbing pain screams throughout his head, throws a punch at Kim, who blocks it with the book. He instantly recoils his fist and cradles it in his other hand, grimacing in pain. Kim then swings the book at his head. He ducks just in time and jumps back a few steps.
"Strike one." Kim takes another swing, which he again avoids. "Strike two. If that's the best you got then you should head back to the minors, kid." At the instant he finishes his sentence; Kim delivers a swift kick right to the man's groin. The man freezes where he stands with a shock, wide eyed, and pain filled expression plastered on his face while all the males in the room react accordingly, sympathizing with his pain.
"Ooooo," they collectively say together as they close their eyes and turn away.
"Booyah, Kim," yells an excited Mrs. Possible.
With her target stationary, Kim swings the heavy book a third time and squarely connects with the side of the man's face. The force of the impact causes the man to leave his feet. He twirls in the air, and lands face first on the carpet.
"And it's out of here," says Kim as she tosses the book on the carpet. She cautiously stalks her nemesis, who rolls onto his back. He looks up to see her standing over him. "It's over," she says to him. The man starts to chuckle at her statement. Kim raises an eyebrow. "I miss the joke."
The man instantly stops and gives her a hard cold look. "The joke is you. You think just because you defeat me tonight that it's over. I go to jail or some GJ detention center and then what? I just give up, reform, and move on. Please. Once I start something I finished it." Kim remains silent. "This time I only kidnapped your loved ones. Next time, they're fair game."
"Stay away from them," Kim warns venomously.
"Remember what I said to you during our little time together. Choices and Consequences. The ones we make and the ones we don't. You made the choice to be a hero, to help others. And like any choice, it has its consequences. You chose to keep a high profile. Anyone who wants retaliation or just to get under your skin now and then can do it indirectly via your family and friends. I guess that's why many heroes keep secret identities in this line of work." He cautiously sits up while still looking Kim right in the eyes. "Of course there is one way…"
"No!" Kim says immediately. "I won't."
"So you have thought about it," the man says grinning. "Interesting." Still feeling the affects of the kick, he gingerly gets up. Kim, ever alert, never takes her eyes off of him. He slowly leans in and whispers in her ear, "I beg that Jos is a screamer too."
Kim snaps. She hip tosses the man unto the floor, quickly stoops down, and begins to pelt his face with punches. Each one fuelled by rage. Tears start to fall as she continues her assault.
"Kim, stop!" yells her mother.
Kim continues to punch away. Bruises and cuts form on the man's face while her knuckles begin to bleed underneath her gloves. She doesn't care.
"Don't Kim," yells Ron. "It's what he wants!"
Kim freezes in mid punch. While breathing heavily, she slowly turns her head and faces Ron with tears still streaming down her face.
"He's whole thing is to break you, to beat you," Ron continues. "He knows that you won't forgive yourself if you continue going down this road. It's just another way to ruin you. Don't let him win. Don't let it win. You made a choice to help others… to be a hero, and I made a choice to help you… to be there for you every step of the way."
"We all did, Kimmie," says Mr. Possible. "We all know the consequences of your choice and we accept them because we know who you are. You want to help others and you do. We have never been prouder."
"Yeah," Jim chimes in. "Even though you can be a pain most of the time…"
"…we think it's cool you save the world on a frequent basis," continues Tim.
"Well… almost as cool as you beating trash like that," says Jim nodding his head at the man.
"Please, baby," says Mrs. Possible, "let the authorities handle him now."
The man groans. "Please continue beating the snot out of me. I might be lucky and pass out before I have to listen to anymore of this family togetherness crude."
Kim turns to face the man and just looks at him for a moment before lifting him up by his shirt and delivering one final hard punch square in the face. The man's head snaps back from the blow before he passes out. Kim drops him roughly onto the floor before slowly getting up, shaking and breathing heavily.
She wipes her cheeks with her the back of her left hand and only responds with a smile as she makes her way to her family. "Ahhhhhh!" she screams as pain floods her body. She collapses onto the floor. Not this again!
"Kimmie!" yells Mr. Possible and Mrs. Possible in unison.
Jim and Tim gasp as they see their sister collapse, screaming in pain.
"Oh-no!" says Rufus.
"Kim!" yells Ron.
"Ahhh!" Kim screams again. The pain moves across her body like the lightning against the night sky outside. She can barely breathe. The intensity becomes almost unbearable. Every muscle burns with acidic pain until it stops. She lies prostrate and motionless on the carpet. Her muscles ache with pain reminiscent of muscle tear after a strenuous weight training session.
After a few moments, she stirs and tries to get up. Another shot of pain hits her as every nerve fires an overload of information to her brain. "Ahhhh!" she screams collapsing again. It stops again. This time she stays down, breathing heavily.
"What happened?" asks Jim.
"Are you all right, Kim?" asks Tim.
"Please, baby, say something," pleads Mrs. Possible as she tries to free herself from her metallic restraints.
"Weren't expecting that were you?" asks the man who slowly gets up. His face is a canvass of black and blue while blood tickles down from a cut below his right eye, but he still manages to grin at the sight he sees.
Ron looks at the man, still in shock at what has just happened when he notices the man holding a small black remote. Then he remembers what Kim told him on the hoverjet. Ron, he injected me with some kind of nanotechnology that allowed him to inflict intense pain on me.
"You did this to her," Ron says. Now his anger begins to boil. He struggles to get free but fails.
The man laughs. "What can I say? I have this nasty habit of injecting nanobots into an unconscious Kim Possible." The man slowly walks to his prone and vulnerable prey. He collapses onto his knees next to her body. Kim, exhausted, manages to turn her head to look at him. He smiles and looks up at her family. Each one wants to simultaneously help Kim and tear the man apart.
"I told you it wouldn't be dull," the man says to them. He takes a deep breath and soaks in the moment. A small chuckle escapes his lips before it grows into a sinister, victorious laugh. "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"
Suddenly, the doors of the library burst open and Agent Du and a group of rain soaked GJ agents flood into the library. They quickly surround the man.
"Talk about a major let down," the man says frustrated. "Of all the times you people show competence, it has to be now."
The two agents grab the man's arms and pull him to his feet. Exhausted, battered, and bruised from his recent fight, the man offers no resistance. Agent Du stoops down next to Kim and checks on her condition.
"Maybe it was your overconfidence and arrogance that got the best of you," retorts Dr. Director as she enters into the library. Her rain soaked dark blue trench coat leaves watery tears on the crimson floor as she makes her way to the captured man.
"Good point, Doctor," replies the man. "By the way, love the eye patch. It suits you."
She stares down the man, getting a good look at the man for the first time. "Well, not as suiting as the colors black and blue on you," she retorts.
"What can I say," says the man, "girl's got spunk."
Without looking away from the man, she asks Agent Du about Kim's condition, "How is she?"
"She's alive," says Agent Du. "But she needs a doctor."
"I'm a doctor," says Mrs. Possible. "Get me out of these things so I can help my daughter!"
"Get them down Agent Du," orders Dr. Director.
"Right away," Agent Du says.
He starts to get up but Kim grabs his wrist. Turning to face her, Agent Du sees her holding her laser pen light in her other hand up to him. He flashes a quick smile before taking it from her. Kim rests her head on the carpet once more, relieved. Agent Du quickly goes to work on Mrs. Possible's metallic bands.
"Well, well looks like we finally caught you," says Dr. Director looking the man in the eyes. She quickly flashes a smile before it fades. "You're going to get what you deserve after what you did to my agents, Artist."
The man stares right back. "You know, I'm not that worried. By the way, that name, it makes me want to do this."
Suddenly, several small pellets drop from his duster sleeves and unto the carpet. Upon impact, bright flashes erupt, momentarily blinding everyone in the room. While everyone staggers and gropes the space around him or her, the man makes a mad dash toward the window Kim crashed through earlier.
"Stop him," yells Dr. Director as her eyesight returns to normal.
Several agents run after him but he reaches the window before they can apprehend him. The man jumps through the open window head first as a bright flash of lightning erupts in the night sky followed by an ear piercing boom of the thunder. Two of the agents look out the window but all they see is the darkness staring back at them as the sound of the tumultuous waves crashing and battering the bluff's rock face down below. They turn back to Dr. Director, shaking their heads and shrugging their shoulders.
Dr. Director lets out a sigh of frustration. We had him! She turns around to see a freed Mrs. Possible checking on her daughter. Agent Du continues to free the others. "Dr. Possible, we'll take you and your family back to GJ headquarters. We have a medical bay where you all can get checked by our doctor."
"All right," says Mrs. Possible, who has rolled Kim unto her back and now grasp her hand. She brushes a few strands of her daughter's hair from her forehead. She smiles as Kim smiles back.
"Cool!" says Jim to Tim as they wait to be released by Agent Du. "We're going to GJ headquarters."
"Sweet!" replies Tim.
"Command," says Dr. Director through her wrist communicator.
"Yes, Doctor," replies a female voice.
"Inform Dr. Hart to prepare the medical bay," orders Dr. Director. She glances at the twins. "And go to security level two."
"Level two?" inquires the female voice.
Dr. Director glances again at the twins, who are now released from their metallic bands. Their excitement of going to GJ headquarters clearly expressed.
"Hic-a-bic-a-boo," says Jim.
"Hoo-sya," replies Tim.
"Better make that level three," says Dr. Director.
"Honey, can you get up?" asks Mrs. Possible.
"Yeah," Kim says weakly. Her muscles still burn and ache. She tries to get up.
"Here, KP," Ron says rushing to her side. He gently grabs right her arm and guides her up. "Let me help you."
"Thanks, Ron," Kim says with a smile.
Once on her feet, Ron gently places her arm over his shoulder and wraps his arm around her waist. They slowly walk toward the doors of the library. Mr. and Mrs. Possible walk hand in hand closely behind them. Jim and Tim follow, still beaming that they'll soon be at GJ headquarters. Most of the agents slowly file out close behind the Possibles. Agent Du trails behind before noticing Dr. Director standing in front of the open window with her back to him. He quietly approaches her until he's standing next to her. The wind, which has died down, and the rain, which has lessen, pelt them lightly through the open window.
"We had him Agent Du," says Dr. Director as she breaks the silence. "We had him and he got away."
"You don't think…"
"Until I see his body for myself," she says. "Take some agents and comb the area. Search everywhere, the forest, the shore, the lake. I'll take the Possibles to headquarters and send a task force with equipment to aid in the search. We have to be certain."
"Yes Doctor," says Agent Du. He quickly walks out of the library, wasting no time in fulfilling her order. Dr. Director looks out the window again. She stares out into the darkness for a moment, searching for something that might be missed if one blinks. She then lowers her eyes, turns, and walks away.