Author's Note: From the bottom of my heart, I want to extend deep thanks to all those who have offered reviews and/or honest critques. I cannot tell you how much it has meant to me, and inspired me to finish this chapter a day ahead of my planned release date. As always, write a review, get a response. And please, enjoy.

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"Our agents have already explored a two mile radius from the location of your old base, and they haven't found anything." Will continued his interrogation. From within the force field, the figure of Zorpox remained unflinching and unmoving, as it had for the last hour.

"You must have a partner other than Shego to have hidden the Annihilation Wave for you. Someone to do your dirty work while you've been away. You didn't have enough time after Possible showed up to have moved the Annihilation Wave by yourself."

Still, Zorpox said nothing.

"Answer me!" Will's frustration finally took over. "You answer me, or I will leave both you and Stoppable to rot in that cell for the rest of your natural lives."

Still, Zorpox remained unmoving. Not even a grin. His eyes remained fixed forward, his hands at rest behind his back.

"Tell me something. Anything." Will strained his fists, resisting the urge to attempt to punch right through the force field. Yet still, Zorpox remained still as a statue.

Finally, in fatigue, Will gave up and stormed out of the detention area, leaving the metallic doors to shut behind him.

"Just a little while longer." Zorpox assured himself.

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"Possible. Possible." Will called out as he chased after Kim as she stormed through the halls.

"Not now Will. I'm in no mood." Kim's spirits had only worsened after her confrontation with Zorpox. She had little patience for anything or anyone at the moment, especially Will. It wasn't that she had something better to do, but somehow, storming off through the halls as if she were in a hurry helped make her feel like she was doing something else besides waiting helplessly for the moment when they could switch back Ron.

"Possible. Kim, would you please stop and listen to me?" Will's voice took a tone of desperation.

Upon hearing him use her first name, Kim finally stopped and turned about to stare Will in the eye.

"You've got thirty seconds."

Will wasted ten working up the courage to finally explain "I need your help… with Zorpox."

The lock of incredulousness on her face was over powering as she turned away from Will and began storming off towards nowhere once again.

"Possible, he won't speak to me anymore." Will explained as he followed hastily after her.

"Well, count yourself lucky." Kim bit back.

"Kim, we still don't know anything."

"Well that's your problem." Kim retorted. "You wanted him, now you got him. You deal with him."

"He won't let me. He just stands there, frozen like a sculpture."

"Well, what did you expect? That he'd spill his guts just because we asked nicely. Don't you think he knows that if he revealed that he knew anything important, we'd just switch him back with Ron right away and then ask Ron?"

Will stopped in his tracks as he pondered this revelation. As loathe as he was to admit it, he hadn't ever even thought of that.

"Kim, he won't talk to me, but I'm betting he'll talk to you." Will offered as he caught back up to her.

"Well, there's one problem with that theory, I absolutely refuse to talk to him." Kim stated flatly.

"Look, I'm painfully aware of Zorpox's ability to twist and distort things with his words, but we're running out of time. In less than a half an hour, Zorpox is being switched back."

"Well, there's the best news I've heard all day." Kim stated in no uncertain terms.

"Kim." Will finally took the initiative to grab Kim by the arms, forcing her to stop long enough to talk to her directly, face to face.

"Will, let me go right now, or I will put you in a hospital bed for the next year." Kim's words were cold as ice.

"Kim, I know you don't like me. But Ron made this choice. He put himself on the line so that we could have this chance. Don't let that be for nothing."

"Will, take your hands off me, now." Kim instructed again.

Will relented, drawing his hands away and stepping back with his palms flattened and raised in surrender.

Kim paused, fuming as she thought for another second before finally turning around. "Which way is the detention area again?"

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"Wade Load, this room is a mess!" The maternal voice of outrage announced even as the young super genius worked tirelessly on his computers.

"Mom, I'm in the middle of a crisis." Wade insisted desperately as he triple checked more data.

"You're darn right you are buster. I'm going to have a heart attack." Mrs. Load insisted as she took in the mind numbing horror of a disaster that her son had labeled as his room. "Look at this place. Your comics are everywhere; you've got printer paper all over the floor…" Mrs. Load let out a terrified gasp as she spoke "and your socks are melting into leftover tuna on my carpet!"

"But mom…" Wade insisted pitifully.

"No 'buts'. You will clean this room now, or you'll never leave it for the rest of your life!"

"MOM!"

"NOW!"

And with that, the matter had been decided. The authority of the house stormed out, leaving Wade to sigh with a resigned look of defeat as he began cleaning. He knew he had some time before another of the professors he had been in touch with got back to him with more data.

Wade started to collect up all the print outs littering across his floor and moved to start clearing his comics. As he did, his eyes settled upon an issue of The Villains League of Evil Villains lying amidst its numerous counter parts that caught his attention. As he picked up the graphic novel, his gaze focused intently on its cover.

His breathing suddenly intensified as his trembling fingers moved across its pages, his eyes scanning them with unyielding precision.

"Oh no." Wade's voice was a trembling whisper.

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The metal detention doors clanked open again to announce Kim Possible's entrance. The sight awaiting her sent a chill across her spine.

"Nice look, don't you think?" Zorpox motioned to his skin, which had completely regained its light blue color from before. Kim strode forward in front of the cell, and Zorpox returned his trademark grin.

"So, you just couldn't stay away." Zorpox taunted.

"Just wanted to let you know, you're all out of time. You're going back and Ron is taking your place."

"Typical." Zorpox thought aloud. "Loser always did have to have everything done for him. Never could do anything just for himself. Always had to be someone else getting him motivated to do anything. Like that time he went to the rain forest to get that stupid flower and save you from vanishing into the wind. That reminds me, where were you when he was risking his life going through all that hassle to find some dumb orchid?"

Kim didn't answer. She knew that there was no point to.

"Oh right, getting all cuddly and nervous with monkey boy. Appreciate that by the way."

"Not my finest moment." Kim admitted.

"Then there was that time you locked me in the closet so you could spend the Spirit Dance with him. That was nice too." Zorpox went on.

"Ok, so I'm not perfect." Kim admitted neutrally. "You've made your point. Are you done?"

"Well I suppose I should also mention the tracking chip you've got on me." Zorpox decided.

"How did…" Kim bit her lips shut but realized it was too late as she shut her eyes in frustration, wishing she could take her words back.

"Yes!" Zorpox clapped his hands together once in triumph as he began giggling. "Hehahahaha, I knew it. I knew that it had to be there. You know, even Ron was smart enough to figure that Wade would have him chipped, but you know what kept him from putting two and two together; he told himself that his best friend in the whole world, which I guess is supposed to be you, would tell him if she knew anything about it." Zorpox just laughed.

"It wasn't my idea." Kim defended herself feebly. "I only used it in emergencies."

"Oh no, Kim." Zorpox assured. "You don't have to explain yourself. I can totally understand. I mean after all, it's not wise to let out a puppy out without a leash."

"Ron is not some pet! He is my best friend and my boyfriend…" Kim began, shouting in defiance.

"And you take those very seriously." Zorpox finished her sentence. "So that must mean you know him better than he knows himself." Zorpox paused for effect. "But do you think you know him better than I do."

Kim glared at Zorpox with a look that could have frozen entire oceans. "There is nothing you can tell me about Ron Stoppable that I don't know."

"Oh really." Zorpox just smiled at the challenge. "So then maybe you can explain what his fascination is with rodents? I mean, it's not enough that he keeps one for a pet, he's got to run around dressed up like one too?"

"The Fearless Ferret?" Kim suddenly became uneasy. She could sense that Zorpox was trying to tell her something, but he knew it wouldn't be as easy as him simply coming out and saying it.

"Oh Kim, you know you never really did pay attention to him." Zorpox chided. "I mean even a retarded, blind monkey could have spotted that stupid love sick look on his face when you were busy locking eyes with that inflatable boyfriend of yours. And you know what really makes me sick every time I think about it." A snarl worked its way across Zorpox's face as he went on. "Is that he probably would have just smiled and politely stepped aside for that jerk."

"And that's where I know something about Ron that you don't. You see you're right, Ron probably would have stepped aside, but not because he's a buffoon, or a dork, but because that's exactly the sort of wonderful person he is."

"You say 'wonderful person', I say 'total chump'. I'd have kidnapped Eric, used him a human guinea pig for all my worst doomsday inventions, and mailed you his ashes in a jar."

"Oh I believe it, but not Ron. He's nothing like you, and maybe you're right. Maybe I don't deserve him. But I'll let him make that judgment, not you."

"Hehehe." Zorpox took an amused expression. "You make it sound like he'd ever leave you. We both know he doesn't have the spine for that."

Kim paused for a moment, not to absorb Zorpox's words, but instead to realize the truth.

"I've listened to you for long enough. I've let you distract me, taunt me, try to hurt me, but guess what, fun's over. You're going away now."

Zorpox paused, his grin fading into a stone like resolve. "You don't think I'm just going to sit back for that."

"Not seeing a lot of other options for you, what with the force fields, the big doors, the armed guards everywhere and what not. Too bad, I guess you won't get to see your fireworks go off or whatever you've got planned."

"Been looking forward to it all day. Still am." Zorpox replied confidently.

"Don't get your hopes up. Ron is coming back, and he and I are going to do what we do best; save the world."

"I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you."

As if on cue, Will Du and two armed GJ agents walked into the detention area, one of which carried the Attitudinator in hand.

"I don't have to." Kim smirked. "I just have to wait for a few more agents and the techs to get here."

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"They're moving along with the procedure." The officer informed as he viewed in on the monitor in the detention room.

"Keep an itchy trigger finger over that panic button." Dr. Director instructed. "I'd rather gas everyone and have everyone wake up with headaches then let that lunatic out."

"Yes ma'am."

"Dr. Director, you have an urgent call." Another agent announced. The Director was annoyed at being called away at such an important juncture.

"Tell them to call back."

"It's Team Possible's wiz kid. He says it's urgent." The agent explained uneasily.

Dr. Director let out a sigh as she moved over to a spare monitor, activating the necessary controls to forward the message to the screen.

On the screen, Wade was gasping for air and spare breaths as he spoke.

"Can't… reach… Kim. What's… wrong?"

"She's in the detention area. Its signal shielded as a safety precaution. Take a moment and tell me what's wrong." Dr. Director was taken aback by the panicked young man on the screen before her.

"The Annihilation Wave." It took all of Wade's breath to utter the sentence.

"You found it?" Dr. Director's adrenaline rose.

"Issue seventy five of The Villains League of Evil Villains. Zorpox builds the Annihilation Wave, an underground missile that burrows through bedrock and triggers one volcanic eruption after another across the globe!" Wade explained frantically, holding up the aforementioned comic in hand.

"You're saying Zorpox duplicated the Annihilation Wave from the comic?" Dr. Director asked.

"No, I'm saying that's where he got the idea!"

"I don't follow." It took a minute for Dr. Director to realize the meaning of Wade's warning and the reason for his urgency, and as she did, she could feel her blood freeze.

"The reason Ron couldn't remember building another doomsday device is because he never did! Zorpox made the whole thing up!"

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"So, your choice, you want to go quietly, or kicking and screaming? I'm fine with either by the way." Kim smirked.

"Don't I get any last words?" Zorpox asked mockingly. "At least, while we're waiting?"

"Knock yourself out, but save the long winded evil taunts please." Kim's look of confidence never once faded.

"Oh no speeches, just two things I thought you should know. One, the Annihilation Wave was just a bluff, and two, I'd rather die then go back inside Stoppable's head."

With a fierce snarl, Zorpox slammed his own head against the emerald force field. Energy crackled at the impact and Zorpox was taken aback, but the look of determination on his face never once faded.

"Ron, stop!" Kim cried out. Both agents quickly drew their side arms even as Zorpox slammed his head once again, this time drawing blood.

"Drop the field! Now!" Kim shouted anxiously.

"Control Room, this is Du." Will spoke into his wrist radio.

"NOW!" Kim didn't wait to ask again as she grabbed Will's palm and forced it down on the palm scanner, even as Zorpox's skull crashed against the force field yet again.

The emerald energy dissipated as Zorpox collapsed onto the ground, letting out a low moan.

"Ron, can you hear me?" Kim rushed to his side, immediately positioning him so that he was face up, allowing her a look at his head wound.

"Possible, step back, get away from him." Will warned as he and the other agents tracked their weapons on the target.

Sadly, Will's warning came too little, too late as Zorpox placed his hands back and leapt up into the air, past Kim and head long into Du, knocking him down to the ground.

The two agents reacted simultaneously; firing twin stun shots that Zorpox quickly blocked with Will's stunned form. A pair of darts dug into Will's chest in almost the exact same instant, even as Zorpox's foot shot out, knocking one of the agents across the room and straight into the wall, rendering him unconscious.

The second agent turned to fire again, but Zorpox was too fast as he grabbed the weapon, jerking the aim at the last instant. The dart went wide, impacting harmlessly onto the side of the wall as Zorpox delivered a solid judo blow to the back of the agents head, knocking him out as well.

"Oh no you don't."

Kim's declaration came from behind as she leapt forward, tackling Zorpox to the ground. The two rolled together before Zorpox kicked Kim off, who rolled with the attack to land perfectly on her feet.

Kim countered with a spin kick, then a sweep, both of which Zorpox dodged before spotting an opening in her combo which he was able to use to deliver a kick directly into her chest, knocking her back.

Zorpox knew he had only bought himself a split second opening, and had one chance to make it count. Reaching down onto the ground, Zorpox grabbed the unconscious form of Will Du, lifting it up enough, he pointed his fore and middle fingers tightly against the side of his neck.

"Take one more step, and he dies. Oh, and to whoever is watching this on the cameras, anything funny happens, and I take at least two agents down with me." Zorpox threatened aloud.

Kim struggled to catch herself in her steps, freezing right there on the spot.

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"Dr. Director?" The officer looked helplessly towards her as the events unfolded on the screen.

"We can't use the panic feature. He'll kill as many of them as he can at the first sight of gas. Alert all base personel. Inniate lock down procedures. He may be out, but he's not getting far."

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"The Kimmunicator, throw it down on the ground. Now!"

Kim didn't move, save to shoot Zorpox a begrudged look.

"Kimberly Anne!" Zorpox raised his voice, pressing all the more tightly against Will's throat.

Slowly, Kim reached into her side pocket, pulling out the small blue device, and reluctantly tossing it to the ground.

"Now, get in the cell." Zorpox instructed.

Kim didn't move.

"I've got two other potential hostages. If this one doesn't work for you, I can get rid of it and grab one of the others." Zorpox reminded.

Slowly, Kim stepped towards the cell. Though she admitted that she could care more about Will, she could never allow Zorpox to kill him, if for Ron's sake more than anything else. As she moved, a tense glare between the two passed. Kim struggled to see if she could find any trace of Ron within Zorpox's eyes, but try as she might, she found nothing. Even as she finally stepped inside the cell, she looked pleadingly at him. "Ron, don't do this."

Zorpox didn't answer. Instead, he took Will's limp palm and pressed it over the palm scanner, reactivating the force field.

"Thanks for letting me out, KP. You think about how I couldn't have gotten out without your help when I'm busy ripping this planet in two. Bye." Zorpox smiled before dropping Du's unconscious form to the ground. Zorpox then hurriedly grabbed up the Kimmunicator, Will's wrist stunners and his radio before heading out of the detention area.